I think every great Christmas story has some baking going on, as it is a big part of the season. In my Christmas Novella, A Little Bit of Christmas, a tradition the Lewis family has is to make a gingerbread house together. I'm going to give you a recipe that is one of my own family traditions, buckeyes.

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Easy Buckeye Recipe

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup margarine

1 t. vanilla

Chocolate fudge magic shell

Mix peanut butter, powdered sugar, margarine and vanilla until semi-dry. Shape into bite sized balls. Place balls on wax-papered covered cookie sheet. Freeze 1 hour. Dip into Chocolate fudge magic shell, leaving top uncovered to resemble a buckeye. Freeze until serving.

A Christmas Novella

After a tragic accident that brought the small town of Wynter Haven to their knees, Claire Belmont and Nick Lewis went in opposite directions coping in very different ways. Three years later, Claire gets a call urging her to come back to help her friend move past his grief.

It will take more than a little hot cider, gingerbread and mistletoe to bring back Nick’s holiday spirit. He hasn’t celebrated Christmas since his twin sister died. In fact, he’s mastered locking up his feelings so he will never be hurt again.

Claire has a secret and hopes that somehow she and Nick can both get a Christmas miracle this year. After all, Nichole would want them to be happy and cherish the holiday that had been their favorite. Maybe a little bit of Christmas is just what they both need.

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www.christynewton.com

Who says vegan and wheat free desserts can't be delicious? These delightful, crunchy cookies are perfect with a cup of spiced tea!

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Pamela Aares' Home Run Shortbread Almond Cookies

(wheat and dairy-free)

 

1 cup roasted almonds

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup canola, sunflower or safflower oil

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Optional: 1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 cup amaranth flour

1/2 cup rice flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Process almond and oat flour in food processor until they resemble a coarse flour. Transfer to a big bowl and set aside.

In a smaller bowl stir together the maple syrup, vanilla (and almond if you choose to use it) extracts, and the oil.

Sift the remaining dry ingredients into the almond oat mixture.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until well mixed.

Using 2 spoons, scoop out cookie mixture onto well-greased or parchment lined baking sheets (I prefer parchment lining).

Use a glass (dip in warm water to prevent sticking) and flatten each cookie-- they should be about bite size. Or you can flatten with your oiled finger, up to you!

Bake for 11mins, turn baking sheets at 5mins and peek at around 10 mins.

Cookies should be a golden brown. Cool on sheets for 5 mins, then remove to a cooling rack.

Store in an air-tight container.

Enjoy with a cup of spiced or herbal tea or lemonade.

In AIM FOR LOVE, rising movie star Sabrina Tavonesi has only three weeks to heal her shoulder before shooting her next film. Sexy baseball pitching phenom Kaz Tokugawa has a solution—a mysterious Japanese healing method she’s too desperate to turn down. Soon, they’re not just working on her shoulder; they’re falling in love.

But Kaz has made a promise he’s not sure he can keep, and Sabrina faces inner demons that threaten to overwhelm her. When violence strikes, their secrets may destroy their dreams, their love…and their lives.

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http://www.PamelaAares.com

Dak, a fierce warrior and the hero of Breeder, has a sweet tooth. He’d probably love Apricot Breakfast Cookies, my family’s favorite. The secret recipe (sh!) comes from the Eddie Bauer Legendary Recipe Collection (submitted by Sandy Fleming).

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Apricot Breakfast Cookies

1 cup flour

¾ cup sugar

½ tsp. baking soda

½ cup butter

1 egg

2 cups corn flakes

¾ cup cut-up apricots

Blend together flour, sugar and baking soda. Add butter and egg, then mix. Add cornflakes and apricots. Place in tablespoon sizes on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 13 to 15 minutes. Makes approximately 2 dozen cookies. (I usually get 3 dozen).

 

To secure his legacy, Commander Dak, a ruling Alpha of planet Parseon, purchases Omra, a breeder slave. He intends to impregnate her, produce a son, and hand her off to his anointed beta partner. As Dak and Omra discover a sexual bliss banned by law, he begins to question the traditions and ways of his people, causing him to jeopardize his command and endanger the life of the woman he has come to love.

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http://www.carabristol.com

This recipe was passed down from my great grandmother. Supermodel Hannah Hahn from Going For It would give me the evil eye if I offered her one.

I call them Lizzie Ruggies

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2 1/4 cups Flour

1/2 pound cream cheese

1/2 pound SWEET butter

 

Mix together into a ball ( a mixer with a dough hook would be ideal).

Refrigerate dough for 5 hours or overnight.

Cut into 4 quarters and roll each quarter into a ball then on roll the quarter into a pizza shaped form onto a surface with plenty of confectionary sugar underneath sprinkle a sugar and cinnamon mixture & chopped walnuts then slice and roll into a crescent roll form.

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Pro football player Jake Miller’s game plan for winning back supermodel Hannah Hahn is play action in the bedroom. Once he sees beyond the swimsuits and lingerie, feelings of love blindside him, changing the rules of the game.

Hannah owns the runway, but that success came with a price and a secret that’s kept her from trusting a man until Jake crashes through her defenses.

The paparazzi love the beauty and the beast couple but the tabloid rumors turn ugly and test the fragile trust between them. Then Hannah loses an ad campaign to fashion’s new ‘it’ girl. Her desperate reaction will cause Jake to challenge everything she’s ever believed about herself.

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http://www.taoofliz.blogspot

I love Christmas, and I love my holiday junk food. This particular recipe I found is on its encore year, and will most likely be used again next season!

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Reese’s Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients the recipe calls for:

2 cups of flour

¾ cup of cocoa

1 tsp. of baking soda

1 tsp. of salt

1 ¼ cup of butter

2 cups of sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. of vanilla

1 2/3 cups Reese’s peanut butter chips

Instructions:

1. Mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until they’re well-blended. Note: It’ll look like scrambled eggs.
3. Add in the eggs and the vanilla, then beat again.
4. Slowly add in the flour/cocoa/baking soda/salt mixture, beating.
5. Add in the peanut butter chips.
6. Drop a spoonful of the mixture onto a baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for eight or nine minutes. The cookies will be gooey when you get them out of the oven, but they’ll firm up soon after.
7. Let them cool, and eat!

When Reeko - eldest prince of his realm - saw the battle in the distance, he ordered his fellow dragons to hurry toward the scene, determined to offer assistance to the fairy kingdom under attack. He had no way of knowing that, in doing so, he would seal his fate as the ruler of a new kingdom in the lands separating the two species with a fairy as his queen. A crown was one thing, but a fairy bride? The thought disgusted him, until she entered the banquet hall. With her beauty and the mischief sparkling in her eyes… Maybe this union wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Although the fairy princess knew Reeko would choose his bride that night, Kiara gave it little thought when she entered the room of the feast. Young, headstrong, and impish even by fairy standards, only a crazy man would select her from among her sisters. So when the prince made his decision – her – she’d been nothing short of stunned. She was to be a queen? A dragon’s bride? What worse hand could life have possibly dealt her?

(A prequel story to The Division Chronicles)

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http://clsmithbooks.blogspot.com/

Do you like peanut butter cookies? What about chocolate? Yes, then I have the cookie for you. May I introduce the “Spangle” Cookie…

½ cup butter

½ cup peanut butter

½ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 ½ cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

Chocolate of your choice. Hersey’s kisses, hugs, or chocolate stars work the best.

Cream together butter, peanut butter, white sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla. Add in flour, soda and salt. Roll into medium balls and then roll in white sugar (this is over and above the ½ cup in the recipe). Place on cookie sheet. Bake 8 – 10 minutes at 375°. As soon as you take them from the oven place chocolate of your choice on each one, pushing down gently. Put back into oven and bake again for 2 – 3 minutes. Remove to cool and enjoy.

Marina Jamison is a mystery. As a half-breed shapeshifter, she lives on the fringe of were-jaguar society. Though her love for pride leader Bastian LaRue is forbidden, she finds herself tied to him by a bond stronger than their individual wills, a psychic link born from their one-night stand. When her secret is revealed, she is scorned and excluded. Neither Bastian nor the pride can accept a half-breed queen.

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www.serenashay.com

From my best friend’s Grand Mother’s recipe box. They are a sweet indulgence that will make you swoon!

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Romance Cookies

Bottom layer:

1 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

2 cups flour (all purpose white)

1 tsp. salt
Cream butter and sugar, add salt and flour. Dough will be flaky. 

Spread out in an ungreased 15x10 cookie sheet. 

Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes.

Topping:

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar

2 Tbls. flour

3/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1 cup coarsely ground walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Beat eggs until fluffy. 

3. Add brown sugar, flour, baking powder and vanilla. 

4. Fold in coconut and nuts.

5. Spread mixture over top of bottom layer and bake another 20 minutes.

6. Let cool and cut into squares.  Dust with powdered sugar.

The magic of Christmas is in the memories we hold dear and those precious treasures that remind us of the past. Join us as our Timeless Keepsakes take us on five remarkable journeys that heal old wounds, remind us of days gone by, play matchmaker, sweep us back in time and prove that love can conquer all.

~~~~~~~

Introduction ~ Sharon Sala

Mistletoe and Magick ~ Ruth A. Casie

She would give her last breath for him. He would give up everything to guard her well and love her more.

Christmas Spirits ~ Lita Harris

A widow's everlasting love is renewed by the memories of the holiday season.

Granting Her Wish ~ Emma Kaye

She doesn't belong in his time and he doesn't belong back home. Could they belong to each other?

Letter from St. Nick ~ Nicole S. Patrick

She’s trying to save her home and he’s never had one until now. Can an unexpected gift lead their hearts to the same place?

Secret Santa ~ Julie Rowe

A nurse grieving the death of her twin brother receives an unusual gift at the staff Secret Santa party: the bullet that killed him along with a message of hope and love.

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www.RuthACasie.com

www.TimelessScribes.com

This is my grandmother's recipe so I've been eating these cookies for as long as I can remember. The recipe has sure withstood the test of time, and even my best friend whose husband is a professional chef uses this easy, versatile butter cookie recipe. I use different themed cookie cutters depending on the occasion….like a cowboy boot cutter to promote my new cowboy book release.

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Butter Cookies

½ lb Butter, softened
1 Egg
1 Cup Sugar
2 ½ Cups Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Lemon Extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit
Cream butter with a hand blender or stand mixer.
Blend in sugar. Add egg & extract and blend.
Add flour & baking powder. Blend until smooth.
Chill dough in fridge.
Roll out flat on a floured board to desired thickness. Cut into shapes.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes (or until just beginning to brown).
Can be decorated with sprinkles before baking or iced or dipped in melted chocolate after baking.

IN A COWBOY'S BED

They’re tough as nails and sexy as hell. With their leather chaps and Stetson hats, they’re impossible to resist. They’re cowboys and they like to ride slow and hard. . .

“Two for the Road” by Cat Johnson

Heather London is tired of the squeaky clean acting roles that keep coming her way. But when she takes off in a car one day heading west, she never expects to meet up with two cowboys who show her just how fun it is to get down and dirty. . .

“Soul of a Cowboy” by Vonna Harper

One thing cowboys don’t take kindly to is city girls snooping around the ranch, investigating environmental concerns. But when Kathy Vinoza sets eyes on Mike Moss, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of her body follows. . .

“Trouble in Boots” by Lynn LaFleur

An unforgettable high school graduation night has kept Keely Sheridan and Nick Fallon apart for far too long. But when Nick gets sidelined after fighting a raging fire, and Keely needs Nick’s help with the family ranch, he is more than willing to take control. . .

This book contains adult content

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Preorder IN A COWBOY'S BED now for the July 2013 release!

CatJohnson.net  ~  Kensington  ~  Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble

Charlotte Dixon, the heroine of One Night of Misbehavior, is in charge of household management. She is, after all, the Cinderella in this modern fairy tale. She bakes bread, cupcakes and cookies for her stepmother and stepsisters. Today I’m sharing her recipe for White Chocolate & Ginger Cookies.

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White Chocolate & Ginger Cookies

125g/4 oz butter, softened

125g/4 oz caster sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

125g/4 oz porridge oats (oatmeal in US)

150g/5 oz plain flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

175g/6 oz white chocolate, chopped into small pieces

Handful crystallized ginger diced

Beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until creamy. Add the egg, vanilla, oats, chocolate and ginger then add the flour and baking powder. Combine together.

Place dessertspoonfuls of mixture on a greased baking tray and flatten slightly. Bake in a pre-heated oven 180C (350F) Gas Mark 4 for about 15 minutes until risen and golden. Leave to cool on the tray for five minutes then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Shelley’s notes:

1. I vary the contents and add dried cranberries, raisins, chopped nuts, sunflower seeds as the mood strikes.

2. If you prefer milk or dark chocolate use that instead of the white chocolate.

He wears his scars on the outside. She keeps hers safe inside.

Charlotte Dixon ignores her stepmother’s edict and, in an act of disobedience, attends one of the social events of the year—a masquerade costume ball. Charlotte’s naughtiness escalates when she dances and smooches with a sexy mystery man. The night of anonymous passion that follows makes her yearn for a different life, but the next day she’s back to her dull routine of household management.

Advertising tycoon, Ash Marlborough is about to set a private investigator on the trail of his nameless princess when she waltzes right into his place of work. Charlotte is shocked to meet her masked man in the flesh, and even more perturbed when he asks her out on a date. Despite craving another night of sexy loving, she doesn’t have time for a man, not when she wants to reinvent herself and grasp a new, improved life with both hands. But Ash knows what he wants, and he’s determined to win the heart of his princess. Let the dance of seduction commence.

Warning: Contains a conniving stepmother, selfish stepsisters, a grandmother with fairy godmother tendencies and a sexy masked man who is willing to face them all for the love of a good woman.

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http://www.shelleymunro.com

Chocolate Thumbprints are my daughter's favorite cookie for us to make. It's messy but fun and we love working on these together.

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KC’s Favorite Cookie

Chocolate Thumbprints

Ingredients:

½ cup of butter

2/3 cup of sugar

1 egg, separated

2 tablespoons of milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 cup self-rising flour

1/3 cup of baking cocoa

1 cup of chopped walnuts

Creamy center:

½ confectioner’s sugar

1 tablespoon of softened butter

2 teaspoons of milk

¼ teaspoon of vanilla

1 bag of chocolate kisses

Mix:

Dough:

Butter, sugar, egg yolk, mild & vanilla until creamy in a mixing bowl. Gradually add flour and cocoa to the mixture. Blend well into a stiff batter. Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Remove from fridge. Roll into balls. Place chopped walnuts on a paper plate.

Creamy Center:

Combine confectioner’s sugar, butter, milk and vanilla and stir until smooth.

Whip the egg white with a fork in a small bowl. Roll the chocolate balls in the egg white. Roll the dipped balls in the walnuts, coating it well. Place on cookie sheet. Press thumb in center. Spoon a little of the creamy mixture into indention. Place Chocolate kiss in center.

Bake:

350 degrees for about 12 minutes or until done.

Book four in the Cursed MacKinnons series.

Lynn’s ghost-hunting trip in Scotland takes an unpleasant turn when she’s kidnapped from her camp by a group of men rambling about curses and a brotherhood. In a daring escape, Lynn falls over a cliff and awakens in a cave being guarded by a ghost, who insists she’s the key to freeing a man who has been cast in stone by an evil curse. And what a man he is…

Padon has been imprisoned for over two centuries, frozen in stone. He is awoken when a sexy siren recites the anti-curse, but he is only partially free. Stone by day, man by night. Passion ignites between him and his savior immediately, which makes falling to the curse each morning that much harder. He and Lynn seek a resolution by making the trek to Padon’s family castle. But the kidnappers have other plans and will do whatever they must to make sure this couple never makes it to their destination.

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www.taranina.com

Hey, everyone! I thought I’d share a tasty historical treat with you all; something the heroine of a Georgian, Regency, or Victorian romance novel might eat. Serve them warm from the oven with tea for a treat!

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Rout Cakes

1 cup butter (softened)
¾ cup sugar
2 egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp sherry
2 tsp brandy
Zest of one orange
OR 2 tsp orange blossom water (if you can find it)
OR 2 tsp orange liqueur (Cointreao, Gran Marnier, etc)
3 ¾ cups flour
½ cup currants

Preheat oven to 350º

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolks and beat. Add vanilla, sherry, brandy and zest or orange water/liqueur and mix. Add in flour 1 cup at a time. Add currants with last ¾ cup of flour.
Dough will be cookie-like. Make rounded balls the size of walnuts and bake on a parchment paper or Silpat 20-25 min (until golden). They puff up a bit, but don’t spread so you can put them relatively close together.

After the scandalous demise of her marriage, Lady Olivia Carlow knows the rakes of the ton will think her fair game. So when a letter arrives bearing an indecent offer from the incorrigible Roland Devere, she seizes the opportunity. Turning the tables on the notorious rogue, she blackmails him into playing her betrothed for the season. But no matter how broad his shoulders or chiseled his features, she will never fall prey to his suave charm.

When Roland boasted he'd be the first into Lady Olivia's bed, he couldn't have imagined that behind those brilliant blue eyes lurked a vixen with a scheme of her own. Still, Roland is not about to abandon his original wager. If anything, learning that the lovely Olivia is as bold as she is beautiful makes him more determined to seduce her into never saying "never" again.

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www.isobelcarr.com/

In my debut romance, More Than This, my heroine, Quinn, bakes what she calls Comfort Cookies. Comfort Cookies are a childhood treat meant as a salve for any trauma. After eKensington bought the book, I spent an entire weekend baking various kinds of chocolate cookies to create a recipe that would capture the essence of Comfort Cookies. Here’s the final version:

1/4 c. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

3 oz. unsweetened chocolate

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate

3 eggs

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. flour

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter, unsweetened chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate in the top of double boiler or in a heat-safe bowl (metal or glass) over a pot of simmering water. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla together until mixture thickens. Add the melted chocolate and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the chocolate mixture until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. (Batter will be gooey.)

Scoop teaspoon-sized cookies onto cookie sheets. If using aluminum pans, line with parchment paper (no paper needed on stoneware). Bake for approximately 11 minutes, until tops are cracked and edges are set. Let cool on cookie sheet for a minute or two, then transfer to cooling rack.

Yield: 4 dozen cookies

When a lonely teacher teams up with a handsome bartender for some outrageous acts, they both get more than they bargained for…

Learning her ex-husband is going to be a father, Quinn Adams is determined to have a baby of her own—without the partnership of a man. But her sister and friends believe she needs to focus on herself first, and step out of her comfort zone by completing a list of adventures. Challenge number one is to go on five dates within two weeks. After a few disastrous attempts, Quinn’s ready to give up—until sexy bartender Ryan O’Leary offers his assistance.

Ryan has always been the dependable one in his family, often at his expense. But lately, he’s been longing for a life—and a woman—of his own. The woman he has in mind is Quinn. Though it seems all she wants is friendship, Ryan can’t ignore the explosive chemistry he feels between them. In the hopes of becoming closer, Ryan offers to help out with Quinn’s list. But when she asks him for a serious favor, he’s afraid it will jeopardize his chance to become more than friends.

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http://www.shannynschroeder.com

It's my birthday tomorrow, so what better way to start my celebrations!

I am going to share with you a recipe that I use a lot. The kids love it, I love it and it's so easy, it takes minutes. And it's perfect for this time of the year!

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Shortbread Biscuits

The recipe is from my favorite cookbook; Mary Berry's complete cookbook--her easy recipes make even a bad cook like me look good!

*recipe has been changed a little from cookbook, to add a little Kerrianne ;-) *

125g (4oz) plain flour

60g (2oz) ground rice

125g (4oz) butter, plus extra for greasing.

60g (2oz) castor sugar, plus extra for sprinkling.

1 Mix the flour with the ground rice in a bowl. Add the butter and rub in with finger tips.stir the sugar. Knead the mixture lightly until it is a smooth dough.

2 lightly butter baking tray. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Break off little balls and form into a rectangle shape. Note that when the dough cooks it will spread a little so give room on the tray for spreading. Prick with a fork.

3 bake in a preheated oven at 160oc (325f) gas mark 3. For 35 minutes, until golden--though in my experience, they need closer to 25minutes...

4 when you take them from the oven, sprinkle the still hot biscuits with sugar and then leave to cool. Or, in my house--eat immediately and moan about burned fingers afterwards!

My kids love to de orate them too. Fun. Easy and quick!

Hired demon hunter and paid debt collector, Snow White lives with her heart encased in ice and her mind set on survival—until she accepts the one job that threatens to turn her world upside down.

Blackmailed by hell gate demons, Snow has no choice but to accept the task of murdering a king. Dragged into a world of violence and death at a young age, Snow has no idea how to deal with king Sam, and his charm.

When Sam’s evil mother died fifteen years before, she left a him with the knowledge that one day, she would return unless Sam breaks the spell.

Living with the knowledge that he has to die on his wedding night in order to break his mothers spell, Sam has never allowed himself to dream of love…Until a little assassin breaks into his castle and steals his heart.

But deals have been made and magic has been cast. Fate has no power over what is in the past…

~ ~ ~

You can find me on twitter; kerrianne_xx

And my blog address is; http://kerriannecoombes.wordpress.com/. Where you can find out about my other books and the rest of the Demon Tales in the series.

This recipe was born of my LOVE for sea-salt caramels and my desire to have them with brownies! I just took a classic, fudgey brownie recipe and altered it a little to incorporate my craving. Have it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate, decadent dessert.

~~ ~

1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons boiling water
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, melted
½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2½ cups (17½ ounces) sugar
1¾ cups (8¾ ounces) all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into ½-inch pieces

1-2 T coarse sea salt (although do this to taste. I like a lot)

1/2 bag of store bought carmels, unwrapped and melted in microwave safe bowl

1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving about a one-inch overhang on all sides. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Whisk cocoa and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil. (Mixture may look curdled.) Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth and homogeneous. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated. Add flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in bittersweet chocolate pieces.

3. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 30 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle melted carmel over top. Return to oven for five minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack and then sprinkle with sea salt.

4. Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan. Return brownies to wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into squares and serve

He needs a wife for three weeks…

Owen Phipps is out for revenge. His mission? To expose the man who stole his sister’s money and dignity. All he needs is a “wife” who can play along. Too bad his last best hope is an actress who tries to mace him with perfume when he offers her the role of a lifetime.

Lindy Knight is a real sap. She loves too hard, feels too deep, and often finds herself saying yes when she should be saying “Let me think about it.” She can’t believe her good fortune when Owen offers her more than enough money to hold off foreclosure until she can find a job. Three weeks at a resort, money she desperately needs, and she gets to help bring a criminal to justice? Score.

It seems easy enough until a couples bonding game turns intimate, and they realize how dangerous their mutual attraction could be. Can they keep their hands to themselves long enough to find the evidence Owen needs? Or are the close quarters more temptation than they can handle?

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http://www.christine-bell.com/

I make a batch of these shortbread biscuits every week, and my family can’t get enough of them! Guaranteed to please just about everyone, and simple enough for my daughter to be able to do most of the mixing.

~ ~ ~

Makes 40 cookies at 100kcal each.

2 cups (225g) plain flour

½ tsp baking powder

2 sticks (225g) salted butter

½ cup (100g) caster sugar

½ cup (100g) chocolate chips

¾ cup (75g) rolled oats

½ cup (60g) chopped nuts

Method:

Preheat oven to 300 ºF (150ºC)

Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl, then set aside.

In a different bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.

Add the flour a little at a time and gradually mix together with a wooden spoon to make a stiff dough.

Stir in the chocolate chips, rolled oats and half the nuts. Mix by hand if the dough is too stiff for a spoon.

Roll into walnut sized balls, and space evenly on ungreased baking sheets. Press down on top to flatten slightly. Sprinkle on the remaining nuts and press down lightly.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Leave on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool.

Two plus one equals scorching hot fun.

Freshly dumped and living in a grotty bedsit, Josh Carpenter lives only for his job as a glassblower…and occasional glimpses of his sexy downstairs neighbors, Rai Nakmura and Evan Truman.

Every time he overhears the diminutive academic and the hunky plumber having loud and obviously kinky sex, Josh is overwhelmed with lust…and a longing for a fraction of what they have.

To his amazement, Rai and Evan find his embarrassing tendency to blush utterly charming, and the three men grow closer over the course of the long, hot summer.

On the night a naked Josh falls—quite literally—into the middle one of Rai and Evan’s marathon sex sessions, the force of their mutual attraction takes control. But just as Josh dares to hope, he senses a change. Leaving him to wonder if the winds of love are about to blow his way at last…or if history is about to repeat itself.

Warning: Contains one well-endowed stud with a sexy accent, one improbably toppy bottom boy with an unfortunate owl obsession, and one blushing naïf who can’t believe his luck. Also, the occasional indulgence in mathematical spanking and some shameless armpit sex.

~ ~ ~

http://josephinemyles.com/

Only half of us in our family actually like mincemeat (I love it!).  So when we get some, it is usually a one-pie affair and we’ve had our fill. This recipe is something my mom used to make and even the non-mincemeat lovers in our family like them.

~ ~ ~

¾ cup shortening or margarine

1 ½ cups brown sugar

3 eggs, well beaten

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¾ tsp baking soda

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

1 tsp salt

1 cup mincemeat

1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream shortening and sugar; add eggs. Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and add gradually. Then add mincemeat and walnuts.

Drop by teaspoonful on a greased cookie sheet (or use parchment paper, my personal fave). Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until tops are golden. Let rest on pan for a few minutes, then remove to a cooling rack.

First Responders, Book 2

Jake Symonds has been a thorn in Constable Kendra Givens's side since the night they first met, when she'd had to arrest him. In his boxer shorts. The drunken comments he made that night are worsened by the truth she'll never admit. For a fleeting moment, they'd connected.

Two years later, when she's called to investigate a break-and-enter at his pub, the last thing she expects is for the now-competent businessman to cook her breakfast. But she's no fool. The former bad boy still lurks beneath the charm. And his business involves the one thing that she's hated since it ruined her childhood. Alcohol.

As far as he's concerned, Jake has changed, but Kendra still has a stick up her butt. Yet he can't help but like her sass and quick wit. One well-aimed baseball at the carnival dunk tank later and he's got a date.

Their spark of attraction quickly flares out of control, but their emotional baggage is stacked too high to risk anything deeper - until one tragic night strips the barriers from their deepest fears. And Kendra realizes the greatest danger Jake presents is to her heart.

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www.donnaalward.com

I love this cookie recipe! It's a bit of work, but requires very few ingredients.

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In a large bowl, mash all this up with a fork until it's a crumbly mess:
1¾ cups white flour
¼ tsp salt
½ cup white sugar
1½ sticks salted butter, softened
½ tsp vanilla extract (or mint or lemon, whatever you dig)

Once it's well mixed, pack it into a ball with your hands. It may seem crumblier than it should. Just trust me. Flatten the ball a bit and place it between two sheets of waxed paper. Roll it out with a rolling pin, not quite a quarter-inch thick. Keeping the dough between the waxed paper sheets, slide it onto a plate or other flat surface and stick it in the fridge for about 10 minutes, to firm up. It's easier to cut this way.

Preheat oven to 325°.

Once the dough is firm, stamp out shapes with your favorite cookie cutter, or just cut into squares. Place the cut-out shapes on an un-greased baking sheet, with a bit of space between them. Repeat the rolling-out and cookie-cuttering process with the leftover wonky shapes, and feel free to eat the last few scraps raw. I always do.

Bake the cookies on the middle shelf for about 15 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden brown.

While the cookies cool (feel free to put them in the fridge to speed things up) melt a broken-up large bar of good-quality dark chocolate either in a small bowl in the microwave, or with a double boiler, stirring occasionally. Or, if you don't own either of those first two things like me, put the broken-up chocolate bar in a small glass bowl, and put that in a half-inch of water in a sauce pan, and melt it on medium-high heat, stirring often.

Lay a sheet of waxed paper on a cookie sheet or cutting board. Once the cookies are cool, dip each in the melted chocolate, then lay them on the waxed paper. I always end up putting them in the fridge or freezer while the chocolate hardens. Once they're firm, store them in an air-tight container.

This is the first title in the Curio Vignettes series, follow-up stories to the novel Curio. Out August 29.

June has come to Paris. But while his neighbors are shedding layers and going out in search of spring sunshine, Didier Pedra prefers the quiet sanctuary of his garret, content to watch the city’s bustle from the safety of his windows. He’s shaped his life around venturing inside of things—inside clocks and other brass curiosities to pass a lonely afternoon, and, once the sun sinks, inside the bodies and minds of the women who pay for the privilege of sampling his other skills.

 

But one visitor is unlike the rest. Once a hesitant patron, Caroly is now his eager lover and a challenging but cherished companion. For weeks Didier’s indulged her questions about what other women want from him, but in words only. Now he’s ready for them to take the storytelling to the next level, and act out his clients’ most wicked desires.

Reader Advisory: This story contains forced seduction role-playing.

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http://www.caramckenna.com/

This is a long time family favorite, and especially of those family friends who have been fortunate enough to receive them as part of gifts. The best part is how simple it is!

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Crumb mixture:

1 1/4 /c flour

1 1/4 C Oats

1/2 C sugar

3/4 C butter, melted

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t salt

2 t vanilla

Filling: 10oz jar apricot preserves

1/2 C flaked coconut

Begin by heating the oven to 350 degrees. Assemble the crumb mixture.

You can do this by hand, by hand mixer or by stand mixer. No matter how you assemble it, avoid overmixing. Take one cup of the crumb mixture and set it aside for use later. Grease a 9" by 13" pan. Using the main batch of crumb mixture, spread it evenly across the bottom of the pan. Combine the filling ingredients, and then spread the resulting mix on the crumb crust, keeping about a half inch between the filling and the pan edge. Take the 1 cup of crumb mixture you had set aside, and then spread it over the filling in a random pattern.

You want it looking crumby and not like a flat second layer. Place the pan into the oven and bake for 22 to 27 minutes, or until the edges of the crust are browned. I'd strongly recommend waiting until these are cooled a little bit before eating so that you don't burn your mouth with hot sugar.

 

Chef Tommy Howard has more in mind than prepping for a reality show competition with Liana Richardson. He's determined to finally make his move with Liana and will do everything at his disposal to convince her to give him, and the possibility of "them", a shot. He just has one weekend in which to accomplish his mission.

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http://www.kellymaher.com

I'm not a good cook, but I love to bake. When it came to Better Off Red and thinking of the scents and tastes surrounding my vampire queen, Camila, snickerdoodles come immediately to mind. Here's a super easy recipe from Betty Crocker.

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Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 package Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix (or the cake mix of your choice. also works with sugar cookie mix)

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 egg

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

Step 1: Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick cookie sheets). Mix cake mix, butter and egg in large bowl with spoon until dough forms (some dry mix will remain).

Step 2: Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Mix sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Step 3: Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

optional Step 4: If you like soft cookies, like I do, before cookies completely cool, put them in a ziplock bag or plastic container. Seals in the moisture and the soft freshness. :)

 

Every sorority has its secrets...

And college freshman Ginger Carmichael couldn't care less. She has more important things on her mind, like maintaining her perfect GPA. No matter how much she can't stand the idea of the cliques and the matching colors, there's something about the girls of Alpha Beta Omega—their beauty, confidence, and unapologetic sexuality—that draws Ginger in. But once initiation begins, Ginger finds that her pledge is more than a bond of sisterhood, it’s a lifelong pact to serve six bloodthirsty demons with a lot more than nutritional needs.

Despite her fears, Ginger falls hard for the immortal queen of this nest, and as the semester draws to a close, she sees that protecting her family from the secret of her forbidden love is much harder than studying for finals.

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http://letusseeshallwe.blogspot.com/

Pumpkin. It’s not just for fall anymore.

Sure, that’s when they’re ripe. Of course, that’s when you want to do lots of jack-o-lantern carving. But I say, why wait to have that deliciousness? My husband is a HUGE fan of pumpkin, and so I try to keep cans of It handy year-round. Because once you’ve tried these Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip cookies, you won’t want to wait another year for more!

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Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies

-1/2 cup shortening

-1 and 1/2 cups white sugar

-1 egg

-1 regular size can pure pumpkin (NOT pie mix!)

-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-2 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour

-1 teaspoon baking powder

-1 teaspoon baking soda

-1 teaspoon salt

-1 HEAPING teaspoon ground cinnamon

-1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

-1 cup, (or, as I like to make them, 1 whole bag) of white chocolate chip morsels.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees in the US. If your oven has Celsius, erm, good luck. J Grease your cookie sheets. You’ll need two!

In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. (What. I said this was a GOOD recipe, not a healthy one!)

Beat in the egg, then stir in the pumpkin and vanilla. Combine all the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then gradually add them into the creamed mixture. Stir in the cinnamon chips, and if you’re feeling adventurous, toss in some macadamia nuts too. (YUM)

Drop the dough by teaspoonfulls onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake ‘em for 15 minutes in your preheated oven, or until they’re light brown. Cool on wire racks. As if you can wait that long to stuff them in your face. At least, me and hubs can’t!

The cool thing about this recipe is that you can switch it up. Use semisweet chocolate chips instead of white chocolate, if you like them. Add in some pecans, or other kind of nut if you feel like it. These are soft, cake-y cookies that are so moist and delicious you’ll beg for another batch almost instantly. I’ve got a feeling that Hammer, the hero in my coming soon release, INDELIBLY INTIMATE, would be a BIG fan of these. Check it out below! And don't forget to visit me on twitter @ReggiCole!

 

INDELIBLY INTIMATE - available on July 13th!

Quinn LaBrea got ditched. Her jerkwad ex-boyfriend trashed her credit and left behind a mountain of debt. Worse, his initials are tattooed on her thigh, an ugly-ass reminder of her utter failure at life. Not to mention her horrible taste in men.

Hamilton Dean—“Hammer” at his tattoo shop—may be an unlikely white knight, with his piercings and bad-boy persona, but he takes one look at Quinn and knows exactly what she needs. A new tattoo to cover the old one? Easy. A place to stay when her power’s cut? Done. A night filled with hot, sweaty sex and mind-blowing orgasms? Hell yeah.

Addicted to Quinn’s touch, Hammer brings her to the Inktastic Tattoo Convention. In his booth where anyone could see, in the hotel where it’s just them, anywhere and everywhere, Hammer has to have her. But he wants to give Quinn so much more than mindless pleasure and multiple orgasms. He offers her forever, if she has the courage to take it.

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http://reginacole.net