This Chick Read: The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs Alaska, Pt. 1) by Sarah Morgenthaler

Zoey Caldwell has been saving her money for-e-ver to take a bucket list trip to Alaska. A friend of hers is letting her tag along to sleep on the couch in a ritzy resort room, and Zoey is dying to do all things Alaska. On her first night there they head to a local dive restaurant called the Tourist Trap, owned by the grumpy but extremely good looking Graham Barnett. Graham is against all tourists in his neck of the woods, but for some reason he’s drawn to Zoey and her quirky personality.

The Tourist Attraction was my favorite kind of rom-com. Great setting, quirky characters, and charming main characters. From the first page, I literally couldn’t stop thinking about when I could find another 15 minutes to read another chapter. Zoey, one of my favorite rom-com heroine names, was cute and innocently odd. She was so excited to be in Alaska that she wanted to do all of the usual tourist trips; a whale-sighting trip, spotting a moose, and hiking on a glacier. Stuff a local would never deign to do. Despite his unwillingness, Graham seeks her out and finds himself by her side.

There were plenty of great side characters in The Tourist Attraction and we got to know a few pretty well. I can’t wait to see who gets the next hook-up. Will it be the super tall and bearded Easton? His pink-haired twin sister Ash? Or Zoey’s sultry well to do friend Lana? I really don’t have a preference, they were all really interesting and had some great storylines that I look forward to any one of them!

If you are still quarantining at home, this is the perfect book to help you pass the time. It’s fun, has a little action, and kooky characters that will charm the antlers off a reindeer dog!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase!* The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska)

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

It’s Monday, what are you reading? (5/4/2020)

I had just finished a book when a big storm came through knocking out our power. Needless to say, that cut down on my reading as it was just getting dark. We had enough juice in a laptop to get on Netflix and start streaming The Crown. Very Good! It was kind of a nice way to end the weekend, truthfully. We put the devices down and just enjoyed each others company. Despite that, I did read a wonderful book this weekend and have plans to start a next novel.

This post originated over on Book Date, so thanks for the idea and letting me continue on the discussion about what books I am reading.

JUST FINISHED

This book took me totally by surprise! The set up was totally unique, the characters completely charming, and the emotions? Yeah, they were all there. Loved it.

JUST STARTED

I haven’t started it yet, and may change my mind, but My library loan is just about to run out. It’s going to come down to whether I think I can finish it in time!

Now you know what I may be reading. What’s first on your TBR?

Deb

The Reading Chick Also Bakes: Bouchon Bakery – Chocolate Chunk and Chip Cookies

My baking challenge has gotten even more challenging while baking during a pandemic when everyone and their mother is learning how to bake bread. Not only is yeast hard to find but now flour is also getting hard to come by. Luckily, I had enough in the jar to bake these yummy cookies. Funny enough, because of the Chocolate tart I baked a few weeks ago, I also had enough high quality chocolate to use for the recipe.

As this is my second cookie recipe I was pretty familiar with some of the techniques that Bouchon Bakery uses to make their cookies extra special. I gathered my dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, and salt and sifted them together into a bowl. OK, I didn’t sift them this time. I’ll admit that I ran a fork through the mix to make sure it was blended in well.

I combined the dark brown sugar and sugar with molasses. That molasses (just shy of two teaspoons) really added an extra layer of flavor to these cookies that helped set them apart from normal chocolate chip cookies. I’ll be remembering this trick!

I mixed it together until with was kind of smooth. Then I took out my two bars of Valrhona chocolate and started chopping it up into pieces. Now, I didn’t mention this previously but I actually went on a trip to France a couple of years ago with my sister and my mom and we toured the Valrhona chocolate factory. OK, I’ll be honest, we mainly toured the gift shop, but I brought back a lot of cooking chocolate on that trip. However, these particular bars of chocolate were purchased here in the good ole USA in Sur La Table for $13.00 each. Yep, you read that right. I used the remaining 40% chocolate and chunked it up.

Then I ruined it by using Kroger brand semi-sweet chocolate chips for the chip portion of this recipe. Hey, we’re in a pandemic here! I can’t go running out to the store for high quality chocolate chips!

Next up was pommade-ing the butter. I have gotten to be a pro at this technique! I warm up my glass mixing bowl, with the butter in it over the flame of the gas stove top. I do NOT sit the bowl down. That would melt the rubber on the bottom of the bowl that fits it into my mixer. You really just want to warm the bowl so that when you whip that butter for three to four minutes it turns into the consistency of mayonnaise.

This makes such a huge difference! When you mix your sugars into that whipped butter it gives the words light and fluffy new meaning! Add your eggs, mix, and then you’re ready to add in your dry ingredients. Once that’s mixed add in your chocolate chips and chunks and vôilá! You have some extremely delicious cookie dough.

If I had only known this dough would only make 2 dozen cookies I’d have made more! Now, Bouchon wants you to make 6 very large cookies with this dough. Can you imagine? Although, I could certainly eat that humongous cookie, I think my family would have a cow that they only got one cookie each. It’s a psychological game we play with our baked goods. I use a one inch cookie scoop and made two dozen. Still not a lot of cookies but better than six.

I pop them in the oven and they are truly pretty looking cookies. They spread evenly, puff up the way they are supposed to and when they cool? Devine! Slightly chewy with a tang from that small bit of molasses. The chocolate taste? Yum!

This is an easy to make recipe and one that I will definitely return and bake. I will NOT be using $13 bars of chocolate, but I’d imagine it will still be just as good with a normal bar of 40% Hersheys or Ghiradelli chocolate.

I did not purchase anything extra for this recipe and used what I had in the house. I even had the molasses because I love to make gingerbread at the holidays, so the cost of this one was cheap. $0

I didn’t learn anything new but I was able to go back and use the pommade technique and I feel like I’ve gotten very good at that and can incorporate that into some future baking.

If you’d like to purchase this cookbook, here’s a picture and click the link below to go to it’s listing on Amazon.

Happy Baking!

Deb

Bouchon Bakery (The Thomas Keller Library)

This Chicks Audio Review: What Darkness Brings (Sebastian St. Cyr #8) by C.S. Harris

I haven’t written about this series lately but have still been occasionally listening to the audiobooks narrated by the very talented Davina Porter. She also narrates the Outlander books and convincingly voices characters from a number of countries. In this historical series we follow Sebastian St. Cyr who uses his investigative skills developed during the war to solve mysteries among his peers in London.

When his one time love Kat Boleyn’s new husband Russell Yates gets pinned for a murder he comes to her aid and investigates the murder of a former military comrade. As is the case with most of these mysteries there are political ties to the crown and his new father-in-law. As he fears those connections because of how it creates a wall between he and his newly pregnant wife, Hero, I love these connections. They always move their relationship into a more personal space tying them tighter together. Their feelings are no longer as one time lovers who now find themselves married, they now truly care for each other so their decisions about her father are carefully thought out. It’s both revealing and enthralling.

There are many plots, sub plots, and red herrings in When Darkness Brings and I love how I’m led down dark alleys and left to wonder what just happened to that plot point. Aha, foiled again! I had to say that, but really, C.S. Harris does a great job of giving the reader a piece of yarn to follow and then making us feel surprised but not disappointed when it doesn’t solve the mystery. As the next piece of evidence is revealed I’m immediately caught up again in the story and led down what I hope is the path that will lead to to enlightenment. Seriously, the plot was artfully woven and skillfully built. I loved this mystery, but I’ll admit, I’m a romantic at heart and I enjoy seeing Sebastian and Hero grow closer as each novel comes to a close.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* What Darkness Brings: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chick Read: Starbreaker (Endeavor #2) by Amanda Bouchet

Captain Tess Bailey is one of the most wanted starship pirates in the galaxy. Rebel leader and would be Robin Hood Tess is looking out for those less in the path of their Galaxy’s dictator, her father. At her side is one time bounty hunter Shade Ganavan. Sent to capture Tess, she instead has captured his heart. Now partners in a crusade to rescue scientist Reena Ahern on Starbase 12, a prison fortress. Starbreaker continues Tess and Shade’s love story with plenty of action and a little heartbreak.

As the second novel in the Endeavor series, Tess and Shade’s story was easier to fall into, but even though I liked the novel I still felt like there were a couple of issues that left me feeling out of sorts at the conclusion.

First, Tess has a band of friends who are her crew, and look up to her for leadership and seem to have put Tess on a bit of a pedestal. For some reason, in this novel, she felt so young. Her reactions to her romance with Shade and her daddy issues I felt like I was reading a teenage sci-fi romance. I kind of expected Tess to be a little bit more, well, adult.

Second, when the narration switched to Shade’s perspective I was let down by how much the author told me how he felt. It seemed a little bit too narrated and I had a hard time falling into like with his character. I actually liked him a lot more in the first novel when he had his secret bounty hunter life yet to be revealed to Tess. Here, he was just a love struck guy. In fact, it felt a little lopsided. He seemed so mature and she seemed, well, young. It made it harder to buy into their love story.

My last point is about the prison break storyline. The book starts out with their meeting with Reena Ahern’s husband and their mission to save her. Then that plot seemed to go away for 3/4’s of the book. Then it picked back up at the end with their finally making that trip to Starbase 12 and the rescue mission. I didn’t know who this character was, and really didn’t care if they rescued her or not. I wondered why the author didn’t build in more of her back story so that saving her made sense? I’m going to assume we find out a lot more about her character in the next novel as that plot was left somewhat unresolved.

I always have such high expectations from Amanda Bouchet because of my love for her previous series and just like Nightchaser, this book just fell a little flat for me. ❤️❤️❤️ ❣️

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase!* Starbreaker (Nightchaser Book 2)

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

Amanda Bouchet is a USA Today bestselling author of Fantasy Romance and Sci-fi Romance. She was a Goodreads Choice Awards top 10 finalist for Best Debut in 2016 with her first novel, A Promise of Fire. For more about Amanda’s books with equal parts adventure and kissing, connect with her atwww.amandabouchet.com.

Author Website: www.amandabouchet.com

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Tr79gb

B&N: http://bit.ly/3an8fiU

Apple: https://apple.co/3d2CAEN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/3cWL1BA

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/33nRjpJ

BAM: http://bit.ly/2IRGse0

Bookshop: https://bit.ly/2UoMgSS

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Top 5 Most Anticipated Book Releases – May’20

There are so many great book releases coming out next month. I know I won’t get to all of them, but here are my top 5. Hopefully, I will at least get to read these books sooner rather than later.

#5 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

Wait, what? Cletus and Jen have their own series? You know that’s a series I HAVE TO READ! First up is Engagement and Espionage. I can’t wait!

No synopsis available for this one, but click this link to purchase!* Engagement and Espionage (Handcrafted Mysteries Book 1)

#4 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

A spin-off of the Rock Chick series, this synopsis looks good. Let’s hope it harkens back to the older Rock Chick style rather than the newer all sex no plot style that miss KA has evolved into.

Synopsis: Two broken hearts find love and healing in each other in this sexy contemporary romance spin-off from the New York Times bestselling author of the Rock Chick and Dream Man series.
Evan “Evie” Gardiner has spent her whole life being the responsible one in her family, but enough is enough. It’s time to pursue her own dreams. Evie’s finally going to finish that engineering degree she’s been working toward. But first she needs to come up with the money to pay for tuition. Working as a dancer at Smithie’s club seems like the perfect solution to her problems . . . until her family lands in yet another scrape and comes to Evie for help. Only, this time, her family’s recklessness is risking more than her dreams-it’s endangering her life.
Daniel “Mag” Magnusson knows a thing or two about desperation and disappointment, but no one notices that his good looks and quick wit hide the painful memories that haunt him. When Evie’s family puts her in danger, Mag insists on offering Evie his protection. He has the skills to guard Evie’s life, but as they grow closer, Mag realizes he’ll need to come face-to-face with his demons to prove himself as the man who will protect her heart.

Click this link to purchase!* Dream Maker (Dream Team Book 1)

#3 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

This book just looks so sweet! I love the synopsis so I must give it a read!

Synopsis:

When their foster-turned-adoptive mother suddenly dies, four brothers struggle to keep open the doors of her beloved Harlem knitting shop.

Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hearts. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans for what to do with Strong Knits, their neighborhood knitting store. Jesse wants to keep the store open. His brothers want to tie off loose ends and close shop….

Part-time shop employee Kerry Fuller has kept her crush on Jesse a secret. When she overhears his impassioned plea to his brothers to keep the knitting shop open, she volunteers to help. Unlike Jesse, Kerry knows the “knitty-gritty” of the business, and together they make plans to reinvent Strong Knits for a new generation.

But the more time they spend together, the stronger the chemistry builds between them. Kerry, knowing Jesse’s history, doesn’t believe their relationship can last longer than she can knit one, purl two. But Jesse is determined to prove to her that he can be the man for her forever and always. After all, real men knit.

Click this link to purchase!* Real Men Knit

#2 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

A second chance romance and a possible Jane Austen/Persuasion re-telling? Interesting!

Synopsis:

From the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors comes another , clever, deeply layered, and heartwarming romantic comedy that follows in the Jane Austen tradition—this time, with a twist on Persuasion.

Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn’t a complete screw up? When she’s asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She’s a chef, what’s the worst that could happen? 

Rico Silva, that’s what.  

Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster. 

FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn’t too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he’s definitely over her. 

But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierce…and so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico.  Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreak—or a recipe for persuasion…? 

In Recipe for Persuasion, Sonali Dev once again takes readers on an unforgettable adventure in this fresh, fun, and enchanting romantic comedy.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Recipe for Persuasion: A Novel

MY MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE FOR MAY’20

It’s not just the title…. OK, maybe it’s the title that drew me. I’m dreaming of beaches right now. But, it also looks good!

Synopsis:

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They’re polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Beach Read

Well, these are my top 5. Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!

Deb

This Chick Read: Jagged (Colorado Mountain Series #5) by Kristen Ashley

The Colorado Mountain series is probably my third or fourth favorite KA series, with the Rock Chick and Burg series leading the pack. Jagged was released in 2013 and falls into what I call the pre erotica period of Kristen Ashley books. Her style is always very sexy, but her more recent books are more sex than plot and Jagged, thank goodness has a bit of both.

Our hero and heroine Zara and Ham have a bit of history. Ham, as a traveling bartender, had previous lived and worked in town with Zara and they had struck up a pretty casual relationship. At least on his side. Not wanting to be tied down to either one town or one woman Ham has always kept things light. Zara was a woman that remained under his skin. After surviving a serial killer (previous novels plot), Ham decides that life is short and after Zara reaches out to make sure he’s ok he shows up on her doorstep and decides now is the right time. Except it isn’t that time for Zara. Until he digs in and proves to Zara that this time he will stick around.

I liked Zara a lot. She is one of the more real heroines Kristen Ashley has written. She is a real woman with real problems and manages life in a way that her readers can identify with, there are ups and downs. Ham I had a harder time with. First, there was the name Ham. Yes, I know, it was a nickname and Zara was the only one that called him that, but to me it didn’t read cute. It read weird. He was definitely Alpha, like KA’s normal hero’s, and I do really like that aspect of her novels but something felt a little off in their love story. It may have been because he’s had a relationship with February Owens the heroine from the first novel in the Burg series who I absolutely loved. There was always a little bit of a comparison in my mind and although I liked Zara, I think that comparison was a little unfair. Feb had the whole serial killer stalker thing going on and Zara? She was a normal woman. I liked her, but there wasn’t a need for Ham to be a savior. Ms. Ashley does excel at those action plots and Jagged seemed a little tame.

I’m not saying I didn’t like this novel because I did! The sex hadn’t yet gotten over the top as the later KA novels have, and their relationship was nice. I guess that was it. They were nice but it just lacked that little bit of excitement.

If you like KA novels this is a solid effort and worth your 6-7 hours of reading time if for no other reason than to remind her readers how much they liked the Burg series. Hmm, maybe I will re-visit ‘For You’ and read Feb and Colton’s story again.

❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase!* Jagged (Colorado Mountain (5))

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chick Read: Raven Cursed (Jane Yellowrock #4) by Faith Hunter

Jane is hired by Leo Pelissier, Master City of New Orleans to work as a bodyguard for his envoy to a delegation to discuss a new Master in Asheville, Jane’s hometown. While there some werewolves have bitten some campers and Jane is brought in to investigate that savage attack. When she finds that it’s connected to her purpose in Asheville she soon finds herself up to her elbows in blood, guts, and bullets.

There were a few interlocking plots in Raven Cursed. Rick LaFleur, her ex-boyfriend bitten by both werewolves and were panther in the previous novel is in the Asheville area. He connects with Jane during this investigation and their relationship is again teased into existence. Having grown found of Rick from having read the Soulwood novels I’m eager to learn more of he and Jane’s back story so any Rick scenes are much appreciated.

Jane’s best friend and witch Mollie also lives in Asheville, and her big sister who turned slightly evil in Mercy Blade also gets a continuation of her story in Raven Cursed. Her possible tie to the attacks on Leo’s envoy and Jane herself make her an even more interesting piece of the puzzle than she had been in Mercy Blade.

Jane, herself, keeps evolving as we learn more about her past. I am even more intrigued by her than I was when this series started. Her sass, confidence, and yes, even Beast who lies within are interesting and keep me coming back for more. It’s on to book #5 with many more to go. I gotta admit, I just love that feeling. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* Raven Cursed : A Jane Yellowrock Novel(Paperback) – 2012 Edition

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase a book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

It’s Monday, what are you reading?

It’s Monday! Or should ai say it’s Anyday because when working from home they do all kind of blend in together. The weekend flew by too fast, but I enjoyed spending time outside in the beautiful weather, but also inside reading and streaming some new shows. Really, the important thing is that I felt like reading for the first time. I finished a book that was for pleasure only. Yay! Let me tell you about what’s shuffled on and off my nightstand.

This post originated over on Book Date, so thanks for the idea and letting me continue on the discussion about what books I am reading.

JUST FINISHED

You either love or hate shifter romance novels. I’m pretty ‘meh’ about them except for when it’s Shelly Laurenston. She writes with such a sense of humor that you know she doesn’t take herself seriously. This was a fun book but I am ready to move on from this badger series. Yeah, that sounded weird to me too!

JUST STARTED

I am switching genre‘s from romantic fantasy to science fiction. This is the second book in the Nightchaser series. I was a little disappointed in Nightchaser so I hope this book gets off to a fast start!

Ok, now it’s your turn to share what books you are reading this week!

Stay safe and healthy!

Deb

This Chick Read: The Big Finish by Brooke Fossey

Octogenarian Duffy Sinclair is living in what he hopes is his final residence Centennial Assisted Living. His roommate Carl and he are a bit of an odd couple with Duffy the gruff and surly character to Carl’s straight-laced Oscar. Or so Duffy thinks. One night a young woman in her 20’s sneaks through the window of their bedroom and claims she’s Carl’s granddaughter Josie. It’s a surprise to Duffy as Carl has claimed he didn’t have any children. AS the story unfolds their secrets are revealed and neither is who the other thought he was and Josie? She’s exactly who she says she is but her story creates a need, in Carl to finally be a grandfather, and in Duffy, a chance to redeem himself by helping this young woman through a difficult time.

OK, I’ll just say that this novel is a total departure from my normal reading. When I described the book to my husband (briefly) as a book about two old guys in an assisted living facility he asked me if it was a love story. Ha! Nope, or er, well, maybe? But not between Duffy and Carl, although there was a deep friendship and love did live in that relationship.

I really loved Duffy. He was so surly and not apologetic about it at all. However, when Josie enters his life he see’s in her a soulmate of sorts, and his chance for redemption for a life he felt he’d wasted. Interestingly enough, Josie was also drawn to Duffy, rather more so than Carl. Understandably so when you realize that Carl’s faults contributed to Josie’s problems- in a big way. As Duffy navigates through life in Centennial, helping to hide Josie during her visit, and and his issues with his roommate Carl you realize there’s a lot more to this old man that seemed at first. Those little details are why I loved him so much. He had so much heart!

The cast of characters in the assisted living facility were what brought life to this novel. Alice’s gentle beauty, Mrs. Zimmerman’s confused meanderings, and Sharon’s evil selfishness. All added depth and meaning to Duffy’s character adding a realness that the thought of him not accomplishing his goal of helping Josie wasn’t insurmountable. The humor and life that filled Centennial really opened my eyes to the life within our elderly. Yeah, I know this was fiction, but their problems were real and I just didn’t want to think that their days were slowly coming to an end.

I can’t help but wonder what brought this story into Brooke Fossey’s mind. In today’s world the elderly are almost forgotten, but Ms. Fossey has done a very good job of bringing them back into the light in a really positive heart-rending way. Even at the end, when I was quietly shedding tears, I has really happy that I’d read this novel and gotten to know these characters. Somehow through Duffy’s trials and tribulations I learned something about myself as well. This is a story I’ll reflect on for a while. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase!* The Big Finish

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved.

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.