HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! I hope your 2023 year (and mine) will be the best yet!!! 😀 I hope everyone’s weekend was eventfully fun, but safe, or safely quiet and cozy. Mine was definitely cozy. We had most of my boyfriend’s kids here for New Years Eve (and New Years) and we snuggled up on the couch, ate tons of Christmas snacks that flooded our pantry, and watched three different “ball drop” shows. The kids were shocked I was still awake at midnight to even participate in the countdown. LOL!!!! 😂 Yes… I am THAT GIRL that falls asleep during movies, no matter what time of the day it is. Except for horror. 😉
THREE THINGS:
1.) One of the Christmas gifts I bought my dog was a frisbee (this was a replacement for the same one that I had to replace after months and months of actively chewing on it – which means my aggressive chewer did really well with it. It lasted!!!). This thing is solid and it took him forever to cut a slice in it, so for this price, I don’t mind getting him another one.
2.) But I also got him this one, thinking it would last, too, but that he might enjoy the different texture for his teeth. Annnnnnd he sliced through the rubber parts within the first 5 minutes of unboxing it – little blue plastic parts everywhere. Grrrrrr! So if you have an aggressive chewer, this is not the one. This price… not so fond of. I could have bought myself a nice big Italian sub, or maybe a Philly cheesesteak or something yummy for ME to chew on, instead. *hrmph* 😑 P.S. Can you tell I’m hungry?
3.) I’m going to make a chicken salad sandwich in just a few minutes. We made a TON of grilled chicken, so we have plenty of leftovers. Sliced up chicken, celery, Hellmans, salt & pepper, and my Keto bread will start me off right today.
LOOK WHAT JUST WENT LIVE !!!
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- Golden (The Golden Wolf Book 1) by Shannon Mayer <— SHE ESCAPED HER FAMILY & HER MOM CURSED HER! “…No one leaves the Grayling pack and gets away with it. They drag me back, but not for the reason I believe. My mother has made an enemy of a powerful witch and I am to take the punishment meant for her. Death would have been kinder. This curse? What I am now? It’s so much worse than I could have imagined. She didn’t just cut me off from my wolf, or even simply kill me. She made me a golden retriever and sent me to a shelter. I’m ready to die in truth now, I’m hoping for it even. And then my mate walks in...but how am I supposed to convince him I’m the strong partner he needs to help him stop the end of the world when I can’t stop wagging my freaking tail?” <— HAHAA!! 😂
- Moving On: A grumpy/sunshine MM romance by Felice Stevens
- Dirty Little Midlife (fake) Date: A Later-in-Life Romantic Comedy (Heart’s Cove Hotties Book 9) by Lilian Monroe
- Irresistibly Broken : A Grumpy Boss Romance (Irresistibly Yours Book 1) by J. Saman <— GRUMPY/SUNSHINE!! “…She has no business being here. Her presence far from a coincidence, the more I learn of her secrets and troubled past, the more perilous things become for me. I can’t trust her. I can’t fire her. And I can’t claim her full lips with mine. Now it’s a keep your friends close and your enemies even closer situation. Except keeping this stunning woman who surprises me at every turn close isn’t as easy as it sounds. She’s a delicious load of sunshine wrapped in smiles and enticing laughter...”
- Blackout (Benson First Responders Book 2) by Lisa Phillips
- January is for Jackson: A brother’s best friend, grumpy mountain man, curvy girl romance (Mountain Men of Mustang Mountain) by Dylann Crush and Eve London
- Vicariously by Meagan Pringle <— THE OUTCASET & THE COLLEGE HOCKEY STAR! “…Hazel Ellis always preferred books to people. She’d always been the shy outcast living in her popular best friend’s shadow. However, one moment with an attractive guy changed her life. She’s unknowingly captured the attention of Campbell Atwood – the most popular hockey player at her college...”
- Evan: Hunted Mate : A Fated Mate Shifter Romance (Bear Heroes Book 2) by Aline Ash and Crystal Layne
- Grave Pursuits (Pennsylvania Parks Book 1) by Elle E. Kay
- Storm’s Secret Baby: Small Town Age Gap Secret Pregnancy Romance (The Clark Port Daddies’ Secret Babies Book 9) by Cassie Wood
- Come In With The Rain (Berserkr Gym Book 1) by B. Randall <— THE CONTRACTOR SAW HER BOYFRIEND CHEATING ON HER!! “…Now, Stella’s single, unemployed, and all on her own in a condo that’s falling apart around her. Ex-marine Adam Lake didn’t mean to throw a grenade onto Stella Hart’s life, but he’s glad he did. When his boss fires him for interfering in the lives of his clients, Adam finally gathers the courage to start his own home repair business, starting with Stella Hart’s condo. Stella and Adam come to an agreement: he’ll fix up her condo if she’ll agree to let him show it off to potential clients...”
- Court of Death and Dreams: A Fated Mates Romantasy (The Forsaken Book 3) by Meg Anne
- The Sea Rose (Lords & Ladies of the Sea Book 1) by Mariella Hunt
- Hunger: A Dark Love Story by Monique Edenwood <— BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE!! “…I’ve been hurt before, and I won’t allow any man to take control again. Even one as coveted as him. The only problem is… when he touches me, I want only to melt, to let go, to finally trust again. His words are rough, but his touch is strangely tentative, even when he binds my hands behind my back. He wants a brand of submission he’ll never get from me...”
- The Hopeless Romantic’s Guide to Avoiding Love: A Novel by Jolie Harris
- Less is Moore: Moore Family Romance Series (Moore Family series Book 3) by Anna Castor
- Texas Lane: Everything’s Bigger in Texas by Andie Fenichel
- King of Her Dreams: Short Kings by Karla Doyle
- My Blind Date is a Ghost: A Paranormal Romance (Love is Blind Book 5) by Daphne Bloom <— SHE WAS A GHOST FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS BUT NOW SHE’S ALIVE AGAIN! “…While Cora wants to make the most of her second life, she also needs to find out who brought her back and why if she is to have any hope of staying alive. When the resident matchmaker sets Cora up with the handsome detective determined to help her, can Cora risk falling in love when she’s afraid of dying again?…”
- A Mafia Hand: Juno: A Billionaire Romantic Suspense Novel (High Stakes Book 1) by Shilo West
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PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )
- The Back Nine (40s, Love, and Romance Book 1) by Rachel Blaufeld – January 10th 2023
- Breaking All The Rules by Amy Andrews – January 24th 2023
- Blush by Helen Hardt – January 24th 2023
- Recovery Road (Torpedo Ink Book 8) by Christine Feehan – January 24th 2023
- In Her Highlander’s Bed: A Novel (Highland Brides Book 11) by Lynsay Sands – January 24th 2023
- Wild (The Wild Book 1) by Micalea Smeltzer – January 26th 2023
- Accidental Wife (The Jilted Wives Club Book 5) by Bethany Lopez – January 26th 2023
- Armed and Charmed: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel: (Princess Procedural) (Haven Hollow Book 24) by H.P. Mallory and J.R. Rain – January 27th 2023
- Havoc (Special Edition): A marriage-of-convenience small town, hot cop romance. (The Moonshine Task Force: Special Edition Series Book 3) by Laramie Briscoe – January 27th 2023
- Touch of Hate : A Dark Romance by C. Hallman and J.L. Beck – January 27th 2023
- The Bachelor Contract by Victoria James – January 30th 2022
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I loved the favorite wartime historical novels post. I will definitely check the books, it’s one of my favorite genres.
I discover a new author whose book is out today. It’s When fate was forbidden by A Amaro. It’s insane how good it is for a first novel. It’s part of a duet and the next book will be out in March. It’s an epic love story between a religious Muslim girl and a bad boy. Their chemistry is amazing and it has intensity and passion loved in 2011-2012 romances. And the cast of secondary characters is fantastic too.
It absolutely a five star for me.
Thank you Alyssa!!
This one will be posted on this week’s Friday Finds (and it sounds AMAZING!!!)
Happy New Year!
1. Speaking of movies, have you seen Fall? It’s not horror per se, but I did watch most of it with my eyes closed. It’s a survival movie like The Shallows, but with climbing. Skip the trailer and go in blind! You’re not falling asleep during this one.
2. I made a roast last week and didn’t have the stuff to do pepperoncini so I coated it with seasonings (cajun, italian, seasoned salt, etc.) and poured a mix of chicken broth and 1/2 a jar of Rao’s over it. It was soooo good. We skipped the usual roasted potatoes and carrots and ate it over penne instead. Next time I might skip the chicken broth so the sauce is thicker. And yes, Rao’s is imperative!
3. I only did a top 5 for last year because I only read 26 books. I’ve been in a rut. 🙁 If a book doesn’t grab me immediately, I have a hard time picking it back up. The good news is, most of the books I read were stellar!
Fall! That’s one I saw the trailer for a while ago and told my daughter we must watch it and then I couldn’t remember the name of it and searched all over but could only remember what it was similar to. I never did find the title, so thanks!
And your roast sounds amazing. My Mom made us one recently with penne and tomatoes and I’d have never thought to do it that way, but it was delish! I’m out of beef, but I ordered my first 1/2 of a 1/2 all by myself like a proper adult a couple days ago. Now I wait 3-4 weeks.
We are similar reading numbers for the year. I don’t feel like I should do a best of bc I’ve not read enough romance. I’m in a time rut more than anything. One day, when the kids are less needy. Lol
Just do a top 5! It doesn’t matter if they aren’t romance. My favorite of the year for 2021 was a thriller and the rest of my top 10 included 2 horror novels!
Yep!
Mine this year will be a few books and a bunch of movies or shows that sucked me in.
I’m finally reading again, and have two more reviews to come and (in fact, reading one from Connie’s “Best Of” list – Lessons in Chemistry – so far so very good!).
So my 2023 list should be all books, but it’s okay to include anything we loved like crazy.
bev once did a “Best Of” list like that for us because she wasn’t reading as much (included podcasts she was listening to and K-Pop bands and Korean dramas she loved), and I was all to happy too post it. Just stuff that WE loved in 2022 is perfectly fine.
Also, I’m not reading much romance either… right now I am into women’s lit, or thrillers, and I LOVE lists loaded in stuff like that.
Okay before I forget, I need to know about this tomato penne roast??? Please have your mom give us the details. It all sounds yummy to me.
Braised Beef Ragu
2lb Chuck Roast, quartered
Flour, for dusting
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, sliced thick
6 sprigs fresh thyme
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 cup dry, red wine
2 cups beef stock
1 cup water
1 (15oz can) diced tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp anchovies paste
4 tbsp sugar
1 lb tube pasta
Sea salt and cracked black pepper
1/2 cup basil leaves
Finely grated Parmesan, to taste
Heat oven to 350. Dust the roast with flour and shake to remove excess. Heat 2tbsp of oil in a Dutch oven or heavy bottom saucepan over high heat. Cook the beef on each side until brown, about 2-3 minutes. Remove beef from the pan and set aside.
Reduce heat to low, and add the remaining oil, onion, thyme, and garlic; cook for 6-8 minutes until softened. Increase heat to high. Add the wine and cook, scraping the bottom of the pan, for 2-3 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Add the stock, water, tomatoes, tomato paste, anchovy paste, and sugar, and stir to combine. Return beef to the pan, cover with a tight fitting lid, transfer to the oven, and roast for 2 hours. Remove the lid and roast for another 30 minutes. Remove beef from the pan, shred the meat using 2 forks, and discard any fat. Return meat to the sauce, mix to combine, and set aside.
Cook pasta in a large saucepan of salted boiling water until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and add pasta to the beef sauce. Season mixture with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. To serve, top with basil and sprinkle with Parmesan. Serves 4-6.
She got it from a calendar, funny enough. She said it was super easy and the only thing she didn’t use was anchovy paste.
I will watch Fall. I love those kinds of movies (like Frozen – kids get stuck over days in a ski lift trying to sneak in a last round while the place is closing down for the week).
Also, I was once out of peppperonicins for my pot roast, so I used an entire jar of medium pickled jalapeños and it might have been my best one yet! And I’ve never included any liquids but the liquid from the pickled “things” jar that I’m using.
Ooh I’ll check out Frozen. I’ve pretty much exhausted the list of disaster movies but I know I’m missing a ton of survival movies.
Can’t wait for the new Torpedo Ink book by Christine Feehan. Absolutely LOVE this series!
I need to make a post dedicated to the series. Thank you Lauren!!!
1. Tonight I am little one free but as always, have a list to accomplish. Boo.
2. I’m getting my hair done tomorrow. As a Xmas gift, my Mom got me a gift card for it. Besides having no time, we didn’t have extra money bc of all the home construction in the last year. So my last cut or color was April. My ends are pretty bad. I’ve been trying to make them better with hair oil on them every day.
3. I bought a huge container of croissants from Sam’s Club the other day and smeared Nutella in it this morning and mmmmmm. Such a treat!
Sounds like perfection. I love both equally. You practically made “pains au chocolat” yummmmmm 😋