<— Happy Monday everyone!!! The Early birds are up, and look at one that JUST WENT LIVE!!!! Vi Keeland’s latest, (older woman/younger man) and she meets him on a dating site… but she realizes she already knows him!! SQUEEEE!!
It’s another week of books and reading and telling each other things! Like…
THREE THINGS:
1.) I just went to a really big nursery and purchased a Blue Agave plant (the tequila plant!!). It can grow to be 8′ tall and wide, has a sharp needle spines at the end of each leaf-thingie (you know, like the arm thingies that Aloes grow that we can cut and use for burns and stuff? Those “fronds” thingies? I need to look up what we actually call those). Though, you can’t really use these arms for anything if you cut them off (in fact, they produce a rash on your skin and itch like crazy as a defense) and you have to be really careful around them because they’ll hurt! But it IS one of the plants used for making tequila. Of course, it’s not as easy as it sounds (can’t just tap it when it’s 8 foot high and have a party. LOL!! 😛 So much more goes into all that and it’s fascinating). But when it grows, it so symmetrical and HUGE and beautiful and kind of… blueish. I love it already. 😀
2.) It poured all night last night with a thunderstorm that lasted hours. And Hobbit (one of my minpins HATES thunderstorms) so I was up most of the night with her and I’m pretty exhausted right now…
3.) Just finished the latest Jewel E. Ann book, “Jersey Six” (read it pretty much in one sitting yesterday), so my review is coming next. And yes, the twist-reveal surprised me!
ALSO BREAKING NEWS UPDATE!! BIG NEW KINDLE UNLIMITED MEMBERSHIP & PRIME MEMBERSHIP DEAL ALERT!! 👏👏👏👏
➔➔ Prime members that have not joined Kindle Unlimited yet can get a KU membership for THREE MONTHS FREE!
Linda: Thanks so much for letting us know!!! This is an AWESOME bargain!!! 😁
LOOK WHAT JUST WENT LIVE !!!
- All Grown Up by Vi Keeland <— BREAKING NEWS UPDATE!!! Vi Keeland‘s LATEST IS LIVE!!! OLDER WOMAN/YOUNGER MAN ALERT!!! DATING PROFILE & HER DATE ends up being her neighbor’s son (now all grown up)… EEEEEP!!!! “The profile wasn’t supposed to go live. Another point that bears repeating–it wasn’t supposed to. Nevertheless, that’s how I met Ford, and we started messaging. He made me laugh; yet I was adamant that because of his age, we could only be friends. But after weeks of wearing me down, I finally agreed to one date only–my first after twenty years of being with my high school sweetheart. I knew it couldn’t last, but I was curious about him. Though, you know what they say…curiosity kills the cat.
- Dark Ties: A Dark High School Romance (Broken Saints Society 1) by Leia Thorne
- The Sweetest Things: A Quirky Small Town Romance (Starlight Harbor Book 1) by Bria Quinlan <— HER SMALL TOWN GOT A BAD REVIEW… “…Lyra Grigor is the easy going, sweet, smile-at-everyone owner of The Sweetest Things. When an annoying travel site puts Starlight Harbor on their Top Ten Tacky Tiny Towns list for the fourth year running, she knows it’s time to give the writer a bit of spicy tart instead of a teaspoon of sugar…”
- Married to the Rake (The Wallflower Brides Book 1) by Samantha Holt
- Mancandy Crush: A Ponderosa Resort Novella (Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies Book 6) by Tawna Fenske
- A Pride Christmas (Pride Series Romance Novels Book 10) by Jill Sanders
- Corrado (The Guzzi Legacy Book 1) by Bethany Kris <— LIVE!! BETHANY KRIS ALERT!! MAFIA ROMANCE & she changes everything… “…The son of a prominent Cosa Nostra Don, Corrado Guzzi’s life should have been all mapped out. He would be what every other Guzzi man was, too—made, mafia. It’s their way. But when given another choice, the chance to be something more, he takes it. Even if it comes with strings...”
- Witching Hour: An Ante-Fae Adventure (Wild Hunt Book 7) by Yasmine Galenorn
- The Right Stuff (Love in Brazen Bay Book 2) by Brill Harper
- Christmas Wedding (Cliffside Bay Series ) by Tess Thompson
- Christmas in His Arms: A Dallas Debutante/Reunited Lovers/Christmas Story (Dallas Debutantes) by Cynthia D’Alba
- An Unplanned Christmas (Yours for Christmas Book 3) by Lizzie Shane
- Bet Me to Stay by Candace Havens <— SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS MANY CATS…. LOL!!! “…After a bet with his brother, Liam O’Connor has to date the next woman who walks into the pub. And he’s all in, because his pub is on the line. What he didn’t expect was Cassie Meadows, who at first glance with her big glasses and bulky sweater looks like a woman who has many, many cats––but her wit and smile make him wonder what’s underneath her bulky armor…”
- Nightfall: A Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy (Gods of War Chronicles Book 2) by Elizabeth Hartwell
- Abducted by Magic (Guardians of Magic Book 1) by Elena Gray and Kelli McCracken
- Butter Pecan Dream (An Ice Cream Shop Series Novella Book 8) by Angela K Parker
- Sooner Than You Think (Think Series Book 1) by K. Michelle <— THEY FELL IN LOVE SO QUICKLY BUT THE END IS NEAR… “…The last 6 years have been the most difficult, and lonely, of my life. Moving to Charleston to help open a bakery, that my best friend Talia had started, was the only thing keeping me going after tragedy had struck. Then I met Ryland, and I don’t think falling in love had ever been easier. But as quickly as we fell in love, the end was dangling in front of us. A clock counting down…”
- Cabin Fever by Annabelle Costa <— TRAPPED IN HER CAR DURING A SNOW STORM… “…And then when all hope felt lost, he appeared—a shadowy figure emerging from the depths of the blizzard. Except my dashing hero on a mighty steed was instead a hulking beast of a man with an eyepatch and a beard, driving a pickup truck. He offered his small cabin as shelter until the storm blew over. He saved my life. But this mysterious, rugged stranger is no prince…”
- The Score (Massey Security Duet Book 2) by S. Nelson <— NEEDS TO BE READ IN ORDER!! P.S. Here’s book #1: The Assignment (Massey Security Duet Book 1)
- Singers of Atlantis (Matt and Kat Book 2) by <— SOULMATES… “…For the first time since she returned to the vacation town of Atlantis, Kat hates the magic of soul mates. They’re complicated. They take a while to find. And they’re not even all you hoped they would be. She wants nothing more to do with them. But when she and her childhood crush, Matt Michaels, find out that he has a week to fix his severed soul, or be considered incurable, she wants nothing more than to find the girl who started all this…“
- Accidental Evils (The Pagano Brothers Book 3) by Susan Fanetti <—- LIVE!! SUSAN FANETTI ALERT!!
Jan: Also, I saw Accidental Evils is out. #3 in Susan Fanetti’s Pagano Brothers series. *click* Yay 😀
…My top January read would be Susan Fanetti’s …Hidden Worthiness (Pagano Brothers #2). A rare book I just didn’t want to put down. Just HAD to turn the page to see what happened next for the scarred, reclusive mafia dude and his ballerina…
PREORDERS (going live at midnight!!! 😀 )
- Just Love by Prescott Lane – July 9th 2019
- The Prenup: A Modern Romantic Comedy by Lauren Layne – July 9th 2019
- Under Currents by Nora Roberts – July 9th 2019
- Last Summer: A Novel by Kerry Lonsdale – July 9th 2019
Dax: An Arizona Vengeance Novel by Sawyer Bennett – July 9th 2019 - Only Ever You by C.D. Reiss – July 9th 2019
➔➔➔ Get Maryse’s Book Blog updates delivered by email (you’ll get one daily email that will have each post from that day consolidated on it).
Morning!
1, I didn’t get a tequila plant 😉 but I did get a spider plant AND some pink flamingos for my garden. The plastic lawn garden flamingo things orinate from where I live.
2, I haven’t been reading 🙁 as I feel like last several weeks have been a constant running around. I need to finish Letters to Molly and am hoping to get to that tonight.
3, I need lots of coffee STAT!!!
*pours two cups of coffee for Leslie*
I dont have pets keeping me awake but I haven’t slept a full night in months. It’s awful. Thanks for the coffee! It helps.
I know what you mean. It’s been weeks since I’ve been able to sit down for one whole day and read a book from start to finish. I miss a-book-a-day days…
On coffee #4 and starting to perk up a bit.
I forgot to mention one of the reasons I’ve been extra crabby. I didnt like my instant pot and ended up returning it. SO BUMMED!!! I more of a slow cooker person and ordered a ninja 4 in 1 thingy instead. So…hit me with good crockpot recipes!!!
I love Tasha’s cube steak, Maryse’s Mississippi pot roast and I need to try Amy’s pesto chicken. What are other meal ideas??
https://www.tablefortwoblog.com/take-out-fake-out-beef-broccoli-crockpot/ I threw cut carrots in to cook with the meat and threw a steamer bag of broccoli in the microwave and just added that when meat was done cooking. Served with rice a couple days and noodles a day.
Tasha, I am DEFINITELY trying this one. I love the idea of adding carrots. Thanks!! Your last recipe was huge hit with the hubs. I would automatically think “rice” with this but how yummy would it be with egg noodles???
Right? It was a hit with the kids. They’re still asking for it and we typically always forget what I make bc I try new recipes so often. I’ve resorted to taking photos so we can remember. Lol. I just used spaghetti noodles the one day bc we’d run out of rice, they may have loved that more. I made a big list of more, but it said it was waiting for moderation. Then it disappeared, I hope it worked!
This sounds sooo yummy!!
I loved the flavor of this and did make the homemade mushroom soup linked in there. https://mycrazygoodlife.com/healthy-pot-roast/
https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-basil-chicken-rice/ This is so yum! I forgot this recipe, I shall make it this week.
https://www.whiskingmama.com/the-best-crock-pot-pork-tenderloin/ The orzo in this recipe is delish as well.
https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/weeknight-beef-bourguignon/ This makes me feel fancy.
I recently made the bbq pineapple chicken outta this recipe https://www.asweetpeachef.com/slow-cooker-shredded-chicken/. And we eat as is, on sandwiches, and made 2 pizzas with it and froze the rest.
I like cooking chicken breasts in mine. They cook in 3 hours. I’ll use just bbq, Italian dressing, broth and use them in a soup, or throw a jar of pesto in and add it all to noodles. Sometimes a jar of salsa for tacos. But, I prefer to just do a bit of broth and add a T or so of my own taco seasoning. And soups! Lots of soups, though it’s too hot now for that.
One of my littles is terrified of thunderstorms too. And it’s been a crazy storm season this year. The other two aren’t bothered at all. The 4th was rough! Poor litttle fella.
I LOVE the Blue Agave plant! Gorgeous. They’re so expensive here. Maybe you’ll have better luck with tequila than corn!
Can’t wait for your review of Jersey Six. You know when you love an author’s style so much you’re not ready to leave it just yet? Yeah, that was me. So I’m reading Only Trick by Jewel E Ann right now.
I can tell you right now, nobody will dare pluck that sucker. HE BITES!!!! LOL!!!! I’ll take a picture soon.
1. My husband bought me 2nd row Lifehouse tickets for one of the few shows they’re doing this year. In Arizona!! I’m so excited I can’t stand it!!!
2. Our pool is almost done, but they made a royal mess of the pebble patio we wanted so we’re delayed again while they try to fix it.
3. My new obsession is trying to make the perfect pitcher of unsweetened tea. I’m on batch 4. It gets closer each time, but it’s still not there. There must be some big restaurant secret I’m not privy to!
How can you really tweak unsweetened tea? I’m a HUGE unsweetened tea fan, but I don’t make it myself.
I had some in a restaurant the other day and it was unbelievable! I used to start with boiling tap water then add filtered at the end. Now I’m using only filtered and that’s helped, but it’s still not quite right.
I take a bunch of tea bags & steep them for 5 minutes only (or else it gets bitter) in 4 cups of boiling hot water. Then I add ice & cold water to taste. The trick is a quick strong base.
What’s a bunch? And are they family sized or the little ones? And how much water? To make a gallon? Or is your pitcher smaller? 😂
I want to know too! Lol
Update: I added about a tablespoon of pineapple juice to my glass on this last batch and it made a big difference! It’s not enough that you’d know it’s pineapple; it just adds something. Now I need to do the math for a pitcher.
Best so far: boil 3 cups cold filtered water. Brew 2 Luzianne family sized tea bags for 5 minutes. Pour over 3 cups cold filtered water. Stir in 1/3 cup pineapple juice. Drink with a squeeze of lemon or lime. Yumm!!
Boil four cups water. Immediately add 2-3 big bags (I use Lipton ice tea blend).., steep 5 minutes. Then add enough ice and cold water to make a 2 quart-ish pitcher. And if you want it sweet, use simple syrup, not sugar direct (it’ll get cloudy).
1. Not reading at all right now. 🤷♀️
2. In LOVE with One Spring Night. In love. It comes to Netflix on the 12th. I say check it out. The filming style reminds me of late 80s/early 90s. Lots of use of the soundtrack, in true k drama style. I swear when I love the characters I have a pavlovian response to the songs. Instead of annoying I get giddy. I fear I’d be easy to brainwash. Anyway it is about a woman in a long term advantageous relationship that then falls for someone else. Someone that because he is a single dad that everyone looks down on, bit of a culture difference than what we are used two. She has two awesome sisters one of who’s story is rage inducing and heartbreaking. I’m a little worried because viewers felt burned by the ending of this director and writers last collaboration. Next week is the last ep and hope for good things.
3. Oh, bought a little pick me up for myself. A lemon scented body oil. I really like it though lighter than I expected, but I think unisex so makes sense. So at first disappointing because go ahead make me smell like a lemon drop, but now into it.
Anyway, if I read a good book or at all I’ll try and comment more. Just really into dramas and music right now.
bev!!! Where can I get the lemon body oil??? I want!!!! That’s my favorite scent.
P.S. You don’t need to be reading to be hanging with us. I love to hear about EVERYTHING else we’re into. Them’s the rules!!! 😛
It’s the Jordan Samuel Olio per Il Corpo. Very light scent but I’m liking it.
1. Last week was SO busy, I got no reading done. For the 4th, we went camping/boating and it was a long day alone. Splash pad, sleepovers, farmers markets, carpet installed, babysitting and streaming Stranger Things. Oh! And I got caught up on laundry and then in the same day, made myself a few days worth of extra loads. I would like 2 washers so maybe I can get ahead and stop thinking about it.
2. Something is biting my son at night. Every day there’s a new cluster of bites. Mostly on his legs. Well, I was assuming it was a spider, we get those a lot in those rooms, and I’ve caught 1 red handed once l, so I had my husband hunt and we didn’t find anything. Then I though, maybe mosquito? Maybe I should put a big light inside and catch the culprit. Then, I googled and now I’m paranoid it’s freakin bed bugs. We checked EVERYWHERE and there’s no sign, so I’m praying!! But, who knows? So hubs is sleeping in there to see what happens and daughter tonight. And we’ll go from there.
3. I tried watching Euphoria last night since I have HBO for a short while for BLL2, and it’s weird. I dk if I like it. Super exciting, I know. 😝
Bed bugs?!?!? Ack. Scary thought. But just around ankles?? Walking in grass during day?
No, on his thighs, in clusters. Some around the knees and elbows. I will have a heart attack if it’s bedbugs, I swear!
Rule of thumb: bed bug bites are usually on top half of body, flea bites on lower half… and in warm moist areas. And sometimes in clusters (like three bites close together). Eeeek either way!
Three things:
1. Just came home from a midwinter holiday at the beach. It was great! We had a couple of sunny days when we could do some beach walking, but when it rained we just stayed in our lovely little unit on the beach with a perfect ocean view. Heaven. We wanted to see some whales swim past (the humpbacks migrating north up the east coast of Australia for the winter) but we didn’t see any 🙁 One whale apparently had a baby when we were there, at a place about twenty minutes away. but we didn’t see momma or bubba 🙁
2. We went out for breakfast one morning on our holiday and had “Canadian style” buttermilk pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. Not sure if that’s what’s eaten in Canada, but it was super yum. I could hardly eat for the rest of the day, though cos it was so filling.
3. Saw quite a few emus and kangaroos on our trip, in their native habitats. Got a great photo of one VERY WET kangaroo on a rainy day.
Hi Jan, I’m in Canada! (London, Ontario)! It was probably called “Canadian Pancakes” because of the maple syrup, and depending on the type of bacon. If it wasn’t streaky bacon; the strips; it was probably what we call peameal bacon, but in some other countries they call it Canadian bacon. lol. Sounds like you had a great holiday.
I just finished All Grown Up and loved it. What a fun read. I decided to give audio books a go and because I’ve been missing my Outlander, I decided to listen to the series on audible. I’m really enjoying it. Although, I tend to listen as I fall asleep and miss 2 or 3 chapters lol. Good thing I’ve read the series many times.
Jan
Absolutely loved HIDDEN WORTHINESS also. Read it a couple a months ago. Just finished ACCIDENTAL EVILS and it was good but not like HW. Had a hard time getting into it but I knew Fannetti would make it good and last half really picked up.
I enjoyed both. My fav is still Nick Pagano’s story, though. (Deep). For something very different, I also loved her recent release, Carry The World.