43 Friday Finds and Reader Recommendations!!! – January 27th 2017

Hmmm…sounds like Serengeti skates the Marmy border without actually crossing into Marmy territory.

Huh. I haven’t even read it yet and I’m trying to make sure no one is scared off from it. 😉

Lol thanks for clarifying that Amy

My pleasure, Fabi. *snicker*

Marmy intense…..so only the secondary characters die not the MC. And the h doesn’t have an a fair just a one night stand.

Oh yeah, we’re awesome like that. 😉

I don’t know if any of you look at the NYT Best Sellers list. I peek at it now and then. I still consider it a big deal. This is the upcoming Feb 5 top 5

Combined Print & E-Book Fiction

NEVER NEVER by James Patterson and Candice Fox
A DOG’S PURPOSE by W. Bruce Cameron
A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman
FEVERSONG by Karen Marie Moning
EGOMANIAC by Vi Keeland

Some of our favs are on there. 🙂

What the actual F***… *bwahahahah* omg… Amy!!! for serious?!?! a milking machine?!?!?

I don’t know what to read… I don’t think I have your book. I gotta check my kindle, it’s charging, somehow my wifi was on and searching for a signal all day and drained my battery today.

But if I don’t…I’m out. I can’t buy books. *cry* So… hmmmm, I may need someone to give me a number…

60.

when does it release!?

I just finished Silent Waters and it’s a 5 star read for me! Not sure everyone else would feel the same, but I have personal reasons for loving it.

It was sooooo angsty. Does that make it a potential Marmy book?

Maggie may and Brooks just broke my heart. I love stories that start out in childhood. Her father marries a woman when she is 6 and they join that family. The world is wonderful and she has a new sister and brother – and the bonus of her brother’s best friend. She decides she is going to marry him. He’s beyond annoyed. She is full of love and laughter and joy.

At some point, things happen and she is no longer that girl. But he wants to still be that boy. But can he? Can she ever be again?

I don’t ant to possibly put any spoilers, but dang, this story is heartbreaking. A true love story. I am going to recommend it to anyone who wants that achy book.

Thanks for that list Grey, I one-clicked Tapping the Billionaire. I’m gonna finish Ove now and then I’m going to do some samples and see what I’m in the mood for next, because I’m completely FREE for the rest of the night!! Whooo! This never, ever happens. 😀 And, *drumroll please* I’ve spent my morning and half of the afternoon picking bathroom things and I made decisions! With the help of you ladies, I decided on a dark wood vanity with like a black glass top and a white porcelain bowl that sits above it. It’s kind of curved in the front, and it’s beAutiful! I also picked 4 paint samples within the same range as the gray I’ve already got on my walls. I decided on a fun print with a bold color for the wall behind the vanity. I’ve narrowed down light fixtures. And that’s it, but it’s something! 🙂 Yay!!

Tasha your bathroom sounds lovely. I’m jealous. Mine is looking a bit tired but everything works and I can’t really justify a renovation at the moment 🙁

Jen, I hope you enjoy Wrecking Ball as much as I did. It will be interesting to see how you find it if you are reading it straight after WoW. I hadn’t read Wow in ages, so it wasn’t that fresh in my mind like it will be for you.

Oh my gosh, Jan! I couldn’t put it down! Just finished it now and immediately gave it 5 stars. Absolutely ADORED it – it was just what I was wanting to read. Absolutely the same feel as WoW – that super slow burn etc. And even though it had a similar storyline to WoW – football player, the h working for him, won’t say anything else kind of spoilerish – it was completely different in so many other ways and didn’t feel like a rehash of WoW AT ALL. Great writing and really captivating. Love your words Maryse – he IS a good grump, seemingly uninterested. But totally loveable.

Yay Maryse. I think you will like it too 😀

Same bev, but I never knew that was what the peanut butter ones were called!

I still don’t do avocados or sour cream. >.<

Funny…I ordered a Mediterranean salad for lunch last week and the damn thing came with Avocados. Really?! When did Avocados become a Mediterranean food? Eww

I wouldn’t touch avo for years but when we lived in Hawaii Stephan used to get this chicken avo sandwich that he would literally orgasm over. I finally tried it and WTH was I thinking?! Avos are everything! SC? Not so much. But, I LOVE Mexican crema! It’s the same consistency without the sour. I could probably eat a tub of it with a spoon.

I was like 20 and finally tried guacamole and sour cream on some nachos. Same thing, I wondered what had I been thinking all these years.
So of course I was all, maybe I will like jalapeño now. Yeah…no. Just burned my mouth off.

R, you are much nicer than I. I would of had to pretend not to like the cake just on principal.

Ok, I just realized Bitter Legacy is lendable.
I need someone to read this, but you have to like M/M, mystery, and some emotional angst.

Oh, and I do like angst in my M/M reads.

Fabi, I admire how you can stick to a schedule like that. I make tbr list and rarely do more than 2 with out a squirrel.
I can lend it to you when your ready.

I can’t go on a schedule. If my mood is wrong, I’ll destroy what could be a great book.

Okay. I hate gravy, avovado, and sour cream unless it’s on something with refried beans. NOT by itself, but as a dressing and with salsa. Then again, I’m picky. I’ve got a long list of food I don’t like.

That’s my NYR ‘read what I buy’. I am failing spectacularly this year. I did much better last year.

Maybe I’ll get it under control before the end of the year.

I have these little conversations with myself when I look at my recent purchases.

Self: You were so desperate to read this that you had to one-clicked it immediately.
Me: I know
Self: So why haven’t you read it yet?
Me: I dunno
Self: Well, go ahead and start reading it then.
Me: m’kay, next

…a month later

Repeat conversation

OMG icing? Your mom is the bomb. I must try this!

I do not recommend it unless you have a few extra hours to nap afterwards.

3 cups powdered sugar!!! (make less, its insane)
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 tblp melted margarine
enough milk (or half n half or cream) to get consistency
Pour the liquid in slowly and mix as you go, but it’s foolproof because if it gets too runny, add sugar, if it’s too thick, add milk.
DRIBBLE (don’t coat the Monkey Bread)
Add while bread is warm if you want it to soak in
Add when bread is cold if you want it to decorate the top.

I learned all that on the Internet today. *pats self on back*

Self: “Thanks Me”

Tessa I admire your self control. I have none. See above sugar problem.

I have an Amazon wish list. A GR tbr. And several already purchased tbrs on my Kindle.

Wait…alternate uses? 😮

No! bev, not you too?!

whew *wipes forehead*

You had me worried there for a sec

Great. Now my imagination is going crazy.

I need to write a book. An erotica. Or, THWI, make it straight porn.

First line: “It all started with R’s Monkey Bread.”

And wine out the nose is no fun, Fabi. Plus it’s wasteful, so thanks!

Oh! A comedic porn. It’s going to be a blockbuster.

Peanut?

OMG R. hahaha

Hey, people eat pig ears, so why not?

It took him forever to get me to try it and now we eat them weekly! Growing up it was tacos, spaghetti, and pork chops!

Love Chinese food. Always a treat as a child when we could get it.

Everyone has been very chatty while I’ve been out! We do have gravy here but not sure whether it’s the same thing as your gravy. Renee, please send me your recipes – I’d love it! You can contact me via GR when you get a chance to hunt out your recipes. BTW I love avocado, sour cream, jalapeños, just about anything really. Funny, I was super fussy as a kid and *hated* most foods. Must have been a total pain for my parents. I just about lived on bread and Vegemite. Yup, that salty, yucky black yeast spread stuff we love in Australia. I think it’s an acquired taste. Most aussies acquire it as babies on their rusks lol although these days we are more conscious of reducing salt in our diets. The secret of vegemite is to spread it THINLY. Too thick and it burns and tastes foul. But a thin smear? Yum!

I do write some reviews on both GR and amazon, but not every book I read. I try to stick to their stated star rating, but I know not everyone does and I reckon that’s just plain confusing. When considering a book I do look at reviews, so I figure I should put my opinion up to share with others too. And as you probably know I don’t usually pull my punches so I figure my lower (but honest) reviews I sometimes write might balance the gushy OTT 5 stars that often flood new books and so often (to me) seem really misleading. (Their mum, dad, and all the cousins writing reviews maybe????) And then there’s useless ‘reviews like the one I saw the other day on amazon that gave 3 stars (=’okay’ on amazon) then they said the book was ‘great’! That’s not helpful!

Hi, Nay.

And Fabi, I’ll totally read your book. (WHAT started with that dang monkey bread????) 🙂

Jan, that is a food I have no desire to try, lol.
I’m kind of surprised that more HR is not set in Australia during the time the British were using it as a penal colony.
Or I’m just not aware of them.

You all were discussing rating system on Amazon and GR earlier. On GR, I use the stars completely FOR MYSELF and not for others. I put 5 stars for a book I loved and would recommend to people – so I am able to do a quick list “by rating” if someone wants a rec – and then all the good ones come up. I use 4 stars for something I’d recommend, but it wasn’t CRAZY good – still a solid read. 3 for me is something I wouldn’t read again. I have never used 2 – and only gave 1 star maybe ONCE or TWICE – for something that had huge hype and was a total dud.

No to feta, no to sushi, and no to runny yolks. lol I told you all I was picky. No to fish of any kind. They all have that fish undertone. No to most tea, because they have a tea undertone. The exception is a chamomile or peppermint tea that is SO light, you can barely taste the underlying tea taste. And yes, even those, I can taste it. *shudders* Also, cooked broccoli, brussel sprouts, zuchinni, yellow squash, lamb… See picky!

I used to say people who don’t like brussels sprouts haven’t had them cooked correctly, but Tessa, I think you just proved me wrong!

I couldn’t live without fish. I eat it probably 4 times a week!

Brussel sprouts sautéed with pancetta…YUM!!!

Y’all are such wonderful enablers. 😉

I’m torn…but I’ll figure it out by this evening.

For Amy: Maple Cayenne Brussels Sprouts.

1 package fresh sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise
olive oil
salt to taste
1+ tablespoons pure maple syrup (I pour a couple)
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I use a dash)

1. Preheat oven to 400*F.
2. Toss sprouts with olive oil and salt and spread on a rimmed baking sheet.
3. Roast 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway. They should be tender and browned. DO NOT OVER COOK!
4. While the sprouts are roasting, in a small bowl, combine maple syrup and cayenne pepper.
5. Pour the maple syrup/cayenne mixture over the sprouts, stir to coat.
6. Return to oven for one more minute. (I don’t always do this; they’re awesome without this step!)

It’s just a hint, and if you put them back in the oven it caramelizes a tiny bit. If you don’t like caramelized onions though, you probably wouldn’t like them.

Ooh, Five Guys cheeseburger with grilled onions… *drool*

Oh YUM.

How about sautéed with garlic and olive oil then sprinkled with parmesan? Mmmmm I love veggies.

No to sushi- only veggie rolls, no to brussel sprouts, bleu cheese only with hot wings, and oh yeh tomatoes- they’re evil!!

Started Mists- writing is great, but I have been able to put it down. So far, it’s kinda dragging, but I’m only at 18%.

Ooh, I hate onions as anything other than an herb. Honestly I can go on forever. lol No to mushrooms, cooked cauliflower, cooked cabbage, corned beef (I know. I’m a horrible irish girl), caviar, most strong cheeses, black eyed peas… Yet, I’ll always try stuff just to be sure I still don’t like it. I used to hate asparagus, and about five years ago, my taste buds changed enough to enjoy it. I finally like cooked carrots. Honestly my taste buds are too strong and I can easily taste things, so stronger flavors are just too overwhelming for me.

Finished a PNR that was so confusing that I’m just in meh land. I still don’t know what happened at the end. :/

I’m working on my blog post. I need a classic alpha example and a anti-hero. Any ideas? These aren’t my tropes so I’m at a loss. And lazy.

Also, what are the most popular hero tropes? I have: anti-hero, alpha billionaire best-friend, single-dad, stepbrother, widower, outcast, lost soul, boy next door… what am I missing? When I try to look them up, I just get plot tropes.

How classic are you going?
Like a Darcy or Rochester?

Still haven’t had time to read through everything, and I HAVE to since y’all pulled out the big guns and started discussing FOOD! lol But I do see R’s. post, so…

R., K. Ashley has an anti-hero series and Knight is the first book/anti-hero–his name is Knight Sebring.

Oh, and I love most every food item except pancakes and raisins. I’m also not big on nuts or bacon. I know, I’m weird.

Who did you pick for a step-brother? I’m curious.

Thanks guys! I don’t need examples for all of them, just some. I’m doing a thing on book boyfriends.

Caleb will work for anti-hero (Captive)

I put this on the other post. anti-hero. Jared from Bully by Penelope Douglas.

I’ve bought mists of serengeti cos it looks awesome and it’s bargain-priced this week only. Get em while they’re hot. But I’m not starting it just yet – saving it on my tbr. Gotta be in the right mood. Besides, I’ve got The Player on the go, but it’s kinda starting to drag :-/ And I tried the sample of Juniper Smoke which I’d never heard of before Maryse’s rec, and really liked it. It wasn’t expensive so I bought that too LOL. So now I’m reading that :0 Kyle and Juniper. Both quirky and eccentric and fascinating. The ‘voice’ in this book is really different and I’m totally sucked in at the moment.

And then it’s nearly time for our February read for bev’s tbr challenge. And my read is a BIG FAT sci-fi called Seveneves. Aaaaaah!!!!! * quietly tells self: Come on Jan, you can do it*

“Simon sad.” <—— Well, I'm sorry for him. 😛

GAH you picky ladies!!! What about when I finally get to cook for y'all someday?? Then what?!? Are y'all gonna snub your noses at my food??

'Cause then…Amy will be sad.

And bev will point out karma's a b!tch.

And all hell will break loose from there.

So let's not go THERE.

I’ll just bring oreos.

I’m sorry but step brother should not be a hero type.

Ha ha ha. Think I’m with you bev. Stepbrother books always seem a bit icky for me. I need an oreo.

Simon loves an oreo.

I do have the one R mentioned. And have read a couple like Rush. But in Rush….it wasn’t really. But think it is more a passing fad, which is good.

I was just reminded of how special this space is.
Maryse let’s us veer way of course of books, we have not been trolled, and we have a good time with each other.