Since I missed three things this week, let’s do a “better late than never” version, shall we?
1.) I made a crock pot “crack chicken” yesterday and it’s pretty darn good but OMG SO RICH. I’m feeling like eating super-light tonight. I think I’ll make a lime-buttered steamed broccoli (and I just finished making my greek green beans w/ feta cheese – “Fasolakia” which is my favorite vegetable dish).
2.) This is my 4 month old mastiff puppy’s absolute favorite toy (especially the white circle with the three blue chewy-things). He’s almost 60lbs now and over the last few months, has pretty much chewed the heck out of the first one – except for the solid blue section… that part seems almost indestructible! But that white ring is his favorite!!), so I just got him another one. Guess what he immediately started chewing first?
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE FOUND FOR THE WEEKEND 
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—-> AMAZON FIRST READS FOR September ARE UP!! What did you choose? I chose “The Hike”
The House on Everly Lane by Layne Deemer <—
BLURB JOLT!! RECENT RELEASE & I LOVE THIS AUTHOR!! IS HE A GHOST???? Oooooh this one blurb gave me goosebumps!! “…Darcy Simon isn’t running away from her problems. She just needs a change of scenery. At least that’s what she tells herself when she hops in her car and leaves her old life behind. Once she sees the home she’s renting–a storybook cottage on a quiet street– she’s convinced she made the right decision. Living on her own is exactly what she needs. Except she isn’t alone. Jeremy has been in the attic, unnoticed for so long he’s beginning to think it will never change. Then Darcy moves in…”
Going Too Far by Abbi Glines <— LIVE!!! ABBI GLINES!!! SINGLE MOM WANTED AN AUTOGRAPH FROM HIM FOR HER SON!! “…Brielle McGinnis had been kicked out of her foster home the day she turned eighteen. The pregnancy she’d been trying to hide had taken what little youth, she had managed to hold onto, away. Bri had grown up overnight. Life had made her tough and she’d learned to survive. Now, at twenty- eight years old, she had a good job with insurance working in admissions at the local junior college. When rock legend Dean Finlay came walking into the college office she had wanted an autograph for her son but his arrogance changed her mind. Just like every other man, he was a disappointment. Until… he isn’t…”
Bitter Sweet Heart by H. Hunting and Helena Hunting <— LIVE!!! HOCKEY PLAYER/STUDENT-TEACHER OOOOPS!!! “...play hockey like my life depends on it, and avoid relationships. All I have to do is stay focused on the end game. It should be easy. But when a woman literally floats into my dock, just before summer ends and my senior year begins, I can’t resist one last hookup. What harm could a one-night stand do? It’s not like we even exchanged numbers. Everything is fine until I run into her on campus. It’s a big school. I should be able to avoid her. Except she happens to be in my class. And she’s not a student. She’s my professor…”
- Finding Ivy by Claire Kingsley <— MONY 4.5 STARRED THIS ONE!!
Mony: Finding Ivy by Claire Kingsley. On my TBR forever & finally read it. Glad I did because it was such a great read! Lovely warm story, nice flow, hottie, some mystery/suspense, sweet love. 4.5★
Kiwi Sin by Rosalind James <— LIVE!!! JAN FOUND US THIS ONE!!
Jan: A new Rosalind James book is out. Kiwi Sin. Yay! Set in beautiful New Zealand. The MCs have escaped from a cult and have to learn how to live (and love) in the normal world. I’ve already started it and liking it. She’s a fav author for me.
Michelle: I’m reading Kiwi Sin and enjoying it as well. She is an auto buy author for me
- Author Corinne Michaels <— KATHY FOUND ALL OF THESE IN KU!!
Kathy: I just saw that Corinne Michaels has put all of her books on Kindle Unlimited.
Mafia Vows: Standalone Fake Marriage Romance (Arranged Marriage Book 6) by L. Steele <— LIVE!! SINGLE MOTHER FAKE MARRIAGE ALERT!! “…He’s grumpy, high-handed, full of himself, and… So very appealing. No way can I act on the attraction that sizzles between us, right? But I need to get custody of my daughter, And he promises to help me. Provided I pose as his wife…”
- Stealing Bama: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Florida East University Book 2) by Hannah Gray <— LIVE!!!
- The Bodyguard by Katherine Center <— KATHY RECOMMENDS THIS ONE!
Kathy: I did finish the new Katherine Center’s book The Bodyguard. If you like books about a male actor and a female bodyguard you will love this one. I would definitely recommend it.
Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson #13) by Patricia Briggs <— RECENT RELEASE & BACK ON THE LIST ‘CAUSE MONY 5-STARRED THIS ONE SO HARD!! And Jody loved it too!
Mony: Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson #13) by P. Briggs – Finally. Everything I could ever want in a Mercy Thompson story! Well done Ms Briggs! (Lots of Adam too – yay!) 5★++
Jody: I finished Soul Taken. I love this series but I hate the wait in between books! Thinking about reading it again before the loan is up. Or maybe I should read the last couple of books to refresh, then reread it. I didn’t realize the Charley Davidson novella was out, too. Two of my fave series!
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager <— TASHA J IS ENJOYING THIS ONE!!
Tasha J: I’m just about finished with Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake and hope to finish tonight. I am loving it! I did not quite see exactly where it was going, but am immersed and along for the ride, wherever it takes me.
And, bonus, my preorder, The Final Gambit (released Tuesday, but I got the special B&N edition bc I wanted the bonus short story at the end, arrived today!! It is definitely my next read. I’ve been waiting for this conclusion!
Rain After Fire: A Fake Relationship Romance (Balsam Ridge Book 3) by Amber Kelly <— STARTING OVER IN A SMALL TOWN… “…Balsam Ridge, Tennessee is a little slice of paradise and nothing like the busy city that I’m accustomed to. With its idyllic setting, friendly strangers, and slower pace, a girl could easily be charmed into letting her walls down. It was only going to be a stop on my journey. A respite while I figured out my next move, and catching feelings for the confident and sexy local Fire Chief, Corbin Tuttle, was not part of the plan. It was supposed to be a game. A hoax. A brief fling to help him break a toxic cycle…”
A Contracted Spouse For the Prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath <— RECENT RELEASE & JAN LOVED THIS ONE!!
Jan: I just read a new HR that came out a few days ago, and really liked it. A Contracted Spouse For the Prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath. Fresh and original, and about the lower/middle classes with not a duke in sight LOL. Makes a nice change.
In spite of the title, it’s not about prizefighting (the hero USED to be a prizefighter). It’s set in the boisterous world of saucy music hall theatre in London in the Victorian era, and the heroine is a male impersonator/comedian. Very interesting, enjoyable and somewhat steamy read.
Mony: Sounds really good Jan. I’ve been wanting to get to that whole series. Thanks for the rec!
The Do Over by TL Swan <— BACK ON THE LIST ‘CAUSE LEONIE IS LOVING IT!!
Leonie: I am 20% into reading The Do Over by Tl Swan and I am loving it, I am laughing out loud
Maryse: YAY Leonie!!!!!! I can’t wait to hear what you think of it once finished. I LOVE excellent starts!
Mony: Looking forward to reading this one! Loved that series!
Kristie: TL Swan never disappoints! It was great!
Susan: amen girlie!!
Kristie: I’m Tristan is still my favorite! But he was up there! 🙂
The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark <— TASHA J LOVED THIS ONE!
Tasha J: I recently finished The Lies I Tell and LOVED it! I totally just picked the thinnest book off my physical tbr (I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed over here 😅) and am so glad it exceeded my expectations. I totally could have read it in a couple days if not for life getting in the way, lol.
I hadn’t realized the author also wrote The Last Flight bc I hadn’t read the synopsis since before I bought it, but I have it and remember now hearing a lot of buzz about that one so I am looking forward to digging in!
AUDIOBOOK LVERS!
➔➔ Audiobook Matchmaker!! <— Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE! This is how it works. Click on that link & Amazon will show you all of your Kindle books that are also available as an audiobook at a seriously discounted price. This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL!
Sinners of Saint by L J Shen <— AIMEE RECOMMENDS THESE!!
Aimee: That whole series, Sinners of Saint by L J Shen are rereads!!! I absolutely loved them!!! The covers are swoon worthy If you have a chance to listen to the audible versions it’s a must!!!
Also All Saints High by her is also my favorites. The first one was a bully romance, Pretty Reckless
- Bitter Sweet Heart by H. Hunting and Helena Hunting
- Mafia Vows: Standalone Fake Marriage Romance (Arranged Marriage Book 6) by L. Steele
PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )
- Something Beautiful: A Small Town Brother’s Best Friend Romance (The Blisswood Brothers Book 4) by Evey Lyon | Sep 6, 2022
- Latte Darling: Book Two of The Darling Series by S.J. Tilly | Sep 6, 2022
Rebel: An opposites-attract boarding school romance (The Boys of Welles Book 2) by Ginger Scott | Sep 8, 2022
The Revenge (an Insiders Novel) by Tijan – September 13th 2022
- Marple: Twelve New Mysteries (Miss Marple Mysteries) by Agatha Christie *and 12 authors* – September 13th 2022
- Gotta Be Bayou (Badges of the Bayou): an enemies to lovers, stand-alone small town rom com by Erin Nicholas | September 13, 2022
- Typecast: A Novel by Andrea J. Stein | Sep 13, 2022
- Only Coworkers (Only You Book 2) by Charity Ferrell | Sep 13, 2022
Pieces of a Life: Colten & Josie: Part One (Life Series Duet Book 1) by Jewel E. Ann | Sep 13, 2022
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Oh my goodness, you are going to have a full house! 😂 It’ll be crazy with 2 puppies for a while, but hopefully they’ll be the best of friends!
1. I got another copy of The Final Gambit today and apparently preordered another time months ago and forgot about it. Now I’ll need to return it.
2. Looking forward to the 3 day weekend. Might get 2 whole days to “sleep in” a little more. Have a soccer game early and will go to a Reds game (bleh, I don’t like baseball) but, snacks? Yep. 😂 And a cookout. I’m tired thinking about it all.
3. I am currently obsessed with making witches brooms for our fall/Halloween activity this year. I’ve been looking forward to Hocus Pocus 2 coming out and decided to make a sort of party day out of it with fun themed snacks and a craft/game or 2 so of course witches brooms sound perfect. And they’ll go into October decorating too. Now, I found a cool shop in Salem that sends kits home and I like the ease and look of them. But, not so much the price. So, I thought about going to Hobby Lobby and seeing what I can find, but thinking about taking the trip and once it all is found may be just as much, I dk. Still, going down a rabbit hole lately if watching broom makers and it is fascinating, lol. This is the shop https://thewitcherysalem.com/
I cannot wait for the air temp to drop here because this is my first time in this house and I’m dying to start “fall-decorating”. And I want the cinnamon apple smells so bad!!
I love coming up with ideas, but the process can be more challenging than I have patience for. But, why wait? Go for it! We bought some fall scented hand soaps and it totally gives me those feels, lol. It’s still humid as heck here, but mornings and nights are cool, at least. I’m actually thinking of doing a coastal fall theme for decor on the front porch.
I’ve also been making more light meals. I’m currently making with a salad pretty much daily. I roast all the veggies one day and use them through the week. It’s roasted squash/zucchini, sweet potatoes & broccoli. I then put a portion of each over lettuce/spinach and chopped Roma tomato and use Annie’s Green Goddess dressing. It’s delish, I saw the recipe on Instagram, but I don’t make my own dressing. I also made “cowboy caviar” that we’ve been snacking on all week with black eyed peas, jalapeños, red peppers, rotel tomatoes, corn and a yummy dressing that almost tastes like Italian dressing. This potato soup recipe https://thefoodcharlatan.com/easy-potato-soup-recipe/. I’ve been cooking nearly every day, I hate it. Lol. But, I love the food. I’m back to healthier eating for weight loss and health, I suppose.
That all sounds so good, Tasha. We eat a lot of salads too, usually with lettuce and other raw veggies like carrots, baby tomatoes, avocados, green onions, baby cucumbers, maybe some black olives. Whatever is in the fridge. Usually with Italian or Greek style dressing. Sometimes we crumble feta cheese over the top. I like the sound of the one with the roasted veggies.
I really like the raw veggie ones too, and those toppings 👌 This was just really different and a nice change from the norm for me. My step sister made a really simple one not too long ago with green & black olives, tomatoes, parm & Italian dressing. I loved all the olives in it.
That is one thing I’m happy about. I do salads with every meal (either full roasted veggie – or a traditional lettuce salad) and at *least* my anti-veggie crew here will eat a salad.
Well… that is ONLY a Cesar salad will do for them, and it has to have plenty of yummy bacon bits or chopped bacon. That’s as far as I can get them to eat greens.
Tasha, you’re an inspiration to make more roasted vegetable salads! This summer I did make one & it was a winner with everyone. So I need to keep on with that. Lemony Roasted Broccoli, Arugula & Lentil Salad. https://cookieandkate.com/broccoli-arugula-lentil-salad-recipe/ (I “cheated” – doubled the broccoli instead of Brussel sprouts, used 1-1/2 canned lentils, my own lemon dressing.)
Oh, I like the added lentils! I am going to try this recipe, thank you. I don’t want to get sick of the other roasted veggie one so need to switch it up a bit. I bought cauliflower to roast today instead of broccoli. Not a huge change, but definitely want to try adding lentils too.
I’d say most roasted veggies would work just fine in this recipe.
Tasha I used to do that all the time. Buy all of my veggies from “Misfits” online, and then I’d roast everything for sides on that week’s dishes, or turn them into casseroles. I am a veggie addict.
Unfortunately, my new crew (boyfriend and his 3 boys) are NOT veggie-lovers. Except for one… “sort of”. It’s like my mom all over again (she HATES veggies). LOL! 😂
So I just make the veggies for myself now. I can’t even cook my amazing homemade meat spaghetti sauce ’cause I’d add chopped onions, sliced mushrooms, green peppers and chopped up celery, and sometimes chopped carrots too… and that is a NO GO in my new life.
Let’s just say I make myself my own food… and freeze it, and then I make them the foods they will eat. Everyone’s happy. I don’t get the non-love of vegetables. It makes everything richer and yummy.
At least everyone is happy, lol. I’m glad mine will all eat veggies. It’s been a staple to have a fruit and veggie with every meal (sans breakfast) since they were old enough for baby food. And there are some of course that aren’t one or the other’s preference, like peas for my middle. No salad for the youngest. But for the most part they’ll eat them, which makes it easier on me. I spent 2 hours chopping and roasting today and I dk if I’ll do so much EVERY week anymore. I did 2 heads of cauliflower, 4 sweet potatoes, 1 russet, 2 cartons of mushrooms, 3 peppers, and 5 squash/zucchini. My oven is smaller than a full size so I had to do rounds. Used the air fryer for the potatoes and mushrooms. Feeding 5, of course.
@Maryse….German Shorthair Pointers are the best! My GSP – Scout- turned 10 in August. He is a huge cuddle bug. Still has tons of energy and just all around loving dog.
They are in my boyfriend’s top 3 favorite dogs. Weimaraners, GSP’s and I can’t remember the other one (but pretty much all bird-dogs).
We had a Weimaraner prior to our GSP. Sweet dogs as well but definitely love my GSP. Vizsla maybe?
YESSSS VIZSLA!!! That’s it. 😀
I watched Love in the Villa, it was cute & funny. And started watching Devil in Ohio, yikes. I’m a little freaked and super intrigued.