Tuesday, December 30, 2014

12 Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas - Day 7 - Guest Post from Erika Marks


Welcome, welcome! Today the lovely Erika Marks is stopping by and she's got a yummy eggnog recipe to share. Welcome Erika!

Day 1 |Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

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Confessions of an Egg Nog Junkie


In our house, the holidays mean a lot of things—all good, all festive, and always, all delicious.

We are an unabashed family of foodies. My husband is a native New Orleanian and an amazing cook, and I am a native New Englander, who also is crazy for cooking—so when it comes time to ring in the holidays—from Thanksgiving to New Year’s—we do it up.

Over the years, lots of recipes have come and gone (don’t get me started on the icebox pie I finally tried for this year’s Thanksgiving that puddled as soon as I took off its spring-form fence) but there are few that are tried and true and that are always welcome at the table—or wherever you choose to consume edibles and drinkables. (Or, if you are Beck and Marley, the couple in my holiday novella A VERY MARRIED CHRISTMAS, who find themselves stranded together on Christmas Eve on a deserted island and forced to make a feast with just the contents of a welcome basket, then you make do!)

But in our house, at the top of this list of (adult) must-haves, would be Our Favorite Homemade Nog.

Now friends, I’m not talking about the store stuff—which is awesome in a pinch (and perfect for the kiddos!) And I’m not talking about the light recipes where you replace the heavy cream with skim milk. I’m talking the REAL DEAL. Because when the holidays call in our home, all bets are off. We say, go big or go home!

Like so many favored recipes, this one came from my mom, though I’m not sure where she got it from. So if you are so inclined to indulge—and why wouldn’t you at this time of year?—here is a quick run-down of what you will need:

6 eggs, separated (save the egg whites for later)
1 cup sugar
3 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup of brandy
¾ tsp salt

1. Separate 6 eggs (save the egg whites for later) and beat the yolks
2. Gradually beat in 1 cup of sugar
3. Gradually beat in: 3 cups of milk, 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 cup of brandy and 3/4 tsp salt
4. Beat egg whites until stiff; serve egg nog and top with a scoop of the egg whites, sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired.


And viola! A cupful of bliss with a dollop of snowy egg whites to toast the season with. (And if you have leftovers—we rarely do!—but if you do, it can make for some amazing French toast batter for the grown-ups!)

Wishing you and yours a magical season of peace and joy—and much, much sweetness!

On the long and winding road to publishing, Erika Marks worked as an illustrator, an art director, a carpenter and a cake decorator. She now lives and writes in North Carolina with her family where she is currently working on her next coastal romance! To connect with her, you can find her at her website: http://www.erikamarksauthor.com/

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Thank you, Erika, for stopping by. Erika is giving away a copy of the print anthology, A Carolina Christmas. To enter, comment below and tell me what your plans are for New Year's Eve. 

12 Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas - Day 6 - My Favorite Bloggers Part 1


Hello, hello! Welcome to Day 6, a bit delayed. Since I started blogging in 2013 I've met a lot of awesome authors, bloggers and readers. When I was putting together my 12 Days of Christmas, I decided to include some of my favorite bloggers who have become really great friends as a part of it. Today I welcome Betsy from Book Drunk Blog and Kim from KimberlyFaye Reads.

Day 1 |Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

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How long have you been blogging?

We started blogging July of 2013.  It seems like sooooo long ago!

How/why did you get started?

I started blogging on complete accident.  I had no idea about the book blog world, and always found my next read by sharing finds with Sarah, and perusing GoodReads.  One day on GR I was reading a review and it said "Copy provided by NetGalley". I thought, "What's a NetGalley?" and googled away.  Then I called up Sarah and told her all about it.  Ten minutes later Book Drunk Blog was formed and off we went!

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

By far my favorite thing is the friends I've made.  I had no idea about the community I was jumping in to, but it just love all of the new people I've met!  I have made some of the best friends, even though we haven't all met in person.  There's nothing like finding fellow book nerds to geek out with over new release, cover reveals, teasers, and authors.  Kim at KimberlyFayeReads, Christine at iHeartBigBooks, Ethan at One Guy's Guide To Good Reads, Kaitlan at Between Order and Randomness and of course, you!  No matter what's going on, I can always count on one of you all to pop in with a well timed comment about bananas or a new Nick Bateman Instagram morsel.  We share book stories and life stories, we drool over half naked men (not Ethan though, we keep him out of that part), we give each other opinions and advice and encouragement.  It's just so wonderful to have "my people" that totally get what it's like to be a complete book junkie!

In the spirit of the holiday season:

What is your funniest holiday memory?

One year at Christmas, my sister was super nervous about meeting her boyfriend's extended family.  She.. over indulged at their dinner trying to keep calm, so by the time she got to our Christmas she was toasted.  My parents had gotten them a present for their dog, and when she opened the box of dog treats she burst in to tears, fell over on the ground and quoted Anchorman.. "I'M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!!"  I. Died.  My parents weren't thrilled, but I found it to be highly entertaining!

Favorite Christmas/Holiday:

Song?

Baby It's Cold Outside - the old school version

Food?

My Aunt Diane makes these KILLER cutout sugar cookies.  No one else knows the recipe, and no one has been able to replicate them.  Plus they have super secret homemade frosting.

Movie/TV special?

Elf.  Will Ferrell is a genius.


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How long have you been blogging? 

A year and a half.

How/why did you get started? 

I've always been the person that people go to when they need a new book to read. After posting short reviews on Goodreads for a couple years, and following a couple great YA blogs, I thought to myself "This isn't so difficult. I should do it." Little did I know... But seriously, I'm glad I decided to start. I get a little thrill when someone reads a book I recommended and they love it. I love discovering new books and authors. It's been a great year and a half. 

What is your favorite thing about blogging? 

My favorite thing has been getting to know a TON of amazing authors and bloggers. Whether we've just chatted online or we've had the pleasure of meeting face-to-face, I love so many of the people I've gotten to know this year. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit to loving the "free" books and the fact that I get them before they're available to purchase. It's a nice bonus. ;)

In the spirit of the holiday season: 

What is your funniest holiday memory? 

When I was a young'un (probably around 6), my mom's dad thought it would be *hilarious* to give me a lump of coal for Christmas. In front of the whole (large) family. Oooooooh boy, did I throw a hissy fit of epic proportions. There was definitely a foot-stomping temper tantrum (and probably a few tears). It sure wasn't funny at the time, but it's one of the memories that has stuck with me the longest... and that gets brought up the most with family around this time of year. Oh, and it's worth mentioning there was a real gift to be had after my little fit. I don't remember what it was, but I'm sure it was of the toy variety and much appreciated. 

Favorite Christmas/Holiday:

Song? 

All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey

Food? 

My mom's homemade lasagna. We only get it once a year, on Christmas Eve, and I always gorge myself and feel miserable for several hours afterwards. But, it's totally worth it. 

Movie/TV special? 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation... or Elf. It's a toss up. 


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Thank you, Kim and Betsy, for stopping by today! For today's giveaway, I am giving away one of Kim and Betsy's favorite reads from this year. So for your chance to win either a KINDLE copy of Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren (Kim's Pick) or a KINDLE copy of Knight by Kristen Ashley (Betsy's Pick), comment below and tell me what one of your favorite reads of 2014 has been.

Note: All winners will be announced on January 6th.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

12 Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas - Day 5 - Guest Post from Cora Cade


Hello, hello! Welcome to Day 5. Today I've got Cora Cade stopping by to talk about how she creates her characters and if she models them after real life people. Welcome Cora!

Day 1 |Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8


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While I was prepping for this 12 Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas, I posed questions and topics to friends and readers, and someone asked me, "Do you model characters after real people?"

Ah, Dear Reader, this is a difficult question and the answer is multi-layered.   Basically, yes and no.

For instance our hero in MORNING LIGHT is Noah Harper, a former Army Ranger recently returned from active duty.  We know the type, clean cut military man- just how I like my heroes.  Isn't that kind of vague for a hero though?  Why, yes, it is.   

Off to Google.  And then I found him.  Our Noah.  I copied and pasted the picture into my character profile for him and Noah was physically built from an older photo of Chris Hemsworth, before he grew his hair out and bulked up for Thor.

Still of Red Dawn from FilmDistrict/UA Pictures
This image is a still from the film Red Dawn and pretty much sums up how I visualized our hero Noah.  Slightly rugged, but clean cut, with a killer smile.  In a round-about-way Noah is based on a real person, physically anyway.  The rest of Noah is pure imagination.  A wounded warrior with a gentle soul wrapped in a layer of military bravado.

But, I don't think this is the kind of answer my friend was looking for.  Physically basing a character off of a famous person or model  is pretty common and lots of writers acknowledge who their muse is publicly.  I think we all want to know if a writer uses the people in their lives as fodder for character development.

And, to some degree, I do.  I have never sat down and said, "Self, let's use our BFF in this book."  Or some variation of that weird internal conversation.  Sometimes little things can sneak in to your character, just simply because it fits with the character you've created.    It's usually so subtle you don't recognize it, but it's pulled from an experience, a conversation, or a moment in time that you shared with someone in your life.  So far no one has called me out on it, so I'm sticking with it's just subtle enough that even they don't notice!



For a chance to win a great custom tote bag, please leave a comment telling us what celebrity/stud/man candy you'd like to see as inspiration in a book!  And it's quite possible I might toss in a free ebook of Morning Light as well!

You can find me on Facebook at:  www.facebook.com/CoraCade  or you can check out my website at:  www.coracade.com.

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To enter the giveaway, answer Cora's question above and one lucky commenter will be chosen.

Note: All winners will be announced on January 6th.

12 Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas - Day 4 - Guest Post from Adriana Locke


Hello and welcome to Day 4. Are you still on a holiday high and celebrating away or has your family all gone home and things are back to normal?

Day 1 |Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

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Today I welcome the fabulous Adriana Locke to the blog. She's talking about what books she would take with her if she were stranded on an island and is giving two lucky commenters a chance to win her book, The Excpetion (which is fabulous!). Welcome Adriana! 

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Hi!
*waves*
I’m Adriana Locke and am so excited to be taking over Smart & Savvy with Stephanie! This is my very first guest post and I’m kinda nervous. I mean, if I mess up something on my own website, that’s one thing... ;)

I’ll start off my introducing myself (seems like the polite way to go about things). I’m a wife, a mother, a reader, and a writer. I was born and raised in the MidWest, but lived for awhile in Phoenix, Arizona, the setting for my first novel, The Exception. I miss it there, with its sunshine and bright sky, but really I’m a country girl. My perfect day would be laying outside somewhere with no one around (preferably in a hammock), a drink in hand (sweet tea or rum), and a great book (with an alpha male, of course).

I was considering what the topic of my guest post should be about and I decided to tell you the 3 books I’d pick to take to a deserted island with me. It’ll give you some insight as to who I am and it centers around the one thing I know we have in common - books! :)

Overlooking my first concern as to how I’m getting to the island, considering I’m terrified of deep, dark water, my next problem will be deciding what books to take. I love so, so many books. I’ve only recently started collecting paperbacks and it’s becoming an issue. LOL But I do love the feel of the pages in my hands - it really does give it a different experience from just ‘swiping’ the pages on my e-reader. Looking at my shelf, it’s hard to narrow it down to 3 books, so I’m cheating and doing 3 series because it’s my post and I can change the rules, right?

#1 - Undeniable Series by Madeline Sheehan

I’m not sure I could live without Deuce West and the Horsemen. They are filthy and conniving and criminal and I love them with my whole heart. Not only are there multiple books in the series, there are also lots of characters with open-ended storylines. So once I finish reading what the author has written, I can lay back on the beach and make up stories in my head for the rest of the guys.

#2 - The Seductive Nights Trilogy by Lauren Blakely

Clay Nichols is an alpha male and such a dirty taker. This series, one of my favorites, would be a great balance to the Horseman and their craziness. This series is sexy and seductive. I don’t know what would be hotter - the sun beating down on me or Lauren’s words on the paper. Sigh.

#3 - The Man Trilogy by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Let’s be honest - who could live without The Lord? He’s bat sh*t crazy, but damn it if I don’t love him. He’s certifiable, possessive, and a total alpha male. On the flip side, he’s sexy, sinful, and since I finished this series, I can’t hear someone ‘counting down’ without feeling my heartbeat pick up. He’s ruined me in so many ways.

*nods head*

I think that’s the perfect trio to keep me company on the island. Of course, I’ll be taking Cane Alexander and Max Quinn, too. ;) If you haven’t met them, they are from my novel, The Exception. Cane is an alpha male in his own right, a total bad boy. Max is his best friend and partner at Alexander Industries. He’s sweet and sexy with a southern drawl. Where Cane’s a little hot tempered, Max is calm; they balance each other in a lot of ways.




The Exception is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo. Max is getting his own book in early 2015. It’s titled The Perception and you can add it to your Goodreads shelf now.





Thank you, Stephanie, for having me! And thank you all for hanging out with me for a few minutes! Leave a comment and tell me what your 3 books would be! I’d love to know. <3

In the meantime, come find me on social media and say hello:
Facebook - www.facebook.com/authoradrianalocke
Group - www.facebook.com/groups/booksbyadrianalocke
TSU - www.tsu.co/AdrianaLocke
Instagram - www.instragram.com/authoradrianalocke
Website - www.adrianalocke.com
Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/authoradrianalocke
Twitter - www.twitter.com/authorALocke


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To enter for your chance to win an e-copy of The Exception, answer Adriana's question above and two lucky commenters will win.

Note: Winners will be announced on January 6th.

Friday, December 26, 2014

12 Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas - Day 3 - Guest Post from Jeannie Moon



Hi! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with their loved ones. Mine was quiet, but I got a lot of reading done, including the latest from our guest today which includes a hockey playing hero. My favorite! Please welcome Jeannie Moon to the blog today as she talks about her holiday addiction.

Day 1 |Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

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My Holiday Addiction

There are so many things to love about the Christmas season. The decorations, the shopping and wrapping, the baking. I mean, all those things will lead you to time with family, and there’s nothing bad about that. Everyone has some favorite thing to do at Christmas, and for me it was always prepping and serving our wonderful Christmas brunch.
And then last year, on the day after Christmas, I took a little downtime, sat myself on the couch and found the remote control was unguarded. It was just sitting there in a fuzzy throw waiting for me! My husband had gone to the kitchen for a snack, and I took advantage. I switched off his car show (I don’t remember which one it was, they all look alike after a while) and found The Hallmark Channel.
I swear, angels sang.
I love holiday movies and shows. I own all the greats…Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown and the Grinch. I can watch either version of Miracle on 34th Street and be in holiday heaven, and I can quote entire scenes in A Christmas Story. I knew Hallmark made some lovely (sappy) movies, and I LOVE that, so imagine my bliss when I found a channel dedicated not only to Christmas movies, but ROMANCES. Oh. Em. Gee.
My gateway movie was called The Christmas Card about a soldier who returns from overseas and visits the town from which he received an anonymous Christmas card. Cody, our soldier, not only finds the town, but the sender and they click and her family loves him and it’s all sunshine and candy canes, right?  NO!  She has an awful boyfriend who treats her like a fancy tie clip and hates that there are sparks flying with tall, dark and honorable Cody. Of course it all ends with the yucky BF being kicked to the curb and Cody gets the girl.
My very first Christmas romance, This Christmas, would make a most excellent Hallmark movie. I have a strong-willed single mom, and the hot hockey player who left before she could tell him she was pregnant with his baby. Then there’s the baby, who’s nine now, and following in her dad’s footsteps burning up the ice. I keep wondering who would play my hero and heroine. I mean, I want to be prepared when the call comes. It seems Hallmark is always looking for new stories.

Hey, Hallmark…Have your people call my people. We’ll do lunch.



Jean­nie Moon has always been a roman­tic. When she’s not spin­ning tales of her own, Jean­nie works as a school librar­ian, thank­ful she has a job that allows her to immerse her­self in books and call it work. Mar­ried to her high school sweet­heart, Jean­nie has three kids, three lov­able dogs and a mis­chie­vous cat and lives in her hometown on Long Island, NY. If she’s more than ten miles away from salt water for any longer than a week, she gets twitchy. Visit Jeannie’s web­site to find out about all her books. www.jeanniemoon.com



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Thank you, Jeannie, for stopping by today! Jeannie is giving away an ebook of your choice from her digital backlist and I am giving away a KINDLE copy of This Christmas. To enter, answer Jeannie's question by commenting below. 

Tell me…do you have a favorite Christmas movie?  Why is it your favorite?

Note: All winners will be announced on January 6th. 

Thursday, December 25, 2014

12 Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas - Day 2 - Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas! I hope your day has been wonderful. For Day 2 I am featuring two of my favorite reads for the year, INSPIRE by Cora Carmack and WICKED by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I don't often read paranormal romance, but both of these ladies have me anticipating more from them in this genre.

Day 1 |Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

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Being a big fan of Cora Carmack, when she announced she was writing a Greek paranormal romance I knew I had to read it because I am a fan of Greek Mythology, so I was intrigued to see how she would use that within a romance. I was completely blown away by how much I loved INSPIRE. It is easily at the top of the list of my favorite reads for the year. (You can see my review here.) 


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Buy On Amazon
Kalliope lives with one purpose. 

To inspire. 

As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real. 

Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal. 

Her presence may inspire genius. 

But it breeds madness, too. 



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My second favorite paranormal read of the year is WICKED by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I was told I HAD to read this by a real good friend of mine who is a huge fan of Jennifer. I was a fan of Jennifer even without reading her books, so WICKED just made me even more of one. 

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Buy On Amazon
Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans. 

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart. 

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her. 

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

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Today I am giving away one KINDLE copy of INSPIRE and one KINDLE copy of WICKED. Comment below and tell me what your favorite paranormal romance is. If you're not a paranormal reader, who is on your "must read" list. 

Note: Winners will be announced on January 6th. 


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

12 Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas - Day 1 - Happy Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas Eve! 

It's time for my 12  Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas! Over the next twelve days, December 24th - January 4th, I'm going to feature some of my favorite authors, favorite bloggers and favorite reads of 2014. There will be guest posts, giveaways and more. I wish each and every one of you and your families a very wonderful Christmas holiday. 

~Stephanie


Since everyone is in the midst of preparing and staring their celebrations today, I'm going to keep it simple today and kick off the event with a chance to win a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card

To enter leave a blog post comment and tell me: What is your favorite thing to do on Christmas Eve? Be sure to leave your email so I can contact you if you are a winner.

Note: All winners will be announced on January 6th. 

See you tomorrow for a feature on Cora Carmack and Jennifer L. Armentrout! 

Day 1 |Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8