Freaky Friday - The Man of My Dreams...

Do you ever have one of those moments when you are in the middle of a steamy read and you suddenly get a flash of an image or voice that comes to mind when you picture the main male character in the novel you just can't put down?

One of my favorite recent reads, Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren  left me breathless, but for some reason when I picture BB, Bennett Ryan himself, I see and hear Patrick Wharburton. Not the glittery vampire from Twilight or Superman(although this one is much more to my liking), but this guy:

 

I blame it entirely on my multitasking. Sitting in the living room watching television and reading at the same time produces some interesting results and now I am having difficulty picturing anyone else as Bennett Ryan. The dream I had about BB that night, I saw Patrick Wharburton and now every time I read a quote from that book or look back at it, I can only picture him.

Perhaps it is the role he plays in Rules of Engagement. He is sort of a beautiful bastard. He is easy on the eyes and he does have a distinctive deep voice. Perhaps this gentleman might just fit the bill when it comes to recasting the Beautiful Bastard - at least in my mind. This is Jamie Dornan:

Have a terrific weekend!

Hump Day Hunk

Ahhh... the dangers of a sharp dressed man...   Today's hump day hunk had me so distracted I burned the breakfast... definitely well worth it though. I am in agreement with that statement - A well tailored suit is to women what lingerie is to men. What do you think?

Going Home Again Blog Tour

Today I am reviewing Abby Cavenaugh's debut Adult Contemporary novel, Going Home Again. Published by Swoon Romance, its a beautiful love story about two people who find a true love neither thought would happen for them.

Ms. Cavenaugh deftly weaves a story of a high school crush that blooms into so much more between journalist Alyssa Jones and pop-star Michael Day. Her characters jump off the page and into your heart because she paints them through the lens of reality and not fantasy. Letting go of his past failure and choosing to be with Alyssa is not all smooth sailing for either Michael or Alyssa and I like that Ms. Cavenaugh chooses to showcase the imperfect part of a perfect love story.  I highly recommend you add this to your 'to read' list. You can find it at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

My mini playlist for Going Home Again
Maybe its just me but I find that music and novels have an important connection. When I curl up with a good book I can't put down like Going Home Again, I can't help but have certain songs come to mind. Inevitably I create a playlist to go with the book, sort of as a memory I can take a long of the story and relive the great moments from the book.

Here is my mini- playlist for Alyssa and Michael's love story:

More about the book: 

In high school, it was doubtful Michael Day knew Alyssa Jones existed. 

Twenty years later, when the now-famous pop star returns home to coastal North Carolina, Alyssa gets a second chance to make a first impression on Michael. 

On sabbatical from his failing marriage, Michael agrees to an interview with Alyssa, a journalist for the local tourist magazine. 

When the chemistry between them ignites, Alyssa and Michael are hit with the harsh reality that he isn't yet free to love her. 

With Michael's wife and son still very much in the picture, can Alyssa hold out until he ends his marriage for good? Or will she risk it all for a second chance with the one who got away?

More about Abby Cavenaugh: 

Abby Cavenaugh is a writer of romantic women's fiction and YA paranormal. She is a newspaper editor by day, but dreams of someday retiring to the North Carolina coast to write books full-time. She lives near Charlotte with her twin sister, also a writer, six-year-old niece and crazy cat, Gus, and is driven by dreams, Diet Coke and chocolate.

Social Media

Abby Cavenaugh on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbbyCavenaughAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/abswrites

Going Home Again on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18242120-going-home-again

Swoon Romance (publisher) site: http://www.myswoonromance.com/

Hump Day Hunk

To help everyone get through the week, here is my choice for Hump Day Hunk this week. In honor of my debut novel HEARTBREAK RANCH being released Fall 2013 by Swoon Romance, I thought I would go with someone rough and ready - nothing like a sexy cowboy to make it over that midweek hump. Enjoy!

Monday Mouthful: All About Voice

This week's assignment in my class was to discuss a writer's voice. We talked about how it is affected by different genres but how it also remains unique for each writer across those genres like poetry, screen writing, creative nonfiction, and fiction.


I love discovering my writer's voice, but then I began to think about voices in general and how my new male hero's voice sounds. For some reason, I can't stop thinking about Christian Bale. He is certainly easy on the eyes, but its the voice that melts me like butter. The whole raspy, breathy thing he has going on is how I imagine my new hero in my WIP sounds....

Who's voice makes you melt?

And that's my mouthful for Monday...

Tasty Summer Reads Blog Hop

I have been nominated by Natalie Taylor

to take part in the Tasty Summer Reads Blog Hop!

The rules:  Each author invites a maximum of five writers to discuss their current summer release and/or work in progress. Answer the five questions below. Share a tasty recipe which relates to current release or work in progress.

Here goes!

1. When writing are you a snacker? If so, sweet or salty?

    Both… Sweet and Salty… like those incredible Salted Caramel Cake Pops from Starbucks. Good thing I don’t live close to one or I would buy all of them up every day J

2. Are you an outliner or someone who flies by the seat of their pants? Are they real pants or pajamas?

 With HEARTBREAK RANCH I completely flew by the seat of my pants, but with my current WIP it is more a combination of pantser and plotter. I let the characters find me first and then I plot out the action.

   Do yoga pants count as real pants?

3. When cooking or baking, do you follow the recipe exactly or wing it?

    Recipes...First time I follow the recipe exactly but after that I don’t measure exactly, I eyeball the ingredients and I wing it adding my own spin on things.

    Now, what to make for dinner?

4. What is next for you after this book?

      Right now I am working on a New Adult Romance and then I have another two I have outlined.  

5. Last Question … on a level of one being slightly naughty to ten being whoo whoo steamy, where does your book land?

     I would say HEARTBREAK RANCH is about an 8, but I think the next one is going to be closer to 10.   

My Recipe: Something sweet and spicy for dessert.

White Chocolate Mousse With Cranberry Salsa Cruda

For mousse:

• 4 ounces white chocolate
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• 2 ounces crème fraîche
• Vanilla bean or extract, just a touch

For sauce:

• 1 cup raw cranberries
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• Zest and juice of 1/2 orange
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Pinch of salt

Melt chocolate with two tablespoons of cream over a double boiler. In another bowl, whip egg whites until soft peaks form. Add sugar and slowly beat until stiff peaks form. (You know you like it stiff.)

In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese and crème fraîche until smooth, then add melted chocolate mixture to crème fraîche mixture and whip until well combined. Carefully fold in egg whites. Let set for three hours.

Meanwhile, combine the sauce’s ingredients in a food processor. Taste it together, adjusting the cayenne to the heat that you both desire. When the chocolate mixture has set, pour the sauce on top. If you get swept up and forget dessert while you wait, put the mixture in the freezer — a bit of frigidity won’t keep this mousse down.

Now it’s my turn to nominate some wonderful people: Jan Meredith, Jane Hunt, Heather M Gardner and Pella Grace
Thanks for stopping by and for supporting these amazing authors!

COVER REVEAL: The Funeral Singer by Linda Budzinski

Check out this great cover for my Swoon Sister, Linda Budzinski's upcoming release, The Funeral Singer. It is being released September 24, 2013 by Swoon Romance. 

 

Being a funeral singer was a dead-end job until it led her to him...

Seventeen-year-old Melanie Martin has witnessed her share of lame eulogies and uninspired epitaphs while singing part-time at her dad's funeral home. She's determined to be more than a funeral singer, more than just someone's "beloved wife" or "loving mother." 

When Mel's impromptu rendition of "Amazing Grace" at a local rock star's graveside service goes viral on YouTube, she becomes an Internet sensation, gains thousands of fans and followers, and snags a hot rock star boyfriend--Zed Logan, bass player for The Grime. 

But instant fame isn’t easy—and neither is love. Especially when Mel realizes she’s falling for another guy—one who may just want her heart more than her voice …

Linda Budzinski has worked in non-profit communications and marketing for more than 25 years, including 18 years within the funeral service industry. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Joe, and their adorably fierce chihuahua, Demitria, and she is represented by Andrea Somberg of Harvey Klinger Agency. You can visit her website at www.lindabudzinski.com.