Thursday, April 5, 2018


WHAT'S COOKING?

 The smell is in the air!

🍽🍽🍽🍽🍽🍽🍽

HEALTHY AIR FRYER COOKBOOK
100 Great recipes with fewer calories and less fat
by Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC


Make healthier versions of all your fried favorites--all under 500 calories!

Air frying is fast and convenient, but it's not easy to find air frying recipes that are healthy and delicious. The Healthy Air Fryer Cookbook contains 100 recipes that are absolutely delicious and also better for your health because they use less oil and contain healthier ingredients than traditional fried foods. Included in this book are better-for-you versions of traditional main dishes, breakfasts, sides (like French fries), desserts (like cookies), and more. You'll also learn how to use this versatile appliance to bake, roast, and grill many of your favorite fried foods—with fewer calories.

- Enjoy 100 recipes that are healthier than typical air-fried foods, which can contain too many hidden calories and too much fat.

- Get exact calorie counts and detailed nutrition information to help you stay within the USDA's recommended daily allowances.

- Make healthier versions of traditionally fried favorites, including French Fries, and fried chicken, as well as lighter snacks, such as smoky kale chips and sriracha honey chicken wings.

- Satisfy your sweet tooth with lightened-up treats, including sea salt brownies, apple turnovers, and chocolate lava cakes.

- Fry, bake, grill, and discover how versatile your air fryer is and how you can use it to make virtually anything.

🍽🍽🍽🍽🍽

MY REVIEW


HEALTHY AIR FRYER COOKBOOK
100 Great recipes with fewer calories and less fat
By Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC

I have been wanting an air fryer for some time now. Christmas came and went with my older brother, and my older sister both receiving one. Oh well, I can wait my turn. In the mean time I’ve been checking out air fryer cookbooks. I’ve looked through several, and enjoyed them, but I found HEALTHY AIR FRYER COOKBOOK to be a good one to keep.  

The first several pages contain basic information on the use of an air fryer, and helpful tips to make the most of the fryer. Throughout the book pages include beautiful color photos of many of the finished dishes, and easy to follow recipes. There’s something for everyone in book.

Chapters include, Breakfast Essentials, Healthier Mains, Lighter Sides, Wholesome Snacks, and (Less) Sinful Desserts. Within these chapters you’ll find recipes such as . . . Pumpkin Oatmeal, Whole Grain French Toast, Ham & Egg Casserole, Veggie Pizza Pockets, Lightened-Up Chicken & Waffles, Spicy Pork Empanadas, Classic French Fries, Parmesan Cauliflower Cakes, Crunchy Green Beans, Crispy Cajun Pickle Chips, Rosemary Cashews, Sea Salt Brownies, Zeppole with Cannoli Dip, Chocolate Lava Cake and so much more!

If you have an air fryer or are interested in getting one, the HEATHY AIR FRYER COOKBOOK is a good start to learning some great recipes!


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Wednesday, April 4, 2018

I'm happy to be joining #BerkleyMystery
in celebrating author
Rebecca Adler
and her new book
CINCO DE MURDER
Book 3 in the Taste of Texas Mysteries


Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan serves up more Lone Star justice in this spicy mystery from the author of The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole.

It's fiesta time in Broken Boot, Texas, and tourists are pouring into town faster than free beer at a bull roping for the mouthwatering Cinco de Mayo festivities. Tex-Mex waitress Josie Callahan, her feisty abuela, and even her spunky Chihuahua Lenny are polishing their folklΓ³rico dances for Saturday's big parade, while Uncle Eddie is adding his own spicy event to the fiesta menu: Broken Boot's First Annual Charity Chili Cook-off.

But Uncle Eddie's hopes of impressing the town council go up in smoke when cantankerous chili cook Lucky Straw is found dead in his tent. And when Josie's beloved uncle is accused of fatal negligence, she, Lenny, and the steadfast Detective Lightfoot must uncover who ended the ambitious chilihead's life--before another cook kicks the bucket.

πŸ“—πŸ“–πŸ“—

!!!GIVEAWAY!!!

1 lucky reader will win a print copy of

CINCO DE MURDER!

USA only

Enter using the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post.


MY REVIEW


CINCO DE MURDER is seasoned with the same intelligent writing as the two previous installments of this wonderful series.

Author Rebecca Adler has reminded me why I wanted to return to Broken Boot, Texas. The wonderful characters, including longhaired Chihuahua, Lenny, the festive feel of the town, and the mouthwatering food are all just as I remembered. I swear I could smell delicious Tex-Mex the moment I opened the book.

Adler has blended together the prefect ingredients to ensure CINCO DE MURDER contains just the right amount of mystery, fun, and intrigue. With a plot full of twists and turns, this tasty murder mystery will leave you feeling sated at the satisfying conclusion but will quickly have you hungering for more of the series.          

Make sure to check out the back for the book for yummy recipes!

ABOUT REBECCA


Rebecca Adler grew up on the sugar beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast. Drawn to the Big Apple by the sweet smell of wishful thinking, she studied acting on Broadway until a dark-eyed cowboy flung her over his saddle and hightailed it to the Southwest.

Prior to writing women's fiction, Gina always found a way to add a touch of the dramatic to her life: dinner theatre in Mississippi, can-can club in Florida, and playing a giant Furskin in the New York Toy Fair, plus the occasional play and musical.

She's currently content to pour her melodramatic tendencies into writing her Taste of Texas culinary mystery series. Set in far West Texas, her humorous stories are filled with delicious suspense and scrumptious Tex-Mex recipes. Her alter ego, Gina Lee Nelson, writes sweet contemporary romances with a sweet, Southern-fried flavor.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tuesday, April 3, 2018


Paperbacks, Hardcovers, and Audio, Oh my!

All of these great titles release today! 
Which ones are you adding to your To Be Read pile?

TRADE (LARGE) PAPERBACK 

National bestselling author Kathleen Bridge presents a delightful new series set on a barrier island where waves meet sand-and mayhem meets murder . . .
The Indialantic by the Sea hotel has a hundred-year-old history on beautiful Melbourne Beach, Florida, and more than a few guests seem to have been there from the start. When Liz Holt returns home after an intense decade in New York, she's happy to be surrounded by the eccentric clientele and loving relatives that populate her family-run inn, and doubly pleased to see the business is staying afloat thanks to its vibrant shopping emporium and a few very wealthy patrons.
But that patronage decreases by one when a filthy rich guest is discovered dead in her oceanfront suite. Maybe this is simply a jewel theft gone wrong, but maybe someone-or many people-wanted the hotel's prosperous guest dead. Only one thing is sure: there's a killer at the Indialantic, and if Liz lets herself be distracted-by her troubled past or the tempting man who seems eager to dredge it back up-the next reservation she'll book could be at the cemetery . . .
 HARDCOVER

A delightful new mystery featuring bookseller and amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols, set in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Delaney Nichols, originally of Kansas but settling happily into her new life as a bookseller in Edinburgh, works at the Cracked Spine in the heart of town. The shop is a place filled with curiosities and surprises tucked into every shelf, and it’s Delaney’s job to research the rare tomes and obscure artifacts that people come to buy and sell. When her new friends, also students at the medical school, come to the shop to sell a collection of antique medical books, Delaney knows she’s stumbled across a rare and important find indeed. Her boss, Edwin MacAlister, agrees to buy the multivolume set, perhaps even to keep for his own collection.
But not long after the sale, one of Delaney’s new friends is found murdered in the alley behind the Cracked Spine, and she wonders if there is some nefarious connection between the origin of these books and the people whose hands they fell into. Delaney takes it upon herself to help bring the murderer to justice. During her investigation, Delaney she finds some old scalpels in the bookshop’s warehouse―she and discovers that they belonged to a long-dead doctor whose story and ties to the past crimes of Burke and Hare might be connected to the present-day murder. It’s all Delaney can do to race to solve this crime before time runs out and she ends up in a victim on the slab herself.


Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan serves up more Lone Star justice in this spicy mystery from the author of The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole.

It's fiesta time in Broken Boot, Texas, and tourists are pouring into town faster than free beer at a bull roping for the mouthwatering Cinco de Mayo festivities. Tex-Mex waitress Josie Callahan, her feisty abuela, and even her spunky Chihuahua Lenny are polishing their folklΓ³rico dances for Saturday's big parade, while Uncle Eddie is adding his own spicy event to the fiesta menu: Broken Boot's First Annual Charity Chili Cook-off.

But Uncle Eddie's hopes of impressing the town council go up in smoke when cantankerous chili cook Lucky Straw is found dead in his tent. And when Josie's beloved uncle is accused of fatal negligence, she, Lenny, and the steadfast Detective Lightfoot must uncover who ended the ambitious chilihead's life--before another cook kicks the bucket.

HARDCOVER

The nineteenth installment of the beloved and New York Times bestselling Miss Julia series

With her husband Sam off on a trip to Europe, Miss Julia reckons it's about time to roll up her sleeves and be of some use to her community. It's then that she hears that the nosy do-gooder Madge Taylor and the new pastor Rucker are embarking on a mission to buy up the vacant house next door to Hazel Marie and establish a group home for wayward teenagers. No stranger to taking in the down-and-out herself, Miss Julia is shocked to learn Madge and the pastor are keeping the project a secret. When Miss Julia and Hazel Marie start investigating, though, they uncover a far less philanthropic plot for the house that even Madge doesn't know about--one that could change the quiet, peaceful neighborhood forever. 

Miss Julia must band together with friends and neighbors to take on nosy Madge and her steamrolling plans, while still being helpful to those in need in another entertaining installment of Ann B. Ross's bestselling series.


Witch and vintage store owner Lily Ivory faces her most difficult mystery to date with a case of mistaken identity that hits close to home...

Lily Ivory and her friends are planning a 1950s-themed brunch to benefit the local women's shelter. When a figure from her past shows up unannounced, threatening her unless she returns something that belonged to him, Lily's fiancΓ©, Sailor, steps in to defend her. After the same man is found dead later that day, Sailor is the primary suspect. He swears he's innocent, but multiple witnesses ID him as the perpetrator of the assault. Lily vows to clear his name...only she's not sure where to start with the mounting evidence against him. 

When she sees Sailor in the neighborhood despite knowing he's in jail, Lily starts to wonder if there could be a doppelganger in San Francisco. When she's not busy helping customers find matching outfits for the upcoming event, searching for a vintage wedding dress for her own nuptials, and dealing with an ill-timed magical cold, Lily begins to suspect one of her magical foes is targeting her loved ones in an attempt to weaken her.


Right when Dani thinks she's hit a dead-end in her career, she unexpectedly inherits an enormous old house in a quaint college town. This gives her the perfect opportunity to pursue her true passion―cooking! So Dani opens Chef-to-Go, preparing delicious, ready-made meals for hungry students attending the nearby university, as well as providing personal chef services and catering events for the local community. To help support her new business, she opens her home to a few students, renting them rooms and becoming almost like a big sister figure in their lives.
But just as Dani is relishing her sweet new life, the friend of one of her boarders is murdered, and Dani becomes one of the primary suspects! She'll have to scramble to clear her name and save her business before the killer reappears―perhaps to silence the new chef forever.

HARDCOVER

A present day ghost leads China Bayles to a secret from Pecan Springs's past in this haunting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert.

While helping Ruby Wilcox clean up the loft above their shops, China comes upon a box of antique handcrafted lace and old photographs. Following the discovery, she hears a woman humming an old Scottish ballad and smells the delicate scent of lavender.... 

Soon, strange happenings start to occur in Thyme and Seasons: misplaced items, a ringing bell, and the appearance of lavender sprigs in odd places. When a customer mentions seeing a mysterious woman picking flowers nearby and then suddenly disappearing, China must finally admit what Ruby has always known--their building is haunted. But by whom?

As China investigates, the tragic story of a woman in one of the old photographs unfolds. Annie Laurie was a young widow who'd lost both her husband and her child in the same day. She manages to survive through her lace-making business and finds happiness again only to have a suspicious death overshadow her new life.

China delves into Annie's century-old mystery and realizes that solving it could have unimaginable repercussions in the here and now.

AUDIO

Lily Ivory and her friends are planning a 1950s-themed brunch to benefit the local women's shelter. When a figure from her past shows up unannounced, threatening her unless she returns something that belonged to him, Lily's fiance, Sailor, steps in to defend her. After the same man is found dead later that day, Sailor is the primary suspect. He swears he's innocent, but multiple witnesses ID him as the perpetrator of the assault. Lily vows to clear his name...only she's not sure where to start with the mounting evidence against him.
When she sees Sailor in the neighborhood despite knowing he's in jail, Lily starts to wonder if there could be a doppelganger in San Francisco. When she's not busy helping customers find matching outfits for the upcoming event, searching for a vintage wedding dress for her own nuptials, and dealing with an ill-timed magical cold, Lily begins to suspect one of her magical foes is targeting her loved ones in an attempt to weaken her.

AUDIO

There's big trouble in Quincy's Gap when the "Diva of Dough" arrives to bake the wedding cake for Milla and Jackson's Christmas Eve wedding. The Diva, a celebrity television chef and cookbook author, is Milla's younger sister. And while her cakes are delectably sweet and incredibly beautiful, the Diva makes enemies wherever she goes. When one of the Diva's enemies decides to take her out, and Deputy Lucy Hanover finds the famous chef's body covered in cake batter, the Supper Club members find themselves up to their necks in suspects.

AUDIO

Meg Langslow is pregnant with twins when Michael asks if she wouldn't mind having a houseguest. One of his doctoral students is directing his new translation of a play by a minor Spanish playwright, who has agreed to come to town for the production. Surely they can spare some room for such an important academic cause?
SeΓ±or Mendoza turns out to be a partygoer who loves to spend raucous evenings among adoring students...at Casa Langslow. Into this chaos arrives the dean of the English department, who insists the play be canceled.
Then the unthinkable happens: the dean is found murdered, and Meg's house has become a crime scene. Now it's up to Meg to help Chief Burke solve the murders, rescue the student's dissertation, make sure Michael doesn't lose tenure, and, while she's at it, give birth to twins. Encore! Encore!



Monday, April 2, 2018


I'm happy to be joining #BerkleyMystery in celebrating the April 3 release of 
QUEEN ANNE'S LACE
Book 26 in the China Bayles Mysteries
by SUSAN WITTIG ALBERT


A present day ghost leads China Bayles to a secret from Pecan Springs's past in this haunting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert.


While helping Ruby Wilcox clean up the loft above their shops, China comes upon a box of antique handcrafted lace and old photographs. Following the discovery, she hears a woman humming an old Scottish ballad and smells the delicate scent of lavender.... 

Soon, strange happenings start to occur in Thyme and Seasons: misplaced items, a ringing bell, and the appearance of lavender sprigs in odd places. When a customer mentions seeing a mysterious woman picking flowers nearby and then suddenly disappearing, China must finally admit what Ruby has always known--their building is haunted. But by whom?

As China investigates, the tragic story of a woman in one of the old photographs unfolds. Annie Laurie was a young widow who'd lost both her husband and her child in the same day. She manages to survive through her lace-making business and finds happiness again only to have a suspicious death overshadow her new life.

China delves into Annie's century-old mystery and realizes that solving it could have unimaginable repercussions in the here and now.

πŸ“˜πŸ“–πŸ“—πŸ“–πŸ“—πŸ“–πŸ“˜


!!!GIVEAWAY!!!

1 lucky reader will win a copy of

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE

USA only

Enter using the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post.

πŸ“˜πŸ“–πŸ“—πŸ“–πŸ“—πŸ“–πŸ“˜

MY REVIEW


I will never argue the fact that Susan Wittig Albert is a wonderful author. Her writing is easy to read. It has a flowing quality that keeps you reading long after you have planned to stop. Just one more page. One more chapter. You know the kind. And her knowledge of the plants she uses in each of her China Bayles mysteries, well, it’s clear she does her research, and that it’s a topic she enjoys.

In QUEEN ANNE’S LACE, China is trying to solve a mystery from the past. Not hers, but that of a woman named Anne. Anne’s story takes place in the late 1800’s. Every other chapter in this book is set in the past, and then the present. I didn’t really enjoy the back and forth of this. While Anne’s story is interesting, I would have preferred much less of it. It turned half of the book into a historical story, and while I have a few historicals that I read, they aren’t my favorite.

As always with this author, the writing is impeccable. And, the factoids on the Queen’s Anne lace are fascinating. Diehard fans of Susan Wittig Albert as well as fans of historical fiction, will enjoy QUEEN ANNE’S LACE.



As a writer, I work in three genres, mystery, historical fiction, and memoir. My mysteries include the China Bayles Herbal Mysteries and The Darling Dahlias, about a Southern garden club in the 1930s, as well as an eight-book series, the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, and the 12-book series that my husband Bill Albert and I coauthored under the pseudonym of Robin Paige.

My historical fiction includes THE GENERAL'S WOMEN, a wartime romance about Ike's love affair with Kay Summersby; LOVING ELEANOR, about the intimate friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok; and A WILDER ROSE, about the mother-daughter team that produced the Little House books. A WILDER ROSE is currently under option for film.

Bill and I live in the Hill Country of Central Texas, where I write, garden, raise chickens, and practice the fiber arts. You can find out more in my two memoirs: TOGETHER, ALONE: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE AND PLACE; and AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF ORDINARY DAYS.


GOOD LUCK!

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let me know what you think!

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Sunday, April 1, 2018

SPOTLIGHT


I'm happy to be joining #BerkleyMystery
in celebrating the April 3 release of
MURDER IN THE BOWERY
Book 20 in the Gaslight Mysteries
by Victoria Thompson


The latest Gaslight Mystery from the bestselling author of Murder in Morningside Heights finds Sarah Brandt and Frank Malloy searching for a connection between a murdered newsie and a high society woman with dangerous habits.
Frank Malloy’s latest client is the well-dressed Will Bert. He’s searching for his brother, a newsboy named Freddie, so he can share his new financial good fortune. Frank makes quick work of the case and locates Freddie, but a happy reunion between brothers is not in the cards. 

When Will’s name is mentioned, Freddie runs off—only to be found dead a short time later. Suspicious, Frank tracks down Will who spins a tale of lust and deceit involving a young society woman, Estelle Longacre, also recently deceased.  Frank can’t be sure if Estelle’s risky behavior and the company she kept was to blame, or if her own ruthless family had a hand in her death.

Frank will need Sarah’s help to unearth the dark secrets of the wealthy Longacres and to discover if there is a connection between Estelle and Freddie’s death. Together they must navigate a perilous underground web of treachery to find the truth.


Edgar® Nominated author Victoria Thompson writes the Gaslight Mystery Series, set in turn-of-the-century New York City and featuring midwife Sarah Brandt, and the Counterfeit Lady Series set in early twentieth century New York City and featuring con artist Elizabeth Miles. Her latest books are MURDER ON ST. NICHOLAS AVENUE and CITY OF LIES. She also contributed to the award winning writing textbook MANY GENRES/ONE CRAFT. A popular speaker, Victoria teaches in the Seton Hill University master's program in writing popular fiction. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and a very spoiled little dog.


As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

Follow my blog by 
clicking on the link in the 
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