November Author Spotlight Featuring Louisa Edwards

I thought Louisa was a great fit for the Next Author Spotlight considering my blog is called "A Tasty Read" and all of Louisa's books have to do with Very Sexy Chefs and Steamy Kitchens!!

I first heard of Louisa Edwards while perusing Barnes and Nobel for a Fun, New read.  I spotted the cover for Can't Stand the Heat and knew I had found exactly what I was looking for.  And because I am a HUGE fan of Top Chef....her books were even more fun to read.....It is now SEXY to be a chef or someone in the industry, not that they haven't ALWAYS had their fun behind the scenes, but now it is out in the open, and Louisa tells it like it is!!!

Her, RECIPE FOR LOVE series starts with Can't Stand the Heat (9/09), which includes some very sexy cooking lessons, some very interesting uses for the Kitchen counter tops and some sweet pillow talk!! I LOVED the first book in the series and knew I had to have the next installment.

On the Steamy Side hit the shelves in May 2010.  In the second installment we are wrapped up in the life of a Very Handsome, somewhat egotistical Television Chef (Yes, you can imagine your own favorite TV Chef here) and a sweet, good girl who tells it like it is and isn't afraid to tell this man what she really thinks about him......Well....except when they are having some hot, steamy sex in the shower!! Yes....Chef's Do It With Steam!!

The third installment, Just One Taste, released Aug, 2010, gives us some serious lessons on love.  Brainy Nerd + Adorable Chef + Food Chemistry 101 = EXPLOSION!!

The fun continues with her newest Trilogy, RISING STAR CHEF series. 

The series starts out with a Family run restaurant in NYC, Lunden's Tavern, where business has SLOWED down and they need to win the Rising Star Chef Competition to stay afloat.  What will happen when the Prodigal son returns to stir the pot at Lundens??  You need to pick up Too Hot To Touch, which was released Aug 2011. 

Some Like It Hot, the second installment of the series, will be hitting the shelves on November 29th, 2011, Just in time for the Holidays!!  Here we get the skinny on a sexy chef and the spunky, smart host of the Rising Star Competition.  I have a feeling we will be getting more than fire under the burners with this one!! 

The third book in the series might be the most highly anticipated, well at least by me....AHHH BECK!!

Hot Under Pressure, releasing March 2012, gives us a further look into the life of Henry Beck.....I think the name Henry has never sounded sexier!!  I know I would like to know more about the ex-Military man...and I know once you get through the series...YOU will be saying the same thing!!

So for all of those foodies out there that can't get Enough of Top Chef...Check out these DELICIOUS READS from Louisa Edwards.  You will never feel the same way about a handsome Chef again!!

NEW RELEASES......

YAY....RELEASE DAY!!!

Some Very Anticipated books are out today ....WOO HOO!!

So get your butts to Barnes and Noble or sign onto Amazon and download TODAY!!

Wanted by Her Lost Love by Maya Banks releases today...YAY!!  It is the second in her Pregnancy and Passion series.  I am SUPER excited for this released and it is a Definite TO READ!!

Nora Roberts has a new series, The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy, starting with the release of Book One, The Next Always.  Was missing Nora's wonderful, descriptive settings and I have no doubt that this book will be incredible!!

For all of you, Fool's Gold fans, Susan Mallery has released a Christmas Novella, Only Us.  We finally get to see who will get their chance at the hunky, new Vet in town.  This will be a heartwarming, Christmas romance......Just in time for the Snow!! 

Baby It's Cold Outside by Addison Fox, who is a new author to me, was featured in RT Book Reviews for November as a TO READ!!  It will be the first book of the Alaskan Nights Series.  If you haven't yet read Addison Fox, I suggest you give her a read!!

HAPPY READING!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Just wanted to stop in to wish you all a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!  I hope you all had a rocking weekend...Some celebrated in the Snow, while others wore a big, green fro!

Tonight, don't forget to watch your favorite CLASSIC HORROR FILMS! !

Micheal, Jason or Freddy.....Oh..... Almost sounds like a kickin Saturday Night!! haha

I, myself plan to start on a GREAT, SCARY Romance Suspense tonight, Hide From Evil by Jami Alden just came out in paperback last week and will be out in E-book form tomorrow!!

But until then, here are a few suggestions for a CREEPY, DISTURBING Romance Suspense for tonight if you are looking for a SCARE!!

So grab a Milky Way out of the bowl of Candy that you swore you weren't going to touch, grab your favorite throw blanket, and curl up for some SCARY Villains, a sexy hero and a heroine who likes to KICK ASS!!

And I will leave you with a little (well maybe not LITTLE) Halloween TREAT!! 

My Heart Wasn't In It

The Heart of a Killer

Jaci Burton

Released Oct 25th, 2011

409 Pages

Mira Publishing

Firstly, I want to give Ms. Burton props for stepping out of her comfort zone and making a go at the Romance Suspense Genre.  WOO HOO!!

With that being said, I will say that I thought the PLOT had soooooo much potential. It could have went anywhere with all of the choices we had for the killer. BUT, it just didn't do it for me. The story kind of fell flat. The plot just flopped somewhere after a few chapters and after a while I just didn't care WHO the killer was.

Anna was likeable in the first few page or two and then she kind of annoyed me. Dante was a hero, who lacked the hero traits. I mean, who just left their girlfriend after a traumatic event like that?? I understand it's fiction, but to never say goodbye?? And their chemistry....WAS SO NOT JACI BURTON....The dialogue was OFF and the relationship between them was just OK for me.

Now on the other hand....I thought Gabe was SEEEEEEXY, and If his book is the next in the series, I might just have to read it anyway!!

The plot was very repetitive, and I was kind of hoping that the person who attacked her was a kid obsessed with her, and his brother continued in the obsession, or something like that. Or Roman was really the one that tried to attack her, but a kid in the alley was mistaken for the guy in the shuffle.  Something other than what the outcome actually was.

So I will say it was ok/good, but not great/amazing. I usually LOVE Ms. Burton's stuff so I was actually very sad that I didn't like this one that much!! There is still hope for the next book in the series!!

Throwback Thursday (on Friday)

Sorry Guys...forgot yesterday was Thursday and posted a great review instead of the usual throwback.  I have been sick since I came home from the NJRW Conference, so please excuse the Medicine Brain.

Fools Rush In
Kristan Higgins
Released Nov 1st, 2006
384 Pages
HQN

Rewarding job as a local doctor on Cape Cod? Check. Cute cottage of her very own? Check. Adorable puppy suitable for walks past attractive locals? Check! All she needs is for golden boy and former crush Joe Carpenter to notice her, and Millie will be set.

But perfection isn't as easy as it looks—especially when Sam Nickerson, a local policeman, is so distracting. Sure, he needs a friend after being dumped by Millie's fortune-hunting sister, but does she really need to enjoy his company that much? He is definitely not part of her master plan. But maybe it's time for Millie to start a new list…

I already owned the Kindle Edition, and currently bought the new Mass MArket Paperback becaise I loved the cover.  I picked it up this week and began skimming through the book, remembering the parts I loved and the parts I laughed.  I remembered leaving this book to read last, after downloading all Kristan's books. 

 I didn't think I would love it.  I wasn't sure that the heroine was going to grab me like she did.  Millie was great, her jogging regime was HYSTERICAL and her heart was HUGE!! 

I loved Sam, what a wonderful guy.  Who wouldn't fall for him.  And Joe the Carpenter.  He is the bad boy that we have all fallen in love with.  The guy that we have such high hopes for and in the long run, just aren't what we hoped they would be.

I am so happy that I gave this book a chance,  As it turned out to be one of my favorites of Kristan's.  Not that I haven't LOVED all of her books!!  This will teach me to never judge a book by the first few pages!!

This Debut Title is a HOME RUN

Saving June
Hannah Harrington
Releasing Nov 22nd, 2011
304 Pages
Harlequin Teen



When her older sister commits suicide and her divorcing parents decide to divide the ashes, Harper Scott takes her sister's urn to the one place June always wanted to go: California. On the road with her best friend, plus an intriguing guy with a mysterious connection to June, Harper discovers truths about her sister, herself and life.


What an unbeliveably amazing debut by Hannah Harrington.

Just the music alone blew me away!  She transports the reader to the inside of the van, along with Harper, Jake and Laney. The songs alone carry so much meaning, so much description without having to use any words at all.

Hannah has taken a subject that is not an easy thing to write about, and does an extrodinary job at taking us on Harper's journey of anger, sadness, love and forgiveness. I got choked up so many times while reading this wonderful YA novel.

I was drawn to Harper from the first page, she was honest and was so... real. Her reaction to Jake is classic and I was drawn to their relationship. The secrets, the understanding, the jealousy and the unspoken connection between them was what kept me reading late into the night.

This is a great book for anyone interested in reading an emotionally charged novel that takes you on a exciting journey with three kids searching for answers.

LOVED IT!!

**And make sure you check out the list of songs that were used in the book, it was located at the end of the book and contains some VERY cool songs.  I downloaded a bunch of them after I was finished reading the book....Songs have a way of expressing so much emotion without even having to say a word!!

VERY SLOW....RIDE

Slow Ride
Fast Track #5
Erin McCarthy
Released Oct 5th, 2011
304 Pages
Berkley





Was this book written by someone other than Erin McCarthy??  The first chapter or two was cute and was setting up to be a really great story.  And then it juts went downhill...at least for me.

The dialogue between Diesel and Tuesday was just weird...it wasn't sexy...it was just weird.  And the dialogue between Diesel and everyone else was weird...He had NO voice, or he said things that I didn't think a guy like him would say...and his guy friends sounded like girls!!

For someone who LOVED the whole series so far, I was SOOOOOO disappointed with Slow Ride.  There was no REAL conflict....she drank too much (which made me like her less...she seemed like a real bitch) and he was just blah.  And for me to have NO CONNECTION to either of the characters is huge...I love romance and can normally find the best in all books...but this one...I skimmed through the last 35% of the Kindle Book. 

The best part of the book was seeing Ryder and Suzanne interact with their baby.  They seemed really happy.  And all the Evan/Kendall crap with Sara and the maybe, baby...was so unnecessary. 
All in all...this book was a mumble/jumble of BLAH!!

I want Erin McCarthy back.....I hope she comes back before the release of Eve's book!!

BACK TO THE GRIND

Hello All,

A friend asked me today if I was going to write about my experience this weekend at the NJRW "Put Your Heart In A Book" Conference.  I hadn't even thought about it, but then I figured...WHY NOT?

The NJRW put on such an AMAZING conference.  This happened to be my first conference with not just NJRW but the whole RWA Organization.  The ladies, including Co-Conference Chairs, Marlo Berliner and Ruth Seitelman, were such sweet, intelligent women and made the NEWBIES, like me, feel so welcome.  Shirley Hailstock, the NJRW President, is such a classy, friendly, warm person, who I had the honor to meet.  And EVERYONE....and I mean EVERYONE that I met or was introduced to, were some of the sweetest, talented people that I have ever met.  Everyone is there for the same reason.....Because we love to use our creativity to write Romance, whether it be Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense or Erotica.

As for the line up of Talented Authors that gave workshops and inspiration talks...I was blown away by their easy going personalities, and their KINDNESS towards the people who strive to be in their shoes one day.  From Kristan Higgins (Squee...Fangirl), Rachel Gibson (ahhhhhhh....Rachel) to Laura Griffin and Brenda Novak.  Some of the most Talented, Funny and down right..COOL people I have ever met!! 

I learned so much at the conference.  From making my book into a page turner to using your imagination to create a story behind anything, even Antique Silver Napkin Rings!!  (BTW...Victoria Alexander is one of the funniest people...EVER)

And I have to throw a shout out to Kerry and Victoria for being two of the coolest, most talented people that I met at the conference.  I wish you both all the best with your writing careers and I hope that very soon we will all be celebrating the publishing of our First Books!!  Good luck with those Partials, and let me know if you have any takers....Ill be saying a prayer for you both!! 

And to a lovely woman name Joyce that I met on my travels from one workshop to another, who got asked for a FULL....I am so excited for you and I wish you all the success!!  They would be lucky to publish a wonderful person like you!! 

And another special HELLO...to all the beautiful, talented, amazing women I met this weekend....I would be honored to read any of your work...KIT and I wish all the best for your careers!!

So.....I would have to say that the NJRW Conference was a huge hit and I was able to take home a huge amount of confidence.  Just knowing that there are so many others in the same boat and under the same stress...Makes you feel not so alone.

Thank you so much to all the NJRW members for hosting such a GREAT weekend!!  I will certainly be back!!

XOXO, Lisa

If you live in or around NJ and are looking for an amazing group to join...check out the NJRW
http://njromancewriters.org/index.php?/about_us/join_njrw/

Sometimes REVENGE can be SWEET

Sweet Revenge

Last Chance Rescue #8

Christy Reece

Released Oct 4th, 2011

386 Pages

Ballantine Books

Firstly, I have to say that I have found a NEW, AMAZING Author in Christy Reece.  And Secondly, I have to say that I might just like Sweet Revenge better than Sweet Justice....or MAYBE EVEN!!

 I loved the timeline of Sweet Revenge...The whole story doesn't take place over three days but months.  Cristy sucks you in at the first page and then brings you along on a Very Suspenseful, Very Emotional journey with Jamie and Dylan. 

I LOVED Jamie as the heroine.  She was sweet and somewhat...reserved..might be the word, and she has had SO many bad things happen to her, but she never lets them bring her down.  She has a VERY strong mind and she pushes through the pain because if she lets it take her, she will lose herself, and that is NOT ok with her.

Dylan...AHH...the Strong, Silent type.  I loved early on when he would use a grunt or a one word answer, for like weeks at a time.  I would have been screaming by day one!!  He is the best kind of HERO you could want to write about.  Hurt by the past, strong protector and VERY SEXY!!  I really like Dylan and his integrity.  He may have hurt Jamie at times, but he was always thinking about her safety, first and foremost, even if she wanted to kick some bad-guy ASS!!  And this Villain needed more than just an Ass Kicking....I believe he got what he deserved...and his sick, perverted SON!!  haha!!  I loved the part where all Lance could see was "gleaming teeth"!!  GO LCR....KICKIN SOME ASS!!

So Christy, I am looking forward to what you have next for us with Sweet Reward, and I hope you continue to write books so that your fans can keep devouring them!!  Always love the HEA!!

NJRW Conference....HERE I COME...

Hey All,

I will be away Thursday-Monday, attending the New Jersey Romance Writers 'Put Your Heart In A Book Conference'.  The conference is my first and I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to be going.  I am looking forward to some very informative workshops with some AMAZING authors, such as Rachel Gibson, Brenda Novak, Kristan Higgins, Laura Griffin and Marie Force. 

I wanted to let everyone know that there will also be a Literacy Book Fair with some very famous authors signing their amazing releases.  Below is the link for more information and I have also attached the event flyer.

Hope to see all of you there,

Lisa

http://njromancewriters.org/index.php?/conference/conference_bookfair/