Wednesday, December 18, 2013

A Christmas Recipe from Brinda Berry & the Cutlass Cover Reveal

Kind of a busy day here today as I am hosting Brinda Berry and also participating in Ashley Nixon's cover reveal for her upcoming release Cutlass.

The latest book in Brinda's Whispering Woods series, Watcher of Worlds, will be released this Friday, December 20. Ashley's Cutlass will be released in April, 2014. Congratulations to both ladies!

First, Ashley's awesome cover!



Publication Date: April 23, 2014
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy

Blurb:

Notorious pirate Barren Reed has one thing on his mind: Revenge against the man who killed his father. So kidnapping his enemy's fiancĂ© seems a perfect plan…until he actually does it. 



Larkin Lee is more than a pretty face and fiancé to a powerful man. Her fierce personality is enough to make any pirate want to push her overboard. 



But when the King of the Orient comes to Barren with a task—to find the Bloodstone, a powerful gem thought only to exist in legend, Barren sees another opportunity to destroy his enemy. Together, Barren, Larkin and a crew of pirates set off to find the stone, only to discover it caused the death of Barren’s own mother and Larkin’s, too. As his strongest allies turn into his greatest enemies, and the life of the girl he kidnapped becomes more important than he ever dreamed, Barren’s quest for revenge becomes a fight to save the Orient.


Links:

Goodreads
Goodreads (book page):
Website
Blog
Twitter:
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Ashley is holding a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card at her blog to celebrate the reveal so be sure to visit her and enter!

Source: Wikimedia Commons


Next up, Brinda Berry and I are switching blogs today and sharing Christmas recipes that relate to our books. I know my family will find it funny that I am sharing recipes since I am truly the world's worst cook, but Brinda swears that her recipe can be made by anyone. So I have hope that even I could make it!

Please visit me at Brinda's for a recipe that I probably couldn't make but I think my character Stella from The Ghosts of Aquinnah could. Take it away, Brinda. :)

I'm swapping blogs today with the Julie. She's at my place and is sharing a yummy recipe related to The Ghosts of Aquinnah. When Julie and I decided to share recipes related to our books, I had a difficult time narrowing down the choice.  The story in my upcoming release, Watcher of Worlds (Whispering Woods #3), takes place during the holiday season. My characters enjoy lots of delicious food since they're celebrating Christmas. My main character, Mia Taylor, has a best friend named Em. Em made macaroons that weren't so delicious. Actually, the cookies were inedible. Poor Em. 

So, I think I'll share a recipe that even the worst cook can make. I'm actually a pretty good cook (according to me and not my husband), but I like to know I can fall back on something simple in the worst case scenario. Like making an inedible batch of macaroons.  I don't know where I first found this recipe, but I make it anytime I'm in a hurry for a dessert. I keep the ingredients on hand and prep time is nonexistent.

You Can't Mess This Up Cobbler:

2 cans of cherry, blackberry, peach, apple, or any fruit pie filling
1 stick butter
1 box of Jiffy cake mix
1 cup of chopped pecans
Spoon pie filling into the a casserole dish. Layer with Jiffy cake mix. Sprinkle chopped pecans in another layer. Cut butter into thin slices and place on top as last layer.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.



Watcher of Worlds (releasing December 20, 2013), EXCERPT:
 
Jingle Bells

I detested planned surprises.

I could read the expectation in the air from the shimmery orange vibe that glowed like a Cheetos binge gone bad.

A few months ago, my friends had discovered my secret. The secret I’d hidden so teachers and doctors wouldn’t treat me like an amped up sensory perception freak. So friends wouldn’t ask.

Synesthesia. The condition sounded like the name of an electronic punk band. I’d made the full round of emotions about my sensory perception and being able to find portals. First, I’d hid it like you hide an ugly rash. Later, I’d learned to trust my friends with my secret. I’d even embraced it.

Now, I was back to wishing for normal.

Working with Regulus and Arizona was like playing Pop Goes the Weasel—a surprise around every corner. And did I mention I hate surprises?

Give me predictable any day. Then I could be ready. It’s why I made sure I knew the contents of every box under the Christmas tree.


AUTHOR BIO:


Brinda Berry is the author of The Waiting Booth (Whispering Woods #1), Whisper of Memory (Whispering Woods #2), and the upcoming Watcher of Worlds (Whispering Woods #3). She also contributed a short story to the anthology, Wild at Heart, Vol II.

Currently working in higher education administration, she spends her days thinking of ways to improve education for college students. Brinda spends her nights devising exciting tales that involve teens who might be saving the world.

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Congratulations again and best wishes to both Ashley and Brinda! Hope to see you over at Brinda's place.

19 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Ashley!
    And already caught your spot at Brinda's.

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  2. Good books AND a recipe-- heavenly! Thanks Julie. :)

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  3. I love Ashley's cover!
    The Whispering Woods books look really interesting, too! I'll have to check them out. :)

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  4. Love Ashley's cover!

    And congrats to Brinda for her newest book! The recipe sounds yummy!

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  5. Congratulations, Ashley and Brinda!!!

    Brinda, that DOES look like a no-fail recipe I may have to steal it...

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  6. What a cool, Ashley cover--magical feeling with all the soft colors.

    Brinda--easy and good recipe.

    Congrats to both!

    Sia McKye Over Coffee

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  7. Alex- Thanks for dropping by over at my place. :)
    Julie- Reading and eating = a great time for me.
    Rachel- Hope you do get to check out my series!
    Cherie- Thanks for the congrats.
    Liz- Steal away. It's a no-fail. Definitely.
    Sia- Thanks so much for the congrats.

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  8. Congrats to Brinda and Ashley! The recipes sounds wonderful. :)

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  9. One word: Awesome.

    Ashley's cover is brilliant.

    Brinda, you've got me hooked. Let me stack your series on my ever-too-tall tower of must reads. =) Now I just need to make some cobbler to consume while reading.

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  10. Congrats Brinda! I have your bookmarks. Also nice that Cutlass is here.

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  11. Congratulations to Ashley and Brinda.

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  12. Congratulations to Ashley, and I think Brinda's recipe was designed for me!!

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  13. The second I saw the cover I thought "pirates," so the cover is perfect! Congrats, Ashley!

    Thanks for the yummy recipe, Brinda! Good luck with your new book! :-)

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  14. Dana- Thanks! Nice to meet you.

    Crystal- Ashley's cover and blurb are terrific. I was hooked and want to read her book. Glad I could hook you with mine!

    Hi Sheena-kay, how are you? Thanks for the congrats!

    Inger- Thanks for the congrats. :)

    Hi Annalissa- I have baked that cobbler for years. Have some ice cream on hand, too. :)

    Lexa- Thanks for the congrats.

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  15. A very busy day. Beautiful cover, Ashley. Congratulations and thanks for the recipe, Brinda.

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  16. New recipes and new books... I almost feel like a new man!

    (Oh, that didn't read exactly what I meant :)

    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :)

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  17. Congrats Ashley! Thanks for the great recipe Brinda! I'll head over to Brinda's later, Julie.

    Julie

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  18. Awesome cover, Brinda!! And I LOVE new recipes! Thank you, Julie!

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