~Getting to know the~

~Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Crew~

April’s Spotlight is on Linsey Lanier

Who are the ladies of the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Blog? Why should you spend your precious time reading our daily posts?  Why do we want you to follow us and read our books, our personal blogs, our FB status updates and our Tweets? Let us tell you why…

Once Upon a time ~~

There was a little girl named Linsey who thought it would be fun to play with her imaginary friends all day. So she grew up to be a fiction writer.

How many “careers” have you had throughout your lifetime?

Glad you put that word in quotes. Lots of them. I’ve worked in a nursing home, as a word processor in a Big Eight accounting firm, a receptionist in an insurance company, a paralegal, a tech writer, and a software tester. Many of the people I’ve met in these jobs have given me loads of material for books. (But then, so have my in-laws.)

What is a typical writing day like for you – from the time you get up to the time you go to bed?

During breakfast, I usually edit pages I printed out the night before and try to write at least a page of new material, if I’m working on a new book. Then it’s off to work. I listen to an audio book during the commute to and from, but sometimes I record new material on a tape recorder, which I always carry with me. When I get home, I look at email, then have dinner and watch some screen with Hubby. Then I try to get a few pages in and type up the edits from the morning before I hit the hay. Before I do, I print out the next day’s pages. On the weekends, if I’m lucky to get a large block of time, I bear down and do as much as I can. I recently wrote seven and a half pages on a new book one Saturday, which is a lot for me. I revise and research as I write. Though it’s not 100% thorough, it makes for less cleanup on the second and third passes.

What writer advice would you give someone just starting to dip their toe into the writing world?

Brace yourself for a fun, but bumpy ride.

Why you should read my books?

Talk about a loaded question. Hmm. Without sounding like I’m tooting my own horn too much, I want to say that I put everything I’ve got into my books, trying to make them a page-turning, emotional, and entertaining experience for my readers. From the feedback I’ve received from some wonderful Australian readers lately, I seem to be hitting the mark. Hi, everyone from Australia!

What’s a little-known fact about you no one would suspect?

I love catfish.

BIO

Linsey Lanier is the author of over a dozen novels and several short stories. She writes romantic mystery-suspense, romantic fantasy, and romance—with a dash of sass. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America, Georgia Romance Writers, and the Kiss of Death chapter. Her books have placed in several RWA-sponsored contests, including the Maggies.

Links to Linsey Books

The Miranda’s Rights Mystery Series

Someone Else’s Daughter – Amazon 

Someone Else’s Daughter – B&N     

Someone Else’s Daughter – Smashwords     

Delicious Torment – Amazon  

Delicious Torment – B&N     

Delicious Torment – Smashwords     

Forever Mine – Amazon         

Forever Mine – B&N  TBD

Forever Mine – Smashwords 

You can find Linsey at the following locations:

Petit Fours and Hot Tamales: www.petitfoursandhottamales.com

Her Website: www.linseylanier.com

Linsey’s Amazon Author Page

Linsey at Smashwords

~Bonus Review~

Forever Mine

By Linsey Lanier

I cut my teeth on mystery series. 

On my eighth birthday my friend Jane gave me a Nancy Drew, and that was the way of my world from then on. Christie, Wolfe, Allingham, Marsh, James, Sayers—I bought them, borrowed them, considered stealing them when the overdue charge at the library grew too large to contemplate.

Grafton, Smith, and Davidson have now been joined by Linsey Lanier on my bookshelf. Forever Mine, the third volume in the Miranda’s Rights series of mystery novels, has everything a reader needs. Excellent settings and snappy dialogue, realistic challenges and rollicking danger, a luscious hero and, best of all, a warm-hearted heroine who can coldcock a villain and not pop out of her push-up bra.

I can’t wait to read more in the series.

Reviewed by Gilly Wright, www.facebook.comGillyWrightsRedPen  

Five Petit Fours

Four Hot Tamales

(Thank you Gilly!!!!)

Welcome to our April edition of the

Second Saturday Review Soup,

a delicate blend of genres and tastes.

Take a moment to browse today’s specials.

There is something to satisfy even the pickiest palate.

Bon Appétit!

~~~

Inhale, Just Breath book #1

by Kendall Grey

http://www.kendallgrey.com/

She isn’t crazy. She isn’t crazy. She isn’t crazy.

Or is she?

Dr. Zoe Morgan has made researching and saving the wales her life’s work.  Thanks to a connection she can’t explain, she’s able to communication with them.  But with every gift, there is a curse. And unfortunately Zoe’s curse is insanity.  Pegged with panic attacks and a fear of following in her father’s footsteps right off the deep end, Zoe does her best to ignore the voices.  If only that worked.

Gavin Cassidy is a rock star set on a path of total self-destruction. Then the Dreaming plucks him right out of his pity party and forces him to acknowledge his duties as a Sentinel.  After having ignored his gifts as a Water Element since tragedy struck years earlier, Gavin hoped this summons would be a quick in and out of the Dreaming.  But the rock star soon discovers he isn’t going to get off so easy.

How to begin this review?  Wow just about sums it up.

I read a blurb Kendall Grey posted on Goodreads and IMMEDIATELY had to read this book.  Thankfully I was able to finagle an ARC.  Ms. Grey’s description of Gavin Cassidy made me an immediate fan.  As flawed as any hero I’ve ever read, Gavin is one unique dude.  I could totally see this spoiled rock star trying to thwart his destiny.  One has to wonder if he would have been able to ignore the calling if he hadn’t met his “Muse” in the Dreaming?

What grabbed my attention and made me want to read this book was the introduction of Zoe and her life or death plight to save the wales.  Her struggle in the very beginning of the story almost cost her that life but it really showed us who Zoe is.

Inhale is sexy, raw and in-your-face.  The hero cusses, smokes, drinks and admits he has slept with his share of women.  Because of this, the author’s unique voice makes this story stand out from any other I’ve read. With a fast pace and very little filler words, this story will keep you moving on to the next chapter no matter how many times you try to stop.  LOVED IT!

Reviewed by Tami Brothers

Five Petit Fours

Four Hot Tamales

Inhale scheduled for released May 1st. For up-to-date information, stop by GoodReads.

~~~

My Hollywood

By Mona Simpson

http://monasimpson.com/

In the well-to-do environs of Hollywood, children are cared for by nannies, either live-in or live-out, five days or seven. In “My Hollywood” the focus is on Lola, a Filipina nanny who starts out caring for Claire and Paul’s baby Will while her own five children grow up in the Philippines. Lola’s mission is to send home as much money as possible so her children can be educated and grow up to be professionals. She becomes part of a group of nannies, mostly Filipina, who share their stories and help each other through all kinds of troubles. At the same time, Claire enters the world of upper-class moms whose children are watched by these nannies; an inescapable air of competition grows around the children’s development and the husbands’ status. Claire struggles to advance in her career as a composer, becoming frustrated at the insufficient time available for her to work on her music, even with Lola’s help, as Paul’s growing success as a TV comedy writer inevitably takes precedence over Claire’s work. The very close and loving relationship between Lola and Will (and later with another child named Laura) is beautifully brought to life, and adds immeasurably to the emotional depth of this wonderful story.

Reviewed by: Arlene Almas (a huge thank you to Arlene for sharing his review with us)

Rating: *****

Buy at Amazon.com  /  Barnes & Noble   / Borders  /  IndieBound  /  Powell’s Books  Random House

Review originally posted at the Women’s Book Reviews.   Check out the site for more great reads.

~~~

The Big Guns, Mystery Men Series

By Helenkay Dimon

http://www.helenkaydimon.com/

Harlequin Intrigue

He was a Hero…

When he saw his mark being kidnapped, Recovery Project agent Zach Bachman had no option but to rescue her. Even if it endangered his assignment. After weeks of watching Sela Andrews from afar, he was now trapped with the blonde beauty as her bodyguard.

But could He Ever Be A Husband?

Her brave protector relished the heat of gun battles but retreated from his own emotions. Sela learned that when, in the dead of night in a darkened safe house, the loner became her lover. Still, as her would-be killers closed in on them again, she had no choice but to put her life- and her heart – in the hands of her reluctant guardian.

Okay, I’ll admit I’m a sucker for the Type A man that is handsome, fearless, carries a gun and will protect a woman even if he may be killed. Zach Bachman is that kind of man and he hangs out with other men like him. Sela is equally strong in her on right.  I really like this story. There is plenty of action and tenderness. Nice quick read that won’t disappoint.

Reviewed by: Susan May

4 Petit Fours

5 Hot Tamales

Buy at Amazon  /  Buy at Barnes & Noble  /  Buy at Books-A-Million

~~~

Paris in Love: A Memoir

By Eloisa James

http://www.eloisajames.com/

Publisher: Random House

Release Date: April 3, 2012

In 2009, Eloisa James sold her house, took a sabbatical from her daytime job as a Shakespearean professor, and moved to Paris, France with her husband and two children. While there, she chronicled her days and nights with smart, savvy snippets on Facebook and allowed her fans to experience the journey with her. She eventually gathered them all together, added some poignant essays to go along with them, and thus, Paris in Love was born.

It’s been a very long time since I read a memoir and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I appreciate and admire Eloisa James for giving us a small glimpse into her life. Despite her personal struggles leading up to her year in Paris, she remained strong for her husband and children. She didn’t give up and that is a testament to the wonderful person she is. If I hadn’t already met her, this book alone would convince me of that.

I adore this book for many reasons, but two stand out. One was her descriptions of Paris, a city I’ve never visited, but want to after reading this book. Through her imagery, I could see the vivid colors and landmarks throughout the city; I could smell the fresh bread and delicious foods; and I could hear the melodious sounds.

It’s night, after a day of rain…the windows are open and the strains of a glorious opera pour from the conservatory down the street.

Very early in the morning, the only light comes from tightly closed bakeries. Chairs are upside down on top of tables, but the smell of baking bread feels like a welcome.

Paris (and our apartment) is so dark and quiet this morning that I feel as if I’m entirely alone. The sky is the color of gray flannel, the darkness broken only by the dormer window of another early riser. The woman who lives in the attic painted her walls yellow, and reflected light bounces out like a spring crocus. If light were sound, her window would be playing a concerto.

One of my favorite quotes in the book is when Eloisa is speaking about desires: It’s nice that life is long enough to give you desires of many kinds. Indeed, how nice it is.

The other reason I adore this book is Eloisa’s interactions with her children. As a mother, I was particularly drawn to that. She didn’t sugarcoat anything—she spoke about their difficulties along with their triumphs. And it’s obvious how much she loves them and is proud of them.

I loved this entry. It hit close to home and reminded me of my daughter.

Anna in the bath, arguing over her bedtime. “Why,” she wants to know, “can Luca stay up until ten o’clock and I can’t?” “Because he’s fifteen,” say I, “and when he was eleven, he had to go to bed at eight o’clock, too.” “How do you know?” she demands. “Because I’m the mother of both of you!” “You might not be,” she points out. “You might be only a mother in disguise.”

And this one makes me wonder if I will experience this with my son:

I always thought boys’ reluctance to speak about their feelings was programmed by culture (nurture, not nature) and raised Luca accordingly. But lately he only grunts when asked questions about his emotions. “I can talk about my feelings,” he said today, when pinned down. “But” (with unmistakable revulsion) “not with my mom.” I do hope whomever he’s sharing all those feelings with appreciates the training I put in.

And one last entry, because the Harry Potter fan in me couldn’t not include this one:

Yesterday Anna burst into tears at bedtime, saying she had no friends, no one laughed at her jokes, and that she was failing school (her report cars indicates otherwise). I pulled out a Gryffindor key chain I had been saving for just such an emergency, and she cheered up while telling me why she was definitely a Gryffindor and not a Slytherin.

Me, too, Anna. Me, too. *g* These entries and so many more made for an extremely pleasant reading experience. Eloisa had me laughing, crying, and sighing, repeatedly. I just enjoyed it so very much. I found myself reading sections to my husband and he smiled and enjoyed them as well. Paris in Love is an absolute treat and should not be missed!

~Andrea

Five Stars

Buy at Amazon.com  /  Buy at Barnes & Noble.com  /  By at Books-A-Million.com  /  Word Bookstore  /  IndieBound  /  Posman Books  /  Random House

Review originally posted at The Romance Dish April 3, 2012.  Check out their blog for other great recommendations.

~~~

Tamed by a Texan

By Tanya Michaels

http://tanyamichaels.net/

Harlequin American

ISBN: 0373754035

Category romance

Chef Grace Torres has a lot on her plate. Her mother has recently moved into an assisted living center, and the family restaurant is barely making ends meet. Now her brothers want to sell the money pit, even as she clings to the place that holds the happiest memories of her family. Since her talent has landed her a slot in a televised cooking show that’s coming to town, she makes them a deal. If she can win the competition, she gets to keep the restaurant. If she loses, they get to sell.

The same cooking contest brings Ty Beckett to town, and he has some serious stakes of his own: if he can win the contest, then he will be a shoo-in for his own show. Ty keeps the better part of himself and his painful past hidden, but there’s something about Grace that quells his competitive nature and makes him want to open up to her.

I loved this book. Ty is a charmer and Grace, a spitfire. Michaels’ trademark humor shines even as the inner conflict of each character resonates. Only one word of caution: reading this book could make you hungry.

Reviewed by Sally Kilpatrick

5 petit fours, 3 hot tamales (And those tamales are really appropriate this time!)

Buy at Amazon   /   Buy at Barnes & Noble  /  Buy at Harlequin

~~~

The House at Riverton

by Kate Morton

http://www.katemorton.com/

For those of you who enjoyed ‘The Forgotten Garden’ by Kate Morton, I think you will find her first novel, ‘The House at Riverton’ equally as engrossing. Grace Bradley was only 14 years old when she began working as a servant at Riverton. Her life was inextricably tied up with the glamorous and eccentric Hartford family’s daughters Hannah and Emmeline. Then, at a glittering society party in the summer of 1924, a young poet shot himself and the only witnesses were Hannah, Emmeline and Grace. I really enjoyed Morton’s debut novel. I liked the way the author used flashbacks to tell the story and I fell in love with Grace and the story she had to tell. The secret Grace held dear her entire life unfolds in the last few pages of the book which only made the novel more riveting. The good news is, Morton has a new book out and I can’t wait to read it as well

Reviewed by: Dale Israel (a huge thank you to Dale Israel for sharing his review with us)

Rating: ****

Buy at Amazon  /  Buy at Barnes & Noble  /  Find at GoodReads

Review originally posted at the Women’s Book Reviews.   Check out the site for more great reads.

~~~

A Stranger’s Gift, Woman of Pinecraft Series

By Anna Schmidt

http://www.booksbyanna.com/

ISBN: 978-1-61626-234-1

Barbour

A Hurricane Sweeps Love onto One Woman’s Path

Hester Detlef, local Mennonite volunteer coordination for disaster relief in Pinecraft, Florida defied the Old Order Mennonite tradition of limited education to get her college degree. Still single, Hester is well aware that her father has attempted to match her with Samuel Longbecker, but she has no feelings for the carpenter—or any other man.

When a devastation hurricane roars across the barrier islands just off the Gulf coast of Florida, John Steiner is swept in Hester’s path. Due to his stubbornness to evacuate his cluster of ramshackle buildings at the onset of the hurricane, John is badly injured. And after being formerly shunned by his Amish community, he’s now jobless, homeless, and faithless.

As Hester offers a helping hand, will John have the patience to put up with the Mennonite do—gooder who seem determined to restore his faith, rebuild his property, and renovate his heat? And will Hester find love amid the debris?

I had heard and read that the Mennonite/Amish romance stories are very popular but I hadn’t read one in years, and even then it had been only one or two. I will have to say that I really enjoyed this one. The characters are well rounded and likable, even when they are trying not to be as Samuel was. If you are interested in a good sweet romance this would be the one.  Solid story.

Reviewed by: Susan Carlisle

Buy at Amazon  /  Buy at Barnes & Noble  /  Buy at Barbour Publishing

E

**The books we review on this site, unless otherwise noted, are our own personal copies. The Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog members do not accept payment in exchange for a review or mention.**

Welcome to our March edition of the

Second Saturday Review Soup,

a delicate blend of genres and tastes.

Take a moment to browse today’s specials.

There is something to satisfy even the pickiest palate.

Bon Appétit!

~~~

The Power and the Glory

By Kimberly Lang

http://www.booksbykimberly.com/ 

Harlequin Presents

ISBN 12:978-0-373-52844-8

Any red blooded woman would kill to be handcuffed to political hotshot Brady Marshall, but campaigner Aspyn Breedlove wants to raise awareness—Not her own acute consciousness of those delicious, iron-hard muscles beneath Brady’s expensive suit…

But in a shock move, she’s mad a part of the Marshall re-election campaign…Aspyn hopes she can dance with the devil and create change from within. But what chance does she have when that devil is sex-on-legs Brady Marshall—and as Christmas closes in, she want to do considerably more than kiss him under the mistletoe…!

During the season of politicking Presidents-to-be this was a cute and interesting spin on the political interworking’s of a political family. Aspyn puts a glitch into a smooth working political machine and shakes up Brady’s ordered world.  It may be close to Christmas time but there are a lot of 4th of July fireworks that are not to be missed.

Kimberly Lang’s books are not to be missed. This book isn’t to be missed.

Reviewed by:  Susan Carlisle

5 Petit Four

4 Hot Tamales

eHarlequin  /  MB (UK)  /  Amazon   /  Barnes & Noble   /  Book Depository

~~~

Not Wicked Enough

Seducing the Scoundrels, Book 1

By Carolyn Jewel

http://www.carolynjewel.com/index.php

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

Release Date: February 7, 2012

Lily Wellstone travels to Bitterward to comfort her friend Ginny, who is still grieving over the death of her husband. On her way there, she encounters a Gypsy king, who gives her a medallion in thanks for saving his dog. He tells her the medallion will unite her with the man she happiest with in love. Since Lily has already lost the man she considers her one true love, she does not believe in this bit of magic. Still, she never takes it off. When she meets Ginny’s brother, the Duke of Mountjoy, she is overwhelmed by her instant attraction to him. Is it the medallion or just the magnetism of this man?

Mountjoy was expecting to be mesmerized by is sister’s beautiful and charming friend, but Lily captivates him as no other woman ever has. Everyone expects him to marry one of the local ladies, Miss Jane Kirk—and Mountjoy intends to ask her soon, but Lily sparkles and shines so much that he has trouble focusing on anyone but her. During late night talks and strolls outside, Mountjoy and Lily discover more about each other’s past, and soon become lovers. Will their passion for each other turn to love or will duty prevail?

Not Wicked Enough, is the first in Carolyn Jewel’s Seducing the Scoundrels series, and it’s a grand beginning. Lily is an engaging, likeable heroine—one I would love to have as a friend—and Mountjoy is a hero I could, and did, fall for. He was not born to be a duke—-he was raised as a gentleman farmer—so he’s more down to earth, without any dandified ways. I love a man who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. Together, these two raise the heat to scorching levels! It’s a good thing it’s winter, and a little extra heat is always welcome. Amusing, intriguing, and sexy, Not Wicked Enough is a must read for lovers of historical romance.

Reviewed by: ~ Gannon from The Romance Dish Review blog

Amazon.com  /  Apple   /  Barnes & Noble   /  Find a store through BookSense   /  Google Books   /  Kobo Books   /  Directly from Penguin   /  Powells Books

Review originally posted at The Romance Dish blog on February 18, 2012.  Check out their blog for some other great recommendations.

~~~

WHEN PARENTS TEXT So Much Said, So Little Understood

by  Lauren Kaelin and Sophia Fraioli

http://whenparentstext.com/

Publisher:  Workman Publishing Company (September 1, 2011)

Launched as a website just last year, www.whenparentstext.com is a phenomenon.  It received 300,000to 500,000 page views a day…When Parents Text.com includes the best of texts from the website, plus more than 50 percent all-new material never before published.

Book Description

A collection of insanely funny texts between parents and kids, When Parents Text is a surprisingly affecting window into the complicated time when parents aren’t ready to let go, and kids aren’t ready to be let go.  The parents are well-meaning but hopeless, silly and a little corny, and befuddled by the technology.  The kids are bewildered yet patient:  the perfect straight man.  And the authors, two recent college graduates, Lauren Kaelin and Sophia Fraioli, have an unerring editorial instinct to select the funniest, sweetest, quirkiest, most-tell exchanges.

A truly funny, enjoyable read.

A few samples:

• MOM: You left your phone at church. I saw it and knew it was yours. I left it there so you can get it yourself. You need to go get it before someone does something stupid to it.
• (5 minutes later)
• MOM: Listen to me young lady if you do not get your phone right now you will be grounded. I paid good money for that phone.
• (3 minutes later)
• MOM: Are you ignoring me? Get your phone2!

####

• DAD: So did you keep stds high?
• ME: Uhm what?
• ME: stds is not a socially acceptable abbreviation for standards

###

• Mom: dig up some tadpoles on ur way homo.
• Me: ummm, what?
• Mom: It autocorrected me. I mean to say dig up some tadpoles on ur way homo.
•  (4 minutes later)
• Mom: PICK UP SOME TAMPONS ON YOUR WAY HOME.

Reviewed by: Maxine Davis

Five petit fours

Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble   /   Workman Publishing   /   Indie Bound

~~~

The Good Thief

by Hannah Tinti

http://hannahtinti.com/the-good-thief/

The Good Thief is one of those rare, delightful, well-written books that is easy to read and is beautifully written.

The story is written through the eyes of 12-year-old Ren, an orphan who is missing his left hand and has been living at St. Anthony’s Orphanage for as long as he can remember. One day a man named Benjamin Nab arrives at the orphanage and claims that Ren is his long-lost younger brother. He is allowed to take Ren away from the only home that the young, innocent boy has ever known. Benjamin Nab turns out to be a thief and scam artist and a grave robber, not his long lost brother. Ren becomes his accomplice in the life of crime.

Ultimately, Ren discovers the secret of the family he never knew. I just loved the young boy who was innately a good, decent lad who tries to rationalize his new life of crime. I absolutely recommend this wonderful book.

Reviewed by: Debbie Weiss

5 Petit Fours

Borders   /  Barnes & Noble   /  Amazon   /  Powells  /  or your local independent bookseller

Review originally posted at the Women’s Book Reviews.  Check out the site for more great reads. 

~~~

The Namesake

by Jhumpa Lahiri

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3670.Jhumpa_Lahiri

This is a beautifully written book about the immigrant experience of the Ganguli family. Ashoke and Ashima have an arranged marriage in Calcutta. Shortly thereafter, they move to Cambridge, Massachusettes where Ashoke is a graduate student in engineering. Ashima has difficulty adjusting to life in America and longs for her family left behind in India. She soon becomes pregnant and is thrilled to give birth to a healthy boy, whom they name Gogol.

Like most children of first generation parents, Gogol is a fully assimilated American child and has difficulty accepting the “limitations” of the immigrant family life. One of the most frustrating and embarrassing aspects of his Indian roots is his name — “Gogol.” The young man grows up, graduates from college and moves away to New York. He has various relationships with women but ultimately ends up marrying a young Bengali woman that he grew up with. It is not an arranged marriage, but is a “comfortable” marriage since both young adults share a common upbringing and customs, etc.

Over time, Gogol is able to define his place in America. His marriage fails, but he becomes confident in himself as he succeeds as an architect. He is ultimately able to merge his Indian traditions with his American customs so that he can feel comfortable in his place in society.

Reviewed by: Debbie Weiss

4 Petit Fours

Barnes & Noble   /  WorldCat  /  Kobo  / Indigo  / Abebooks  / Half.com  /  Audible  / Alibris /  iBookstore  /  Google eBooks  / Better World Books  / IndieBound  / Amazon

Review originally posted at the Women’s Book Reviews.  Check out the site for more great reads

~~~

Thorns of Eden

By Diana Ballew

http://www.dianaballew.com/

The Wild Rose Press

ISBN: 978-1-60154-957-0

Major Rayce Hampton is the Confederacy’s final hope to turn the tide of war. Haunted by heartache of generations past, love is the last thing he has on his mind when he meets Eden Blair.  The emerald-eyed beauty is as headstrong as she is tempting but Rayce must keep his wits – and his secrets – as he executes his dangerous undercover mission to save the South.

Accomplished nurse Eden Blair has secrets too … only she doesn’t know about them yet. Stung by her fiancée’s betrayal, she has no reason to trust the scandalous Major Hampton. But as Yankee troops close in, Eden must take refuge in the major’s mysterious ancestral home, leading her into the shadowy corners of deceit and desire, where endless love lurks within every soft whisper.

It has been too long since I’ve read a historical set during the Civil War. I was excited to have a chance to do so again. The story takes place in and around Richmond, Virginia before it was taken by the Union Army. The author did a nice job of showing the horrors of the Civil war in the US.

I loved the hero’s name. Rayce sounds so heroic and I wasn’t disappointed, he was. Eden was also much like her name implies – soft, sweet with a will of iron beneath. This book has some surprising twists and turns that adds some excellent texture to the story.

I enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a good historical read set during the 1860s this would be a good choice.

Reviewed by: Susan Carlisle   

3 Petit Fours

3 Hot Tamales          

Amazon.com  /  The Wild Rose Press  /  Buy for Kindle  /  Buy for Nook

~~~

**The books we review on this site, unless otherwise noted, are our own personal copies. The Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog members do not accept payment in exchange for a review or mention.**

Don’t let the following list of awesome books fool you. We still need recommendations!!!!  Please stop by and let us know what you are reading and why you recommended it.

As an added bonus to encourage your recommendations, we are giving away a $5 gift card to a book seller of your choice.

Winner! Winner! Winner!

The lucky leprechaun stopped by the blog today and chose a winner from the comments from February’s First Saturday Recommendations.  Choosing between the numbers 0 and 9, he chose lucky #7.

Congratulations JB HUNT!!!

You have won a $5 gift card to an on-line book seller of your choice.

Shoot us an e-mail and we will get that sent to you ASAP.

JB HUNT recommended several books last month.

A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant

How to Dance With a Duke by Manda Collins

Must Love Mistletoe and Not another New Year’s Eve by Christie Ridgeway

THANK YOU JB for these awesome recommendations.

A recap of the other recommended books are listed below.

Dying to Please by Linda Howard (recommended by Jane)

Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon (recommended by Mary Preston)

Bridges of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris (recommended by Sandra McGregor)

***Note*** Kristina McMorris is our featured Guest Chef this coming week and you can read a terrific review of Bridges of Scarlet Leaves in the previous post***

Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr (recommended by Tami Brothers)

Who Do, Voodoo by Rochelle Staab (recommended by Tami Brothers)

Ashfall by Mike Mullin (recommended by Tami Brothers)

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (recommended by Marilyn Baron)

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides (recommended by Marilyn Baron)

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett (recommended by Marilyn Baron)

The Chase by Clive Cussler (recommended by Linsey Lanier)

Bitter Black Kiss by Michelle Clay (recommended by Hildie McQueen)

Darker After Midnight by Lara Adrian (recommended by Hildie McQueen)

Taking Chase by Lauren Dane  (recommended by Hildie McQueen)

A huge thank you to all our readers.  We can’t wait to see what you guys have in store for us this month.

Be sure to stop back by in April to see who is the lucky winner of the $5 gift card.

Until then, may the luck of the Leprechauns rain down on all of you.

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves

by Kristina McMorris

http://www.kristinamcmorris.com/

Reviewed by Sandra McGregor

I recently received a copy of Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris and was asked to read it and review it.  After reading the blurb on the back page, I wasn’t sure it was one I’d enjoy.  It’s not what I would have normally purchased to read for entertainment and relaxation.

The chapters are short—only two or three pages each, and by the time I’d reached the third chapter, I was hooked.  I was captivated by the tender story of young love, despite numerous challenges that rise to keep them apart.  Maddie is Caucasian and Lane is Japanese…at a time when mixed-race marriages were deeply frowned upon.

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves begins in late 1941, just before Japan bombs Pearl Harbor—a time when any person of Japanese descent, or even anyone who sympathized with them, was ridiculed and not trusted.  Despite it seeming as if the entire world is against them, Maddie and Lane find a way to be together. Each must make sacrifices, but even when they’re separated by forced internment and then when Lane joins the war effort as a translator, their love remains strong and their hope for a better future continues to burns bright.

Kristina McMorris did a beautiful job of weaving the Japanese culture into the story, bringing each individual to life on the pages and drawing you into the story until you hate to see it end.

I highly recommend Bridge of Scarlet Leaves.

5 Petit Fours and 2 Hot Tamales

Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble   /   Books A Million   /   Powell’s Books   /   Indie Bound

Be sure to stop back by on Thursday, March 8th to chat with Kristina McMorris as our featured Guest Chef.

Welcome to our February edition of the Second Saturday Review Soup,

a delicate blend of genres and tastes.

Take a moment to browse today’s specials.

There is something to satisfy even the pickiest palate.

Bon Appétit!

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A Sister’s Quest

Jo Ann Ferguson

http://www.joannferguson.com/

Zebra Books (Dec 2000)

Reviewed by Susan Carlisle

A family scattered to the winds by the French Revolution struggles to find its destiny in a Europe threatened by Napoleon. Two sisters and a brother, separated as children, raised as strangers, discover the crest of the thunderbolt is the only clue to the legacy they share.

When Michelle D’Orage agreed to be Count Alexei  Vatutin’s translator at the Congress of Vienna, she was excited to spend a few weeks away from the sheltered Swiss school where she had been raised. But  then she learned the handsome Russian’s true reason for hiring her. Claiming to have known Michelle by the ring she wore—her late mother’s gold wedding band, etched with a thunderbolt—he insisted that Michelle was in terrible danger. Shaken and confused, she had little choice but to trust this mysterious stranger who held the key to the secrets of her past…and her dream for the future.

This is an older Jo Ann Ferguson novel but well worth a read. I like historicals and rarely read one that takes place around the Napoleonic wars. Not only that, this book takes place in Vienna in the winter. Vienna is beautiful but in the winter super cold. Despite that the reader gets to experience lavish balls where secrets are being kept and discovered. Throughout the story, Michelle is falling in love with the mysterious Alexei despite every effort she makes to guard her heart. In an historical version of a drive by shooting, she and Alexei are both injured. The end takes a nice little spin and offers other surprises.

I enjoyed A Sister’s Quest.  I was continually wondering what was going to happen next. This story made me want to check out Ferguson’s backlist.

3 Petit Fours and 3 Hot Tamales

Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble 

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Roseflower Creek

By J.L. Miles

http://jlmiles.brinkster.net/roseflower_creek.htm

Reviewed by Debbie Weiss – originally posted at the Women’s Book Reviews

EDITOR’S SYNOPSIS

“The Morning I died it rained. Poured down so hard it washed the blood off my face.”

This is a sweet book about a little girl names Lori Jean who is part of a very dysfunctional family.  In spite of the poverty around her and in spite of the loss to death of various people who are very close to her, she remains optimistic about life and the future that lies ahead for her and her family.  She tries to do the right things in life and all she wants is to be loved and to have a “normal” family.  Unfortunately, this was all not meant to be and there is no happy ending.  We see how cruel adults can really be and we see how children always try to forgive the ones they love.

Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble   /   Books-a-Mill

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Q Is For Quarry

by Sue Grafton

http://www.suegrafton.com/

Publisher:  The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. (Copyright 2002)

Reviewed by Maxine Davis

This is book number 17 in Ms. Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone, private investigator, series that began with A is for Alibi.  Many consider Q Is For Quarry as one of her best.  Available through Kindle.com and Amazon.com.  Her latest, V Is For Vengeance, is also available at Barnes and Noble.

From cover:

Back in 1969, a lot of young people were hitting the road and disappearing.  More than one of them wound up dead—including the girl in daisy-patterned pants who was found in a quarry off Hwy. 1 in Lompoc, the victim of multiple stab wounds.  Eighteen years later, she’s still a Jane Doe—and the cops who found her are still haunted by the case.  Anxious to solve it, but no longer in their prime, they turn to Kinsey Millhone for help.  If nothing else, they’d just like to identify the body….And for Kinsey, it will lead to a lot of dangerous discoveries—including some about her past.

Q Is For Quarry is based on an unsolved homicide that occurred in 1969, and Grafton’s interest in the case has generated renewed police efforts.  There are pictures of a facial reconstruction of the victim appearing at the end of the book.  From book:  On the day Jane Doe was reburied, many officers were at the gravesite.  “It’s eeriek,” Grafton writes, “to think about the power this woman still has.  Here we are, thirty-three years later, and she still wants to go home.”

Ms. Grafton keeps you turning page after page.  Her wit and knowledge of the procedural details are fascinating.  Told from the view point of Kinsey Millhone, it was a book that I could hardly put down to get some sleep.

Five Petit Fours

Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble   /   Books-a-Mil

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Skin Heat

By Ava Gray

http://www.avagray.com/

Penguin (Jan 2011)

Review by: Susan Carlisle

More wild thing than Man

Zeke Noble has escaped from a secret facility. He has no idea why he was abducted, but the experiments were cruel, soul-killing and they changed him forever. Now free, he finds that his natural affinity with animals has evolved into a dark and dangerous instinct, a curse that costs him too much of his humanity. But he has to rebuild his life, or his tormentors win. To that end, he goes looking for work and finds so much more.

Born to be wild

Veterinarian Geneva Harper finds herself reluctantly drawn to the lean, mysterious young man for whom the wild is second nature, but she has troubles of her own. She’s the black sheep in an old moneyed Southern family, and she never had any interest in learning the family business or being the good debutante daughter.

Though Zeke’s wanted Neva for as long as he can remember, their attraction will never go anywhere. They both know that for different reason. But when a killer starts leaving behind a trail of victims, Zeke’s need to protect her is as fierce as his desire to claim her as his mate. And love may be the only thing that can save them both…

Skin Heatcaught me and drew me in right off the bat.  I couldn’t quite make out what was going on with Zeke at first but I was intrigued. As the story progressed I started to feel sorry for him. His special “talents” made me nervous but they made him nervous also. Geneva was the perfect person to take him in and understand Zeke’s needs.  This was a riveting read and I wasn’t disappointed in the end. I’d say if you are looking for a read out of the norm, give this book a try.

3 Petit Fours and 4 Hot Tamales

Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble   /   Books-a-Mil

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Sex, Lies and Valentines

By Tawny Weber

http://www.tawnyweber.com/

Harlequin Blaze (Jan 2012)

Reviewed by Gannon Carr – Original review posted at The Romance Dish blog

My naughty valentine….

Con artist Gabriel Black just got busted. By a babe. Drool-worthy (and clearly sneaky) FBI agent Danita Cruz is forcing Gabriel to choose between hard time and scamming his own family for an undercover sting. Now he has to present Danita to his family as his girlfriend. And it’s the perfect opportunity to get wickedly even with her….

But Danita has some tricks of her own, and Gabriel’s control begins slipping away as raw sexual energy takes over. Their sham relationship starts feeling a lot like…well, the real deal. The Big Question is, will overwhelming desire be enough to make a liar go legit?

Gabriel Black is the one Black sibling who took after his father when it came to running a con. Handsome and charming, he’s a chip of the ol’ block, priding himself on never getting caught. Until now. The FBI brings him in and tells him he has can either agree to help them in an undercover sting which means he needs to con his family or he can serve time in prison. Not much of a choice. So he agrees to go home to Black Oak for his brother Caleb’s wedding, and take FBI agent Danita Cruz with him, posing as his girlfriend. Gabriel begins to think having the delectable Danita close at hand may not be such a bad deal after all.

While Danita finds Gabriel incredibly attractive, her job is more important than anything else. Surely she can resist his ample charm long enough to uncover the mastermind behind the crime ring in Black Oak. Sharing a room with Gabriel, and get cozier than she anticipated is making her doubt herself—Gabriel is proving to be pretty irresistible. Soon their “pretend” relationship is becoming all too real, and she is in danger of losing her heart to this sexy con man.

Standing in her stockings, a scrap of lace, and boots, Danita waited. Nerves danced. Before they could take hold, though, she saw the look in his eyes. Hot appreciation, a healthy dose of lust, and something else. Something that made her heart melt.

Adoration.

Oh, God, she realized as her breath tangled in her chest. She was in so much trouble. She was so in love with him.

Sex, Lies and Valentines is a great conclusion to Tawny Weber’s Undercover Operatives series. Gabriel is too delicious for words, and when he and Danita get together….well, let’s just say you might need to break out your fan and grab a cool drink. Whew! If you’re looking for something sweet, sexy, and spicy, too, look no further. This is the book for you. A perfect Valentine treat.

~ Gannon

Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble   /   Books-a-Mil

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**The books we review on this site, unless otherwise noted, are our own personal copies. The Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog members do not accept payment in exchange for a review or mention.**

~~~Winner~~~Winner~~~Winner~~~

Roses are red.

Violets are blue.

We love receiving

book recommendations from you!

A HUGE thank you for all the wonderful books you guys mentioned last month.  We had quite a few and I’ve been busy filling my Kindle just from that one post.  Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with this week.

A recap of the books you all loved for January:

Don’t Say a Word by Barbara Freethy

Borrowed Scott by Karen Ranney

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann

Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband? by Susan Carlisle

Endings & Beginnings by Nora Roberts

Still the One by Robin Wells

One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake

Potent Pleasures by Eloisa James

Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton

V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

It Happened One Christmas by Leslie Kelly

Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr

Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell

Finance Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey

Desperate Betrayal by Hildie McQueen

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Saints Astray by Jacqueline Carey

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Hellraisers by Zoe Archer

A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Someone Knows my Name by Lawrence Hill

Seal of My Dreams by lots of authors

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen

All Fall Down by Megan Hart

In Death series by JD Robb

Viridis by Calista Taylor

The Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward

Lucky Harbor books by Jill Shalvis

A Sister’s Quest by Jo Ann Ferguson

Whew!  That caused a hand cramp.

All that from 25 different comments.  You guys rock!!!

Using my handy dandy hubby to choose between 0 and 24, he happily chose number 17. 

Woohoo!!! Stacie D recommended the book All Fall Down by Megan Hart.  To thank her for stopping by and recommending a book, she will receive a $5 gift card.  Stacie, shoot us an e-mail with your preference of Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million and we will get that sent to you ASAP!!!

With all that said, we’d love to see what you guys have in store for us this month.

Leave a comment and tell us what you are reading and recommend.  Remember, no book bashing or hating.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Winner of the February gift card will be chosen March 3rd and posted then.

So, what do you have in your reading pile?

Photo Credit http://www.sxc.hu/home

~Getting to know the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Crew~

January’s Spotlight is on Susan Carlisle

Who are the ladies of the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Blog?  Why should you spend your precious time reading our daily posts?  Why do we want you to follow us and read our books, our personal blogs, our FB status updates and our Tweets?  Let us tell you why…

Once upon a time ~ ~

I wanted to be a lawyer but found out I didn’t like school that well.

How many “careers” have you had throughout your lifetime?

Worked in a paper mill, worked in two medical records departments in two different hospitals, and have worked as a substitute teacher for 17 years. Now I’m a writer. That would be 4 but that doesn’t count  raising 4 children which adds about another 10 positions         .

What is your current “day” job?

I write. I still substitute teach but not as much. With two books coming out this year and another three in the works, I’m writing full-time.

What advice would you give someone just starting to dip their toe into the writing world?

Know that if you want to be published it requires work. You have to stay at it all the time. Rejection is part of the process.

Why you should read my books?

Because they are great! Really, my books are strong emotional reads. My heroes are men who are lost emotionally in the love department and the heroines save them. Despite their differences the hero and heroine find that there is no one in the world that fits them perfectly except the other. All my books are a happily-ever-after, feel good experiences.

Anything else?

Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband? is available in the US in Feb. The Nurse He Shouldn’t Notice will be out in August

I love being a writer and sharing my stories. I also love to hear from my readers. Please stop by and say hi at my website www.SusanCarlisle.com

My Website:                www.SusanCarlisle.com

My Blog (s):                http://www.susancarlisle.com/blog/

FB page/Fan Page:      www.facebook/SusanCarlisle

Twitter:                       www.twitter.com/SusanCarlisle1

What Susan’s friends have to say~

Susan is the sweetest person you could ever meet. She doesn’t think twice about rolling her sleeves up and pitching in to make whatever she’s working on the best.  Whether it be with her writing, with her friends or with her family, Susan is 100% dedicated to getting the job done.

There is no doubt that Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband is a great book.  Not only does Susan put her whole heart into her writing, but she also brings an experience that would bring most people to their knees.  Susan writes about her experience with her own young son’s heart transplant in the book, Nick’s New Heart under the name Susan C. May.

~BONUS REVIEW~

Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband?

by Susan Carlisle

Reviewed by Carol Burnside/Annie Rayburn

Publisher: Mills & Boon Medical

Kindle AISN: B00699I7UG

Genre: contemporary medical romance

Length: Category novel (50K words)

Publisher Blurb:

Rescued by the brooding heart surgeon

Discovering her tiny son desperately needs a new heart terrifies Hannah Quinn – especially when she realizes ex-flame Scott McIntyre is the skilled surgeon in charge of the transplant. Entrusting her baby to Scott’s miracle-working hands is one thing, but whether Hannah’s own heart will survive Scott’s devastating charm intact is quite another…

It’s not often that readers find a debut of this caliber. Readers worldwide will identify with Susan Carlisle’s Hannah, a single mother who learns her very young son is in dire need of a heart transplant. That alone is a lot of conflict for one book, but Carlisle writes romance and doesn’t stop there. Dr. Scott McIntyre is a heart surgeon with a love-‘em-and-leave-‘em past which includes Hannah. She’s been hurt enough, left behind enough and can’t think about romance when little Eric is gasping for every breath.

However, the situation with Eric means that Hannah and Scott are together quite often. They were once friends. His genuine concern for her at a highly emotional time is a volatile combination and Hannah finds herself falling for the doctor once again. Through the highs and lows of the medical situation they face, Scott is steady and dependable, no longer the consummate flirt. Will this time be different, or end in heartbreak once again?

Seeing as Susan Carlisle’s experience with her own son’s heart transplant was the bulk of her research, this book could have easily been overloaded with the medical issue at hand. Instead, Carlisle uses a deft hand to balance Hannah’s motherly concern with the building romance so that Hannah remains sympathetic. She uses that same deft hand to balance Scott’s doctor duties with those of a friend protecting a friend and later, a man in love with both his patient and the mother.

While Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband? is far from maudlin, have the tissues handy when you read this book. There’s plenty of emotion to be experienced as Hannah and Scott face the challenges of falling in love during tragic circumstances. The resolution inspired a deep sigh and a wide smile of satisfaction from this reader.

 

The Doctor’s Mission

Debbie Kaufman

http://www.debbiekaufman.com/

Harlequin LoveInspired Historical

ISBN-10: 0373828942

ISBN-13: 978-0373828944

A woman doctor! Missionary William Mayweather can’t hide his disappointment. The Nynabo mission in Liberia, Africa, desperately needs help, but he’s vowed not to put another female in jeopardy. Too bad flame-haired Dr. Mary O’Hara refuses to turn back—and he cannot allow her to go into the jungle alone.

Medicine or marriage? For Mary, the choice was clear. Far away from the patriarchal medical community, she resolves to be of real service. She’ll willingly go head-to-head with the handsome, opinionated missionary, even in the face of deadly danger. Yet the greatest tests lie in trusting God’s plan—for the mission, and her future happiness in this untamed, beautiful land…

~~~

I’m going to give a disclaimer right up front – I’m bias where this book is concern. That being said I wouldn’t lie or even write a review just because I know the author. Now you have my proviso I’ll give you my thoughts on The Doctor’s Mission. As a Loveinspired, The Doctor’s Mission more than hits the mark. It is a sweet romance that still has titillating tension. The characters are well-developed and likeable, and the reader roots for the characters to get together. As a historical, the research shines and is woven into the story so that the reader is drawn in, instead of being hit over the head by the information. Its most striking element is that it is some of the finest writing I’ve read. It is spot on for the time period. If you like tender romances with a spiritual element I would highly recommend this book. If you just want to read a well-written book this is the one.

FORTUNE’S SON

 By Emery Lee

http://www.authoremerylee.com/

ISBN-10: 1402256442

ISBN-13: 978-1402256448

From the back cover:

Love is the ultimate gamble…

Seasoned gambler Philip Drake knows every trick and uses most of them. After years of infamy, he’s ready to accept the mantle of respectability with his earldom– until a devastating racing loss and the threat of debtors’ prison force Philip right back into his gaming ways…

Susannah, Lady Messingham, is a woman with a past who refuses to belong to any man again. But Philip’s skill catches her eye and she persuades him to teach her how to win at the tables. Their new partnership turns into an exhilarating high-stakes game that entangles them in terrifying risk and unimaginable rewards…

Immerse yourself in the risky side of Georgian England with a pair of lovers who aren’t afraid to risk it all on a toss of the dice…

Emery Lee brings Georgian England to life in her recent release Fortune’s Son. With its cast of colorful characters and a love story rife with twists and turns, this meticulously researched book is a captivating from start to finish. Not your typical beach read, it accompanied me everywhere I went on a recent cruise vacation: poolside, afternoon tea, even to the beach in Cozumel. I simply couldn’t put it down.  It’s that good.

After you finish this one, you will want to go back and read Emery’s debut novel, The Highest Stakes, for more background on some of the characters.  I can hardly wait to find out where this gifted author will take us next!