Recipe: Dark Chocolate Chili Brownies

Yesterday, I posted a recipe for Dark Chocolate Orange Brownies that I created for a scene in Rachel Harris' upcoming novel THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US. The recipe was so simple that it took no time at all to make. And because Aly (the main character in Rachel's first book from this series, THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING) is a talented chef who would certainly have more than one delicious brownie recipe up her sleeve, I had to create another one just for fun.

Dark Chocolate Chile Brownies

You will need:
Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix (1 box 13x9-inch size)
3-4 large red chile pods
2 squares unsweetened baking chocolate
2 eggs
1/2 c. oil
1/4 c. water
1/2 tsp. cayenne powder

Blend baking chocolate and chile pods (remove stems, but feel free to keep the seeds for a bit more of a kick ... or remove them if you want a bit less spice) in a blender or food processor. (Don't just let the blender run, or you'll get a paste. Instead, pulse it several times, until everything is broken up to a fine powder.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 10x15-inch bar pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix chocolate / chile mixture with the brownie mix and cayenne pepper, until well-incorporated.

Add remaining ingredients and stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Spread evenly into greased bar pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool 15-20 minutes before cutting.

Makes approximately 3 dozen brownies.

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Orange Brownies

One of my favorite things in cooking is creating new recipes. Especially when it's at the request of a friend. So when Rachel Harris asked me yesterday to come up with a new twist on a brownie recipe for a scene in her upcoming YA novel, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US (aka The Fine Art of Pretending #2), of course I jumped at the chance.

This cheater recipe starts with a boxed brownie mix (both because it's so much faster, and because often you can find boxed mixes on sale for much cheaper than buying all of the ingredients for a basic brownie mix), which makes me grin because the recipe is for Rachel's Fine Art of Pretending series, and what better way to celebrate than by making brownies that aren't really made from scratch but taste like you spent hours putting them together?

Dark Chocolate Orange Brownies

You will need:
1 box Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix (13x9 pan size)
1/2 c. cocoa powder
2 eggs
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. water
1/2 c. orange marmalade
optional: 1 c. dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a 10x15-inch bar pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix together brownie mix and cocoa powder, until cocoa is fully incorporated.

Add remaining ingredients, and mix just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Spread batter in prepared pan, and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Makes approximately 35 brownies.

Three-Ingredient "Pretend" Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

Last weekend, in celebration of Rachel Harris' latest YA novel, THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING, I shared some real-life "pretend boyfriend" moments from my high school diaries. Today, I'm celebrating with an even more delectable Flirt Squad challenge.  
 
For the Love of Chocolate—Aly is a snackage fiend, bakes often, and stands by her break-up cure of Double Stuf Oreos. Share YOUR favorite recipes!

A challenge to share a delicious chocolate recipe? Yes, please!*


Of course, since we're celebrating THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING, I had to come up with a recipe that fit the theme of "pretending," right? No, I'm not going to try to pass a non-chocolate recipe off as my answer to the Love of Chocolate challenge. (There are plenty of mock chocolate recipes out there, I'm sure, but in my book, pretend chocolate is just plain wrong.) But I was watching Master Chef a couple of weeks ago, and I realized that, as much as I love cooking and baking and making delicious food, I could never win a cooking competition, because I don't do it "right." I'm the queen of shortcuts and cheater dishes, but I'm really good at "Pretending" to be a "Real Chef." (Of course I'm not implying that my cooking is any less real than a professional chef. But I will admit, if I went head-to-head with someone in one of those cooking challenges, I'd be docked all kinds of crazy points for not using the "proper" techniques.)

So today, I present to you my recipe for  

"Pretend" Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles. 

With only three ingredients (and an optional fourth ingredient), these melt-in-your-mouth candies take approximately two minutes to make, and they're both gluten-free and vegan.**

For three truffles, you will need:

1 Tbsp. baking cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp. agave syrup (you can use 1 full tsp. if you prefer sweeter truffles)
(optional: 1 tsp. powdered sugar for dusting finished truffles)

Place cocoa powder and peanut butter in very small bowl or cup. 


 

Microwave 20 seconds to melt the peanut butter. Add agave syrup. Stir to combine all ingredients, until a soft dough forms. 





  
Let cool slightly (about 30 seconds or so). Divide into 3 portions and roll into balls. 


 

Roll each ball in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, or a mix of both. Or simply enjoy as-is.

You can easily double (or triple ... or more) this recipe, if more than three truffles are desired. - These truffles aren't assembled using proper truffle techniques, and they don't even have the "right" ingredients (I think there's supposed to be some complicated process involving heavy cream?), but I wanted truffles one day, and most store-bought truffles contain the oil I'm allergic to, so I simply made my own with ingredients I had on hand. The resulting candy might not be a "real" truffle, but it's no less delicious than the real thing! Sometimes, pretending can be an awfully good thing.



*As you know, creating yummy chocolate desserts to celebrate books I love is kind of a hobby of mine. There were Dark Chocolate Maple Brownies to celebrate Anna Staniszewski's middle grade novel, THE DIRT DIARY ... Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse (as well as an Easy Vegan Chocolate Mousse) to celebrate Rachel Harris' adult contemporary romance, TASTE THE HEAT ... and a Giant Crock Pot Brownie Sundae to celebrate my own debut novel, TWELVE STEPS.

**(Note: These "Pretend" Truffles have REAL peanut butter in them, so if you have peanut allergies, these aren't for you. However, they may work just as well with almond butter, sunflower seed butter or cashew butter.)

When the Lines Between Fiction and Reality Blur

You've all probably heard me anxiously counting down to the release of Rachel Harris' latest YA novel, THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING. It's no secret that I love Rachel's writing, but this book is, hands-down, my favorite of her novels so far. Because I've totally been there, and I could identify with Aly more than any other fictional character that didn't spring forth from my own brain.

The official blurb:
According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

Rachel admitted to her street team, the Flirt Squad, that THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING was inspired by an actual conversation she had with a group of guy friends in high school, and she challenged us to write a blog post about a high school memory that would make an excellent book or movie.

As you know, my high school diaries are full of such memories. In fact, my own debut young adult novel, TWELVE STEPS, was inspired by many, many real-life moments in my own high school memories. I've already shared many of those memories with you all, and I guarantee that I'll be sharing more such memories in the future. (And can I say "memories" one more time in this paragraph?)

But this week, all I can think about is how my high school diaries could have easily inspired THIS book. (Is there any wonder that Rachel and I have said for months that our characters could have been friends?)

Like Aly, I was labeled a "commitment" instead of a "casual" in high school.

I had at least 5 different boys describe to me in great detail what our lives would be like one day when we grew up and got married. They knew how many kids we were going to have, where we would live (right down to how many bedrooms our future houses would have), even the kind of jobs we'd probably wind up with. (People always talk about the way girls start planning their wedding days from the time they're old enough to start toddling down a make-believe aisle. From the conversations I've had, I sometimes wonder if boys start dreaming of their future families at a similarly early age.)

Yet none of these boys who planned to marry me when we grew up wanted to try dating me when we were still in high school. (Years after we graduated, several of these boys admitted, "I wanted to ask you out, but I wasn't good enough for you back then.")

So I absolutely understand Aly's frustration with her label. And I totally get her determination to change her status from "automatic friend-zone" to "dating possibility."

I've always kind of rolled my eyes at the "we'll pretend we're a couple to make someone jealous" trope in books and movies. As much as I absolutely adore the plot device (some of my favorite books and movies of all time include the "let's pretend we're in love" story line), I've never really believed that such a thing could happen believably in real life.

Until I started looking back through my high school memories for this challenge.

* There was the guy friend who wanted to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. So I wore his leather jacket (the one he never let anyone touch - not even the aforementioned ex-girlfriend, when they were still dating) and we went for a walk past her house, when we knew she'd be outside to see us holding hands and looking all lovey-dovey. (Theirs was a very on-again-off-again relationship. And whenever he wanted her to take him back, all he had to do was pretend he was inches away from getting together with me.)

* There was the time the guy with a reputation for being the biggest flirt in our class started showing interest in me. And it looked like he might even ask me to the Prom. My best guy friend knew I kind of had a crush on this guy, but he decided that Mr. Flirt wasn't good enough for me. So he told everyone in our class that I was absolutely off-limits, and then he ramped up the friendly hugs, etc. until everyone thought we were a couple. I've gotta admit. I was kind of furious about this one, because I didn't even agree to the "let's pretend we're together" act, and I didn't even find out about it until suddenly every guy I was even slightly interested in stopped talking to me. (Not to mention the trouble it caused when his girlfriend found out everyone in school thought he broke up with her for me.)

* There was the time a guy at work was bugging me. So my guy friend offered to stop by when I was at work and pretend to be my boyfriend for a few days, until the co-worker got the hint and backed off. We spent hours planning the choreography. And the conversations we'd have. (How cutesy did the pet names have to be? How touchy-feely did we have to get to really sell the fiction? Of course, there would have to be a kiss or two ... but how passionate? Would a kiss on the cheek be enough? A peck on the lips? Or a full-blown make-out session right there in public?)

In the end, we didn't actually go through with it. Because I started worrying about what his girlfriend (!!! Yes, my friend had a girlfriend at the time - most of my guy friends had girlfriends, and surprisingly, their girlfriends never really liked me much - but she was out of town, so maybe we could have gotten away with it) ... I worried about what his girlfriend might say if she found out about our little charade when she got back. My friend kept assuring me that his girlfriend would be totally okay with it. She knew there wasn't anything REALLY going on with us, and she'd understand the need to get this creepy co-worker off my back.

But, yeah, my friend wasn't a teenage girl. And even though his girlfriend was extremely secure in their relationship, I can assure you, there's no way she would have been okay with it.

* And there was the first time a boy shattered my heart. I was devastated, but determined not to let the boy know he'd hurt me. So one of my dad's college students offered to show up at a state speech and debate tournament to flirt with me shamelessly in front of the boy. It probably would have worked too ... except this college guy got his signals crossed, and he came over to do his massive flirting act in front of the wrong boy. The boy I was trying to make jealous wasn't even around, but I couldn't say anything to the college guy, because then everyone would know his flirting was just an act!

None of my "let's pretend we're together" moments led to the real romance it always leads to in fiction. There were a couple of almosts ... Like the guy who asked me to go to a dance with him to show his ex-girlfriend he wasn't pining away for her (even though he totally was). We went out on several other dates after that, and we had a lot of fun together, but he kept thinking about the ex, and I couldn't actually imagine kissing him, so it fizzled before it really began. ... Or there was the guy who flirted with me in class, to make the guy I'd had a crush on forever jealous. (Crush guy didn't notice, and before long I'd developed a crush on flirt guy, who admitted he didn't think of me "that way.") ... Or the guy who was just a friend, but who everyone in our social circle thought should be my boyfriend. Every time they started pressuring us to get together, we'd go out on a few dates to get them off our backs, and then go back to being just friends again. (Ironically, this is the only boy I ever went out with more than once or twice. We had 2-3 dates per year all through high school. And there was never any real chemistry between us, but he was the most fun fake boyfriend ever.)

Even though it didn't work out in real life like it does in fiction, the "pretend boyfriend" trope was a staple of my high school life. Is it any wonder I love the plot device in books? And movies? And TV shows?

Recipe: Stuffed Tomatoes

A couple of weeks ago, author Rachel Harris challenged the members of her Flirt Squad to get healthy. This isn't about losing weight or dieting, or trying to fit some kind of arbitrary beauty standard, but about eating healthy foods and exercising, so we can feel good about ourselves. I promised to share some of my favorite healthy recipes with the group, so I've decided to share them with you as well.

Summertime is the best time for fresh produce and delicious, light meals. And if you don't have to heat up your house by turning on the oven, all the better, right? When the weather is warm and we want something fresh and flavorful, without cooking something elaborate, we really enjoy 

Stuffed Tomatoes.

This is a super-simple, healthy meal that is especially delicious this time of year, when garden-fresh tomatoes are plentiful. And it's easy to adapt to whatever ingredients you have on hand, so there's no need for an extra trip to the grocery store.

You will need:
1 head leaf lettuce (I like to use red leaf lettuce or romaine, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Or skip this ingredient if you don't have lettuce handy.)
6 large tomatoes
2 cans tuna fish (or diced chicken breast)
1-3 Tbsp. Miracle Whip, to taste (or mayonnaise, or plain yogurt)
1-2 tsp. mustard
1 c. chopped veggies/fruits (In the salad pictured above, I used celery, green apple, tomatoes, and green olives - other favorites include Craisins, grapes, onion, carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini.)
1/4 c. chopped nuts or seeds (This time, I used pine nuts. We also enjoy walnuts, pecans, or sunflower seeds sometimes.)
1/2 c. diced cheese (whatever flavor you prefer - I usually just use whatever I happen to have in the fridge)

In a medium-sized bowl, stir together tuna fish (I don't bother to drain mine. This way, I can use less Miracle Whip without having a dry tuna salad.), Miracle Whip, mustard, chopped veggies, nuts, and cheese.

Line 6 plates with lettuce leaves.

Cut each tomato into wedges, being careful not to cut all the way through, so the wedges are still connected.

Place a tomato into the center of each lettuce-lined plate and fan the wedges out to leave an open space in the center.

Divide tuna salad evenly between the tomatoes. Serve. (Prepare to have even your pickiest eaters asking for second helpings.)

Happy Book Birthday, ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED ON PURPOSE by Rachel Harris

 

  I am so excited to be a part of the Release Day Launch for Rachel Harris' ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED ON PURPOSE!! ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED ON PURPOSE is the third book in her Love and Games Series published by Entangled Bliss.

 

About ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED ON PURPOSE: One ring plus one wild night equals one crazy love Sherry Robicheaux loves men. She loves love. And she loves an adventure. So when she meets a mysterious man while working backstage at a country music concert in Vegas, she’s all about what’s happened in Vegas staying there. Country music superstar Tyler Blue just wants a weekend of anonymity…though there’s something about the spunky waitress with the streaks of purple hair that tempts him like no other. Until the next morning, when they both wake up with fuzzy memories…and rings on their fingers. Convincing Sherry to maintain the ruse for his public image isn’t the hardest part—it’s reminding himself that their time spent playing husband and wife in her small town of Magnolia Springs can’t last. Tyler’s first love will always be music—and the road is no place for a sweet downhome girl.  

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 MY THOUGHTS:
This series just keeps getting better and better. The first book in the series, TASTE THE HEAT, totally took me by surprise. I fell in love with the Robicheaux clan and a certain sexy firefighter (before picking up this book, I didn't read many romances aimed at adults). Then, with book two, SEVEN DAY FIANCE, Rachel Harris managed to turn my two least favorite characters from book one into two of my very favorite fictional characters, giving me "butterflies and tingles from page one, clear 'til the end!"

And ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED ON PURPOSE is so much better, even, than the first two! (It's a good thing I don't give star ratings, because I'd have a hard time figuring out how to give more than five stars!)

I was so excited to finally get to read Sherry's story (which I've been waiting for since reading TASTE THE HEAT). She's adorable and vivacious, and absolutely genuine (I feel like she would be one of my best friends in real life). And I loved getting to know Tyler Blue, the absolutely swoon-worthy singer with a soft spot for family.

Sherry is in love with the idea of being in love. She's no stranger to sizzling romances, but they've all fizzled far too soon, and she's ready for something better. Convinced that she needs a new approach to love, she decides she needs someone boring and dependable. But before she gives up the fun life, there's nothing wrong with one last no-rules weekend in Vegas, right? Except she wasn't counting on waking up married to country music's biggest superstar.

What happens in Vegas doesn't always actually stay in Vegas.

Still, Tyler Blue is the best thing that could have happened to Sherry Robicheaux. Not only is he sexy and fun, with a voice that could make the coldest heart melt, but he's a great guy who loves his family more than anything. It's not often that I fall head-over-heels for a fictional character, but Tyler absolutely made my heart melt. *swoon*

If you haven't read the first two books in the series yet, that's okay. ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED ON PURPOSE totally works as a stand-alone novel. But once you get to know the Robicheaux clan, you'll want to read the rest. (And SEVEN DAY FIANCE is on sale right now for only 99 cents!!)




 EXCERPT:
From opposite the long table of food, the brunette gave him a blatant once over as he came to a stop in front of her, twirling a strand of purple hair around her fingertip. When she reached his lucky belt buckle, her sinful lips twitched.

 “If the words, ‘Come here often,’ leave your mouth, I swear I’ll laugh you straight back to roadie-ville.” Her words were harsh, but the smile that sprang free was playful, and Tyler found himself mesmerized by the familiar twang of her southern voice.

So much so that he’d almost missed what she said.

“Roadie-ville?”

 “Sorry, do you prefer techie?” Her cute nose wrinkled as she stuck her hands in her back jeans pocket. “I heard someone else say that earlier, but I swear that sounds like a computer nerd.” She looked him up and down again, this time her gaze lingering around his hips. Slightly south of the belt buckle. Hot damn. “I think roadie fits you better. Sounds sexier.”

Tyler scratched the side of his jaw. Was she messing with him? He’d heard a hell of a lot of come-ons since making it to Nashville and had been propositioned in every way possible. But this was a first. The woman stared back, smiling that damn seductive smile, and he realized she honestly had no clue who he was. For some reason, he was in no hurry to correct that just yet.

He couldn’t recall the last time he’d gone anywhere without being recognized, much less his own concert. But since the room was swarming with crew, Tyler could understand the confusion…if she weren’t a hardcore fan, and clearly, this woman wasn’t. Tyler swiped a hand over his mouth, hiding a smile.

“Sugar, you can call me anything you like,” he drawled, laying it on thick even to his own ears. Her pretty lips parted, and he grinned. “And what can I call you?”

Her smile twisted into a smirk. “Who said you could call me at all?”

 He laughed, shocked again, and for the first time in a long time, speechless.

She winked. “I’m Sherry.” When she said her name, she looked right into his eyes as if he should remember it, and he had no doubt that he would. The confidence pouring off her was sexy as hell. “And…you are?”

 “Tyler,” he replied, glad she’d gone with just her first name so he could do the same. The rest of the world simply referred to Tyler as Blue, the front man for the band bearing his last name. Even so, he stood back and waited for a sign of recognition.

It never came.

When it became obvious she really had no clue who he was, nor would she guess any time soon, Tyler felt a knot of tension release between his shoulder blades.

“So, Sherry, you planning to watch tonight’s show?”

She pulled a face. “I’m not much for country, other than the line dances. All those songs about trucks and trains and whiskey and dogs, though that last one I can forgive.” Her smile softened and Tyler moved closer, wanting to be nearer the genuine warmth of it. “No offense to your boss or anything,” she added with a slight grimace. “I heard he’s pretty hot…even if he is the man-whore of country music.”

A shocked laugh burst from his lips. “Excuse me?”

 She waved her comment away, as if she hadn’t just insulted him to his face—which, he guessed, she hadn’t really. At least not on purpose. “Just a theory I have. I’m sure he’s a perfectly adequate boss.”

Now, Tyler laughed for real. “Yeah, he’s…adequate.” Shaking his head, he propped his hip on the table. This was the most fun he’d had with a woman in months—and they both still had their clothes on.

 

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  About Rachel Harris: Award-winning and Bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls next door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing. An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, and LOVES talking with readers.  

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Entangled Bliss Release Blast

The summer is warming up with two new releases from Bliss this month.  I'm super-excited about ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED ON PURPOSE by Rachel Harris, the 3rd book in her Love and Games series. I've loved each of the books in this series so far, but this one is definitely my favorite. This is a sweet, behind-closed-doors kind of romance, with plenty of sizzling, make-your-heart-race moments. The other new release is a Red-Hot Bliss book, HER SECRET, HIS SURPRISE by Paula Altenburg, which throws the bedroom door open, for those of you who prefer more, um, steamy scenes. 

Plus, SEVEN DAY FIANCE (book 2 in the Love and Games series) by Rachel Harris is on sale! If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for? See below for more details. (I reviewed this one here.)

 

About Accidentally Married on Purpose:

One ring plus one wild night equals one crazy love

Sherry Robicheaux loves men. She loves love. And she loves an adventure. So when she meets a mysterious man while working backstage at a country music concert in Vegas, she’s all about what happens in Vegas staying there.

Country music superstar Tyler Blue just wants a weekend of anonymity…though there’s something about the spunky waitress with the streaks of purple hair that tempts him like no other. Until the next morning, when they both wake up with fuzzy memories…and rings on their fingers.

Convincing Sherry to maintain the ruse for his public image isn’t the hardest part—it’s reminding himself that their time spent playing husband and wife in her small town of Magnolia Springs can’t last. Tyler’s first love will always be music—and the road is no place for a sweet downhome girl.

 On sale for $.99 for One Week Only!

Add it to Goodreads

Follow the Accidentally Married on Purpose Blog Tour 

 Enter Rachel's giveaway

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About Her Secret, His Surprise:

Conflict of interest is an understatement…

Since being disowned by her strict father, Cass Stone has spent her adulthood trying to prove him wrong. Her drive has led to more success than her family ever thought she’d achieve, and life is looking great. Not even an incredible and mysterious one night stand that leaves her a single mom can trip her up...until the father of her baby stumbles back into her life, as sexy and unreliable as ever.

Logan Alexander hasn’t forgotten the night he spent with Cass two years ago, but he never expects to end up undercover as her assistant. His job saves lives—like it should have saved his brother—and he can’t afford complications. It’s difficult enough to maintain his cover as a carefree wanderer when he realizes his attraction to Cass hasn’t faded...and then he meets Cass’s daughter.

 On Sale for just $.99 for One Week Only!

Add it to Goodreads

Follow the Her Secret, His Surprise Blog Tour

Enter Paula's giveaway

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PLUS...

Pick up a copy of Seven Day Fiance this week only for just $.99!

About Seven Day Fiance:

One bad boy. One good girl. One unforgettable week.

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning him at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little fiancé game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

Pick up your copy of Seven Day Fiance before it goes back to full price! 

Add it to Goodreads

SEVEN DAY FIANCE by Rachel Harris - One Day Sale Announcement!

As you all know, I'm a huge fan of Rachel Harris' books. And because I adored book #2 in her Love and Games series, SEVEN DAY FIANCE,  I'm super-excited to help spread the word about a special one-day sale going on today!

Rachel Harris’s SEVEN DAY FIANCE is currently on sale for $.99 on Amazon today! But get it fast because it’s only for this ONE day!

 Now that’s a steal…

About Seven Day Fiancé

One bad boy. One good girl. One unforgettable week.

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning him at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little fiancé game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse…

Pick Seven Day Fiancé today: Amazon

What are readers saying?

“If you love to read a melt-your-(panties)heart romance with a man that makes the room heat up and a woman that totally deserves all of the love he’s willing to give, read Rachel Harris. She KNOWS romance.”- Meredith (Goodreads)

“I had the honor of reading this book early and oh my gosh, I loved it! A super fun read with great sexual tension that leaps off the page, heartwarming moments to make you sigh, and a hero and heroine who will capture your heart and keep it for a long time after you’ve finished reading the book!”- Robin Bielman (Goodreads)

... And of course, my thoughts about the book: "Butterflies and tingles from page one, clear 'til the end. (I can't wait for book three!!!)" - Veronica Bartles (Author of TWELVE STEPS)

Book Review: MY NOT SO SUPER SWEET LIFE by Rachel Harris

Woo Hoo!! The third book in Rachel Harris' Super Sweet series is out today! You know I adored MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY, and I totally swooned over Austin in A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES. I feel like I've been waiting forever to read MY NOT SO SUPER SWEET LIFE ... and it's finally here!!!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Of course, you all know that I'm a huge fan of Rachel's. Her books are automatic must-haves, as far as I'm concerned. And this one did not disappoint! I absolutely devoured this one within hours (and then immediately passed it along to my daughter, who may just be an even bigger fan than I am)!

The official blurb: 

Cat Crawford just wants to be normal—or at least as normal as a daughter of Hollywood royalty can be. And it looks like fate is granting her wish: she’s got an amazing boyfriend, Lucas; her fabulous cousin, Alessandra, living with her; and her dad planning his second marriage to a great future stepmom. That is, until her prodigal mother reveals on national television that she has something important to tell her daughter…causing a media frenzy.

Lucas Capelli knows his fate is to be with Cat, and he’s worked hard to win her over once and for all. Unfortunately, Lucas has his own issues to deal with, including a scandal that could take him away from the first place he’s truly belonged.

As secrets are revealed, rumors explode, and the world watches, Cat and Lucas discover it’s not fate they have to fight if they want to stay together…this time, it’s their own insecurities.

Well, and the stalkerazzi.


My Thoughts: 

Okay, confession time: Even though contemporary stories are my absolute favorite, and I know Rachel totally rocks the contemporary love stories, I was so in love with the fantasy and time travel elements of the first two books in the series that I was afraid I might feel like something was missing in this third book. A Super Sweet book without Reyna? Say it isn't so!!

Yeah, I totally didn't need to worry. Cat and Lucas may not be traveling through time, but there's plenty of magic  here! I didn't miss Reyna at all ... because (spoiler alert) she's totally a part of this story in the best way.

I loved the dual POV in this book. I'll admit, I wasn't sure about Lucas when he was introduced at the end of the first book. But he kind of grew on me as I got to know him in the second installment of the series. And now, after reading his POV, I'm totally swooning! MY NOT SO SUPER SWEET LIFE is now officially my favorite Rachel Harris book. It was the perfect end to the series.

Though I wouldn't mind another sequel, with the story of my new favorite character ... a guy who who totally took me by surprise and stole my heart with the very first time he smiled! - Hint, hint, Rachel. ;)

Oh!!! And MY NOT SO SUPER SWEET LIFE is on sale right now for only 99 cents!! Go grab your copy now, before the sale is gone!
 

Cover Reveal: MY NOT SO SUPER SWEET LIFE by Rachel Harris

Next month, the third book in Rachel Harris' My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century series comes out! I'm so excited!! I can't wait to read more about Cat and Lucas!

Can you blame me for being excited? I totally fell in love with Lucas in A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES, and I can't wait to get to know him better, and to see the relationship develop between Cat and Lucas, in book #3! That's why, today, I'm so thrilled to get to participate in the official cover reveal for MY NOT SO SUPER SWEET LIFE.

Isn't this cover gorgeous?  I think it's totally perfect, and it just makes me that much more anxious for  MY NOT SO SUPER SWEET LIFE to release!

Cat Crawford just wants to be normal—or at least as normal as a daughter of Hollywood royalty can be. And it looks like fate is granting her wish: she’s got an amazing boyfriend, Lucas; her fabulous cousin, Alessandra, living with her; and her dad planning his second marriage to a great future stepmom. That is, until her prodigal mother reveals on national television that she has something important to tell her daughter…causing a media frenzy.

Lucas Capelli knows his fate is to be with Cat, and he’s worked hard to win her over once and for all. Unfortunately, Lucas has his own issues to deal with, including a scandal that could take him away from the first place he’s truly belonged.

As secrets are revealed, rumors explode, and the world watches, Cat and Lucas discover it’s not fate they have to fight if they want to stay together…this time, it’s their own insecurities.

Well, and the stalkerazzi.

PUB DATE: April 21st, 2014

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Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong families are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing.
A Cajun cowgirl now living in Houston, she firmly believes life's problems can be solved with a hot, sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. She homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches way too much Food Network with her amazing husband.
An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and losing herself in story. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!

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Twelve Days of TWELVE STEPS #7: Exclusive Sneak Peek at My Teen Diary!

My daughter decided that, since my book is called TWELVE STEPS, we absolutely have to do something to celebrate the release for each of the twelve days leading up to the big day. So of course, we have lots of fun family celebrations planned, all linking to our favorite scenes and the lines that make us grin. However, as we were planning our activities, we realized that most of our celebrations only make sense if you've read the book. And we didn't want to spoil the surprise of our favorite scenes by explaining all of the inside jokes. But of course, we wanted to include all of you too!

So each day for the twelve days leading up to March 25, we'll be sharing non-spoilery favorite quotes with a new teaser graphic every day. And each day, I'll share something special and book-related with you as well: recipes, sneak peeks, giveaways and more!

They always say you should write what you know. I don't know who "they" are, but I must admit, I had a ton of fun fitting in snippets of real life as I was writing TWELVE STEPS. I thought about sharing with you a page from my actual teenage diary that directly inspired a scene in TWELVE STEPS, but there were so many identifying phrases that I thought it might embarrass the real people involved in the making of that scene, so I'll leave you to guess and to wonder which TWELVE STEPS scene was inspired by real-life events. (There may or may not be more than one.)

A couple of weeks ago, in a discussion among members of Rachel Harris' Flirt Squad (of which I'm a proud member!), I mentioned that I always had a list of current crushes, so I wouldn't have to focus my full attention on any one boy. (It was safer that way. If my crush turned out to be a jerk, I could simply remove him from my list, and I had nine others ready to take his place in my heart.) So today,  I'll share this peek at another page of my teenage diary (names changed to protect the innocent). Boy #3 and Boy #4 both make appearances in TWELVE STEPS. Think you'll be able to figure out who they are?

In case you can't read my messy handwriting, it says:

"Well, it's April Fool's Day (& sister's birthday). How thrilling. I feel like crying for some reason. Last night at work, Boy #1 looked very, quite gorgeous! I never got to talk to him, but I'm just about positive he was watching me. Every time I glanced in his direction, he was looking straight at me, & he'd smile & raise his eyebrows or wave or something. 

"And Boy #2 was being a sweetie too. (He got purple contacts, & his eyes look cool! Thought I'd mention it, even though it's way off the subject.) In fact, everyone was being really nice to me last night. Cool, huh?

"I'm obsessed with Boy #3 since Saturday. I keep seeing the scene when he 1st asked me to dance, over & over again in my mind. I can hardly think of anyone or anything but Boy #3. I still do love Boy #4, & I think about him often, & I miss being able to see him so much. But I'm not (& never was) "obsessed" with him this way! I admit, I do get a little "obsessed" whenever he's mad at me, but not this bad! And I'm never "obsessed" this way. Sure, I love Boy #4, but like a brother or a close friend. I don't love Boy #3, or even claim to. He just drives me crazy, & for some reason, I can't stop thinking about him!"

Pure poetry, right? Is it any wonder I became an author, when even my private diaries were so well-written? ;)

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