Pucker Up Monday

 Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.

Thursday book recommendation

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary.

  

This week is: Ancient Bond (Masters and Servants Book 1) by Dora Esquivel (**This is a cliffhanger, but book#2 is out (I haven’t read it yet). It’s also dark and twisted**)

 

Blurb:

There are moments where life beats you to your knees to show you there are nowhere else to go but up.

For five hundred years, a demon enslaved Lucien, and now not only his family but his pack were butchered down to the last. It took a millennium for Lucien to grow as alpha and become an incubus. But his powers have yet to develop to their full extent.

To claim his place as a leader, a Supreme Alpha, Lucien must first find a mate and free himself from the grip of the Vampire Master, Sargon. Through his entire journey, Lucien feeds a desire to avenge his family and mother to bring his wrath upon his uncle's house.

In a world where his blood is unpure, where hybrids are vermin, Lucien must rise and protect what he has left. Secret agenda or political purposes have nothing against Lucien's will to avenge what is rightfully his.

Lucien has nowhere else to go, and no more excuses, the wildness he tamed unleashes, and his desire for vengeance has him stop at nothing.

Welcome to Lucien's life.

 

 

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DSPYCHY 

Tuesday Teaser

 

This is a teaser from Day's Light, book #2 in the Mystic Bay series. 

Mark’s muscles clenched and released as he spasmed. Gasping for breath, Mark clutched his chest. His claws ranked his skin, drawing blood. He tried to cry out, and Hunter saw Mark’s fangs were still there. Blood mixed with saliva dripped down his mouth where he’d cut his tongue with them.

“Mark? Mark!” Panicking, Hunter tried to push Mark back on the bed. The stiffness of Mark’s chest muscles shocked him. How the hell could he breathe?

While they tussled, Mark’s gaze locked onto Hunter, but there was no sign of human awareness in his eyes. Just pain and anger, a deadly combination. A cornered animal was a dangerous animal.

Mark’s face had a bluish tint to it, and he was making gurgling sounds. Was Mark strangling on his own spit? Hunter had no idea. Before he could decide what to do, Mark lunged up and slammed both hands into Hunter’s chest.

Hunter flew off the bed and hit the wall. The sheetrock crumbled around him as he slid down. Finally Mark dragged in air… and howled again. Hunter cringed at the sound. There was no doubt that was an Alpha howl.

Hunter struggled to his feet and launched himself at the bed again. Somehow he had to calm Mark down, but damned if he knew how. Just as he grabbed Mark, Mark turned toward him, snarling. His mouth pooched out and formed a muzzle. But just as quick, it morphed back to normal.

Mark shrieked.

A paw, not a fucking hand, whizzed past. Hunter barely managed to get out of the way. Holy shit, Mark almost slit his throat. As he watched, the paw turned back into a hand.

“Holy hell,” Hunter breathed as Mark twisted and shuddered, various body parts transforming into a wolf then back to human. The transformations were becoming more intense and rapid.

Hunter had never witnessed something like this. Ever. A bitten wolf never shifted before the end of the three day time period. 

Pucker Up Monday

Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.

Tuesday Teaser

 

This is a teaser from Day's Light, book #2 in the Mystic Bay series. 

“No one asked me if I wanted to be your mate!”

Okay, that hurt. But Mark was born human and didn’t understand the significance of a mate bond. “It’s fated!”

“You had the choice to bite me. You had the choice to take me as a mate. What about my choice? Did I get a choice in any of this?” Mark yelled.

Hunter eyes widened when he saw the fangs in Mark’s mouth.

“What fucking choice did I have in any of this!” Mark growled, his claws ripping through the sheet. He looked down, surprise crossing his face. “Oh my God, what the hell? Hunter? I….” Mark pressed his hand to his stomach. “There’s something wrong. I feel weird.” Mark glanced back at Hunter.

The fear in Mark’s eyes scared Hunter to his soul.

“I… I….” Anguish twisted Mark’s features, then he threw his head back and howled. A full throated, loud as hell, howl.

Hunter’s heart damn near stopped. Mark howled. Fucking howled, which he absolutely shouldn’t be able to do right now anyway, but even more shocking? That was an Alpha howl.

Pucker Up Monday

 Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.

Finicky Friday - Pineapple Chicken Tenders

 

Ingredients

yields 10 servings

1 cup pineapple juice 

½ cup packed brown sugar 

⅓ cup light soy sauce 

2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins or stripe 

10 skewers

Directions

 Step 1

In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Remove from heat just before the mixture comes to a boil.

 Step 2

Place chicken tenders in a medium bowl. Cover with the pineapple marinade, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

 Step 3

Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread chicken lengthwise onto wooden skewers.

 Step 4

Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill chicken tenders 5 minutes per side, or until juices run clear. They cook quickly, so watch them closely.

(I use my George Foreman grill, so I don't need the skewers. If you do it like this, you should still spray the grates so it doesn't stick.)

Link: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14526/pineapple-chicken-tenders/?internalSource=recipe%20hub&referringId=22607&referringContentType=Recipe%20Hub&clickId=cardslot%2027

Thursday book recommendation

 

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary. 

This week is: Prowl (Jacqui the Cat Mysteries Book 1) by Alexis Duran

 

Blurb:

Jacqui Corleone is a fashion designer, a yoga-instructor and a concerned citizen who selflessly helps the police solve crimes. Oh, and he occasionally turns into a small wild cat. Probably due to a wizard's curse or an evil government plot to create super warriors.

Or, he's a cat cursed to turn into a human and only the bite of a sexy alpha lion will allow him to remain in his superior form of Cat.

Jacqui does not have a split personality, but sometimes his cat personality can get rather loud.

Jacqui Corleone is a cat shifter who doesn't know why or how he turns into a cat. He lives a solitary life in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. He's not afraid of intimacy (yes, he is) but sensibly refrains from potentially awkward entanglements. Unfortunately, the sexy new deputy sheriff just moved in across the street and Jacqui's vow not to get mixed up with island dudes is sorely challenged.

When the mysterious disappearance of three blue pots draws Jacqui to investigate, he prowls ever deeper into danger--and into the arms of Deputy Wyatt West (he wishes).

 

 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D6WPX5G 

Tuesday Teaser

 

This is a teaser from Day's Light, book #2 in the Mystic Bay series. 

Hunter knelt next to Mark. “What? What’s wrong?”

Water from the jets drenched Hunter, making him even more sexy, if such a thing was possible. Talk about a wet dream, in more ways than one. “You’re built like a brick shithouse.”

Hunter sputtered. “What?”

Oh, fuck him running, did he actually blurt that out? From the shocked—and pleased—look on Hunter’s face, he had.

“Mark?”

“Sorry. Sorry. I saw the wound and kind of freaked. I, um, wow.” Son of a bitch, he wanted to climb Hunter. Mark was hard, and there was no hiding it. “You, ah, you must live in a gym full fucking time.” Stop talking! “Did you know that you’re uncut?” Why am I still talking? “I love an uncut dick. Best thing ever.” Kill me now.

Hunter’s alarm fled, and a grin spilled forth. “I do know that I’m uncut, actually. Like what you see, huh?”

Don’t answer. Don’t answer. Don’t answer. “Yes.”

Fuck.

“I’m going to kiss you. Okay?”

Say no. Say no! “Yes.”

Fuuuuuck.

Pucker Up Monday

Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.

Finicky Friday - Fruit on a Stick

Ingredients
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow creme
3 to 4 tablespoons 2% milk
12 fresh strawberries, halved
24 cubes cantaloupe
3 medium kiwifruit, peeled and cut into eighths

Directions
Mix cream cheese, marshmallow creme and milk until smooth. Thread fruit on wooden skewers. Serve with dip.


Nutrition Facts
1 skewer with 2 tablespoons dip: 149 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 77mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g

Link: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/fruit-on-a-stick/

Thursday Book Recommendation

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary.

This week is: Smash & Grab: RELIC #1 by Maz Maddox 

Blurb:

My standard issued lab badge reads 'Simon' but it really should say 'unexciting nerd with no social life'

Don’t get me wrong -- I love what I do with a passion, but it doesn’t leave a lot of time for much else.

Especially romance.

While chipping away at my work, I’m suddenly the person between hired cartel muscle and the fossil that will define my career.

Which isn’t the most insane part of the story.

My savior is a chaotic, bat-wielding punk with a bubble gum pink mohawk and a killer smile.

In a mad dash to escape the thieves, my knight in studded armor sweeps me across the country while hitting every tourist trap along the way.

While smuggling a fossil, might I add.

Oh, and did I mention this pink punk can shift into a dinosaur?

(This is not dino porn. Dude is actually a shifter lol. It’s a really cute book!)

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CD2Q216

Tuesday Teaser

This is a teaser from Day's Light, book #2 in the Mystic Bay series. 

“There was no way you could’ve known I was awake. Hell, I didn’t even move when I first opened my eyes.”

Hunter let out a long breath. “Your heart rate changed, so yes, I did know you were awake. Werewolves have excellent hearing and sight, plus our sense of smell is ridiculously strong too. That one can be a bit of a pain in the ass, though. I’m sure you’ve noticed your vision is better. You’ve already mentioned you’re hearing things a human can’t. The sense of smell will be next, if it isn’t already improving.”

Mark dropped the spoon, and it clattered against the bowl.

“You’ve noticed things, huh?”

“That… that just isn’t possible.”

“I know this is hard to believe, but you have got to stop denying what is right in front of your face. Yes, it is possible,” Hunter said. “Werewolves exist. I exist. I bit you, and now you are going to be a werewolf. I can’t know how scary this must be since I’m a born werewolf, but you’re still the same person, Mark. You’re just a bit more than you were before, that’s all.”

Pucker Up Monday

Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.