Berkley Bookmas: A special Cuban Holiday Recipe from Chanel Cleeton

I am so excited to participate in Berkley Bookmas and I'm hosting a special Cuban Holiday Recipe from Chanel Cleeton today!

Berkley Bookmas is chock full of exclusive content from authors like exclusive excerpts, deleted scenes, author recipes and more! Check out the calendar of events below: 

A special Cuban Holiday Recipe from Chanel Cleeton

One of my favorite holiday traditions is celebrating Noche Buena. In the Cuban culture, Christmas Eve is the night where we have our big meal, and throughout my childhood, my family would celebrate the evening with a pig roast and some of my favorite dishes like black beans and rice, yucca, flan, and more. The pig roasts in either a pit or a wooden box with coals on top of a grate all day long, and everyone gathers in the backyard, listening to music, relaxing and celebrating while the meal cooks. It’s a really fun way to pass the day and in Florida the weather is usually perfect for spending it outside. Once the pig is ready and the other food is cooked, the party goes on into late hours of the night (or early hours of the morning). While roasting a whole pig can be a daunting endeavor, if you want to celebrate Noche Buena in Cuban style, here’s my favorite family recipe for black beans and rice that’s the perfect side to any Christmas Eve dinner.

Black Beans & Rice Recipe

1 15.5 oz. can Goya Black Beans

2 tbl. olive oil 

1 tbl. white cooking wine

2 minced cloves of garlic

1 tsp. oregano

1 bay leaf

3/4 cup of water

1 tsp. cumin

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup green pepper, finely chopped

1/4 tsp. Goya Adobo seasoning

Salt

Pepper

Cilantro

2 cups cooked long grain white rice

Place the beans and the water in a small to medium sized saucepan and cook over low to medium heat until warm. Add oil, cooking wine, garlic, oregano, bay leaf, cumin, onion, green pepper, and Adobo to the beans and mix. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and cook on low for one hour. Check regularly to make sure it doesn’t foam/bubble over. Serve over two cups of cooked long grain white rice (either according to package instructions in saucepan or in rice cooker). Season with salt and pepper to taste when serving. Can top with cilantro. 

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One lucky winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card and one copy each the following books (see sweepstakes page)!
Enter today for a chance to win!

Enter to win Berkley Bookmas Sweepstakes Here!
It's easy! Good luck!

For tomorrow’s fun, head to one of the following blogs:

· Book briefs

· kimberlyfaye reads

· Booklovers For Life

· Shh Moms Reading 

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton coming Feb. 6, 2018!

Van (Cold Fury Hockey #9) by Sawyer Bennett

Score one for the Carolina Cold Fury hockey team as a stone-cold badass melts for a woman who makes his blood run hot.

As one of the league’s toughest enforcers, Van Turner is ruthless on the ice. He plays hard because it’s the only way to channel the rage boiling inside, and a reputation as an A-hole is better than everyone knowing the truth. Van has spent his entire life running from a secret that’s kept him from getting involved in relationships—or accepting lucrative deals with East Coast teams. Then the Carolina Cold Fury makes him an offer he can’t refuse . . . and Van meets a woman he can’t resist.

Simone Fournier is the stubborn one in her family—and that’s saying something, considering her brothers are two of the Cold Fury’s biggest stars. Simone gets what she wants, and what she wants is Van. Still, there’s a part of him Simone can’t reach, no matter how hard she tries. In private, he’s all fire and passion. In public, he freezes her out. Van may want to push her away, but Simone won’t let him go that easily. Because this time, she’s playing for keeps.

Purchase Van (Cold Fury, Book #9):

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2zm018j

B&N: http://bit.ly/2pUfkB2

iBooks: http://apple.co/2pB0YqS

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2qG2XeA

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2pPNkkK

Audible: http://adbl.co/2BgeVOC

4.5 Cold Fury Stars

I can't get enough of this series. Seriously, I don't know how Ms. Bennett continues to make each book in this series (and her others!) better and better. The Cold Fury boys are back and now it's the mysterious and very moody Van's turn.

Van Turner has a reputation off and on the ice as rough and doesn't give a f*** about anything. He just gets through by hanging out with his teammate when feels he needs to and then is loner. He keeps to himself, because he has a dark, secretive past that he doesn't want to get out.

Simone Fournier is the little sister two of the Cold Fury players and ends up "moving" in with Lucas, who happens to be roommates with Van. Simone is trying to figure out her life, what she does know is that she has no more interest in attending her Ivy League school and also found an interest in her brother's roommate/teammate. 

Simone is a little spitfire that takes no for an answer, especially when it comes to Van Turner. There's something about the moody man, that Simone wants. But Van wants nothing to do with Simone--even though the temptation is there!

What I love about Simone's character is that she comes off as the sweet, innocent little sister, but the girl is a vixen! She's funny, determined and even though she doesn't know what she wants to do with her life, she makes ends meet, by not relying on her famous brothers. 

Van and Simone are explosive together and I mean that in a steamy, passionate way. Their banter is hilarious and are perfectly matched, even they are so opposites!

About the Author
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both.

Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

Connect with Sawyer:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bennettbooks    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BennettBooks        

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sawyerbennett123/  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Sawyer_Bennett         

Sign up for Sawyer’s newsletter:

http://sawyerbennett.com/signup/

Bad at Love by Karina Halle

She's bad at love, but he's even worse...

Marina is hot, blonde, and wickedly smart, but when it comes to men? She's hopeless. Between her quirks and her lack of filter, there isn't a man in Los Angeles that will stick around after the third date.

Her handsome, charming friend Lazarus has the opposite problem. Everyone wants to be his girlfriend, but he gets bored and moves on quickly.

There's only one way to figure out why neither of them has cracked this love thing-- they'll date each other. On paper, it's the perfect experiment. But in reality, things between Marina and Laz get complicated quickly.

They might be bad at love, but they are even worse at being friends.

Read Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2AOudtz

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2iWoTwd

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2yJATbB

4.5 Better "Bee-lieve" It Stars

There's nothing more romantic, sweet and sometimes heartbreaking when two best friends cross the friendship line and their relationship gets tested. And Bad at Love is a fantastic read that will have you routing for these two characters!

Marina is bad at love. She's smart, beautiful and slightly awkward and when it comes to men and dating, her "weirdness" shows and she ends up alone. Her best friend, Laz, is bad at love too. He doesn't have a problem dating women, because he's hot, a musician and Instagram famous. His problem, after a few months, he's done and ready to move the next. 

So what's the best way to figure out their relationship problem? Date each other and see what wrong the problem is. It's not as easy as it sounds. The attraction between Marina and Laz has always been there, but when they start "fake dating" --the chemistry is hot and can't be denied. 

But when it gets too intense these two start to fall back on their old dating ways and their friendship will never be the same.

The place is called Tanner Smiths and is one of those trendy bars with a prohibition theme. It’s packed and dark and there’s a small dancefloor by the door so that when you walk in, you’re sucked into a group of people grooving all up in your space. Beyonce blares from the female DJ in the corner and everyone is drunk and happy.

“I approve of the vibe,” I say to Laz.

“What?” he yells back mockingly over the noise, cupping his ear. Then he leans in, close. Very close. “What you havin’ to drink, sweet girl?”

His breath is hot on my ear and I momentarily close my eyes, letting the feeling sink along my skin, down my back, all the way to my toes. “Anything,” I manage to say.

I open my eyes and his face is still at my neck, lips at my ear. “I had no idea you were so easy to please,” he murmurs and I swear his lips are grazing my skin. Goosebumps spread and I’m hot and cold all at once.

My throat feels thick as I speak. “Only when it comes to drinks. Anything else, you might have to work at it.”

“Is that so?” he says, pulling back enough to look me in the eye.

There’s fire inside him. God, how I want to burn.

“We’ll have to see, won’t we?” I tell him.

His languid gaze drops to my lips, his nostrils flaring with impatience.

Fuck, do it, just fucking kiss me.

Kiss me.

Kiss me.

He leans all the way back, gives my hand another squeeze before letting go. “Don’t you dare go anywhere.”

“Bossy,” I comment, my stomach summersaulting like crazy.

“You have no idea,” he says. Then he winks, a bit of a smile, and heads down to the bar to place the order.

I watch him. I watch him and I watch the girls in the bar watching him and I know tonight, tonight he’s mine. I have him.

I’ve never felt so alive before, a swarm of electricity underneath my skin, my heart happy, happy, happy with anticipation, knowing what might finally happen between us.

 

About the Author
Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books. Halle is represented by the Root Literary and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Connect with Karina:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinahalle/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vo9pq4

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/

Join her Reader Group: https://goo.gl/wpCBSS

Stay up to date with Karina by signing up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/Ve4eCh

http://authorkarinahalle.com

Sweet Tea and Sympathy (Southern Eclectic, #1) by Molly Harper

Beloved author Molly Harper launches a brand-new contemporary romance series, Southern Eclectic, with this story of a big-city party planner who finds true love in a small Georgia town.

Nestled on the shore of Lake Sackett, Georgia is the McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop. (What, you have a problem with one-stop shopping?) Two McCready brothers started two separate businesses in the same building back in 1928, and now it’s become one big family affair. And true to form in small Southern towns, family business becomes everybody’s business.

Margot Cary has spent her life immersed in everything Lake Sackett is not. As an elite event planner, Margot’s rubbed elbows with the cream of Chicago society, and made elegance and glamour her business. She’s riding high until one event goes tragically, spectacularly wrong. Now she’s blackballed by the gala set and in dire need of a fresh start—and apparently the McCreadys are in need of an event planner with a tarnished reputation.

As Margot finds her footing in a town where everybody knows not only your name, but what you had for dinner last Saturday night and what you’ll wear to church on Sunday morning, she grudgingly has to admit that there are some things Lake Sackett does better than Chicago—including the dating prospects. Elementary school principal Kyle Archer is a fellow fish-out-of-water who volunteers to show Margot the picture-postcard side of Southern living. The two of them hit it off, but not everybody is happy to see an outsider snapping up one of the town's most eligible gentleman. Will Margot reel in her handsome fish, or will she have to release her latest catch? 

Purchase on Amazon!

4 Sweet Tea Stars!

What a fabulous start to a great series set with southern twist! You'll fall for all the quirkiness of the McCready family. They own the town's funeral home and bait shop combo!

Margot Cary is the big city girl and when her event-planning career takes a nose dive, she finds herself unemployed and homeless. But one call from her long last family in Lake Sackett, Georgia changes everything. 

Margot grew up with her mother, living the rich, city life. She never knew her father or his side of the family. She's only known what her mother has told her and the stories were never good. So when she gets a phone from her Aunt Tootie in GA to head over to help out the family business, Margot takes the opportunity, but only to stay for a while, until she can get her "real" career back on track. 

Meeting her newly found family has been challenging. Not only is a she so different (the way she grew up), she's trying to get use to the small town vibe. And to have a relationship with her absent father has proven to be hard and emotional. But slowly, teh McCready family starts to grow on her, along with the single and very hot, Kyle Archer. 

Margot learns how to deal with small town gossip and a new life in Lake Sackett. Sweet Tea and Sympathy will take you on a humorous and also emotional ride as Margot adapts her life as a McCready. Looking forward for more in this series!

Cover Reveal: Behind the Bars by Brittainy C. Cherry

Behind the Bars, the first standalone in the all-new Music Street Series from Brittainy C. Cherry is coming December 7th!

Behind the Bars by Brittainy C. CherryRelease Date: December 7, 2017 Genre: Contemporary RomanceCover Designer: Kandi Steiner
Photographer: Perrywinkle Photographer

When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops.

I was the awkward musician, and she was the high school queen.

The only things we had in common were our music and our loneliness.

Something in her eyes told me her smile wasn’t always the truth.

Something in her voice gave me a hope I always wished to find.

And in a flash, she was gone.

Years later, she was standing in front of me on a street in New Orleans.

She was different, but so was I. Life made us colder. Harder. Isolated.

Caged.

Even though we were different, the broken pieces of me recognized the sadness in her.

Now she was back, and I wouldn’t make the mistake of letting her go again.

When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops.

When we met again, she was the darkest storm.

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2vZ2rYx

About the Author:

Hi! I'm Brittainy! Join me as we travel through my mind as a Romance Author. This includes such things as my random thoughts, tricks, tips, things I'm learning, things I'm re-learning, things I'm forgetting, and my weird ways of crafting stories.

Connect with Brittainy:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrittainyCherryAuthor/

Twitter: @BrittainyCherry

Stay up to date with Brittainy by signing up for her newsletter:

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https://brittainycherry.wordpress.com

Skylar (The Club Girl Diaries Book 7) by Addison Jane

Skylar thought she’d outrun her past six years ago. 
Growing up, her life was dictated for her and reinforced with a heavy fist. The people who were meant to love and protect her were those that caused her the most pain. So she risked everything and ran.
It was the Brothers by Blood MC that gave Skylar the chance to explore her own mind and body, and work toward a future that she had control over. 
She swore she’d never fall for a brother, not willing to lose the life she’d built. When she’s paired with Eagle during a club run, Skylar’s determined to pull a smile from the dark and moody brother. 
What started out as a playful game, soon ignited into something much deeper than she’d anticipated. 
Was she ready to risk everything all over again if he didn’t feel the same?

Eagle didn’t like to stay still for long. 
After many years in the army, his luck finally ran out, and he had to watch helplessly while his team was killed. People he’d laughed with, and shared his life with, suddenly gone.
There were moments when the memories became too much, and he was trapped in his own personal hell, but it had become a part of who he was, something he felt was his burden to bear.
He never expected to break down in front of Skylar, to have her see him at his worst.
She didn’t try to fix him. She threw sass, she was sarcastic, and she made those moments when he could breathe again worth fighting through hell for.
But how did you claim a woman who refused to belong to anyone but herself?

Neither of them knew how to tell the other how they felt, but when the past returns with a vengeance, they might just run out of time to find out.

4 Stars!

I'm a big MC book fan and Author Addison Jane knows how to hook you! I've been a fan of The Club Girl Diaries and from this author since day one. Skylar is another fantastic read in this series--it's filled with drama, suspense and sexy moments between Club Girl Skylar and MC Brother, Eagle. 

Sklyar is a Club Girl for the Brothers by Blood MC. She ran from a life that was dangerous and found a safety at the Club. She may be a Club Girl, but Skylar is respected within. She works hard and determined to better her life. Eagle is a part of the MC and there's something about Skylar that has him interested.  And when when Skylar's past catches up to her and brings danger to the MC's door, they will do anything to protect their own, including their Club Girls. 

This book is hot and has plenty of intense moments. 

About the Author
Addison Jane is a born and bred kiwi girl with a passion for romance and writing.

When she gets the chance she enjoys the little things in life such as reading, dancing, music, and Facebook, but her world really revolves around the little girl who calls her Mum. It's an awkward balance between alpha males and Disney princesses but it works.

Growing up on a small farm next to the beach will always make her a country girl at heart. But since moving away to a small town close to the city she's discovered a dangerous love for shopping.

Writing stories has been something that's come naturally since she was young, and with the massive support of her friends and family, she finally decided to step out of her comfort zone and share them with the world.

She enjoys bringing her books to life with strong female leads, sexy passionate men and a rollercoaster of twists and turns that lead to the happily ever after that her readers desire.
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/addisonjaneauthor

Facebook Profile:  https://www.facebook.com/people/Addison-Jane/100004613716815

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/29scDN3

The Outliers (The Outskirts Duet #2) by T.M. Frazier

Sensual. Heartbreaking. Passionate. Overwhelming. Maddening. 

That’s the love Finn and I share.
It's the kind you can never recover from. 
The kind you never WANT to recover from. 

That's why we'll do everything and anything to protect it. 

When my past chases me all the way to Outskirts, we have to make a choice. 
Let the lies destroy our chance at future together or...bury them deep in the swamp where they belong. 

Got a shovel?

Read Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2wGcYfG

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2ho8gc3

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2yhrEhA

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2fnaJ9m

My eyes went to her throat. I saw her pulse quicken beneath her smooth skin. She twisted her pouty pink lips. Her hesitation only lasted a second before she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down closer so that the tips of our noses touched. Her lips feathered against mine. "Fuck me, Finn."

"Yes," I growled.

I may have been the one who told her to say those words but hearing them out of her mouth caused the raging inferno of lust within me to explode beyond control. I had a feeling I'd be hearing those words on repeat in my head for the rest of my life.

Fuck me, Finn.

I lifted her up onto the nearest table and pushed her onto her back. I tore her panties off in one tug and while I devoured her with my eyes, I somehow managed to concentrate enough to unbuckle my belt and push my jeans down over my ass, freeing my throbbing cock.

Sawyer moaned when I parted her legs, stepping between them. The sound was pure fucking heaven. Our tongues danced while we drank each other in. I savored the way her body felt against mine. Hard against soft. I dug my fingers into the flesh of her perfectly round ass before moving them to her pussy where I parted her warm wet folds and strummed her swollen clit because Sawyer was my instrument of choice and only I knew how to play her to perfection.

The look on Sawyer's face when I inserted a finger inside of her was as if I'd just given her a drug. She was high on the pleasure. Her lids were heavy. Her pupils large and dark. I was dead set on making sure I wrung every bit of pleasure from her gorgeous body and I gave her exactly what she’d asked me for.

3.5 Stars

The conclusion of Sawyer and Finn pick up right after the first book. Sawyer's past comes back to haunt her and everything she knew has been a lie. And there by her side is Sawyer.

The Outliers is a quick read that is full of surprises and ends on a happy note for these two characters!

Start the Series Today!

The Outskirts

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2uMXHFt

Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/m1mEVa

Amazon AU: https://goo.gl/Ygn97L

Amazon CA: https://goo.gl/MBRYK2

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/uXPkuE

About the Author

T.M.Frazier is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She resides in sunny Southwest Florida with her husband and her young daughter.

When she’s not writing she loves talking to her readers, country music, reading and traveling. Her debut novel, The Dark Light of Day was published in September of 2013 and when she started writing it she intended for it to be a light beachy romance.

Well…it has a beach in it!  

Release Blitz: Bad at Love by Karina Halle

Bad at Love by Karina Halle Release Date: November 16th

Bad at Love, an all-new contemporary STANDALONE by New York Times Bestselling author Karina Halle is LIVE!!!

She's bad at love, but he's even worse...

Marina is hot, blonde, and wickedly smart, but when it comes to men? She's hopeless. Between her quirks and her lack of filter, there isn't a man in Los Angeles that will stick around after the third date.

Her handsome, charming friend Lazarus has the opposite problem. Everyone wants to be his girlfriend, but he gets bored and moves on quickly.

There's only one way to figure out why neither of them has cracked this love thing-- they'll date each other. On paper, it's the perfect experiment. But in reality, things between Marina and Laz get complicated quickly.

They might be bad at love, but they are even worse at being friends.

Read Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2AOudtz

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2iWoTwd

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2yJATbB

Meet Karina:

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books. Halle is represented by the Root Literary and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Connect with Karina:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinahalle/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vo9pq4

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/

Join her Reader Group: https://goo.gl/wpCBSS

Stay up to date with Karina by signing up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/Ve4eCh

http://authorkarinahalle.com