This blog is for those 18 and older.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas!


Hello, gentle readers! Merry Christmas!
It’s early Christmas morning as I sit down to write this…and it’s quiet. Peaceful, too. No one else in the house is awake yet (even the puppies are still sleeping). My plan to sleep in did not come to fruition…even without the alarm, I was still up at 4:30!).
In blogs past, I have written my goals and resolutions for the coming year, but this year, I’m doing things a little different. No plan to lose those pesky thirty pounds that don’t belong (I’m getting kinda used to them by now). No goal to write two books this year (I’ll be happy to finish the one I’m working on then move on to the next).
No, gentle readers, this year, I’m writing wishes for you. So here goes:
I wish for you joy and peace and moments to make you smile. I wish for you the gift of laughter. I wish for you people who love and cherish you. I wish for you quiet time to sit and reflect when the world seems to be too much. I wish for you kindness, from others as well as yourself.  
That’s it. My wishes for you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Until next time, remember to spread kindness wherever you go.
Marie

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Merry Christmas: "Hot Chocolate" Cookie Cups

I hope you've been having a great holiday season so far! I can't believe Christmas is around the corner. I still have tons to do, so I haven't been reading like normal. So, no recommendations this time. What I have been doing is watching holiday movies while wrapping presents, and in between, shifting cookies from the oven to my mouth. Seriously, Saturday alone I made 10 dozen cookies. I wasn't planning to, but the platters I bought were bigger than expected and the cookies just didn't look right sitting there lonely on empty space.

Speaking of which, I've been making "Hot Chocolate" cookie cups. They are so easy to make and ridiculously delicious. I've linked recipe below. I didn't do the pretzel handles. Seemed too fussy and the pretzels get stale too quickly. But no one seemed to care.

https://www.thegunnysack.com/hot-chocolate-cookie-cups/


And, I was able to send out cards this year! Amazing! This is my son when we were on the island of Oahu. So, I made it festive with a Santa hat. How I wish we could be there right now instead of in cold Wisconsin with no snow to make it pretty. Maybe next year :)



I wish you all a very merry Christmas or <insert beloved holiday>!!!!

See you in 2019!
Nicolette Pierce

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Reader Holiday Photos: Yaritza Santana

Christmas is all about sharing, so I asked my readers to share some of their holiday photos.

Today I'm pleased to be featuring Yaritiza Santana's photos. This lady is all about the Christmas outfits!  





She's counting down the days until Christmas. I'm feeling the gingerbread theme here.
















Now this one is definitely all about Santa. What a great purse!















Now this one says elf to me, a rather pretty elf.














Oh, wow, not only Gingerbread men, but a gingerbread house purse! Love that!













Now this one has an all over Christmas vibe. The Santa purse matches perfectly.



















And to top it all off, Yaritza decorated her Christmas tree in a gingerbread theme. How cool is that?















Thank you, Yaritza for sharing your festive photos. You definitely put me in the Christmas mood for sure  😊

Always, Lexi
www.lexipostbooks.com

Friday, December 21, 2018

Merry Christmas Eve!

It's that time of year again. Yes, my husband and I are hosting our annual Christmas Eve party.

He loves cooking for large crowds and we've been hosting Christmas parties since 2010. While in the Caribbean, it was pretty easy because we always knew it would be warm, plus we had the beach where we built a large, multilevel fire pit.

Here in Florida, my husband had to get a little more creative. As with our parties in the Caribbean, this one is growing, too. In fact, at last count, we are expecting 72 people! Luckily, we bought a tent.

We hand out invitations over a month in advance. We start decorating even sooner! Outside, we make sure there are plenty of lights so people can see when they walk out to their car at the end of the evening.
 And of course we decorate inside, too. I'm in charge of the inside trees, there are 4 this year. I'm also in charge of decorating my office. My husband does all the rest.

We have a great time and at the end of the night, we sometimes have leftovers we can have for Christmas dinner 😊 The whole event is a present to our friends and family.

I'm looking forward to Monday. 

After all, "It was the night before Christmas, and all through Lexi's house, the people were celebrating with she and her spouse. All the decorations were hung by her hubby with care, the guests complimenting them in their holiday wear."

Merry Christmas Eve!

Always, Lexi
www.lexipostbooks.com


Thursday, December 20, 2018

Reader Holiday Photos: Kim Brown

Christmas is all about sharing, so I asked my readers to share some of their holiday photos. 

Today I'm pleased to be featuring Kim Brown's photos. She is a true photographer!



Now if you know me at all, you know I just LOVE this photo! This is Shiloh who loved the snow before he passed at the ripe old age of 23!





And here we have a moonlit night in the dead of winter. It seems the perfect time for a frost queen to appear.











Last is the picture of trees after an ice storm. This brings back memories for me of when I lived in New Hampshire.








Thank you, Kim for sharing your stunning pictures. These really show the beauty of winter

Always, Lexi
www.lexipostbooks.com 

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Blood Bond Saga (1) by Helen Hardt


Vampire lust in its prime!  It’s not exactly Christmassy, but a great romance is always a gift!

I must not have read enough vampire romances lately because I wondered as I read this whether all vampires have one main topic on their minds:  lust. 

Dante somehow escaped the chains, literally, of a woman who lusted and drank his blood for ten years. You can imagine how disoriented and out of synch with the world he was.Blood Bond: 1       

Erin, a third shift ER nurse finds him in a ghastly state in the blood bank of the hospital.  For some unknown reason, they both find an immediate attraction, but with a lot of difficulties being able to take advantage of it, and each other. 

Dante can’t tell her he’s a vampire.  He also needs an education on how to control his sexual urges because with love making, he’ll want to suck her blood amongst other parts!

Erin hasn’t had a boyfriend for quite a while and desperately is willing to give chase.  But he keeps “starting it,” and then cuts her off and sends her away.

She decides maybe she just needs a good old-fashioned f***.  From someone else?  Dante’s not going to like that.      

But maybe, just maybe…

And that’s where it ends.  Grrr…

Well written and a page turner, yet I was disappointed that I got hooked because the only way to find out if they enjoy carnal knowledge of one another and whether Dante has truly escaped the chains of the evil female vampire, is to buy the next book! 

I’ve run into this recently, where the reader has to continue the story in the next book, but for me as a reader, I’d like a complete story in one volume.  It seems to be the new thing.  I understand that publishers would love another sale, but when I began writing the ending was to satisfy the reader and tie up loose ends. 

Rules change. Blood Bond Saga has nine volumes.  Does that mean I have to buy (2.99 each) nine times (nearly $27) to read a whole story in ebook form??  I think that’s an upsetting realization.  I’ve spent that much on a story before, but it was hard cover and complete. 

Or do I just not like change?  Blood Bond is a great story.  I haven’t decided if I’m going to jump into the next volume to see what happens, or if I’ll just be left hanging again. 

I’m really interested to know what you think.    



Read lots and enjoy!

Dawn


Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Reader Holiday Photos: Cathy Brockman

Christmas is all about sharing, so I asked my readers to share some of their holiday photos. 

Today I'm pleased to be featuring Cathy Brockman's Christmas photos.




Nothing says Christmas more than children, and these two are seriously adorable! 











Okay, things just got even cuter! This little one is in awe of her gift. Children really do make Christmas!








Suhweet! Literally. They all got to make a Gingerbread House. I could have helped, but then none of the sweets would have made it on the house 😋













Oh wow! Now I know for sure this house is the most fun at Christmas time. Look at that snowman! I think I'm in love 💓






Thank you, Cathy, for sharing your wonderful photos! They definitely made me smile. 😁

Always, Lexi
www.lexipostbooks.com

Monday, December 17, 2018

Reader Holiday Photos: Beth Cotter

Christmas is all about sharing, so I asked my readers to share some of their holiday photos. 

Today I'm pleased to be featuring Beth Cotter's Christmas photos. I have to say, this lady knows how to decorate!


Hmmm, I don't see a stocking with the name "Lexi" on it. Uh, Beth?










Check out this snowman! This is the kind I want. The kind that doesn't melt!





These look so elegant! I definitely need some of these in my house.




And what's Christmas without a Christmas tree! There's such a beautiful glow to this one







Thank you to Beth for sharing her lovely holiday photos. Can't wait to see what you do next year!

Always, Lexi
www.lexipostbooks.com  

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Guest author Shana Gray wraps up the year


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

I'm here again on Lexi’s blog and thrilled to be here right before Christmas. As the year comes to a close there's a whole lot that I can reflect on. I had a great year, and actually quite a horrible year personally. So we do have to take all the good with the bad. So I look two 2019 with optimism, hope, health and peace. And I paid it forward to you all wishing you the same.

My reason for visiting at this point in time is because the third book in my Girls’ Weekend Away series will be released worldwide on Tuesday. And look at this great review!!

'Full of fun, friendship and romance - a real escapist treat' Jill Shalvis on What Happens In Vegas 

The Nashville Bet is already getting five-star reviews on Goodreads and I can't tell you how thrilled I am. Even though it's the third book in a four book series, each book was written so that it could be read as a standalone. So, if you haven't read What Happens in Vegas or Meet Me in San Francisco before picking up a copy of The Nashville Bet, don't fret. The fourth book, A Match Made in Monaco, which will be a novella, is coming out on April 7.


You might be able to tell that each book is set in a different city 😋  I love to travel, and I've been to two of the locations. Just last month I got back from Bali. It was one of my trips of a lifetime and it was fantastic. I've attached a few photos to show you just how special it was. I plotted a book out while I was there, another series, and keeping my fingers crossed that it will come to fruition. They say, everyone needs a love affair in Bali, so that's what I'm going with for this storyline.

I hope you enjoy the photos. One is special for Lexi’s husband Bob. I thought of him and had to take the photo – Lexi, I wonder if you’ll notice which one 😛 The others are random, I have SO MANY photos and lots are on my Facebook page. I got terribly burnt one day, even slathered with lotion, wearing a hat, sitting in the shade and covered in a towel. Others include a mama and baby from the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, me in a red hat lol, sunrise which I got up early for (not as early as Lexi and I did when I visited her on her island) beach and drink shots. I just loved Bali.
 
AND, I’m going to be doing a series contest, announcing the details in the New Year. So tune in to my newsletter for the details!

Now a little bit about The Nashville Bet.

In the third warm, funny and romantic novel in the Girls Weekend Away series, four best friends embark on the ultimate girls' getaway filled with hijinks and a sprinkling of romance. For any fan of Bridesmaids and Sex and the City and readers of Jo Watson, Lauren Layne, Joanna Bolouri and Cate Woods.
The romantic...
When her boss offers her free tickets to the CMA Fest, Ava Trent jumps at the chance for a weekend in Nashville with her best girlfriends. Great music and new opportunities to look for Mr Right? What more could a former country girl ask for? Well, maybe not to literally fall at the feet of the hottest guy she's ever seen.
And the superstar singer...

After becoming an overnight success, fame doesn't rest easy on Chase Hudson's shoulders. It's hard to tell who's interested in him and who's interested in the star. So when he and Ava collide, and she has no idea who he is, he's immediately intrigued. Something about Ava calls to him - even though he's convinced she's a city-type who couldn't handle his Nashville life.
Are about to get their country on.

What starts as a light-hearted bet to test one another, becomes something much deeper as Ava and Chase can't stay away from one another. But with so many differences between their lives, will they win the relationship they've been dreaming of? Or lose each other?
Look for the other Girls' Weekend Away novels, including What Happens In Vegas and Meet Me In San Francisco! And A Match Made in Monaco coming April 7


How about a little excerpt? I hope you enjoy it. (hint, Daisy is just a friend 😆 )

It was a sea of cowboy hats, western shirts, jean covered asses, and, right in front of him, was a woman with the most sparkly boots he’d ever seen. She was stumbling all over herself, trying to keep up with the music, and he smiled. This must be her first time line dancing.
Chase put his hands on his hips and swung into the steps like he’d been born to do. Which he supposed he had. But he couldn’t drag his gaze away from the woman in front of him.
He watched her ass swing in the saucy dress she had on. The skirt, ending mid-thigh, swished as she moved. Her long legs disappeared into the boots. For the first time in a long time, he felt himself grow aroused.
The next steps had them turning around and he hesitated, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sparkle Boots as she twirled around, but Daisy yanked hard.
“Hey, what the—” He grumbled at her.
“Concentrate, Chase. Come on.” Daisy gave him a fierce glare.
But it was like he could feel the woman behind him and once facing back in the other direction, he couldn’t pull his gaze away from her. He was amused at how badly she danced. She was with a bunch of friends and they were all laughing. Even her. It was obvious her friends knew what they were doing and were helping her learn the steps. He couldn’t help giving a low chuckle as she nearly tripped over herself again.
He gave her credit, though, she was trying. This song ended and he was about to make an escape back to the bar.
“Oh, no you don’t, mister.” Daisy grabbed his hand and held him in place. “We got a few more sets to do.”
Chase gave her an exaggerated groan. “Seriously? You said one dance.”
“I lied.” She batted her eyelashes as she squeezed his hand. “Oh, ‘Friends in Low Places.’ Don’t you just love Garth. And, if I didn’t know better, I’d say this was your song.” Daisy poked him playfully in the chest with her pointy nail.
“Oww, watch those claws.” Chase took her fingertips, lifted her hand high, and twirled her. “Plus, I could easily take offense to you comparing me to the song. I’ve had my share of knowing high society girls, and they’re not my cup of tea. Give me a girl who can strip down a tractor, or go fishing and not squirm taking her catch off the hook.”
“Music to my ears, my man,” Daisy told him.
The next dance step called for a reverse and shuffle backwards. He was moving without having to think about it. His mind sorta wandered and the next thing he knew, he smacked into somebody. It was like a freight train had hit him. Chase heard a clatter and feminine squeals from behind, then some raised voices. He spun around, but hadn’t let go of Daisy’s hand quickly enough so he basically flung her onto the pile of women on the floor in front of him.
Had he mowed them all down? Good lord. Chase leapt forward to try and help.
“What the hell, Chase!” Daisy reached up and grabbed his hand. He hauled her off the pile. “What was that? You know how to dance.” She stared up at him, hands on her hips.
“I was doing the steps. They must have lost their feet.” He turned and looked at the ladies on the floor, they were killing themselves laughing. Clearly they were drunk and having the time of their lives.
He leaned over and picked them all up, one by one, setting them on their feet until he saw the last woman at the bottom. Sparkle Boots. She laid on the scuffed hardwood floor, with thick auburn hair covering her face, her skirt hiked up to her hips, allowing him a delicious peek of a pair of hot pink panties, and he couldn’t drag his gaze from her legs. He was poleaxed.

I hope you liked this little snippet.

All the links are available HERE on my website.

Now a little some extra for you.  Since Christmas is just around the corner, and handy treats are great to have around in case of surprise visitors, I thought I’d share a very Canadian recipe. No, not poutine, but it’s super easy too J My butter tart recipe. If time is tight, and you want to whip some up, just use the frozen pre-made tart shells. Otherwise, pastry from scratch is the best (If you want my pastry recipe, email me and I’ll be happy to send it along to you.)

These tarts can be frozen as well and quickly popped into the oven to warm up.

Butter Tarts – Preheat oven to 375
¼ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar
¼ tsp salt
½ cup corn syrup or maple syrup
1 egg
Mix all of the above together well. Put a few grains of salt in the bottom of each tart shell – this helps to stop bubbling over.
If using pastry from scratch, cut out a round about an inch bigger than a muffin tin, and press gently into the lightly greased muffin tin.
If using tarts shells, place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
Fill the shell about ¾ full.
You can add a few raisins or toasted pecans if you choose, or just have them plain.
Yummy goodness!!

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Meet Shana!
Shana Gray writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction that just might make you laugh. With 30 books behind her, some translated into multiple languages, she’s always eyeing the next story line. She lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada, is a mom of two grown sons, a brand new daughter-in-law, and is her black cat’s human. When she’s not writing or at her day job, she can be found daydreaming about life, usually with a glass of wine or cocktail in hand and making travel plans to far off lands to feed her wanderlust. Her newest series – Girl’s Weekend Away – is out now.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

PLEASURES OF CHRISTMAS PAST by Lexi Post on Sale for 99¢ for a limited time!

Pleasures of Christmas Past 
 (A Scottish Christmas Carol #1) 
by Lexi Post

Only 99¢ for a limited time!


When present-day American social worker Jessica Thomas is assigned her first case as a spirit guide, she’s excited to serve as the Spirit of Christmas Past for her client and prove she knows her profession well. Unfortunately, her mentor, the very hot, very single, and very Scottish Duncan Montgomerie has little faith in her ability and plans to catch her when she falls. As far as she’s concerned, he’s going to be waiting a very long time.  

Bachelor Duncan Montgomerie hails from late 18th century Scotland where he enjoyed life to its fullest, something he continues in death. Having been dead a while, he is well equipped to handle the afterlife where time doesn’t exist and phasing is the norm. What has him stymied is his connection to the uptight Jessica and the strange feelings he’s experiencing being around her, even though she refuses to listen to his advice. Duncan needs to figure out what it all means and fast because the rules change after death and the path Jessica is headed down could cost her her soul.
  
Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon UK| Amazon AU | Amazon CA

The rest of A Scottish Christmas Carol Series: 

Desires of Christmas Present

Amazon  |Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Temptations of Christmas Future

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

One of a Kind Christmas

AmazoniBooks  |Barnes & Noble | Kobo