Huge Rubber Duck lands in Western New York

Canalside announced Wednesday “Mama Duck” will part of the Maritime Festival, which runs August 26-28, 2016

“Mama Duck” is over six stories high and weighs 11 tons.

Visit WGRZ for more information.

Review: The Crepes Of Wrath

Title: The Crepes Of Wrath

Author: Sarah Fox

• Print Length: 257 pages
• Publisher: Alibi
• Publication Date: August 16, 2016
• Sold by: Random House LLC
• ASIN: B01A4ATX58

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Source: I received a copy of the book from Netgalley, Opinions are 100% my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION, FROM AMAZON

In the debut of a delightful cozy mystery series, Sarah Fox introduces a charming new heroine who finds herself in a sticky situation: stacking pancakes, pouring coffee, and investigating murder.

Bonus content: includes original recipes inspired by the Flip Side Pancake House menu!

When Marley McKinney’s aging cousin, Jimmy, is hospitalized with pneumonia, she agrees to help run his pancake house while he recovers. With its rustic interior and syrupy scent, the Flip Side Pancake House is just as she pictured it—and the surly chef is a wizard with crêpes. Marley expects to spend a leisurely week or two in Wildwood Cove, the quaint, coastal community where she used to spend her summers, but then Cousin Jimmy is found murdered, sprawled on the rocks beneath a nearby cliff.

After she stumbles across evidence of stolen goods in Jimmy’s workshop, Marley is determined to find out what’s really going on in the not-so-quiet town of Wildwood Cove. With help from her childhood crush and her adopted cat, Flapjack, Marley sinks her teeth into the investigation. But if she’s not careful, she’s going to get burned by a killer who’s only interested in serving up trouble.

MY THOUGHTS

Marley thought she would visit Wildwood Cove again, just not under these circumstances.  Marley’s cousin Jimmy was in the hospital and she came to help him run his business, The Flip Side Pancake House.  Marley only imagined herself in the quaint town for a few weeks.  That was until she stumbled upon a murder and she just may be the next target.  With the help of her old crush Brett, could she find the killer before he or she found her?

I love cozy mysteries and this book was no exception.  The book kept me guessing and I enjoyed reading about the cute little town and all of its inhabitants.  When I was reading the book I pictured everything, the writing was very detailed and I could almost smell the sweet smell of crepes from the diner.  If the book wasn’t enough we get recipes in the back of the book.  I love a good recipe, as you may know from this blog.  I just may have to try the churro recipe in the back and review that too.  I highly recommend, a great read!!

Review: Sweet Taffy and Murder

Title- Sweet Taffy and Murder

Author- Dana Moss

Print Length: 261 pages
Publisher: Mossy Stone Books (June 23, 2016)
Publication Date: June 23, 2016
ASIN: B01HHV12F6

Book 1 in a series

Genre- Cozy mystery

Source- I received this book from Netgalley.  Opinions are 100% my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION, FROM AMAZON

Spoiled, rich party girl Taffy Belair is in trouble. Again. This time her grandmother is banishing her to a small coastal town in Oregon to clean up her act.

Cut off from familiar luxuries and expected to work and take care of a house and herself, Taffy could care less about fitting into the quirky town of Abandon.

Without her posse of girls or even good coffee, let alone a party scene, she starts stirring up new trouble. Hunky handyman Ethan is a good start. But when she stumbles over a possible murder, Taffy transforms from party girl to amateur detective.

Now she’s getting into more trouble than she ever did back in New York. She’s unearthing secrets and upsetting the locals. Is this quaint seaside enclave really the “Sweetest Town on the Coast,” or is it rotten to the core?

With the help of new friends, Taffy must risk her life to expose a conspiracy and capture a killer before the town’s body count increases by a factor of one stylish blonde (in need of a manicure).

Fans of Stephanie Plum and humorous cozy murder mysteries, don’t miss this hilarious and heartfelt fish-out-of-water mystery starring somewhat-reformed party girl Taffy Belair

MY THOUGHTS

Taffy was getting in trouble again, when her Nana decided to whip her into shape and teach her a lesson.  Having been rich all her life and wanting for nothing, Taffy found herself in the middle of no where living in a house that some was in her opinion, murdered in.  Everyone is a suspect, from the familiar police woman, to the repair man and even the hunky Ethan that had been there to greet her when she came into town.  The town holds many secrets, but Taffy wasn’t sure how close to home those secrets were.

I really enjoyed this book, I couldn’t put it down.  It’s a fun read with a lot of great characters.  All the time I was reading it, I was so glad to know this is a series, I want to read more about Taffy and her family and friends.  I highly recommend.  A great read!

Review: ALL THESE PERFECT STRANGERS: A NOVEL

TITLE: ALL THESE PERFECT STRANGERS

AUTHOR: Aoife Clifford

Print Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Alibi (July 12, 2016)
Publication Date: July 12, 2016
Sold by: Random House LLC

GENRE:  crime, suspense

SOURCE:  I received this book from Netgalley.  The opinions are my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION, FROM AMAZON

“This is about three deaths. Actually more, if you go back far enough. I say deaths but perhaps all of them were murders. It’s a grey area. Murder, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.”

Within six months of her arrival at a university campus, three of Penelope Sheppard’s new friends are dead. And only Pen knows why. This isn’t Pen’s first encounter with violence, and she’s an expert at keeping secrets—especially ones as dark and dangerous as her own.

MY THOUGHTS

Penelope is no stranger to death, it seems to be all around her.  Pen, as she likes to be called, is seeing a counselor.  He is trying to get her to open up about the events that surround her.  Will he ever get the whole truth?  Will anyone?

I had a hard time understanding the flashbacks and real time at first when reading this book.  But after a few chapters I was hooked.  But at the end I found myself with a lot of questions.  I don’t feel like I got the answers I wanted and I don’t think this is a series, so I am left wanting more.  While this type of book may not be for me, I do feel people that are into psychological thrillers will love this book.  If you are into this genre it’s definitely worth a try.

STUD FOR HIRE by Sabrina York

Stud for Hire by Sabrina York
Just south of Fort Worth, Texas, you’ll find a little ranch where the hot, toned cowboys are ready and eager to take it all off and make your naughtiest fantasies come true…

When her sister plans a wild bachelorette weekend at the Double S Ranch, Hanna Stevens is pretty sure she’ll just grin and bear it while the other women get their fill of hot cowboy strippers. After all, Hanna has never met a man who made her really want.

Zack, Hanna’s future husband, offered to marry her and save her family’s ranch from financial ruin, and while she accepted, it was never what you’d call a passionate affair. But when she locks eyes with Logan, Hanna is suddenly overwhelmed by the feeling she’s always craved and never experienced: Pure. Animal. Desire…

The first in a new series of Stripped Down Cowboys from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Sabrina York
Read An Excerpt and Enter to win the Stud For Hire Tiara!

Stud for Hire by Sabrina York: Coming Soon and a Brand New Giveaway!

Facebook Release Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/1582460148720584/

Recipe: Steak and Vegetables with Chimichurri sauce

I have a delicious recipe for you today.  It’s not just a recipe it’s more like a whole dinner in one.  I give you Chimichurri sauce with Grilled steak and vegetables.  This was absolutely delicious, let me know if you try it.  The first thing you want to do is make your sauce.

 

Ingredients:

1 bunch parsley, remove stems

1 bunch cilantro, remove stems

Juice of one full lime

1 Teaspoon red pepper flakes

Dash of salt and pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

3 garlic cloves, more or less per your liking, the more you use the hotter it is

3 medium shallots

Directions:

In a food processor combine parsley, cilantro, juice of one lime, teaspoon red pepper flakes, dash of salt and pepper, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, garlic cloves and 3 medium shallots. Pulse until combined.

Serve with steak, chicken, veggies. Works great to marinade steak on a grill.

Now you will want to cut up your veggies.  I used lime, red onion on a skewer, see photo below and sweet potato, cut in wedges.

After you have your veggies cut, now is the time to get your steak out or chicken, both work fine.  On an already heated grill add the steak and veggies, brush with the sauce, cook until the steak and veggies are cooked through and steak shows done on a meat thermometer.

Serve steak with veggies, make sure to add more sauce over top.  Enjoy!!! —Rae

 

 

Release Day- Hard Rules by Lisa Renee Jones + GIVEAWAY

 #NewRelease HARD RULES is available NOW from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones!

Corruption. Family. Betrayal. And a love neither of them were expecting…

Buy links and excerpt: http://www.lisareneejones.com/dirty-money-series

Also enter to win a $200 Amazon gift card from Lisa to celebrate the release!!

More info here: http://lisareneejones.com/hard-rules-200-release-week-giveaway/

A little sneak peek:

He leans in close and inhales deeply. “You smell sweet.” He cups my face, and he caresses his lips over mine, once. Twice. His tongue flickers past my teeth, a quick tease that has me wanting more before he adds, “You taste sweet.” He presses my hands to the railing behind me, holding them there, his cheek settling against mine. “I want you, Emily. And I’m going to have you. On my lips. On my tongue.” He nips my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine as he adds, “Until you’re thinking of nothing else but me.”

Free Read: Found

Did you know that Found, Castle Coven Book 1, is free at the various retailers?

FOUND
Castle Coven Book 1

Though novice witch Hailey Devereaux seems to have settled into her latest coven, she knows that it can’t last. Tucked against the remote Alps of northern Italy, the Angioli coven is ill at ease with their newest member. Whispers and fearful glances follow her everywhere.

But the arrival of a Magus Corps major ends all that. Kieran McCallen isn’t afraid of her singular ability. Instead he’s been sent to nurture and test it. Though Hailey’s waif-like and delicate beauty are charming, her power is the stuff of legend.

Each loners in their own way, Kieran glimpses Hailey’s fiercely protective spirit when it comes to friends. For her part, Hailey dares to hope that she’s found the person and place meant for her. But their bond is put to the test by danger and by duty, forcing each of them to impossible choices.

Here are the links so you can grab your copy and start reading:

 

Amazon US: click here

Amazon UK: click here

Amazon AU: click here

Apple US: click here

Apple UK: click here

Apple AU: click here

Kobo: click here

 

Five Days Until New Release!!

 

Love Jax Teller? Meet Shane Brandon.

Passion. Family. Corruption. Betrayal. A love they didn’t expect but is it enough to save Shane from the taint of his family?

 

Wall Street meets the Sons of Anarchy in Hard Rules, the smoldering, scorching first novel in the explosively sexy new Dirty Money series from  New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones.

PRE-ORDER AND GET FREEBIES!

Lisa is offering each reader who registers their pre-order of HARD RULES (from ANY platform) a free lipstick pen and signed postcard! Find out more here: http://lisareneejones.com/pre-order-hard-rules/

Pre-order your copy TODAY!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2aybWpi Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2aT8N4D Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2ayc8Vm Nook: http://bit.ly/HardRulesBN Barnes & Noble Paperback: http://bit.ly/2axJAhS iBooks: http://bit.ly/HardRulesiBooks Kobo: http://bit.ly/2ax7vrB Google Play: http://bit.ly/2axJ7w8    Other links found here: http://bit.ly/2axJUgi

NOTE:

SPECIAL $4.99 EBOOK PRE-ORDER PRICE! It will go up to $7.99 shortly after release day so be sure to get it now! The print version of HARD RULES will have a bonus alternate POV scene and is on sale for 50% off on Amazon (subject to change)!

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

How bad do you want it?  The only man within the Brandon empire with a moral compass, Shane Brandon is ready to take his family’s business dealings legitimate. His reckless and ruthless brother, Derek wants to keep Brandon Enterprises cemented in lies, deceit, and corruption. But the harder Shane fights to pull the company back into the light, the darker he has to become. Then he meets Emily Stevens, a woman who not only stirs a voracious sexual need in him, but becomes the only thing anchoring him between good and evil. Emily is consumed by Shane, pushed sexually in ways she never dreamed of, falling deeper into the all-encompassing passion that is this man. She trusts him. He trusts her, but therein lies the danger. Emily has a secret, the very thing that brought her to him in the first place, and that secret that could that destroy them both.

Over 100 early five star reviews and 75 4 star reviews — add to your shelf and read the reviews: http://bit.ly/HardRulesGoodreads

Fluff Filled Frog Recipe

Who remembers the chocolate frogs from the trolley in the Harry Potter movie? In honor of Harry Potter’s birthday on July 31st which he shares with the author of the books JK Rowling, here is a Fluff Filled chocolate frog recipe.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY POTTER, July 31!!!

Fluff Filled Chocolate Frog

Fluff recipe:

3 egg whites
2 cups light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups confectioner sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Optional, bag of milk chocolate chips, melted, if using the fluff for molded chocolate.

In a large bowl, combine egg whites, corn syrup and salt; beat with mixer in high speed for 10 minutes or until thick. (I use a kitchen aid mixer

Add confectioner sugar; beat low until blended.

Beat in vanilla until blended.

Now you can eat this alone on sandwiches, or you can use to fill chocolate frogs.

You will need a chocolate frog mold, I purchased mine from Amazon

Place melted chocolate in mold just on bottom and sides leaving room for filling. Place mold in fridge until chocolate is hardened take out of fridge and add a small amount of fluff and fill with melted chocolate until it is full, not to full or frogs will not sit right. Add back in fridge for a while until the chocolate is hardened and the candy will easy pop out of mold. You can also use another shape mold, something deep is best.

Enjoy!!!