Never Forget - Emma Hart

A city girl.
A small town boy.
A summer they'll never forget.

Spending the summer at her Grammy's in Lilac Bay, Devon, is city girl Alexis 'Lexy' Edwards idea of hell. That is, until she reconnects with her childhood friend, Jen, and meets Alec Johnson.
Alec is the kind of guy Lexy knows she needs to stay away from. He's the village flirt, ridiculously hot and very dangerous to her self control. But there's a problem – she can't seem to keep him out, even though she knows he'll break her heart.
As Alec slowly strips away Lexy's defences and the two embark on a summer romance she never wanted, their feelings grow to more than either expected. But nothing lasts forever, and reality intrudes.
As her world is shaken to it's core, Lexy's self made prediction comes true when she discovers she's spent six weeks surrounded by secrets. Kept out by her family and the only guy she's ever trusted, she falls apart.
And when Grammy tells her that 'you might not end up where you wanted to be, but you'll always end up where you're meant to be,' she has to figure out if her meant to be is back home in London, or if it's been in Devon the whole time.


Guest Post
Guest Post #2 –

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Me – And Would Probably Never Guess (Okay,
Nine.)

I wanted to do something totally random and fun for one of the guest posts, so I decided
to let you get to know me a little better with some of my strange quirks. Do you have any of
them too?

1: I hate toenails. Seriously, they creep me out. I've never gotten a pedicure, nor am I
ever likely to. I hate cutting them, filing them, whatever. Even worse, having to cut my
daughters. Can I hire someone to do that?

2: I actually hate Facebook. I only really use it to rant, for my author page or the
messenger app. I keep it because I'm nosey. And now I'll wait for my friend list to go down.
Because it will.

3: I'm afraid of the dark. Yeah, I'm nineteen and afraid of the dark. If I have to do
anything in the middle of the night I will turn every light on as I go. I also do this strange
shoulder lift thing to protect my neck because of course, if the Bogey Man is waiting he's
gonna go for that. Excuse me while I roll my eyes at myself.

4: I started my Christmas shopping in January. Okay, you might already know this, but
my daughter is a Christmas baby (Dec 23rd) and can you imagine buying all that in one go?
No, thank you. I also bought her main present a couple weeks ago – a Storio e-reader –
because it was on sale. I like bargains.

5: I say 'eeek' too much. I'm actually ashamed to say I do say it in real life. I'm gonna
have to do something about that...

6: I buy kids films for my pleasure opposed to my daughter's. I should probably be really
embarrassed right now, but I'm not. Give me Peter Pan any day. Lost Boys and Tinkerbell
FTW!

7: I love the way my daughter says 'thank you, mummy', and will continuously give her
things to hear her say it. Imagine in a two year old, uncertain voice - ' fan-koo, mum-mee.'
It's too cute. I also love it when she runs across the room and tells herself to slow down.

8: I talk too much. Like, really. For someone who rarely leaves the house, I make up for
it by talking my American friends' ears off. I don't think they mind. (Do you?)

9: In private, I have a really crude sense of humour. In my defence, I do think this is a
British thing. Tell me a joke about the chicken crossing the road and I'll look at you blankly,
yet tell me about a Ferrari entering a garage and I'll laugh until I cry.

10: I've now given you nine things to use against me in any situation. I'd rather you
didn't, but if you do, use them wisely. ;)

First thoughts after....
I want more!  I hope there is a sequel!

How Distracted Did I Get???
Never Forget is a fun addictive read.  The story was difficult to put down.  I love a good girl not giving into the bad boy easily and giving him a hard time.  Lexy is fun and sassy and a good girl.  The last thing she wants is to go and visit the small town her grandmother lives in.  I enjoyed watching her grow emotionally throughout.  Never Forget was so hard to tuck away for even a minute we had to order Chinese so I could finish.

I give Never Forget......
5 Baskets

Author Bio: 
By day, Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to a terrible two year old. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of wine and writes books. She likes to write about magic, kisses and whatever else she can fit into the story. Sarcastic, witty characters are a must. As are hot guys. She has two new series planned as well as her New Adult Romance, Never Forget, due February 2013. She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes. Her debut YA series, The Mauve Legacy, is an Apple iBooks Bestseller - and this makes Emma excited.  

Where to stalk: (they're all links) Smashwords Profile Page  Amazon Author Page Goodreads Facebook Fan Page  Blog Twitter : @EmmaHartAuthor

Never Forget Playlist

 

International a Rafflecopter giveaway UK a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs - Dana Bate

Hannah Sugarman seems to have it all. She works for an influential think tank in Washington, D.C., lives in a swanky apartment with her high-achieving boyfriend, and is poised for an academic career just like her parents. The only problem is that Hannah doesn’t want any of it. What she wants is much simpler: to cook.

When her relationship collapses, Hannah seizes the chance to do what she’s always loved and launches an underground supper club out of her new landlord’s town house. Though her delicious dishes become the talk of the town, her secret venture is highly problematic, given that it is not, technically speaking, legal. She also conveniently forgets to tell her landlord she has been using his place while he is out of town.

On top of that, Hannah faces various romantic prospects that leave her guessing and confused, parents who don’t support cooking as a career, and her own fears of taking a risk and charting her own path. A charming romantic comedy, The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs is a story about finding yourself, fulfilling your dreams, and falling in love along the way.

First thoughts after....
Wow!  What a great debut novel!  I would love to read more about these characters!

How distracted did I get?
The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs is a great read for the foodie and romance lover.  Being a Food Network addict I loved the character Hannah.  A home cook that seems to cook as well as most chefs.  When her life falls apart she puts it back together with sass and spunk that I adored (a little snark doesn't hurt either).  Hannah has several options for men in her life that will entertain and some disappoint.  Typical of singledom unfortunately.  The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs is a fun new romance.  The kids got breakfast for dinner so I could get right back to the book!  I give The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper clubs........

4 Baskets!

Author Bio
Dana Bate graduated from Yale with a degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry, then became a broadcast journalist with a specialization in finance and business, and then gave it all up to write romantic comedies.

Don’t worry: none of this makes sense to her parents either.

Her debut novel, THE GIRLS' GUIDE TO LOVE AND SUPPER CLUBS (published in the UK as THE SECRET SUPPER CLUB), will be published by Hyperion in February. Her writing has appeared in outlets ranging from Smithsonian.com to Culinate, and before writing full time, she was an award-winning producer and reporter for the PBS Nightly Business Report. She recently returned to her roots in Philadelphia, where she lives with her husband.


http://danabate.com
Facebook
twitter username @danabate

The Good Daughter - Jane Porter Blog Tour

Love was given to all, except herself . . . Kit Brennan has always been the most grounded of her sisters. A Catholic school English teacher for seventeen years and a constant giver, her decisions have been sound—just not very satisfying. Her fortieth birthday is right around the corner, causing Kit to consider some wilder notions, like skipping right past the love and marriage to raising a child all by herself . . . A girls’ weekend away is just the reprieve Kit needs from school, Mr. Wrongs, and life-changing decisions. It’s there that she meets a man who’s dangerous; a man who challenges who she thought she was, or rather should be. Kit wants to indulge herself this once, but with one of her students in crisis and the weight of her family’s burdens weighing heavy on her heart, Kit isn’t sure if now is the time to let her own desires take flight . .

First thoughts after....

Good story but dragged a bit for my liking.

How Distracted did I get???
Kit is the sister who drew me in while reading the first book in the Brennan Sisters Series The Good Woman.  I wanted her happy and to find herself.  I loved learning more about Kit and meeting bad boy Jude.  Who doesn't love a bad boy?  Will good Catholic girl Katherine Elizabeth Brennan fall in love with the bad boy?  LOL  Kit has a history of personal issues you learn throughout her story and they shocked me.  They make her even more likable than before.  She isn't just the martyr she seemed in the first story.  I enjoyed most of the story though I feel certain parts of the story were drawn out too much and some scenes that could have been great were hinted at were completely jumped over.  I made Curry Chicken last night and the kids LOVED however I didn't do the dishes after because I had to find out what happened with Jude.  I give The Good Daughter..........

3 Baskets!!!!!

Author Bio
Born in Visalia, California, I'm a small town girl at heart. I love central California's golden foothills, oak trees, and the miles of farmland. In my mind, there's nothing sweeter in the world than the heady fragrance of orange blossoms on a sultry summer night.
As a little girl I spent hours on my bed, staring out the window, dreaming of far off places, fearless knights, and happy-ever-after endings. In my imagination I was never the geeky bookworm with the thick coke-bottle glasses, but a princess, a magical fairy, a Joan-of-Arc crusader.
My parents fed my imagination by taking our family to Europe for a year when I was thirteen. The year away changed me (I wasn't a geek for once!) and overseas I discovered a huge and wonderful world with different cultures and customs. I loved everything about Europe, but felt especially passionate about Italy and those gorgeous Italian men (no wonder my first very Presents hero was Italian).
I confess, after that incredible year in Europe, the travel bug bit, and bit hard. I spent much of my high school and college years abroad, studying in South Africa, Japan and Ireland. South Africa remains a country of my heart, the people, the land and politics complex and heart-wrenching.
After my years of traveling and studying I had to settle down and earn a living. With my Bachelors degree from UCLA in American Studies, a program that combines American literature and American history, I've worked in sales and marketing, as well as a director of a non-profit foundation. Later I earned my Masters in Writing from the University of San Francisco and taught jr. high and high school English.
I now live in Seattle and Hawaii with my three sons. I never mind a rainy day, either, because that's when I sit at my desk and write stories about far-away places, fascinating people, and most importantly of all, love. I like a story with a happy ending. We all do.

Jane’s website - http://www.janeporter.com/

· Twitter - @authorjanep

· Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorjaneporter

· Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-good-daughter-jane-porter/1111307468?ean=9780425253427

Amazon Link

Stardust Summer - Lauren Clark Blog Tour

Title: Stardust Summer

Author: Lauren Clark

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Number of Pages: 280

Blurb:

Single mom Grace Mason doesn’t believe in miracles, magic, or love at first sight. She likes the quiet life, complete with her eight-year-old son, their tiny house, and her teaching job. For Grace, happiness means that nothing much ever changes in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Then, one thousand miles away, tragedy strikes. A massive heart attack leaves Grace’s estranged father comatose in an Upstate New York hospital. While a team of doctors fight to keep Henry Mason alive, Grace and Evan rush to his bedside to say their final goodbyes.
Henry’s passing brings little closure for Grace, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to her new surroundings. What begins as a short trip results in an entire summer spent with Henry’s second wife, Kathleen, and her next-door neighbor, Ryan Gordon, the town doctor. When a series of unlikely events lead to Evan’s disappearance, Grace must face her worst fears to find her son and bring him back home.
Stardust Summer explores the complexities of forgiveness, what it means to be a family, and the fabulous possibility of falling in love—again

First thoughts after...
What an amazingly sweet story! I'd like to know what happens next! ;)

How distracted did I get?
Stardust Summer is a wonderful story about grudges, forgiveness, love of family and romance.  Grace has been hurt too many times and doesn't trust people not to leave her.  I love her story and character.  She's had a rough life and emotionally there's a lot to get through.  I did not want to put this story down.  I was up extremely late one night reading this and still read while cooking and would stop cleaning to "rest" and read!


I give Stardust Summer.....

5 Baskets!!!!


Guest Post

What Makes a Leading Man HOT?

There's just something about romance that makes the pages of a good novel turn a little faster. I can't wait for the heartbeat flutter I feel when the story's main character meets her potential love interest. I'm almost giddy when the first innocent flirtation is exchanged.

I adore the sidelong glances, the skin that shivers from an accidental touch. There's the first disagreement or problem, which just adds to the tension. And...oh...the first kiss! I love the anticipation that builds while I wonder how or when that special moment might happen. Most importantly, though, I have to find out if there's a happy ending—and how it all turns out.

When it comes to romantic stories, I have my share of favorite leading men (Take your pick ... Daniel Craig, Ryan Gosling, or Bradley Cooper) and it's so fun to gush about chiseled jaw lines and six-pack abs while these actors are on the big screen. But movie actors aside, there's something about a novel that I believe adds MORE to the imagination and the story experience.

In Stardust Summer, as with my two previous novels, I tend to shy away from describing my leading men down to the last bicep muscle or shoe size. I like to draw broad strokes—including eye color, build, and complexion—so that readers can fill in the rest of the tiny details.

Are his shoulders broad? Does he have dimples? Freckles? Is his smile perfect or a little crooked? Is he testosterone-charged or all-American boy? How does it sound when he talks? When he laughs out loud?

When I can decide the answers to those questions, especially in the first few chapters of a novel, it's easier for me to connect with a story's love interest. And I know that this might sound strange, but I firmly believe that what makes a leading man HOT is much more than window dressing.

For me, a leading man's personality and actions speak volumes.

Is he strong and protective, yet gentle on the inside? Does he let his defenses down just a little? Is he well-liked by others? Is he sensitive to others' needs? Does he solve problems without being overbearing? Is he smart, spontaneous, and fun?

In Stardust Summer, part of Dr. Ryan Gordon's appeal is the fact that he changes and grows so much during the course of a story. He's a dedicated, talented physician who let his career get in the way of his first marriage. He spent a few years denying any fault in the situation, but has a complete turnaround when he meets Grace Mason and her son Evan.

His selfless actions and heroic nature melt Grace's heart and defenses. In the end, they both change each other for the better.

So....what's your take on a leading man?  Do you need brawn and brains? Lots of description or some left to the imagination? What makes your ideal romantic hero HOT?

Author Bio
Lauren Clark writes contemporary novels sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets. A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends.

Lauren is a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association, the Mobile Writers Guild, and a monthly contributor to Parents & Kids Magazine's Mississippi Gulf Coast Edition.

Where to find Lauren:

Website: http://www.laurenclarkbooks.com/

Blog: http://www.laurenclarkbooks.com/blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-Clark/235315706518284

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenclark_bks

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/laurenclarkbooks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5280308.Lauren_Clark

Buy Links:

Stardust Summer for Kindle

Stardust Summer for Nook  

Seeing Red Promo- Sidney Halston

Title: Seeing Red

Author: Sidney Halston

Number of Pages: 387

Genre: Contemporary Romance
There's the old adage: 'Two heads are better than one'. But when it comes to lovers - it doesn't really work so well. Actually, it’s kind of creepy. Especially when the two heads belong to twin brothers. That’s one of the many dilemma’s Jillian Stone is facing in her non-existent love life. As if Jillian Stone's life didn’t just become complicated enough, considering that she’s also psychic, her seductively mysterious professor starts relentlessly and inappropriately courting her too.
Raised on a deserted island for twelve years after a plane crash. Jillian Stone, AKA ‘Red’ is reunited with her twins, Alexander and Oliver Jacobs, who lived with her on the island all those years. Now twenty-two years old, these childhood friends may not stay ‘just friends’ when Red realizes these twins have returned to her life in all their gorgeous and protective alpha-male glory. Jillian, a law student, an introvert, and a closeted psychic, is torn between the sexy-bad boy Alexander, and Oliver, the loyal and dedicated confidante. And just in case there weren’t enough men in her life, Paul Black, her professor, comes along and begins relentlessly and inappropriately pursuing her. Meanwhile, her psychic visions begin to get more frequent as visions of a red-haired man begin haunting her daily. Someone closer than she knows is looking for her—and not for good reasons.
One woman, three men. Whatever happens - someone's going to lose

Excerpt
He had a tickle in his nose that just wouldn't go away. When he opened his eyes, he noticed that it was Jillian's fiery red curly mess spread across his chest and a loose curl tickled his nose. His arms were wrapped around her body; her head was nestled into the crevice between his shoulder and armpit, and their bare legs tangled. This felt so right, nothing like what he'd experienced on the island when they'd all camped out on the beach. Oh, this was not good. He didn't want to ruin the moment, knowing that he may never get this close to her again. He moved the mischievous curl away from his nose and went back to sleep, holding her a little tighter. She moaned and inched even closer, but didn't wake. Yep, that sent his brain on vacation, and his body packed its bags too. Forget it, dude, you're on your own now.

He wondered what she dreamed about and what her reaction would be when she woke up. She was the one that had made her way into his arms; although, it was his legs that were tangled into hers. He said a silent prayer wishing she felt the same way. He'd loved her since, well, forever.





Buy Links for Seeing Red On sale for .99 for the week of Feb 18 only:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/281601

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Red-ebook/dp/B00B9GF5WC/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360430947&sr=1-2&keywords=seeing+red


Barnes and Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seeing-red-sidney-halston/1114281088?ean=2940015988352



Author Bio:

Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Mark Twain, or even simpler, “Just Do It” Nike. And that's exactly what she did. After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative romantic side and wrote Seeing Red, among four other novels currently in the works, including the sequel to Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal and she fell in love with writing.

Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she's not writing you can find her reading and reading and reading… She's a reader first and a writer second.

When she's not writing or reading her life is complete and utter chaos trying to balance family life with work, and writing (and reading). But she wouldn't have it any other way.

Where to find Sidney:

Blog: http://sidneyhalston.blogspot.com/

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6916557.Sidney_Halston

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sidneyhalston
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sidney-Halston/399018833508539?fref=ts

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/116739581195208999224

Tour Stops:

Feb 18 Hanging With Bells
Feb 19 Liberty of Lights
Feb 20 Forget The Housework, I'm Reading
Feb 21 My Cozie Corner
Feb 22 Amys Booket List
Feb 23 The Bookmaven

Dominion Blog Tour - Melody Manful

$2.99 on Kindle
Title: Dominion

Author: Melody Manful
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Number of Pages: 440
Formats available: Ebook


I Dare You.
Look Over Your Shoulders.
Do You See Them?
They are behind you...
They are always behind you.

Abigail Cells had a nightmare the day before she met Gideon, the new guy in school who has every girl drooling just to be near him. In her nightmare, she was murdered by a magical creature. As she gets to know Gideon, she begins to remember pieces of her nightmare, and was shocked when Gideon turned out to be the creature from her nightmare. Who is Gideon really? Should Abby allow herself to fall completely for him, or is he the next disaster waiting to happen?

I have made a huge mistake with this post and I will update asap.  I apologize to Melody Manful and Collette from ABG.

Soul Walker Book Blitz Hop!

Welcome to the first stop on the Soul Walker Giveaway Tour!!!
I'm very honored to be a part of the tour and EXCITED to be the first stop! I have an interview and the rafflecopter for the giveaway at the bottom of the post! 
Thanks again Robyn!

Here's the synopsis of Soul Walker

"I need to get you to the hospital." He was taking responsibility for me. Only my parents had that job. I stretched my hand out in protest, but the lack of depth perception had my trembling fingers grazing his overheated neck. I swore his whole body shook.

When five-year-old Anna Pierce is offered a chance to have nightmare-free nights for the small price of her voice, she jumps at it. Silence has to be better than all-consuming dreams about blood and death and fangy monsters. The bargain she strikes comes with a secondary benefit, visions of a person's future potential. The combination of visions and silence changes her very nature and soon she's diagnosed with autism. Twelve years of living in her head comes to a screeching halt the moment Peter Davis pulls her out of an icy river.

Her new life has her twirling, tiptoeing, and crashing through unfamiliar territory, one filled with a cranky grandma, a knocked up cousin, an unpleasant cousin, a bunch of mostly good vampires, and the boy who rescued her. 

To top it all off, the deal she made at five is no more. Anna is expected to talk, to figure out her resurfacing nightmares, and to control her ever-growing powers. And she'd better get it done soon because if the good vamps want a piece of a living, breathing Touched girl, the evil ones simply want. They'll take Anna for their very own.

Soul Walker is the first book in the Touched Girl Series. It's approximately 91,000 words. Be on the look out for Soul Bender, coming March 2013.
(excerpt from Amazon Product Description)

My Review
Amazon Link Free Feb 18-22

Author Interview

Hey Robyn! Thanks so much for doing an interview!!!

We can start with the more serious then move to the fun shortly.

What inspired you to start writing?Writing came about out of pure survival. My youngest was born with a bad kidney. His first few months were spent enduring invasive tests and taking antibiotics every single day. Then came the day we had the test that told us the kidney had to go. I couldn't research his condition because medical stuff isn't like autism. I had no where to turn. I called my sister because she's always been the big reader in the family. She loaded me up with her favorite books. Then I downloaded Open Office to my computer. And that's how my writing career began.

Who are the authors who inspired you?Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume was the first book to transport me to a different place. I still flash on Davey starting her life over in New Mexico. Judy Blume taught me to create a character you'll follow to the desert and back.

What lead you to the idea of the Soul Walker?Inspired by my oldest son who was diagnosed with mild autism when he was 3, I wrote a children's book about a kid superhero. His power turned out to be his autism. When I started dreaming up Anna Pierce, her first quality was that she had autism (at least to the outside world). I liked the idea of being inside her head and seeing through her eyes.

ON TO THE FUN! <3

If your passport could have 3 stamps what would they be?
Ireland, Spain, and Greece

If your books were to become movies who would star?
Taylor Swift for Anna + a few pounds.
Candice Bergen for cranky Ella.
AnnaSophia Robb for snarky angelic looking Betsy.
Liv Tyler for Lilian if she can pull off 25.
For Peter Davis I choose Tyler Blackburn from Pretty Little Liars, though most of his pics have him smiling. Peter isn't a big smiler.
Drew Roy would play Jared.
Lance would be played by Jai Courtney.
Cilian Murphy from 28 Days Later if he can pull of 25.

What office supply can’t you resist buying even though you have plenty?For me it's not an issue of not being able to resist, it's a matter of always forgetting I have enough...Elmer's glue sticks for my oldest boy. It's the craziest brain blip, but I have a drawer full of them.

What’s your fave?
Cleaning tip?
Children. hehe.
Place for Vacay?Anywhere but home. A simple day-trip out of town inspired one of my favorite novellas (not yet published).
Food?
Pizza!
Beverage?
Orange Julius and now Dairy Queen serves it!
Thing to do in amusement park?Adventure rides like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland.Coffee or Tea? (knowing me you know I must ask)
Coffee all the way, baby.
WOOHOO!  My kind of lady!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sophie's Run - Nicky Wells Blog Tour

Come dine with Sophie and Dan: Today’s treat is… Rock Star Lobster Ravioli!

Sophie’s Run Blogtour 2013

Her famous star remains her rock while life takes her on a little detour…

Who says that the road towards true love is straight and even? Sophie is certainly discovering that it is anything but.

So she has finally found the man of her dreams! Well… she knows who he is, even though she hasn’t actually quite met him yet. But she misses her opportunity, and then her life goes crazy. Rock star and ex-fiancé, Dan, keeps getting in the way of her new romance—even if he is just trying to be helpful. A fire, an impromptu mini-trip with Dan, and a dreaded wedding later, Sophie is still struggling to meet the love of her life. Then, just as she is getting it together with her perfect man, best friend Rachel commits an act of unspeakable betrayal.

Sophie has had enough. Confused and distraught, she decides that it is time for radical change. Surprising herself and shocking her friends, she embarks on a secret journey and eventually gets her life back on track.

Hey, you! My name is Sophie, and I’m so excited to be visiting with the amazing Tobi Helton here at Forget the Housework, I’m Reading. It’s such a fabulous blog and I’m telling you, my author’s blog should be titled similarly: Forget the Housework, I’m Writing! Anyway, I digress already and I haven’t even started yet! If you don’t know me, allow me to introduce myself.

I’m the heroine (God, that sounds weird—I still blush when I say that) in the Rock Star Romance Trilogy by Nicky Wells. Nicky and I, we’re currently taking her second book, Sophie’s Run, on tour, and we’re taking you to all the places and sharing all the food that features in the books. My love of seafood is legendary ever since Sophie’s Turn hit the shelves…

“And for mains,” Dan announced, “Sophie will have the seafood platter.” He winked at me over his menu.

“I will?” I said, astonished.

“She will?” Jack and Mick asked at the same time, also astonished.

Dan hesitated for only a second. “Sure.

One of my favorite indulgences is lobster. What can I say? Dan got me used to expensive tastes!

I nodded, and we moved to the kitchen. Steve had spread out our deli goodies onto various serving plates, and there was an unexpected fat lobster sitting on the draining board.

“Lobster,” I shouted gleefully before I could stop myself. “Is that for us, for tonight? Please say yes, I adore lobster.”

And one of my favorite meals, like, ever, is lobster ravioli. I had them in a restaurant with Dan a few times and today, I’m going to tell you about making this dish at home. It’s not easy ~ in fact, I had quite a few calamities ~ but it’s still worth it.

For Rock Star Lobster Ravioli you need…

~fresh pasta

~a lobster, ready cooked

~about 200 grams of king prawns (fresh or frozen)

For the stock

~3 garlic cloves, crushed or chopped

~1 small onion, chopped

~a tablespoon of butter

~1 diced carrot

~1 stick of celery

~1 bay leaf

~lobster shell (!!!)

~1 glass of white wine

~250 ml chicken stock

~a third of the lobster meat

~the prawns

For the filling

~the rest of the lobster meat
1
~2-3 big tablespoonfuls of ricotta cheese

~a handful of chopped fresh chives

~salt and pepper to season

And here’s what you do. Don’t try this in a rush and… learn from my mistakes!

First of all, the fresh pasta. If you have a pasta machine and you regularly make your own pasta, follow your usual recipe. If not, use fresh lasagna sheets from the supermarket and follow the instructions for turning them into ravioli or tortellini. Usually that will involve soaking the pasta sheets in hot water for a few minutes, but every brand is slightly different.

Just to prove it, I did try making my own pasta for this dish. It was a lot of work but I got there in the end!

Next, get the lobster out of its shell. If you’ve never done this before, there’s some good instructions here.

Remember to keep the shells!!! They will give your stock its fabulous flavor. Oh yes, moving on: the stock

To make the stock, add your prepared veg to a big saucepan and fry in butter until slightly soft. Add the lobster shells, wine, and chicken stock and boil for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to a simmer and leave to simmer for…. Ooooh.... a good two hours. Your house will fill with the most delicious smell!

To turn the stock into the sauce, drain the stock through a sieve, making sure to collect every last drop of the delicious liquid. Put to one side until you need it.

When the stock is about ready, make the filling for your ravioli. In a little bowl, combine the rest of the lobster meat with the ricotta cheese, chives and seasoning. Roll out your pasta and place little spoonfuls of filling on half of the sheets.

‘Cut’ out around the filling with a glass or a cookie cutter, making sure you leave a decent space of pasta around each glob of lobster meat. Using the same shape, cut the equivalent number of discs out of the remaining pasta sheets and bring the ravioli together. To do so, place a disk of pasta over a lobster-adorned bit of pasta, and then press down with a fork around the edges to close the gaps.

This is roughly what it looks like when you’re done. EXCEPT! Listen up. Learn from my mistake! Don’t pile the ravioli on top of each other. They’ll stick together until all eternity! Instead, spread them out, nicely separate, on a baking sheet or a plate until ready to boil them!

Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Boil the ravioli for about…. Five minutes. Meanwhile, fry the prawns in a frying pan and, when cooked through, add the reserved stock to heat back through.

Drain the pasta, distribute on plates and garnish with your lovely sauce and prawns. Bon apetit!

What if it all goes wrong? What if the ravioli separate or, worse still, stick together? Well, that’s what happened to me first time. They all stuck together in one big clump because I’d cunningly dried them thus on the plate (see below). So, with the ravioli swirling around clumpily in the boiling water, I carefully separated them as best I could, using two forks and lots of Dutch courage. Most of them parted company intact, but some split and the lovely filling… fell out. It looked quite messy. (I was a bit tearful, after all that effort!)

Dan sprang to the rescue. He made me carry on with boiling the pasta until it was done. He drained it through a sieve and, wouldn’t you believe it, the sieve of course collected all the lovely bits of lobster meat that had fallen out of the broken ravioli, too. Thus while the dish wasn’t perfectly presented, it was still highly edible and (dare I confess it) totally and utterly scrumptious! Give yourself points for perseverance…

So, happy eating! I hope my post today inspired you to have a try at making your very own Rock Star Lobster Ravioli. And when you’re done… well, why not perhaps join me, Dan and the other men in my life? Sophie’s Turn and Sophie’s Run are both out now and you can find out Tobi’s thoughts on the books ...

First thoughts after…….

Oh you authors and your cliffhangers! You’re killing me………..

How distracted did I get?

Sophie’s Run is the second book in a trilogy so I’m going to be vague so as not to ruin either book for anyone. Sophie as usual is funny and smart and has some bad luck. No heroine can be perfect you know! I thoroughly enjoyed Sophie’s Run from beginning to end. Sophie’s run is a rollercoaster of emotions draws you in and leaves you hanging for the 3^rd book!

If I could I would go higher than 5 baskets! Seriously! I enjoyed Sophie’s Turn but Sophie’s Run has surpassed it in my eyes!

I give Sophie’s Run……….

5 Baskets!!!!

About Nicky Wells: Romance that Rocks Your World!

Rock On! Nicky Wells writes fun and glamorous contemporary romance featuring a rock star and the girl next door. A signed author with U.S. publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing, Nicky is in the throes of publishing her Rock Star Romance Trilogy. Nicky loves rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, Nicky is a wife, mother, and occasional teaching assistant.

Originally born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993, and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a researcher and project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in London and Washington, D.C.

Visit Nicky on her blog where you can find articles, interviews, radio interviews and, of course, an ongoing update on her work in progress. You can also follow Nicky on Twitter and find her on Facebook. Nicky is a featured author on the innovative reader/author project, loveahappyending.com and has joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Nicky also has author pages at Sapphire Star Publishing, Amazon and, of course, Goodreads.

Sales links for Sophie’s Run:

Sophie’s Run is now available in Kindle edition from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, and in Paperback edition from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. You can also get the paperback at Barnes & Noble, or download Sophie’s Run onto your Nook (coming soon).

Sophie’s Run GIVEAWAYS

1) Standard Giveaway

Nicky Wells is giving away one delicious chocolate gift to a lucky winner in the UK or North America!

The small print: This Gift prize is a product of Unique Chocolate. The Gift prize is subject to availability in your country. If the Gift prize is not available in your country, Nicky Wells reserves the right to offer a substitute gift prize of a similar nature at her discretion. Nicky Wells will require the winner’s postal address for shipping purposes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2. Bonus Giveaway

Nicky Wells offers a giveaway of one Amazon gift voucher worth $20/£15 for one lucky winner. To enter, simply share your thoughts on Sophie’s Run with Nicky. Email your comment to nickywells@sapphirestarpublishing.com and your name will be entered into the draw. Competition closes 1 May 2013.

Valentines Day Chick Lit Sale!!!

Love is in the air . . . and it can be on your Kindle, too!

Do you want to fall in love with a good book this Valentine's Day weekend? How about 9? Then don't miss this special promotion. For four days only (February 14th - February 17th), 9 popular Chick Lit authors will be lowering the prices on their favorite rom-coms to 99 cents on Amazon.com! At that price (A bottle of wine costs more!), why not sample them all? Some delicious literary treats await you, and unlike chocolates these goodies are calorie-free!

And guys: If your sweetie is a book-lover, you'll make her Valentine's Day by gifting her with one (or more) of our fun, romantic stories! 

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey - Daytime talk show producer Jamie Ross is beyond fed up with her toxic bad boy turned metrosexual boyfriend. Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, she goes on a hilarious, at-times disastrous, and totally life-changing hunt to track down the ”one who got away.” But are some loves best left behind? Amazon

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister – Handling the problems of hysterical hypochondriacs, lovelorn neurotics, and compulsive man whores is all in a day’s work for super-shrink Pilar Alvarez. But can she deal with her crazy Cuban family, a trio of unsuitable suitors, and a threat to her practice without ending up on the couch herself?  Amazon

Rita Hayworth’s Shoes by Francine LaSala – Jilted bride Amy's down on everything until she convinces herself to purchase a cute, ridiculously expensive pair of second-hand shoes. Once she does, life starts looking up, and she falls into an unexpected new romance with the last man she'd ever expect to love. But can a pair of shoes really be magic? And is her new prince really just a frog? Amazon

Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie – When Roxy Rule shares a passionate kiss with her lifelong best friend, she must come to terms with her feelings for him while dealing with two sisters in full crisis mode, a boss who makes her want to stab herself with a letter opener and a fiancé who can’t wait to walk down the aisle. Can she keep it together–or will she break under the pressure? Amazon

The Green Ticket by Samantha March – College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty, but her good fortune quickly turns disastrous when she realizes her job is filled with lies, betrayal, and cover-ups. Keeping up with classes, her girlfriends and a budding romance, Alex feels the pressure – but will she overcome the challenges? Amazon

Unmasking Maya by Libby Mercer - Disgraced New York fashionista, Maya Kirkwood, is fashioning herself a new life as an artist in San Francisco when she's hired to do an installation of her work by dorky, yet dashing dotcom executive, Derek. The sparks soon start to fly... But is this a good thing? Amazon

A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr - Jane Frank is newly single after nine years and looking for a second chance at love. But when she dives head first into the NYC dating scene and finds it infested with flakes who are interested today and gone tomorrow, it may be time for Jane to turn the tables! Amazon

True Love Way by Nancy Scrofano - When her high school sweetheart, Josh, suddenly returns after twelve years in Paris, Marlo Spencer travels to her hometown to try to rekindle their relationship. But when dreams of a blissful reunion are shattered as old secrets and betrayals are revealed, can she forgive and forget, or will true love find a different path to her heart? Amazon

Picture Perfect by Lucie Simone - Lauren Tate’s perfectly planned life quickly unravels at the seams when a smear campaign threatens her career as a top TV executive, but she learns just how cutthroat showbiz can truly be when the hottest scandal in Tinsel Town turns deadly and the Hollywood hunk who’s stolen her heart goes missing. Amazon