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Tuesday, April 12, 2022

 

Unfortunate Homecoming

About the Book

Book: Unfortunate Homecoming

Author: Sherri Wilson Johnson

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Release date: April 5, 2022

Unfortunate Homecoming final 11.7.21Renovating the old family home and living on the quiet Magnolia River in Magnolia Springs, Alabama sounded perfect to Shaun Bartley. But when trespassing treasure hunters threaten not only his life but his ex-wife’s life too, will he fight for what is his or forfeit the fortune in order to save their lives?

After ten years on the Okefenokee Swamp as a fishing guide, Shaun Bartley returns home to conduct tours on the Magnolia River and to renovate his great great-grandfather’s old home. When Deputy Fire Marshal and volunteer fire fighter Sierra Beaumont, Shaun’s ex-wife, warns him about deadly treasure hunters who will kill for a chance to explore his property, he thinks she’s trying to run him out of town. When he discovers she’s pregnant with twins by her recently deceased second husband, Shaun can’t help but want to be there for her. But Sierra’s heart has been broken twice, and she’d rather raise the children alone than be abandoned again.

Shaun must deal with his past and find a way for Sierra to forgive him or risk losing any chance he may have at winning back her heart. Since keeping her safe means keeping her far from his home and the trespassers, yet she is the Fire Marshal assigned to his case, it will take a miracle for them to survive.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

2017-kjp-2 smallSherri Wilson Johnson is an Inspirational Romance novelist and graphic designer. She lives in Georgia with her husband and their two dogs, and they are empty-nesters. Sherri loves spending time with family, vacationing at the beach, curling up with a good book or working on her current work-in-progress. She dreams of a second home on some beach somewhere some day, where she can plot romantically suspenseful novels all day and night.

 

More from Sherri

Unfortunate Homecoming is comprised of many of my favorite things: Historic houses, a water source (river, lake or the ocean—it doesn’t matter!), men with beards, strong female heroines who get things done while still being tender, a murder or crime of some sort, and faith! Oh, and a secret that takes until the end of the book to figure out. I love a good mystery and a page-turning suspense. I hope this story is that for you!

 

This is book three in my Jeopardized Reunions series, which is set in the Mobile Bay area of Alabama. This particular story is set in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, a gorgeous, quaint town with less than 1,000 residents. It’s a dreamy place that I was fortunate enough to visit while on my vacation in August of 2021, and I will return there next week for a book signing at the local library.

 

My heroine is a Deputy Fire Marshall and a Lieutenant in the Magnolia Springs Volunteer Fire Department. I was thrilled when a Lieutenant who helped me with my research invited me for a tour of the actual fire department in my book. What was even more exciting was the fact that while I was there on the tour, they got a call and left me at the station! I promise I didn’t get into too much trouble, haha! The smalltown charm was definitely present and so authentic that day.

 

You can see my pictures and video from my visit here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSuoaEVp53p/

 

I hope you will consider checking out Unfortunate Homecoming and the other books in the series, all set on Mobile Bay and all written as standalones. The common thread? They are all reunion romances. So while my characters have a past that tore them apart, they have the promise of a future.

 

I’d love it of you’d follow me on social media and join my subscriber list. I’m always excited to hear from readers!

MY REVIEW 

What would you do if you  decided to restore an old family home and nothing but danger starts happening? Poor Shaun thought he had made a great investment but now it seems like the house is hiding secrets.  There are rumors that treasure may be found on the land or stowed away in the house. The mystery drives the story forward  with danger that seemed to never stop. 

I liked Shaun and Sierra running into  each other again after their marriage collapsed years ago. Sierra is investigating a fire that happened on Shaun’s property. It is easy to figure out that these two will rekindle their romance.  I really like second chance stories where the characters address their flaws with faith and trust in God. Sierra isn’t so sure she believes in God until something shakes her to her core. She sees it as a miracle but I like to think God  was showing  her that he heard her cries and was there to protect her. 

There is one thing in the story that bothered me. Sierra is seventeen weeks pregnant with twins  yet  she places herself in dangerous situations related to her job. She upset me that she felt the need to do her job and help Shaun out. I wanted her to not be so focused on her job and more concerned for her twins. But then I read something that made me change my perspective of her. In the moments when danger was eminent Sierra turned to God and a new feeling of peace surrounded her. Sometimes she have to get to a place where Jesus is the only answer. For me Sierra found herself needing God and wanted Him to be in her life. He sure showed up big time and Sierra embraces her new relationship with Jesus .  It was very emotional and I cheered that Sierra finally let go of her doubts and put her trust in God.

The author does a good job with keeping the  mystery going and putting our characters through a series of edge of your seat drama where their lives were in constant danger. There is a great faith element in the story and as previous mentioned changes one life in particular. God is a God of second chances  and He loves to see people reconcile.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 11

Life, love, writing, April 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 12

Texas Book-aholic, April 13

Inklings and notions, April 14

An Author’s Take, April 15

Blogging With Carol, April 15

For Him and My Family, April 16

deb’s Book Review, April 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 18

Older & Smarter?, April 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 20

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 21 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 23

Simple Harvest Reads, April 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sherri is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c94f/unfortunate-homecoming-celebration-tour-giveaway


 

Every Star in the Sky

About the Book

Book: Every Star in the Sky

Author: Sara Davison

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 2, 2022

Every Star in the Sky - finalShe is willing to testify against her trafficker. If she can stay alive that long.

“You’re safe here, Starr.”

How many times has Detective Cole Blacksky said that to her since helping her escape the life she’d been forced into eight years earlier?

Starr desperately wants to believe him, but she knows Brady Erickson, her former captor, too well. Although Cole has promised her protective custody on his family’s remote ranch, no place on earth is safe enough. Brady will stop at nothing to permanently silence her before she ever reaches the witness stand.

And he is powerful enough to do it.

If Starr wants to help Brady’s other victims, she has no choice but to put herself in God’s hands. And Cole’s. But the longer she and Cole stay hidden, the more her life is at risk.

And her heart.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Headshot - Sara Davison 2021 finalSara Davison is the author of four romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo Trilogy, and Two Sparrows for a Penny, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, she is a Word, Cascade, and Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario with her husband Michael and their three mostly grown kids. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org and @sarajdavison.

 

More from Sara

A few years ago, I attended a women’s conference in the Canadian capital city of Ottawa. The theme of the conference was human trafficking, which had always seemed to me something that happened in other countries of the world. The speaker informed us that, in fact, sex trafficking is very much an issue in Canada. In fact, she went on to say that if we were staying in a hotel that night, she could pretty much guarantee that somewhere in the building a young girl would be trafficked against her will while we slept peacefully in our beds.

 

That fact—and the way my subsequent research has borne up that truth—shocked, horrified, and deeply impacted me. And so, Every Star in the Sky was born. This romantic suspense novel puts a face and name and story to the scourge of human trafficking. While the fictional tale of one woman’s experiences, it represents the reality of countless women and shows the devastating toll this evil takes, not only on those in captivity, but on those who love them and desire to see them restored to freedom and eventually physical, mental, and emotional healing.

 

Every Star in the Sky is a love story. Not only between a woman rescued from trafficking and the man who risked everything to save her, but between God and every human being created in his image victimized by this unspeakable practice. The theme of this series, which I hope and pray comes across clearly to every reader, is that we are never alone. God sees what we are going through. He never leaves or forsakes us. He knows the name of every star in the sky, and he knows us deeply and intimately.

 

As the main character in the story reflects: “And if you know every star by name, you must know every one of us by name.” When no one around her, not even friends like Ruby, knew her real name, she had clung to the truth that God knew it, that it was engraved on the palm of his hand. Without that knowledge, she would have been afraid her name might be lost, since she was so determined not to let her true one slip out to Brady that even in her own mind she had become Starr. But God had kept her name in trust for her until Cole freed her, and now God had given it to her again. She hadn’t planned to tell it to Cole tonight, but something had nudged her to. Had assured her it was safe. That he was safe.

 

While the problem of human trafficking may seem overwhelming, prayer is our most powerful weapon against the forces of darkness. Pray for all those held in captivity, that they would experience God’s love and presence with them, that they would find freedom, and that all who participate in this evil would one day be brought to justice.

MY REVIEW 

If you are sensitive to reading about human trafficking, this book may be hard for you to read. The author does do an exceptional job of writing about it in a way that exposes the ugliness of it but does not go into very  graphic details.  Some girls can be considered easy prey to this issue because they are looking for acceptance. Once they get trapped into  it though they realize they have been lied to. 

Starr is a young woman who has been trapped in a horrible life since she was a teen. Believing Brady was a good guy quickly dissolved once she found out what kind of life she was facing. I wanted so much to jump into the book, run to where the girls were and rescue them. It was hard to read what they went through and all empty promises that were made to them. The story is not only very emotional but filled with danger that heightens as the story progresses. 

Cole being a police detective has seen some horrible situations but I don’t think he was quite prepared for the investigation he was assigned to. Getting to know his background helped me understand why he has such a heart for people. Can you imagine the burden of being blamed for your mother’s death because of your birth? Cole has never had a good relationship with his father which has left him with some emotional baggage. Will he be able to forgive his father someday? 

The story gets very unnerving as a plan develops to put Starr in protective custody. I don’t think Cole was altogether clear on what to do but when the opportunity arose to get her to safety, he was willing to risk his life. You can feel the tension as Starr is put in a position to trust someone she hardly knows. This part to me was important because we see a glimpse of Starr starting to depend and believe that God would keep her safe.  

The question does arise about forgiveness in the story a few times. Can Starr forgive Brady for the terrible situation he put her in and the abuse he did to her? That would be very hard and following Starr on this quest opens the door to allow God to show us how important it is for us to forgive. The author use these two characters to illustrate the journey we each have to take to find peace and forgive someone even if we don’t think they deserve it. It reminds us that we are not to judge but to pray for our enemies and ask God to help us when we struggle. 

From the darkest places Starr has been, she can see hope  reaching out to her as she continues to unravel from a life that many have faced and will continue to face until the enemy has been defeated. The author delivers a very intense story with raw emotions and realistic reactions that only God can heal. I appreciate how difficult this story must have been to write. What the author has done is reached  deep into the ugliness of human trafficking and gives hope for those who want to be set free from a life they never chose.  

The ending is not without some  tense moments where it all comes to an ending that is very satisfying and encouraging. The author acknowledges at the end how hard this story was to write. I want to thank her for sharing about an epidemic that spreads across the world. Young women and men are snatched off the street everyday to face the ugly world of human trafficking. It  is our responsibility to be aware of what is going on and speak up when we see something that isn’t right. Lastly remember that each one of us is important to God. He loves us unconditionally and justice will be served by Him. 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.  

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 10

Boondock Ramblings, April 10

Inklings and notions, April 11

Texas Book-aholic, April 12

For Him and My Family, April 13

deb’s Book Review, April 14

The Sacred Line, April 14

Betti Mace, April 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 16

Mary Hake, April 16

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 18

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, April 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 20

Livin’ Lit, April 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 21

Blogging With Carol, April 22

Rebecca Tews, April 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sara is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c94e/every-star-in-the-sky-celebration-tour-giveaway


Sunday, April 10, 2022

 

Dial E

About the Book

Book: Dial E for Endearment

Author: Heidi Gray McGill

Genre: Sweet Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: February 1, 2022

Dial E for EndearmentEverly Johnson is every man’s dream of the perfect date, even though none of her audience has met her. As host for the Choose Joy segment of JOY Radio in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, she receives countless gifts of flowers and candy on behalf of her admires, which she promptly donates to her mother’s assisted living facility. What Everly wants are words–heartfelt, meaningful endearments meant for her ears only. She wants a man who will open her eyes to everything she cannot see to make her feel more than just the voice behind the mic.

Cameron Boyd struggles to make eye contact with anyone, let alone say something coherent unless it is the one-way conversation he has each Friday with Everly Johnson. Date night for Cam involves sitting alone on his back porch overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains while he dreams of things to say if he were ever to call in to her show.

A chance meeting changes everything.

Will Cam be able to step out of his comfort zone and into the world he has only been able to envision in his mind? Will Everly trust this stranger with her life as well as her heart?

Tune into JOY Radio to find out!

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Author Image 2021Heidi is an optimist who chooses to find the silver lining in life’s clouds of doubt. This plays out in her writing. Her ability to seamlessly weave scripture into the lives of her characters will uplift and encourage you, while her masterful storytelling will keep you turning page after page and wishing for more.

 

Heidi lives with her husband of thirty years near Charlotte, NC. When she isn’t writing, you will find her outside playing with her two grandsons, walking, scrapbooking, reading, cooking, traveling, or finding an excuse to have an outing with a girlfriend.

 

More from Heidi

Everly, the main character in Dial E for Endearment and I have something in common, but it may not be what you’d expect. As Blowing Rock, NC’s JOY Radio talk show host, Everly has discovered fulfillment, but she hasn’t found love, at least not for her—not even from her mother. In Dial E for Endearment, Everly wants words–heartfelt, meaningful endearments meant for her ears only. She wants a man who will open her eyes to everything she cannot see to make her feel more than just the voice behind the mic.

You may know me as an author, but did you know I am also the retired Director and Founder of an ESL program, regularly walk 12 plus miles a week, care for my grandsons, scrapbook, read voraciously, cook, and am legally blind?  That last phrase was difficult for me to say out loud not that long ago.

Vision loss does not discriminate.

My diagnosis in 2001 of Retinitis Pigmentosa was devastating. There is no cure. There is no surgery. But that does not mean there is no hope.

I still have value.

Those who do not know me well often don’t realize I have low vision. As humans, we are amazingly adaptable, and I do a pretty good job covering up my disability. My friends have learned to watch out for me and alert me to potential pitfalls, some better than others, which is always good for a laugh. I use a cane when I’m navigating alone. I’ve traveled to China—that cane my only companion.

Being blind is certainly not something I would have chosen,

but it does not define me.

 

Join me on this fun adventure and see for yourself that God does not discriminate. You’ll laugh your way through mishaps–most of which may have happened to me at some point…although I’ll most likely deny if asked. But most of all, you’ll learn that we ALL have value, and that includes YOU.

February is Low Vision Awareness Month.

MY REVIEW 

There are so many reason I liked this book. It was a sweet clean story with characters that you want to sit and talk to forever. I like how the author introduced a character with vision problems that didn’t slow her down. Everly never let  her disability be a reason she couldn’t accomplish anything. Her job is very interesting as a radio personality who gives Christian advice to singles.  She has a good heart but her childhood left emotional scars. Everly has never quite felt loved especially by her mother. One of the best scenes in the entire book is when Everly is with her mother at the hospital. Everly’s mother tries to help her understand why she grew up in an environment where there was never a stable man around to show her what it means to be loved by a father. In a very vulnerable moment her mother gives her the best advice when she says, “Fall in love, deeply, passionately, and fully. Never settle for less than God’s best for you.” 

Cam  is just about the best guy ever. He really tries to be friends with Everly but he seems to say the wrong thing or try too much to win her approval. Funny that they both have an issue with acceptance. God sure had a plan when he had them cross paths. Their relationship is like a sitcom where someone misunderstands the other and trust is broken. Cam is worried that he can’t repair the damage he has done and is beating himself up for what he said. In his weakest moment, he turns to God to help him. I could feel this big weight lifted from him as he pours his heart out to God. 

The story was fun to read and I was happy with the ending. It is nice to read a book every once in awhile that is just a relaxing, feel good story that brings joy to your life. 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.


                                Blog Stops                                        

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 8

I luv the books, April 8

Inklings and notions, April 9

For Him and My Family, April 10

Spoken from the Heart, April 10

Texas Book-aholic, April 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 12

deb’s Book Review, April 13

Simple Harvest Reads, April 13 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 14

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 16

Miriam Jacob, April 16

Bizwings Blog, April 17

Blossoms and Blessings, April 18

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 19

She Lives To Read, April 19

Aryn the Libraryan, April 20

Splashes of Joy, April 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Heidi is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon Gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c94d/dial-e-for-endearment-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

Sweet Rivalry

About the Book

Book: Sweet Rivalry

Author: Terri Gillespie

Genre: Women’s Contemporary/ Christian Romance/Family Life Fiction

Release date: October 27, 2021

RGB72_SweetRivalry_websiteJust an ordinary morning for Sarah Sweeting—watching her favorite baking show, Cupcake Rivalry, getting ready for work at her Granny’s small-town bakery. All that changes when Sarah spots a contestant who looks like her, sounds like her, moves like her.

Was this her twin sister? The twin her mother ran away with twenty years ago? Were hers and Granny’s prayers finally being answered?

When Granny confirms Sarah’s shocking discovery, Granny suffers a heart attack.

Raven Souwer’s morning began at a frenzied pace—incessantly ringing phones and a Beverly Hills’ bakery full of customers. All because everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the Cupcake Rivalry contestants—Raven and her best friend, Will Durning.

But a phone call from an excited woman who claims to be Raven’s long-lost sister—a sister Raven has no memory of—informs Raven that a grandmother she never knew was in the hospital.

The call changes the course of Raven’s life and brings up the pain she thought she’d overcome.

Will Sarah and Raven finally be united, or will other rivalries separate them again?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

HEADSHOT_GillespieTerri (small)Award-winning author and beloved speaker, Terri Gillespiewrites stories of faith and redemption to nurture women’s souls. Her novels, devotionals, and blogs have drawn readers to hunger for a deeper relationship with their Heavenly Father.

Life is a journey. Terri lived in fear most of her life. Stories helped her see life through the lens of adventure and God’s abiding love. Those stories were the seeds that changed her perspective. They empowered her to be brave. She hopes her stories will do the same for you.

She is the author of critically-acclaimed women’s devotional Making Eye Contact with God, the award-winning novel She Does Good HairCUT IT OUT!Really Bad Hair Day, and award-winning novel, Sweet Rivalry.

 

More from Terri

Where do stories come from? Oh, so many places. Sweet Rivalry began over ten years ago with an idea called the “cupcake sisters.” Two sisters who worked in a small hometown bakery trying to be true to family recipes and not get overrun by the food chains. Not much more than that. Boring, right?

The other day, I ran across my notes written years ago with other ideas for the sisters. No plots could carry an interesting enough story to get the creative juices going.

A dear friend—and amazing author—gave me a life-sized cupcake candle. The vibrant colors and glittery icing were meant to inspire me to develop the idea and write the book. It sat on my inspiration shelf for years. At first every time I looked at it, I would smile.

But, as the years went by the sun faded the candle, as did my hope of finding the right story for the cupcake sisters.

Then, during COVID I got hooked on those reality shows about long-lost families being reunited after decades of separation. Some of the families had no idea the other family member existed.

Each episode meant a fist of soppy tissues. Yet, even with the dramatic music, professional editing, and big build-up, some families’ smiles didn’t quite reach their eyes.

I wondered, what happens to these people after the camera crews leave? After the emotional reunions, the excitement subsides and reality settles into their respective homes? How do these people from very different histories become a family? Do they even try? Do they want to face the secrets that separated them?

Some of the “long-lost” family members were children from affairs. Most were children given up through adoption. Others abandoned. One man found his birth mother, only to learn he was the result of a rape. How do they navigate the choppy and complex psychological waters?

These interesting stories became delicious ingredients for the Sweet Rivalry novel. Twin sisters separated as toddlers by a troubled mother. One sister, Sarah was raised by her loving, Christian grandmother who owned the local Sweet’s Bakery.

The other sister, Raven was raised by her addicted mother, in crack houses. Still, Raven manages to become a celebrated pastry chef.

How do twins with completely different childhoods become a family? How does the sister raised in a loving, stable, Christian environment form a relationship with the sister who has seen the worst of society and had to pull herself from a terrible background all on her own? Who now blames God for the horrific things that happened to her?

And a grandmother that hides a terrible secret?

Now, throw into the mix three handsome men vying for the twins’ affections, then bake with the emotional investments into the lives of these women, and you’ve got quite a recipe for a delectable story.

With humor and passion and delicious recipes, Sweet Rivalry will satisfy the hungry reader looking for a unique story of hope.

You know, Sweet Rivalry’s journey proved to me once again, that creativity can’t be forced, and GOD’s timing is always the best—even if it is a ten-year wait.

 

How about a recipe?

Raven’s Dr. Pepper Chocolate Cupcakes with Fritos Frosting

The Recipe That Almost Won the Cupcake Rivalry competition for Raven and Will.

Raven’s cupcake recipe:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup unsalted butter softened

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup brown sugar packed

2 eggs room temperature

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup Dr Pepper

½ cup buttermilk

Will’s Fritos Cream Cheese Frosting

4 cup powdered sugar

½ cup unsalted butter softened

6 oz cream cheese softened

4 T Dr Pepper to taste

Original, Regular flavor Fritos (up to 1 cup)—Don’t use the scoop type

Instructions:

Raven’s Chocolate Dr Pepper Cupcakes

  1. Preheat the oven to 350o F. Prepare 2-12 count muffin tins with cupcake cup liners (22-24 total).
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and cocoa powder. Set aside.
  3. Using a stand mixer (or a hand mixer and large bowl), add in butter, granulated and brown sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Beat on low until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Keeping mixer speed on low, add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix in the Dr Pepper.
  5. Add the other half of the dry ingredients as well as the buttermilk. Mix until just combined—do not overmix. Batter should be thick and fluffy.
  6. Pour cupcake batter into prepared muffin tin, filling cups 2/3 full. Tap the tin on the counter a few times to level the batter.
  7. Bake cupcakes one batch at a time for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Place muffin tin on a wire cooling rack to cool for 5-10 minutes, then remove cupcakes and allow to finish cooling on wire rack.
  9. Wait until cupcakes are completely cooled before applying the frosting.

 

Will’s Fritos Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. Use a clean stand mixer (or a hand-mixer & large bowl) on high speed beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy, roughly 2 minutes.
  2. Drop speed to low and slowly add the powdered sugar. May be clumpy at this stage—don’t worry.
  3. Keeping speed on low, slowly beat in softened cream cheese. Will recommends cutting the cream cheese into 4-5 pieces and mixing in one piece at a time.
  4. Finally, add in the Dr. Pepper. Now if you want more Dr. Pepper flavor, you can add more, and you can add up to a cup more of powdered sugar, but after that, you lose the great cream cheese flavor.
  5. Finely ground ½ cup of Fritos. Almost as fine as coffee grounds. Fold in by hand into frosting.
  6. Frost the cupcakes.
  7. Remaining Fritos you can either roughly ground and sprinkled on top, or Will likes to leave one Frito curl nestled on top, right before serving.
  8. Eat immediately—I mean, who would wait?

 

More recipes can be found at: https://authorterrigillespie.com/terri-gillespie-recipes/

MY REVIEW 


Nice story about two young women who are twins. I liked the concept of them being separated at a young age. They grew up in different environments but still had that sense of not being wanted. The addition of a bakery and competition show was fun to read about. Sarah and Raven have so much to overcome as they get to know each other after all these years. The emotional struggles  were well written and I especially liked how faith was represented in the story. I liked the characters but my favorite was their grandmother. Her faith was never shaken and her broken heart of the daughter she couldn't help was so hard to read. The story is a roller coaster  of learning secrets, forgiving and finding family. The ending is possibly a cliff hanger and I hope the author  continues the story.
 I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 6

Miriam Jacob, April 6

Genesis 5020, April 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 8

Splashes of Joy, April 8

For Him and My Family, April 9

Texas Book-aholic, April 10

deb’s Book Review, April 11

Inklings and notions, April 12

Aryn The Libraryan, April 13

Mary Hake, April 13

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 15

Vicky Sluiter, April 15

She Lives To Read, April 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 17

Pause for Tales, April 17

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 19

Spoken from the Heart, April 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terri is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, signed copy of Sweet Rivalry, Sweet Rivalry Coffee Mug, Sweet Rivalry bookmark, and a Hand-poured Cupcake Candle!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c94b/sweet-rivalry-celebration-tour-giveaway