Blog Bash Day 17 with Sandra Sookoo + Giveaway

HOTTIES:

inspired the hero for my book called Winging It

Just because *WINK*

Favorite older read: 

I really like A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott.  Yes, it's quite a bit older but if you can locate a copy, it's worth the read.  Tragic, dark, heartbreaking.  Awesome.

A Long Fatal Love Chase 

by Louisa May Alcott 

I'd gladly sell my soul to Satan for a year of freedom," cries impetuous Rosamond Vivian to her callous grandfather. Then, one stormy night, a brooding stranger appears in her remote island home, ready to take Rosamond to her word. Spellbound by the mysterious Philip Tempest, Rosamond is seduced with promises of love and freedom, then spirited away on Tempest's sumptuous yacht. But she soon finds herself trapped in a web of intrigue, cruelty, and deceit. Desperate to escape, she flees to Italy, France, and Germany, from Parisian garret to mental asylum, from convent to chateau, as Tempest stalks every step of the fiery beauty who has become his obsession.

I also like The Devil's Waltz by Anne Stuart.  Not as old as the other one, but disturbingly creepy and romantic just the same.

The Devil's Waltz 

by Anne Stuart

 

When you dance with the devil, you hold hands with temptation...

Christian Montcalm was a practical man, if a destitute scoundrel, but his plan to bed and wed the delectable Miss Hetty Chipple would take care of that sticky wicket. However, there was a most intriguing obstacle to his success.

Annelise Kempton desired nothing more than to come between this despicable rogue and the fortune (and virtue) of her young charge. Certainly, Annelise understood the desperation that comes from hard times, but Montcalm would fail--she would personally see to it. All that stands in her way is a man whose rakish charm could tempt a saint to sin, or consign a confirmed spinster to sleepless nights of longing...to give the devil his due.

Recipe:

Chocolate Zucchini muffins

Ingredients:
~ ½ cup room temperature butter (1 stick)
~ ½ cup canola oil
~ 1 ¾ cups white sugar
~ 2 large eggs
~ 2 tsp vanilla extract
~ ½ cup milk
~ 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
~ 4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
~ 1 tsp baking soda
~ ½ tsp salt
~ ½ tsp cinnamon
~ 2 cups peeled and finely grated zucchini
~ 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325°. Line 2 standard muffin pans with papers. In a large bowl, mix butter, oil and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, VANILLA EXTRACT and milk mixed with vinegar (sour milk). Blend well. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, COCOA POWDER, baking soda, CINNAMON and salt. Add to the butter mixture and stir by hand to combine. Add grated zucchini and half the chocolate chips and stir well. Spoon the batter evenly into the pans, filling each paper 2/3 full. Sprinkle the other half of the chocolate chips, on top and bake for about 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or they spring back when lightly touched (don’t touch the melted chocolate, though.)

Yield: 24 muffins.
Prep. time: 15 minutes.
Baking time: 20-25 minutes.

My W question:   

What was the very first romance you read that got you interested in the romance genre? 

I'll admit, my first forays into reading romance were not good ones.  My mother gave me Barbara Cartland books.  They were all the same with eighteen year old heroines and pretty trite and tiresome.  Then I moved on to eighties-style "bodice ripper" type stories.  Following that, I pretty much exclusively read historical romance.  After that I gobbled up everything I could find.  

Thanks for letting me come to your blog today and talk about all kinds of cool stuff!  So let me introduce myself.  My name is Sandra Sookoo, and I write romantic fiction.  Hmm, kinda sounds like I need a twelve step program, doesn't it?  But actually, it's my job and I love it.  My catalog of work spans all sorts of genres and goes from sweet to heat.  I'm always in search of the happily ever after, and once an idea grabs hold, I can't wait to put a plot and characters to it.  I've always got something going on, so pop over to my website http://www.sandrasookoo.com and come take a look at what's out now and what's coming soon!

Thanks!

Sandi Sookoo

*~* GIVEAWAY *~*

book swag and 

a PDF copy of 

Life, Suddenly

Life, Suddenly

Sometimes life happens suddenly and when you weren't looking for a change. 

Tala Henderson grew up with her Native American roots playing a role in her day-to-day life. But when she caved to familial pressure and gave up the one man she could love, the pain she felt told her she could no longer afford to let anything—even her deep investment in her culture—determine her destiny. 

Craig Wordell was all but destroyed when Tala ended their relationship before it could begin. A small town boy who made good, he never forgot the one who got away nor has he forgiven her for choosing her family's ideals over him. Wanting one more chance, he looks her up and tracks her to the church on the day of her sham wedding. 

As soon as they see each other, the simmering passion they've felt for fifteen years boils over and they give into their baser instincts, where souls collide and mesh. When a simple misunderstanding threatens to undo the tentative trust and bury the love they've discovered, it will take acceptance and love on both parts for them to realize that sometimes life happens suddenly and maybe fate just waited for them to find the right path.

TO WIN: Answer the W question: 
What was the very first romance you read that got you interested in the romance genre? 


 *** Giveaway ends tomorrow night 8-24 at midnight, winner named here

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