Doughnuts, vodka and #mermaids... #recipes #guestpost @Lyncee

By Lyncee Shillard (Guest Blogger)

 
Hi everyone!!!! I’m so glad you stopped by…And thank you Lisabet for hosting me.

Since this is the first time I’ve hung out on Lisabet’s blog, I thought I’d start off by sharing some of fav’s…. doughnuts and vodka. They complete me. :-p

These recipes are featured in my new release A Mermaid’s Wish…

While doughnuts are my hands down favorite retreat food, cookies are a close second. And these – A Day at the Beach Cookies– are at the top of my list...

What You'll Need

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
• ¼ cup coconut vodka
• ¼ cup pineapple vodka
• ¼ cup vanilla vodka
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut

What to Do

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat cookie sheets with cooking spray.
 
2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
 
3. In a large bowl, cream together shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, pineapple, and vodka; beat thoroughly. Gradually add flour mixture and blend.
 
4. Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets. Sprinkle each cookie with a pinch of coconut. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden.
 
5. Cool slightly and remove from pan with a spatula.

Okay so we have the food covered now let’s move on to the drinks… these are a favorite everywhere I go. Sometimes I think I’m invited just for this drink…

The tropics in a glass…

What you need:

• 1 1/2 ounces vanilla vodka
• 1 ounce coconut rum
• 1/2 ounce cream of coconut
• Splash of pineapple juice

How to Make It:

• Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
• Shake well.
• Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Garnish with a pineapple wedge and/or coconut flakes.

So when I’m not baking cookies or making drinks, I write.

A Mermaid's Wish

Aislynn gives up her position in Neptune’s court for the chance to experience human emotions. Especially passion. Before her wish is fulfilled, she finds herself the target of a serial killer.

A teaser.... 

(I do this a lot…I can’t help myself…)

Aislynn’s role as a negotiator for Neptune’s court had taught her to divide and conquer. Scott wanted her to work up an entire professional pitch for saving Camille’s homeland and she needed to get Finley to fall in love with her. The computer hummed as Aislynn clicked her way from website to website.

For the campaign to save the land sprit’s homeland Aislynn knew she would need to prove how doing so would improve profits. While the movement to become more environmentally aware was gaining support, the bottom dollar still ruled. She outlined two of her strongest ideas and requested back-up material from several organizations.

Excitedly, she switched over to finding ways to make Finley fall in love with her. She read several articles describing love, how to know if a man loves you, and twenty foolproof ways to make a man fall helplessly in love with you.

And we all know that what we find on the internet is true and excellent advice... ;^)

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GSFJ524
 

Other buy links:https://www.books2read.com/u/4AYAeA

Come and hang out with me... we will talk about doughnuts and vodka...

Blog : https://lynceeshillard.wordpress.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/lyncee

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Romance-with-a-Bang-422236758284798

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3344793.Lyncee_Shillard

Amazon Author P age:

https://www.amazon.com/Lyncee-Shillard/e/B007WGBKYK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1534257851&sr=8-1

Review Tuesday: The Memory of Mermaids by Spencer Dryden

The Memory of Mermaids by Spencer Dryden

Fireborn Publishing 2015

Max Weiss is having a bad year. His mom has died, his girlfriend just dumped him, he’s lost his job because he looked too hard at some dodgy contracts, and he’s being kicked out of his snazzy condo by his gangster landlord. His life looks as bleak as his recession-battered Florida town. However, his luck changes dramatically when he rescues a gorgeous woman from the lascivious tentacles of a sea monster. Max thinks he’s dreaming—or maybe suffering from the after-effects of drowning his sorrows in beer—when the curvy brunette reveals that she’s actually a mermaid. She deposits the Kraken’s treasure on Max’s dock, solving his financial problems in one fell swoop. Her tail doesn’t prevent her from expressing her gratitude to her human hero in other ways as well. By the time Azzaria asks Max to help her find her sister Bekkaul, who has shed her tail to follow her human lover and lost all memory of the sea, Max is hooked. He’ll do whatever it takes to make his beloved mermaid happy, even risking his life in his search.

The Memory of Mermaids is a delightful romantic fantasy, full of wacky characters and local color. I’ve never visited the area where the book is set, but the author really brings it to life. I always appreciate a story that transports me to a distinctive locale. In the case of Mermaids, I could almost smell the tide, feel the ocean breezes, and taste the rum that Azzaria likes so much.

I loved Mr. Dryden’s creation myth which explains the mutual attraction between men and mermaids. Hey, his story is at least as plausible as Genesis! And like Azzaria, female readers will adore Max. He’s is the sort of insecure, self-effacing, but surprisingly competent hero who often features in this author’s work. He doesn’t take anything for granted—certainly not the willingness of the randy sea creature with whom he has become entwined—and he’s always respectful of the female of the species—any species!

This novella packs a lot of plot and a myriad of characters into 130 pages. I particularly enjoyed Miss Jean, the “dolphin whisperer”, a wise old woman who knows the truth about mermaids and convinces Max he’s not going crazy.

Compared to the other work I’ve read by this author, The Memory of Mermaids is light on erotic content. That’s fine, though. It fits the tone of the story. And if you read closely, you’ll find just a hint of nasty tentacle porn, which makes the tale juicier.

My only real complaint about The Memory of Mermaids is that it could have used more suspense. The moment Azzaria’s long lost sister appears on the page, it’s obvious who she is. A bit more mystery would have made this tale even more enjoyable than it already was.

This is a minor quibble, though. Overall, The Memory of Mermaids is an entertaining read with some original twists that will leave you smiling.