Author: lizellyn

Should desserts that center around a holiday be limited to those dates?

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Should desserts that center around a holiday be limited to those dates?  Is that what makes the dessert special – the fact that you know you will only get the dessert once a year?  Do the desserts add to the nostalgia of the holiday, creating memories for years to come?  Would you want to eat Xmas shaped cookies in May?  What if it were your absolute most favorite cookie?  Would you make an exception in that case?

As I’ve mentioned before, I am equal opportunity celebrator of holidays if they include fun and tasty desserts.  My daughter’s favorite springtime dessert are these jello eggs that I make for Easter.  Unfortunately, these jello eggs require that I am at home for 7 hours straight.  Each layer must be added precisely one hour after the preceding layer.  If not, the layers will not adhere to each other and will fall apart when separating the molds.  This year, I just couldn’t manage my time to make these on Easter.  Is it wrong to be serving/eating these weeks after Easter has past?  It doesn’t seem to bother my daughter at all.  In fact, I’m grateful that she was understanding that I couldn’t get these done on Easter.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Lauren Dane – The Best Kind of Trouble (Hurley Boys #1)

lizellyn Books ,

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Wild rock-star heat with a real relationship to beat.  There’s no denying that Paddy is incredibly sexy and passionate.  He insists on perfection in the music that he creates. He takes charge in the studio to ensure it even it means occasionally brawling with his brothers.  He is also dominant when Natalie and he are going at it.  Natalie is a proper librarian and bit of a control freak by day but a dirty salacious girl in private.  This balance culminates in hot passion between the two.  But their strong personalities and stubbornness make it difficult to iron out real issues in their relationship.  Paddy feels an entitlement to Natalie’s trust because he worked hard to gain it.  Natalie struggles with a difficult past that makes her extra sensitive.  This results in a clash between the two.  Trust is truly the crux of all relationships and Natalie sums it up very poetically:

“if I can’t trust you, this isn’t worth the energy.”

“I can’t be honest if I can’t trust you not to be mad when I tell you how I’m feeling.”

This is a great start to a new Lauren Dane series.  The Hurley Boys follows after Lauren Dane’s Delicious Series, which followed after the Brown Family series.  FYI, you don’t have to start out with the Brown Family series and read in order, but the books are phenomenal and are a must read.

See other Lauren Dane posts:

Lauren Dane – “Laid Bare”

Lauren Dane – “Making Chase”

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Megan Hart & Tiffany Reisz – Captivated

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Two great authors. Two hot stories.  Love this Cosmo Red-Hot Read from Harlequin.

Letting Go by Megan Hart

This story is invigorating in the sense that it leaves the reader feeling the empowerment of Colleen.  It is all about embracing your own sexuality, which is the best way to find fulfillment.  Colleen finds herself realizing that it is okay to want and need and still be dominant all the same time.  It’s a big message for such a short story.

Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz

A story with the recipe for the hottest first time ever.  Starts with a perfect kiss.  Add four years to allow your mind to dream, anticipate, and envision.  Sprinkle in a little explicit guidance.  Finally, add the woman of your dreams and the ideal opportunity.  What do you get?  The ultimate way to lose your virginity.  Besides, Julien and Remi’s amazing affaire, Merrick was an entertaining character.  His explicit mouth and presence adds comedy and spice to the story.

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 8.55.28 AM to Megan Hart and Tiffany Reisz!

Book Boyfriend Boards 4/15/2015

lizellyn Bookish

Pinterest Book Boyfriend Boards

Great romance authors make the reader fall in love with the characters. The descriptions of their build, the way in which they speak, and their prowess in bed electrify the characters and make them hot and desirable.  Enjoy these pinterest boards that celebrate some of the most titillating characters and combine both provocative images and amazing quotes.

Rosemary Beach by Abbi Glines

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/natapou/rosemary-beach-series-by-abbi-glines/

Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/mamawnurse/black-dagger-brotherhood/

Rough Riders by Lorelei James

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/twopervs_inapod/rough-riders-by-lorelei-james/

Chaos Novels by Kristen Ashley

13_pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/holyhotness/chaos-series-by-kristen-ashley/

Wicked Lovers Novels by Shayla Black

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/vibrantbride/shayla-black-wicked-lovers-series/

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/catarinafsilva2/fifty-shades-of-grey/

Sea Breeze Series by Abbi Glines 

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/billanddallas/sea-breeze-series-by-abbi-glines/

Kellan Kyle in Thoughtless Series by S.C. Stephens

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/wallinmt/thoughtless-kellen-kyle/

Drew Evans in Tangled Series by Emma Chase

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/mariskabell/emma-chase-%7E-tangledtwistedtied/

Remy by Katy Evans

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/lilyslibrary/real-mine-remy-by-katie-evans/

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

13_pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/beckybookworm/travis-mad-dog-maddox-3/

Abbi Glines – When I’m Gone

lizellyn Books

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Unlike other Rosemary Beach novels, this book has more of a home-town feel but the characteristics that make the entire series great are ever present.  In this book, Mase is the man!  He is sexy, compassionate, sensitive, protective, and patient.  He goes after Reese in a delicately commanding way.  He is acutely aware of her unspoken concerns and is endlessly supportive.  Finally, his awareness makes him incredible between the sheets.  Despite her troubled past, Reese is strong, brave, and kind.  I can’t help but mention Reese’s caring neighbor, Jimmy.  I hope in a future book he gets his own story.  Beware, the book ends in a major cliff hanger – be prepared to get the next in the series: When You’re Back.  It is set to be released on June 20, 2015.  At least the wait isn’t too long.

Abbi Glines has been kind enough to make available the Prologue & Chapter 1 for When I’m Gone on her site:

http://www.abbiglines.com/2015/04/when-im-gone-giveaway/

See other posts about books by Abbi Glines:

Abbi Glines – Kiro’s Emily

Abbi Glines – You Were Mine

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Alice Clayton – Wallbanger

lizellyn Books

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What to learn from this book?  If you have a hot neighbor, knock on his door wearing only a lacy pink nighty.  Maybe a pair of CFM heels would be good, too.  This is a  fun story between Simon and Caroline.  I enjoyed how Simon oscillated between referring to Caroline as Nighty Girl and Cockblocker and she referred to him as Wallbanger.  I thought it was comical how Caroline referred to loss of her “O.”  Don’t worry, her affliction (losing her vowel) is not contagious via reading the book.  The transition between being friends and becoming a couple was humorous, awkward, scintillating, endearing, and dramatic.  It was everything it should be and was told in a marvelous manner.  On a side note, Caroline’s passion for baking was a tasty addition to the story that I adored.  Of course, my obsession with baking may make me a little biased in that area.  Overall, I would recommend this book.

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 8.55.28 AM to Alice Clayton!

Nutella Frosted Banana Cupcake

lizellyn Sweets ,

Nutella Banana Cupcake

Holy Cow Freaking-Amazing Frosting!  I’m not even a fan of Nutella and I couldn’t stop licking the bowl.  I think that this frosting would pair perfectly with a banana cupcake.  However, I have to admit the cupcake recipe I used on this one fell short of fabulous, which is why I did not include it in this post.  Next time (maybe tomorrow) I’ll try it on a vanilla or chocolate cupcake.  Note, this frosting tastes better when the frosted cupcakes are stored in the refrigerator.

Here’s the recipe for the frosting, enjoy!

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J.R. Ward – The Shadows (Black Dagger Brotherhood #13)

lizellyn Books

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BDB at its best! It’s time to broaden your horizons in this book – vampires are not the only sexy as sin paranormal characters.  Hello shadows! Trez and iAm have their day and they are just as uber masculine as their pale brothers.  The dark duo show how far they will go to show their love and devotion.  Even though Trez is terrified of heights, he takes his queen to the highest restaurant so she can enjoy the view and to an amusement park to ride a roller coaster over and over again.  Equally as powerful, is the love between the two brothers and the extent that they will go to ensure the other’s happiness.  Do not fret, the muscle-bound fighting giants all make their appearances, too.  Once again, the BDB shows their strength not just with their fists but with their support for those within their family.  J.R. Ward is certainly well known for her creative names.  In The Shadows, I love her complimentary use of the terms queen and wife.  It was very fitting for the balance between Trez and iAm.  Finally, the female characters claim more power for themselves.  Not that the females were weak in earlier novels (certainly not Xhex) but there is a distinguishable shift.

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Check out this related post for more Black Dagger Brotherhood

 Black Dagger Brotherhood – Beautiful Book Boyfriend Board

Pinterest Book Boyfriend Boards

Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins (gluten free)

lizellyn Sweets ,

Healthy Banana Muffins

Who doesn’t want a little dessert without the guilt?  Yes, it tastes good, too.  I promise.  I was joking on someone else’s blog the other day about healthy cake.  Really, cake doesn’t need to be healthy, it just needs to taste spectacular.  But if you prefer to start you day with something a bit healthier, this is a great choice.  The main ingredient is almond flour, which is high in protein and gluten free.  The second ingredient is oats, which is also gluten free and is healthier than white flour.  And, NO SUGAR.  It is sweetened with 3 ripe bananas and 2 TBLS of honey.  A few dark chocolate chips is also a perk.  Some say, a little dark chocolate each day is healthy.  All in all, it is a no guilt, no gluten, very good muffin.

Recipe at

Banana Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins:

http://fitandhealthywithdebbie.blogspot.com/2012/09/banana-oatmeal-dark-chocolate-chip.html#.VSQiH7qeluF

See Related Posts:

Banana Crumb Muffins

Nutella Banana Bread

Blueberry Cheesecake

lizellyn Sweets

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Blueberry Cheesecake, the antioxidants make it healthy, yes?  This is an incredibly light cheesecake.  It bakes perfectly ever time.  I’ve never had a problem with the top cracking.  If you never had blueberry cheesecake, you’re missing out.  I like this a lot more than strawberry or raspberry cheesecake.  The only problem with this recipe is that it is baked in a 9×13 pan and I don’t like serving it directly out of the pan.  I usually pre-cut the pieces and either display them on a large tray or set each individual piece in a aluminum foil muffin paper.  Any way you cut it, it is delicious.