Orzo with Grilled Shrimp & Summer Veggies - YUM!

At our weekly CSA pickup, we only get a 1/2 share  - technically, 4 items. But one 'item' can be a box holding six squash. We are overflowing with summer veggies, and I bet you are, too. This terrific recipe from Bon Appetit is a delicious way to use them all.

ingredients

• 8 ounces orzo (about 1 1/3 cups)
• 6 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
• 2 medium zucchini or summer squash (about 9 ounces total), cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 red or yellow bell pepper, quartered
• 3 tablespoons purchased pesto
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
• 2 heirloom tomatoes (8 to 10 ounces total), cored, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves plus sprigs for garnish
• 1 8-ounce ball fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

preparation

Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Rinse with cold water; drain well. Transfer to large bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon oil.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk 2 tablespoons oil and 2 tablespoons vinegar in small bowl. Brush zucchini and bell pepper with oil mixture, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Whisk pesto, lime juice, remaining 3 1/2 tablespoons oil, and remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar in small bowl for pesto vinaigrette. Place shrimp in medium bowl. Add 2 tablespoons pesto vinaigrette; toss to coat.
Grill zucchini and bell pepper until crisptender, about 3 minutes per side for zucchini and 4 minutes per side for bell pepper. Transfer to work surface. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper; grill until charred and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place shrimp in bowl with orzo. Chop zucchini and bell pepper; add to bowl with orzo. Add remaining vinaigrette, tomatoes, sliced basil, and mozzarella; toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover; chill.
Garnish with basil sprigs and serve cold or at room temperature (which makes it super easy to deal with leftovers!)

Like Food & Wine? Here's The Romance For You!

One of the best things about having author friends is getting to read their books early. So I can tell you that if you love food and wine, you'll love the hot new contemporary romance by my friend Eliza Knight. If the cover alone doesn't convince you, keep reading below for the blurb and excerpt!

THE REBOUND PACT  by Eliza Knight

Just one taste is never enough...

The attraction between Gabrielle and Holden still sizzles on the surface even after all these years since their last encounter. Having just experienced serious relationship breakups neither one is

ready to start again. Instead, they make a rebound pact. Casual sex, no strings attached—and rule #1? Don't fall in love. Problem is, with each scorching encounter, Gabrielle and Holden find

themselves falling hard and fast.

After college, Gabrielle Dane makes one terrific mistake. Thinking she's sneaking into her crush's bedroom at an all-night party, she ends up sleeping with her older brother's best friend. It’s only when the sun comes up that she recognizes Holden Bellamy. Mortified, Gabrielle leaves to train with a renowned chef in France, vowing never to return to her hometown and the awkwardness of her one night stand mix-up. But several years later, she finds herself doing just that, and she runs smack into the delicious man who makes her catches her breath.

Holden Bellamy, owner of Belle Ami, a critically acclaimed vineyard, has always had a thing for his best friend's little sister...even if she was off limits. Waking up to her in the morning several years back was a remarkable surprise, one that crashed and burned when she left town without a word. Now he's face to face with the woman he never stopped wondering about.

EXCERPT:

As she neared the exit, a sign caught her eye with a picture of purple grapes inside a wine glass, below it said: Belle Ami Vineyards.

“Perfect,” she muttered.

A stop at the vineyard to purchase a couple bottles of wine and then she’d head to her Dad’s place. She wasn’t ready for the conversation he’d want to have regarding Len. She stared at her empty ring finger on the steering wheel, tears already stinging her eyes. Her finger still showed the lines of where her ring had been.

Gabrielle followed the signs for the vineyard, pulling into a nearly empty parking lot, her tires crunching over the gravel. There were only three other cars parked.

Damn. She hoped they hadn’t closed already. She’d forgotten how everything in the town of Mount Airy kept farmer’s hours.  She climbed out of the car and walked toward the entrance. The door opened easily when she pulled, but she didn’t see anyone. She walked up to the bar and picked up the tasting menu.

Gabrielle loved wine. Had even volunteered at many a wine tasting event, pouring glasses, talking shop to wine enthusiasts, and even turning some non-winos into vino connoisseurs.

The Belle Ami merlot looked right up her alley with a tangy bouquet of pomegranate and cocoa. She turned in a circle, her fingernails tapping against the “green” pressed bamboo counter.

“Can I help you?” a smooth, sensual, very male voice said from behind.

Oh. My. God.

Gabrielle turned around slowly, unable to breathe. She came face to face with Holden Bellamy. His face itself was perfection in the flesh. Chiseled. A wide square jaw, cheek bones she’d kill for, kissable lips and a nose that spoke of good genes. Dark brown, nearly black hair cut short enough to be in style, but still rugged, a few strands falling over his forehead. Her entire body stilled as she gazed at him, wide-eyed.

He was just as alluring, if not more so than he’d been before.

A jolt of longing wracked her. Her belly fluttered. Goosebumps rose along her arms making her skin tingle. Memories came flooding back of their one night together. Her body hadn’t forgotten, even with the passing of time, and neither had her mind. But with those memories and the pull of her attraction came regret. For what she’d thrown away. For the hurt she’d caused him. For not telling him the truth.

He wore a tight black t-shirt with the winery’s logo on his right pec. His jeans looked to be designer and if he turned around… She gulped, gazing at his flawless physique and then back up into his crystal blue eyes that seemed to delve right into the center of her soul. A light bulb sparked inside her mind. Bellamy… Was it possible this was his winery? A play on words?

“Gabrielle?”

He remembered her. Her stomach tightened. Of course he remembered her. She’d known him for years. Her body trilled a tune, as if her flesh remembered the way he’d touched her. He flashed her a smile, showing white, faintly imperfect teeth. Teeth that had skimmed naughtily over her flesh.

“Yes, hi, it’s been so long…” She trailed off, feeling awkward at showing up here six years after walking out on him.

 

LINKS: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Cover Reveal - Laura Kaye's next sexy Vampire King!

Lots of romance is hot. But there is something about vampires that kicks up the heat level a notch or two. Make those vampires kings, and you're drooling in anticipation before you even crack the cover. Oh, yeah - that's why we're here today. To reveal Laura Kaye's third Vampire Warrior King cover!!! (and yes, this is book 3, but you can read it as a stand alone. Although you won't want to - the whole series is terrific).

Taken by the Vampire King Blurb:

Henrik Magnusson is supposed to be immortal, but a mysterious ailment leaves the vampire king near death, and not even the blood of the Proffered, human virgins trained to serve the elite, can sustain him. Then he rescues a beautiful young woman from his enemies, and is filled with blood lust and desire he hasn't felt for centuries.
Photographer Kaira Sorenson's life takes a nightmare turn when she's attacked by blood-thirsty creatures—and saved by a vampire. She should be afraid of Henrik, but she can't deny her intense attraction to this regal, enigmatic being—nor the fact that her blood may be his only salvation. Now she must decide if she's willing to be his forever…

Releases August 1, 2013

Pre-Order Links: Amazon and B&N

Excerpt:

Henrik’s back slammed against a brick wall, the darkness of the narrow alley sheltering their trio from the tourists thronging Tromsø’s streets.

Lars stood at the entrance, making sure no one developed an unhealthy curiosity.

Jakob got right up in Henrik’s face, forearm pressing into the king’s chest. “What happened?”

He shook his head, swallowing thickly, his hunger burning so intensely it was almost a living thing within him. “Wanted her,” he rasped. It hadn’t been a decision. There wasn’t anything rational or conscious about it. From the first moment she’d approached him, he was awash in her appealing scent, like the smoky berries of a vintage wine or the rich bite of an aged, dignified whiskey.

“Wanted her how?”

“I wanted her.” He knocked his head against the brick. Even now, he couldn’t shake the image of the vein’s rhythmic dance along her slender neck or of the luscious dip of her cleavage, both displayed so invitingly by her upswept hair. His fangs throbbed with a want and a need he couldn’t remember feeling in ages. Not to mention the aching hard-on between his legs.

“Straight out no-shit bloodlust?” Something like hope sounded in the warrior’s deep voice.

“Ja.” Henrik heaved a deep breath of cold January air as his imagination unhelpfully replayed how it would’ve gone down. Tearing the gown from her trim body. Holding her curves in his hands. Bearing her up against the wall. Sinking his fangs and his cock in deep until every dark, needy part of him was sated.

“I’ll get her.” Jakob turned away.

The king slammed his hand down on his brother’s shoulder and gripped hard. “Nei.”

“You want her. You need her.”

“I’ll kill her.”

Because he wouldn’t be able to stop.

Once he got a taste, something base and instinctual told him he wouldn’t be able to make himself stop. He’d been so close to the edge of his restraint in the gallery. Only the sound of her voice had pulled him back from the brink.

All he’d wanted was a night out of their mountain citadel, away from the looming promise of death. He thought the jovial atmosphere of the festival would distract him from all that was to come. Instead, it had thrown it right in his face. Christ, he was a catastrophe waiting to happen, already more beast than man. He shook his head again. “I’ll fucking kill her,” he rasped.

“You won’t.”

Acid washed through his gut. “You willing to risk an innocent woman’s life—or her soul—to see which of us is right? I’m not.” He shuddered, the danger of becoming like his evil enemies one of his greatest fears. “Leave her be. I’ll not have it any other way.”

About Laura Kaye:

 
Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

 

Guaranteed Foodgasm-Shrimp & Tapenade Pasta

My in-laws were here this weekend, which gave me the excuse to try out a fancy new recipe from Bon Appetit. As usual, it did not disappoint. Major understatement. This shrimp & tapenade pasta is a guaranteed mouthgasm. And surprisingly quick and easy, too - which is why I had to share it with all of you.

Looks like the smarties at Bon Appetit snapped up the recipe from Nor'wester Steak & Seafood in Gold Beach, OR. Kudos to all for this seriously addictive yumminess.

Ingredients

Tapenade Butter

• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped red onion
• 10 pitted Kalamata olives
• 5 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
• 4 anchovy fillets packed in oil, drained, plus 1 teaspoon oil from tin
• 3/4 cup(1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons drained brined capers
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pasta

• 1 pound fettuccine
• Kosher salt
• 1 1/2 pounds large uncooked shrimp, peeled, deveined
• 4 plum tomatoes, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
• 6lemon wedges

Preparation

Tapenade Butter

• Purée first 6 ingredients in a food processor. Add butter; process until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in capers. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pasta

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain.
• Meanwhile, melt tapenade butter in a large heavy skillet over high heat. Add shrimp; simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and parsley. Bring to a simmer; cook, stirring often, until shrimp are cooked through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and a generous amount of pepper.
• Add pasta to sauce; stir to coat. Divide among wide shallow bowls. Sprinkle with cheese and garnish with lemon wedges.

South of Surrender Release Day Blitz Giveaway

I am thrilled to welcome Chrysander Notos and Laney Summerlyn to the world today, and to welcome back the whole Anemoi family, too! Chrys and Laney are the hero and heroine of South of Surrender, the third book in my Greek-mythology inspired Hearts of the Anemoi series. The Anemoi were wind gods the Greeks associated with controlling the wind, the weather, and the seasons, and as the summer god, Chrys is the hottest of them all! Passions and conflict between the Anemoi brothers heat way, way up in South of Surrender. Need more proof? Check out this tense excerpt as well as the giveaway that follows!

Aeolus stepped forward. “We are all expendable. It is not the god, but the wind he serves, that matters. So I ask each of you now. Are you prepared to stand and fight?”

The gods offered solemn agreement.

Aeolus moved to the center of the room. Anger and determination carved hard angles into his face. Thunder and lightning split the sky. “I say again. Are you prepared to stand and fight?”

A loud, fierce cheer of approval and commitment shook the room. Teddy fussed but didn’t cry, as if even his divine energy understood the threat they faced.

“Make no mistake. We are at war. We will not all come out of it alive. Sacrifices will be made.” He held up his maimed hand. “And you must understand the full extent of what you are up against. Eurus possesses the firestone ring. He has power over the winds, over each of you. This is my fault. I fully acknowledge it. And I stand ready to sacrifice myself to set this right.” Murmurs sounded from around the room.

This…this was the resignation he’d seen on Aeolus’s face. As many grievances as Chrys could voice against his father, he would fight to the last to prevent any of his family from dying. They’d lost enough. Had enough turmoil. For several lifetimes.

Aeolus continued. “Together, we are strong. Eurus cannot take us all at once. We must fight. To avenge the death of one of our own who has fallen this night. To avenge wrongs against others of our numbers in recent days, weeks, and months. To preserve and protect the human realm, as is our duty and purpose.”

Boreas pushed off the wall and stood tall. “In the name of the North Wind, I stand ready to fight.”

Zeph nodded. “In the name of the West Wind, I, too, stand ready to fight.”

“In the name of the South Wind, and in the name of vengeance for the Southeast Wind, I stand ready to kick some ass,” Chrys said. “So what’s our plan?”

GIVEAWAY!

Win 1 of 5 $50 gift cards to winners’ choice of Amazon/B&N/iTunes!

HOW TO ENTER?

Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt? Comment with your email address to enter to win! Open to international! Giveaway runs for one day and ends at midnight PST on May 28!

Visit more participating Blitz Day sites for more excerpts and more ways to win! And look out for the South of Surrender Blog Tour to start next week with more excerpts and giveaways! Check out the awesome early reviews coming in for the book, too!

 

Thanks for reading!

Laura

About South of Surrender:

She's the only one who can see through his golden boy façade to the broken god within...

Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, is on a mission: save Eurus from his death sentence and prove his troubled brother can be redeemed. But Eurus fights back, triggering vicious storms that threaten the mortal realm and dangerously drain Chrys.

Laney Summerlyn refuses to give up her grandfather's horse farm, despite her deteriorating vision. More than ever, she needs the organized routine of her life at Summerlyn Stables, until a ferocious storm brings an impossible—and beautiful—creature crashing down from the heavens.

Injured while fighting Eurus, Chrys finds himself at the mercy of a mortal woman whose compassion and acceptance he can't resist. As they surrender to the passion flaring between them, immortal enemies close in, forcing Chrys to choose between his brother and the only woman who's ever loved the real him.

Buy at Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Add to your Goodreads Shelf!

 

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

A Sexy Ghost Story - Altered Frequency Release!

What's better than a ghost story? Why, a sexy ghost story, of course! I'm thrilled to share you with the red-hot release of Altered Frequency by Joya Fields. It is book two in her series, so you might want to go back on catch up on book one, Hereafter. But be assured that both work as stand-alones. Just dive right in!

 

After losing her father and brother in the line of duty, Missy Prescott vows never to get involved with anyone who has a dangerous job. Blessed with a golden voice, she takes a job as a disc jockey with her own late-night lovelorn dedication show on a popular radio station in Baltimore.

   Blake Decker has never had a family. He has come to count on the only family he knows—his brothers on the police force. He’s a one-night-stand kind of guy when it comes to relationships.

   Betty McAllister, the caring woman who used to live in Missy’s apartment, is now a ghost. She refuses to cross over until Blake—whom she viewed as her own son—is happily in love. She thinks Missy is the perfect girl for him.

   Missy and Blake need to keep each other at a distance as they work together to help Betty find a way to cross over. But when danger lurks, will Missy and Blake lose everything?

 

And here's an excerpt to get you started:

A shadow moved from the other side of the hallway. Blake froze, and his fingers moved to his weapon. He blinked. Nothing there. He dug in his pocket for his keys and glanced at Missy’s doorway.

Betty—wearing her pink sweat suit and flamingo earrings—stood grinning at him. She winked, raised her hand, and then knocked three times on Missy’s door.

Blake’s mouth opened and then closed. Betty disappeared. He closed his eyes for a half a minute and then opened them when he heard Missy’s door open.

Missy stood in the doorway wearing the same clothes as earlier. A white T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a simple necklace that hung between her breasts, spiraling the memory of her body to the forefront of his mind. He knew exactly how those curves felt under his hands and he craved the feel of them again.

“Hey. Thanks for stopping by the bookstore today.” Missy pocketed her hands in her jeans, pulling them down just enough for him to get a glimpse of her lower belly. He swallowed in order to concentrate.

“You—you should look out your peephole before you open your door.” There. He’d be the concerned policeman who lived across the hall. But how the hell had Betty…no, it couldn’t have been Betty. What was going on?

Missy frowned. “You feeling all right?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

“’Cause I did look out my peephole and I saw you.” She tilted her head. “I sort of thought it was okay to open up since it was my neighbor, the cop.”

How had he gotten in front of her door? He’d been several feet away when Betty…when…. Oh shit. He really needed that beer now. Time for a change of subject. He’d process the other stuff later.

Altered Frequency is now available at:

Decadent Publishing Amazon Barnes and Noble

Find Joya: Twitter: @joyafields

Facebook Goodreads GooglePlus

 

Pulse-Pounding Romantic Suspense You Need To Read!

I'm so excited to share this book with you. I raced through Jamie's debut, An Affair of Vengeance, last month, and loved how it transported me to the seedy squalor of Marseilles and the beautiful French countryside. Her strong, smart heroine almost stole the show from the sexy hero. So first, run out and catch up on book one. Then roll right into the sequel that just released. Here's all you need to know: An Affair of Deceit by Jamie Michele, Book Two in the Affair Sequence

A father’s sins. A daughter’s loyalty. A lover’s protection.

When a charming CIA agent shows up no her doorstep, lawyer Abigail Mason finds herself drawn into the search for a man she had written off long before--her estranged father. Her father’s caught in the agency’s crosshairs, and she’ll do all that she can to figure out just what he’s done.

Agent James Riley knew that the stubborn, tough-as-nails attorney would be a thorn in his side, but he never guessed that he’d feel an undeniable attraction to her. To keep Abigail from stumbling alone into a web of international espionage and danger, he’ll need to bring her into his search and keep her close. But when a madman singles her out as the one who should pay for her father’s sins, Riley will do all he can to protect the woman who’s claimed her heart.

 Here's a peek inside this hot, taut thriller:

With great effort, she cracked open her eyes.

Riley was climbing into bed beside her, trying in vain to be quiet. Her senses awoke as she breathed in distinctly French scents of lavender and rosemary, gloriously edible. He must have bought a new soap. She felt suddenly dirty and wished she’d taken a bath as well. There were few things as pleasurable as sliding into bed after a scalding rinse, and indeed, wet heat radiated from his body to hers.

His legs rustled under the thin cotton sheets. One of his feet connected with hers.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

“No problem.”

Was his foot bare? Well, that seemed perfectly normal. She surmised that not everyone wore socks to bed, particularly in this warm climate. She opened one eye to see what else he wore—and struggled to keep from gasping.

He wore nothing, at least nothing on top. He was lying on his stomach, his face turned toward her, his pretty green eyes closed. One tanned arm propped up his head, and the other stretched out in front of him. A strong hand rested near her nose. Although his wavy brown curls were still wet, he looked asleep.

Abigail, on the other hand, was absolutely awake and a little angry. What nerve he had, coming to bed without a shirt!

Damn it, she was a prude. She wished she’d taken off more clothes.

No. She shouldn’t have taken off more clothes; he should have kept himself covered. It wasn’t on her to remove—it was on him to stay dressed, for crying out loud.

She wondered if he was wearing underpants.

What a thought! Her entire body shivered. He wouldn’t be so disrespectful. Would he?

Curiosity threatened to overwhelm her, but she refused to succumb. She would…not…look!

Instead, she tugged the sheets up in a big, decisive motion, but something went wrong: the ancient cotton billowed like a sail in full wind. In the seconds it took the musty cloth to settle back on their bodies, she saw with crystal clarity that Riley wore nothing but a pair of white boxer shorts. His long legs were tanned, toned, and naked, mere inches from hers.

Cool sweat materialized on her forehead. She closed her eyes but couldn’t forget the perfect curve of his muscular butt under the crisp fabric of his shorts.

How dare he? Was she so easy to resist that he could sleep nearly naked next to her without a wink of interest? Irritation welled inside her.

“Did you leave your pajamas at home, Dr. Riley?” she said, her voice loud and shrill in the nearly empty room.

“What?” he grumbled. “Oh, give me a break. This is how I sleep.”

“This is hardly a normal sleeping occasion.”

“Abigail, I’m tired. I’m not going to fight with you. And I’m not getting out of bed. You said I could share. Now deal with it.”

Fine.

Award-winning romance writer and former zookeeper Jamie Michele has wrestled a giant python, hand-captured a rogue vulture, and brushed the teeth of an alligator, but when she decided to write a novel, she did the unexpected: she didn’t write about animals. Instead, she indulged her long fascination with international espionage, merging it with her deep knowledge of the trials of love to produce An Affair of Vengeance (Montlake Romance 2012), winner of a prestigious Golden Heart from the Romance Writers of America. Now trapped in a very boring suburb, Jamie writes sexy, page-turning romances while managing her own little zoo, which consists of three cats and two exceedingly handsome great apes. An Affair of Deceit is her second novel.