Saturday, February 11, 2012

Katie Reus Guest Post and Giveaway!


In case you didn't already know a new series hit the book stores this past Tuesday. It is the Moon Shifter series by Katie Reus. The first book in the series is Alpha Instinct. Fellow Diva Katie is here with us today with a special post and giveaway. 



Thanks so much to Vanessa for letting me blog with her today!

When I was young, around every Christmas holiday my sister, mom and I would bake molasses spice cookies with my grandmother. When she passed away my mom kept the tradition alive until we were in high school. Then we all confessed that we weren’t huge fans of them (they’re so ‘heavy’) and that tradition sort of fizzled out. She actually still makes them for one of my cousins because he’s the only one in the family who eats them now. Even though it’s no longer a tradition for the three of us to bake them, whenever we’re together for a holiday we’re all about baking up deliciousness.

When writing Alpha Instinct (and the rest of the books in the Moon Shifter series) I realized I had input some of those same family traditions. In this series the main characters are lupine shifters who are very family/pack oriented. Ana, my heroine, and her sisters are originally from Spain and love making polvorones. If you’ve ever had them, you’ll understand why. They melt in your mouth!

So even though there’s a lot of action, death, baddy villains, hot smexin, and poisonings in Alpha Instinct, the Armstrong-Cordona pack have many of the same traditions as their human counterparts. Today I wanted to share a polvorones recipe. There are many versions for the recipe of this cookie and some are more complex than others. This is one of the simplest:
Ingredients
  •     1 stick butter
  •     2 cups powdered sugar, divided
  •     2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  •     2 ¼ cups flour
  •     1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  •     1/8 teaspoon salt
  •     1 cup finely chopped walnuts
Directions
  1.     Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2.     In a large mixing bowl cream butter using an electric mixer. Add in 1 cup powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until well blended.
  3.     Combine flour, baking soda and salt in another bowl.
  4.     Add to the creamed butter mixture and mix well.
  5.     Stir in finely chopped walnuts.
  6.     Roll dough into walnut-size balls and place on ungreased baking sheets about 1 ½ inches apart.
  7.     Bake 15 minutes or until edges begin to slightly brown. Cool on baking sheets until cool enough to handle, but still warm. While still warm (not hot!), roll in remaining 1 cup powdered sugar. Then place on cooling racks to cool completely.
  8.     When storing in a plastic container, use wax paper to keep the cookies fresh. (Makes two dozen)
If you make them, I hope you let me know!

What about you? Do you have any fun family traditions? Or, what do you enjoy about paranormal romance? One reader who comments on the blog today will be randomly selected to win a print copy of Alpha Instinct (US eligible only), the first book in my new paranormal series. Good luck and thanks so much for stopping by!

Alpha Instinct official blurb:

Fear has a scent. So does desire…

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…

A little about me: I’ve been reading romance since a young age—ever since I discovered my mom’s hidden stash. Luckily the addiction stayed with me into adulthood. I write paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense for Carina Press, Harlequin Nocturne, and NAL/Signet Eclipse. To learn more about me please visit my website, my blog, facebook or find me on twitter @katiereus.

Thanks again for letting me blog here today!

For your chance to win a print copy (US only) of Alpha Instinct just comment below with email address. I will announce the winner on Tuesday February 14. 

32 comments:

  1. Thanks for the giveaway. I'm looking forward to trying this recipe.

    GFC-Persephone
    wingedpersephone at gmail dot com

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  2. Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to read this book. Please enter me. Tore923@aol.com

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  3. I've never had these but they sound a like like Russian Tea Cakes. I'm not big on walnuts so I think I'll try them with pecans. What do you think?
    I'm not entering because I've won a copy already - it just hasn't arrived yet :).
    Thank you.

    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. I hope you try it, Persephone! They're delicious :)

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  5. Hi Victoria! You can absolutely replace them with pecans. And I've never had Russian Tea Cakes but I wouldn't be surprised if they are similar. They're also similar to Mexican wedding cakes which are yum too :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. The recipe does sound good. Thank you for sharing it.
    I am very eager to read this story. I love PNR and am always glad to find a new series to read.
    June
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

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  7. Congrats on the new release!

    Been reading such great buzz about this book, can't wait to read :)

    Thanks for the great post... now I have to hunt someone down to make these for me (I'm currently banned from the kitchen as I'm a horrid cook and tend to start fires... not on purpose!)

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  8. Sounds like a great read. And the recipe sounds super.

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  9. I love PNR because it combines my 2 favorite genres -- UF and romance. I get world-building with a HEA!!

    Have been hearing a lot of wonderful; things about Alpha Instinct and it's definitely on my shopping list!

    elizabeth @ bookattict . com

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  10. I'm going to try that recipe. I have all the ingredients. Your book sounds great. I like when former lovers reunite. Thanks!

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  11. Thanks for the giveaway! I love paranormal romance, I love being taken away from normal day stress.
    And we do have family traditions, food related, whenever I make a big holiday meal I always make stuffing balls with apple chunks/apple sauce.

    beckerjo at verizon dot net

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  12. I've never heard that name 'polvorones' for a cookie before - they sound yummy!
    I love to start a series at the beginning and since my goal for 2012 is to read more paranormals this book looks like a good choice.
    sallans d at yahoo dot com

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  13. Thanks June!

    And LOL Erin! Are the fires all part of your plan so you won't have to cook? *g* If so, that's genius :)

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  14. Thanks, Jillian! It really is delicious :)

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  15. I'm all about the HEA BookAttict! And thank you, I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up :)

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  16. You definitely should Shelley! They melt in your mouth :)

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  17. I like apples so that sounds good JoAnna! :)

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  18. I'm the same way, Di! I prefer to start at the beginning of any series. Thanks for stopping by today :)

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  19. Awesome sounding book! Thanks for the sharing! ;) Id love to read it! Happy Valentines! And thank you for the recipe!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. Thanks, Shadow! Happy Valentine's Day to you too. Hope you can use the recipe :)

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  21. I have a gluten free recipe very similar that this one. It's one of my favorite. I can't wait to read Alpha Instinct! Thanks for the chance to win it!
    suz2@cox.net

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  22. Oh I do love trying new recipes and I don't think I've made anything like this. Thanks!

    The book sounds really good with lots of things going on. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

    sophiarose1816@gmail.com

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  23. The recipes sounds just like Russian Tea Cakes, my favorite Christmas cookie recipe!!!

    Sounds like a great book!

    books4me67 at ymail dot com

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  24. Incredible cover, I've had my eye on this book for a little while now.
    Thanks for the chance to win.
    luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com

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  25. Hi Susan! Gluten free = even better! I'm always on the lookout for recipes like that :)

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  26. They really are delicious, Sophia. If you try it, I hope you enjoy them :)

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  27. You're the second person to say that, books4me! I need to check out Russian teacakes now :)

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  28. Thanks for stopping by Julianne! I'm a big fan of the cover too :)

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  29. I've never heard of these cookies before but hey, they're cookies, so I'm game to try them out!! I love paranormal romance because with so many varieties of paranormal beings to write about, it's wide open as to what you can write, as far as your imagination takes you!! You're not confined to the regular rules when you are writing about simply humans, and being paranormal adds an extra layer to the romance! I'm pretty sure this comment makes no sense whatsoever since I'm definitely not a writer, but I hope you can tell where I'm going with this!! LOL Thanks for the giveaway :)

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  30. I am going to have to try this recipe and I will let you know. I would love to win a copy of this books. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Rachel V
    pefrw at yahoo dot com

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  31. Those cookies sound delish!! I will have to try it some day! Thanks!

    susiebranum@ymail.com

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