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
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- 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.
- Combine flour, baking soda and salt in another bowl.
- Add to the creamed butter mixture and mix well.
- Stir in finely chopped walnuts.
- Roll dough into walnut-size balls and place on
ungreased baking sheets about 1 ½ inches apart.
- 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.
- 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.
