We're really pleased to have NYT bestselling author and our good friend Christy Reece as our guest today. Author of the captivating Last Chance Rescue series, Christy has quickly become a leading voice in romantic suspense.When today's co-hostess, Hope Frost, suggested Rescue Me for this week's book club, I was really excited because I've been wanting to read more of Christy's books. I read Last Chance, part of the second trilogy, earlier this year, and I really loved it. And, no surprise, I really loved Rescue Me, too. Eden and Jordan were a fabulous couple who sizzled on the page (and in the bedroom). The suspense was gripping, and the secondary characters were amazing. Meeting Noah in Rescue Me had me running over to Amazon to get Return to Me (Kindle app on iTouch: dangerous), which I've also finished and loved. Moving on now to Run to Me. Not sure I can keep up this reading pace that the "whip-cracking book club wenches" have inflicted on me, but for now, it's some kind of fun! Like with Pamela Clare's books, I love how Christy keeps the romance front and center in her romantic suspense. That's a critical element for me as a romance reader, and it has put both Christy and Pam at the top of my RS favorites list! (I'm traveling today for the day job, so I'll be in and out, but mostly in later tonight. Hope will be holding down the fort in my absence!)
From our co-hostess, Hope: Rescue Me was my very first Romantic Suspense book. I was at a point where I needed SOMETHING to read and the cover jumped out at me. I had gotten about half way through the book, and went back to the store to buy the other two that were already out. I was not an avid reader until I got in to this book, and had a hard time putting it down. It is hard for me to write about Eden & Jordan's story, for fear of revealing to many spoilers...
Rescue Me is an exciting and suspenseful tale that never seems to stop moving forward. Eden is a smart intelligent heroine who'd overcome so much which, while it made me like her even more, may be hard for Christy to top in my opinion. Christy paired Eden with a hunky hero Jordan. A man with a sense of honor, family, and a dedication to "right." Truth be told, he's the type of man that I would like to get to know A LOT better. The pairing of these two made for a very compelling story that I go back to over and over again. Christy Reece introduces us to compelling characters who pull us into the weave of soul-jerking pain, love of life and the desire to fight for others. Rescue Me is the first of six (so far). I laughed, cried and was on the edge of my seat, all of which has cemented Christy as one of my all time favorite authors.
Find Christy on her website, her blog (where she does a great feature called Recommend Mondays when readers can stop by to recommend their favorite reads of the week), on Facebook and on Twitter.
Since we're hanging out at Hope's house today, here's what she has in store for us on the buffet table:
Pesto Chicken Pizza
Pesto: (you can use store bought pesto, but it is yucky lol)
1 cup of basil
(you can also use the basil paste that you can get in the herb section in the produce isle, if you use that, use the whole tube)
2 - 3 cloves of garlic
1/3 - 1/2 cup of grated parmesan
(not the time for the cheap stuff girls)
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
(toast them until the have a little color)
1/2 - 3/4 cup olive oil
Combine everything but the olive oil in a food processor. After that is all chopped up, slowly start to add the oil. You want the consistency of thin peanut butter. You don't want to much oil. Taste and salt and pepper to your taste.
Chicken:
I use thighs cause they bake easier and don't dry out, but use whatever you want. I also make the chicken different ways. You can fry them with a little olive oil, lemon and herbs for a lemon chicken flavor. I also make it as a teriyaki chicken. What ever your feeling that night.
3-4 boneless skinless chicken thighs cubed
You will also need fresh mozzarella
(I have also used the marinated herb mozzarella balls. In that case I cube those)
So to put it together, just take your pizza crust (I usually use bobolli since it is quick) and spread the pesto all over the crust
Sprinkle with the chicken and cheese
add whatever toppings you like, Keith like tomato and fresh basil added.
Bake until the cheese is melted and yummy.
Banana Nut Bread
1 cup granulated sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
3 ripe bananas
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts (optional)
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.
Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack and cool completely before slicing.
Enjoy ;o)
