Summer is a great time to create memories with friends and family, and some of the best times happen when you gather your favorite people together on your deck, balcony, poolside or screen porch. As singer John Mayer puts it, “A little bit of summer’s what the whole year’s all about.”
And with the dog days of summer in full swing, impromptu parties happen, like when members of your informal book club decide to visit! They did not bring any books, but thank goodness for your iPads, you can check out new releases and download them if they are already available. Or, you can even pre-order.
For your August reading, you have decided to go for the historical romance route and are down to three books on which one will be next month’s reading.
Highland Betrayal
by Alyson McLayne
Romance
Pub Date 07 Aug 2018
Description
Laird Callum MacLean vowed to marry Maggie MacDonnell. But when his father’s supposed suicide makes him Laird of a clan, he’s too busy unmasking his father’s killer to bring her into his dangerous new home.
Maggie’s home isn’t any safer, so she does what any resourceful Highland lass would do. She escapes—and finds herself toe-to-toe with Callum, who’s determined to fulfill his promise. Maggie can’t bring herself to trust him with her heart again. But with a traitor still at large, they must rely on each other in every way, or their clans—and their love—will be destroyed.
Available at Amazon: Highland Betrayal
Brave New Earl
by Jane Ashford
by Jane Ashford
Historical Fiction, Romance
Pub Date 07 Aug 2018
Description
An Earl mired in melancholy is no match for a determined woman…
Widower Benjamin Romilly, Earl of Furness, has given up hope of finding happiness. His wife died in childbirth five years ago, leaving him with a broken heart and a child who only reminds him of his loss.
Miss Jean Saunders is a cousin by marriage. She doted on Benjamin’s late Countess, and can’t bear it when she hears rumors that the Earl is too bereaved to care for his young son. She arrives on the scene to evaluate his fitness as a father, and if necessary, to take his son away.
Jean’s sudden eruption into the Earl’s household simultaneously infuriates and invigorates him. She may be the only person who can breathe life into his neglected home—and his aching heart…
Available at Amazon: Brave New Earl
Last Chance Cowboys: The Rancher
by Anna Schmidt
by Anna Schmidt
Historical Fiction, Romance
Pub Date 06 Mar 2018
Description
“You can’t be sure we’re doing the right thing,” she said.
He drew closer to the barbed wire separating them. “It’s impossible to know what’s right. But it doesn’t stop me from wanting you.”
The world is changing, and the West isn’t as wild as it used to be. Trey Porterfield welcomes a new era of law and order—and the influx of settlers coming to the Arizona territory. But not everyone is willing to see the old ways change, and as the cattlemen and the herders take sides, a full-blown range war may be inevitable. There’s only one way Trey can see to bring peace to his feuding neighbors.
Marry the enemy.
Nell Stokes is a young widow fighting just to stay alive. In Trey, she sees a chance to heal old wounds and start over. Love was never in the cards, yet as Trey and Nell fight to unite the feuding land, they’ll discover a passion neither could have expected…and a danger far greater than either has ever known.
Available at Amazon: Last Chance Cowboys: The Rancher
While your friends are deciding which historical romance your book club is tackling come August, these easy-to-prepare refreshments your guests can snack on as they enjoy each other’s company.
1. Refreshing blender drinks: Stockpile a selection of frozen juices and fruits so you can blend up icy-cold cocktails — either the adult or kiddie versions — on demand. Because so many tasty drinks start with simple syrup or sour mix, you may want to mix up your own and store those concoctions in your fridge for impromptu events. When serving, don’t forget the fruit garnishes and little umbrellas.
2. Fresh guacamole and chips: Whipping up everyone’s favorite avocado dip is nearly effortless when you keep on hand Simply Organic’s Guacamole Mixes. The flavorful, liquid-based mixes, available in spicy or regular varieties, come in handy packets so you need only add two ripe, peeled, pitted avocados (organic is best) and break open a bag of tortilla chips to create a fresh, fun and wholesome snack. You get all the flavor, texture and tang without taking on all the work.
3. Mediterranean pita dip: Stock your vegetable drawer and spice cabinet with organic ingredients for this hearty, cool and flavorful dip: hummus, red bell pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, black olives, artichokes, feta cheese, oregano, onion powder and garlic powder. When guests arrive, spread the hummus in a casserole dish, sprinkle on the seasonings, layer the vegetables, then top your colorful creation with the cheese. Enjoy with pita chips or crudités.
4. Divine deviled eggs: When you keep hard-boiled eggs on hand, whipping up these classic favorites only takes a few minutes. Remove the shells, halve the eggs and mash up the yolks with mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, pickle relish, salt and/or pepper to taste. If desired, you can add even more flavor by stirring in hot sauce, bacon bits, blue cheese, chives, pickles, mango chutney, pesto, pickled okra or crumbled potato chips. Spoon or swirl the yolk mixture back into the half-eggs and serve.
5. Bountiful bruschetta: Slice a crusty baguette, brush it with olive oil and toast the slices under your broiler (one to two minutes for each side). Top the slices with a mixture of chopped tomatoes, basil leaves, onion and garlic, mixing in olive oil, salt and pepper and grated Parmesan cheese to taste. Sprinkle with balsamic reduction and serve.
Check out SimplyOrganic.com for more delicious recipes to enhance your summer entertaining.
