Welcome to the LIKE NO OTHER LOVER Book Shower!

(SPECIAL NOTE: to see ALL the posts, you need to click on the teeny arrow thing -- looks like this >> at the bottom of the blog!  It takes you through the pages of posts. Some folks were confused by why they could see the NUMBER of posts, but couldn't read all of them -- that's why! It took me a while to figure that out, too, once upon a time! LOL.)

1) (9:06 a.m. PST)  WINNER #1   is SHARI C!. She wins a set of signed books: from Eloisa James, Kayla Perrin, Sara Bennett and moi!

2) (10:39 a.m. PST) WINNER #2 is AMBER PACKARD! She wins the Tarot Reading from Tarot by Arwen!

3) (1:52 p.m., PST) WINNER #3 is APRIL FUNDERBURGH! She wins signed books from Karen Hawkins, Sophia Nash, Alexandra Benedict and MOI!!

4) (5:52 PST) WINNER #4 is LAURA EMERSON! She wins signed books by Julia Quinn, Toni Blake, Sylvia Day and moi!!

5) (8:18 p.m., PST) WINNER #5 is RACHEL JESSUP! She wins the pearl, garnet and 14k gold filled earrings from the LIKE NO OTHER LOVER collection by Circe Designs!! 

Hello, my kittens, and welcome to the LIKE NO OTHER LOVER Book Shower-your gift to me is showing up, and my gifts to you…well, that's where the showering comes in. I'll be showering you with prizes (well, I'm giving away five prizes) all day long! I'll talk about those in a second, but for now I’m just so delighted you could help me celebrate today. Have you selected your delicious Sexy Cyber-Waiter yet? (Excuse me while I accept a drink—a Mimosa, of course, as it’s morning here on the West Coast-—from the oh-so-handsome-and-attentive "Seth," he of the "oozing sensuality," warm green-gold eyes and lilting Irish accent.). You can switch your waiter selection throughout the day, too—these guys won’t mind a bit. It’s in fact your prerogative to be as fickle or demanding as you like today, because these men revel in seeing to your pleasure and comfort. :)

    So what’s it like here in our own personal party Pleasure Dome? Well, for starters, the air is as fresh and soft as the first day of spring and the carpet is sinfully plush, so kick off your shoes and wriggle your bare toes in it. Mingle with the other guests, sprawl on one of the generous velvet sofas as the sounds of a very accomplished string quartet softly waft over you, or avail yourself of one of the massage chairs on the perimeter—all of your waiters are versed in every imaginable kind of massage, from Shiatsu to Hot Stone, so all you need to do is ask. For those of you who like to blow off steam by kicking up your he els, the disco (it’s in the North Wing) is already full swing-and…hark! Is that Duran Duran I hear?? Isn’t it sweet of all our favorite 80’s bands to show up and play a few songs throughout the day to help celebrate the book release? Make a request in the comments below, and who knows, your favorite band—from any decade—might just show up, too.

     The buffet and the infinitely replenished chocolate bar are  over at the far end—see all the gleaming tureens and colorful platters? And all those chefs eager to help and answer your questions? So you can drop off your cyber-dishes over there. :) And as for me, I’ve brought coq au vin—a big vat of slow-cooked chicken, wine, pearl onions and mushrooms (yum!)—to share with everyone. Did anyone bring an interesting salad? A breakfast casserole?? A favorite main dish? I’ll post my practical recipe in the comments below.:) Holiday recipes are particularly welcome, since we’re teetering on the brink of that season. And may I point out that Like No Other Lover and The Perils of Pleasure look rather a lot like Christmas side by side? Give your friends a Pennyroyal Green starter kit this year! Hee!

The drink of the day is the Like No Other Lover, and I can’t divulge the ingredients, but I can tell you that it’s pale pink, a sparkly, silver mist hovers over the rim of the crystal goblet in which its served, and one sip makes you feel exactly the way your favorite memory makes you feel. Ask your waiter to fetch one for you!

       So, my lovelies, I’m thrilled about Like No Other Lover, because reviewers seem to be loving it. I hope you do, too! It’s in stores officially today, and some of you might already have it in your sweet little paws or on your nightstands, bless your hearts. It’s the story of Miles Redmond and Cynthia Brightly, and it’s the second book in the Pennyroyal Green series, which was launched by The Perils of Pleasure. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it! Feel free to ask any questions at all about the series or the book in the comments-it’ll be fun to talk about it.

Now, let me tell you about the prizes!

1. Three separate sets of FOUR signed books compiled from donations by such lovely and talented romance authors as Eloisa James, Anna Campbell, Kayla Perrin, Toni Blake, Julia Quinn, Alexandra Benedict, Christine Wells, Karen Hawkins, Sophia Nash, Sara Bennett, Sylvia Day and moi! Aren’t they sweet to bring gifts to the party to give to you??

2. A beautiful pair of handcrafted pearl, garnet and sterling silver earrings from the Like No Other Lover collection by Circe Designs, inspired by LNOL's lovely cover;

3. A Hero’s Journey or Life Path Tarot Card reading from Tarot by Arwen, from Stephanie Arwen Lynch, a professional reader and romance fan. Because in Like No Other Lover, our heroine, Cynthia Brightly (along with a few of her friends) visits a band of gypsies who regularly set up camp on the outskirts of Pennyroyal Green for dukkering, or fortune telling. A bit of chaos ensues before they get around to the card part, so this is where Arwen comes in.:) Sure to be very cool and enlightening .

    I’ll be at the party by around 8:30 or 9 a.m. PST, but you can all come in and play anytime before then, too.:) I’ll give away the first prize the first hour I’m there, and give them away at random intervals to commenters chosen at random (using my magic Excel Randomizing macro!) throughout the day, just to keep things lively. :)

    So come on in! Let’s hang out, catch up—it’s been too long!-chatter about the weather and recipes, Like No other Lover, and anything at all we feel like, and just enjoy our decadent, indulgent, peaceful version of reality today.:) All you need to do to play is tell me what cyber-dish you brought to share.:) xo….julie

Comments

[ReadingIsSoMuchFun]

I am back :-) did you miss me?

Hugssss
LindaH

[Diana]

I'm so late to the party, but I was at work. Better late than never, right? I brought some mini-crabcakes. I haven't had a chance to read through the posts yet, so I don't know if someone else brought the same dish. Well, the more the merrier, especially when it comes to food. ;)

[Juanita Stender]

MMMMMMMM thank you Barbara for the wonderful fruit tray. These goblets are so beautiful Julie and they make any drink taste that much better. The music is fantastic. I love a great beat and can't sit still. The food is delicious. The company delightful and the scenery is the best eye candy I have ever seen.

[Mary Bullock]

Hey I am back. Got another recipe for yall girls. But please don't tell my husband or his family... I will be cut out of the family. It is his grandmother's secret recipe. So Shuushhh!

Sweet Potatoe Pie: Makes 4 Pies

4 lg Sweet Potatoes
1 sm. Can of Carnation Milk (Grandmother's orders no substitution lol)
4 tablespoons of Allspice
4 cups of white sugar
4 lg. eggs
2 sticks of butter or margerine
dash of salt

Peel and boil potatoes, add salt while boiling. Drain Potatoes well, add butter while potatoes are still hot(best to cut into small chunks. Both potatoes and butter) Mash all ingredients, add sugar and Allspice. In separate bowl beat eggs and milk together and add to potatoe mix, make sure to mix well. Pour into unbaked pie shells and cook in a slow oven 200-250 degrees for at least 1 hr or untill pies are firm. (note if a 9" pie shell, cook in slow oven 200-250 degrees for abt 1 1/2 hr or untill done)

[JoAnn Smith Ainsworth]

Congratulations, Julie! We had our dreams when a half dozen years ago we were practicing how to pitch our story ideas to editors at the SFA-RWA meeting. I'm finishing the galley proof for a March 31, 2009, trade paperback release of OUT OF THE DARK, a medieval romance with a touch of paranormal and a lot of suspense. Its pre-quel, MATILDA'S SONG, was e-released 9/16. We're examples of 'follow your dream'. Don't give up. It's sweet to savor publication. There's no recipe to follow like those on your blog today. We each must find our own pathway to success. My hearty congratulations to you on finding your unique path.

JoAnn (www.joannsmithainsworth.com)

[Julie Anne Long]

Hey, Joann -- so nice to see you here!! Did you help yourself to a LNOL cocktail? Have you selected your cyber waiter?? LOL. I do have to clarify something for you, though: I'd already sold two books to Warner before I ever heard of or joined RWA! LOL. So I never pitched anything to any editors at RWA conferences -- I submitted to Warner through an agent -- the story of how that all happened is on my website. I was woefully ignorant about ALL aspects of publishing -- I don't recommend that!! LOL. But I do remember that SF RWA pitch meeting you're talking about -- I only went to keep a friend company that day, as I was already published --and I remember marveling at how creative everyone was and how good the ideas seemed. I sold the first book I ever wrote, but the path to publication is very different for everyone, and the trajectory of most people's careers is seldom, um smooth. LOL. *I'm* having a blast, and I'm delighted to congratulate you on your sale!! :)

[Kathy K]

Well, dinner's done but no family yet... so I can sit back and relax on the lovely, very comfortable couches and watch... mmmm, mmmm, mmmm... I do love to watch our waiters do their jobs!

[Julie Anne Long]

Stacy! Thanks for the congratulations!! :) I'm so glad you could come, and you'll notice as you scroll through the posts that anything involving both cheesecake and chocolate is a very, very welcome addition to the party!! LOL. Have you chosen a waiter to serve you??
Beverly, that slow-cooker pork roast sounds fabulous -- the sweetness of the jam and carrots and the tender pork -- MAN. I truly do hope I get a slow cooker for Christmas. LOL. I may or may not get around to getting one for myself any time soon. :)

Lareign!! So happy to see you here!! How the heck are you? How's the weather in your neck of the woods? I figured a barn-cat lover would appeal to you. ;) Try a LIKE NO OTHER LOVER cocktail -- it's pink, sparkly, and makes you feel like your best-ever memory does. ;) Thoughtful of you to bring your cats -- perhaps you and Ethan can set up a cat play date when the party draws to a close. You're usually great at Wal Mart sightings of my books. LOL. see any lately in your neck of the woods??

Mary, I'm so glad you got and really enjoyed your copy of POP!! My favorite compliment involves people staying up late to read my books. :) (Mary won a copy of POP by being one of the first 50 people to post a LNOL widget on her site!) I'm glad you posted your recipe here, because it looks like a good one, and there are some FABULOUS recipes posted today!! Do come on in and ask your cyber-waiter -- you did choose one? -- to fetch you the drink of your choice!! Red Rudolph's have proved very, very popular today. ;)

[Julie Anne Long]

Yay, Diana! So glad you could make it! :) Crabcakes are always popular -- did you choose a waiter? I'm partial to Seth, who I've kept on the hop all day long, but Harry is very entertaining from what I hear, and Stephan does a mean salsa. ;)

OK, it's time to choose another winner...of our final set of four books (we still have the earrings to go)....and according to the magic Excel Macro, the winner is....

LAURA EMERSON!!

She wins signed books by Julia Quinn, Toni Blake, Sylvia Day and moi!!

Everyone say WOO HOO for Laura!!

Laura was here this morning so I don't if she's still hanging out, perhaps half-asleep on one of those big velvet couches -- maybe we can send a waiter to go look for her?? :) But Laura, if you're around, send a note to me at Julie@julieannelong.com with your address so we can make sure you get your books! ;)

[Mary Bullock]

When I received it in the mail yesterday, my husband said "Oh great, sandwiches tonight" But I did stop reading long enough to fix dinner, but it was a quick one. My family hates it when I get a new book lol
Kevin is my waiter tonight.

[RubyD]

Hi....my waiter is Seth....love that Irish lilt. And my contribution to the meal is a platter of individual portions of Baked Salmon....Wash and dry salmon fillets. Cut into portion size (about the size of the palm of your hand). Working with each piece separately, brush all over with olive oil and place skin side down on a piece of aluminum foil large enough to fold over on sides and top. Sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning, then place a few pieces of fresh dill on each portion. Put a slice of an Orange on each portion. Wrap each portion and place on a preheated cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until the salmon flakes with a fork. Enjoy....

Posted by: RubyD | October 28, 2008 at 11:14 AM

[Kathy K]

Yum... crabcakes!

Oh and a big CONGRATULATIONS Laura! Whoo hoo!

Mary... huh, gonna have to tell my DH that he's not the only one that has to *make do* when I got sitting down and reading LNOL. *grin*

[Mary Bullock]

Here you go ladies...

Cookies and Cream Cheesecake
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups plus 1/2 cup crushed chocolate creme sandwich cookies, divided.
2 tablesspons butter or margarine softened
24 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cupl pluse 1/2 cup sugar divided
3 eggs
1 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Mix 2 1/2 cups cookie crumbs and 2 tablespoons butter in a sm. bowl with a fork. Press into bottom and up sides of a 10" springform pan. Freeze abt 15 mins.

While freezing pan, beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar in lg bowl until fluffy(2-3 mins), Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add crem and vanilla, make sure to mix well. Pour into crust.

Place cheesecake on top rake of oven, Fill and 8 x 8 pan with water place on the bottom rack, Bake cake until the center is done, abt 50 mins.

Mix sour cream and the rest of the sugar, Stir until it desolves, spread over cake, place cake back into oven until the sour cream is set, sprinkle remaining crumbs on the top

[Mary Bullock]

Forgot to say make sure the oven is turned off, when u place it back into the oven.. Sorry

[Julie Anne Long]

You girls are making me laugh!! Kathy, I have a feeling there are all kinds of bodies sprawled on those velvet sofas right now! Who's that snoring?? :) Hee! I think Elvis Costello is tuning up in the rock n' roll lounge for an acoustic set, bless his heart. Mary, you cracked me up -- sandwiches for dinner! Books are wonderful that way -- and I particularly love a book you can disappear into, that makes you lose track of time. I get that way when I'm writing sometimes -- I sit down to type, and when I look up it's like four or five hours later, and I barely notice time passing.

Ruby, I'm glad you're posting here!! YUM on the salmon recipe -- I adore salmon, and with orange and dill, and simply cooked -- man, that's probably fabulous. We're sharing Seth, btw, and I do hope he's seeing to your every comfort. ;)

[Yasmin]

Hello everyone

Im sneaking back in since I am at work. I really do like Stefan waiting on me

[Trish]

Delighted to be here! I brought some coffee and Red Velvet Cake to share.

[Yasmin]

Here is something substantial for all the sprawled bodies.

Marinated Pork Dish (cochinita pibil)

The marinade ingredients:

1/2 cup orange juice, fresh squeezed or store bought O.J. is fine
1/2 cup lime juice, fresh
7 black peppercorn
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
Red Achiote Condimented--The package I buy comes in paste of 3.5oz. I use half the package, about 3 tablespoons.

Put all ingredients in a blender to create a sauce/marinade. The liquid will be loose but a brick sort of color.

Marinade about 2lbs of pork butt or pork cushion tritip for about an hr in fridge. You do not need to marinade if you are pressed for time. The meat itself will need to cook in the oven from anywhere between 2 1/2-4 hrs depending on the cut of the meat.

After meat has marinaded for 1 hr, no more than that, line a deep oven dish with banana leaves. Line the bottom and the sides making sure that the leaves hang over the sides enough to cover back to the top. Place meat and marinade juices on top of banana leaves. Arrange meat on single layer an cover back up with the banana leaves. Place foil on top to keep the steam in.
Bake in a 350 degree oven until meat is tender. I usually check the meat for seasonings after 2hrs. If salt is needed I use garlic salt to season.

You can eat it just as is with side dishes. We shred the meat and use it to make tacos out of it.

[Mary Bullock]

So girls, we have ate, drank, danced the day/night away and not to mention strained our eyes looking at the "gentlemen", now we are only good for one thing .... reading! Ok, maybe 2 things.( ;P)

I know I plan on buying the book ASP. I had fun, and thanks again for the recipes and humor throughout the day. Take Care and God Bless. Mary

[Julie Anne Long]

Mary, nighty night, and thanks so much for coming and sharing the recipes and helping me to celebrate LNOL's release!! It was a pleasure to have you here! Make sure you take your commemorative crystal goblet with you, as well as the group photo the waiters have so kindly posed for so you can all take memories of them away with you. :)

Trish! Welcome to the party!! Thanks so much for comihng, and helping me to celebrate LIKE NO OTHER LOVER' release!!! Have you selected your cyber waiter?? They'll be delighted to welcome a fresh face! Hee! Have any drink you like -- I look around this place, and I notice champagne is popular, along with that LNOL cocktail, so you might try one of those. ;)

Good heavens, Yasmin! That recipe sounds fantastic. Tender, spicy pork -- I bet you can use it in lots of different ways and in lots of different dishes.

[Mary Danielson]

Thanks for the invite, Julie - what a great party!

Hmm...I may have to go with the chocolate theme and some Black Forest Cake to the mix! There's nothing better than a mix of whipped cream, chocolate, and cherries...unless, of course, you add that wicked cyber-waiter Harry into the mix! ;)

[lareign]

Julie, nope, haven't seen LDOL around here. I went to the bookstore Friday, and Target yesterday, and no sign of it at either place. We just got a Target, and I adore it. I had missed it since moving to the heart of Wal-Mart country.

I'm fine and dandy enough. Weather is cold and getting colder, which means I turn on the space heater and the cats get really close to it and hog it. I think Lola's practically singed her fur a few times.

[RubyD]

Julie....thank you for pointing me to the right page....don't know how I missed it....just brought my favorite Baklava (I get it at our local Greek Festival in Tulsa). All the festivities are great today....love the recipe exchange...thank you for the party :)

[ReadingIsSoMuchFun]

What a party ty Julie this was lots of fun congratulations winners :)

Hugssss
LindaH

[ReadingIsSoMuchFun]

One last recipe :-)

Halloween Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Makes about 6 1/2 dozen cookies

* 4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 tablespoons baking soda
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
* 3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
* 1 3/4 cups sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1/2 cup molasses
* Royal Icing
* Paste or gel food coloring

Directions

1. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and ginger in a large bowl; sift, and set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar. Beat, starting on low speed and increasing to high, until mixture is fluffy, about 2 minutes; scrape the sides of the bowl down once with a rubber spatula. Add eggs, one at a time, and vanilla; beat on medium speed until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.

3. Turn off mixer. Add molasses, and mix on medium speed until just combined. Scrape sides of the bowl, and add dry ingredients. Mix, starting on low speed and increasing to medium high, until ingredients are just combined, about 30 seconds.

4. Transfer dough to a clean work surface. Roll the dough into four 1 1/2-inch-diameter logs. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours.

5. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap, and slice each log into 3/8-inch-thick rounds. Place rounds on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies crack slightly on the surface, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

6. When completely cool, decorate with royal icing mixed with desired food coloring.

Hugssss
LindaH