The How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie Blog Tour runs from November 7^th until November 18^th, each day of the tour a different character will share their favorite recipe for Thanksgiving. Stop by and see what’s cooking in the Hauser kitchen and be sure and enter the giveaway for a $50 Williams-Sonoma Gift Card, just in time for Thanksgiving!

Brianna Bacci’s Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe

The back office at the Hauser home has been converted into a mini-video recording studio for each member of the Hauser family along with two special guests to share one of their favorite Thanksgiving recipes other than the pecan pie.

Hauser Family File: Brianna Bacci is the best friend of Lauren Hauser. Brianna is a real estate mogul, she met Lauren in college and the two have been inseparable ever since, unless she is on a date with her current beaux.

“Roll the tape.”

Brianna storms into the room her jet black hair swishes behind her. She’s in her newest Michael Kors pink dress with gold belt and matching pumps. Brianna eyes the camera and sits back onto the couch.

“Alright so here it is, I love Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, this recipe is perfect it’s got a ton of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and toasted bread crumbs on top.” Her eyes widen and she takes in a deep breath.

“It seriously could not be any more delish.” She presses her index and thumb together and thumps the air.

“This was my ultimate favorite part of Thanksgiving, other than pecan pie of course, but this year. It became one of my least favorite dishes.” Her shoulders slump and she sighs.

“Well, I’ll let Lauren fill you in on that.” She winks her right eye.

Brianna’s Cheesy Potatoes (Courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis)

1 tablespoon butter  4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons plain dry bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 13 by 9 by 2-inchbaking dish with 1 tablespoon of butter and set aside.

Cook the potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water until they are very tender, about 15 minutes. Drain; return the potatoes to the same pot and mash well. Mix in the milk and melted butter. Mix in the mozzarella and 3/4 cup of the Parmesan. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer the potatoes to the prepared baking dish. Stir the bread crumbs and remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan in a small bowl to blend. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the mashed potatoes. Recipe can be prepared up to this point 6 hours ahead of time; cover and chill. 
Bake, uncovered, until the topping is golden brown, about 20 minutes.

*Don’t miss the Hauser family Thanksgiving, available now from all these fine eBook Retailers:

Amazon US  /  Amazon UK  /  Nook US  /  Nook GB  /  Google Play  /  Kobo  /  iTunes

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*Be sure to stop by these blogs for sneak peeks and secrets from the Hauser Family!

7th November – Candy’s Raves http://candysraves.com/2014/11/how-to-bake-the-perfect-pecan-pie-blog-tour-2014/

8th November – Avid Book Hoarder http://avidbookcollector.blogspot.com/

9th November – Krysten Lindsay http://www.krystenlindsay.com/

10th November – Aurelia Rowl http://www.aureliabrowl.com/

11th November – Rosie Amber http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/

12th November – Holly Martin http://hollymartinwriter.wordpress.com/

13th November – Karen Aldous http://www.karenaldous.co.uk/blog/

14th November – Rebecca Raisin http://rebeccaraisin.wordpress.com/

15th November – eBook Review Gal http://www.ebookreviewgal.com

16th November – Mika Jolie http://mikajolie.com/

17th November – Katie Oliverhttp://www.katieoliver.com/ko/blog

18th November – Gina Henning http://www.ginahenning.com/blog

Megan McAllister is home for Christmas…whether she likes it or not!

Christmas is about family…and for Megan family means two people: herself, and her daughter Skye. It doesn’t mean her parents who, ten years ago, saw her pregnancy as anything but a miracle. And it definitely doesn’t include her irresistible ex-boyfriend Lucas Bright.

So ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ has never been top of Megan’s festive playlist. But for Skye, she knows she needs to spend the holiday season with the people she’s left behind. She can do this. Even if the thought of meeting Lucas under the mistletoe still has her feeling like she’s drunk one-too-many Snowballs!

But somewhere between the hanging of stockings and the crackle of wrapping paper, Christmas starts to sparkle. And Megan begins to wonder if family could be bigger than her and Skye after all…Pop the buck’s fizz, stoke the fire and prepare to giggle the festive season away with AL Michael!

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EXCERPT

Last week in the Village’s Number One Newspaper, our little gossip column was full of Christmas Cheer, with the flurry of ex-villagers rushing back to spend the holidays with their families.

Most of these returns aren’t surprising, and there’s something comforting about welcoming back Nell from her home in Devon, or Tony back to the butchers, where his son Nigel is, I’m sure we can all agree, doing an excellent job of keeping the family business going!

But this week, someone has returned that we never thought to see again! Megan McAllister has returned to her parental home, and with a daughter in tow! Our sources tell us her daughter’s name is Skye, she’s ten years old, and is quite the child prodigy. We are also working under the assumption that the unknown father or Megan’s child is, or was, a member of our own community! 

You all remember when Megan McAllister left, under the dark of night on Christmas eve all those years ago? Now she’s back, proving she has nothing to be ashamed of, and we say, well done to you, young lady! Welcome back to the village, Megan, (and Skye) and Merry Christmas!

Megan McAllister threw the paper down onto the table in disgust.

‘Really? They think that’s appropriate?’ she snorted.

Lucas looked up at her, eyebrows raised, ‘you do remember who runs that paper?’

‘It can’t still be Douglas, how is that man still alive?’

‘He’s fortified by rumours and other people’s misery,’ Lucas laughed, ‘plus you know who the source is, don’t you?’

‘Let me guess. Belinda,’ Megan growled, grasping her wine glass too tightly.

‘The people of the village were overjoyed when she opened up the beauty salon- now people have a place to gossip away the whole day. The place is like a wasps’ nest.’

‘I think wasp is too nice a comparison for that woman.’

‘And I think, however misjudged and inappropriate, you have to admit that I’m not the only person here who’s happy you’re back.’

 GIVEAWAY!!!

Win a Driving Home for Christmas goodie bag, including merchandise, festive treats and a £10 Amazon gift card! Enter Rafflecopter Giveaway HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A. L. MICHAEL is a twenty something writer from North London. She has a BA in Literature with Creative Writing, an MA in Creative Entrepreneurship (both from UEA) and is studying for an MsC in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes. She is not at all dependent on her student discount card.

Can you share the blurb of your book with us?

Certainly! The title is The Emerald Comb, and it’s a timeslip (dual time line) novel.

One afternoon, Katie takes a drive to visit Kingsley House, the family home of her ancestors, the St Clairs. She falls in love the minute she sees it. It may be old and in desperate need of modernisation, but it is her link to the past and, having researched her family tree extensively, she feels a sense of belonging to the crumbling old estate.

When it suddenly comes up for sale, she cannot resist persuading her family to sell up and buy it, never telling them the truth of their connection with it. But soon the past collides with the present, as the house begins to reveal the secrets it has hidden for generations. Does Katie really want to discover what she has come from?

Who is your favourite character and why?

I think I identify most with Katie, and certainly like her the best. But Georgia is sweet and innocent, and I felt most sorry for her as I wrote her part. The most fun to write was Agnes without a doubt. She’s not particularly likeable but from a writers’ point of view, she’s my favourite.

Do you have a particular time you like to write?

It’s more a case of when I can find the time! I have a full time job and lots of other time-commitments so I have to fit writing around everything else. Early evening is good, say from 7pm – 9pm, preferably with a glass of wine to hand. Or mid-afternoon on a rainy weekend.

What are you reading?

At the moment I am reading Summit 8000 by Andrew Lock. He’s Australia’s top mountaineer, and the only Australian to have climbed all the 8000m mountains in the world. I love mountains, and love mountain adventure books, so when my friend (who  happens to be an ex-girlfriend of his!) sent me this for my birthday I couldn’t wait to get straight on to reading it.

Who is your favourite author?

I adore books written in dual time periods (and that’s what The Emerald Comb is as well!) so my favourite authors are those who write this kind of book. Kate Morton and Katherine Webb are the best, in my opinion!

If your book was made into a movie who’d play the main characters?

This is hard! I watch so few films and TV I’d have to research actors before I can name any! Except for Colin Firth. He’d have to play Bartholomew, obviously, goes without saying. Perhaps Kate Winslet can play Katie, and Keira Knightley could play Agnes.  Georgia should be played by a young, sweet-faced unknown actress I think.

What’s next for you writing wise?

I’m in the final stages of editing my next Carina book – it’s another timeslip, this time alternating between 1944 and the present day. It’s due to be published early 2015. I’m also writing a short non-fiction book, and playing around with several ideas for the next novel. It’s all go!

Describe a typical writing day, do you have any rituals you use before starting?

There’s no such thing as a typical writing day for me – I have to grab writing time where I can. I do have a terrible habit of needing to check email, Twitter, Facebook, a private writers’ forum, Amazon rankings, Novelrank and KDP sales figures before I can actually get going. I’m really trying to stop myself doing all this but it’s hard!

Where can we find your book?

It’s published as an ebook  in all formats. Here are the links:

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/The-Emerald-Comb-Kathleen-McGurl-ebook/dp/B00N1XRS3K

Amazon.com.au http://www.amazon.com.au/Emerald-Comb-Kathleen-McGurl-ebook/dp/B00N1XRS3K

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-emerald-comb

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-emerald-comb-kathleen-mcgurl/1120322210?ean=9781474007504

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-emerald-comb/id915378161?mt=11

Where can we find you?

Usually on the sofa, writing.

Or online

http://kathleenmcgurl.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KathleenMcGurl

https://twitter.com/KathMcGurl

Thanks so much for hosting me here today, Rebecca!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGurl is a writer of short stories, novels and how-to-write books. She lives by the sea in Bournemouth with her husband and teen son 2. Teen son 1 is away at university. When not writing she is either working at the day-job (IT for a large retail organisation) or running along the Bournemouth prom, slowly.

She has sold dozens of stories to women’s magazines in the UK and Australia. Her how-to-write books and a romantic novella are available as ebooks from Amazon and her first full-length novel The Emerald Comb was published by Carina UK on 22nd September 2014.

Can you share the blurb of your book with us?

YOU HAD ME AT BONJOUR is about Jessica’s Shirley Valentine year.

If you’d asked Jessica a year ago, she would have told you that her life was pretty near perfect. But one year – and one very messy divorce – later, she’s not so sure. Which is how she found herself boarding a plane to the south of France, determined to put her past behind her… preferably via some deliciously chilled rosé.

Meeting a new man was never part of the plan. Yet when she meets Nico, her new neighbour’s impossibly sexy nephew, steering clear of romance seems easier said than done. Suddenly, Jessica finds herself right back where she started: with her heart on the line. But now she’s made a new start, perhaps it’s time for Jessica to throw caution to the wind, take a few risks… and learn to regrette rien!

Who is your favourite character and why?

I think Eliosa my older female heroine is my favourite. She’s half French / Italian, slim and elegant and full of that continental ‘je n’sais quois’. I just want to be her in another life!

Do you have a particular time you like to write?

Not really. I’m lucky enough to be a fulltime writer and I do try to keep to office hours but I’m the world’s champion procrastinator.

What are you reading?

I’ve just finished reading The Hidden Cottage by Erica James and I have a huge TBR list on my tablet waiting to be read.

Who is your favourite author?

Oh that’s a difficult one. I don’t really have a favourite but I’ll always buy the latest from Erica James, Jill Mansell, Veronica Henry, Judy Astley, JoJo Moyes.

If your book was made into a movie who’d play the main characters?

My dream cast would be: Raoul Bove the Italian actor who was my inspiration for my hero Nino would play the part to perfection. Jessica my heroine would be a part that Maggie Gyllenhaal would be brilliant in I think. Juliette Binoche would be a sexy Eliosa and Simon Baker as Jessica’s ex husband Ben.

What’s next for you writing wise?

At the moment I’m doing the revisions for my next Carina book due out early next year and I have a new one to write by the end of January.

Describe a typical writing day, do you have any rituals you use before starting?

Breakfast with my husband, a few household chores before dealing with e-mails and forcing myself to do some social media stuff – being an introvert I find that side of things very difficult. The only ritual is a large mug of proper coffee after this and then work. Well that’s the theory anyway!

Where can we find your book?

All the usual places e-books places: Amazon, iTunes, Kobo.

Where can we find you?

Amazon author page: http://goo.gl/CyFu3O

FB author page: http://goo.gl/5K0Bsb

Website: http://www.jenniferbohnet.com

Twitter: @jenniewriter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I live in France with my husband Richard, one large dog called Philly who we rescued from the Antibes dog shelter and one fat cat known as Little ‘un who simply turned up one day.

In 1999 Richard and I, with our then dog 14 year old Holly in a trailer attached to Richard’s bike, cycled down through western France via the canal paths, arriving in Antibes in July. With the exception of one fleeting visit back to the UK we have lived in France ever since, and recently moved into a small cottage in central Brittany.

I have two grownup children, Emily, a Montessori trained education specialist and Nick, a yacht captain. I still can’t quite believe that between them they have five children making me a grandmother – how selfish is that when I’m simply not old enough for the title. It goes without saying of course that I adore each and everyone of them and wish I saw more of them.

I am currently working on my fifth novel ‘Life’s a Beach’ once again set in the South of France.

‘Millie, opening and running her own beach restaurant in the South of France, is determined to prove her critics – and Seb Groc master-chef extraordinaire – wrong. Of course an English woman can succeed in the highly competitive world of French cuisine – can’t she?’

I am a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Authors.