Happy 2016!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Here's to a wonderful 2016!

All my best,

Penny

What's Coming Up In 2016!

What's Coming Up In 2016?

1. A new website, HAPPY HEART READS, with Lex Callahan and Laura K. Curtis. A positive perky hang-out place with Happy Hour every Friday afternoon. Stay tuned for more information...the website will be up and running on January 8.

We are hosting a Facebook Launch Party on January 8 (Happy Hour) from 6-8 pm. Please add it onto your calendar and stop by to chat about favorite comfort reads, post pet pics, and win prizes!

2. Some new books...

 

 THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF JOHN B. HAMILTON AND THE BLUEBERRY PIE

--inspired by Twitter conversation and the book BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL

 --atypical NA/YA story with a hint of paranormal

 TIPPING THE BOAT

--romantic comedy novella

--in SILVER BELLES, an over-40 anthology coming Christmas 2016

 --with lots of other amazing authors...I can't wait!

--curated by Laura K. Curtis

SWEET DESTINY

Klaus Brothers Series #5

The Final Chapter

--holiday romance

--the final installment of the Klaus Brothers Series

--Wolfgang's story

--set in Cranville, VT, the same town where Ami and Marcus live (from LUMBERJACK IN LOVE)...get ready for appearances from some favorite characters!

3. Some events...

NECRWA Conference
April 29-30, 2016
Burlington, MA
Workshop Presenter

Warm Up Your Heart with a Little Romance Author Panel
Mount Kisco Public Library
February 13, 2016

LET'S GET READY FOR 2016!

Merriest of Days!

Merry Christmas To All!

Don't forget...the Great Big Holiday Give-Away is open through December 25th. 

Have a wonderful holiday,

Penny

There's a Tremor in the Force

Pre-pre-Christmas Eve-updates...

1. *BEWARE OF SPOILERS...PROCEED WITH CAUTION* I went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens with the whole family. First time the whole family had attended a movie in YEARS. Overall assessment...disappointed. Could they not come up with some original storylines? Most of the film felt like a rehash of old plot from the original Star Wars movie, including the big climatic battle scene. *yawn* I've seen that before. Also, I don't believe for one hairy second that a child of Leia and Han would turn to the Dark Side. Hell to the no. And since we never got to see this character before, I was not invested in him at all. Huge misstep. I also thought the older characters were not well utilized in this film.

On the bright side, REY IS FABULOUS! So is Finn...the best part of the plot was the premise that a Stormtrooper defects to the other side. Now THAT was a good plot twist. Both Rey and Finn were fantastic characters and promise to do great things in the future. Let's just hope the writers can come up with some original storylines for the next movie! #MAYTHEFORCEBEWITHYOU


2.

I'm not sure who I feel most sorry for...Steve Harvey who accidentally announced the wrong winner for Miss Universe 2015. Miss Colombia who accidentally won, and then had the crown ripped off her lovely head. Or Miss Philippines, who was confused as hell after she was told she lost, then she won, then...WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?

What a freakin' mess!

On the bright side, MISS PHILIPPINES WON! #FILIPINOPOWER


3. A TASTE OF HEAVEN is now on sale! Voted a "2015 MUST READ ROMANCE NOVEL" at About.com. Only #99CENTS!

Purchase here...
Amazon 
B/N
Kobo


4. I discovered a new erotica series about handymen. Hee hee! Robin Stone is a debut author with three new books...about a handyman, a deliveryman, and a landscaper. Schwing! I read DELIVERY MAN last night and was really impressed. Not only is it well-written, but it also had a cute little story and some sweetness and emotion thrown in with the CRAZY HOT SEX! And I was amused by the "timed deliveries." If you ever had a UPS-guy-fantasy, then this is the book for you! #HANDYMANFORTHEWIN

5. The Penny Watson Great Big Holiday Give-Away is still going on through December 25. Please leave a comment to win...or shoot me an email to enter.

Leave a comment on any one of these 5 posts...

Penny Watson's Great Big Holiday Give-Away

Jen Porter's Fabulous Holiday Cupcakes

Penelope's Etsy Favorites

Introducing Happy Heart Reads

The Naughty Side of Christmas


Don't miss the debut spanky elf erotica by Miss Pepper Minty...ELLIE'S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS TREAT. #THENAUGHTYLISTISFUN

DOWNLOAD HERE!

That's all folks.

Happy Holidays,
Penny

The Naughty Side of Christmas

 

Welcome back to THE GREAT BIG HOLIDAY GIVE-AWAY!

This is the final post for the day: THE NAUGHTY SIDE OF CHRISTMAS.
Jen Porter and I are making some recommendations for naughty holiday erotica. AND...my identical twin sister from the wrong side of the tracks--Miss Pepper Minty--is giving away a freebie spanky elf story. PLUS...Jen Porter is giving away a copy of her favorite erotica for the year, Kneel, Mr. President. 

❊

It's almost Christmas!

On one side of the holiday, we have wholesome traditions and family-friendly movies.

And on the other side of the holiday, we have...

...spanky elves.

And shape-shifting reindeer with huge sexual appetites. Smoky hot trapped-in-a-cabin erotica. And BDSM, menage, and other kinky holiday stories.

Take your pick. If you're looking for naughty, Jen Porter and I have quite a few recommendations.

And...as a special surprise, my super naughty identical twin sister, Miss Pepper Minty, has a never-before-published spanky elf erotica to offer as a free gift today! Check the bottom of the post for the download.

The Naughty Side of Christmas...Some Recommendations:

CHRISTMAS ELF by Tielle St. Clare

(Review from 2011)

I LOVED this one! The first half of the book has no sex....just a build up of sexual attraction between an innocent elf kicked out of the North Pole and a jaded businessman who has lost his Christmas spirit. The second half of the book was extremely erotic...but the story also manages to be sweet and satisfying. And very holiday-themed...about family, love, and capturing the spirit of Christmas. Also filled with humor and hilarious dialogue. LOVED it!

Grade: A

✵✵✵

SANTA'S WAYWARD ELF by Paige Tyler

(Review from 2011)

This is an adorable, well-written holiday romance. One of Santa's elves gets lost in the Big Apple and has an unexpected adventure with a hot cop. Tyler did a great job with this story. It's a fun twist on the legend of Santa Claus and the North Pole, with a romantic suspense plot-line. The characters were wonderful, the sex was hot, and the ending was sweet. The pacing was spot-on until the crime story took over a bit at the end, but otherwise this was close to perfect. I will definitely be reading more books by Paige Tyler.

Grade: 5 Jumbo Mugs of Eggnog! (A-) 

✵✵✵

SNOW JOB by Delphine Dryden

(Review from 2011)

Delphine Dryden has some excellent writing chops. How do I know this? I forgot I was reading. I was so immersed in this story, I read the whole thing at once. Honestly, I shouldn't have liked this as much as I did. It was a contemporary w/ a sort of borderline-douchey estranged hubby (didn't like his sexual tactics to get his wife back), a sometimes irritating judgmental wife (can you say "tree-hugger"?), and a pretty mellow storyline (estranged couple thrown together for a "fake" Christmas celebration). Nevertheless, I absolutely loved this book. Dryden's writing is fantastic....smooth and mellow like the finest eggnog whiskey buttery toffee candy. Yeah, that's it! Candy! I really really really really like her writing. And even though some of the sex scenes made me slightly uncomfortable (the little wifey was filled w/ guilt), they were hot! Karl was a fine example of husband-turned-alpha-male-to-get-the-little-wifey back. Although he had some douchey moments, I ended up rooting for him, and hoping Elyce would drop the fig-up-his-ass-tree-hugger-wanna-be-boyfriend faster than some recycled cardboard. And she did! And, as an added bonus...there was some spanky time! Spanky hanky-holiday-panky.

Grade: A-

✵✵✵

KIDNAPPED FOR CHRISTMAS by Evangeline Anderson

(Review from 2010)

It's your typical holiday story...girl meets boy (by being kidnapped), boy spanks girl and gives her the best sexual experience of her life, girl falls in love with boy (after a few minutes), boy and girl have a huge misunderstanding involving a diabetic cat's name (which also happens to be the "safe word" for their BDSM play, unbeknownst to the girl), boy and girl pine for each other for three long, lonely weeks, girl shows up at boy's place of work in a trench coat and sexy lingerie, boy and girl make up with a spanking and sex-on-a-table, girl invites boy to her family's Christmas party.

So, here's what I liked about it...the heroine is "curvy" (not a skinny supermodel) and the hero is totally hot for her. The sex is spicy, the BDSM is "light" (not too crazy), and even though this story really has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, it's a fun, sexy read. I just find the whole idea of these two "falling in love" pretty ludicrous (as far as I know, it takes more than some spanking to fall in love), but other than that I thought this was an entertaining read.

Grade: B/B+

And now some recommendations from Jen Porter, 
ROMANCE NOVEL NEWS...

Season of Seduction Anthology 

Includes Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy (a very kinky story about a woman on a holiday vacation who discovers the joy of giving up control), Naughty Nicks by Christine d’Abo (a sexy holiday novella with Santa strippers that is also extremely funny), Menage on 34th Street by Emily Logan (a m/m/f menage with lots of naughty moments and a sequel), and Matzoh and Mistletoe by Jodie Griffin (another kinky romance featuring a Jewish heroine and a dominant cop).

Christmas Stocking by Teresa Noelle Roberts 

This is a short story about a Dom, his sub, and a pair of stockings. Super hot! 

Christmas Alpha by Carole Mortimer

This romance has a blizzard that strands the main characters alone together and lots of super sexy moments. A great story to curl up on the couch with when the weather outside is frightful! 

A Kinky Christmas Carol Anthology 

Includes Getting Scrooged by Eden Bradley, Not So Tiny Tim by Robin L. Rotham, and Marley in Chains by R.G. Alexander. All three stories feature some hot holiday menages. The more the merrier especially around the holidays.

 All I Want for Christmas by Kelly Jamieson

A short novella with a stressed out heroine, the finance director, and a drunken but sexy encounter at a holiday work party.

✻

THANKS FOR THE RECS, JEN! 

Now it's time for a FREE GIFT!

...compliments of my identical twin sister, Miss Pepper Minty. She wrote a very naughty spanky elf erotica. She's totally getting coal in her stocking! I know it!

Anyhoo, this is a very short story...about 2000 words. It includes naughty words and naughty content, and yeah...naughty stuff.

DOWNLOAD

ELLIE'S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS TREAT

by Pepper Minty  

And we have one more special give-away! Jen Porter has a favorite naughty read for 2015, and we're giving away a copy of this book...

From Jen Porter: One of my favorite books of 2015 is Lauren Gallagher's Kneel, Mr. President, an erotic, menage romance featuring a submissive President of the United States hero, his wife and the head of his security detail (a m/m/f menage). To read more, check out my review here! 


To be entered for this give-away, please leave a comment with your favorite naughty xmas book, your email addy, and your location (US/Overseas). Or you can shoot me an email. THANKS!

For complete list of prizes, see the original post.

HUGE thanks to everyone who hung out with us today. This give-away is open until December 25. Just leave a comment after any of the five posts today.

Happy Holidays!

Penny  

Introducing Happy Heart Reads!

Welcome back to the GREAT BIG HOLIDAY GIVE-AWAY!
This is post #4: INTRODUCING HAPPY HEART READS
Leave a comment after the post to enter the contest, or shoot me an email.

♥︎

You know how some days you just can't handle getting on-line because there is so much negativity?

Depressing news and traumatic images and stuff that make you want to fling yourself off a bridge?

Yeah, I know.

Well, Laura K. Curtis, Lexxi Callahan, and I were feeling the same way. We wished there was somewhere to go that would be a mood-lifter, a happy safe place with positive news and images and stories. So, we decided to make up our own website...

HAPPY HEART READS
www.happyheartreads.com

Coming January 2016

What is it?

A website that promotes feel good romance...

Books that make us happy...

Puppy pictures!

And kittens, of course...

Awesome movies...

Fabulous trips and travel adventures...

Delicious food...

Inspiring music...

(No comments please. Yes, I'm 49-years-old and I love One Direction.)

 

Exciting events...

 

And every Friday afternoon, we'll be hosting HAPPY HOUR which will include a gift card give-away. Be sure to stop by and share happy positive news!

We are looking for guest posts from EVERYONE!

Authors, bloggers, readers, reviewers, 
your grandmother's favorite cookie recipe,
your garden pictures, a favorite Julie Garwood book, ANYTHING!


 We'll be announcing the grand opening of HAPPY HEART READS soon.

Stay tuned.

Penny, Lexxi, and Laura

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT TO ENTER THE GIVE-AWAY!
You can also shoot me an email.
Let us know if there are any features 
you would like to see on the new website.
For a complete list of prizes, see the original post.
THANKS!

Penelope's Etsy Favorites!

Welcome back to the GREAT BIG HOLIDAY GIVE-AWAY!
Who's ready to shop? ETSY is the place to go--for holiday shopping, birthdays, any occasion.
Here are some of my favorite items!

Don't forget to leave a comment at the end of the post in order to enter the give-away,
or shoot me an email.
Tell me your favorite place to shop!

1

Vintage Floral Tattoo Sleeve Hoodie by Ahpeele

2

Silver Leaf Earrings by ConstantBaubling

3

Seek Magic Art Print by Katie Daisy

4

Little Winter Christmas Mouse by feltingdreams

5

Over the Rainbow Soap by Be Greatful Shop

6

Little Dog Big Kisses Necklace by Crafting 4 Cause

7

Set of 2 Turkish Towels by Loovee

8
Dachshund Ornament by cockTHEshutter

9
Glass Coasters by Avolie Glass

10
Sunflower Note Card by Flanders Field

HAPPY SHOPPING TO ALL!

Love,
Penny

Leave a comment to enter the give-away,
or shoot me an email.
Tell me your favorite spot to shop!
Be sure to include email and location.
For complete list of prizes, see the original post.
Stay tuned for the next post, INTRODUCING HAPPY HEART READS!
Coming at 2:00 pm.

Jen Porter's Fabulous Holiday Cupcakes

Welcome back to Penny Watson's GREAT BIG HOLIDAY GIVE-AWAY! This is post #2, Jen Porter's Fabulous Holiday Cupcakes. Jen (from Romance Novel News) made some incredible holiday cupcakes recently, and I begged her for the recipes. In typical Jen fashion, these cupcakes have a smidge of naughty. *wink* Enjoy! 

Don't forget to leave your name and location in the comments section to enter the give-away. Or shoot me an email. And tell us your favorite holiday sweet treat!

THANK YOU, JEN!

❊ ❊ ❊

Holiday Cupcakes!

I adore cupcakes. They are very festive and give the baker the ability to be creative in terms of decoration. I like to add different flavors to the cupcake batter and/or make different types of frosting. One of my recent discoveries is Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes. I admit that I resisted trying Guinness cake for years, afraid that the taste of beer would ruin the cake. But there is no beer flavor, just chocolatey goodness.

Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes (quantity 24 cupcakes)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• ½ cup of cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp of salt
• 1 & ½ tsp of baking soda
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup of light or dark brown sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter - softened
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup of sour cream
• 1 bottle (12 oz) of Guinness or other stout beer

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare cupcake baking pans (with butter or cupcake liners).
• Mix the following dry ingredients together in a bowl: flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
• In a stand mixer with paddle attachment (or hand mixer), mix the butter, sugar and brown sugar. Beat together until all are incorporated together.
• Add 1 egg and beat until evenly mixed. Don’t forget to scrape down the edges of the bowl.
• Add the 2nd egg and the vanilla extract. Beat until incorporated.
• Add the sour cream and beat together.
• With the mixer still running, SLOWLY add in the Guinness.
• Sift the above mentioned dry ingredients (the flour, cocoa powder & baking soda) into the batter until everything is evenly mixed. Be sure there are no pockets of flour on the sides or on the bottom of the bowl.
• Put ¼ cup of batter into each cup in the cupcake pans. You should get about 24.
• Cook on the middle rack of the fully-heated oven for 20-25 mins. You will know they are done if you insert a toothpick into the cupcake and it comes out clean.
• Let the cupcakes cool to room temperature before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients:

• 1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 4oz stick of unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups of confectioner’s sugar

Instructions:

• In a stand mixer (or hand mixer), mix the cream cheese, butter and confectioner’s sugar. Beat these until light and fluffy.
• If you are adding anything else to the frosting, mix in now (more information to come).

That is the basic recipe for the cupcakes and for the cream cheese frosting, but you can add so much more.

One of my favorite things to do is to add chocolate chips to the cake batter (dark chocolate works best because these cupcakes are dark). This is really good with Bailey’s cream cheese frosting. For this just add some Bailey’s into the frosting after you’ve got it mixed completely. The amount is completely up to you. Taste it to get a sense of what works for you. Once frosted, decorate with more chocolate chips or even dust some cocoa powder over them.

Do you like mint chocolate? Cut up some mint chocolates and add them to the cake batter. Instead of Baileys in the frosting, try peppermint schnapps or if you prefer something non-alcoholic substitute peppermint extract for the vanilla extract in the recipe. Green food coloring can give the frosting a festive look as can sprinkling some of those mint chocolate pieces over the tops of the cupcakes.

Grand Marnier also adds a great flavor to the cream cheese frosting. I didn’t add anything to the cake batter with these but did top these cupcakes with strawberries.

I am sure there are many more great combinations too!

❊ ❊ ❊

Holy Cupcake! These look amazing. Huge thanks to Jen Porter for these tasty recipes.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in the give-away today--or shoot me an email. Leave your email and location (US, overseas, etc). And let us know your favorite holiday sweet treat!
For complete list of prizes, see original post here.

Stay tuned for the next post, coming up at 12 pm.

Post #3: Penelope's ETSY Favorites, a shopping guide! 

Penny Watson's Great Big Holiday Give-Away

SANTA! I KNOW HIM!

Well, maybe not personally. But close enough! 

Thanks to twenty-five fabulous authors, I have tons of fun give-aways today.

WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY?
5 POSTS...

1. Give-Away Intro Post (you're reading it!) -- 6 am

2. Jen Porter's Kick-Ass Holiday Cupcakes -- 10 am

3. Penelope's ETSY Favorites -- 12 pm

4. Introducing Happy Heart Reads! -- 2 pm

5. The Naughty Side of Christmas -- 4 pm

How to enter for a chance to WIN?

Just leave a comment after any one of the five posts, 
and you'll be entered.

Please remember to include your EMAIL ADDRESS and your LOCATION.

Some gifts will be shipped within the USA. Other items are worldwide!

If you are having trouble leaving a comment, shoot me an email and you'll be entered. 

Penny Watson's EMAIL

WHAT ARE THE GIVE-AWAY ITEMS?

ETSY Gift Card

Amazon Gift Card (From Happy Heart Reads)

Christmas Etsy Pendants (from Pixie Whimsy)

Klaus Brothers Series gift pack--includes soaps, lip balm and books (US only)

Jen Porter's CHOICE (book)

Free Spanky Elf Erotica from Pepper Minty
AND 25 MORE AMAZING BOOKS...

AND ALL THESE BOOKS!...

Penny Watson A TASTE OF HEAVEN book and gift pack (US only)
Laura K. Curtis TOYING WITH HIS AFFECTIONS and GAMING THE SYSTEM
Lexxi Callahan SOUTHERN STYLE SERIES
Laura Florand ONCE UPON A ROSE
Zara Keane HER TREASURE HUNTER EX
Jesse Hayworth STARTING OVER AT MUSTANG RIDGE
Carolyn Crane KINKY BANK ROBBERS 3-BOOK BUNDLE
Tiffinie Helmer BUSHWHACKED audio book or e-book
Christine DePetrillo FIREFLY MOUNTAIN
Caroline Linden LOVE AND OTHER SCANDALS
Katie O'Sullivan CRAZY ABOUT YOU
Julia Barrett THE SOUL SERIES (print...US only)
Barbara Wallace MILLIONAIRE FOR CINDERELLA
Cecilia London DISSIDENT
Jessi Gage HOLIDAY BARGAIN and WISHING FOR A HIGHLANDER
Pamela Kelley MISTLETOE IN MONTANA
Teresa Noelle Roberts BAD KITTY
Lena Goldfinch THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE and SLEIGH BELLS AND MISTLETOE
Heather Rigney HUNTING THE MERROW and T-shirt (US only)
Darlene Marshall THE PIRATE'S SECRET BABY
Jennifer Hallock UNDER THE SUGAR SUN
Samantha Wayland CHECKING IT TWICE
Victoria Morgan THE DAUGHTER OF AN EARL
Liberty Blake THE MISPLACED BRIDE
Lauren Gallagher KNEEL MR. PRESIDENT (Jen Porter's CHOICE)

Contest is open until December 25...CHRISTMAS DAY!

So, let's talk Christmas! Have you read any great holiday romances lately? Let me know! Leave a comment below to enter the give-away. Thanks for stopping by. And stay tuned for Post #2, coming up at 10 am...Jen Porter's Fabulous Holiday Cupcakes! Don't miss it!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

Penny