#WickedRomanceGIVEAWAY Low-Fat Lemon Blueberry Scones

I spent considerable time pursuing the web for a low-fat, low-calorie cookie/cake/dessert I could make for next week's Halloween party at work. It's not the lowest recipe, but it sure sounds delicious! Will let you all know next week when I make the scones.

(Low Fat!) Lemon Blueberry Scones

Adapted from Cookie and Kate

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup white flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3 tablespoons raw sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
• zest of one lemon
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup plain non fat Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup non fat milk
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Combine flours, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl and whisk together.
3. Slice butter and drop into dry ingredients.
4. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter, fork, or use a food processor.
5. Toss blueberries in one tablespoon flour. Stir to coat.
6. Add blueberries and lemon zest and gently stir.
7. Gently mix in milk and yogurt. Use your hands to work the dough into a ball, working quickly to avoid melting the butter.
8. Form dough into a disc about 7" across. Cut into 6-10 triangles.
9. Separate slices and place on a prepared baking sheet.
10. Whisk egg. Brush tops of scones with egg wash.
11. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until light brown.

Ok, yes, the scones aren't very wicked, so how about a glimpse from Wickedly Wanton?

Wickedly Wanton: A Regency Menage Tale

5 Hearts from Sizzling Heart Books

5 Cups from Coffee Time Romance

Buy Links:

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All Romance eBooks

Ravenous Romance

Her shift lay on the floor, torn beyond repair. With a shrug, Sabine walked back to the bed, oddly comfortable with her nudeness, and found Faith’s shift.

Her friend was still asleep—arms thrown wide, naked legs open slightly, the remnants of chocolate, heavy cream, and strawberries on her skin. Licking her lips at the memory of Faith’s juices and strawberry, Sabine slipped the shift over her head. Taking a moment, she studied Faith.

Until that day by the stream, she had never thought of her friend as anything other than that. Certainly not a lover. And certainly not a woman who wanted her. Though she was sore, Sabine felt herself growing wet at the memories of Faith’s lips on her, tasting her most intimate secrets.

Lord Severn had ordered Faith to do things—kneel before Sabine, kiss her—but had not touched her. No, even as he watched Sabine kiss Faith’s chocolate-and-cream-covered breasts, he had reserved that solely for her.

Leaving Faith to her sleep, Sabine silently exited the room. She wanted to know where Lord Severn was, when he had slipped from the bed, and why.

What you can win here: A PDF copy of any of my Hellfire Club Erotique books

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Open to (INT, US or US/CAN): If you can receive an e-book, you can enter to win!

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Wickedly Wanton @allromance

September 1-15, 2012 Wickedly Wanton is free at All Romance eBooks...if you haven't read the story, now is your chance to give it a try! I've posted 2 excerpts in the past so check them out here and here for a sneak peak.

All my other Regency Ménage Tales, Seduction of a Proper Lady, Risque, and Covet are 25% off during this time as well!

Regency Era began 200 years ago today

It was 200 years ago today that the Regency Period began. It truly was a short era, 1811-1820, but according to the copious amount of books published, this time period can go from 1800-1820, though technically 1714-1811 was the Georgian Era.

In honor of this prestigious day, I'll be giving away random copies of my Regency Ménage Tale series. Simply leave a comment about why you like reading Regency romances to be entered! Any comment left between today (February 5) and Saturday (February 11) will count towards the giveaways.

Loathed by just about everyone, George Augustus Frederick was appointed Prince Regent to his father King George III on February 5th, 1811. He was a heavy drinker and a compulsive gambler.

In November 1810 the illness took possession of the king again, probably triggered by the death at the age of 27 of his youngest and favourite daughter Princess Amelia. She was a long time dying and she had a mourning ring containing a lock of her hair made for her father, which was thought to have sent him finally over the edge. He had to be put in a straitjacket and his medicine was administered by force. The royal doctors were optimistic, but it seemed clear to everyone in politics, including the Whig Prime Minister Spencer Perceval and his Cabinet, that a regency was inevitable. The prince behaved with what the Whig society hostess Lady Holland described as ‘very unusual discretion’. He kept well clear of the Whigs and told Cabinet ministers that they were the best judges of what to do, while making it plain that he had no quarrel with them and that if he was regent his treatment of them would depend entirely on their treatment of him.

In December a Regency Bill was introduced into Parliament. The Whigs wanted the Prince of Wales to be declared regent by hereditary right, but the bill passed on February 5th, 1811 was modelled on the one prepared in the crisis of 1788. The impossibility of procuring the king’s assent was got round by requiring the lord chancellor to affix the Great Seal of the Realm to letters patent naming lords commissioners who would grant the royal assent. This was an obvious dodge and the distinguished lawyer Sir Samuel Romilly described it as ‘a fraudulent trick’, but it was difficult to see a practical alternative and both houses of Parliament approved it.

Blog Hop Day 5: Excerpt Wickedly Wanton

Winner Day 4:  Ruth! Congrats :)

Normally I do a recipe on Fridays. Not because my recipe arsenal is all that impressive or because I love to cook. It's not and I don't. But I do like food. Food is important and delicious. I share because I care-who wants to eat the same thing every night? It's boring.

Today, instead of food, I'll talk excerpt. Being an adult-rated blog, this is most definitely an adult-rated excerpt. You are hereby warned.

This is my first full-length story. As any writer will tell you, writing a full-length involves a lot more than writing a short story. Now I've heard people say they can't write less than 90,000 words and I believe them, but I don't have that problem.

There are things I love and don't love about this story. It's my first, so there's that. And with firsts, I've discovered there are always things to change about the story. Would I change things in Wickedly Wanton? Yes. Will I? Nope. Moving onto to other stories, and knowing my writing keeps improving with each other. (At least I do so hope so!)

From my first full-length,a m/f/f menage, Wickedly Wanton: Regency Ménage Tale

Her shift lay on the floor, torn beyond repair. With a shrug, Sabine walked back to the bed, oddly comfortable with her nudeness, and found Faith’s shift.

Her friend was still asleep—arms thrown wide, naked legs open slightly, the remnants of chocolate, heavy cream, and strawberries on her skin. Licking her lips at the memory of Faith’s juices and strawberry, Sabine slipped the shift over her head. Taking a moment, she studied Faith.

Until that day by the stream, she had never thought of her friend as anything other than that. Certainly not a lover. And certainly not a woman who wanted her. Though she was sore, Sabine felt herself growing wet at the memories of Faith’s lips on her, tasting her most intimate secrets.

Lord Severn had ordered Faith to do things—kneel before Sabine, kiss her—but had not touched her. No, even as he watched Sabine kiss Faith’s chocolate-and-cream-covered breasts, he had reserved that solely for her.

Leaving Faith to her sleep, Sabine silently exited the room. She wanted to know where Lord Severn was, when he had slipped from the bed, and why.

Wandering the hall, she took her time examining the paintings. Several were clearly of ancestors; the men had the same long nose and penetrating deep brown eyes as Aiden Merryck, Marquess of Severn. The women, hmm, no she couldn’t detect any resemblance to the Merryck women’s soft features and laughing eyes.

Maybe around the lips—they all had full, sensual lips. While Severn’s lips weren’t full, they were sensual. And oh, how he knew to use them!

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 1

One winner per day! Did that get your attention? Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

I've never done a blog hop, have no idea what I'm getting myself into but, hey, I'm game!

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Historical, futuristic, or contemporary? Sexy menage or hot and heavy couple? Favorite time period?

When it works...

It works!

I finally figured out what was wrong with my story, Seduction of a Proper Lady. It wasn't the story. It was me.

Whenever I first start a story, I try to know where I'm going. Makes writing it so much easier. This was no exception, but it took me longer to know the characters. Sure, I knew what they were going to say and when and what the scene was all about. But knowing them proved harder this time around.

In Wickedly Wanton, I jumped in with sex, sexual teasing, and sexual talk. Seduction has more of a Regency feel to it than an erotic. Well...at least in the beginning. No worries on that!

New review

This one is from Risque Reviews, who wanted more...Yes. Wickedly Wanton was my first full length. I'm learning, and with this constructive criticism I hope Seduction of a Proper Lady is stronger.

Rating: 3 Stars
Heat Level: 2 - Wild as a Naked Game of Twister (F/F – F/M/F)
The writing in this book is great, however.  Kristabel Reed has a great style and kept the pace of the book flowing briskly; I really felt that I could “see” a lot of the scenes as they were taking place. There is a lot of action taking place so the reader never has a chance to get bored.  The sex scenes are well written and well thought out. I especially enjoy the first sex scene with three together; it was inventive, sexy and fun. 

Very real historical issues

Yesterday I posted how fun it is to break the established rules in Regency England. But sneaking around behind a chaperone's back and a same-sex or ménage relationship are totally different issues.

The first will get you married off. The second will get you killed.

Every 'traditional' Regency book you read has some sort of rule breaking going on. Why? Because it's fun, it happened, and it makes for damn good drama.

In Ann Herendeen's interview she talks about bi-and homosexuality in Regency England.

It was repressive and dangerous, from the late 17th century through the early 19th century. Sodomy was a capital offense; the church was in agreement with the laws; and most of society was either ignorant or antagonistic.


The only major change that occurred during this time was that there was an increase in arrests and prosecutions of men in the Regency [1811-1820], not because there were more gay people, but because society became more aware of the concept of same-sex activity.

My characters in both Wickedly Wanton and Seduction of a Proper Lady would have been hanged if caught. Well, first they would have been publicly humiliated, jailed (possible trial though it'd be a complete farce) then hanged. Their family and friends would also be caught in this public humiliation, and gossip like that wasn't going away.

What they're doing in finding both sexual gratification and lasting love is (according to Regency and Church Law) highly illegal and immoral. There were secret clubs for gay men, with secret codes and locations for just that reason-discovery meant scandal and death.

So while it's fun and sexy to write about threesomes, there is a very real underlying danger to what they're doing.

I'm up for book of the month!

Wickedly Wanton is up for April book of the month at Sizzling Hot Books. If the mood moves you, please vote on the right hand side for me. I'd appreciate it!

2 great reviews!

Sizzling Hot Book Reviews said this about Wickedly Wanton
...combines a little Dominant/submissive leaving you breathless and enthralled. Never would one suspect desires such as these to fall upon young ladies of this time...Wickedly Wanton lives up to its title. The sex is hot and heavy between the threesome and nothing is taboo. I think if you like extremely racy reading then be sure to pick up Wickedly Wanton by Kristabel Reed.
Read the whole review here.
This is a great site for new books, I highly recommend it!

Long and Short Reviews gave Wickedly Wanton 4 Cherries
Throw away your expectations of just what a proper English woman is and enter Ms. Reed’s version of Regency England. You’re sure to be shocked and more than a little intrigued. From the first sultry moment to the last steaming sentence, you’ll be entertained and engaged by the vivid characters and intense storyline. Never has history been so hot!
Read the whole review here.

5 star Review

Technically, that's 5 steaming cups of coffee from Coffee Time Romance Reviews. It's so nice to see lovely reviews like this. I do read all the reviews that pop up in my google alerts (or are posted on B&N [0] and Amazon [1]) and try to take into account that A) not eveyone will like what you write and B) sometimes even a so-so review has a positive spin to it for the next book in the works.

But this one understood all I wanted to convey in Wickedly Wanton and I'm so thrilled!

Read the whole review here.
I was rather surprised by the depth of emotion Kristabel Reed conveyed regarding a situation some would find to lack any. Wickedly Wanton is all the more thrilling for the era it is set in. If the author had chose modern times this story would lose its steam but in a Regency setting the scandal is what makes the story all the more thrilling. I found the characters all interesting in their own way despite the roller coaster of feelings they each inspired throughout the story. I highly recommend Wickedly Wanton for everyone because even if you find the Regency Era not to your liking Kristabel Reed just may turn your head.

e-Book sale!

Until the end of the month at All Romance e-Books all Ravenous Romance books are 25% off, including my full, Wickedly Wanton, including my newest story in the Valentine's Anthology.

Anthologies are great ways to find new authors, so check out all Ravenous's anthologies. They all have cool themes like Green Love (environmental of course) and the Merry Sexmas anthology, and the DILF Anthology

Review!

I'm thrilled with my first review for Wickedly Wanton. 4 Lips from Two Lips Reviews!! Woot!

Sheila said:

I was very intrigued by this story. I wanted to know how Ms. Reed would handle a ménage tale in a period of strict social conduct. I liked how she had the characters worrying about their public reputations while in private they were lusty. While there is a lot of sex, it is not gratuitous. It is the hottest sex I’ve read lately and kept me aroused throughout the whole tale. On a side note, I want to say I loved the cover. It truly represents what happens between the pages of Wickedly Wanton. Excellent choice and a realistic cover--well done.

Wickedly Wanton is a good read in which social mores are maintained in public while the people enjoy lusty adventures in private.  I look forward to reading more of Ms. Reed’s work.

You can read the whole review at the Two Lips Reviews site.

Wickedly Wanton Excerpt

Wickedly Wanton: a Regency Ménage Tale

Excerpt:

Her shift lay on the floor, torn beyond repair. With a shrug, Sabine walked back to the bed, oddly comfortable with her nudeness, and found Faith’s shift.

Her friend was still asleep—arms thrown wide, naked legs open slightly, the remnants of chocolate, heavy cream, and strawberries on her skin. Licking her lips at the memory of Faith’s juices and strawberry, Sabine slipped the shift over her head. Taking a moment, she studied Faith.

Until that day by the stream, she had never thought of her friend as anything other than that. Certainly not a lover. And certainly not a woman who wanted her. Though she was sore, Sabine felt herself growing wet at the memories of Faith’s lips on her, tasting her most intimate secrets.

Lord Severn had ordered Faith to do things—kneel before Sabine, kiss her—but had not touched her. No, even as he watched Sabine kiss Faith’s chocolate-and-cream-covered breasts, he had reserved that solely for her.

Leaving Faith to her sleep, Sabine silently exited the room. She wanted to know where Lord Severn was, when he had slipped from the bed, and why.

Wandering the hall, she took her time examining the paintings. Several were clearly of ancestors; the men had the same long nose and penetrating deep brown eyes as Aiden Merryck, Marquess of Severn. The women, hmm, no she couldn’t detect any resemblance to the Merryck women’s soft features and laughing eyes.

Maybe around the lips—they all had full, sensual lips. While Severn’s lips weren’t full, they were sensual. And oh, how he knew to use them!

Shaking her head at her thoughts, she moved on, past the ancestral paintings to the pastoral settings. She skipped the wood nymphs and their teasing flight from the aroused god, but stopped before a girl pumping water from the well. Her master stood in the doorway of his house with a look so hungry, so sensual on his face, Sabine shivered.

She understood that now, understood that look and all it promised. Licking her lips, barely aware of the movement, she remembered Severn inside her. Taking her virginity, making her feel things she was unaware existed. She wanted him again, despite her body’s tenderness.

All Romance eBooks

Wickedly Wanton: a Regency Ménage Tale is in the top 10 under Regency on All Romance eBooks. I know this because it has a cool silver star beside it.

Wickedly Wanton: Excerpt

I'm still psyched over the release of my first fill-length story. Anthologies are really cool, don't get me wrong.  I'm looking forward to being in the Passionately Ever After one, plus I'm still waiting to hear back on a couple of my submissions.

But my first solo story? I now know why people celebrate, you can be sure I did!

Wickedly Wanton: A Regency Ménage Tale

Excerpt:

The closer they got to the manor house, the more nervous she became. Sabine watched the landscape roll past, alternatively glad Lord Severn sent his plush, gilt-edge carriage and wishing she’d insisted they’d walked. But she feared that if they’d walked, she would have changed her mind and convinced Faith to forget about this mad adventure.

This was more than sneaking out from their dormitory or playing pranks on her townhouse neighbors.

She smoothed her fingers down her gown, striving to unclench them from the material. She’d agreed to this because she wanted to know the sensuality of passion as well as to thumb her nose at Mr. Reddick—and her father.

But with each rotation of the carriage’s wheels, her resolve failed her, and Sabine wished she hadn’t accepted Lord Severn’s invitation.

“What did the footman say?” she asked Faith again, for possibly the fifth time since her friend had returned from her errand yesterday, flushed, excited, and whispering incessantly about today’s escapade.

“Nothing,” she said, and Sabine swore she bounced in her seat. “He nodded, bowed, and disappeared. If what Lord Severn promised us at the picnic is true, this will all be as silent as the grave.”

Sabine nodded and as they pulled up the long drive, the house came into view. It was a beautiful structure, large and equally proportioned. Curtained windows sat evenly spaced, and not a soul stirred in the open courtyard. Not even a dog, Sabine thought as she stepped out of the carriage.

The carriage pulled away, the driver and footman not looking in their direction. Eyes closed, Sabine turned to the entrance, praying she wouldn’t lose her nerve. It was far too late now. There was a note pinned to the highly polished oak door.

In strong, clear writing across the front read Miss Sabine Stanton.

Ladies,
The servants have been discharged and we’ve the house to ourselves for an afternoon of games and merriment.
We shall begin with a hunt. Through the house, into the gardens, make your way to the statue of Hermes. There you’ll find your first instructions.
Severn

Release day!

I'm so excited to announce my first full length book, Wickedly Waton: a Regency Ménage Tale is released today!

Blurb:

Sabine Stanton has struggled all her life to be the prim and proper English miss. She knows she must marry a man older than her father but doesn't want to go to her marriage bed untutored in the ways of sex. When Aiden, Lord Severn, catches her kissing her closest friend, he offers to show the both of them one afternoon's worth of erotic delights.

Aiden is intrigued with Sabine, her wantonness, her desire to experience life, even the protection and love she shows her friend. One afternoon isn't enough, but she's promised to another. Intent on having her, Aiden sets out to destroy the other man and have Sabine to himself.

Faith has always loved Sabine, and with her impending marriage knows she'll never have the chance to show her closest friend just how much. Jumping at Aiden's offer of an afternoon together, she realizes she can't give up Sabine. Vowing to do whatever it takes to keep her friend happy and sated, Faith doesn't imagine the danger their happy threesome can stir. 

News

Just learned that my first story, Wickedly Wanton: A Regency Ménage Tale may be released within the next couple of weeks. I'm already doing the happy dance!