Susi Reviews Three Christmases by Kat & Stone Bastion @KatBastion @StoneBastion

Susi Reviews

Three Christmases by Kat & Stone Bastion 

As the holiday season approaches in this fourth book in the No Weddings Series, Cade Michaelson strives to be better at balancing work and love, and Hannah Martin’s growing ability to trust is put to the test.

Lust and friendship brought us together, but with the increasing demands of my two businesses, Hannah’s thriving bakery, and our successful event-planning company, stability becomes my focus.

Then a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity takes me to the West Coast, and everything goes into a tailspin.

Laughter, love, and excitement fill our lives, but Cade refuses to settle into the wonderful bliss we’ve found—he wants spectacular fireworks and an unshakable foundation. Driven like no one I’ve ever met, Cade insists a dream job across the country will be better for our future together, but I worry about whether we can survive the present apart.

When intimate time diminishes…and lives get more hectic…

Will a little bit of faith be all that it takes? Or will the sacrifice to get there be too great?

 

My Review

First of all, I want to start with this, “The No Weddings Series has to be one of my top favorite series this year!”   Hannah and Cade are up there in my favorite couples category too.   This series has made me smile, laugh, worry, swoon and smile again and again.  Reading this last book in the series was bittersweet for me.  I had my own idea of how I wanted this spectacular series to end but Kat and Stone’s idea was better.  And, I truly loved it.

The story of Cade and Hannah is one that I admire.  Throughout these four books, their relationship has developed, intensified and thrived.  This last book presents new challenges for the couple.  Of course, these challenges are what makes these characters so real.  Life isn’t always perfect.  Obstacles once again blur their future.  Hannah deals with meeting her father and Cade deals with a promising business opportunity.  Both of their lives become more complicated but their love, even with this new long distance hurdle remains strong.

Just like in the other three books, the sisters and their party planning business remain part of their lives.  In this book, three unique Christmas parties are in the works.  I have enjoyed the party planning since it has brought so many entertaining moments to this series.

This book is written in both Hannah and Cade’s point of view, so getting inside each of their minds has been a sweet treat.  Their sexy banter along with Cade’s ….. sexy as fuck, well you know, use of condiments  (And, if you don’t, get to it! Read this series NOW!) continues making this another 5 star read.  Be prepared for funny moments too.  Dressing rooms and closets can be quite interesting.

It was wonderful to read and witness how this couple grew from that first party when Hannah was just the “Ice Queen and Cade was a player.

“Last New Year’s. I’d been a player who’d had girls’ numbers on a sticky note list, a damaged man who’d buried himself into business and accomplishment just to be able to wake up each morning.  This New Year’s approached, and I’d become a changed man, all because of one Ice Queen baker who’d melted my heart.”

Well, I am not going to give away the ending but I have to tell you, It is soooo good!  Cade never ceases to amaze me and is indeed an amazing planner. Swoon…

“Why’d you toss out your rule?”

Rolling halfway onto her, I gave her a lazy smile. “You are the exception to every rule.”

Cade’s sisters are awesome.  I would love to read more about them in the future.

Three Christmases is a 5 star read!

Congrats again to this dynamic writing duo on a marvelous series!

I can’t wait to read the novella, For Valentine’s.

---

 

 

 

Follow Kat Bastion & Stone Bastion 

Read Kat’s official website:  www.katbastion.com

Read Kat’s blog page: www.talktotheshoe.com

Latest project: No Weddings Series

I’m thrilled to be co-authoring with Stone Bastion, my husband, in a contemporary romance series!

No Weddings (9/8/14)
One Funeral (9/29/14)
Two Bar Mitzvahs (10/20/14)
Three Christmases (11/17/14)
…plus a steamy nightcap novella
For Valentine’s (1/5/14)

I’m fortunate to have won several awards for my paranormal romance writing in the first novel of the Highland Legends Series. The first two books are now available on Amazon:

Forged in Dreams and Magick
Bound by Wish and Mistletoe (a novella)

Slated for release in Winter 2014/2015:
~ Born of Mist and Legend
~ Found in Flame and Moonlight

Please also visit the Charity Support and Awareness page on both my blog and website, outlining how a portion of the proceeds of all of my books will go to charities that fight against human trafficking.

 

 

Crème de Vie (Cuban Egg Nog)

When I was a little girl, I looked forward to the Christmas Season for obvious reasons.  I loved the presents. However, it was during this time of the year that I would watch my Mom in the kitchen as she prepared her famous Crème de Vie or Cuban Egg Nog.  

It was a tradition to prepare bottles of this sweet and tasty drink and give it to the neighbors, family and friends.  I especially remember toasting on Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) with this drink in hand.

Now, my mother’s recipe is not original.  In fact, as I converse with friends and colleagues of Cuban descent, this recipe is popular in their households too.

Well, it is the Christmas Season.  So here is the recipe.  It means Creme of Life.  Let me warn you, drink with care.  You may not realize the effects until you have had too much.

 Ingredients

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 6 egg yolks
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ cup white rum (you can add more if you love rum like me)

1) Make your simple syrup.  Start off by mixing the sugar and water together over very low heat.   Stir it constantly until the sugar dissolves – about 3 minutes. It has to be just low enough so that the sugar doesn’t caramelize, but makes a thick sugary water.

2) Add the egg yolks in a blender and mix with the condensed milk.

3) Add the evaporated milk slowly and mix completely.

4) Add the vanilla. ( Use pure vanilla extract)

5) Pour the mixture into the sugar-water and mix together.

6) Finally stir in the rum.

7) Let mixture cool.

8) Pour into glass bottles and refrigerate.  (It tastes better the next day)

9) Serve in shot glasses as an after dinner drink.

10) Cheers!!

If you have a variation to this recipe, feel free to share it with me.

Happy Holidays!

~Susi