I’m mixing business with pleasure with dessert!
Today I’m reading Merger by Heather Miles and making decadent poached pears. Heather’s book is one of those naughty corporate romances I’ve always wished I were involved in. You’re going to love it!
Why I love this book
You mean besides the cover? *pant*
First of all, I love love love that Kasey is the CEO of the company. Go Girl Power! She’s smart, savvy, and confident which of course makes me really like her. Also, I really enjoyed that the book alternated between chapters from Kasey and Joshua’s point of view, but that everything was in first person. I haven’t read many books like that, and I say kudos to Heather, because that’s not easy to write. But, I love to read it, because you get to really climb inside the heads of the characters this way. And that’s the best place to really feel it when they are falling in love!
Here’s a bit more about the book:
Merger by Heather Miles
Kasey Blakely doesn’t know that her date is anything more than incredibly hot. It’s after things have moved past friendship, that she learns her new lover is also slated to be her partner in a corporate merger. He knew it all along withholding his identity to have her.
Self-assured, future CEO, Kasey Blakely stumbles into Joshua Crawford, leaving her breathless and momentarily senseless. Taken with her, he learns she’s more than just a beautiful woman, she’s slated to be his partner in a corporate merger. Never feeling as smitten or intrigued, he’ll do anything to have her, including, not revealing his last name. After a passionate exchange and the prospect he could lose her, does he come clean with his identity. Always confident, Kasey, struggles with her growing love for a man who has claimed her heart and changed her world, but should be forbidden. She’s all in…then all out. Despite the warnings not to mix business with pleasure, Kasey and Joshua risk it all. Committing to return to California with Joshua, Kasey’s world unravels. Were her fears right, or can they manage the MERGER of their hearts and their future partnership?
Pick up your copy today at Amazon.
As part of The 12 Days of Christmas celebration, Heather donated a $15 Amazon card and a giant bar of chocolate to the prize list.
About the Author
Heather Miles was raised in Kansas City, but transplanted to the most culturally diverse place in the country…The Mississippi Delta. She resides in Cleveland, Mississippi with her husband Derek Miles, and is the mother of two incredible kids.
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Red Wine and Chocolate
One more thing Kasey, the heroine, and I have in common
Why I love this recipe
I worked in the corporate world longer than I want to admit, and when it comes to mergers, aquisitions, and power meetings my key to success was fabulous food. Feed all those type A personalities, give ’em a relaxed atmosphere to talk their business, add is some fancy pants delicious dessert (especially with some tasty beverages of the tipsy kind) and you’ll get a whole lot of ‘mergers’ done. *wink*
No, really, I threw more than a few corporate shindigs and the best part was getting to pick out the menus. To celebrate Kasey and Joshua’s merger, I suggest we make a decadent dessert of wine poached pears with a chocolate sauce.
PS – This one is also great for a holiday dessert because the spices used in the reduction made my house smell like Christmas!
Poached Pears With Chocolate Sauce and Red Wine Reduction from www.culinary.net
Preparation and Cooking Time
1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours
Chill Time
1 to 2 hours
Serves
Makes 6 servings
.
- 6 Bosc or Anjou pears, peeled, stems intact
- 1 bottle (750 milliliters) red wine, such as Shiraz or Malbec
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
- Lemon peel strips (optional)
- Cut small slice from bottom of each pear. Combine wine, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon sticks in large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; add pears. (Pears do not need to be upright.) Simmer, covered, 35 to 45 minutes or until fork-tender, turning pears occasionally so they evenly absorb wine color.
- Remove pears to platter with slotted spoon, standing them upright. Refrigerate, covered, 1 to 2 hours or until cold. Reserve wine mixture in saucepan.
- Meanwhile remove and discard cinnamon sticks from wine mixture; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to about 3/4 cup and mixture coats back of spoon.
- Combine chocolate and 3 tablespoons hot wine sauce in small bowl, stirring until chocolate is melted.
- Evenly divide remaining wine sauce among 6 serving plates. Place 1 pear upright on each plate; drizzle with 2 teaspoons chocolate-wine sauce. Garnish with lemon peel, if desired.
Be sure to enter the giveaway and drop a note if you try the wine and/or Heather’s book. I’d love to hear how you liked them both.
Hugs,
–Aidy Award