Showing posts with label Gina Henning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gina Henning. Show all posts

Monday, June 8, 2015

Book Review & Blog Tour ~ How to Bake the Perfect Apple Pie (Home for the Holidays Book 3) by Gina Henning {Giveaway}


How to Bake the Perfect Apple Pie
Home for the Holidays Book 3
by Gina Henning



A scrumptious pie. A long distance guy. 4th of July fireworks guaranteed.

Lauren Hauser has it all…nearly. With a shiny new job and sparkly new engagement ring on her finger, the only thing she’s missing is her gorgeous new fiancé by her side. Should she be worried? Jack’s kisses are as sizzling as always and, sure, long distance is hard but, she and Jack are solid, right?

Of course the stress of planning a wedding—or not—is nothing compared to the stress of baking an apple pie. Because it’s not just any apple pie that Lauren must bake for the 4th of July contest; it’s her grandmother’s famous, award-winning apple pie! Yet Lauren is determined to make this pie her own and a little apple pie should be no problem for the Hauser clan dessert queen…!

But with her new job taking up so much time, a prize pie to perfect and the growing distance between her and Jack, Lauren begins to wonder if she can really have it all… Only one things for sure, there’ll be fireworks this 4th of July!

Lauren's grandmother, the sweetheart that she is, has given Lauren the task of baking an apple pie.  But this is no ordinary pie, mind you.  Nope, this is grandmother's famous pie that has won all sorts of awards.  Not only does she want Lauren to make this pie, she wants her to tweak it, make it her own, and enter it into a contest during the 4th of July fair.  Shouldn't be a problem, right? Well, for Lauren who's kitchen skills are lacking, this will be a challenge for her.   When a surprise entry shows up to the contest - well, it's game on!

On top of the pressure of making the apple pie, Lauren is having to deal with the stress of a long distance relationship with Jack.  Commuting back and forth to visit each other is taking a toll on her and it is even harder when Jack won't commit to a wedding date.  Lauren and Jack are just so cute together - well, when they are together. 

And then....just when the pressure isn't high enough, Lauren's new job has provided an interesting obstacle named Trent.  Man, this guy is kind of creepy in my opinion.  Trent is every Human Resource Office's perfect nightmare.  Rumors and gossip are rampant, sales numbers are low and it is all taking a toll on Lauren.

Yeah, there is a lot going on in this installment and it was so much fun to read!  Oh my gosh, I absolutely loved this book!  I have read the other two books in this series, but this is by far my favorite of the three. Lauren's family is such a hoot, and caused several 'laugh-out-loud' moments as I was reading.  Once I picked this book up, everything in my life was put on hold because I just could not put it down.  Yep....a seriously good book.  The romance, the characters and their own personal issues were realistic and relatable.  Everything from the story, to the writing, to the characters was perfect - just like the apple pie!

If you are looking for a light-hearted romance with some humorous moments, then you really need to check out this series.  Ms. Henning continues to improve on her already amazing talent and is definitely an author you need to check out.

5 stars

                                                                                 
      Amazon US * Amazon UK *  Nook * Nook  GB * Google Play *  Kobo *  iBooks




Gina Henning currently resides where bluebonnets line the highways in the spring, but she prefers the rock flower anemone from under the sea. Above the ocean's surface Gina likes to dance with her three boys and travel to exotic places like the grocery store with her husband. Her pooch Schatzi is a mix between German Shepherd and possibly pig. One of Gina's favorite pastimes is running. She recently completed her one-and-done marathon. At the end of the day her glass of wine is always half-full.





Thursday, December 11, 2014

Book Review ~ How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake (Home for the Holidays - Book 2) by Gina Henning

How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake
(Home for the Holidays - Book 2)
by Gina Henning


Don't miss the brilliant second book in the 'Home for the Holidays' series from Gina Henning.

A DELICIOUS CAKE. A GUY WHO IS LATE. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

After the best Thanksgiving of her life, Lauren Hauser can't wait to see Jack-the-pecan-hoarder so they can finally be in the same place at the same time. Long distance really doesn't work when you're head over heels!

But when Jack doesn't turn up at the airport Lauren is left wondering if their relationship is really as great as she thought? Sure Jack's kisses were delicious and when he looked at her, her knees felt weak, but what did they really know about each other?

A big Hauser family Christmas is just what is needed for this situation. Not only will her mom be decking the halls with boughs of monstrous-Christmas-decorations, but Lauren is baking a Christmas cake to once again claim dessert queen of the family! Will Jack fit in with the Hauser clan? Or will Lauren have to face the music...and accept that not every holiday romance was made for a happily ever after...


The HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS series:
Book 1 - How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie
Book 2 - How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake
Book 3 - Coming just in time for the 4th of July!

Click HERE to add to Goodreads

How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake is such a heartwarming story that was a delight to read!  I fell in love with Lauren and Jack in How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie and was really excited to continue their story with them that is set around Christmas time.  As Lauren and Jack continue their new relationship, they have several challenges ahead of them – but love will always find a way as they say!

The whole Hauser family is so much fun with their quirky traditions and the reader can’t help but giggle at some of the antics that happen during the story.

Jack’s Twelve Days of Christmas gifts were charming and very creative.  All men should take note of this as I believe it would score major points with the women in their lives!

Aunt Minnie really stole my heart and with her newly acquired cat, George, made me giggle throughout the story.

There were a few editing errors and at times I felt the author was trying to meet a certain word count because of unnecessary descriptions, but overall these issues did not take from the adorable story.

How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake is the perfect book to get you in the holiday spirit and one that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to read an adorable holiday romance.

4.5 stars



Gina Henning currently resides where bluebonnets line the highways in the spring, but she prefers the rock flower anemone from under the sea. Above the ocean’s surface Gina likes to dance with her three boys and travel to exotic places like the grocery store with her husband. Her pooch Schatzi is a mix between German Shepherd and possibly pig. One of Gina’s favorite pastimes is running. She recently completed her one-and-done marathon. At the end of the day her glass of wine is always half-full.






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Saturday, November 8, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie by Gina Henning {Guest Post}


The How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie Blog Tour runs from November 7th until November 18th.  
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!



A warm pie. A tasty guy. Happy Thanksgiving indeed.
Lauren Hauser is home for the holidays, and she’s been given a challenge: preparing her grandmother’s pecan pie. The problem? Lauren’s not famed for her baking skills. In fact, while her sister would win Star Baker every week, and her mom at least knows a sieve from a spatula, Lauren’s bakes have always been more dangerous than delicious!

Still, no Thanksgiving would be complete without dessert…which is why Lauren finds herself searching for pecans on Thanksgiving Eve. Stumbling into a gorgeous stranger laden down with bags of pecans seems like a holiday miracle…but despite Jack’s kissable lips he’s frostier than a snow cone…and out of sight before she can say ‘Macy’s Parade’!
As the clock counts down to Thanksgiving dinner, Lauren is running out of time. And without her grandmother’s perfect pecan pie it won’t be a very Happy Thanksgiving! What Lauren needs is a knight in shining armour. And it might just be that the magic of Thanksgiving will find her one after all…

Home for the Holidays series:
Book 1 - How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie
Book 2 - How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake
Book 3 - Coming just in time for the 4th of July

Luke Hauser’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: Luke Hauser is married to Aurora Hauser and the father of Winter and River and the brother to Lauren Hauser. Luke has just finished a 10k race, but has begrudgingly given his recording.

 “Roll the tape.”

Luke lumbers into the room. His dark hair is wet and the tank-top he is wearing is sticking to his chest. He slumps down on the leather couch. “Hey oh, what am I supposed to say? Oh that’s right my favorite recipe, except the pecan pie, right right right got it.” Luke motions his hand in the air. A waft of male odor fills the room.

“Okay I guess it would have to be the antipasto platter my mom puts out each year before the big meal. Don’t get me wrong I’m a turkey guy too...but while I’m waiting for all the other great fixings to be ready, I like chowing down with some proscutt, mozzarella, and feeding my little flower petal salami. You know what I’m talking about.” Luke nods his head. “That’s a take, right?”

Leia Hauser’s Antipasto Platter Recipe
1 pound of assorted sliced deli meats (Salami, Prosciutto, Pepperoni, Mortadella)
8 ounces of each assorted cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano cut in irregular chunks, fresh Mozzarella, Manchego, Gouda, Havarti
15 oz Marinated Artichoke Hearts                    
½ pound Roasted Almonds
10 oz Garlic Stuffed Green Olives                    
10 oz Kalamata Black Olives
1 pound of mixed Grapes                                      
½ pound of assorted dried Cranberries and Apricots
A loaf of sliced Focaccia bread

Directions
1. Arrange the meats on a large cutting board to come to room temperature at least 30 minutes before serving.
2. Assemble the cheeses with their knives on a platter along with the fruits, almonds and bread.
3. Place each of the olives, marinated artichoke hearts in separate bowls on the platter.

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


Williams-Sonoma $50 Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

7th November – Candy’s Raves 
 8th November – Avid Book Collector
9th November – Krysten Lindsay 
10th November – Aurelia Bowl
11th November – Rosie Amber  
12th November – Holly Martin 
13th November – Karen Aldous  
14th November – Rebecca Raisin 
15th November – eBook Review Gal  
16th November – Mika Jolie 
17th November - Katie Oliver 
18th November – Gina Henning 



Gina Henning currently resides where bluebonnets line the highways in the spring, but she prefers the rock flower anemone from under the sea. Above the ocean's surface Gina likes to dance with her three boys and travel to exotic places like the grocery store with her husband. Her pooch Schatzi is a mix between German Shepherd and possibly pig. One of Gina's favorite pastimes is running. She recently completed her one-and-done marathon. At the end of the day her glass of wine is always half-full.



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Monday, September 8, 2014

Book Review ~ Going Pecans (Holiday Sugar #1) by Gina Henning

Going Pecans
(Holiday Sugar #1)
by Gina Henning


Synopsis
A warm pie. A tasty guy. Happy Thanksgiving indeed.

Homecomings for Lauren Hauser are always filled with delicious food and hopes for a distraction from her quirky family. The only exception with this visit: she’s been given the challenge of preparing her grandmother’s pie.

Set out on a journey for pecans, Lauren stumbles into Jack a guy who despite his charm (and kissable lips) appears to be in a committed relationship…with his career. His main concern is taking care of a last minute errand for a client, not Lauren or her quest for the key ingredient.

Frazzled in more ways than one, Lauren’s journey improves when Jack rescues her from an icy walk. Attraction and tension rise and soon pecans aren't the only things getting toasty in the kitchen.


My Thoughts
Lauren has been entrusted with her grandmother’s highly secret pecan pie recipe and has been tasked to bake this pie for the upcoming family Thanksgiving meal.  Looking at the ingredient list, everything looks pretty standard – except the pecans.  They MUST come from a certain pecan farm – no exceptions, or the pie will not be the same. These pecans absolutely make the pie taste so good and grandma will know if inferior pecans are used.  You know the saying – if grandma ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy!

Of course, once Lauren gets to the pecan farm, only one small eight ounce bag is left and she needs ten ounces to make the pie.  As she is in line to check out, the sexy business man in front of her has thirteen bags of the desired pecans.  What the heck does he need all those for?  Surly he can spare one small bag.  But nope, the pecan hoarder is not parting with the pecans, no matter the price Lauren offers him.

Anyway, the situation goes from bad to worse as she starts her two hour trip home and she gets a flat tire.  Of course, there is no spare tire in the trunk thanks to her not so handy brother-in -law.  Then she discovers her cell phone has died.  So with that, she starts walking home.  Being in Texas, the weather changes by the minute (truth….I live there!) and her sunny and warm forecasted day turns to a freezing sleet storm.

Lucky for her, a passing vehicle stops to help and it is none other than the pecan hoarder.  His name is Jack by the way.  They really do click and since they both have pies to make, Jack invites Lauren to his place of business because he has an awesome commercial kitchen and they can whip those pies up in no time.  Once she gets there though and looks over his recipe, she discovers that her grandmother’s secret family recipe is not so special at all because Jack has the same exact one.  Lauren is devastated because she thought her grandma’s recipe was extra special, but spending the time with Jack make her forget all about that.

Oh, my gosh!  This story was an absolute delight to read!  Humor and funny antics are abundant in this fast paced, loveable story and I could not help but laugh out loud as I was reading.  Even figuring out that Grandma might be playing match maker did not take away from the story at all – matter of fact, it made it all that much funnier.  Going Pecans is truly fantastic and well worth the time.  Ms. Henning’s writing style flows so effortlessly, the reader can’t help but be swept away in this sweet story.  I highly recommend Going Pecans if you love a light-hearted romance that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

My rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Click HERE to add Going Pecans to Goodreads

About the Author
Gina Henning currently resides where bluebonnets line the highways in the spring, but she prefers the rock flower anemone from under the sea. Above the ocean’s surface Gina likes to dance with her three boys and travel to exotic places like the grocery store with her husband. Her pooch Schatzi is a mix between German Shepherd and possibly pig. One of Gina’s favorite pastimes is running. She recently completed her one-and-done marathon. At the end of the day her glass of wine is always half-full.

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