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Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

Happy Holidays, everyone! I trust you had a nice Christmas celebration and continue to enjoy the holiday season.

I want to thank all the readers and visitors who’ve stopped by my site. Thanks for your comments and emails.

Many of you have asked about VACATION SOUVENIR. Thanks to Siren Publishing, I have the rights back to my story (that was a nice Christmas present.). I’m in the process of revising and lengthening it a bit. Then, I’ll look for a new home for it.

Other writing projects I’m working on include the sequel to VACATION SOUVENIR, and a few new stories. I hope to complete them soon and have them out this coming new year. I have posted blurbs about two of the stories — KAYLIN’S SPECIAL DELIVERY and THE BIRTHDAY TREAT — in the ‘Coming Soon‘ section. You can read more about them there. In the near future, I’ll post excerpts. So come back for a sneak peak.

For now, I’d like to leave you with the perfect breakfast recipe to enjoy, especially during this holiday season and New Year — Gold Coast French Toast. As you prepare it, the smells of the cinnamon and nutmeg waft through the air, leaving a delicious scent and a good feeling. You won’t be able to resist it, neither will the person for whom you prepare this. He or she will feel the love when eating your French Toast and want to return the love right back to you.

I used challah to make my French Toast but you can use any egg or sweet bread. Be sure to cut thick slices, so that the bread doesn’t collapse when it is dipped in the egg mixture and cooked. I like to eat my French Toast with maple syrup alone. If you want something more, in addition to the maple syrup, you can sprinkle confectioner’s sugar over your French Toast and serve with a side helping of fresh fruits ( as seen in last photo below). Enjoy!

I wish you a happy and joyous New Year filled with lots of good and hot reads.

Best,

Paz

Gold Coast French Toast

Recipe adapted from

The Spice Island Cookbook (Vintage)

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

1 egg

1 cup undiluted evaporated milk

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 slices bread

Instructions

Beat egg; add milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix thoroughly. Cut bread into triangle (or desired shape), dip into egg and milk mixture. Brown on both sides on a well-greased griddle or frying pan. Serve with soft butter and maple syrup.

Posted in Writing, Food with Love, New Year, Christmas, Vacation Souvenir, Holidays | 3 Comments »

Vacation Souvenir Review

Friday, March 9th, 2007

Hi everyone:

It’s been quiet here for some time now. Sorry about that. Three months into 2007, I trust everyone is having a good start to the new year, so far. Life has been keeping me busy. I’ve also been working on stories and looking for homes for them. One should be coming out soon (more on that later).

I’m happy to know that folks are still reading Vacation Souvenir. I recently received a nice review from My Book Cravings. You can read the review here. Thanks, Robin!

Also, feel free to stop by Between the Sheets, the blog I share with wonderful writers Anisa Damien, Jade James, and Lyric James.

Best,
Paz

Posted in Paz, Vacation Souvenir, Reviews | 6 Comments »

Food with Love #2: Apple Crisp from Marco

Saturday, November 18th, 2006

Click on photo for larger image

Hi everyone. Marco here. It’s been a while since I stopped by. Life has been busy and pretty good for me. Jenna and I are still together. I didn’t think it possible, but it seems as if I fall in love with her more and more, every day. She really is a special woman. I’d like to make our relationship more permanent by asking her to marry me, but there’s something holding me back. I’m not sure about Jenna’s answer. I know she loves me – at least I think she does. I mean I’m pretty sure she does, but I think something’s bothering her. It seems like she’s keeping some kind of secret from me. I’m not sure what… I’ll have to find out what it is before I ask her the big question. I have to admit that I’m a bit nervous. Anyway, I hadn’t planned on bringing this up but since I have, wish me luck. Moving right along: I actually stopped by to give you a recipe. Yes, recipe. LOL! Don’t look as shocked as Jenna when I first made this delicious and simple Apple Crisp recipe. She was so surprised it tasted good and suggested I share the recipe with you all. I don’t really cook but there are a few foods I can make really well. I’m King of Breakfasts. I can make the best flapjacks with sausage or bacon. I also make really good omelets and I make a killer hamburger. It’s moist and tasty. Oh, let’s not forget a good steak meal. I make those, too. What can I tell you? Being a Bachelor, I learned how to make the basics so that I wouldn’t starve when I couldn’t go out to a restaurant. A few weeks ago, we went to an apple orchid. Using some of the apples we picked, I made this Apple Crisp. They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple. Now, every chance I get, I tempt Jenna with this apple treat. I make it with either flour or graham cracker crumbs. The graham cracker crumbs are a winner with her. Jenna likes it a lot and thought I should share it with you on the blog. So here’s the recipe down below. I hope you like it. Let me know. Marco from Vacation Souvenir

Straight out of the oven! Click on photo for larger image

Apple Crisp Rachael Ray 6 McIntosh apples, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch pieces 1/2 lemon, juiced 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/2 cup flour or fine graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 stick butter 1 pint vanilla ice cream Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a 9 by 12 baking dish, combine apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar.

In a small bowl, mix flour or graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and butter together using the tines of a fork and your fingers, working until even, small crumbles form. Sprinkle topping evenly over apples and bake 15 to 20 minutes until apples are just tender and topping is golden brown. Top dishes of apple crisp with small scoops of vanilla ice cream. YUM!

Click on photo for larger image

Posted in Photography, Food with Love, Marco (VS), Recipes, Dessert | 4 Comments »

Food with Love #1: Tomato Feta Salad

Tuesday, August 1st, 2006

Hi this is Jenna from Vacation Souvenir! How are you all doing? I trust you’re having a great summer! Marco, Chocolate, and I are having a wonderful summer, even though the weather’s been very hot here in New York City. Actually we’re going through a heat wave spell. It’s so hot that I don’t feel like going near the stove to cook anything. We’ve been eating a lot of salads lately. Here’s a simple salad that Marco and I like to eat. Its flavor reminds us of our vacation on one of the Mediterranean islands. Anytime we start thinking about it, we feel like dropping everything and returning there for a little rest and relaxation. That’s where we first met. Have you read our story? If not, you can find it here. The salad I make basically contains cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, red onions, and herbs like fresh basil and parsley. The dressing is made from champagne (or white wine) vinegar and olive oil. I had feta cheese for the first time when I ordered a salad on vacation. It has a tangy and salty flavor, which tastes delicious crumbled over a salad (That’s the classic Greek salad.). Another way feta cheese tastes appetizing is when it’s served with tomatoes and fresh herbs, like my salad. Here, the sweet juice of the cherry tomatoes balances the tangy taste of the feta cheese. The red onions add a bit of a crunch to the salad. The fresh basil and parsley enhance wonderful flavors of the salad. The dressing of champagne vinegar and olive oil nicely bring together the appealing taste of the salad. Even the colors of the salad are cool looking and pleasing to the eye. Make sure you use very good feta cheese and olive oil when you prepare this salad. It makes a big difference in the taste. Enjoy! Jenna from Vacation Souvenir

Tomato Feta Salad Adapted from the Barefoot Contessa 3 pints (6 cups) cherry tomatoes 3/4 pound good feta cheese 1 small red onion, chopped 3 tablespoons white wine or Champagne vinegar 1/4 cup good olive oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil leaves 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and place them in a large bowl. Dice the feta in 1/4-inch dice, crumbling it as little as possible. Add the feta to the tomatoes and then add the onion, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, basil, and parsley. Toss carefully and salt, to taste, depending on the saltiness of the feta. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Posted in Photography, Food with Love, Jenna (VS), Salads, Recipes | 8 Comments »

Vacation Souvenir gets 4 stars from Fallen Angel Reviews!

Friday, July 7th, 2006

Fallen Angel Reviews gave VACATION SOUVENIR a 4-star rating!

“Paz Edwards does a great job in this story… Sweet and hot in a way that will make you believe that even large-sized women can find love…”

Thank you, reviewer Lena C.

Paz

Posted in Paz, Vacation Souvenir, Reviews | 2 Comments »

VACATION SOUVENIR gets a 4 star rating from Ecataromance SENSUAL Review!

Friday, June 2nd, 2006

My first official review is in from Ecataromance SENSUAL. I’m happy to announce that it’s a positive one. Yay!

Reviewer Elise Lyn writes: “Vacation Souvenir was a wonderful story combin[in]g several elements that are great to see in a story.”

You can read the entire review here.

Thanks, Elise Lyn, for your review.

If you haven’t done so, you can read an excerpt of Vacation Souvenir here.

Paz

Posted in Paz, Vacation Souvenir, Reviews | No Comments »

And the winner was…

Monday, May 29th, 2006

My Mannekin Pis corkscrew souvenir from Belgium

Sometime ago, we had a Vacation Souvenir Contest. I announced the winner on my newsletter, but I’d also intended to post it on my blog. Except that I forgot. *Tee hee.* So here it is now.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest. I had lots of fun reading the stories of unusual and memorable vacation souvenirs. Here’s a recap.

1- Nicole wrote about the personalized plastic license plate (with misspelled name) her mom gave her.

2- Jenny wrote about the snap shot she took with her favorite author.

3- Catt wrote about how she returned home from vacation, pregnant.

4- Jennifer wrote about how she married the man with whom she returned from abroad.

5- Lisa wrote about the gag gift, carved wooden statue with p*nis showing.

6- Cathie wrote about artwork a co-worker brought her from Poland.

7- Chris wrote about the time she took home cactus needles — embedded in her skin.

8- Maria wrote about the time her friend mailed a large coconut from Hawaii (without a box or covering, just stamps slapped on the coconut!) and she actually received it!

9- Beth wrote about her daughter bringing her peacock feathers after visiting a peacock farm.

10- Kolby wrote about a stunning jade dildo (8″2′) from Greece.

11- CJ wrote about a penis shaped burner that she bought with her husband.

All the stories were great and I had a hard time choosing one as the winner. So, I put everyone’s name on a piece of paper, placed it in a bowl, and had a friend arbirarily pull out one of the pieces of paper.

AND THE WINNER WAS MARIA.

Congratulations, Maria!

Thanks also to those who have purchased Vacation Souvenir and posted such nice comments on the Groups, left kind messages here, and e-mailed me.

Currently, I’m working on a number of stories. One involves a birthday surprise, the other a special delivery, and the third, a music lesson.

Many of you have suggested a sequel to Vacation Souvenir. Stay tuned for news on whether that happens or not.

Have a great week!

Paz

Ed. Note:
Hey! The contest may be over but I’d still love to continue reading stories about your unusual or memorable souvenirs that you brought back or someone sent you from a vacation. So, go ahead and post them here!

Posted in Contest, Vacation Souvenir | No Comments »

10 Top Romantic Escapes

Sunday, May 28th, 2006

Santorini Photo by David Quintelier, TrekEarth.com

In Vacation Souvenir, Jenna and Marcos retreat to a romantic Mediterranean island, where they meet and end up falling in love.

An MSN Travel Article lists Top 10 Romantic Escapes as:

1- Buenos Aires

2- Bora Bora

3- Dubrovnik

4- Halong Bay

5- Nevis

6- Paris

7- Quebec City

8- Santa Barbara

9- Santorini

10- Venice

Travel + Leisure has also compiled a list of 50 Most Romantic Spots on Earth. It mentions special spots, hotels, islands, cruises, restaurants, and spas.

Check out both links — they really are interesting! Then come back and share with us the places you consider romantic or you’d like to go on vacation? It could be where you live, another state, region, or a different country. It could be a special restaurant, a spot in the park or even your backyard.

Paz

Posted in Romantic Spots Around the World, The Big City, Vacation Souvenir | 4 Comments »

Meet Jenna McIntosh, Heroine of VACATION SOUVENIR

Wednesday, May 10th, 2006

Hi: My name is Jenna McIntosh and my story is in VACATION SOUVENIR by Paz Edwards. After my jerk of a boyfriend dumped me for a thinner woman, I’ve decided to stay away from men for a while. I mean it! No more men. However, on my first day of vacation on this dreamy island, I met a tall, dark and handsome hunk on the beach in a most unexpected way. Now, I’m having trouble sticking to my decision. My head says, “no” but my body is screaming, “Yes, spend time with him!” He’s such a temptation. I’m not sure if I can resist him.

Excerpt Two

After Jenna had left the stranger on the beach, she didn’t want to risk bumping into him. It would be so easy to give into her urges to sleep with him if she saw him again. She decided to spend the rest of the day, trying to enjoy the balmy weather and beach view from her room’s balcony.

She even picked up her romance novel and tried to get some reading done, but this time, neither the story nor the book cover held any appeal for her. She must have spent an hour reading the same page. Her mind kept going to the stranger when he took over the role of her dream lover.

Not daring to go out in the evening for dinner, she chose to order from room service. Playing with her food instead of eating it, she decided to stop and go to bed early. A fitful sleep finally engulfed her.

The next morning, she woke up feeling braver. “This is ridiculous. I can’t hide in my hotel room for the rest of my vacation! What a coward,” she spoke to herself as she stared in the mirror at her reflection.

She’d do some sightseeing today, she determined. I’ll make a day trip to visit another island. This way, I’m sure not to bump into him.

* * * * *

On the return trip to her hotel that evening, Jenna felt relaxed. Earlier, as she explored the archaeological sites and ruins, she half expected to see the handsome sun-tanned face of the stranger from the beach. A sense of relief washed over her when she didn’t run into him, but at the same time she felt disappointed. She couldn’t deny the tiny hidden part in her that wanted to see him again. Squashing those feelings, she walked down the pebbled street path that led to her hotel.

A corner shop that displayed postcards caught her eye and she decided to stop and buy some. She rifled through the revolving rack and studied each card carefully, making mental notes of which one she’d send to friends and family back home. She became engrossed in picking the cards until she felt as if someone watched her.

Even before raising her head to look around, she had a strong suspicion of the cause. She turned just in time to see the stranger from the beach walking in long determined strides towards her.

* * * * *

Buy it now from Triskelionpublishing.com
To read more, go to the Excerpts page on www.PazEdwardsBooks.com

Posted in Jenna (VS), Vacation Souvenir | 13 Comments »

Meet Marco Romano, Hero from VACATION SOUVENIR

Monday, May 8th, 2006

Hello, I’m Marco Romano. You can read more about me in VACATION SOUVENIR by Paz Edwards. I have to tell you this: You never know what may happen when you go on vacation. You plan one thing and something else happens. I planned on enjoying my vacation alone, but then I’ve found myself attracted to a woman I saw on the beach. We met under unusual circumstances. I know I should walk away from her but I can’t. This is how it happened:

Excerpt One
Marco Romano strolled along the shoreline. He loved the feeling of the tide waves washing over his feet before returning to the ocean. The atmosphere on this Mediterranean island felt very peaceful and he realized that he was glad that he came.

Earning a living as an investigative reporter left little time for relaxation and it wasn’t surprising that he’d developed ulcers. His boss, also a friend, finally forced him to take some time off. No longer reluctant, he decided to make the most of his vacation.

In the mood to enjoy his own company, he intended to spend the morning exploring a section of the beach the concierge had recommended. He continued to walk its length till he spotted something that stopped him abruptly.

“Damn!” There was someone else on his part of the beach. Given the far distance from the hotel, it was apparent that person also wanted privacy. He started forward again, looking with disdain at the unmoving body lying on the beach. It was only one person, probably sleeping and wouldn’t even bother him. If he kept walking, neither of them would be bothered by the other’s presence. As he drew closer, he realized the dark-skinned woman lying on her back was—naked.

“Hot damn!” Although he’d seen his share of nude woman, there was something that instinctively drew him like a lodestone to this particular unclothed one. He didn’t understand the attraction, but it compelled him to walk closer. When he stopped a foot away from her, he simply stared at the curvaceous sleeping form.

Under the sun, her skin, the color of dark chocolate, glistened. His gaze slowly traveled up her uncovered body. Slightly spread apart, her thighs were full and her legs long. He wondered how they’d feel wrapped around his waist as he made love to her. His groin stirred.

His eyes continued to enjoy the pleasing feast before him and he shifted from one foot to another, fixating on the abundant tuft of black hair that sprouted from the triangle shape between her legs. His cock moved again, letting him know that he wanted to do more than look.

He wanted to spread her legs apart to get a better look, move the folds of her pussy aside to look at the tender, succulent flesh inside. Next, he wanted to take his tongue to it, stroke, nip, suck, lap, and taste it. He wanted to whirl his tongue around her clit, driving her into a frenzy until she came for him.

She had a slightly rounded stomach, and he imagined its soft feeling under his as he lay between her legs, about to plunge into her pussy.

He wanted to hold on to her wide hips as he thrust into her over and over again till they both came several times in bliss.

Her breasts, soft looking, plump and full, like ripe melons, claimed his attention when they rose slightly and fell back as she breathed. His mouth watered and he wet his lips as he imagined the feel of her breasts in his mouth.

She had a heart-shaped face with dark curly hair, the same color as her vaginal area, carelessly put in a ponytail on top of her head. He imagined taking her hair down and curling his fingers in it as he slid his hungry cock into her.

He found himself drawn more to this full-sized woman. His gaze returned to her pussy and lingered there. He wanted to take a bite of this dark chocolate. He needed a taste.

He knew that he should stop staring at her and continue walking. He didn’t think she’d appreciate waking up to find a stranger salivating over her. Yet, unable to move, he couldn’t stop looking at her and lusting after her. The only part of his body that moved was his growing cock, as evidenced by the tented motion in the middle of his swimming shorts. “Down boy! Easy!”

Within a few seconds, he had grown hard. And heavy. “Damn!” he whispered. He would take one last look and then walk away. His shoulders and chest rose as he took a deep breath. At that moment the woman opened her eyes.

Shit, he was in trouble now! She would accuse him of being some kind of peeping pervert, or worse! He tried to swallow as his throat went dry.

Buy Vacation Souvenir now from Triskelionpublishing.com
To read more go to the Excerpts Page at www.PazEdwardsBooks.com

Posted in Marco (VS), Vacation Souvenir | No Comments »