With This Kiss

When Phoenix Dye returns to Nottoway, Virginia after an eleven year absence, little does he know that the bothersome triplets who live across the road from him are his children by the only woman he has ever loved.
Karina Wallace, now a restaurant owner, once believed in love, too, but all that changed after that one incredible summer spent with Phoenix. He disappeared without a trace, leaving her pregnant and alone. Now he’s back and she’s torn between telling him the truth and leaving things as they are. She feels Phoenix will only be in town for a short time. Why let the triplets fall in love with him only to be heartbroken when he leaves? But when a blackmailer approaches her, will she be forced to tell him the truth?
The triplets are at it again in WITH THIS KISS, a re-write of the second title in the Welcome to Nottoway series. They are ten and up to their usual mischief while they search for a husband for their mother. Book three, INTIMATE SECRETS, featuring Karina’s brother, Jonathan, and Gladys Jones’ daughter, Johanna, will be out soon. If you’ve already read WITH THIS KISS and wondering what happened to Jonathan’s fiancée, all will be revealed in this book.
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I have two young adult daughters whose cooking skills vary widely. The oldest can maybe prepare a couple of dishes under duress. The youngest, an aspiring chef, only wants to cook when she’s experimenting with gourmet feasts for her future restaurant. My son cooks more than his girlfriend. But reality is, we have to eat daily and few people actually cook any more. When I was a child, my mother cooked practically every day. Eating out was a novelty. But today, in our fast-food nation, eating a home-cooked meal seems to be rare.
My heroine owns a restaurant. With the cooking shows and reality TV shows about food, do you think we are moving farther from cooking? I love to cook and will spend hours in the kitchen preparing meals, but I hate the clean-up afterward. Do you think that cooking shows bring more people into the kitchen? Or do you think it won’t have an effect on younger people?
Not only is mealtime for nourishment, but it is also a family gathering. Children learn proper etiquette and there is family-time conversation. It’s the one time many families can be together to discuss the events in their day. Schedules are so busy now that we rarely have time to spend in the kitchen.
Many kitchens have beautiful stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, and top of the line pots and pans that don’t get used. With our change in lifestyle, are we losing an important element in our lives? What is your impression of the focus on food and food shows? Do you ever make any of the dishes that you see on TV?
Please comment on any of the above questions and you will be included in a random drawing. The prize winner will receive a $20.00 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. Please visit my web page at www.CandicePoarch.com
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Comments
With this kiss
I love the cooking shows but I think this day and time people do not do much cooking at home anymore but go out cause the pace is so fast and busy. I hate that but things have changed so much.
Thanks
Kim
cooking
I love the cooking shows. I watch them & I make recipes from the shows. I was actually just on youtube watching how to make food. It is nice to see it done before you make it so you know what your doing. I love baking also. I am always looking for new recipes.---Rachel
Cooking
Hi Rachel. Thanks for your comment. Sometimes I want to try something new and interesting and I agree that the cooking shows are a perfect opportunity.
Warmest Regards,
Candice
Cooking
Yes, I believe we are getting away from family times. Today it is needed more than ever. The end of our day should be a meal with family and everyone has a chance to discuss what happened with their day. And, yes home cooking is not the same anymore
Cooking
I have made dishes than I have seen on a couple of shows. I have a true, funny short kitchen story. While visiting a friend, and sitting in the kitchen, I noticed an aluminum pot set up as decoration. She explained that she had bought it at an antique store and told me how much it cost. A lot! I choked and kind of laughed and explained to her that I have the same pot and use it at least weekly. And it was at my daughter's house and she was making her annual Christmas candy with that same pot! To close, all of the pots and pans at my house are used regularly and look it! The only meals my children remember eating were home-made! They have never mentioned a meal eaten at a restaurant.
Cooking
Hi Buffy. Christmas candy. What a wonderful tradition to pass on to your daughters. There are more family stories passed along as we cook. I think our families miss out on memorable family moments when we don't share that tradition. What an interesting story. Thanks for your comment.
Warmest Regards,
Candice
Cooking Shows
I am not sure if cooking shows entice younger viewers, I think it's more of a personality trait you are born with. Some people love to cook and others don't understand what all the fuss is about :)
Cooking Shows
Hi Vikki. Thanks for your comment. I agree. Not everyone loves to cook. They just want the finished product. It's almost impossible to get my oldest daughter in the kitchen. In college, she'd call desperate for a recipee. But she only cooked when she absolutely had to.
Warmest Regards,
Candice