Monday, December 6, 2010

Launch Party! Kate Carlisle's SWEET SURRENDER!

By Kate

Hurray! The big day has finally arrived! It's SWEET SURRENDER, BABY SURPRISE release day.

This calls for a cake! No, make that cupcakes, in honor of Julia Parrish, my heroine, who has taken the West Coast by storm with her world-class cupcake creations. We’ll decorate our Cupcake Party with pictures of fabulous, colorful cupcakes.

Julia is sexy and she knows how to bake almost anything. How can Cameron Duke possibly resist her? Not to mention, she’s the mother of the son he didn’t know he had.

Seriously, what man can resist a woman who travels with her own ingredients for hot chocolate and whipped cream? Certainly not Cameron Duke! See for yourself in this excerpt ...

She reached into a drawer and pulled out her own hand mixer, poured cream into a bowl, threw in a heaping spoonful of sugar, and began to mix it up. Less than four minutes later, she had a bowl of thick, pillowy whipped cream. She poured the thick, creamy chocolate into two small coffee cups, added a dollop of whipped cream on top, and handed one to Cameron.

“Sip the chocolate through the cream,” she instructed. “That way, you get the hot with the cold, but you don’t dilute either.”

She stood inches away, watching him as he tried the concoction. He watched her, too, as he sipped the hot, creamy chocolate through the cool, soft whipped cream. It was possibly the most sweetly decadent thing he’d ever eaten.

“Well?” she said.

He stared at her and wondered what the chocolate and whipped cream might taste like when licked off her breasts.

“It’s almost immoral, it’s so good,” he said, his voice husky.

Her cheeks began to turn pink again and he found he enjoyed making her blush. He also savored watching her realize the direction his thoughts were traveling.

She coughed to clear her throat. “So, you like it?”

“Like it?” He took another long sip and emptied the cup. “Yeah. I’d suggest you package it, but I’m afraid it might be banned in thirty or forty states.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said demurely, and placed her cup on the counter. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you. It was delicious.” He put down his cup and reached for her. “I want to taste it on your tongue.”

Before she could utter a word of protest, his mouth consumed hers.


Consumed. Isn’t that a great word? Devoured. Another good one. He hungered for her. Passion and food are closely intertwined, and poor Cameron is besieged on both counts. His deepest, darkest fear is that his father’s abusive anger lives inside of him, so he’s determined never to fall in love. If he keeps his flings frothy and casual, then he’ll never hurt a woman the way his father hurt his mother. But although Julia’s cupcakes are whimsical, she clearly isn’t made for “casual.” She’s a forever kind of girl, and Cameron doesn’t do forever.

Thank you for celebrating with me! Let's get the party going! What’s your favorite flavor of cake or cupcake? What was the last occasion on which you had it? What is your go-to treat when you want to celebrate a big event in your life? How do you feel about whipped cream?

I’ll give a random commenter a $25 Amazon e-gift card, which you can use to buy
SWEET SURRENDER, BABY SURPRISE, naturally, or any of these cupcake books -- or whatever strikes your fantasy. The contest is open to anyone in the world who can use an Amazon e-gift card.

And don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list at
www.katecarlisle.com!

89 comments:

Deanna said...

Oh man, those cupcakes look good!

Deanna said...

Kate, Happy release day!!! How exciting. The excerpt is just mouthwateringly (is there such a word) delicious. I love a hot chocolate, and the way you've described it, along with Cameron's reaction is just wonderfully sinful. Add the cupcakes and it's a recipe for all sorts of yumminess.

Fedora said...

Hi, Kate!! Congrats on Sweet Surrender! Yippeee!! And mm... cupcakes! My favorite is probably red velvet (even though usually I can't stand red food coloring; weird how I just love, LOVE these though!) although I'm a sucker for most kinds of cupcakes :D

And whipped cream? Yes, bring it on! Cupcake or no, I'm happy to consume it in quantity!

Congrats on the GR, Daz!

Donna MacMeans said...

Kate! I love that Frivilous Five cover - is that a cookbook? How decadent to hide the ladies behind all that whipped cream.

My favorite go to item to celebrate a big event - reservations! (grin). I can't say that I eat a lot of cupcakes, but I do think that the fancy decorated ones always taste better. I like the ones that don't look like cupcakes - but rather flowers, or halloween spiders, or something imaginative.

Congrats on the Sweet Surrender Baby Surprise. I'd love to curl up with this and my own frothy cup of decadent hot chocolate on these cold snowy nights.

Jane said...

Yay, I love launch parties. Congrats on the new release, Kate. My favorite flavor is red velvet with cream cheese frosting. I also like the vanilla cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery. My go to treat for celebrating is usually cheesecake or cookies.

Nas said...

Cngrats on the release of SWEET SURRENDER, BABY SURPRISE. I never imagined serving food and eating can be so sizzling! A very enjoyable party with such delicious cupcakes.

Sheree said...

Congrats on your new release! "Sweet Surrender, Baby Surprise" has a great cover.

Yes to chocolate, cake, cupcake, and whipped cream! Yes to dark chocolate covered mint marshmallow Peeps, too! (I had one in the shape of a tree) I agree with Julia - can't go wrong with chocolate and whipped cream (how about whipped chocolate cream?).

Is the cupcake becoming passe? What's the next must-have baked goods items? Frankly, I still like m&m cookies.

ironss[at]gmail.com

Christine Wells said...

YAY!!! Kate, congrats on your new release. This one sounds divine. I remember the fun we had brainstorming the title in the lair but I don't think any of us came up with that one, did we? Love the cupcake theme. Passion and hot chocolate--what more could a girl wish for?

My favourite cake would have to be plain old chocolate. Not mud, just chocolate. I also love coffee cake with butter cream coffee frosting rolled in chopped walnuts. Mmm! Actually, there are too many great cakes to count, so I'd better stop there or I'll be here all night.

Looking forward to Sweet Surrender!

Congrats, Daz!

Unknown said...

Well done Deanna ...he stays with you ... he must like it here

Hi Kate congratulations on your book .... sounds great.... I love vanilla cup cakes with cream on the top and hot chocolate or even iced chocolate ... I had vanilla cake a few days ago for a friends birthday

Elizabeth said...

My fave cupcake is lemon and the last time i had one was last sunday from this great cupcake shop near where i live.
Congrats on the release of your new book :)
And my treat for celebrating is usually a box of kispey kreme dounughts <3

Maureen said...

Congratulations on your new book! It looks great. It's funny that you're talking about cupcakes because that's what my daughter wanted for her birthday dessert yesterday and she's twenty-two. The thing is she doesn't even eat the cake, just the icing.

Maureen said...

Congratulations on your new book! It looks great. It's funny that you're talking about cupcakes because that's what my daughter wanted for her birthday dessert yesterday and she's twenty-two. The thing is she doesn't even eat the cake, just the icing.

Laurie G said...

Congrats on your book Kate!

CAKE- CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD WITH CHOCOLATE WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING, DELICIOUS!
It's and an old family tradition to bake it on our birthdays! The recipe was a family secret for years!

Drinks- We celebrate with Southern Comfort mixed with 7UP and a squeeze of a fresh orange over ice with the orange slice for a garnish YUMMY! Very refreshing!

I'm not a fan of cupcakes. I don't like the paper wrapper.

gamistress66 said...

Congrats on the release! A party on Monday! It's gonna be a good week :) Love chocolate & cupcakes are so nice, a slice of cake to go ;)

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS Kate and happy release day !!!!
I love parties and cupcakes. The pictures are killing me. My favorite cupcakes are the lemon raspberry ones with lemon glazing and fresh strawberries on top. I make those once in a while, for a very special occasion... they're good in summer or winter **sigh**, it's a terrinble thing I'm not at home this afternoon because you kind of gave the urge to bake something !!
Congrats again, xoxo.

Christie Kelley said...

Cupcakes sound great even for breakfast! Congrats on the new release, Kate. One more I'll add to the Kindle.

I have a recipe for a chocolate cake that is awesome. It's the traditional birthday cake in my house.

Gillian Layne said...

Congratulations! I love Italian wedding cake. Yum!

Helen said...

Whoo Hoo Daz he really is enjoying himself in Sydney these days

Kate

I can't wait to read this book I have been looking forward to Cameron's story. Loved the excerpt and I love cup cakes actually I have to make them this weekend for one of my grnadson's 2nd birthday party and I will be making vanilla and chocolate ones with different coloured icing and decorations on them I will also make some vanilla ones with sultanas in them for one of my daughters who (strangly)doesn't like icing LOL. I sometimes make butterfly ones as well. I don't really have a favourite i love them all.

Congrats on the release Kate way to go.

I have just got home from seeing The Eagles in concert and what a fantastic night it was those Guys can really sing and the last song of the night Desperado it bought tears to my eyes.

Have Fun
Helen

Margay Leah Justice said...

Do I have to choose a flavor - can't I just love them all? Actually, I love chocolate, so any kind of chocolate cake or cupcake is tops with me. A close second, though, is the Funfetti - vanilla, strawberry, doesn't matter as long as it's Funfetti. And the last time I had cupcakes was when my daughter was home for a long weekend from college and she and her friends just decided to make some one night. Of course she brought some home! Thoughtful girl.

Margay

Denise said...

Hi Kate! Congratulations on your newest release!! My favorite kind of cupcake is chocolate w/ cream cheese frosting...there's this bakery where I live that makes the most moist, amazing cupcakes with a beautiful, very thick spiral of frosting on top, and then they top it with half a strawberry. YUM. Definitely not an everyday food - not with my incredibly slow metabolism and the price of those cupcakes, anyway - but one for very special occasions. Although, the last time I had it wasn't a very special occasion at all...I think it was at some informational session that used the cupcakes, very effectively, to bribe people to attend.

I read somewhere, awhile ago, about a Diamond cupcake, where the top of the cupcake was embedded with diamonds. Isn't that crazy? People will buy the weirdest things. I'd be too scared of eating that cupcake, out of fear that I'd swallow one of the stones.

Minna said...

Congrats on your new release!

Chocolate, of course! I think I'll make some tomorrow. Well, not a cake or cupcake, but muffins. I intended to do some baking today, but but my brother and cousin brought their dogs here and went hunting bunnies with their friend and his dog. The two dogs who were left here were not happy. Cousin's dog barked and howled and my brother's dog whined. My ears are still ringing...

Today here in Finland we are celebrating our independence day and I think I might watch at least part of the party in the President's Palace they show on tv, because my brother in law and my sister were invited there.

http://areena.yle.fi/video/1490516
http://www.yle.fi/linnanjuhlat/2009/

Aikakone: Hiljaisuus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89C0EXVTcgg

Hassisen Kone - On jouluyö, nyt laulaa saa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxPMHu-XOnU

Pave Maijanen:Kuokkavieras
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VkzK2LS8E

Minna said...

And speaking of cupcakes:
http://chickensintheroad.com/crafts/making-cupcake-candles/

Nancy said...

Kate, congrats on another smokin' book. :-) What a fabulous excerpt.

As for cupcakes, I don't think you can beat chocolate anything, but I had a red velvet cupcake not long ago that came close.

The boy joined the cupcake club at his school and won best flavor (pumpkin spice) in the Halloween competition. He's already scheming about the Christmas competition.

Daz, congrats on the bird.

Kate Carlisle said...

Daz, congrats! I have it on good authority that the GR loves cupcakes!

I'm so glad you like the excerpt. This book was so much fun to write because of all those fun baking scenes that turned sexy! :-)

Kate Carlisle said...

Fedora, thanks for the congrats! I'm a red velvet fan, too! There's a place nearby me that makes a fabulous red velvet cookie. It's two big, soft, warm cookies with a cream cheese filling ... and the whole thing melts in your mouth. Ohhh yummmmmmmm .... hmm ... I might have to go get one ... ;-)

Anna Sugden said...

A sexy hunk and cupcakes ... Kate, you know how to throw a party! Can't wait to get my hands on your latest.

We had cupcakes at our wedding in place of a big cake. At the time, it was a really different thing to do and our guests loved it! We had chocolate, vanilla and strawberries and cream. They were all decorated with sugar-craft gerbera daisies to match my bouquet.

Favourite flavour? Uh ... you expect me to choose only one? How about a festive English cupcake, with seasonal mincemeat in the middle and buttercream icing (or to be totaaly decadent brandy butter-cream!)

Fedora said...

Oh, Kate--that sounds divine! I think you need to zip out for a celebratory cookie or two today, too ;) Have an extra for me ;)

Kate Carlisle said...

LOL, Donna! I'm right there with you on celebrating with reservations! One of my favorite things to do is watch other people cook for me. :-)

The Frivilous Five is an album cover - from the 60's! It made me laugh so I had to include it on the blog.

I saw so many amazing cupcake creations while researching this blog. I liked the ones with the animal heads. So clever! But the pics I chose for the blog were just so pretty, I couldn't pass them by.

By the way, I didn't include the hot chocolate part in the excerpt, but it's completely decadent, too. Basically, it's chunks of rich chocolate, heated, then poured into a cup. Add whipped cream. Mmmmmmm. :-)

Kate Carlisle said...

Hi Jane! Thanks for the congrats! I'm wondering where the Magnolia Bakery is and how soon I can get there for those cupcakes. :-) Ooh, I love cheesecake, too!

Is anyone else getting hungry? LOL

Amanda from Novel Addiction said...

My favorite flavor of cupcake is definitely yellow cake.. with chocolate icing. Chocolate FUDGE icing even! Oh.. or cake pops! That's small enough to be considered a cupcake..

Happy release day!
ohmorningglow AT aol DOT com

Kate Carlisle said...

Hi Nas, it's great to see you here! I hope you're enjoying all the virtual cupcakes. :-)

Maybe it's because I don't think I'm a very good cook, but I really LOVE writing about characters who excel at cooking and baking!

Kate Carlisle said...

Hi, Sheree, thanks for the congrats! I'm glad you like the cover! I think they're a beautiful couple.

Okay, let's get serious now. Where did you get the dark chocolate covered mint marshmallow Peeps?? Pass them to me now and nobody gets hurt! And you say there's a Christmas tree version? Okay, I may be gone for a while, but I've got to go find those, NOW! LOL

Cupcakes have been the big dessert thing for the last few years and I'm not sure what the next big thing will be. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I would love to hear them!

Maureen Child said...

Well now I want some damn chocolate and whipped cream!!

Since I already read the book, I know how great it is. And how hungry for cupcakes I was when it was over.

Evil, evil Kate...=)

Hmm. My go to celebratory anything is CHOCOLATE in whatever form I can get it. Went into Sees yesterday to buy some chocolate coins for Christmas stockings... and oh, I love how they give you samples of their amazing chocolate just for walking into the store!!

Anonymous said...

What’s your favorite flavor of cake or cupcake?

Yellow cupcake with chocolate frosting...yum!

What was the last occasion on which you had it?

My husband's birthday in June. Diabetes makes me have to limit stuff like that.

What is your go-to treat when you want to celebrate a big event in your life?

Dark chocolate covered strawberries!

How do you feel about whipped cream?

Love it only if its real, if its real pile it on!

Kate Carlisle said...

Oh Madame, I remember brainstorming titles for this book!! They were hilarious! I actually blogged about them a few weeks ago at the Desire blog on eHarlequin. I'll find the link ...

Thanks for the congrats! I love plain old chocolate cake. That's what I make whenever I'm driven to bake a cake, because there's just nothing better. Well, I really love everything, but straight chocolate is a passion of mine. Can you tell? ;-)

Okay, here's the link to my blog about brainstorming funny titles if anyone wants a laugh (many of the titles listed sprung from the mind of one particular Bandita whose name is being withheld for her protection, hehehe) ...

http://community.eharlequin.com/content/buttering-billionaires-muffin-and-other-rejected-titles

Terri Osburn said...

Congratulations!!! Y'all are smoking up the launch party scene!

Have you seen that show CUPCAKE WARS? I've no idea why, but I can't stop watching if it's on. I had no idea cupcakes had become so popular, or that you could do so many crazy flavors. I'll stick with the good old fashioned yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

But a good buttercream is hard to resist.

My go-to treat is chocolate chip cookies or brownies, but the doc says no chocolate (irritates my eye condition) so I'll have to find a new one. I see lots of peanut butter cookies in my future.

Kate Carlisle said...

Hi Barb, thanks for the congrats on the new book! Hope your friend had a happy birthday! Ooh, you mentioned iced chocolate and I'm so glad. I'm a fan of that, too, especially during the hot summer months. :-)

alinaduffer said...

Hi Kate! Congrats on the new release! The book sounds wonderful and I can't wait to read it! I make cakes all the time, it's one of my hobbies. My favorite has to be chocolate. I love my chocolate any way I can get it, lol! The last time I had it was when I made a dinosaur cake for my kids a few months back. But tis the season for baking so I will be making some chocolate cake very soon. As for whipped cream, I can take it or leave it, lol!

Have a great day and a wonderful Holiday Season!

Jennifer Lyon said...

The teaser scene hooked me and made me hungry for hot chocolate! I'm picking up SWEET SURRENDER, BABY SURPRISE this week!

My favorite is chocolate, of course, and the last one I had was just a few weeks ago when my son and his girlfriend baked them and brought them over.

Kate Carlisle said...

Hi Elizabeth! I forgot all about lemon cupcakes, maybe because I don't know if I've ever had one. But one of my favorite things ever is Miss Grace's lemon cake, so if there's a cupcake out there with that sort of flavor, I want it!!

You're my idol for celebrating with a box of Krispy Kreme donuts! Yummy!

And thanks for the congrats. :-)

Kate Carlisle said...

Maureen, thanks so much for your congrats on the new book! I'm laughing about eating the icing only, because I love icing! But I know so many people who only eat the cake and scrape off the icing. Now that's weird!

Hope your daughter had a fabulous birthday with lots of icing!

Kate Carlisle said...

Oh Laurie, my mouth is watering! Chocolate Angel food cake? With chocolate whipped cream frosting? Excuse me, but I need a quiet moment alone ............ ;-)

Whew. Add in that awesome drink concoction and I think I'm in heaven. What a fun family you have!

Thanks so much for the Congrats!

Kate Carlisle said...

Hello Emmanuelle! Thanks for the good wishes and congrats! Sorry I've tempted you to bake (hehehe!), but you're paying me back by tempting me with the idea of lemon raspberry cupcakes. They sound divine! Especially with the lemon glaze and fresh strawberries. Wow!

Kate Carlisle said...

Hi Christie! Cupcakes for breakfast sound perfectly civilized to me. But I really want that awesome recipe for chocolate cake! I think I might've mentioned it's my favorite. Mmmm.

Kate Carlisle said...

Thanks for the congrats, Gillian! And you had to mention Italian wedding cake? I'm going to get fat just reading the comments here today! LOL

Kate Carlisle said...

Helen, thank you so much for your good wishes!!

How wonderful that you're about to celebrate a birthday, and how fun that you're making cupcakes for all the kiddies! There's something fabulous about having one's own little treat at that age. Oh, who am I kidding? It's fun at any age!

Your cupcakes sound delicious! Have a great time at the birthday party!

Kate Carlisle said...

Margay, it's so great to see you here! No, you don't have to choose a flavor, you can have one of each. ;-)

I've never had a Funfetti. What is that? I'm intrigued!

And you've clearly raised your daughter well. How sweet that she brought home cupcakes for you. :-)

Kate Carlisle said...

Denise, thanks for coming to the party!! I'm telling you, I've gained ten pounds today and half of that is from dreaming about the one you mentioned, chocolate with cream cheese frosting. With the strawberry on top? Yeah. That one. You're killing me!!

And I really don't get the diamonds in food thing. Some people have too much money and too much time to waste. Seriously!

Kate Carlisle said...

Hi Gamistress66! I think you're right, it's going to be a very good week! Thanks for coming to the party!

Kate Carlisle said...

Minna, happy Independence Day to you and yours! I hope you all have a lovely day. And thank you so much for that link to Chickens in the Road. I love that blog but don't get there often enough.

Minna said...

Well, the president is shaking a lot of hands! Click Linnan juhlat 2010:
http://areena.yle.fi/live

Kate Carlisle said...

Nancy, thanks so much for the congrats! I'm having a fun party day!

I'm so impressed that your son is winning contests for cupcakes! We didn't have a cupcake club when I was in high school. I definitely would've joined. Please let us know what he decides to make for the Christmas challenge. :-)

Kate Carlisle said...

Hi Anna! Yeah, a sexy hunk and cupcakes is my idea of a fun party! LOL

How cool that you had cupcakes at your wedding! I would love to see that at a wedding. It's such a clever idea and I imagine everyone had lots of fun with it. And the gerbera daisies must've been beautiful. So cheery and colorful!

OMG, my mother would love your English cupcake with mincemeat and buttercream icing. She's a mincemeat fanatic!

Meljprincess said...

Oh, man! This post made me so hungry that I had to run into the kitchen and open the bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I love cake and cupcakes. My favorite flavor would be chocolate. But I'll eat any kind of cake or cupcake. It could be green with pink and polka dot frosting and I'd eat it. Last occasion was my birthday. Or was it last week? lol!
When I want to celebrate I usually go for ice cream.
Whipped Top Top? I'd put it on a steak it's so good!

Nancy said...

Kate, thank you. The boy's interest in cupcakes seemed to come out of left field, but he gets into it. I suspect the competitive aspect has something to do with it.

This is a big month or so for you--first Lies That Bind on the NYT again and this terrific story. :-)

Leni said...

My favorite cake at the moment is coconut. I don't need a special event to have it. I'll make it whenever I have a taste for it. I love whipped cream. I make my own, but will still buy the one from the store if I need too.

lenikaye@yahoo.com

runner10 said...

Congrats on the new release!
I love red velvet cupcakes. They are delish!!
For some reason, I am craving something sweet after reading your post.

catslady said...

What a great cover!! congrats on your release too! I cannot remember the last time I had a cupcake (no young kids around lol) but I do love cake. I would have to say white almond is my favorite and a light cream topping. I use to make a wonderful swiss chocolate cake with butter cream frosting but it's been a while.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Kate!! Can't wait to pick up your newest release!

Have you noticed that specialty cupcake stores are popping up everywhere? We have this one that makes the yummiest cupcakes. My favorites are the chocolate with chocolate buttercream icing and the sourcream cakes with champagne buttercream icing. OMG!!! Oh yeah, and then they have the chocolate creme de menthe ones.

Stop me, please!!

Margay Leah Justice said...

Omg, Kate, Funfetti is the best! It's from Pillsbury and it's little confetti-like candies that cook in with the mix and melt throughout, And the frosting comes with a canister of Funfetti that you sprinkle on top.

And my daughter is very thoughtful that way!

Margay

Jane said...

Kate, there are a few locations in NYC. You have to come and try some.

Kate Carlisle said...

So I'm thinking that I need to go taste test every flavor of cupcake mentioned here today. Anyone care to join me? I'll have to require you to sign a waiver acknowledging the risk of lapsing into a sugar coma, of course. But what a way to go!

Kate Carlisle said...

Mel, I'm with you! Reese's Cups totally count as cupcakes.

Nancy, I know! What a month. Seriously, my head is spinning. It's been so much fun. I don't need anything for Christmas... I have everything I could possibly want. (Don't tell my husband I said that.)

Leni, I approve. When you want cake, you make it. Love that! I read once that Barbra Streisand says when she wants dessert, she eats it first. Why not? Life is made to enjoy.

Kate Carlisle said...

runner, now why on earth would this post make you crave something sweet? I have to confess, the downside of writing a heroine who bakes cupcakes is that I lived in a perpetual state of hunger. And just now, my stomach growled.

Oooooh, catslady! Swiss chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. That sounds amazing. Thanks for the compliment on the cover of SWEET SURRENDER, BABY SURPRISE. I do love a man in a tux!

Kate Carlisle said...

Suzanne, Cupcake stores are one of those ideas that make you wonder what took it so long. Of *course* a cupcake store would be successful! They're fast food of the most luscious kind. Irresistible.

Margay, I need to add Funfetti to my next shopping list. The name alone makes me smile.

Jane, I would love to!

Jeanne M said...

My favorite cupcake in the whole wide world is vanilla with chocolate frosting! I haven't had one in over 40 years when I was diagnosed with Type I diabeties but I can still taste the crumbs melting in my mouth and the creamy frosting on my tongue!

Today I get to make those lucious delights not for myself but for my grandchildren who are worth every bite I couldn't take!

Kristina said...

I kept reading that excerpt, sneak a peek at a cupcake, keep reading, more cupcakes, more reading!!

I would love a gift card to buy that book!

Joanna St. James said...

congratulations and happy release day, did u know whipped cream in french is called chantilly? its my husband's kryptonite :)

Trish Milburn said...

Congrats on the new release, Kate! I am quite the cake fan -- love lemon, yellow, carrot, but my favorite is chocolate with really light whipped frosting.

Unknown said...

Congrats on the new release and I love cheesecake :)

mellanhead74 at hotmail.com

Kate Carlisle said...

Jeanne, What a wonderful grandmother you are, to make your babies the treats that you can't enjoy, yourself. Have you discovered any good sugar-free cupcakes?

Kristina, LOL! I'm glad you enjoyed the decorations on my post. Those cupcakes are so pretty and festive, I couldn't resist including lots of pics.

Joanna, I didn't know that! (About "chantilly" being the French word for whipped cream. Although, to be honest, I didn't know it was your husband's kryptonite, either. LOL!!!)

Kate Carlisle said...

Trish, a carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting... I feel a stomach-grumble coming on. Chocolate is my stand-by, too, but carrot cake makes me feel like I'm not being quite as naughty.

And cream cheese frosting... that's dairy, right?

Jeannine, Cheesecake! Yes! See, there's another serving of dairy right there. Now we just need some protein, and we can make a balanced diet out of cupcakes.

chey said...

Happy release day!
My favourite flavour of cake is chocolate. I love hot chocolate and whipped cream!

Beth Andrews said...

Yay! Another launch party in the lair! Congrats on your latest release, Kate - it looks wonderful. And thanks for sharing that awesome excerpt *g*

I don't have a favorite flavor of cupcake though the chocolate ones we made a few weeks back would be on the top of the list. They were so good and had real buttercream frosting - my first time making the real stuff :-)

My younger daughter loves to bake and she especially enjoys making cupcakes so we have them quite often *g*

Cassondra said...

Daz?

Again?

Egads! I think he's never going to leave you. What are you doing to that poor bird?

Cassondra said...

Kate, wooohoooooo!

Happy release day!

I have this book in the stack *does a triumphant little dance* waiting for an afternoon free to read.

I LOVED the first Duke Dynasty book.

Oh, and as to cupcakes--I've never been a huge cupcake fan honestly. I never saw what was all the rage about them, but clearly there IS a rage going on. Even in my relatively small city there is a cupcake store. A few years back, if you'd asked whether a store selling cupcakes only would be a viable business enterprise, I'd have laughed out loud.

Shows what I know.

Cupcakes are big business, apparently. I love love LOVE cake. My grandmother's German Chocolate homemade. *slurp* But cupcakes? I never have seen the appeal. They are very pretty, and very festive, so maybe that's it?

I don't think anything will ever top a big slice of homemade scratch cake, but maybe somebody can win me over to the whole cupcake phenomenon? I'm all ears.

Now...about the whipped cream. Let me count the ways of its wonderfulness. From a fun lovemaking diversion to a plain old topping for hot chocolate. Oh. My. God. Yummmmmm.

I've had a motto for a while now. "You can't ruin anything with cream cheese or whipped cream." I recognize that this motto has limitations, but I'm not worried about those. I hold to my motto.

But who are those ladies covered in whipped cream in the bottom picture?????

Cassondra said...

OH! My favorite celebration item?

Wine.

Of course.

Don't make me pick a food, please?

I love tiramisu, and I love baklava. But I don't consider those celebration items because they're hard to get around here.

Got something to celebrate? Pop a cork.

That's my other motto, by the way, in case y'all hadn't figured that out.

Cassondra said...

Margay said:


Do I have to choose a flavor - can't I just love them all?

Okay, I read this at just the right moment, and laughed out loud. Nearly spewed wine.

What a perfect opening line!

Cassondra said...

Oh, dang.

Kate, I just read your answer to Donna about the Frivolous Five. I was hoping it was a cookbook.

Wah.

Sheree said...

I found the dark chocolate covered mint marshmallow peep trees at Walgreen's. They had the milk chocolate version there but not the regular peeps.

I've also found the Chocolate Mousse Flavored Marshmallow Reindeer and the Snowmen at the local supermarket.

http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/products/holiday

Louisa Cornell said...

Daz, he heard you say cupcakes !!


WOOT !! Another HOT Kate Carlisle book to read. Have to add this one to Mom's Christmas stocking from her Granddogs too!

That scene was SMOKIN'! I give it five HOT DAYUMS and a YEAH BABY!

Cupcakes. You had to say Cupcakes. Spent all day decorating Christmas cupcakes at work. If I never see red or green icing again in my life it will be TOO SOON!

We are having fun this year decorating with peppermints, gumballs and tiny chocolate balls to top our cupcakes.

We do Cupcake Critters. Animals made out of two cupcakes and LOTS of icing. We do an Alabama Elephant, an Auburn Tiger, an alligator, a kitten, several dogs, teddy bears, reindeer, a turkey, an armadillo (yes, we do know how to make gray icing and the cupcakes ARE red velvet!) a monkey, and many more.

I LOVE a huge double dutch chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing and fudge icing drizzled over that.

Or we could just drizzle the fudge icing over some cabana boys. That works for me. Where is my Duchesse in Crime partner? I know she would want to get in on this!

Lois said...

Yeah, cupcakes! :) Look, I will basically take a cupcake (or cake) regardless of the type of flavor it is, no matter what. But, ah, of course, chocolate will trump other stuff. ;) So been while since I've had a cupcake, or two... sigh. Well, at least for my birthday I'll be getting the annual ice cream cake, which does trump cupcakes. Just have to wait a week. LOL

And sure, I like whipped cream too... mostly on my pudding. And have been known to put it on my yogurt, to make it more exciting. With chocolate syrup too! :)

Lois

Jill James said...

Kate, congratulations on your launch. Looks like a very hot story. I love cupcakes. My fave is red velvet.

Kate Carlisle said...

Chey, thanks for celebrating with me today! I'm raising a hot chocolate toast in your general direction.

Beth, how great that your daughter likes to make cupcakes! Let's keep our fingers crossed that it's not a phase she'll outgrow.

Cassondra, isn't that picture charming? Makes me proud to be a woman!

Thank you so much for buying SWEET SURRENDER, BABY SURPRISE! I hope you'll love Cameron Duke's story. The Duke men are reluctant to love, but once they fall, they fall hard.

Kate Carlisle said...

Sheree, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

Louisa, and shall we name our cabana boy Cupcake? Works for me!!!


Lois, you make me laugh! Yogurt with whipped cream and chocolate syrup?! Why not?

Kate Carlisle said...

Jill, thanks so much for stopping by and for your happy thoughts. Here's a cyber red velvet cupcake for you!

CrystalGB said...

Hi Kate. Congrats on your new release. My favorite flavor of cake is chocolate/white marble. I had this cake on my birthday in August.

Pat Cochran said...

Belated "Good Wishes," Ms. Kate,
for a super release day!

Hope it was a great launch day for you! As for those cupcakes, YUM!
Looking forward to reading this
book!

Pat Cochran

Dina said...

Hi Kate, congrats!!

I love white/yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting. they look sooo good and I'm hungry.