TURTLE CAKE!

In my January Silhouette Romance, SOMETIMES WHEN WE KISS, the hero's aunt made chocolate turtle cake. Since then, I've gotten a number of requests for that recipe and realized that I've never put that one on my website. I need to rectify that, but meanwhile here's the recipe. This cake is gooey and so rich you can feed a lot of people with one.

TURTLE CAKE
1 chocolate cake mix (any kind. The original recipe called for German chocolate but I use dark chocolate.)
14 oz. pack of caramels (I've tried caramel sauce. While it works, it's not as good.)
1 bag (12 oz.) chocolate chips (use whichever you like, milk chocolate or semi-sweet)
1 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c evaporated milk

Mix cake according to instructions on the box. Pour 1/2 the batter into a sprayed or greased 9 X 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Watch carefully and do not overcook. Better to undercook than overcook. I usually stick a toothpick in and if the cake is still a little crumbly, it's done enough.

While bottom layer is cooking, melt caramels and milk together over low heat or in microwave. Pour hot caramel mix on top of the baked layer. Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts over this. Top with remaining cake batter. Bake again for about 15-20 minutes. Again, be careful not to over cook. A few crumbs on the toothpick is done enough.

Now, grab a big glass of milk or a cup of coffee, put your feet up with a good romance novel (preferably one of mine ) and enjoy that cake!

BRIDES OF BELLA LUCIA

Romance, weddings, and exotic locales: What reader could ask for more? Not me anyway! And I am so very thrilled to announce that the very first of the new series from the brand new combined line of Harlequin and Silhouette Romance will debut this summer! The author corps is outstanding and the stories run the gamet and the globe. Book 5, MARRIED UNDER THE MISTLETOE coming in Nov. is my contribution. I personally love the characters in this book so much, both terribly wounded people in different ways, who find their healing, of course, in love. More on that later, but for now, don't miss the very first offering from the fabulous Rebecca Winters.

I am very blessed to be part of this venture and hope you'll check out all the books and comments at this lovely blog:

http://thebridesofbellalucia.blogspot.com

Baby books

Yesterday, while I was hard at work plotting book 3 of The Brothers' Bond, I got a phone call from my editor. Love Inspired is planning a sequal to the very successful "Tiny Blessings" series that ran last year. And guess what? They've offered me a spot, writing Book 2. The tentatiave title is Missionary Daddy. I am very excited to be a part of this new series.

So tell me, do you like books about babies? What other elements do you LOVE to see in the books in you read?