Sizzing Book Club Pick: Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Sizzling Book ClubIf you’ve been reading on Twitter or read the transcript of the Sizzling Book Chat, which over 7500 people have (whoa!), you know that the February Sizzling Book Club pick is Courtney Milan’s Unveiled.

Ahem. And now, I squee.

Book Cover OH MY GOD. THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD I WANTED TO PUT IT IN MY MOUTH AND EAT IT.

There, how was that for a blurb? Heh. Here, have some cover copy to whet your appetite:

Ash Turner has waited a lifetime to seek revenge on the man who ruined his family—and now the time for justice has arrived. At Parford Manor, he intends to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom and settle an old score with the current duke once and for all. But instead he finds himself drawn to a tempting beauty who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance.

Lady Margaret knows she should despise the man who’s stolen her fortune and her father’s legacy—the man she’s been ordered to spy on in the guise of a nurse. Yet the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resist his smoldering appeal. Soon Margaret and Ash find themselves torn between old loyalties—and the tantalizing promise of passion.

As usual, if you use SBTBARE at checkout, you will get a 50% eBook Bucks Rebate at AllRomance.com, the official sponsor of the Sizzling Book Club. You can also buy a copy at Amazon.com, or Book Depository, or wherever the books in your preferred format are sold.

Want to win a copy? Harlequin’s awesome Amy W. has challenged me, after reading my tweets about wanting to chew on this book, to actually take a few bites out of a paper copy, and she threw 3 extra copies in the package so I have some to give away. WOO! Want one? Just leave a comment and tell me what I should cook my copy in or with. Baked Unveiled? Unveiled sashimi? Braised Unveiled with polenta? I’m actually going to try to cook it so please, give me some pointers. You have 24 hours to make your liter-culinary suggestions!

Standard disclaimers apply: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. Winners are chosen by the Random Integer Generator. Your mileage may vary. Void where prohibited. Watch for falling ice. Contents may be hot. This giveaway has not be rated by the FDA and has no nutritional value whatsoever. May contain speed, but not velocity. International entries welcome, unless prohibited by your particular country, because they don’t like really good books or something.

If you’ve been watching Downton Abbey, the question of inheritance and Who is Who when One Has a Title will be deliciously familiar. I cannot wait to chat with you about this book, and I so hope you enjoy this smart and decadently rich historical novel. I really enjoyed reading it. It remains to be seen whether I will enjoy eating it.

 

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  1. Angelique says:

    Hmm…you could brush the pages with butter and layer them like phylo dough.  Maybe make some baklava?  🙂

  2. LEW says:

    I recommend ripping a few pages out and boiling them with some fish sauce until the pages are thin and most of the stiffness has been removed (yes, you want flaccid pages).  Then take the near-dissolved pages and lightly pan-fry to add a bit of stability – again use a bit of fish sauce mixed with oil for flavor mix.  [Note: Frying is optional. I’m Southern, so my motto is: if in doubt add butter and/or fry it.]  Then use the pages in place of seaweed wrap for sushi or rice paper for spring rolls. If this fails and turns out horribbly, at least you’ll have peanut sauce on hand to try to cover the taste of the pages.

    I imagine Unveiled pages and Krab would be smutalicious.

  3. Emma says:

    Perhaps you should make baked Unveiled within a puff pastry crust. You could even put filling between the pages!

  4. Susan says:

    How to prepare Mass Market Paperback Trifle

    Ingredients: Unveiled, orange juice spiked with Grand Marnier, sponge cake (stale), heavy cream, mandarin oranges, flaked dark chocolate

    1. Separate pages of book. Soak overnight in spiked orange juice. (You will only need to soak 10-20 pages depending on the size of your trifle dish.)

    2. In a glass trifle dish, layer ingredients as follows: 1-2” sponge cake, splash of spiked orange juice (enough to moisten the cake but not make it soggy; for best results paint on with a pastry brush), one page thickness of Unveiled (cut to fit circular bowl rather than folding over the corners), mandarin oranges, 1” heavy cream, chocolate flakes.

    3. Repeat layers until trifle dish is full. Garnish with mint leaves and/or a finely chopped sex scene. Chill before eating.

  5. Ruth says:

    Unveiled crepes.

  6. Teri C says:

    oh freeze some pages…. then grind them in the food processor and put it atop ice cream.
    You could shred some pages over your oatmeal.
    Or you could shred and hen plant some pages in an little pot with herbs and then in a few days + is you ate them would that not be considered eating them by osmosis?

  7. sadieloree says:

    I’d like an order of Unveiled Wellington, please. lol

  8. Beth says:

    Shredded Unveiled tacos topped with lettuce, cheese, and your favorite salsa. For a meal, serve with a side of black beans or rice with fresh cilantro!

  9. Betsy says:

    Unveiled en papillote, of course.  So you can unveil it.

  10. Jamie M says:

    I’m a big fan of the crock pot so i think maybe if you throw it the crock pot with some spices. I like paprika, salt and pepper. Plus add some worcestershire sauce (a must) some mustard, ketchup, brown sugar and vinager and you’ll have Hungarian Unvieled Goulash!

  11. Carrie S says:

    Not entering the contest, since I already ordered the book – just wanted to ask – WHEN is the bookclub?  I can haz dates, plz?

    Also, I’m squeeing over the menus.  Everyone, please invite me to dinner.

    will53:  will 53 people feed me yummy novels?

  12. Alyssa Cole says:

    This book sounds awesome, I want a copy!

    The last time I ate paper it was in a tortilla wrap that was uncharacteristically chewy, so I wouldn’t recommend that.

    Maybe you could try Unveiled Au Gratin? Slip some pages between some layers of cheese and potato and onion and you can’t go wrong.

  13. Melissandre says:

    Unveiled Mantitty Tartare.  I would eat it

  14. Joy says:

    I’d love a copy but don’t think I’ll eat it.  Since you’ll have to, I suggest you pick one of the other recipes with a little addition….margaritas.  Take a bite and a big gulp of margarita, another bite and another gulp of margarita, etc.  By the time you finish that pitcher you won’t care WHAT you’ve eaten.

  15. thekaps says:

    Unveiled Mousse!!  Book + Chocolate is epic….:-)

  16. Rae says:

    What about using it as a wrap tortilla? Steam the pages you’re going to use to make the pliable and make a wrap sammich? Or a shepherd’s pie for a more English flare

  17. Sarah W says:

    Crockpot stew!

    Read book, shell it of its covers, and place it in hte bottom of the pot with a pound of stew beef, three chopped carrots, three chopped potatoes, and a chopped onion.  Add a can of condensed tomato bisque soup (or other tomato variety) and a couple squirts of Worcestershire.  Add about half a cup of water (omit if not using the book).

    Seal the pot with foil and slap a lid on it.  Cook 8-10 hours on low or 6-8 hours on high.  Check halfway through to see if more liquid needs to be added.  Try red wine—-or you could add it to the stew!

    Near the end, fish out the book and shred it into bite-sized pieces.  You can return these to the pot, or pitch them, because no one needs that much fiber.

  18. Liz says:

    i was gonna say make it with a lasagna (Italian decadence), but since you’re Jewish and I don’t know if you keep kosher, i’ll say baked ziti.

    (but if you don’t keep kosher, here’s a tip for the lasagna: don’t just put the ricotta in there straight from the container.  mix it with some bread crumbs, an egg, crushed red pepper, oregano, and basil, then put it on the noodles.  Also, don’t cook the noodles all the way because they’ll get too soft in the oven if you do.)

  19. Bake it in an Imu (underground pit) along with pua’a (pig) and serve it at a luau!  Remember, the Union Jack is part of the Hawaii State flag, so we appreciate Regencies!

  20. tralalah says:

    I sooo loved this book!  It has now become my standard recommendation for people who don’t read romance to get into romance.  It is such a great represntation of the potential for the genre.  Romance writing can be as complicated and nuanced as “real books”.

  21. hapax says:

    My first thought was Unveiled Valencia, but as much as I love my paella, that’s an awful lot of prep time (and expensive ingredients) to make something I probably wouldn’t eat.

    Then I considered Unveiled Veloute, but that needs a delicate touch or it turns out simply bland, and I suspect that Courtney Milan’s writing might be too spicy and robust to pull it off.

    But I finally realized I’m a Southern girl at heart, and you can’t go wrong with anything Batter-Dipped-And-Deep-Fried-Onna-Stick-With-Co-Cola.

    (Verification word:  products23—honey, I’ve had WAY more than 23 products fried-onna-stick…)

  22. Rose D. says:

    Stick a page between two slices of bread, your favorite cheese, and luncheon meat.  lol Don’t forget to cruch potato chips in there.  You will hardly notice the paper.

  23. StarOpal says:

    Unveiled mini lava cakes!

  24. redgirl says:

    “Unveiled Sautee Delight”

    One cup mushrooms, coarsely chopped
    Quarter onion, coarsely chopped
    Drizzle with olive oil, garlic, and salt (if you like spice, throw in a little crushed red pepper!)
    When they are not quite done, add white wine and simmer

    In separate skillet, take two to three sheets of Unveiled, bread lightly and fry until slightly crispy. Lay pages out on plate, top with stir-fry and garnish with a lemon. Each luscious bite should contain some crispy Unveiled, onion, mushroom, and a taste of white wine and lemon.

    Enjoy!

  25. npfann says:

    it should first be covered in spices and tamale dough.  the covered in corn husk.  it should be steamed in a corn husk.  the steaming will cook, and allow it to be unveiled, and like a tamale the insides will be HOT!

  26. Karen says:

    I must say that I actually did get a brownie (from Corner Bakery) that somehow had the parchment in it—and while heavier than paperback pages, it really was very noticable—so I think baked goods would need to be out, no matter how much chocolate really does go with romance…

    And while baked with sauce would probably work, I’m going to second (?) the crockpot idea.  If you put them in with chili makings, with some extra tomatoes, the book should act as a thickener and be major mush at the end of the day…  (or am I taking this too seriously?)

    plans53 – I bet there are are already more than 53 plans for how to cook this book!  It sounds wonderful and I have loved everything by Courtney Milan that I have read so far!

  27. daffiney says:

    Bake it in parchment paper with some nice herbs. Then when it’s ready to serve, you can unveil it and let all the juicy steaminess waft around you in a heady aroma of … book. (You know, I think I’d seriously cook it like this!)

  28. Jcscot says:

    I vote for shredding it finely and adding it into a banana loaf recipe.

  29. GiantSquid says:

    Pad Unveiled Thai

    One copy of Unveiled cut into 1/2inch strips lengthwise and soaked in water for 30 minutes.
    8oz of chicken or whatever protein you prefer, cut into bite-sized pieces
    5 green onions, slices, separate the white bottoms from the green tops
    2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
    1/4 thumb of ginger finely chopped
    1tsp red pepper flakes
    2 eggs, scrambled
    3 TBSP tamarind concentrate
    2 TBSP fish sauce
    2 TBSP palm sugar
    1 TBSP lime juice
    vegetable oil
    4 oz bean sprouts
    2 oz unsalted, roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
    lime wedges

    Prep everything. Heat wok with 3 TBSP of oil. Cook whites of onions, ginger, and garlic 30 sec. Add chicken until cooked through. Add book pages until softened. Add sauce and red pepper flakes. Push mixture to sides of wok and scramble egg in the center. Then mix everything together. Add bean sprouts and greens of onions, cook for a few seconds and then serve immediately garnished with peanuts, lime wedges, and, if desired, soy sauce, siracha sauce, or other flavor enhancers.

    Goes well with a crisp white wine.

  30. phyllis says:

    Sauteed in a little butter and a little garlic. You wouldn’t want the cooking method to overwhelm the book, would you?

  31. Vanettta says:

    OH MY GOSH… Cook at book… No way.. you can’t do it! 🙂 It you do then I would “SUN” Cook it! 🙂

    Place your lounge chair outside, with your ice tea and towel.

    Place the book upon the chair and soak up some rays…..

    It will be “hotter” than “hot” so be-careful, once it’s been sunbathed, you can let it “cool” down on the bookshelf! 🙂

    I would love to read this book, this is one I haven’t had a chance to get my fingers on yet!

  32. stephanie says:

    agree with bookworm babe.  the sheets would make great muffin liners.

    see here:  http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/tips-techniques/quick-tip-use-parchment-paper-as-muffin-cup-liners-095309

  33. The Duchess says:

    Oven-Fried Unveiled

    Marinate one copy of Unveiled in mixture of buttermilk, mustard, hot sauce and minced garlic for 1 to 8 hours, then dredge in a mixture of flour, dried thyme, paprika, sesame seeds, salt and pepper. Spray with oil or Pam, then stick it on a greased rack in a pre-heated oven at 425* C for about 30 to 40 mins. For a more evenly crunchy exterior, place foil covered tray underneath the rack.

    Mmmmm, juicy.

  34. Nadia says:

    In a gumbo!  Make it extra spicy. 😉

  35. Cirisse says:

    OMNOMNOM
    I want a copy!

  36. Lisa B says:

    Servie it on a delicate bed of rice of course! lol

    Lisa B

  37. Wendy says:

    To cook a book, isn’t that like rock soup recipe but with a book.

    Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add book, boil until book is soft and serve… I would add some spices for flavor and veggies to give more color but this book it pretty colorful.

    Especially book soup in the middle of the freaking blizzard and I think I am making pot of soup and curling up with a good book at some point during these days.

  38. Jennifer Uribe says:

    Sounds like it just needs some ganache!

  39. Midknyt says:

    I say you cut it into strips and pretend it’s spaghetti.

    Or, you could shred it and stick in in muffins, kind of like you’re supposed to to hide vegetables on kids.  No, muffin tops.  Even better.

    Or you could shred it fine and pretend it’s alfalfa on a salad.

    Or you could crumple tiny balls and pretend their chocolate chips in some cookies.

    Though if you go for Unveiled sashimi, it has to be naked sushi.  Hmm…eating romance novel off of someone yummy…

    Wait!  I’ve got it.  Unvieled Edible Underwear!  (While that recipe actually requires cooking, I think this other recipe would be the easiest, especially if you ever just want to make a pair.  Gotta love Google.)

  40. Vita says:

    Chocolate, chewy, Unveiled cake BROWNIES, a la Courtney Milan!!!  Because I have the world’s biggest sweet tooth! 

     

    although97 pans of them wouldn’t satisfy the craving

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