To celebrate the release of her latest book, Sweet Caroline, Rachel Hauck is hosting a blog tour and a scrumptious baking basket giveaway. I was given the opportunity to read and review Rachel's latest book and have two copies to give away.
Living in the south, the real south, I identified and fell in love with each of Rachel's characters and settings. I know all about buttery biscuits, low country cuisine and South Carolina beaches. I have even been to Gay Fish Company while vacationing on the South Carolina isles. Immediately after beginning to read the book I became absorbed in Caroline's life, her kind spirit and her faithfulness to friends and family.
Whether or not you live in the deep south or have ever vacationed along the South Carolina coast, you will become immersed in low country culture and Caroline's pursuit of the sweet life. Sweet Caroline is a relaxing Christian chick-lit read you'll enjoy this summer while kicking back on your deck with a cold glass of sweet iced tea.
From the book cover:
Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing--the responsible, dependable thing--unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says "yes" to destiny.
Then, without warning, ownership of the run-down cafe where she's been waitressing falls right into Caroline's lap. While she's trying to determine the cafe's future, handsome Deputy Sheriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline's heart.
But when her first love, Mitch O'Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life.
This giveaway has ended. Giveaway Two: I have two copies of Sweet Caroline to giveaway...one brand new and one gently read by me but in brand new condition. For a chance to win simply leave a comment on this post by midnight Saturday, May 31, and please include an email for contacting you should you win. Two winners will be chosen by random draw using random.org and announced on Sunday, June 1.
Of course, you can buy the book at Amazon, CBD, Barnes & Noble and local Christian bookstores.
And for some yummy eating here's the recipe for Bubba's Buttery Biscuits which soothe appetites and souls in Sweet Caroline.
Bubba's Buttery Biscuits
3 cups self-rising flour
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
and chilled, plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted for brushing the tops
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Place the flour and chilled butter in a medium mixing bowl. Work the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingertips until the butter pieces are a little larger than an English pea, but not larger than a lima bean. If you are using your fingers, work quickly so that the heat of your hands won't melt the butter.
Pour in all of the buttermilk and, using light pressure, fold the mixture a few times with a plastic spatula until it holds together. Do not over mix. In order to make light biscuits, it is important to work the dough as little as possible.
Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead it quickly and gently 6 to 10 times or until it begins to be almost homogenized. There will be large pieces of butter throughout. Sprinkle a little flour under the dough so that it won't stick to the board and lightly dust the top of the dough so that it won't stick to the board and lightly dust the top of the dough so that it won't stick to the rolling pin. Roll the dough out to about 1/2-inch thickness.
Cut the dough into 2-inch rounds, place on an ungreased baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. I like the biscuits to be crispy and brown on the top and bottom, but not dry in the middle. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter. Serve right away. (recipe from Louis Osteen)
Good luck in the giveaways, y'all! (Yes, we really say y'all a whole bunch in the south.)
