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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Sasha Wagstaff has a heavenly recipe for everyone to love and a book to give away


**Giveaway is now closed**

Today we welcome Sasha Wagstaff, author of "Wicked Games" and her most recent novel "Heaven Scent." "Changing Grooms," Sasha's debut novel, was the Asda Bookclub pick for April 2009. As a young girl she devoured books. She graduated from college with a BA in French and Russian studies. For the next eight years she was an assistant vice president at an investment bank. Sasha began writing during her long commutes to and from work. With the encouragement from her husband, she left her career at the bank and began a full time career as a writer. Sasha lives right outside of Essex in the UK, with her husband and two daughters. Her next novel, "Recipe for Love" will be published in the spring.



You can learn more about Sasha by visiting her on Twitter, Facebook and at her website.

Thanks to Headline UK, we have FIVE copies of "Heaven Scent" to give to some lucky readers anywhere in the US and or Canada.

Synopsis of "Heaven Scent" (July 2011):

A warm, witty and wildly romantic read set in the sizzling south of France…

When Cat Hayes impulsively marries a handsome, penniless French waiter in St Tropez, she didn't realise she'd be widowed in just a few weeks. Neither did she know that her late husband was actually Oliver Ducasse, heir to the Ducasse perfume empire. Invited by the Ducasse family to their glamorous French mansion, Cat finds a family in chaos. What's more she's regarded her with suspicion and hostility, especially by Olivier's playboy cousin Xavier. Will she run for the hills as fast as her high heels can carry her? Or will she realise that she is exactly what this mixed-up family truly needs?


Synopsis of "Recipe for Love" (May 2012):

Summer in a luxurious Italian villa should be a taste of heaven, shouldn't it?

Talented, passionate and notoriously private, Italian chef Rocco Disanti never talks to journalists. So why, when Cassia Blake has just three months to organise her wedding, has he suddenly granted her magazine an exclusive, all-access interview? Against Cassia's better judgement, she hands the wedding planning over to her frosty mother-in-law, and flies out to Italy to spend time with Rocco. But Rocco isn't exactly looking forward to Cassia's arrival. Persuaded to do the interview to help publicise his business, he has enough on his plate with his fiery girlfriend, wedding-obsessed sister and fiercely protective grandmother. And now it seems as if someone is trying to sabotage his restaurants too... Cassia's summer in Sorrento is shaping up to be a recipe for disaster. But could it also be a recipe for love?



Please check out my favourite holiday recipe. I love this recipe because these muffins smell incredible when they’re cooking or when they are re-heated on Christmas morning - and they’re the perfect, speedy breakfast snack to accompany present-opening!

Christmas Morning Muffins

Makes 12

250g plain flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
100g castor sugar
3 teaspoonscinnamon
dash of fresh nutmeg
zest of a clementine
75ml clementine or orange juice
125ml milk
75 ml groundnut oil
1 egg
100g dried cranberries (or for pure decadence, chocolate chunks)

Preheat the oven to 400 F/ Gas mark 6. Line a muffin tin with cases and set aside.

Measure the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and spices into a large bowl; grate the zest of the clementine into the mixture and combine. (If doing this in advance, leave the zestinguntil Christmas morning – it makes the house smell lovely and festive).

Mix the clementine or orange juice with the milk up to the 200ml mark in a measuring jug.

Add the oil and the egg, and lightly beat until just combined.

Pour this liquid mixture into the bowl of dried ingredients and stir gently until well combined.

Fold in the cranberries (or chocolate chunks – go on, it is Christmas!), then spoon the batter into the muffin tins.

Bake for 20 minutes or so until tops are firm to the touch.

Devour whilst still warm, with a glass of bubbly. Open a present, then treat yourself to another muffin. Happy holidays!



Special thanks to Sasha for sharing her lovely recipe with us and to Headline for sharing Sasha's book with our readers!


How to win "Heaven Scent":

Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note:Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite scent?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines, as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends December 19th at midnight EST.

28 comments:

  1. Gorgeous-looking recipe! I am looking forward to discovering Sasha's books having met her recently. Think I'll start with Heaven Scent.

    My favourite perfume? Maybe Sisley's Eau de Soir ... or MOR Marshmallow. Both on my wish list ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the smell of my little boy's hair. And clean sheets. And coffee brewing. I could go on...

    Sasha seems delightful! What a good story she has, she should write a memoir.

    I follow you on GFC :)
    marthalynn16 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  3. My new favorite scent is the apple crumble candle at Bath and Body Works. :)

    I am a follower and FB member!

    kly(dot)327(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. My favorite scent is lavender.

    I'm a gfc follower.

    Skk25@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Elissadotbullard@gmail.com

    I follow this blog and like on FB.

    My favorite scent is VS Halo.

    I want to win!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the scent of Lime. Its so refreshing.. Not to mention the scent of chocolate:)

    I follow the blog and am also a member on facebook

    wapneski@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1. My favorite scent/fragrance right now is Miss Dior Cherie.

    2. I'm already a follower, GFC : Anjana Vasan
    3. I'm already a facebook fan : Anjana Vasan

    ReplyDelete
  8. 1. My fave scent right now is the holiday candle "Hot Buttered Rum" at Bath & Body Works. YUM!!!

    2. I follow the CLC blog

    3. I posted this contest on FB

    4. I belong to the FB group

    kewalker1972@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the scent of shampoo. The fresh smell is natural and great :)

    GFC: Na
    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would like to read this.

    jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the smell of vanilla.

    I am a subscriber.

    I am a Facebook follower.

    jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. My favorite scent is lily.

    I follow on Twitter,Facebook & the blog.

    adr52775 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the cover! My favorite sent is Allure by Chanel. I am a follower.

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. thanks for sharing your muffin recipe :)

    my favourite scent is lavender.

    i'm a follower, too :)

    merry christmas.

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. My favorite scent is definitely vanilla...wait and chocolate...wait and apple spice...wait and brown sugar. Yes anything sweet :)

    I can't wait to read this book.

    amyrbromberg (at) gmail (dot) com

    I follow on GFC and FB and Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to read this book.

    My favorite scent is vanilla.

    I am a GFC follower

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. 1. My favorite scent is Philosophy's Falling in Love. I can't to get stocked up on it for Christmas!
    2. I'm a follower!
    3. I tweeted!
    4. I'm a follower on FB as well.

    amber_johnson2004 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd love to read the book. It sounds great. And that muffin recipe looks delicious!
    jentam777 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. My favourite scent is rose.
    jentam777 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I follow your blog.
    jentam777 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. when i was younger (MUCH younger), i used to wear a cologne called Heaven Sent!!! now, i mostly wear Hawaiian Ginger.......

    i'm a GFC follower: cyn209

    shared on FB: www.facebook.com/cyn209

    also 'liked' your FB page as cyn209......

    thank you for this giveaway!!!!

    cyn209 at juno dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. My favorite scents are B&BW Winter Candy Apple, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, Victoria's Secret Love Spell and cupcakes, among others! Scent memory is one of my favorite experiences. =)

    Follow blog, group member and reposting to twitter!

    miss_kris_11@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Can't wait to try the recipe

    I follow via twitter, fb and GFC

    brn2shop9 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. 1. Please tell us: What is your favorite scent?

    A book.

    2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).

    Am already a follower.

    3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

    Facebook - Sabrina-Kate Eryou
    Twitter - stereoqueenbee

    4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines, as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

    Am already a member.

    queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. My favorite scent is lavender. But I also like vanilla, too.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Favorite scent is is coffee brewing. And brownies cooking.

    Sounds like a good read. And yes I follow on twitter.

    wordywon at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great giveaway! Thanks for the chance!

    My favorite scent is bread baking! Mmmmmmm! Yummy!

    GFC Follower

    I Tweeted:
    @NancyeDavis
    https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/148978255049924609

    FB Post:
    FB ID: Nancye Epperson Davis
    http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/nancyecdavis/posts/146116532163678

    I like/follow you on Facebook.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  28. I have just read all your lovely comments - they made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! I'm glad you enjoyed the holiday recipe and good luck with the competition Sasha Wagstaff xx

    ReplyDelete