Pork With Bitter Melon

Salted Chinese black beans are more than able to hold their own against the strong flavor of bitter melon in this flavorful stir-fry. This recipe for Pork With Bitter Melon has been reader-rated at 5 out of 5 stars.

Cold Lemon Chicken

This recipe comes from Doug, who writes: "A perfect dish hot weather dish, it gives a sumptuous cold lemon chicken dish, with a bite. I never fail to get compliments on this dish, every time I serve it." Cold Lemon Chicken

My Library Reads No. 17

My Library Reads is a spotlight on the library books that I have read during the previous week. This is not a post on what books I borrowed but books that I read. Since I don't review library books, this is a way to still be able to showcase them on my blog.

BTW, if anyone knows of another meme that is like this on another blog, could you please let me know? I don't know of any myself, but if there is one already in place, I'd like to give credit where credit is due!

Library Books read from 7/3/11 - 7/10/11

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith (Dutton Juvenile, 4/28/11)

YA - Even if I didn't have to read this book for the YA Contemps challenge, I still probably would have picked up this book based on the cover alone. Having worked in a library, I love those stools and the cartoonish cover with books calls out to me. And the story does start off with a love of books, libraries and bookshelves!

It's all too easy for me to say negative things about Joy's relationship with Zan and how it borders on obsessiveness. But then I remember when I was that age and acted exactly the same way. Oh how much we've grown. I loved how her relationship with Noah changes throughout the book and I wish the both of them well. Road trip stories always fascinate me because when you have to be with a person for so long of a time in such a little space, you really get to know the person. I did laugh when Joy tries to focus on something to get over Zan and she chooses a minute physical imperfection because that's something I used to do too (that sounds horrible but usually it was a very minor thing, like toenails).

Something I found interesting in this book was how much of the Mormon faith is mentioned throughout the story. Joy talks a lot about her faith, the rules of Mormonism and the fact that those who are not of the faith can be seen as outsiders. I never felt that I was being preached at. In fact, I became more curious about the fact that they weren't allowed to drink caffeinated sodas or coffee. I just found it interesting that a lot of YA readers seem to be ok with talk about the Mormon faith in books but not with Christian fiction YA books.

Overall, a fun read and I look forward to more from Smith.

Beef Fried Rice

Tender strips of marinated beef lend flavor to the heating rice in this quick stir-fry dish. Beef Fried Rice makes an easy main dish for two, or a side dish for four.

Ground Beef Fried RiceVegetable Fried Rice Learn More About Fried Rice More Fried Rice Recipes

Beef Fried Rice photo ? copyright 2011 by Rhonda Parkinson, licensed to About.com, Inc.

On a Stick Cookbook Giveaway (Signed)

I have been a fan of Matt Bites for the longest time. I remember when I first started blogging, I would just gawk at Matt’s gorgeous food photography and secretly wished that one day I could be half as good as him. Fast forward a few years, Matt Armendariz is now a cookbook author; his first cookbook “On a Stick” is fun, casual, and absolutely perfect…

I sent an email to Matt and asked if he would be interested in a giveway. He said YES! and mailed me a signed copy of “On a Stick”—a cookbook with dozens of delightful recipes for party?food, street-cart food, junk food, and more.

To enter to win, just leave a comment below. To maximize your odds of winning, you can leave a comment every day (one comment per day strictly enforced), plus the bonus entry below:

Two Bonus Entries:

Like Rasa Malaysia?on?Facebook.?Leave 1 bonus comment for this.Follow Rasa Malaysia on Twitter. Leave 1 bonus comment for this.

This giveaway opens to?US and Canada residents only and closes on July 31, 11:59 pm PST. Winners will be randomly selected and announced on August 1, 2011. Good luck!

Pork With Bitter Melon

Salted Chinese black beans are more than able to hold their own against the strong flavor of bitter melon in this flavorful stir-fry. This recipe for Pork With Bitter Melon has been reader-rated at 5 out of 5 stars.

Hoisin Ginger Burgers

Hoisin Ginger Burgers are loaded with Asian seasonings (including hoisin sauce, sesame seed oil and cilantro), and served on a toasted brioche roll. This creative burger recipe took first place in Marx Foods "Build the Best Burger contest."

More Asian inspired summer recipes:

Book Review: "Heart of Lies" by Jill Marie Landis

Summary from BN.com: Raised in a tribe of street urchins, Maddie Grande was taught to be a thief and beggar on the streets of New Orleans. But Maddie doesn't know her real name or where she came from. Raised by Dexter Grande, Maddie and her twin 'brothers' have recently left New Orleans and moved to the bayou. The twins are rarely there, but Maddie has come to love the swamp. She has learned to fish and trap and sell pelts at the local mercantile.Maddie longs to change her life but knows that her brothers will never give up their lawless ways. When they kidnap the daughter of a wealthy carpetbagger, the twins force Maddie to hide the precocious eight-year-old while they return to New Orleans to wait for notice of a reward.Pinkerton agent Tom Abbott is assigned to the kidnapping case in which Maddie has become an accomplice. In a journey that takes them to Baton Rouge, a mutual attraction becomes evident, but Tom and Maddie cannot trust each other.Will Maddie ever discover who she is? Will her real family ever find her? Will Maddie and Tom listen to their hearts? Or will they choose honor over love?

After being highly impressed with the first book in this series as well as the fact that I am traveling to Louisiana this week, I had looked forward to the second book the Irish Angels series. Unfortunately this book fell short of my expectations. While there is material that I found highly interesting, most of the story seemed to go the way of both traditional romances or Christian historical romances. I didn't feel as if I got to know Maddie as well as I had Laura from the first book.

I felt Maddie's and Tom's relationship to be extremely rushed. I didn't feel this from Maddie's end so much as I did Tom's. I mean he's known her for a few days and already he wants to smell her hair or kiss her? He knows nothing about her but is already falling in love? Also I felt too much emphasis was placed on Tom's position as a Pinkerton agent. I feel that authors tend to use this label too often to make their hero be able to get in places normal people can't. From what I've studied, the agents didn't have all the prestige or privileges they tend to have in books.

I did find the plight of the street children to be fascinating and disturbing at the same time. It's extremely sad to hear about what happened to orphans and those who were unwanted. I have always found society's views on orphans to be disheartening especially when they are treated as if it is their fault their parents are dead. What Maddie did to make the children "forget and change" is psychologically horrifying and the ramifications of her actions continue to haunt her. I wish more emphasis had been placed on that part of the story as opposed to the romance.

Overall, it was a less satisfying read but still interesting. The culture is interesting and for the most part, the plot is unique in Christian fiction. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of Laura and Maddie's siblings being rediscovered so I will continue reading the rest of the books in the series.

Heart of Lies by Jill Marie Landis is published by Zondervan (2011)

This review copy was provided by the publisher

Other books in the Irish Angel series that I have reviewed:

Heart of Stone (Book 1)

Book Review: "The Blessed" by Ann Gabhart

Summary from BN.com: It is 1844 and Lacey Bishop's life is a tangled mess. Estranged from her own family, at age 16 she went to work for a preacher and his wife. When his wife died, the preacher convinced Lacey that the only decent thing to do was to marry him. That way she could continue to act as mother to the little girl who was left on his doorstop. But Lacey never expected he would decide to take them all off to a Shaker village. There she's still married but living in a community that believes marriage is a sin. And to make matters worse, she finds herself drawn to Isaac Kingston, a man who came to the Shakers after his young bride died. But of course any notion of love between them is only a forbidden dream. How will Lacey ever find true happiness?

Books about the Shakers are a genre that I have difficulty reading about. I highly disagree with their theology. Everything that they believe is something that I find fault with. I feel that they took words from the Bible and changed them to make their religion work. I especially disagree with their views on marriage because the argument is not strong enough. I honestly feel that Mother Ann probably couldn't find a husband hence why she started the belief that men and women should stay separate. Also in all these books about the Amish, it frightens me as to how many men force their families to become Shakers and leave their wife but won't divorce her. To me that is highly selfish and their choice to remain celibate and away from women makes one suspicious.

And yet I keep reading these books for some reason. Well that reason is probably that Ann Gabhart's writing keeps drawing me to these stories. Her stories are well written even if I don't agree with the content. I don't feel as if Gabhart endorses the Shakers' beliefs nor is the reader supposed to walk away from the story wanting to switch over and become one. Unlike most Amish books, the Shakers are not romanticized or shown as the ideal way of life. In fact this book goes out of its way to show how wrong the Shaker thinking is and how their beliefs can cause harm. I feel like there's so much that they were missing out and instead of enjoying the benefits of their faith, instead they chose a different path.

This book is classified as a historical romance but to be honest that romance only takes place for the last few pages of the book. Therefore I feel like it's categorized incorrectly because if someone is looking for a book that involves a lot of romance, they aren't really going to find it in this story. The characters in this book do a lot of soul searching and discovering their inner strengths in order to make tough decisions. Not a lot of time is spent on figuring out one's soul mate. More emphasis is placed on historical information as well as pointing out what we can learn from the Shakers flawed theology. I find this type of argument in the book to be fascinating and therefore can justify why I continue to keep reading stories like it.

The Blessed by Ann Gabhart is published by Revell (2011)

This review copy was provided by the publisher

Satisfying Asian Smoothies

Nothing beats a smoothie on hot summer days! These Asian smoothie recipes are made with a selection of tropical fruit, including mango, kiwi, and papaya.

Mango Smoothie photo ? copyright 2010 by Rhonda Parkinson, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Vegetable Fried Rice

Yummy cashews add a load of health benefits to this simple recipe for vegetable fried rice, made with scented rice. The recipe has been reader-rated at 5 out of 5 stars.

Terrific Tofu Shirataki Noodle Salad

A low carb pasta alternative made by combining a member of the yam family with tofu, Tofu Shirataki is an interesting alternative to standard shirataki noodles. This tasty Tofu Shirataki Salad pairs the noodles with vegetables. The recipe includes an easy to make dip.

Satisfying Asian Smoothies

Nothing beats a smoothie on hot summer days! These Asian smoothie recipes are made with a selection of tropical fruit, including mango, kiwi, and papaya.

Mango Smoothie photo ? copyright 2010 by Rhonda Parkinson, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Interested in Vampires? Or the Amish? Or a Blog Tour?

Faithwords has two very different books coming out in fall of this year. An Amish book and a Christian Vampire book. Different ends of the spectrum, I know (wiggles eyebrows unsuccessfully). I'm looking forward to both these books because you know how my tastes are all over the place like that.

And the publisher is looking forward to doing a blog tour for both of them. The tour for Kiss of Night by Debbie Viguie is 10/3-10/7. The tour for The Wounded Heart by Adina Seft is 9/26-9/28. If you're interested in either of the books, read the descriptions for each story and then click on the link to sign up.

Centuries ago, Raphael was a blasphemous knight who fought in the Crusades purely for his own mercenary benefit, and to satisfy his taste for killing. Now, condemned for his evil passions and hypocrisy, he wanders the earth a vampire, cursed with first-hand knowledge of the supernatural world he once denied existed. The powerful relic he still possesses from his days as a Crusader has been stolen by a rival vampire who has recruited an army of soulless underlings to aid him in spreading evil. At the time he learns this, Raphael has been hunting this vampire for nearly a century, and it seems the final battle is destined to take place in Prague.

For help in this quest, Raphael must enlist the aid of two humans, David and Susan, who suddenly find themselves immersed in a world they never imagined, entangled with supernatural forces they can't control. Susan, in particular, finds herself conflicted as she struggles with her inexplicable attraction to Raphael. In the end, both Susan and Raphael will be called upon to exercise courage and faith, and in the process, the question What would happen if a vampire truly accepted God? is answered.

If you are interested in signing up for this tour, click here.

When a business offer turns into something more personal, Amelia is torn between what logic tells her is right, and the desire of her heart.

A widow with two small children, Amelia Beiler is struggling to make ends meet. She is running her late husband's business, but it's not what she was raised to do, which is run a home. When she gets an offer for the business from Eli Fischer, she's only too relieved to consider it-especially when it looks like Eli's interest might include more than just the shop. But when she begins to experience strange physical symptoms and is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it's difficult not to question God's will. If she pursues the treatment she believes in, she risks going under the bann. But how can she allow Eli to court her when she can't promise him a future?

Includes instructions to make the quilt block featured in the novel.

If you are interested in signing up for this tour, click here.

Laksa

Laksa is a spice-laden noodle dish that is popular in Malaysia and Singapore; it’s a noodle dish that is quickly gaining popularity outside of Southeast Asia because of the scrumptious taste. To most people, especially the western media, laksa means curry laksa, a noodle dish in coconut milk and curry soup base. The truth is, there are many different? types of laksa but the two dominant ones are curry laksa (coconut milk based) and asam laksa (tamarind based). Laksa is an iconic street food served by street vendors (hawkers) throughout Malaysia, a dish that I grew up eating…

In my hometown Penang, laksa simply means Asam Laksa, a spicy and sour fish-based noodle dish. My Penang laksa recipes are here and here. In Penang, curry laksa is known as curry mee and my recipe is here.

Are you confused yet?

Anyway, today I am sharing a “friendly” laksa recipe with you. I have adapted this laksa recipe so the taste appeals more to the western palate. I also did a twist by adding evaporated milk to the laksa stock, so it’s half coconut milk and half evaporated milk. The end result is a creamier version of laksa without the dominant flavor of coconut milk. To further enhance the aroma of the broth, I threw in a few kaffir lime leaves. The laksa was so delicious that even my friend‘s 2 year old and 4 years old enjoyed it.

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Baked Hoisin Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are marinated in a sweet and spicy mixture of hoisin sauce, honey, ginger, and green onion in this easy recipe. Hoisin sauce is available in Asian/Chinese markets or the international section of many supermarkets. A reader gives this recipe for Baked Hoisin Chicken Wings 5 out of 5 stars and writes: "Very authentic and tasty. My husband is Asian American. He said this is exactly as his sister makes it, except she would lightly sautee it instead of baking. But this seems less fattening."

Chinese Steak With Peppers

Steak and sweet bell peppers are stir-fried in a spicy barbeque sauce flavored with Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce. Sheila gives this Chinese Steak recipe 5 out of 5 stars and writes: "The recipe is totally delicious! I've been looking for a steak recipe for a long time and when I tried this one, I truly found the recipe that I was looking for. The taste and the aroma is just right and it's easy to prepare." Thanks!"

Baked Hoisin Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are marinated in a sweet and spicy mixture of hoisin sauce, honey, ginger, and green onion in this easy recipe. Hoisin sauce is available in Asian/Chinese markets or the international section of many supermarkets. A reader gives this recipe for Baked Hoisin Chicken Wings 5 out of 5 stars and writes: "Very authentic and tasty. My husband is Asian American. He said this is exactly as his sister makes it, except she would lightly sautee it instead of baking. But this seems less fattening."

Book Review: "40" by Travis Thrasher

Summary from Christianbook.com: Plagued by hallucinations, writer Tyler Harrison covers a rock concert in Chicago, where he's told by an "angel" that he'll be dead before his next birthday. Terrified, Tyler reaches out to a famous DJ, who leads him on a downward spiral of temptation. Will he find the peace and redemption he seeks before he turns 40?

There are many people who dread turning 40 because it signifies that you've reached middle age. For Tyler, it means that he when he turns 40, he will die. What would you do if you were told that you only a few months to live and then was taken back on a journey of your life?

I found it interesting at how willingly Tyler chose to believe what was being told to him. Yes, there were times when he had doubts but I thought he gave in rather quickly. Then again, he did see a lot of visions so I suppose if I was in his situation I probably would have as well. Tyler's relationships with others a big part of the story. His relationship with his dad stood out to me the most in the story. The scene that stuck out the most was near the beginning when we first meet him and then the very embarrassing and awkward situation his dad finds himself in. It shows a side of a person that doesn't come out very often but for those who really have love, it comes out in situations like that.

I LOVED that Thrasher threw in so much music throughout the book. And it's not just recent pop culture bands that no one will remember in a few years. There's extensive talk about U2 and The Beatles as well as favorites like Coldplay and Arcade Fire. I knew I was going to love this book when I saw that on the page before the book starts, Thrasher had used a lyric from my favorite Arcade Fire song "Wake Up." Why do I love this so much? Because it shows that you can be a Christian and still listen to good music. I also found the argument about Christian artists and music and getting out of the box and being typecasted to be insanely interesting.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. There were a lot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. It's a very thought provoking story. Some of the chapters were very short but it made the story flow very fast because of what took place during those chapters. The ending can be open for interpretation and while sometimes I feel like I need a definite answer, this time it worked for me. It's not your typical Christian read and in fact, I think that the average Christian fiction reader probably will not enjoy this book. This is probably why I enjoyed it so much. Another winner and though provoker from Thrasher and I look forward to more.

40 by Travis Thrasher is published by Faithwords (2011)

This ARC was provided by the publisher

Hoisin Ginger Burgers

Hoisin Ginger Burgers are loaded with Asian seasonings (including hoisin sauce, sesame seed oil and cilantro), and served on a toasted brioche roll. This creative burger recipe took first place in Marx Foods "Build the Best Burger contest."

More Asian inspired summer recipes:

Book Review: "Veiled Rose" by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Summary from BN.com: Rose Red trusts no one with her secret. She hides in the forest, her face veiled in rags, shunning the company of all save her old father and her nanny goat. Her life is bleak and lonely.

Until she meets a privileged young man sent to spend his summer in the mountains. Leo, a lonely lad, befriends Rose Red, and together they begin hunting for the Mountain Monster which, rumor says, stalks these lands.

But the hunt which began as a game holds greater risk than Leo supposes. Rose Red can scarcely guess at the consequences should he insist on continuing his search. Dare she trust him with her secret? Or tell him what dwells at the top of the mountain in the cave only she can find?

Above all, when Leo asks Rose Red to leave the mountain and follow him to the low country, dare she agree and risk the wrath of a Monster that is all too real?

Why yes, this book is YA fantasy. And why yes, I normally don't touch this stuff. And indeed, last year I said, after reading the first book in this series, even though I enjoyed it I was still a bit iffy about reading more books in the series because it's hard for me to get into fantasy.

If you like dragons, fairies, handsome prince, beautiful princesses and magic, you will love this book. Leo is the prince who steals Rose Red's heart. She's a strange girl who lives in the mountains and is heavily veiled so no one can see her face. I loved seeing her evolve with Leo's character though I was saddened when she goes with him to be his servant. Her conversations with her dreams were intense. The whole dragon bit is intense but in a good way. Lots of battle between light and dark there.

Even if you haven't read Heartless, you won't be lost at all as there are mostly new characters in this story. However if you have read the first book, it is lovely to see the story from Leonard's point of view when he meets Una. It makes a lot more sense as to why he did what he did then now that we have the whole story.

As with the first book, there are allegorical references again in this story. But as I am 1) a bit clueless when it comes to knowing the true meaning and 2) got completely swept up in the story, I actually couldn't tell you exactly what and where these references are from though I'm sure they are probably faith-based. Still, the reader is not going to feel bogged down by this at all. It's wonderfully written and any YA fantasy lover will swoon over this book.

The ending of this book broke my heart. Not because it was a bad ending per se, but because I felt so much hurt for Rose Red when she finally reveals herself. Honestly I wanted to cry. I also want to say that the cover of this book is then portrayed wrong. It made have to go back and flip through the pages to see if I had somehow missed something. I do hope that we get to see more of her in future books, I truly loved her character.

I honestly want to thank Stengl for writing these simply excellent books. You have made a non fantasy reader read your books. I really do hope that more readers outside of the Christian market find these books. The covers are appealing and the stories are what YA fantasy readers will love. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series now. Next year can't come fast enough for it. HIGHLY recommended.

Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl is published by Bethany House (2011)

This review copy was provided for a blog tour with the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

Other books in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series that I've reviewed:

Heartless (Book 1)

Chicken Rice

Chicken Rice (Hainanese Chicken Rice) pictures (1 of 5)

You know that someone is a serious and great cook when she tirelessly perfects her recipes even though it means that the family has to eat the same dish over and over again, Sherie of Maameemoomoo is just that with her Hainanese chicken rice recipe, a popular dish in Malaysia and Singapore. Maameemoomoo food blog is one of the finalists of Singapore Blog Award; it beckons with mouthwatering recipes and gorgeous photography, one that is sure to stir up your appetite. Please welcome Maameemoomoo to Rasa Malaysia with her perfect Hainanese chicken rice recipe. Enjoy!

Truth be told, I got to know about Rasa Malaysia quite sometime ago back in 2006 from one of my favourite food blogs then. All these years, I’ve been silently supporting Bee without her knowing but now, errrmmm… not so silently anymore aye? :)

When Bee invited me to do a guest post for her last month, I was elated but at the same time, a little worried…

Why?

Just take a look at the Bee’s recipe index. I doubt that there is any Malaysian/ Singaporean dish that has not been featured on Rasa Malaysia already. Fortunately, 1 out of 2 suggestions suggested got Bee thrilled and she was quick to agree to it because she hasn’t featured this particular dish, yet.

Hainanese chicken rice is a dish of Chinese origin most commonly associated with Hainanese Cuisine, Malaysian Cuisine and Singapore Cuisine. It is based on the well-known Hainanese dish called Wenchang chicken (文昌雞). Don’t be surprised though, if you find the chicken rice served in Hainan, China is different from what you can find in Southeast Asia. Over the years, adaption has been made by the Chinese Hainanese clan who migrated to Southeast Asia which resulted today’s Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore and Malaysia.

Being a Hainanese myself, I often eat this when I was growing up. My mother has this ultra soft-spot for this dish, perhaps, because it is the only Hainanese dish which she can whip up perfectly. Tee hee hee!

So, how do you define a good plate of chicken rice?

You might be shocked to know that each and every one of us defines it differently. While a bowl of kick-ass rice works for me, some may think it is the oh-so-tender-chicken pieces with its silky smooth skin, or some, it is the one-of-its-kind-chili sauce. I say, whatever works for you and that is that.

Before this, due to my non-existent chopping chicken skill, I usually cut the chicken into just 4 sections and let the children tear the meat off by themselves. However, ever since I promised Bee that I’ll produce a decent looking plate of chicken rice for her, my poor family had been consuming chicken rice for almost 5 weeks consecutively for the past month!

Thankfully on my 5th attempt, I managed to get a plate of OK-looking chicken pieces and i thought that was the end of my chicken rice meal for the next 3 months at least, but guess what? I’ve just been sent a request to cook this dish on Sunday for my partner’s family and his beloved sister who would be back from the States for a short holiday!

Guess it’s not that easy to get bored of Hainanese chicken rice eh?

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Everyday Food Subscription + Summer Issue Giveaway

Are you a food magazine junkie? I am. That’s why I am working with my friends at MarthaStewart.com to bring you Everyday Food subscription giveaway on Rasa Malaysia.

We have five (5) copies of Everyday Food Special Summer Issue + five (5) one-year magazine subscriptions, so five (5) lucky readers will win the amazing magazine and the annual subscription!!

To enter to win, just leave a comment below. To maximize your odds of winning, you can leave a comment every day (one comment per day strictly enforced), plus the bonus entry below:

BONUS ENTRY

“Like” Rasa Malaysia on Facebook“Like” Everyday Food on Facebook

This giveaway opens to?US residents only and closes on July 17, 11:59 pm PST. Entries will be imported into an excel sheet with proper bonus entries. Winners will be randomly selected and announced on July 18, 2011. Good luck!

Chinese Vegetables Photo Gallery

Chinese vegetables come in a variety of intriguing shapes, sizes and textures - from fuzzy melon (the gourd, not the drink) to the tender young shoots of the bamboo plant. Here are pictures of various types of Chinese vegetables, with links to more information including storage and preparation tips, and recipes.

Pattern of Wounds by J. Mark Betrand

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingPattern of WoundsBethany House (July 1, 2011)byJ. Mark Bertrand

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J. Mark Bertrand lived in Houston, where the series is set, for fifteen years, earning an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Houston. But after one hurricane too many he relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota. Mark has been arrested for a crime he didn't commit, was the foreman of one hung jury and served on another that acquitted Vinnie Jones of assault. In 1972, he won an honorable mention in a child modeling contest, but pursued writing instead.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It's Christmas in Houston, and homicide detective Roland March is on the hunt for a killer. A young woman's brutal stabbing in an affluent neighborhood bears all the hallmarks of a serial murder. The only problem is that March sent the murderer to prison ten years ago. Is it a copycat -- or did March convict the wrong man?

Alienated from his colleagues and with a growing rift in his marriage, March receives messages from the killer. The bodies pile up, the pressure builds, and the violence reaches too close to home. Up against an unfathomable evil, March struggles against the clock to understand the hidden message in the pattern of wounds.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Pattern of Wounds, go HERE.

Book Review: "Vigilante" by Robin Parrish

Summary from BN.com: Nolan Gray is an elite soldier, skilled in all forms of combat. After years fighting on foreign battlefields, witnessing unspeakable evils and atrocities firsthand, a world-weary Nolan returns home to find it just as corrupt as the war zones. Everywhere he looks, there's pain and cruelty. Society is being destroyed by wicked men who don't care who they make suffer or destroy.

Nolan decides to do what no one else can, what no one has ever attempted. He will defend the helpless. He will tear down the wicked. He will wage a one-man war on the heart of man, and he won't stop until the world is the way it should be.

The wicked have had their day. Morality's time has come. In a culture starving for a hero, can one extraordinary man make things right?

It's been a while since I read a Robin Parrish book. This is not because I don't like his writing but mainly because I am still in the middle of his Dominion trilogy and just haven't had the time to complete it. However when I saw that this book was a complete standalone, I knew that I wanted to read it. I was right because once I started reading, I could not put the book down.

While I was reading this book, two superhero movies immediately came to mine: Batman from Batman Begins/The Dark Knight and Spiderman from the Spiderman trilogy. Both of these characters as well as Nolan Gray decide to take things into their own hands as they feel that they cannot rely on the proper authorities to do what is right. They are fed up with all the evil that is going on in the world and are using whatever ways they can to make it happen. Like Bruce Wayne, Nolan comes into money and uses technology and learned skill to make his tactics work. Like Peter Parker, Nolan feels that he can no longer sit around and watch as people suffer.

This book was non stop action. I literally had to pull myself away from the pages because I found myself completely glued to the story. There are so many elements in the book that make everything work. One thing I am super glad that Parrish did NOT include was any sort of romantic interest from Nolan because that would have taken completely away from the story. Nolan's tactics may not always have been ethically correct and his ultimate intent gives a lot to think about. While there are faith threads that do come up occasionally throughout the story, not once does it ever feel forced unto the reader.

One of the more awesome things that happened while I was reading this book happened while I was reading this book at lunch one day. I had this book with me to a restaurant as I was eating by myself. The waiter asked me what I was reading, and I was expecting the normal routine of I show the book and the waiter acts like they are interested but really they are not. So it was my utter surprise when the waiter KNEW the book and author! I was totally shocked as this book had just come out and also since it's Christian fiction, I rarely find anyone in real life who reads it. It was a very pleasant surprise.

This being said, I honestly loved this story and want to recommend it to everyone that I come across. It's not really like any other book that I have read but I knew once I started that I was going to love it. I know now that I need to finish the Dominion trilogy because Parrish is an author that has caught my attention for good. HIGHLY recommended.

Vigilante by Robin Parrish is published by Bethany House (2011)

This review copy was provided for a blog tour with the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

Chinese Steak With Peppers

Steak and sweet bell peppers are stir-fried in a spicy barbeque sauce flavored with Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce. Sheila gives this Chinese Steak recipe 5 out of 5 stars and writes: "The recipe is totally delicious! I've been looking for a steak recipe for a long time and when I tried this one, I truly found the recipe that I was looking for. The taste and the aroma is just right and it's easy to prepare." Thanks!"

Cold Lemon Chicken

This recipe comes from Doug, who writes: "A perfect dish hot weather dish, it gives a sumptuous cold lemon chicken dish, with a bite. I never fail to get compliments on this dish, every time I serve it." Cold Lemon Chicken

Beef Fried Rice

Tender strips of marinated beef lend flavor to the heating rice in this quick stir-fry dish. Beef Fried Rice makes an easy main dish for two, or a side dish for four.

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Beef Fried Rice photo ? copyright 2011 by Rhonda Parkinson, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Vegetable Fried Rice

Yummy cashews add a load of health benefits to this simple recipe for vegetable fried rice, made with scented rice. The recipe has been reader-rated at 5 out of 5 stars.

Coconut Shrimp

Coconut Shrimp pictures (1 of 4)

Recently, there is a new takeout place near my neighborhood that sells all sorts of popular items—Korean BBQ ribs, japchae, chicken karaage, tonkatsu, coconut shrimp, etc. I have fallen in love with its coconut shrimp and have been packing them for lunch, at least twice a week. The coconut shrimp is unlike others that I have tried before—the shrimp has a juicy sweet taste that bursts in my mouth and the coating is crispy, airy, without being greasy…

While I love going there for my coconut shrimp fix, it’s quite expensive as the $12 lunch box gets me only 4 shrimp. So, I decided to just make my own. I used Tiger shrimp, which is ideal for coconut shrimp because of the texture, but I find the frozen Tiger shrimp in the US pretty tasteless. To sweeten up my coconut shrimp, I added some sugar into the beaten egg, which is for the dipping of the coconut shrimp before coating with the panko and coconut flakes. To make the coconut shrimp extra crispy, I dipped the shrimp into the beaten egg and the coating twice. The end result is an amazing serving of coconut shrimp—plump, juicy, crispy, with a tint of sweetness. I made spicy tartar sauce as the dipping sauce.

I asked my nanny to taste the goods, and she said that it’s the BEST that she has ever tasted. She immediately asked for my coconut shrimp recipe. Try it yourself, coconut shrimp makes a great party food that is sure to please.

(Click Page 2 for Coconut Shrimp Recipe)

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