Amanda's Books and More: August 2022

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Viennese Pastries and a Linky

My brother treated us to the most wonderful pastries at the elegant and historic Café Central, so named for being at the true centre of Vienna. It was the perfect outing on a lovely day, within walking distance of the apartment my mom and stepdad rented for the month of July. The café first opened in 1876 and was frequented by poets, philosophers, and chess players.

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Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Viennese Breads and Pastries and a Linky

We went to this bakery for Viennese Brötchen/Semmel (bread rolls) almost every morning during the two weeks we were in Vienna. I spent seven years of my childhood in Germany, so it was nice eating a German-style breakfast every morning at the apartment my mom and stepdad rented for the month of July. There are more photos on my Instagram account, which I've included below.

I also included photos of Amanda's first experience at a Konditorei (pastry and coffee shop). I think the main seating was upstairs, but we bought our decadent desserts and took them back to the apartment. Next time I'll share photos of where my brother treated us to wonderful pastries in an elegant setting at a historic Konditorei.

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A post shared by Tina Morley (@tinarobmorley)

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My Latest Book Review:

Fire That Unites

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Friday, August 19, 2022

Fire That Unites

Book Blurb:

All Josie wants is to keep the man she loves safe. And stop the truth-knife from stabbing her soul.

Neither of these goals is happening.

After a harrowing escape from fire dragons, Josie ends up making a deal with the one man she shouldn’t—her ice dragon ex, Rafe. He’s willing to protect Oliver and her if she helps him stop the horrors of the Arcane Market. And she has to put up with his not-so-secret desire to win her back.

On top of that, her truth-knife has decided to turn on her. Suddenly every lie Josie speaks inflicts searing pain on her heart. How’s a woman supposed to guard her rogue fire elemental mate without lying?
Especially when he keeps getting beat up just for existing.

Caught between her icy-hot ex, her irrepressible mate, and the agony of her blade, Josie’s ready to do the one thing she can’t.
Even if it costs her safety.
And her life.

Buy now and enjoy a humorous paranormal romance with a side of action and twisty plot. Features a sensible firebird shifter with a feisty side, a rascally fire elemental with a tragic side, and an ice dragon who hoards antiques. Clean PG-13 - there's heat, danger, and fighting, but nothing graphic.

Goodreads | Amazon Kindle

My Review:

Fire That Unites is the second book in The Arcane Market Adventures series by Janeen Ippolito, and it's the second half of firebird-shifter Josie and fire-elemental Oliver's story. Josie has trust issues and doesn't easily reach out to others for help in trying to protect Oliver. Lots of magical characters want him dead. Oliver, her mate, is patient with Josie but even he gets frustrated at her keeping secrets from her friends. And Josie sometimes uses lies as a line of defense, but her truth knife doesn't let her get away with it.

When danger comes at them from several sides, Josie has to accept help. She first makes a deal with her ice-dragon ex, Rafe, but his motives are unclear. It's a little messy adding an ex-boyfriend to a new relationship. Will Rafe behave around Oliver, and did he ever truly love Josie?

The end leaves enough open for the next book, which will follow a new couple, Rafe and Oliver's sister. Sometimes there are too many characters to keep track of. It's important to read the other books in the series first or you will get lost. It's good fun romantic fantasy with some deeper moments.

Related Posts:

Ashen and Met By Midnight

My Alien Engagement

If Wishes Were Curses

Wish You Weren't Here

Cut to the Heart

About the Author:

Janeen Ippolito

Janeen Ippolito believes you should own your unique words—and make them awesome! She’s a multi-published author of bestselling fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. She’s also an experienced editor and marketing strategist, plus the head of Uncommon Universes Press, a publishing company with award-winning books. In her spare time, she helps her missionary husband with his youth swordfighting ministry, indulges her foodie ambitions, reads whatever books she feels like, and explores a slew of random hobbies. Her life goals include traveling to Antarctica and riding a camel while wearing a party hat. This extrovert loves to connect! You can follow her on the links below:

Website | Facebook Page | Facebook Reader Group

Email Newsletter | Instagram | Twitter

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

A Beer Garden in Vienna and a Linky

The Schweizerhaus is a well-known restaurant and beer garden situated in Vienna's large public park called the Prater. Its origins supposedly go back as far as 1766 when it was known as the Schweizer Hütte (Swiss lodge). When we arrived, the place was packed. Thankfully, we were allowed to eat at a booked table in the beer garden, so long as we left before the time of the reservation. It rained a bit but we were protected by the umbrella over our table. It was fun seeing what other people ordered as the food and beer were carried out.

We ate traditional dishes. Most interesting were the Knödel (bread dumplings), which are pressed into loaves and sliced. They are pictured in the last two dishes. My mom took the pic of me, Amanda, and Robbie under the Schweizerhaus sign. My mom has many happy memories at Prater and this restaurant, so it was important for her that we experience it too. I wish we were there now, but alas, we are home in South Africa and Amanda is back in school. Fun times are over. 😂

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Hidden Sanctuary

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A post shared by Tina Morley (@tinarobmorley)

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Tuesday, August 9, 2022

A Traditional Austrian Restaurant and a Linky

We enjoyed this traditional Austrian restaurant in Vienna so much that we went twice. Usually, when we ate out, my mom and stepdad paid. We contributed to other meals. These photos are from both evenings at Reinthaler's Beisl. The first time we sat in the front, and it was my mom, Amanda, Hubby, and me. The second time we sat in the back, and my stepdad, my brother, and his fiance joined us.