#COOKING WITH CLORIS--VALENTINE'S DAY COOKIES WITH GUEST AUTHOR JOSIE RIVIERA

USA Today bestselling author Josie Riviera writes contemporary, inspirational, and historical sweet romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. Learn more about her and her books at her website.


Today is Valentine’s Day, and although we normally think of it as a holiday for sweethearts, there are many other forms of love that warrant celebration. In my latest release I touch on international adoption, a subject close to my heart as my husband and I adopted our daughter from S. Korea. (Note the Asian child on the cover.)

Twenty-two years ago, my husband and I met our beautiful daughter for the first time at Boston International airport. She was six months old. Our international adoption process took over two years. She's now studying in Europe for her Master's Degree.

Thousands of families around the world have opened their homes and hearts through international adoption. In I Love You More, Soo-Min is the embodiment of many, many fortunate adoptive children and parents who’ve together created forever families.

Today in celebration of Valentine’s Day I’m sharing a family recipe for butter cookies. The recipe uses a small number of simple ingredients, resulting in a flavorful, delicious cookie.

Butter Cookies

Yields 3-4 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter, softened (Do not use margarine or light butter.)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup powdered confectioner’s sugar

2-1/2 cups flour

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Cream butter and sugar until well blended. Add vanilla, flour and nuts. Mix thoroughly.

Shape into small balls. Dough will be very crumbly, but the warmth of your hands will make them easier to shape. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in pre-heated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Watch closely as they will burn if left in oven for too long.

While still warm, roll in a small amount of additional confectioner’s sugar.

I Love You More

A billionaire and a single mother have more in common than they know.

He’s a billionaire businessman …

Luciano Donati, entrepreneur and eligible bachelor, lost his first wife to cancer. So though he lives in romantic Charleston, SC, he has every intention of ignoring the upcoming holiday for lovers … at least until he sets eyes again on his younger sister’s best friend.

He remembers Anastasia as a teenager who idolized him, not this lovely, fragile woman with heartbreak in her eyes. Heartbreak that he finds himself wanting to cure. Her smile warms his soul, her touch ignites his desire, and her little girl Soo-Min melts his frozen heart. Adopted internationally himself at a young age, Luciano understands all too well the strong need to belong somewhere.

She’s a single mom …

Anastasia Markow, cancer survivor and divorced mother, didn’t come to Charleston, SC, for romance. She's here to make sure she has custody of her adopted daughter, Soo-Min. But when she encounters the first man she ever loved, here in the city of horse-drawn carriages and candlelight, her battered heart can’t help but bloom again. And when Luciano and Soo-Min take to each other, resisting his charm becomes even harder.

Handsome, self-assured, every inch the successful billionaire, Luciano is out of Anastasia's reach. But when a hurricane strands them together and they must trust each other to survive … things heat up despite the driving rain and gale winds.

Can Valentine’s Day bring this unlikely pair together … this time for good?

Watch the video.


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