Simply Cheris. . .

While I was researching my new project, I landed on this recipe: African Chicken Peanut Stew . African Chicken Peanut Stew Recipe Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 1 hour, 45 minutes Use chicken legs, thighs or wings for this recipe. They have more flavor and will hold up better with the flavors of the stew than breast meat. Add to shopping list Ingredients 2-3 pounds chicken legs, thighs and/or wings 3 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 large yellow or white onion, sliced A 3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced 6-8 garlic cloves, chopped roughly 2-3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 1 15-ounce can of crushed tomatoes 1 quart chicken stock 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup roasted peanuts 1 Tbsp ground coriander 1 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste Salt and black pepper 1/4 to...

I've been in USA Today once. I wrote a letter to the editor back in the 90s. And I held on to the paper until two years ago. (No, I'm not a hoarder!) I'm in USA Today again and just like 15-year-old Cheris, I'm super excited! Michelle Monkou , author and USA Today Happy Ever After reporter reviewed Recipe For Desire. Cheris Hodges ' Recipe for Desire mixes humor, romance and delicious-sounding foods to stir the romance book appetite. This story of opposites attracting has a healthy dose of clashes, making up, and falling head over heels in love. Bad-girl Marie Charles goes down hard, but you can't count her out. She's a likable character with much passion and spunk and dusts herself off to try again. Meanwhile, Devon Harris is a master in the kitchen as a chef and a master as a romantic hero who must conduct his own soul searching. Recipe for Desire chronicles two characters' journeys who are immersed in his and her flaws and weakness...

Music plays such a big role in my writing, so I thought it would be fun to share the soundtrack for my latest book, Recipe For Desire . 1. Queen Pen: Party Ain't A Party 2. Jean Knight: Mr. Big Stuff 3. Maroon 5: Makes Me Wonder 4. The Temptations/The Supremes: I'm Gonna Make You Love Me 5. Brian McKnight: Crazy Love 6. Keith Sweat:  I Want Her 7. LSG: My Body 8. Jesse Powell: You 9. Adele: Rolling In The Deep 10. John Coltrane: A Love Supreme 11. Miles Davis: All Blues 12. Johnny Gill: My, My, My 13. Beyonce: Daddy Load up your iPod, and get your copy of Recipe For Desire !

 Come and get a Recipe For Desire! Join me as I sign copies of my latest novel this Saturday, April 14, at Books-A-Million located at Concord Mills Mall in Concord, NC. The signing starts at 5 p.m.-- And there will be chocolate! Hope to see you there !

Let me say, I'm not a cook. I struggle with grilled cheese sometimes. But Devon Harris used food to love and seduce Marie Charles (and a lot of other women, but we're not going to bring up his Paris past -- yet). While he was a student in Paris, he created a chocolate cake called, A Lover's Cake. On the menus in France, it reads, gateau d'amoureux at Le Bouquet des Archives . Devon is pretty closed mouth on his recipe for this cake, but he assures me this cake here comes close. Here's the recipe, courtesy of All Recipes.com : Ingredients 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted 1/2 cup cold water 1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix 1 cup heavy cream, whipped Directions ...

If you're in Charlotte and you've read Recipe For Desire, I want to talk to you. Let's meet for coffee on April 15, that's a Sunday. Email me at cherisfhodges@gmail.com for more information. There will be give-a-ways. A look at my e-book If It Isn't Love and a preview of Searching For Paradise , my first novel, which will be re-released in May as an e-book.

I was in South Carolina, so I was NOT breaking the law by making this video. :)

I'm hopping in my Mustang this week to head south. To South Carolina--Columbia to be exact. I will be signing copies of Recipe For Desire at Harbison Court Barnes and Noble, located at 278-A Harbison Blvd., Columbia, SC 29212 (803-749-9009) at 2 p.m. on March 31. Have you read my guest blog on RomCon?     I'm so thankful to RomCon for inviting me to write this blog. Want some book marks? Send me your mailing address, email it to me at cherisfhodges@gmail.com. Have a great week!

Shout out to my niece Briana Dease for filming and helping me on March 17.

Have you gotten your copy yet?

Thank you to the manager at Wal-Mart, located at 7735 N Tryon St, Charlotte, for allowing me to sign a few copies of Recipe For Desire. And a special shout out to the two associates in the electronics department! 

Well, (in my Antonie Dobson voice), it's a good book. Here's what RT Book Reviews says about it:  Hodges has written a well-plotted and enjoyable story. She shines a light on the sensitive issue of domestic violence. There is sadness and laughter. But oh, what a beautiful love story this turns out to be. Here's what APOOO Book Club had to say about it:  Recipe for Desire has a touch of drama, humor and lots of sensual tension to keep readers turning page after page. Hodges shows that you really cannot judge a person based on circumstances, status, wealth or lifestyle. This was the first novel that I have read by Hodges and I would recommend it to romance readers. And here's what inspired me to write this book, My Sister's Place in Charlotte, NC.  In Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, an estimated 6,000 people don't have a place to call home. We see some of them when we head Uptown to Starbucks or for a night at the EpiCentre. And it's not out of ...

Do you want an autographed copy of Recipe For Desire? I know you do. So, if you want to win one answer this question (and please email the answer to cherisfhodges@gmail.com): In Too Hot For TV what was the name of the reality show that Raymond and Imani were on and where was it filmed? Send your mailing address by 5 p.m. today. Good luck.

Devon Harris is a celebrity chef who defied his NBA father by heading to culinary school in Paris. At the time, Devon was dating Kandace Davis, the woman his father blamed for his son's decision to abandon playing basketball. So, Devon Harris, Sr. arranged a going away party that would change his son's life and cost him his relationship with Kandace. Was Devon hoping for a reunion with Kandace when they reunited in Betting On Love and he decided to work for the work his friends, Jade, Serena and Alicia? Yes, but as it turned out it wasn't meant to be. Besides, Devon had a lot he was dealing with. He gave me the details about one night in Paris that changed his outlook on love and the man he wanted to be. When I arrived in Paris, I met a lot of beautiful women and many of them were impressed by my cooking skills. I don't know what it is about women and men who cook for them. As a young man, I did my share of loving and leaving. Then I met Monique.  She was sweet,...