Laurie J. Marks: Water Logic

This was way, way better-constructed than Earth Logic, more intellectually satisfying but less emotionally intense. Great plot construction and excellent stories for Zanja and two newish characters, the ex-soldier Damon and the new politician Seth. Clement's story was interesting but didn't get as much screentime; other characters made a big impression when they were onstage, but weren't onstage much.

There were lots of excellent individual scenes and revelations, of which my favorites involved the herding dogs.

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Mission: Souffle

While up at my parents' place yesterday, I offered to make dessert. Jokingly, Dad suggested a souffle. I pounced upon this idea like a rabid terrier upon a rat. Next thing he knew, we were buying souffle dishes and perusing ominous cookbook instructions which first assured us that souffles would not actually collapse into pancakes if you breathed in their vicinity, then said, "It is a difficult and delicate art."

We made the "Joy of Cooking"'s lemon souffle. Beat egg yolks with sugar and lemon juice and zest, whip egg whites, fold together, set in pan of hot water, and bake in oven. I was worried it wouldn't rise, so I was probably too careful not to crush the whipped egg whites, and in retrospect I bet I didn't fold it enough to really blend it.

Well... it did rise. It rose so high that the meringue burned against the grill. And the lemon juice separated out, forming a soggy lemon pudding over a base of lemon juice and a top of pure, non-lemon-tasting meringue. It was... interesting. I can't say that I'd ever order it again if I got it in a restaurant.

If I was on Top Chef, I'd be packing my knives and going home. Dad did, in fact, hand over the souffle dish to me before I went home.

New frontiers in exoticized ethnicity romance

Christmas, Texas Style: Four Texas Babies / A Texan Under the Mistletoe / Merry Texmas

Apparently Texan, along with Sheikh, is an ethnicity. Who knew!

I found this gem, along with The Australian's Housekeeper Bride, The Billionaire's Scandalous Marriage, The Blackmail Bargain, The Royal Baby Bargain, Sale or Return Bride, The Sultan's Virgin Bride, The Greek's Bridal Bargain, Bought: The Greek's Bride, The Italian's Blackmailed Mistress, The Italian Prince's Pregnant Bride, The Italian Boss's Secret Child, The Boss's Christmas Baby, One Night Baby, and Pregnancy of Revenge, on someone bookmooch inventory. In case you were wondering. No, I did not mooch.

Perhaps the ultimate romance would be The Billionaire Biracial Boss's Blackmailed Bargain Bride's Brazos Baby: Born on Boxing Day.