Welcome to Day 13 of my September Sweet Treats Giveaway! Today our featured Trinity Lakes Romance book is Right in Front of You by Jessica Wakefield. Jessica has kindly offered a BONUS GIVEAWAY connected to her post (see below for how to enter the Grand Prize and Jessica’s Bonus Giveaway).
Let’s talk about sweet treats we can indulge in while reading Right in Front of You.
Today we’re visiting with Rachel and Hayden. It’s 4th of July and they’ve just purchased meat pies with tomato sauce (ketchup) sachets. The covered pastry pies are filled with beef steak in a gravy sauce.
Here’s what happens next in their story, from Rachel’s viewpoint:
“Let’s just eat these things before they get cold.”
Both of them unpacked their pies and stared at them.
Hayden shifted so he was beside her, his arms brushing hers. Rachel shivered at his touch. He leaned down, whispering. “How do you eat this thing?”
Rachel peered at the round pie, big enough to fit the width of her palm. “I don’t know.”
She whispered, giggling. “Why didn’t they give us a plate?”
They looked at each other and laughed.
Rachel slowly scanned the crowd, trying to see others eating these things. “There,” she whispered. “The man by the obelisk of the soldiers.”
“That’s only one obelisk.” Hayden stated, grinning.
“Are you done?” Rachel elbowed him. “Look, he’s eating it like a sandwich.”
For our sweet treat today, we’re going to have pie. Would you choose a meat pie, or something else? Sweet and savoury options are available, as well as slices of pie and single serve mini pies. Is it possible to eat your pie like a sandwich, or would you require a plate with cutlery (silverware)? Would you add sauce or something else to your pie?
Here’s the book description for Rachel and Hayden’s romance story in RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU:
Can he convince her that he’s not going to break her heart?
Rachel Marshall, a sports nutritionist, will do anything to save her mother’s health. Even travel to the tiny town of Trinity Lakes to bring bad-boy NFL player, Hayden Donovan, back to Texas.
Despite turning over a new leaf, circumstances conspire against Hayden Donovan that sees his bad-boy reputation the center of viral social media outrage. His past won’t let him be the better man he’s determined to be.
When his nutritionist, Rachel, turns up to find him in Trinity Lakes, he sees an opportunity to strike a deal. He’ll help her get the medicine her mother needs if she’ll help him show the world he has truly changed.
Sparks fly between them, but will Rachel let cruel memories and scars from her past stop her from seeing the man behind the image? And will Hayden find the courage to show the world how much he’s truly changed?
A friends-to-more, ex-NFL player, small town contemporary Christian romance. Visit Trinity Lakes and meet the fun and quirky characters who value family, faith, and happily-ever-afters.
Trinity Lakes Romance series can be read as standalone Christian contemporary romances. For a richer reading experience, and the opportunity to learn more about the characters who appear in multiple books, I’d recommend reading the series in order. The ebooks are available for your reading pleasure in Kindle Unlimited.
GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY:
Comment on today’s post to gain an additional entry in the Grand Prize Drawing. Register for the Grand Prize Giveaway (USA & Australian mailing addresses only) here 👉 https://www.narelleatkins.com/2024-september-sweet-treats-giveaway/
JESSICA’S BONUS GIVEAWAY:
Comment on today’s post to gain an entry in Jessica’s Bonus Giveaway that includes:
- Ebook copy of Right in Front of You
- Amazon US $20 or AU $30 gift card
Jessica’s Bonus Giveaway is open to readers who can access Amazon USA or Amazon Australia gift cards. To enter, please leave a comment on this post that includes your first name, last name initial and country.
I love a good meat pie, but you can keep the tomato sauce.
Mary P AUSTRALIA
Hi Mary, I can’t eat a meat pie without tomato sauce. LOL. They are so good though 🙂
Hi Mary, Like Jess, I’d be a little bit disappointed if I couldn’t have tomato sauce with my meat pie. It is less messy to eat without the sauce added onto the pastry top. 😊
I love pie! I’ve never eaten a meat pie. Does quiche count as pie? I buy little mini pies from the grocery store, heat them up and top with ice cream.
Jessica Wakefield is new to me as an author. I saw this box set (The Christmas Box: Three Sweet Christmas Romance Novellas) on Goodreads and I have added it to my Holiday gift list.
Hi Audrey, quiche doesn’t quite count (LOL), but I do love quiche as well. 🙂 In the USA, you guys tend to have more like peach and apple pies. We have them too here and they’re dessert just like they are for you, but then we have this whole other food group. LOL.
I hope you enjoy The Christmas Box. I had so much fun writing it. 🙂
Hi Audrey, Quiche counts if the pie doesn’t need a pastry top. My husband is talking about making a quiche sometime this week and I’m looking forward to having it for dinner with salad.
I enjoyed reading The Christmas Box and I wrote a book recommendation for my blog that I posted here in December 2023. 😊
I think pies is different in the USA. I would require a plate and a fork. I would enjoy apple or pecan pie. We eat it as dessert in the USA. Debra P. USA.
Hi Debra,
I eat a meat pie with a fork and spoon. (That’s not the ‘normal’ way, but it’s how I eat it.) We eat cherry pies, apple pies here as dessert, but then we have the meat pies, which is more a main meal or a super quick lunch on the run. 🙂
Hi Debra, The Aussie meat pie is more like a traditional English pork pie except there’s a sauce rather than a solid filling. English steak and kidney pies are probably the closest match but I won’t knowingly eat diced kidney. English pies also tend to be larger (plate sized) and are served by the slice whereas our Aussie meat pies are single serve.
I will confess to liking the tomato sauce mixed in well with the meat sauce, and the only way to do that properly and not make a big mess is to eat the pie on a plate with a knife and fork. I also like my meat pies oven cooked with firm pastry and I avoid eating microwaved meat pies. 😊
I’ve never eaten a meat pie before, but I’d be willing to try one. 😀
Elizabeth L., USA
Hi Elizabeth,
I think you’d love one! We have lots of different types from a potato meat pie (it’s literally topped with potato), a curry meat pie, a bacon and cheese meat pie, a steak and kidney meat pie, a chicken and leek pie. I love the chicken and leek and the traditional meat pie. 🙂
Hi Elizabeth, yes, they are worth trying. Jess has mentioned all the different varieties and there are vegetarian options, too. Butter chicken pies are popular with my family. 😊
I could eat a meat pie and would prefer a plate with cutlery.
Carolyn F. USA
Hi Carolyn, I’m with you! I actually take the pastry top off (it’s like a lid) and pour tomato sauce in the middle. I then eat the middle out (all the gravy meat). Then I add more sauce to the now empty pastry bottom and I eat that AND then, I put sauce on the top, crunchy pastry lid and I eat that last. It’s quite a event really 🙂
I love sour cream blackberry pie! Yummy!
Natalya L. USA (sorry forgot again)
Hi Natalya, I’ve never heard of the sour cream blackberry pie. Sounds yummy!
It’s actually Blackberry Apple Sour Cream. A blend of blackberries and apples with a creamy sour cream filling, topped with a crunchy oat crumble. So good!
Hi Natalya, Your sour cream blackberry pie sounds really good! 😊
It’s so strange to read that they didn’t know how to eat a meat pie- it’s our ‘go to’ fast food when we are traveling or after a busy day- every convenience store sells some variety I love lamb curry pies! Other than that a Granny Smith home made apple pie is my favourite!
Well I’m not sure but on my trips to the USA, I haven’t seen what we call a meat pie there. The one that’s being referred to in the scene, the base fits in the palm of my hand and you eat it on the run almost like a sandwich. Maybe we both have the same idea in your heads? LOL 🙂
Hi Jeannette, A pie that resembles our Aussie meat pies is very difficult to find in the US. I believe they can be ordered online but they’re usually not available in grocery stores, bakeries. A meat pie for lunch from the school canteen/tuck shop was a special treat when I was growing up. In winter when I attended sporting events eg. footy, I’d have a meat pie or a serving of hot chips (fries). That was always a tough decision, lol. 😊
I think I would love a meat pie and also with tomato sauce Sarah T. USA
Hi Sarah, I hope you get to have one, one day 🙂
Hi Sarah, yes, they are so good. 😊
Don’t like meat pies I am fussy. Not mad on sweet ones either but mum use to make a pineapple one. Loved this book
Hi Jenny, A pineapple pie sounds good to me. 😊
I would like to try a meat pie. I have never had one.
Hi Debra, I hope you’ll have a chance to try one. 😊
Debby USA
I have never had a meat pie, but would love to try one! I wouldn’t want ketchup with it though.
Amelia S. USA
Hi Amelia, I hope you’ll have an opportunity to try one. 😊
I would love a pumpkin pie hand pie! Actually ate one two days ago, LOL!
Hi Colleen, The arrival of Costco in Australia introduced many new-to-us foods, including pumpkin pies. I used to be confused about why your pumpkin was eaten sweet until I worked that many of our pumpkin varieties are called squash in the US. I’m a fan of pumpkin pies. 😊
I’ve never had any kind of meat pie or hand pie so I’d love to try them. But no tomato sauce please, lol.
Cindi K, USA
Hi Cindi, The sauce is always an extra that can be skipped. I hope you’ll have a chance to try one. 😊
I love meat pies, but I prefer to eat them with cutlery and a plate! Also I’ve been enjoying butter chicken pies recently.
Madi S. Australia
Hi Madi, It’s so much easier to eat them with a plate and cutlery. Butter chicken pies don’t last long in my freezer, lol. 😊
Some pies can be eaten without utensils. Pumpkin for sure, pecan sometimes. Cream pies require utensils. I like either whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on my pie, depending on what kind it is.
Hi Judith, I sometimes have ice cream with sweet pies, depending on the type. 😊
I would try the meat pie! My favorite pies are peanut butter and raspberry/rhubarb! I would need a plate and cutlery
Katie R. USA
Hi Katie, Raspberry and rhubarb pies are good. Years ago I was house sitting for one of my aunts and she had a bumper rhubarb crop in her garden. We ate a lot of rhubarb combined with raspberry and other fruits that year. 😊
I love a good slice of pie! Sweet would be my preference. Her in the southern US, it’s apple picking season. My Mom already baked an apple pie once and had us over for a slice. You pretty much need a fork to eat it.
Patty R., USA
Hi Patty, I love home made apple pie. So good. 😊
I like chicken pot pie,although I have not had it in a hand pie size, so you would need a plate and fork. Bridgette S. USA.
Hi Bridgette, The pot pies definitely need utensils. 😊
I’ve never had a meat pie, but I would absolutely try one. I’ve seen them made on cooking shows and find them fascinating and think they sound yum!
Hi Barbara, I hope you’ll have an opportunity to try an Aussie meat pie. 😊
The meat pie sounds so good but I would eat it plain, no ketchup!
Heidi R.
USA
Hi Heidi, They are good with, or without, ketchup. 😊
I always love peeling the top layer of pastry off first. You get the pastry all by itself and it helps to cool off the contents!
Dienece L Darling, Australia
Hi Dienece, If I’m eating it on a plate, I’ll take off the pastry lid and mix in tomato sauce. 😊
Homemade apple pie with salted caramel ice-cream please. Stephanie H. USA
Hi Stephanie, yes, adding salted caramel icecream to apple pie works for me. 😊
Meat pie but no gravy. Peanut butter pie for dessert. I would want cutlery. Cherie J – USA
Hi Cherie, Peanut butter pie is something d like to try. 😊
I think I would opt for a roasted tomato and goat cheese pie instead. And as far as dessert pies, I’ll have any kind! -Kai B., USA
Hi Kai, Roasted tomato and goat cheese sounds great. 😊
Apple pie with vanilla ice cream and sharp white cheddar cheese(my grandma’s rule)!
Joannie S., U.S.A.
Hi Joannie, I like your Grandma’s rule. 😊