Dream Bites Cookbook: Cooking with the Commandos

by Kristen Ashley, Suzanne M. Johnson

From New York Times bestseller Kristen Ashley and USA Today bestseller Suzanne M. Johnson…

See what’s cooking!

You’re invited to Denver and into the kitchens of Hawk Delgado’s commandos: Daniel “Mag” Magnusson, Boone Sadler, Axl Pantera and Augustus “Auggie” Hero as they share with you some of the goodness they whip up for their women.

Not only will you get to spend time with the commandos, the Dream Team makes an appearance with their men, and there are a number of special guest stars. It doesn’t end there, you’ll also find some bonus recipes from a surprise source who doesn’t like to be left out.

So strap in for a trip to Denver, a few short stories, some reminiscing and a lot of great food.

Welcome to Dream Bites, Cooking with the Commandos!

(Half of the proceeds of this cookbook go to the Rock Chick Nation Charities)

Genres: Cookbooks, Romance, Nonfiction, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Cooking, Short Stories

166 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2020

About the author

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

Reviews

[Wendy'sThoughts]

November 11, 2020
Per Our Fearless Leader, Ms. Ashley, here is the latest I could find about this:

Come with me to Denver and read all the short stories featuring Mag and Evie, Boone and Ryn, Hattie and Axl, Auggie and Pepper, not to mention some special guest stars (a few of whom horned their own recipes in to share with you - and yes, that means there's an Elvira Board). And with all that, let Mag, Boone, Axl, and Auggie (and some others) give you some FABULOUS recipes you'll make again and again.

September 1, 2020
If You Have Ever Read Kristen Ashley...
You Know She Loves...
To Set The Scenes...

She Is Known For The Details...
What A Room Looks Like...
What OutFit To Wear...

But What Has Caught Everyone's Imagination...
Wishing To Make "For Real"...
Is All The Food Her Characters Have Made...

Well, People, We Are Now...
Getting What We Have Wanted...

Straight From Denver...
With The Commandos...
Members of the Dream Team...
And Extra Special Surprize Players, Too...

Bringing All The Recipes...
For You To Make In Your Own Kitchen...
Kristen Partnered With Her Buddy...
Suzanne M. Johnson, World-Renowned...
USA Today Author to Make This Happen...

Get Ready, PreHeat That Oven...
Read Some Extra Stories And
Dive In For Some...

Dream Bites Cookbook: Cooking with the Commandos-November 17, 2020.
(Half of the proceeds of this cookbook go to the Rock Chick Nation Charities)

The New Series:

Quiet Man (Dream Man/Dream Team, #0.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dream Maker (Dream Team, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dream Chaser (Dream Team, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The One That Started it:

Mystery Man (Dream Man, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wild Man (Dream Man, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Law Man (Dream Man #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Motorcycle Man (Dream Man #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Quiet Man (Dream Man, #4.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Kristina]

Uh, why?

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

The recipes look good, but the story around it all was pretty lame.

I love Kristen Ashley books, don’t get me wrong. But I get like this was just a lame push of as many of her characters as possible into one book.

And I’ll say it again. She reveals in the RC books that Jane is Kristen Ashley. That’s her pen name. But then she writes herself into this “book” as a separate character that no one in Fortnum’s recognizes. Which is stupid because everyone in Fortnum’s knows Jane. I find it extremely irritating. But whatever.

Worth $4? No definitely not. But it’s for a good cause so I’ll deal.

[TJ *Book Twins Reviews* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Signature KA style with a delicious bonus!

I loved everything about this book! From the mouthwatering recipes to the kickass short stories! This book was like an amazing reunion with all my favorite people! An experience to savor!



For more of my reviews:
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[Reading · Rating 1 out of 5]

First things first
I love cookbooks and read them regularly. I'm a better than average cook and tend to be hyper-analytical about the recipes in any cookbook I read. Dream Bites is loaded with cheese and mediocrity with a filling of creepy self-insertion by the author. I couldn't see the point of this particular cookbook. The recipes within were decent-ish if someone has the most basic cooking skills and it is probably perfect for any superfan of the author.
I love the cover. Funds raised for charity are good, too.
I say pass on the cookbook and instead send money to your favorite charity

[Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ashamed to admit I couldn't remember the guys 😯 but I enjoyed this little look at them after their hea. I haven't tried any of the recipes as yet but I'll definitely be attempting some of them.
All in all, cute and fun.....not bad

[Viviana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Jenn at Social Butterfly.
This was wonderful and looking forward to trying these recipes. KA never disappoints and I definitely recommend this cool book!

[Just Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

KA does a lot of charity work, and this book was a product of that, and I love how these little snippets compliments the main books.
The fact that KA has woven herself into these stories was so cute and I love that is how she sees herself with the characters she has created.

The recipes were simply and easy to follow, and I have a few I do want to try so I might just one day go ahead and do it. Also adding Elvira’s board and cosmo makes me all sentimental.
These characters are already so alive to me but this just makes it a bit more special.

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not a secret I love cooking and cookbooks so picking this book up was a no-brainer. A few favorite characters and recipes they’ve ‘created’?! It’s a fun spin on beloved book characters and I’ve enjoyed the books that have been released to date😂

This go around, Suzanne from Southern Bits and Bites pairs with Kristen Ashley and delivers up a new round of tantalizing recipes! Ranging from easy to fancy, Suzanne has a great mix. From the pork tacos with homemade peach salsa, pepper jams, cheesy bacon knots, chocolate chess pie, Nashville hot chicken, smoked Mac and cheese, gyros...and a whole lot more...y’all, this book is loaded with deliciousness!! And yes, I’ve got favorite recipes from previous cookbooks and can say this one will be no different😋

With KA providing the narrative, revisiting old characters and new is also a given so have fun with a blitz down memory lane. I also enjoyed seeing who the guys from her new Dream series are being paired up with, as well as the personal, poignant bits KA dropped along the way.

Just a note: KA’s portion of royalties earned will be divided equally among her Rock Chick Nation charities and she’s got some good ones! Good food, short stories, good cause💗

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often say I will read even the grocery list if my favourite authors write those. And here is the proof. I am a foodie and a romance lover and die hard Kristen Ashley fan. And this book is pure heaven for me. From the delicious recipes to the hot and sweet bites from all the Kristen Ashley universe. I would say I am feeling pretty full and satisfied.

The narration of this book is so unique and clever and smart. Just in Kristen Ashley style. She has arrived at Denver to collect the recipes from the commandoes of Hawk Delgado( my original KA man!!!). And it becomes a full on nostalgic trip. For her. For me. The rock chicks. The dream team. Fortnum's. Smithie's. You ask for it and you have it. And I loved reading all those recipes with special touch from the characters. Suzanne Johnson did a fabulous job and I loved how KA added her notes. I am a terrible cook but I guess I will nag my mom till she makes some of these for me.

Dream Bites Cookbook is best of the both worlds. Food for your soul and your stomach.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Figlet · Rating 3 out of 5]

ETA 05/09/2024:

So I finally, FINALLY, remembered my vow to re-read this after the book series finished hoping it would make more sense which it did. I actually didn't remember that I had planned on doing that until I went to KA's website looking for the Cinnamon Marshamallow Clusters recipe and got linked to this cookbook.

Anyway, I doubt I will make anything from the cookbook (well maybe the aforementioned clusters), but I did really love the artwork/digital imagery that accompanied each section - especially Cisco's. I would recommend that you read the entire Dream Team series before experiencing this cookbook. I liked some of the bonus chapters of each couple more than others.

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REVIEW To Follow...
I think I will re-read and review once the Dream series is over because I had a difficult time reading those shorts about characters from books I haven't yet read.

Recipes were cool and I enjoyed the artwork.

[Sheila'S Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t wait to try out the recipes in Dream Bites Cookbook, they look yummy and doable.... much like the commandos who present them ;-).

Along with recipes, Dream Bites is a fun collection of little scenes with KA and the characters from her new Dream Team series and even a few catch up moments with some of our other KA favorites. (Think, coffee made by Tex at Fortnum’s)

There are very steamy scenes included! Turning on the oven and adding jalapeños may not be the only sources of heat in this book, so be careful about recommending this to your mom and granny.

I was a little disappointed that the ebook isn’t full of food photos so I know what my recipes should look like. I guess I’m going to need to put the paperback version on my Christmas wish list.
-4 Stars!-
-Diane-

[Adri G.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, this is gonna sound weird, because this is a cookbook and I don't cook, but this is, by far, my favorite book of KA.

I ADORED IT!

I cried, can you believe it? And laughed, and sighed, and smiled, and imagined, and wondered...

Why? Because, as a writer, KA hit me straight to the heart and the soul as she visited her old characters. I mean, OMG! I never thought of that! I never thought I could do it! But once I read she had, I gave it a go with my own, and, guess what? It worked! And it was such an AMAZING experience!

And because of this, forever and ever, and no matter what else I read or what I've read in the past, this is going to be one of my top books for all eternity!

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun to read, lots of characters from all the old series, but glimpses of the new ones. I will say I was a bit confused for a bit, wondered if I missed some books coming out as I didn't have a clue about the new commandos, yet they were written about so familiarly. Some of the recipes look interesting and I will try them out. Overall if you are a fan of this author, this is one to check out.

[Monica Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally LOVED this book!

Who would have thought - awesome heroes from romance books, coming up with some great recipes - alongside snippets of their lives. It was at times funny, hot and romantic. I also dug KA’s little notes and commentary.

Now I will need to read the actual books that these characters came from, as well as try out these recipes. I might also need to check out Suzanne’s other collaborations.

[Yamina -Women Who Stare at Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOWZA! I was not expecting this!
I rarely read blurbs and I knew that I was going to read this book as soon as I saw KA 's name on the cover!!
IT was such a fresh, unique and well crafted books! I enjoyed the short stories and rekindling with my favourite heroes!
I Loved the Bruschetta with caramelized onions and mushrooms recipe and HAWK ( my man) and Ka take a ride!!

Thank you KA for mixing my two favourite things in a book- food and alphas LOL

*arc provided for an honest review

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this "cookbook". Done with the usual KA flair, it's a fun read.

[Chris Bails · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance and food

Another amazing read and cookbook from Kristen Ashkey. Can't wait to try some of these recipes. Loved the drop in of some of my favorite characters.

[Jessica T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the parts with KA and all the characters 💙 haven’t tried any of the recipes yet.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the only one of Ms. Ashley's books that I've rated this low. I am a fan, purchased everything she's published, but this one rubbed me wrong. She hasn't written the rest of the Dream Team's stories yet. I find it opportunistic to publish this cookbook, clearly in time to take advantage of the holidays, without having already told their stories.
I just didn't take her to be that type of person. And I'm disappointed in her.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suzanne M. Johnson is the family-trained cook who has collaborated with several famous romance novelists to create cookbook-slash-novellas. Johnson lives in Georgia - which makes most of the recipes here very, VERY Southern. There's a lot of ingredients that scream, "Hey y'all, I'm from the South, but I'm pretending to be a man who lives in Denver, cooking for his gf/wife." Some mainstay ingredients in most of Johnson's recipes: jalapeño, chili powder, cayenne, avocado, pimento, etc. Also, author Kristen Ashley repeatedly praises Johnson's pepper jellies. There are also a few recipes that use "dry hush puppy mix." I had to check what the hey those two were. Again, #southern.

I just wish Johnson had researched about Denver's local ingredients, and used some of those in the Dream Men's recipes. Rocky Mountain Oysters - or creative homemade alternatives using easy-to-find ingredients, maybe. Lamb, trout, and green chilies would have been great ingredients to use, too, by these manly men, too. (A quick Google search on Colorado foods would lead one to see that Colorado "is actually the 4th largest lamb and sheep producer in the country with meat from this area being known for it's milder taste." Sources: outtherecolorado.com; rockymountainfoodtours.com) Her two steak recipes, however, are Da Bomb. I'm definitely gonna try the Filet with Blue Cheese Sauce one of these days. Likewise, the cheese sauce from Johnson's "Smoked Mac and Cheese" recipe. Oh, and the Ham and Hash Casserole, too.

I'm also sad that the e-copy I have of "Dream Bites" only has the recipe written. No pictures of the final product. I had to use a lot of imagination and Google searching to even understand what some of the ingredients and final products looked like.

On the flip side, Ashley confidently weaves her unique story-telling style - where she envisions herself walking INTO her books, meeting and talking with the fictional characters she had created. Too bad only book 1 of her Dream Team series has been published prior to "Dream Bites Cookbook's" release. Now, I feel like I don't need to read the rest of the Dream Team books, 'coz I know who the protagonists are and what their HEA looks like. No, I don't care to read about the process of how Boone, Axl, and Auggie got to their HEAs - Ashley can be pretty damned predictable anyway with her plots involving macho, alpha men and sassy, yet sweet women. Ditto on her dialogues. ALL of Ashley's characters "sound" the same. TBH, I like "Dream Bites" the best out of all the KA books I've read in 2019 and 2020. It cuts all the B.S. down and limits the one-sentenced paragraphs that KA is notorious for.

I really loved how KA revealed that her inspiration for her Axl character was a cat of hers (whom I presume has only expired and gone to cat heaven), also named Axl. One of the Axl recipes in "Dream Bites" is a dish called Fried Pork Sandwich (labelled as KA's Favorite). KA also mentions that she has never seen this dish anywhere except in... INDIANA. Where she had also lived. If Axl turns out to be true Coloradan, I'd be disappointed.

[Karen's Utterly Unashamed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Kristen Ashley could turn a cookbook into both culinary and literary awesomeness. Seriously this woman has undeniable talent.

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What I loved best about this cookbook? Not the recipes (although amazing), not the short stories (yet they made me reminisce, laugh, and feel words like “babe” and “fuck”), it was a look into the mind of Kristen herself. The way she wrote the story as a character writing a cookbook while she met with the commandos at many Denver haunts was just fabulous. We got to see how she feels about some of her favorite characters.

She went to Fortnums, Los Delicias, Lee and Indy’s condo, Tacks house in the mountains, and of course, Smithies. It was freaking magical!

Along with that, we got a few glimpses into KA’s “real” life. Her inspiration for Tod’s character, her beloved cat, and when Axl gives her his “special” recipe your heart might just combust. Her corresponding recipe, picture, and commentary about her mom made me cry. I felt that...how that meal brings her special memories of her mom.

This was light, it was fun, and it told us a lot about Kristen Ashley the woman and the genius of her writing. We also got just a tiny glimpse and how she creates her characters. I can picture her with a glass of wine or a cosmo sitting in her pj’s curled up on the couch having a conversation almost with herself, but not. Maybe it’s a light dream. A hot guy, an alpha, is sitting across from her with his legs splayed wide telling her about this “gorgeous as fuck” woman who tries his patience but he can’t get enough of. He says simply “babe.” and your stomach quivers. When he looks up at the ceiling and mutters “fuuuck” all your girl parts quiver.

Let me tell you, if I had a day, just one day with Kristen Ashley I would hope it would go like this:

We’d start the day at Fortnums getting some coffee from Tex.
Then head up the mountain for pancakes with Tack. (Katie doesn’t leave Tack’s house!)
We’d head out to the mall for some serious girls shopping.
The afternoon will probably bring another cup of coffee and lunch as Las Delicias.
We’ll head to Hank and Ava’s for wine, music, cashews, and shoe swapping with Tod.
Of course, we head to Stella’s concert where we rock with the chicks! (They are all there)
Now, we’re drunk so the hot bunch and commandos pick us up to go to Smithies.
(I ride with Lee, *sigh*)
After Smithies we end the night at the condo, drinking wine and laughing until we cry.

Yeah, I got all that from a cookbook. If you are a Kristen Ashley fan, I know you’ll get it.

Rock On!

[Kimberly / Love Notes Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4 stars. Aww, this was a cute book. Dream Bites Cookbook is a collaboration by author Kristen Ashley, featuring stories about characters from her Dream Team series and other series, and Suzanne M. Johnson, cookbook writer. I really enjoyed the short stories about some favorite characters and all of the new gang in the Dream Girls series. So far, Book One from new Dream Team series has been released, Dream Maker, which is Evie and Mag's book. In that book, we met a few of the characters who have their own books upcoming in the series. In Dream Bites, I really liked reading stories featuring each of the new couples to come and getting a glimpse into their loves as a preview. I'm excited for the upcoming heroines- an artist, a single mom, and a house flipping chick! Kristen Ashley does insert herself as a character in the stories, which she has done in the past and I found kind of cheesy, but it bothered me less in this case and I didn't mind it. The recipes in the book look really good. I'm definitely going to try some of them out, especially the Buffalo Chicken Rolls. I really liked that these are recipes from the men, who cook for their ladies, as my hubby is the chef in our family too. I did wish there were more pictures of the food, as there are only a few. Otherwise, this was a good book. The book is worth reading, even if you aren't a cook and are just interested in the stories. But the recipes look so good that they might be enough to tempt you to try. Dream Bites makes me excited for the Dream Team series and more to come from Ms. Ashley!

*arc provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream Bites Cookbook: Cooking with the Commandos by KA and Suzanne Johnson is a clever combination of delicious recipes and narrations of various visits to some of my most beloved KA characters from the Dream Team, Rock Chicks and Chaos. In true KA style, the short narrations touched my heart and was filled with nostalgia. Suzanne’s recipes are mouth-watering and I loved that KA added her notes on some of the recipes. It is a unique crossover between two talented authors and I love it.

I volunteered to provide an honest review of an advance complimentary copy of this book.

Follow Me: Maggie’s Escape Book Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

[Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, besides having a wide variety of easy-to-make recipes, is a wonderful conversation with the authour. She can’t even stay away from the recipes; her voice is heard there as well. I have not met Kirsten Ashley, and will likely never meet Kirsten Ashley, but I feel her heart in these pages, in the stories that wrap around the recipes. I can honestly say this is the first time a cookbook made me cry, not once, but more than once, sad tears, happy tears, hopeful tears. The stories take place in Denver, so expect to catch up with a few more people than just our commandoes, because there are quite a few connections to the commandoes, and the authour, in this town. I loved the stories, I immediately earmarked some recipes to make, and with proceeds going to charities, all three of these combine to make your heart a warm and happy place <3

[KDRBCK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream Bites Cookbook: Cooking with the Commandos by KA and Suzanne Johnson is a deliciously crafted beautiful piece of art. A cookbook combined with stories from characters of KA's most favorite series' of mine as of the Rock chick, the Dream Team and the Dream Man and the Cha. Series.
Meet Hound, High and Millie; Hawk and Gwen, Tack and Tyra, Lottie and Mo and all the other who participate in this cookbook with incredible deliciousness, - I tried them all and have to tell, I totally approve.
My favorites are the Dr. Pepper Cake, the Brie Pastry - yummy, and Brett's Chicken Recipes simply amazing.
The two authors wrote a cookbook/ short stories about fav. characters , extraordinaire, exceptional, outstanding.

[Maria (Ri) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a Festivus miracle.

Getting a chance to have a few scenes with my favorite characters AND get delicious recipes?;? Sign me up. I live for good southern food and this book has plenty. I also live for all things buffalo inspired and gyros. So, having recipes for both, also, the others that look amazing too will be tried too.

This is definitely something that would have been better in paperback form. Yet, even in ebook, it gives the basics and ties in the characters. I had to buy it because I own everything that KA has written. Someday, when u win the lottery, I'll buy them all in paperback.

Highly recommended.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dream Bites Cookbook contains not only some mouth watering recipes, but also some short stories featuring the Dream Team men commandos. I loved the sneak peeks and hints into the Dream Team couples’ lives, the majority of which whose stories have not been told yet. I know they are all going to be good and I cannot wait until they’re each released. There were also some surprise visits from other KA characters that are favorites.

This was a great idea for a book, and bonus - a portion of the proceeds are being donated to the Rock Chick Nation Charities.

I can’t wait to try these recipes and read more from KA in the future.

[Meg Kinch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

This isn't your typical cookbook in that there are just some tid bits from the author and then recipes. There are recipes yes, but they're interspersed with short stories from Kristen Ashley's Dream Team with one couple's book already completed and small tidbits of the awesomeness to come. It gives a small sneak peek into their lives and I can't wait to read their fleshed out books. That being said, I've read the entirety but I haven't made any of the recipes yet. I look forward to delving into some of them in the future. Thank you Kristen Ashley for putting so much heart into your books that even a cookbook is entertaining.