Wicked Wednesday's Recommendations for Fun

Welcome to Wicked Wednesday where NNJ Family encourages you to indulge in your guilty pleasures!

This week, we are recommending a book, wine and a treat to eat. You work hard to keep your family going so it is only fair that you take time out to grab a great book, pour yourself a glass and snack on something that's out of this world.

Admit it. If you haven't seen Breaking Dawn, you are dying to get to the theater.Twilight is just as popular with moms as it is with teens. If you don't believe me, then you should visit TwilightMOMs. That's all I'm going to say.

In keeping with the vampire theme, I am recommending A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. It is long -- 592 pages -- but is so worth it. Harkness released the book in February 2011 and there are two more books in this series, the second is coming out in Summer 2012.

I could not put the book down. The main character is a witch who spends her life denying her gifts and burying herself in her academic work until the moment a handsome vampire walks into her research library. Matthew Clairmont is drawn to Diana Bishop and the library after she accidentally calls up an "ancient and enchanted manuscript." It brings not only the vampire but other creatures as well and puts her in grave danger, which is just the beginning of the adventure.

The book is great because Harkness is an actual historian herself with a doctorate in the field who teaches the history of science and magic in Europe at USC. Her real-life experience adds a great dimension to the book. Definitely an NNJ Family pick for a Wicked Wednesday read.

Now for the Wine of the Week. I'm recommending one of my personal favorites -- Cupcake Chardonnay. How could you not like a wine that features a cupcake on the label? It is smooth and light. More important, it sells for $7.47 a bottle at Total Wine & More in River Edge. What's not to love?

And finally, the Treat of the Week. My husband recently traveled to San Francisco on a business trip and brought me back a souvenir. Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Squares with Caramel. Yum. Perfect amount of caramel inside. They come individually wrapped so you can grab one without the temptation of having to open an entire box.

This was the first Wicked Wednesday which ran on NNJ Family in November 2011 -- check the site for the latest book, wine and treat of the week.