Starla Kaye's Blog, page 6

12 Days of Recipes: Christmas Breakfast Casserole

I love this time of year: getting together with family and friends, giving gifts, and sharing our favorite things. One of the favorite things I like to share and have shared with me are recipes.

Today I’m sharing one of my breakfast recipes that is a favorite with my family.

 

CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST CAEEROLE

 

 

Ingredients

12 eggs

1/2 c milk

1 lb sausage (pork, breakfast, vegetarian substitute)

1 c chopped onions

1 c chopped green peppers

1 c chopped mushrooms

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

2 8-oz cans crescent rolls

2 c shredded cheddar cheese

Salsa (optional)

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In medium bowl, beat eggs until foamy and add milk.
In skillet, scramble eggs and set aside.
In skillet, brown sausage. Add green peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Cook a couple of minutes longer.
Add cream cheese and cook until melted into the mixture.
Add scrambled eggs and combine.
In an ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking dish, line bottom with 1 can of crescent rolls. Press down and seal edges.
Spread sausage/egg mixture on top.
Top with shredded cheese.
Top all with remaining can of crescent rolls.
Bake 25 minutes.
Serve with salsa, if desired.

*NOTE: Filling can be made ahead of time and stored in refrigerator until ready to bake casserole.

Servings: 8-10

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

 

For more of my favorite recipes: Oh yeah, that’s good!

One of Starla Kaye’s Christmas Books

NORTH POLE MAGIC

 

The post 12 Days of Recipes: Christmas Breakfast Casserole appeared first on Starla Kaye.

12 Days of Recipes: Pistachio Marshmallow Salad

I love the holiday season, especially getting together with family and friends. And I love sharing wonderful goody recipes this time of year.

Today I am sharing one of my salad recipes, a favorite with family and friends.

 

PISTACHIO MARSHMALLOW SALAD

 

 

 

Ingredients

20 oz can crushed pineapple

1 pkg instant pistachio pudding

1 c chopped nuts

1 c miniature marshmallows

9 oz carton whipped topping

 

Instructions

In large bowl, fold pudding mix into whipped topping.
Add pineapple juice and pineapple.
Mix in marshmallows and nuts.
Refrigerate.

 

Servings: 4-6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

 

One of Starla Kaye’s Christmas Books

 

SANTA WEARS SPURS

 

The post 12 Days of Recipes: Pistachio Marshmallow Salad appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Erzabet Bishop with Holidays in Hell

Today I’m welcoming back Erzabet Bishop with her paranormal holiday romance, HOLIDAYS IN HELL.

 

BLURB – Holidays in Hell

This year Christmas just got a little hotter.

Deck the halls with all things kinky. Jonas is an incubus with an incurable lust for women, gingerbread, and holiday lights. He needs one more soul to meet his quota. Amid the baubles and frivolity of the Winter Carnival, he meets Holly Pendleton—a woman with emerald green eyes and a body built for sin—and marks her as the final soul to end his contract. But now Jonas faces a heart-wrenching decision: take what he needs to feed his hunger, or sacrifice himself for the woman who has lit his own demonic soul on fire. Tied up with red ribbons, Holly just might be Jonas’s deepest Christmas wish and the one woman who could set him free.

Holly Pendleton is still recovering from the death of her husband and Dom. The holidays are especially lonely until a dark stranger walks in the door to Harlowe’s Bookery and Christmas Shoppe. The man’s enigmatic gaze holds her and ignites her body and her mind. When Holly accepts a job to decorate the sexy client’s apartment, she unknowingly steps into an age-old battle between the forces of darkness. Jonas Corsair is a man who makes her blood run hot and her dreams even hotter. But will she survive his hold on her soul?

BUY LINKS:  Etopia Press     Amazon     All Romance eBooks

Holidays in Hell is the beginning to my new series, Demons in Darkness. The next two books will be released in 2016.

EXCERPT – Holidays in Hell

Holly Pendleton balanced a pile of books in her arms and made her way out of the stockroom. She glanced over at her boss and best friend, Gracie Harlowe, at the register and smiled. She enjoyed the busy throng of people at the winter carnival and usually looked forward to it. She had worked other retail jobs in the historic downtown shopping district, but working here was a dream come true. When Gracie had called her up three months ago and offered her the assistant manager’s job, she had taken it and hadn’t looked back.

Teetering on the edge of depression for months after watching her husband die of cancer, Holly was having a hard time finding the holiday spirit this year.

Derek had only been thirty-four, she thought bitterly. They’d been married for nine years, but she had known him since she was a geeky freshman in high school. The hole was too big to fill, and it left her feeling empty.

Still, she was grateful to Gracie for kicking her in the pants and getting her out of bed and back into the world again. Just in time for the holidays too. It was a special time that she and Derek had always shared. He would have wanted her to be happy.

She laid the stack of Christmas cookie books on a festive table near the window display and straightened the array of titles. Her gaze wandered to the small kitchen at the back of the store, and she made a mental note to grab some more cookies to refill the party trays on the dessert table.

“Holly!” Gracie waved her arms. “Can you grab me another stack of Fifty Shades of Grey?”

She glanced at the display where the books were and found they were down to one copy. Not good. Sales had started to slow down, but erotica had been steadily increasing over the past few months. It made her laugh to see the smut novels near the holiday displays, but it made the customers happy, so who was she to quibble? Besides, she loved reading them herself.

“I’ll get them!” Holly wound her way back into the stockroom and yanked a box off the overstock shelves. She grabbed a box cutter, deftly opened the box and placed the books on a cart, adding some of the second, third, and the new fourth book in the series, as they were getting a little on the low side too.

Erotic romance books were one of the few things she let herself enjoy these days, and she had several customers who came back to ask her about the latest and greatest. It was a fantasy land that took her beyond the walls of hospitals and now, the silence of the apartment at night. Reading was safe. She never even considered dating again. That part of her life was over.

Holly shook off the melancholy and hoofed it back onto the shop floor. Stacking the books onto the table, she arranged them in orderly piles of gray covers with erotic masks, ties, and handcuffs. She passed the romance section and gathered up some of her favorites to restock her promo shelf at the storefront. Cherise Sinclair, Kallypso Masters, Jasmine Haynes, Red Phoenix, Rachel Kramer Bussel…she loved them all. There were so many great writers that had made bondage erotica take off. Fifty Shades may have gotten the public reading again, but she had been a fan for years. Now the movie had come out for the famous books, and she wondered how it compared.

Smiling wistfully, she caressed the covers and wished her husband were still with her. She missed his firm hand and their power exchanges. He had been more than just her husband. He had been her Dom. Losing him had been the collapse of her entire world. If it hadn’t been for these books and Gracie, she would still be huddled in a miserable ball, crying her eyes out and wondering why he had to die. He was so young, and they hadn’t had much time.

“Can you help ring for a second?” Gracie called out and made a quick jaunt to the restroom in the back of the store.

Holly moved behind the counter and smiled as a woman arrived in front of her to check out. It was a unique store, and she loved being here. Gracie had crafted a special place for book lovers, and every holiday she spruced it up beautifully. Even when she wasn’t working here, Holly loved to come and check out the newest selections and pick up a couple of items for the house. Halloween, Christmas, or whatever was happening, Gracie always seemed to have the perfect balance of home décor and books to dive into, whether it was a cozy mystery or a pulse-pounding thriller. In the early days, it had just been decoration, but now she had expanded the business to selling the trees and offering to spruce up clients’ homes. The shop was every bit as special as Gracie, and it had, over the years, become Holly’s second home, even before she started working there.

Decorating clients’ businesses and homes and working behind the shop counter kept her busy. Putting up a tree gave her joy, and she saw how other lives were touched by a few twinkle lights and some tinsel. She’d done some decorations for the folks in the cancer ward, and this was a natural transition. If she could bring happiness by hanging a wreath or by delivering an order of books to a shut-in woman, then she was pleased to do it. It took her mind off the loneliness and gave her a purpose. This time of year especially.

The front door opened with a blast of snowy air, and an imposing thirty-something man sporting a thigh-length leather coat blew in. His chiseled features and mass of dark hair made her catch her breath and falter in her task of ringing up the woman in front of her. The black sweater he wore under his coat looked striking against the dark blue of his eyes. The gray slacks draped over his frame, his black boots befitting the weather outside. He said nothing to her, his gaze captivated by the display of holiday decorations.

How odd.

He reminded her of one of the Doms in her collection of books. Heat spiked through parts of her she’d thought were as dead as her husband. She wondered how it would feel to unwrap that package.

Blushing, Holly turned back to the customer in front of her. Good grief, she hoped he hadn’t noticed her staring.

Holly finished ringing the books up and slipped them into a bag. She tossed in a candy cane with a card offering their holiday decorating services attached. “Here you go. Have a wonderful day.”

The woman waved good-bye and shuffled out the door into the snow. Looking anywhere but at the enigmatic man in front of her, Holly fought the sensation of butterflies fluttering in her stomach. He was incredible. The way his well-built form filled the space made her eyes automatically seek him out. Warmth stirred in her lower belly, and she nibbled on her lip.

“Hello. Welcome to Harlowe’s.” She fiddled with the hem of her sweater and felt a surge of heat rush up the sides of her face.

Ugh. How lame was she to just blurt that out?

The man raised an eyebrow, a dark and sensual smile sliding over his features. “Thank you.” His voice melted over her like chocolate, and she shivered.

Holly turned away and busied herself with stuffing bags with holiday activity lists. What kind of horrible woman was she to even be reacting to another man just a year after her husband’s passing? Lusting after the man in gray. Her lips thinned. No. She wasn’t ready for those feelings. Especially not from a stranger she had seen for all of thirty seconds.

She sneaked a glance at him while she straightened gift bags. He walked up to the Christmas tree in the front window and stroked its branches. Fingering the ornaments, he explored their small holiday store with a reverence that reminded her of a priest in church. Men usually didn’t bother with Christmas tree ornaments, but he was enraptured. It was mystifying.

A flush crept across Holly’s face. Stirrings of longing zapped through her body as she wondered if this dark-haired stranger knew his way around a flogger. Sighing deeply, she knelt down to pick up a bag that had fallen off the counter while she worked.

“Time for a cold shower tonight,” Holly mumbled. Sensing someone in front of the register, she stood.

“Hi. Did you need help finding anything…?” The very source of her temptation stood right in front of her. Oh God. She wanted to reach right across the counter and run her tongue over those amazing lips.

 

AUTHOR BIO

Erzabet Bishop is a bestselling and award winning author who loves to write naughty stories. She is the author of Lipstick, Dinner Date, Crave, The Science of Lust, Wicked for You, Arcane Imaginarium: Spirit Board, Holidays in Hell, Sigil Fire, Written on Skin, Club Beam, Pomegranate, A Red Dress for Christmas, The Black Magic Café, Fantasies in Red, Sweet Seductions: The Erzabet Bishop Collection, Holiday Cruise, Fetish Fair, Temptation Resorts: Jess, Temptation Resorts: Marnie, Taming the Beast, The Erotic Pagans Series: Beltane Fires, Samhain Shadows and Yuletide Temptation along with being a contributor to many anthologies. Erzabet has been a finalist in the GCLS awards for 2014 and 2015, winning the Goldie for her spot in two anthologies. She has been nominated for the 2016 Golden Flogger Award for Crave. She lives in Texas with her husband, furry children and can often be found lurking in local bookstores. She loves to bake, make naughty crochet projects and watch monster movies. When she isn’t writing, she loves to review music and books.

AUTHOR LINKS:   Website and Newsletter     Twitter     Facebook     Facebook “like” Page     Review Blog     Amazon Author Page     All Romance eBooks     Goodreads     Pinterest     Street Team

 

 

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Chanta Rand with Rise of a Queen

Rise of a Queen
By Chanta Rand

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Blurb:


A dead husband. An unconsummated marriage. She needs an heir. Any man will do.





1061 AD. A sprawling empire rich in gold, resources, and military might dominates West Africa. It’s The Kingdom of Ghana, and it’s at the height of its power.




Twenty-year old Nabeela is grappling with her own power struggle. In order to save her younger sister from their step-brother’s clutches, Nabeela agrees to marry a repulsive African prince and bear him an heir. However, her plans are waylaid when tragedy strikes on her wedding night—her new husband dies—without consummating their marriage.

She must find a replacement to impregnate her immediately. Any man will do—including a drunken soldier her servants find naked taking a bath in a neighboring village. Nabeela holds him captive and coerces him into having sex with her—stealing the one thing he can never get back—his seed.

What she doesn’t know is the soldier is Rafan, Commander of a warring tribe’s royal army, and one of her family’s arch enemies. Eager for revenge, Rafan tracks her down once he’s released. But when these two reunite, they realize their lust for each other is far greater than their disdain.

Enamored by Nabeela’s beauty and bravery, Rafan makes her an offer of marriage, and the promise to help her become queen. He convinces her that they are stronger allies than enemies. Even though they share a commitment to unite, there are others who are determined to destroy them and their plans, including the one person Nabeela would have never suspected. In the end, she’s is forced to choose between her passion and her ambition.



~*~*~*~*~*~
Buy Link: Amazon | 



~*~*~*~*~*~

An Interview with the Author

What can you share with the readers about yourself, maybe something fun that they wouldn’t guess?

I’m a zombie connoisseur. I don’t know if it’s a secret that I’m a fan of The Walking Dead. However, I’m really into the makeup. It has to be authentic and believable. I dissect every zombie show and scrutinize the zombie movements and clothing. The special effects have to be on point. I need to see lots of blood, gore, bones crunching and guts splattering. The non-zombie characters can’t simply stab a zombie in the head and not get blood and brain matter all over them. I look for details. The plot is also important. You just can’t have zombies running around willy nilly with no rhyme or reason. There must be a goal or a plan. One day, I’m going to write a zombie romance, but in the meantime, I’m satisfied with being a spectator.

What is in your To Be Read pile?

Spider’s Revenge by Jennifer Estep
The Rules by Delaney Diamond
Jet III by Russell Blake
The Auction by Eve Vaughn
Thrown for a Curve by Sugar Jamison
Naughty Words for Nice Writers by Carol Bristol

Are you an outliner, a write by the seat of your pants author, or a combination?

A combination of the two. I usually start out with a general idea. Then, I bullet point the major plot points. I have had rare moments of insanity where I outlined each chapter down to the lowercase ‘i’. Lastly, I write. The characters usually decide where to take me, and I follow—by the seat of my pants.

What was your favorite scene in this book?

There are so many exciting scenes in this book it’s hard to choose. I love the opening prologue that shows how the heroine, Nabeela learned to hate the Sanjadas, a rival clan of which the hero, Rafan is a member. But I guess if I had to pick a favorite scene, it would be Nabeela and Rafan’s first kiss. It was raw, powerful, and shocking for both of them.

Do you have a favorite character and why?

My favorite character in Rise of a Queen is Ghazi, Nabeela’s evil stepson. I don’t particularly like him, but I liked how he forced his way into the novel. I have a fascination with villains. I’m always trying to find their redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, Ghazi has none. He’s ugly, power-hungry, and sadistic. Black-hearted snakes like him deserve to die. Or do they? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

My favorite character of all my books is Vic Romano. Vic is tall, dark, and has the sexiest green eyes I’ve ever seen. He’s also an ex-con trying to get his life back together after five years in prison. He’s the kind of hero I could easily fall in love with. If you want to know more about Vic, check out my erotic novella, Blueprint for Love.

Author Info:



Chanta Jefferson Rand is an Emma Award winning Debut Author of the Year, a multi-published, best-selling author of sizzling-hot romance, and the former host of The Chanta Rand Show. An avid reader of all genres, she stepped onto the scene in 2010 with her first published historical romance, Pharaoh’s Desire. 

Chanta is a history junkie, a Walking Dead fan, and a recovering shoe addict. She never met a stiletto she didn’t like! If you still want more, check her out at www.ChantaRand.com or email her at Chanta@chantarand.com.





Remember: You can’t expect any sizzle…if you don’t turn up the heat!



Chanta’s Social Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Mailing List  

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12 Days of Recipes: Streuseltaler

I love this time of year: getting together with family and friends, giving gifts, and sharing our favorite things. One of the favorite things I like to share and have shared with me are recipes.

Today I’m sharing one of my dessert pastry recipes that is a favorite with my family.

 

STREUSELTALER

 

 

Ingredients

CAKE BASE:

2 c flour

1 pkg dry yeast

1/2 c white granulated sugar

1/2 t salt

3+1/2 T butter

1 egg

1/2 c + 2 T warm milk

STREUSEL:

2 c flour

1 c butter, cut into small pieces

1 +1/3 c white granulated sugar

2 T vanilla sugar

JAM:

Recommend one small jar of blackberry and one small jar of apricot

GLAZE (optional):

2 c flour

1 c butter, cut into small pieces

1 +1/3 c white granulated sugar

2 T vanilla sugar

Instructions

Cake Base Directions:

Whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and yeast in the bowl of a mixer.
Add the butter, egg and milk and mix.
When dough is smooth, remove bowl from mixer, cover and leave in a warm place for 20 minutes.
Return the bowl to the mixer and knead again until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Streusel Directions:

Whisk flour and sugars together.
Add butter and knead everything together with your hands until you have one big ball of streusel.

Glaze Directions:

In a saucepan, heat sugar and water together whisking until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth.
Keep mixture warm until ready to use so it doesn’t harden and crack.

Streuseltaler Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Sprinkle flour on a work surface.
Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces.
Take a piece and roll into a ball between your hands.
Use a rolling pin to roll out a circle 4″ in diameter. The thickness should be less than a raw sugar cookie cutout but not paper thin.
Place on a baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.
Break off a handful of streusel from your big crumb and sprinkle on each disk, really pile it on.
If you want to add jam, spoon it onto the streusel and then sprinkle a few streusel crumbs on top.
Bake for about 10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden.
Remove from oven and leave them on the baking sheets for about 10 minutes.
For the plains ones, brush on a thick layer of glaze coating the entire streuseltaler.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
These are best if eaten within 2 days.

Servings: 16

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

 

For more of my favorite recipes: Oh yeah, that’s good!

One of Starla Kaye’s Christmas Books

OH SO NICE…AND NAUGHTY

 

The post 12 Days of Recipes: Streuseltaler appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Sheila Stewart with Seducing The Darkness

Today I am welcoming Sheila Stewart to my blog with her paranormal romance, SEDUCING THE DARKNESS, Book 1. The series was previously published.

BLURB – Seducing the Darkness, Book 1

An outcast by her kind, Trinity Ford has learned to live on her own..not an easy thing to do when you’re a vampire.

Trinity was once a fragile girl. Being taken by a powerful vampire prince changed her, Discivering gin in the arms of another woman changed destiny. Alone, she’s earned fast how to be tough, how to survive, and how to protect the people of her city from the evil that lurks in the dark. She was managing just fine, until Basil walked back into her life.

Basil Hawthorn has been the reigning prince of vampires since banishing his father to the Realm of Dark Mystics decades earlier, When a perfect dream makes him realize Trinity is at risk, he decides the only way to save her is to push her away. Doing so is not easy. Trinity is the only woman he has ever loved, ever will long and he can’t seem to let her go.

When rumors arise of a place to raise the king ad blot out the sun, both Trinity and Basil know they must do everything to stop it. Even if it means working together. Despite the betrayal and the threat, they find themselves drawn to each other. Love has no boundaries, especially in the face of danger. But will they be able to stop the ritual before it’s too late?

Or will the darkness capture them both.

BUY LINKS: Champagne Publishing     All Romance eBooks

CONTEST: Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of SEDUCING THE DARKNESS. One lucky commenter will be chosen.

 

Comments from the author about the series

When this series was originally published I started something called. “Moments of Darkness” where I would share a quote from the Darkness books daily. I thought it would be fun to share some interesting moments in the series to entice the readers. It was a huge success so I thought, why not do it again. I hope you enjoy these ‘Moments of Darkness’ from Seducing the Darkness.

“I got laid, enough said.” Jonah

“Now, you wanna take off, or am I going to have to mess up that pretty face of yours?” Trinity

“You couldn’t handle me, bitch.” Vampire

“You don’t want to mess with me, jerk,” Trinity

“Go ahead and dust him, he’s useless.” Basil

“How have you been?” Basil

She rolled her shoulders, the itch still irritating her.

“Better now that I left you.” Trinity

“Yeah, I was such a treasure, that’s why you decided to fuck another woman. Leave me alone, Basil.” Trinity

“Please, I have to love you. If I don’t, no one else will. Lexi

“I have been telling you for years to move up into the twenty-first century. You pick now to do it.” Lexi

“I like you, Cooper, so I’m giving you fair warning to walk away.” Trinity

“Careful now, those things can kill.” Basil

“You know as well as I that when you call me, awake or asleep, I am compelled to go to you.” Basil

“I never called you, but if by some rare and utterly impossible way I might have called to you, it was with distain.” Trinity

“You want what only I can give you.” Basil

“I want you dead,” Trinity

“Do you vow to give your life for your master?” Chaos

“Oh, Moose, now you’ve gone and hurt my feelings.” Trinity

“This is me not giving a shit.” Moose

“Damn it, no marring the face.” Trinity

“She couldn’t kill me even if it meant her life.” Basil

“One wrong move and it is dusty dreams for you.” Chaos“Am I supposed to be terrified now?” Trinity

“I don’t intend to kill you, my dear. Just rough you up enough to get my point across.” Chaos

“Aw, are you still hurt at the fact that he was banging another cunt while he was pretending to love you?” Chaos

“Have at her boys, but do leave her breathing in the end.” Chaos

“You know, I’m the one that should be pissed at you after what you did to my dick.” Basil

“No man ever deserves that.” Basil

“You’re not a man.” Trinity

“Ouch!”Basil

“Or, I could change back into a wolf and give you a ride home.” Basil

“You may think you’re brave and capable of taking care of yourself, but we both know you need me.” Basil

“You and I both know that is not true. Where would you be now, my love, had I not come to you and changed your life?” Basil

“If you needed me so much, why’d you cheat on me?” Trinity

 

PG13 EXCERPT – Seducing the Darkness, Book 1

She watched a group of young girls—and if they were of legal age, she would eat her shoes—stumble from the bar. They separated and two went off towards the street while the last wandered drunkenly down the dark alley.

Oh yeah, like this was going to end well.

“Five, four, three, two, one. Bam!” She shot her hand out just as a vampire jumped from out of the shadows and right beside the stupid young girl. Shaking her head, Trinity moved towards the screaming girl. Idiot.

“I don’t think you want to be doing that.”

The tall, gangly, greasy haired vampire jerked and spun around to face Trinity. His teeth were primed for the kill, his yellow eyes glaring at Trinity as if she were his next meal. The poor girl in his arms was wailing something awful.

“Yeah, says who?”

Trinity lifted a brow, cocked her body to one side and rested her hand on her hip. “Jesus, could you have said anything more lame?

Let the girl go and no one has to get hurt.”

“How ‘bout I keep her and you wait against the wall until I’m done?” He jerked the girl towards him, yanking her head back to expose her neck. He was just about to bite down when Trinity placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and his face froze.

“How ‘bout I don’t.” Trinity bared her fanged teeth to show him she was not going to back off. “Beat it kid.” She clamped her hand on the vampire’s shoulder, her nails digging into his flesh as she jerked her head at the girl. As she’d suspected, the guy was a wimp.

He released the girl who immediately ran off screaming.

“Now, you wanna take off, or am I going to have to mess up that pretty face of yours?” she asked sarcastically as she glared down at him.

“You couldn’t handle me, bitch.” He slapped her hand free, then curling his fingers in a fist, threw a punch at her face.

She was ready and ducked out of the way. Slicing her hand up, she chopped him in the neck, sending him crumbling on the ground. “You don’t want to mess with me, jerk,” she advised as she planted a booted foot on his jugular. The razor blades she had attached to the toe drew a small amount of dull gray, deoxygenated blood as she pressed it just below his chin.

“Go ahead and dust him, he’s useless.”

Trinity glared over her shoulder at the man she had once been destined for and felt her heart ache. She couldn’t stop herself from admiring the beauty of the man before her. His long dark hair floated in the light breeze sweeping away from a face sculpted of fine bone and delicate skin. He looked so dark and dangerous in that long, black leather coat he always wore. One look into his translucent blue eyes turned her heart to mush.

Then she reminded herself how much she detested him.

To show she wasn’t a push over, Trinity pressed her foot harder, the razor blades cutting into the vampire’s neck. His arms flailed out, trying to yank her foot away from his neck. His legs kicked wildly, but

Trinity had a good ten pounds on the scrawny vamp. Tilting her toe downward, she sliced deep into his neck, finally cutting his head off.

In a whoosh he disintegrated into a pile of dust, his last breaths used to scream his way to death.

She took a deep breath, shook the remnants of a useless life from her boot then turned. “Basil.”

“Trinity.” They stalked each other like the predators they were, neither taking their eyes off the other. “You’re looking good.”

Her breath always caught in her throat when she looked into those icy blue eyes of his. Unlike the rest of her race that had yellow eyes,he had the color of his heritage. He was royal. “So are you, but you already know that. Was he one of yours?”

“Would I have cared if you dusted him if he was one of mine?” His hand slid to his pocket and he pulled the pack of cigarettes from his pocket. “How have you been?”

“Better now that I left you.” And wasn’t it odd how acrid a lie could taste?

“I noticed you’ve had your belongings gathered from our home.”

“Your home,” she corrected, keeping her distance from him. She knew perfectly well being close to him would have dire repercussions.

“Have you settled into your apartment, then?”

He was being so nice, so civil. She didn’t like it. “Why are you here, Basil?”

“I might ask the same of you, Trinity.” He lit the cigarette smoothly and the flame showed a devastatingly handsome face, with curves and lines and strength.

“I’m protecting the humans,” she remarked with an edge in her voice.

“Always the warrior, my fiery princess.” He smiled sweetly as he drew long and hard on his cigarette, then smartly blew a ring of circles in the air. All without taking his eyes from hers.

“Don’t call me that.” She hated when he called her that. Okay, once upon a time hearing him call her that made her hot, but that was then.

This was now.

“It’s what you are and always will be to me.”

“Yeah, I was such a treasure, that’s why you decided to fuck another woman. Leave me alone, Basil.”

In a quick shift that surprised her, he was in front of her, his hand clamped on her chin as he tilted her face to meet his. “Despite my indiscretion, I will always love you.” He dropped his cigarette and ground it out beneath his boot.

She jerked her chin free, snarling, “You have a funny way of showing it.”

Grabbing her chin again, this time he held a little tighter. “Love has many sides to it, my sweet.” He sealed his words with a sharp kiss, his teeth scraping her bottom lip right before he vanished into the night.

Cursing, Trinity spat on the ground, wanting to eliminate his flavour from her tongue. Bastard thought he could come back and act as if nothing had happened. Fuck him! She still remembered all too clearly what it had felt like to walk in on him and the woman crawling over his naked body.

Shaking herself free of him, Trinity walked away. The last thing she needed was the memory of Basil’s kiss or the feel of his touch on her skin. What she needed was a vicious kill. If only she could find one.

Coming soon: Desiring the Darkness, Book 2

AUTHOR BIO

Raised on a rural farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, Shiela Stewart relied on her vivid imagination to fill her days. Never did she realize that her need to tell a story would someday lead to becoming a published author.

In the fall of two thousand and six, Shiela published her very first book and she hasn’t stopped since.

When not writing, Shiela spends time with the love of her life and biggest supporter, William. She enjoys doting on her children and granddaughter. She has a strong affection for animals which is evident in the five cats, one dog, plenty of fish and one turtle she owns.

Some of her other passions are home décor, crocheting and knitting.

 

WHERE TO FIND SHIELA:  Website     Blog     Facebook     Twitter

 

 

 

The post Sheila Stewart with Seducing The Darkness appeared first on Starla Kaye.

12 Days of Recipes: Cherry Pie Filling Salad

I love this time of year: getting together with family and friends, giving gifts, and sharing our favorite things. One of the favorite things I like to share and have shared with me are recipes.

Today I’m sharing one of my dessert salad recipes that is a favorite with my family and friends.

 

CHERRY PIE FILLING SALAD

 

Ingredients

1 can cherry pie filling

1 can crushed pineapple (drained)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 med. frozen whipped topping (thawed)

1/2 c pecans

1 c miniature marshmallows

 

Instructions

In large bowl, mix together cherry pie filling, pineapple, and pecans.
Fold in condensed milk, whipped topping, and miniature marshmallows.
Freeze well.
Set out just before serving.

 

Servings: 6-8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

 

For more of my favorite recipes: Oh yeah, that’s good!


One of Starla Kaye’s Christmas Books

BAH HUMBUG, COWBOY

The post 12 Days of Recipes: Cherry Pie Filling Salad appeared first on Starla Kaye.

12 Days of Recipes: Low Sugar Oatmeal Cookies

I love this time of year: getting together with family and friends, giving gifts, and sharing our favorite things. One of the favorite things I like to share and have shared with me are recipes.

Today I’m sharing one of my low sugar cookie recipes that is a favorite with my husband, family, and friends.

 

LOW SUGAR OATMEAL COOKIES

 

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups butter, softened

1-1/3 cups white sugar/Splenda mix

1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar/Splenda mix

3 eggs

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups whole wheat flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

4-1/2 cups quick cooking oats

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture.
Mix in oats. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

 

Servings: 3 dozen

Prep Time: 10 minutes + 1 hour

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes + 1 hour

 

For more of my favorite recipes: Oh yeah, that’s good!


One of Starla Kaye’s Christmas Books


A COWGIRL’S CHRISTMAS GIFT

The post 12 Days of Recipes: Low Sugar Oatmeal Cookies appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Lola Karns with Bad Traveler

I’m welcoming Lola Karns to my website today with her small town, contemporary romance, BAD TRAVELER, from Decadent Publishing.

Some words from Lola Karns…

I’ve been getting into the holiday spirit. The five weeks or so between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are the most stressful, fun and romantic time of the year in my opinion. I write a lot of holiday scenes. New Year’s Eve is my favorite in real life and to write. I love the illusion of a fresh start. In the spirit of the season, I’m sharing a scene from my Decadent Publishing release, Bad Traveler. The heroine, Gwen, invited her love interest, Kyle, to her home for a quiet New Year’s. I hope you will have a wonderful end to 2015 and that 2016 will bring more joy and love to you.

 

BLURB – Bad Traveler

Recipes are a way of life for Gwen Jones. Take one single mother, her infant daughter and a business plan for a small town bakery. Combine with an eventful cross-country flight, chance encounter with her college crush and a dash of motion sickness. Stir in a few nuts, or family members, and large quantities of chocolate. Will this recipe be an oven oops, or as delicious as her alma matter’s newest coach?

Having survived an attack in Afghanistan that cost him a leg and a wife, Kyle Collins developed a strategy to find meaning in life. He may be an assistant basketball coach but he refuses to sit on the sidelines. When the runs into the woman whose lips are as unforgettable as her brownies, Kyle decides to spice up Gwen’s recipes.

When a secret ingredient is thrown into the mix, can their recipe for a happily-ever-after rise to the occasion, or will it end up a hot mess?

BUY LINKS:  Amazon     Barnes & Noble     All Romance eBooks

 

 

EXCERPT – Bad Traveler

“Here.” With the remote in his hands, she sat on the middle of the dusty-sage-colored couch. He settled in near her, propping his feet on the coffee table. He wasn’t touching her. Not yet, but she’d change that and see if his interest from last night remained.

Tucking her feet underneath her on the opposite side from where he sat pushed her weight toward him. His arm came down across her shoulder, pulling her closer. Perfect. As he flipped through channel after channel, she rested her head against his broad shoulder. Warmth radiated off him. The whooshing heartbeat reminded her of the sound of the ocean in a conch shell. If this was as close as she got to paradise, so be it.

She lifted her head to face him. “Although this is too quiet for you, this is a much better New Year’s Eve than I expected to have.”

“I’ve never been one for big, noisy celebrations.”

They resumed an easy silence. She wanted him to kiss her, to make her toes curl like he did last night and every time she thought about him.

“We’re like some old married couple, too exhausted and easily annoyed to go out.” Amused at her own assessment, she chuckled, but stopped herself before continuing the idea aloud. Time would be kind to him. He’d still be sexy. “Of course, my parents have their annual progressive dinner party, and they’ve been married thirty-seven years. Do your parents do anything like that?”

“They go to my uncle’s house in the country. The family gets together, plays games, and then lights off some fireworks. It’s okay, but this is better.”

He touched her cheek with his fingers. Her lips parted in a silent invitation. Were the flames dancing in his green eyes mere reflections of the firelight or desire? Her hand traced the strong contours of his chin. Once, she thought she preferred a clean shave, but the way she craved feeling that stubble on her skin was a sign of how much she wanted him.

His mouth pressed against hers, and the weight of the world slipped away. For once, she stopped thinking about Chloe or her future or her everyday responsibilities. She lost herself in the warm yumminess of his kiss. His tongue explored her contours and eagerly returned the favor. As his fingers roamed across her arms and entwined themselves in her hair, her body became an electric circuit board going haywire.

Still holding her close, he broke their kiss. His forehead and nose touched hers. His warm breath inflamed her as he murmured, “My gorgeous Gwendolyn.” When his lips found hers again, she wanted Kyle more than ever.

His hand slid down to her sweater. Maybe the hideous nursing bra would pop open…. He touched a ridge of fabric near the clasp. She willed it to unlatch, so he could caress her breasts that ached in a way she never thought would be possible after becoming a mother. His fingers teased, pressing the sweater firmly against her skin, then falling away. If he kept up this pleasant torture, she’d rip off her own clothes.

She tugged at his instead, trying to liberate the undershirt he’d tucked into his jeans, preventing her access his bare flesh. His kisses stopped, but when his mouth found her earlobe, she bit her lip as a squeak escaped.

“You deserve better—”

A piercing cry broke through their gasps and moans.

“Chloe!”

 

AUTHOR BIO

Having worked as a bartender, shipping clerk, concierge, document translator, European history doctoral candidate, and more as she moved through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, Georgia, and Virginia, Lola decided she needed a more portable career. Writing fit the bill.

Lola currently resides in Minnesota with her husband, two children, two hairless cats and a fluffy ex-stray cat. When not writing, she enjoys baking, reading and drinking coffee. She is the author of Winter Fairy, Bad Traveler and Lucky Traveler.

 

AUTHOR LINKS:  Website     Twitter     Facebook     Goodreads     Pinterest

 

The post Lola Karns with Bad Traveler appeared first on Starla Kaye.

12 Days of Recipes: Butterballs

I love this time of year: getting together with family and friends, giving gifts, and sharing our favorite things. One of the favorite things I like to share and have shared with me are recipes.

Today I’m sharing one of my older cookie recipes that has been a favorite with my husband, family, and friends.

 

BUTTERBALLS

 

Ingredients

3/8 c. butter (softened)

2 T. butter

1/4 T. salt

1/2 c. baking powder

1 1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

1 egg

1/2 c. chopped nuts

Powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat over to 375 degrees.
In large bowl, combine 3/8 c. butter, salt, baking powder, flour, sugar, 2 T. butter, vanilla, and egg.
Blend until stiff dough.
Blend in nuts.
Shape dough into 3/4 inch balls.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 11-16 minutes.
Cool slightly and roll in powdered sugar.

 

Servings: 3 dozen

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 31 minutes

 

For more of my favorite recipes: Oh yeah, that’s good!


One of Starla Kaye’s Christmas Books


COWBOYS IN CHARGE – Collection

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