C.A. Salo's Blog, page 40

Excerpt - Destined to Mate

Destined to Mate
I love this book and have often thought about writing a sequel for Rafe, our allergic to feline Lyken & Patty our flirty little Fae.I'm still thinking about it  :-)
Here's an excerpt for you.
Morgan grinned as Alexis groaned on the other side of the door. 

“Hold on,” she called out. “Who’s there?” 

“Morgan.” 

“Morgan? Morgan who?” she asked sleepily. 

“The Morgan whose clothes you borrowed.” The door opened slowly, and he smiled when he saw his shirt on her sweet little body. 

“I was going to return them,” Alexis whispered, shoving a wave of caramel colored hair out of her face. The shirt hem lifted high on her thigh. His cock began to thicken, and he shifted to relieve the discomfort. 

“I know. I read the note you left.” 

“Then why are you knocking on my door at four-thirty in the morning?” 

Morgan turned his head, calling out to Rafe, who handed him a box before going back around the corner with a sneeze. Morgan held the box out. “To invite you.” 

“Invite me where?” 

“My house. Tonight. Six sharp. I’ll send a limo to get you.” 

“I...I don’t know.” 

“Don’t forget to bring my clothes.” He smiled, his gaze traveling down her form, his cock hardening painfully. “You can keep the shirt. I like seeing it on you.” 

Leaning in, he kissed her softly, sensuously. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. Alexis’s pulse pounded in her ears as he claimed her mouth, nudging her lips open with his tongue, exploring and caressing her with its velvety softness. His other hand trailed down her back to the flare of her hip. 

Nipping her bottom lip with his canine, he marked her with his scent, then suckled until the small wound stopped smarting. 

“Wear your hair down for me.” 

Alexis opened heavy eyes as his broad back rounded the corner. Lifting her hand, she touched the spot on her lips where he’d nipped her. The muscles of her pussy tightened with want, and her panties dampened. “Ah, crap.”

Whipped Cream Reviews 4.5Destined to Mate is sure to entertain and excite, evoke interest and lust, and delivers a well written story with a character driven plot which delightfully showcases the pursuit of love in all its furry splendor.
http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/2009/07/destined-to-mate-by-c-salo.html?zx=b283110606ca6c1a

C. A. Salo
Erotic & Spicy Stories of Romance

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Fun Drink Friday - Autumn Punch

Autumn Punch
       ingredients2teaspoons whole cloves1/2of a vanilla bean, split lengthwise164 ounce bottle apple-cranberry juice4medium purple and/or green plums, pitted and sliced1750 milliliter bottle Gewurztraminer, or other fruity white wine*Ice cubes
directions1.Place cloves and vanilla bean in center of a double-thick 6-inch square of 100-percent-cotton cheesecloth. Bring corners of cloth together; tie closed with clean string. Pour apple-cranberry juice into a large container or pitcher. Add plums and spice bag. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.2.Remove and discard cheesecloth bag. Stir in Gewurztraminer. Serve beverage and plum slices over ice. (Or omit the ice and heat the juice mixture and wine in a 4-quart Dutch oven until hot. Serve in heatproof mugs.) Makes 10 to 12 servings.from the test kitchen*Nonalcoholic Option:Substitute two 12-ounce cans chilled ginger ale for the Gewurztraminer, and serve over ice.nutrition facts (Autumn Punch)Servings Per Recipe 10,  cal. (kcal) 180,  carb. (g) 33,  fiber (g) 1,  pro. (g) 1,  vit. A (IU) 243,vit. C (mg) 64,  sodium (mg) 30,  calcium (mg) 10,  iron (mg) 0,  Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Makes: 10 to 12 servingsPrep 20 minsChill 4 hrs

Yummy!! I found this little treat over at Better Homes and Gardens, under Festive Fall Drink Recipes.

Wednesday's Herb -- Thyme

This picture is of flowering Thyme.
Thyme
I love cooking with Thyme, fresh or dried.I use it mainly on chicken, turkey and some Italian dishes.
Here are some other uses for this versatile herb, which I will be using once I have my garden going in my new house :-)
Thyme Oil or Thymol is sometimes used for  Medicinal purposes  such as:Antiseptic - such as mouthwashes,Antibiotic - pre-antibiotic's was used to medicate bandages.
Thymol has been known to be effective against Fungi that commonly infect toenails. To kill or prevent the growth of mold.
A tea made of infusing Thyme into water can be useful for coughs and bronchitis.
It is said: * Placing a small bundle of Thyme under your pillow will ward off nightmares.* The giving of Thyme leaves will bring courage to the bearer.* Fairies are believed to use Thyme for their beds.


There are some great 'how-to' video's on YouTubeHere's one I found that I like.

Pirating sites...

OK, so why do people think it's alright to steal??
e-Book theft is a BIG problem I wish they would do something about.
It's like walking into a grocery store and walking out with an apple without paying for it. SAME CONCEPT.
YES, putting an authors book(s) up on a site after you read it for anyone in the world to download or read for free is WRONG OF YOU TO DO!
We authors, our publishers, editors, cover artist and everyone in between work hard to put books out there.
When someone downloads a book for FREE instead of buying it,  it's called...STEALING, anyway you want to look at it. 
(If you're looking for FREE books, to download legally-read to the bottom)
Here's an example for you... pirating people.
You go to work, work your 8 hours.You go to get your money for your hard days work and the boss tells you...What, you want to be paid for your work? HA, what are you kidding, we're like one of those pirating sites, we take your work and you get nothing for it.OREver worked any overtime, been promised mileage or get an 'oh go ahead and buy that',we'll pay you. AND they don't...
HOW would you feel??Angry, pissed, furious...
WELL guess what ... That's how we feel when someone pirates our hard work.Not to mention the copyright infringements and legal stuff.
Why am I sooooo ticked????
I'll tell you. I had to send legal notification of copyright infringements to TWO sites in the matter of ten minutes!!AND I know there are many more out there. (sad)
I have to feed my family too you know! And people who download my books from a pirating site, is STEALING food, clothing, and educational experiences from MY child! 

Now there are some awesome publishers who GIVE books away for FREE at Amazon, and Barnes & Noble as promotional tools. 
I have a NOOK and I receive several publisher newsletters and emails about FREE books being given away. 
So I go on my NOOK and if I like the blurb and the book... YES, I'll download, BECAUSE IT'S BEING GIVEN AWAY FOR A FREE PROMOTION BY THE PUBLISHER!
See the difference??
PLEASE see the difference and END these pirating sites.
Many hugsC~

Fun Drink Friday - Cinnamon Toast Cocktail

OK, so it's the end of September and Fall/Autumn is upon us. Although it's still hot and all that Florida stuff here in Florida. But I can't help but blog about this drink. YUMMY!!Being a lover of Cinnamon, Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum and Apple Cider, this drink was like ... Aaaaaahhhhhhh now where's my fire place and snow falling on the ground. (OH yeah, I left that up North HA, LOL)TRY IT, it's YUMMY- TASTIC!!

Cinnamon Toast Cocktail
Ingredients1 ¼ ounce(s) Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum6 ounces(s) hot apple cider1-Tablespoon sugar1-Tablespoon cinnamon
DirectionsAdd hot apple cider and Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum to a glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon.
I found this drink recipe at: Delish

Wednesday Blogging is now about...

Ok, so not sure if you know this, but I am a horrible blogger. 
Yes, a horrible blogger, so besides blogging about my books, I try to pick interesting topics. I've also gone from blogging one day a week to three days a week. Sunday, Wednesday & Friday.Sundays I try to keep geared toward my writing as I also blog over at The Nice & Naughty Authors Blog.Fridays I've made into Fun Drink Friday so what to do with Wednesday to keep me on track...
I've always had an interest in herbalism and practiced it quite extensively when I lived in Massachusetts. I grew up with my mother and her herb gardens along with a wonderful place in Mason, New Hampshire called The Pickity Place. LOVE THEM (and their Raspberry Orange Tea)!!I had a garden and plenty of space. Since moving around, I haven't been so lucky. Herbs in pots just ... I don't know *sigh* and using dried herbs for everything, it's just not the same.BUT, with the building of our new house, I will have an area so I can once again grow my herbs, veggies and anything I like to cook with or can use for other purposes. *YAY*
So, I think on Wednesdays I'm going to blog about herbs and spices. There's plenty to chose from world wide and it's something I enjoy, so why not right?? 
Let's start off with, Cat Nip. An easy peesy little herb. I bet you're thinking WTF is she talking about?? Cat Nip is for cats. Right??
WRONG.
Cat Nip can be used for plenty of other things beside getting your kitty feeling good. 
And sometimes it doesn't affect them. 
Now some people have said they feel a slight 'numbing' affect from Cat Nip, but I personally have never had this feeling or any of my family that I'm aware of. Then again, I always use it with other herbs and in small quantities.
BUT, always keep in mind that no matter what you use, herbs, spices or pharmaceutical drugs, everyone is different so everyone will have a different reaction to the item in question. I'm not a doctor nor do I ever claim to be (unless it's a hero or heroine in one of my books - which is FANTASY), so keep in mind, that you should always check with your physician before trying something new.
Cat Nip can be used in teas with other herbs for colds. That's how I've always used the leaves, right beside my Chamomile, Spearmint, Rose Hips and other goodies.
Cat Nip has been known to help with: Sleep, relaxation, and stress reduction, and is used as a culinary herb for many dishes.
For more information try these sites:Wikipedia

Sample Chapter - The Devil Himself

Everyone deserves love, even The Jersey Devil.That's why I wrote The Devil Himself.
Luca has lived a long and sheltered life. Dubbed by many as “The Jersey Devil”, he resides peacefully and alone in the Barren Woods, where no one can find him. It’s a lonely existence, but necessary for one such as he.Until photographer Chandra Burke comes along. After saving her life, Luca feels obligated to keep her with him until she heals. But as hours with her turn to days, and then weeks, he finds he wants to keep her for an entirely different reason—for him.Can Chandra and Luca overcome Luca’s view of himself, a pesky wizard, and a possessive demon to be together? Or will the Fates allow love to slip past Luca once again?
Sample Chapter For THE DEVIL HIMSELFLuca lifted his head as the smell of fresh blood flowed by with the wind. Turning his head, his ears perked as a cry echoed through the woods. Concentrating hard, he tuned his hearing to the direction from which the wind was blowing and listened as a woman cried out in pain, followed by a man’s shout. A familiar smell, one that had accompanied several previous murders in his woods, wafted along the breeze. He rose, spread his wings and took off into the forest toward the problem.
There shouldn’t even be one; they should not be trespassing on his land. He was going to assess the situation, and then act on it calmly. At least that was his plan until he landed on the branch and watched as a balding, short, overweight man beat a woman tied to a tree. The woman with brown shoulder-length hair and torn clothes was badly bruised and bloodied.
Luca’s nostrils flared with anger as he caught the smell of the man again. This man’s scent had been on three bodies he had found over the course of a year, women’s bodies so badly mutilated, the only way he’d known they were females was from their scent. Not again, not in his forest. He hadn’t been able to help any of the others, but this one he could, and with a horrifying screech he soared down, claws out, slashing them across the man’s throat as the murderer turned with fright in his eyes.
The naked woman just lay there unmoving, her eyes following him as he walked toward her, and she whispered a plea of help. He stepped out of the shadows, and her eyes widened before she slumped down in unconsciousness. Growling, he looked around the forest with hope that someone would run out and help this woman, but as his luck would have it, no one appeared. If he left her here, she’d end up freezing tonight. Even if he untied her he doubted she’d survive with her injuries and knew for damn sure she didn’t have the strength to get out of the forest. He could drop her off somewhere in town, but the chance of being spotted at this time of night was high and not to his liking.
Kneeling down, he used a claw to cut the rope tying her to the tree before he moved his gaze to her face again. She is cute. He drew the back of his knuckle along her bruised face. With a sigh he lifted her into his arms, holding her close against his chest as he spread his wings and took off above the forest.
Over the next two days Luca fed the woman, bathed her, and applied an antibiotic cream to her wounds; she was in and out of consciousness and not aware of what was happening. The night she asked a coherent question was the night he blindfolded her, and now he sat and watched as she woke again.
“Leave it,” he stated softly when she lifted a hand to remove the blindfold. “You are in no harm here, but you must leave it on.”“Who-who are you?”Luca smiled at that question. “I was not given a name, but I’ve taken a liking to Luca.”Chandra winced as she moved on the bed. “Where am I?”“My home.”“And where is that?”“Stop moving. I think you have several bruised ribs, with bruises going from one end of you to the other.”“How would you know?” she asked softly, her weak hand trembling as she tried to lift the blanket higher.Luca reached over and without touching her, lifted the covers up to her chin. “Because I have been caring for you.”“Where’s…”“Dead.”“You killed him?” she whispered.“It was that or let him kill you.” He rose and walked to a pitcher of water. He saw her frown from the corner of his eye and knew she was gauging the sounds of his footsteps. “It’s water. Drink slowly so your stomach doesn’t rebel.” He held the cup for her, his eyes lowering as she sipped the cool water with her battered lips, and for the first time in a long time he felt his body react to a female. He couldn’t help it; there was something about her pheromones, her aura that was playing havoc with his senses, almost as if… “What’s your name?” He lowered the cup.“Chandra, Chandra Burke.”“Well, Chandra Burke, you’re new to the Pinelands.”“Yes.”“Why did he go after you?”“I don’t know, but I don’t think I was the first. He mentioned several times that I was the best chase he’d had.”“You’re not. You were just the first I could get to in time to help.”“Are we still inside the barrens?”“The Pine Barrens, yes.” He smiled. “Why?”“My grandmother…she used to tell me stories about it being…”“Cursed?”“Yes, and haunted by the…”“The Jersey Devil?”“Yes.”Luca grinned. “And what do you suppose the Jersey Devil is?”“A mythical creature, like werewolves and vampires. Don’t get me wrong, there’s always a little truth to mythology, so maybe someone with birth defects was cast out and it started like that.”“What about all the sightings?”Chandra snorted. “Kids in costumes messing around.”“So you don’t believe that the Jersey Devil is a real creature of Hell, demons, or just a cursed soul?”“No.”“Then I take it you haven’t seen or heard anything…out of the ordinary.”“I don’t know… I haven’t been here long enough to see anything strange.”“You may want to rethink that after the other night.”“That wasn’t strange, that was just a psychotic bastard.” She shivered. “A woman can’t even leave the doors open to air her house out without the fear of being attacked.”Luca chuckled at that. “You have a way with words, Ms. Burke, but true, very true.”“I’m hungry.”His lips lifted with a quirky smile as her stomach growled. “Yes, so I can hear,” he replied as he walked back to the small alcove. “I hope venison stew is all right with you.”“I’ve never had it.”“Then you’re in for a surprise.” He strode back over to sit on the chair by his bed. “A friend of mine brought it over for you.” His gaze remained on her as he touched the edge of the spoon to her lips, his cock thickening as they parted, letting him slip the spoon and food in.Damn it, not again. He shouldn’t be getting excited over her, especially not with her wounded as she was. This wasn’t just a case of lust; no, it was something more powerful. His body was reacting to her like he’d known her forever.“It’s good,” she whispered.Luca stayed silent as he fed her and knew she wondered why by the crease on her forehead.“You should get some sleep,” Luca said softly, as he walked to the alcove to wash the dishes in a pan of water. “You have a long way to heal.”“Why didn’t you take me to a hospital?”“This was closer.”“But—”“Sleep. I’ll be back in a while,” he stated as he headed toward the tunnel that would take him to the entrance of his home.“No,” she called out quickly. “Don’t leave me, please.”Luca watched as she tried to sit up. “You are safe here, Chandra, no one will bother you.”“But…”Luca could tell she was tiring and with a sigh he turned to her. “I will stay until you have fallen asleep and then I must go hunt.”“Hunt?”
“Yes, now close your eyes and sleep.” He could tell she wanted to question him more, but she couldn’t evade the exhaustion from taking over as her eyes fluttered. Luca lifted the covers just as she placed her hand over his, and wondered if she thought it strange that her fingers stroked fur as sleep claimed her.Luca looked down at her bruised hand as it lay over his; she had the most perfect fingers he had seen on a woman. True, he hadn’t seen many but the ones he had were nothing to think about and yet this woman, this one woman who lay bruised and battered on his bed, had him doing things he never would have done.
Lifting his hand to entwine his fingers with hers, he watched as her small hand was engulfed by his. She was petite compared to him. He stood seven feet tall, and his fingers and toes held retractable claws. A thin layer of soft black fur covered his body, and horns protruded from the top of his head.
She was not the smallest human woman he had seen or the largest. She had a little weight on her, but not enough to make her fat. As he lowered their hands so he could lift a lock of the chestnut-colored shoulder-length tresses was as soft as a rabbit and curled just like a new fern as the end wrapped around his finger.Jerking back quickly, stunned with the way his thoughts had turned, Luca growled as he jumped up and left his home without looking back. He could not get involved with this woman. Beside Chandra being human, it was pure foolishness to think that she would want to be involved with a cursed creature such as he.
4.5 Cherries from Lilac, Whipped Cream ReviewsI was intrigued by this story from the very beginning. Luca stole my heart with his insecurities and doubts. He was a perfect example of why people shouldn’t judge others based on their looks. As for Chandra, I found her very likeable and thought she was very accepting especially once she learned about Luca and his life. They made a lovely pair as both taught each other about love, trust, and acceptance.

I really enjoyed the author’s unique approach. This wasn’t an ordinary boy-meets-girl story as it featured a creature that some might find hard to love, yet the author was able to humanize the beast in the story and make me the reader, fall for him as well. I found the author’s use of an imperfect hero refreshing and interesting. This was a very touching love story that I would definitely recommend to those looking for something a bit different.
The Devil Himself

Fun Drink Friday - Sunrise Smoothie

Total Time: 5 MinsPrep: 5 MinsYield: 2 ServingsLevel: Easy

Ingredients1 cup chopped ripe strawberries (5 large strawberries)1 cup chopped seeded watermelon1 cup chopped fresh peach1 cup raspberry sorbet1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juiceDirectionsPlace the strawberries, watermelon, peach, sorbet, and orange juice in a blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Add more orange juice if you'd like it a little less thick. Serve immediately in tall glasses with straws.
2006, Ina Garten, All Rights ReservedShow: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Girls Day OffRecipe categories: Watermelon, Peach, Strawberry, Raspberry more
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/sunrise-smoothie-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

OK, so I was watching Barefoot Contessa the other day and I watched Ms Ina make these.YUMMY!!The only thing I can't put in is the strawberries, but still, YUM!!

A/C's Out & I'm Grumpy :-(

Ahhhh, so I'm out yesterday, having a wonderful day at the spa and then I went to lunch and some shopping with my grandmother. LOVE HER!! Then off to see my cousin and visit before starting on my two hour trek home my husband texts me ... A/C is out.
I call, honey what do you mean the A/C is out?? Yep, it's out and he's contacted the owner (who lives in Texas). We're renting the house while ours is being built, and it's a wonderful house, and our landlord is great and he was right on it getting a hold of the warranty people.
Well the A/C company the warranty people have 'does not work on weekends.'REALLY???????
It's FLORIDA 
So needless to say when I walked into my house last night at 8 PM it was 90 degrees AHHHHHHHH.
Sleeping last night was a pure pain the arse!
This morning is grumpyville even with a cup of coffee sitting in front of me. 
All ceiling fans are going and my wonderful husband is on the phone with them right now (9:43AM) to try and get an update on if they've found another A/C company to come out, because his honeysuckle - oh that would be me :-) is a bear in hot and humid weather. Grrr Arrrg.And he knows they don't want this momma bear on the phone when she's grumpy. He's my calm, patient one LOL, yeah he has to be to be married to me :-)
My dad's funny, he says 'it was 40 up here last night'. Thanks dad! Love you!!

I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say this...

is NOT the hot we like!
We like this...
And this...
And this defiantly ...
Have a great day and wish me coolness!! :-)
C~
C. A. Salo
Erotic & Spicy Stories of Romance

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Fun Drink Friday - Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Pumpkin Spice SmoothieAuthor: Leanne VogelAllergens: Vegan, Gluten free, Dairy free, Sugar free, Yeast free, Corn freePrep time:  5 minsTotal time:  5 minsServes: 2 cups, 1 serving This smoothie is creamy and light. Not only will it add extra fiber to your day, but having pumpkin in the morning will keep you fuller, longer!Ingredients1 cup non-dairy milk – I used unsweetened almond milk½ cup canned pumpkin½ banana1 tbsp raisins or ½ tsp maple syrup½ tsp gluten-free, alcohol-free pure vanilla extract¼ tsp ground cinnamon⅛ tsp ground gingerpinch ground nutmegpinch ground clovespinch all spicevegan coconut whipped topping – I used 2 tbsp honey and omitted the vanilla in this batch (optional)InstructionsPlace everything but whipped topping in the blender.Blend until smoothPour into your favorite glass and place a couple tablespoons of coconut whipped cream on top.Sprinkle with cinnamon if you’d like!
So, looking for something to do with the three pumpkin cans I have in my pantry, and not wanting a pumpkin pie, I saw one of my FaceBook Friends had posted a pumpkin smoothie recipe so I Googled it :-) and looked through several until I found the one above.
I found the recipe above over at Healthful Pursuit, by Leanne Vogul.Leanne is a Holistic Nutritionist and I found her quite interesting.Go check out her site and recipes.I know I'm going to be trying the Pumpkin Spice Smoothie :-)
Have a great day all!!C~