It's kind of nice to think of the summer solstice right now in the midst of this chilly winter. Join me as I welcome Brenda Sparks to my blog. She's shared a yummy recipe and a hot excerpt for our treat today.
When I wrote A Midsummer Night’s Demon, I knew I wanted the story to center around the Pagan festival of Litha. Litha generally falls in the third week of June, during the summer solstice, as the midsummer heat creates a fiery passion that leaves people breathless. The more I learned about the festival, the more the holiday intrigued me.
Litha celebrates abundance, fertility, virility, and nature. During the celebration it is customary to wear garland and crowns of flowers made from the yellow blossoms of St. John’s Wort. Litha rites include dancing, singing, storytelling and feasting centered around a bonfire. Often courting couples will join hands and jump over the Litha fire three times to ensure a happy marriage, many children, and financial prosperity.
Faeries are said to abound in great numbers on Midsummer’s Eve. As part of the Litha celebration people will commune with the faeries and leave them sweet offerings outdoors. Upon discovering part of the Litha rituals involved sprinkling an offering to faeries, I had to find out what might be given. It is widely believed that faeries enjoy milk, cheese, bread, and sweets and therefore those items are generally scattered in offering. While doing research for my story, I came across a yummy recipe I’d like to share.
Faery Fruit Compote
Blend together
½ cup water
2 tablespoons of Marigold petals
½ cup of sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
Boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Let cool.
In a bowl combine
1 ½ cups each of orange, lime, and tangerine slices
2 cups blueberries.
Pour water mixture over fruit and chill overnight. Serve over lemon angel food cake.
So make yourself some Faery Fruit Compote and enjoy an excerpt from my latest book, A Midsummer Night’s Demon. Thank you for reading!
**********************
He stalked toward her, watched her irises darken with yearning. His heated stare raked over her body making goose bumps rise on her flesh. Ky lowered himself next to her on the couch. He could hear her heartbeat increase when he cupped the back of her neck with his large palm. His eyes blazed a trail along her face, over her chocolate eyes and petite nose, down her full lips, to the delicate skin on her neck. He kept his perusal slow to give her the opportunity to deny him.
“Are you sure about this?” Ky’s eyes searched hers.
“Positive,” She pulled her hair to one side of her neck and bent her head to give him access. “Yes. Please. Now,” she begged.
Ky’s response came in the form of a nibble, earning him a giggle when his hair touched against her neck. He intended to savor this special moment. His fangs lengthened from his gums in anticipation. Desire rushed through his veins, hardening his body. His lips brushed her smooth flesh, the stubble of his chin sent a fresh round of goose bumps to pebble her skin.
She trembled under his hand when his tongue darted out to taste her. He became a shadow in her mind, feeling everything she did. Ky felt the sensation of his tongue swirl over her tender flesh. His small touches increased her passion until her body burned white-hot with need that left them both shocked and aroused.
Being in her mind, feeling her reaction to his caresses, fed his own passion, increasing his desire for her.
“Is this what you want?” His lips brushed her neck as he spoke.
“Yes, please...Ky.” His name came out a plea which he silenced with a kiss as he eased her back in his arms, his body pushing hers down onto the couch.
**********************
Buy link for A Midsummer Night’s Demon
http://www.amazon.com/A-Midsummer-Nights-Demon-ebook/dp/B00B5NWFM2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359914700&sr=8-1&keywords=a+midsummer+night%27s+demon
Thank you, Brenda, for sharing with us!
When I wrote A Midsummer Night’s Demon, I knew I wanted the story to center around the Pagan festival of Litha. Litha generally falls in the third week of June, during the summer solstice, as the midsummer heat creates a fiery passion that leaves people breathless. The more I learned about the festival, the more the holiday intrigued me.
Litha celebrates abundance, fertility, virility, and nature. During the celebration it is customary to wear garland and crowns of flowers made from the yellow blossoms of St. John’s Wort. Litha rites include dancing, singing, storytelling and feasting centered around a bonfire. Often courting couples will join hands and jump over the Litha fire three times to ensure a happy marriage, many children, and financial prosperity.
Faeries are said to abound in great numbers on Midsummer’s Eve. As part of the Litha celebration people will commune with the faeries and leave them sweet offerings outdoors. Upon discovering part of the Litha rituals involved sprinkling an offering to faeries, I had to find out what might be given. It is widely believed that faeries enjoy milk, cheese, bread, and sweets and therefore those items are generally scattered in offering. While doing research for my story, I came across a yummy recipe I’d like to share.
Faery Fruit Compote
Blend together
½ cup water
2 tablespoons of Marigold petals
½ cup of sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
Boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Let cool.
In a bowl combine
1 ½ cups each of orange, lime, and tangerine slices
2 cups blueberries.
Pour water mixture over fruit and chill overnight. Serve over lemon angel food cake.
So make yourself some Faery Fruit Compote and enjoy an excerpt from my latest book, A Midsummer Night’s Demon. Thank you for reading!
**********************
He stalked toward her, watched her irises darken with yearning. His heated stare raked over her body making goose bumps rise on her flesh. Ky lowered himself next to her on the couch. He could hear her heartbeat increase when he cupped the back of her neck with his large palm. His eyes blazed a trail along her face, over her chocolate eyes and petite nose, down her full lips, to the delicate skin on her neck. He kept his perusal slow to give her the opportunity to deny him.
“Are you sure about this?” Ky’s eyes searched hers.
“Positive,” She pulled her hair to one side of her neck and bent her head to give him access. “Yes. Please. Now,” she begged.
Ky’s response came in the form of a nibble, earning him a giggle when his hair touched against her neck. He intended to savor this special moment. His fangs lengthened from his gums in anticipation. Desire rushed through his veins, hardening his body. His lips brushed her smooth flesh, the stubble of his chin sent a fresh round of goose bumps to pebble her skin.
She trembled under his hand when his tongue darted out to taste her. He became a shadow in her mind, feeling everything she did. Ky felt the sensation of his tongue swirl over her tender flesh. His small touches increased her passion until her body burned white-hot with need that left them both shocked and aroused.
Being in her mind, feeling her reaction to his caresses, fed his own passion, increasing his desire for her.
“Is this what you want?” His lips brushed her neck as he spoke.
“Yes, please...Ky.” His name came out a plea which he silenced with a kiss as he eased her back in his arms, his body pushing hers down onto the couch.
**********************
Buy link for A Midsummer Night’s Demon
http://www.amazon.com/A-Midsummer-Nights-Demon-ebook/dp/B00B5NWFM2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359914700&sr=8-1&keywords=a+midsummer+night%27s+demon
Thank you, Brenda, for sharing with us!
Born in Virginia, Brenda now resides in the Sunshine State with her incredibly supportive husband, and their beloved son. Balancing her professional commitment to the local school district with her writing is challenging at times, but writing suspenseful paranormal romances is a passion that won’t be denied. Her idea of a perfect day is one spent in front of a computer with a hot cup of coffee, her fingers flying over the keys to send her characters off on heir latest adventure.
Brenda's next novel entitled,Weaver of Dreams, will be released later this year. It is a fanciful tale in which beings from another dimension visit humans at night to feed from the emotions produced by their dreams.
Visit Brenda at www.brenda-sparks.com
Brenda's next novel entitled,Weaver of Dreams, will be released later this year. It is a fanciful tale in which beings from another dimension visit humans at night to feed from the emotions produced by their dreams.
Visit Brenda at www.brenda-sparks.com
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