Guest Author Amber Kallyn-- Dragos: Burned

Who says Halloween is for kids? I still dress up. We decorate our house. Christmas lights ain't got nothin' on us. And what goes better with some chocolate covered strawberries than Blood Red Sangria? I make it every year. Sometimes I add a bit of this, a bit of that. Feel free to try it any way you want. It's an easy recipe to mix and match and see what you like best. As an added bonus, it's got a full daily serving of fruit :) Blood Red Sangria Make 4-6 hours or the night before: 1 bottle inexpensive White Zinfandel or Red Wine 2 oz Cognac (or whiskey, brandy or rum) 3 Tbs warmed honey 1\2 cup dark grapes (Seedless) 1\2 cup pitted cherries (Can be frozen) 1\2 cup strawberries (Can be frozen) Lemon slices (1 lemon, quartered, de-seeded and thinly sliced) Orange slices (1 orange, quartered, de-seeded and thinly sliced) In a large metal bowl, thaw (if needed) and crush the Grapes, Cherries and Strawberries. Add the lemon and orange and stir. Add the honey and all liquor, stir gently. Cover and chill. The longer this sits, the more fruity it tastes :) Before serving, you can leave the mixture as is and pour it into a pitcher before adding the rest, or you can strain the chunks of fruit out, and just pour the liquid in a pitcher. Make sure you have a nice, large pitcher. Add just before serving: 24 oz Ginger Ale (or sprite or club soda) Ice Diced Bananas Cubed Apples Maraschino Cherries You can place the fruit on a toothpick and serve in the drink, or on the side. I hope ya’ll enjoy as much as I do. I usually make enough to last a few days. If only Halloween fell on a Friday this year... Happy Halloween everyone. Burned

by Amber Kallyn Cover art: Reneé George

ISBN: 978-1-60521-482-5

Genre(s): Paranormal

Theme(s): Elves, Dragons & Magical Creatures, Men and Women in Uniform

Series: Dragos

Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1464


What happens when a dragon falls in love with a fireman? Someone's bound to get... Burned.

Blurb:

When Calla, a dragon shifter, heads to a sleepy mountain town to investigate their recent arson outbreak, she doesn't expect to come face to face with the dark dragon who killed her mother, or find her destined mate beneath the burning rays of the moon.
Firefighter Scott O'Neil can't fight his attraction to her, even after he finds out what she is, and the shocking secret of his own past.
Excerpt:
Chapter One

The Other was here.

Lowering the truck window, Calla Dragos sniffed the chilly afternoon. Pine trees, asphalt. All overshadowed by the distinct stench of sulfur. Her stomach lurched, vileness rising to choke her. As she drove into the blink of a town, it grew stronger, overpowering all other senses.



Drawing closer to the Jasper Fire Department, she focused on keeping her clammy hands on the wheel, her concentration on the light traffic. Keeping her foot on the gas pedal, rather than slamming the brakes and fleeing.



How could he be here?



It was bad enough her job as an arson investigator brought her to this small, mountaintop town of Jasper , Arizona . Bad enough she’d left her family behind in the midst of yet another argument about her independence. The possibility of facing Eric brought tremors to her body.



Parking her cherry red pickup in front of the station, Calla shaded her eyes from the late afternoon sun and searched the colorful wood-front buildings. The stench faded.



Eric marked her, then fled. Like a coward.



And he was a coward. She needed to remember that fact. Otherwise, the fear coiling in her heart would drive her batty.



After a couple deep breaths, she calmed the nausea a little. She could do this. She would do this. And if that bastard decided to show up, she’d face him with all her strength.



Calla stepped from the truck on shaky legs, smoothed her navy skirt and slipped on the matching jacket. Reaching across the seat, she grabbed her oversized black bag, which held a notebook, pens and her kit. After another soothing breath, filling her lungs with the crisp mountain air, she headed around the corner to the firemen’s entrance.



Giggles drew her attention to a group of teenage girls scantily dressed. And the man they huddled near.



In nothing but low-slung jeans, the top button carelessly undone, the man gave off the rugged air of a male underwear model with a sexy, take me to your bedroom now look. His blond hair, slightly too long for a clean-cut look, dripped water, from a recent shower maybe. Or a drenching with the hose. The scruff on his chin, a shade darker than his hair, enhanced the bad boy aura.



Gods, he was just like Petey. Playboy and chick magnet, an older version of her youngest brother.



“So can we have your autograph? Please?” one of the girls begged, her voice high. The other girls giggled some more.



“Certainly, ladies.” The man’s voice was as smoky and smooth as his gray eyes.



His gaze flicked to Calla. The intensity shooting from his eyes made her tense, caught like a rabbit in the headlights. His lips twitched. A flush spread up her cheeks. Calla stared at her feet, hurrying along the flower-bordered sidewalk. Before she reached the door, the teen girls filed past, happily waving calendars with mostly naked men.



Figured. A playboy, just like Petey. Which month was he?



Bare feet filled her view. She took in the long, jean-clad legs, the scruff of hair above the gaping waistband. A blond trail led up a golden, ripped abdomen and chest, to dark eyes. This close, flecks of green and blue mixing with the gray were visible.



His scent, suntan lotion and hay, punched into her, dissipating the last remains of the sulfur.



Her libido woke and started clamoring. She gritted her teeth. Not why she was here. And besides, she had no business being attracted to this man. This human.

www.AmberKallyn.com

Paranormal Erotic Romance ~ Sometimes Love burns

Coming 10/08/10! Dragos: Burned from Changeling Press

12/10/10 Mistletoe ~ A Christmas Tale


http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1464