Author Brenda Sparks

…joins us today with a favorite holiday recipe and an excerpt from her paranormal romance, Alpha Lover, Book 3 in the Alpha Council Chronicles series.

Festive Holiday Punch

Make a day in advance to allow the flavors to meld.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 quart cranberry juice
• 2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
• 3 tablespoons almond extract
• 1 (2 liter) bottle Lemon/Lime soft drink such as Sprite
• 1 pint of cranberries
• Vodka (optional)

Directions

1. In a large container, mix together sugar, cranberry juice, pineapple juice and almond extract. Refrigerate for 1 day.
2. To serve, pour juice mixture into a punch bowl. Stir in Lemon/Lime soft drink.
3. Garnish with cranberries

Optional: To make an alcohol version stir in vodka to desired taste

Alpha Lover

Starved for blood, vampire, Nicholai Peterhof is greatly relieved when two tourists, in Russia for the Christmas holiday, decide to grace his restaurant, but one sip from the pretty brunette and his world is forever turned upside down. Juliette Staint-John is everything he could have asked for in a heartmate; pretty, smart, built with curves in all the right places…and totally unavailable.

Juliette doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome, young-looking Nicholai. As if their differences aren’t enough, the acute grief over the loss of loved ones keeps her heart guarded. He may be her fantasy, but that’s all he can ever be.

To get past Juliette’s defenses and in order to keep her safe, Nicholai must prove himself worthy of her love and trust. Unbeknownst to the couple, her personal demons are not the only ones threatening their relationship. Hiding virtually unseen by the vampires, Demon Royalty plots to destroy not only the couple but the entire vampire breed. Luckily, Nicholai will do anything for Juliette—even if it means sacrificing himself.

Excerpt

She had only a second to realize Nicholai stood in the doorway before Desmond’s powerful thighs brought him to the door in a single bound.

He grabbed Nicholai’s shirt with one hand, his other made a fist that landed squarely on Nicholai’s jaw.

Nicholai’s head snapped back. Shock took his face. With a mighty push, Nicholai threw Desmond backward across the room into one of the flowery couches. It moved under his weight, crashed into the end table, and the Tiffany lamp tumbled to the floor.

Julie’s eyes went wide. The two men became a blur of motion, bodies flying apart then back together. She had to concentrate to make out the shapes of hard forms in the powerful whirlwind.

Connor pulled, lunging at the whirling mass. His deep growls and barks added to the chaos as the two males swirled around the living room. They spun around the room like a tornado, moving so fast Juliette’s eyes did not register their kicks and punches. However, she heard bones crunch and the slap of skin while the two exchanged blows.

The furniture that exploded when the blurry mass neared evidenced the fierceness of their battle. Julie watched one piece of furniture after the next burst into pieces. First her delicate coffee table, next the end table where the Tiffany lamp had been, then the rocking chair. When the mass moved toward the antique credenza, Juliette screamed.

Her beautiful roses sprayed about the room. Red petals floated slowly to the floor in surreal contrast.

Buy Links:

Amazon buy link: http://mybook.to/AlphaLover

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alpha-lover-brenda-sparks/1124934443?ean=2940156932726

iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/alpha-lover/id1173716918?mt=11

Kobo buy link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/alpha-lover

Wild Rose Press buy link: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4760-alpha-lover.html?search_query=alpha+lover&results=2

About the Author

Born in Virginia, Brenda Sparks now resides in the Sunshine State.  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 their latest adventure.  Brenda loves to connect with readers.  Please visit her online or stop by her website to say hi.

Author Links:
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/forBrendaSparks

Twitter : @brenda_sparks https://twitter.com/brenda_sparks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/BrendaSparks   

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Sparks/e/B00B7AJBBQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Website : www.brenda-sparks.com

 

Image credits: Holiday Romance meme, Tina Gayle; all others, Brenda Sparks