Christmas on Wherever Island by Amber Polo
Excerpt
The sun sank lower and slipped into the sea in a splash of
white afterglow. Marti turned away from the water and walked as fast as she
could in the soft sand toward lights and people.
white afterglow. Marti turned away from the water and walked as fast as she
could in the soft sand toward lights and people.
Raucous dancing bodies surrounded the thatched beach bar
strung with flashing red and green Christmas lights, garlands, and glitzy
tinsel. Next to a red and black metal Guinness is Good for You sign, she
thought she saw the same Santa. Now she wasn’t sure. Everywhere she turned she
saw green-eyed, black Santa Clauses. This Santa swayed to the rhythm of the
steel drums and sang about calypso
jingle bells. Cliff pulled her through dancing bodies to the bar.
strung with flashing red and green Christmas lights, garlands, and glitzy
tinsel. Next to a red and black metal Guinness is Good for You sign, she
thought she saw the same Santa. Now she wasn’t sure. Everywhere she turned she
saw green-eyed, black Santa Clauses. This Santa swayed to the rhythm of the
steel drums and sang about calypso
jingle bells. Cliff pulled her through dancing bodies to the bar.
Santa smiled, stopped his song, and held out a square of
dark cake.
dark cake.
Marti smelled molasses and ginger and rum…and something
else. She wrinkled her nose.
else. She wrinkled her nose.
“Ah, ma little lady in red, you come for your cake?”
She reached to take it, but with a shake of his head he
pulled back his hand. “No, no. Make da wish first.”
pulled back his hand. “No, no. Make da wish first.”
She closed her eyes, and thought, Let me be happy.
“Ah, a good one. Miss.” Santa handed her the cake. “And
here.” Into her other hand he placed a paper cup of dark red liquor. He winked.
“Da wish will not come true without a bit of island nectar.”
here.” Into her other hand he placed a paper cup of dark red liquor. He winked.
“Da wish will not come true without a bit of island nectar.”
She turned from his piercing green gaze and walked back
toward the cottage.
toward the cottage.
Cliff found her looking out over the now-empty beach to the
moonlit ocean.
moonlit ocean.
She licked her fingers. “This is the best fruitcake ever.”
“Some call it wedding cake.”
“Oh. Well. It’s good. But I don’t know about the drink.” She
sniffed. “Heavy on rum and licorice…and mango.”
sniffed. “Heavy on rum and licorice…and mango.”
“And magic. Santa Mon says your wish wouldn’t come true if
you don’t drink.” He downed his in one swallow. “See. The red is from sorrel.
From hibiscus. It’s safe.”
you don’t drink.” He downed his in one swallow. “See. The red is from sorrel.
From hibiscus. It’s safe.”
She sipped, then drank hers, licking the last sweet drop
from the paper cup’s rim. She immediately stood to go in. Her head spun so
dizzily she sat back down.
from the paper cup’s rim. She immediately stood to go in. Her head spun so
dizzily she sat back down.
“You okay?”
“Yes.” She closed her eyes. Two moons twirled. Her body
swayed. “Too much sun,” she explained as her knees bent and she collapsed into
Cliff’s arms.
swayed. “Too much sun,” she explained as her knees bent and she collapsed into
Cliff’s arms.
About
The Author:
The Author:
Amber Polo has had a lifelong love
affair with libraries and dogs. A fascination with lost ancient libraries and
curiosity about why werewolves outnumbered dog-shifters in literature inspired
her new urban fantasy series filled with librarian dog-shifters.
affair with libraries and dogs. A fascination with lost ancient libraries and
curiosity about why werewolves outnumbered dog-shifters in literature inspired
her new urban fantasy series filled with librarian dog-shifters.
“Released” Book One of The
Shapeshifters’ Library celebrates St. Nicholas Eve as a magic night for the
dog-shifters. They celebrate in the old style with wassail, gingerkucken, and
old fashioned traditions. Share their fun. Read The Shapeshifters’ Library
Book One.
Shapeshifters’ Library celebrates St. Nicholas Eve as a magic night for the
dog-shifters. They celebrate in the old style with wassail, gingerkucken, and
old fashioned traditions. Share their fun. Read The Shapeshifters’ Library
Book One.
TOUR
WIDE GIVEAWAY:
WIDE GIVEAWAY:
Enter to win a copy of The Shapeshifters’
Library, a Starbarks Coffee Hound mug, plus some treats for your favorite dog.
Library, a Starbarks Coffee Hound mug, plus some treats for your favorite dog.
Rafflecopter
Code:
Code:
Buy links for Released: Amazon
Book Trailer for Christmas On Wherever
Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4enl721U0s
Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4enl721U0s
Wherever Island
Christmas Fruitcake
Christmas Fruitcake
2 cups sifted all purpose flour
Reserve 1 cup, re-sift the
remainder with:
remainder with:
1 t cinnamon
1 t. ground
cloves
cloves
1 t. allspice
1 t. nutmeg
¼ t. mace
½ t. salt
¾ t. baking soda
Use some of the mixture to coat:
1 cup raisons
1 cup chopped
dates
dates
1 cup citrus
peel/citron
peel/citron
1 cup candied
cherries
cherries
1 cup figs
1 cup nuts of
your choice
your choice
Cook:
1 10 oz can crushed pineapple
1 cup sugar
Until thickened about 30 minutes.
Stir frequently. Do not burn. Cool.
Stir frequently. Do not burn. Cool.
When cool stir in:
½ cup apricot jam or marmalade
1 cup rum or pineapple juice or
combo
combo
Cream ½ lb butter until soft
1 cup
sugar
sugar
Beat in 6 eggs, one at a time.
Stir in dry ingredients slowly, alternating with pineapple
mixture. Pour over flour coated fruits and nuts and mix well.
mixture. Pour over flour coated fruits and nuts and mix well.
Preheat to 275 degrees. Fills 1 4×8 loaf pan and 1 9” tube
pan. Grease cake pans (line with greased brown paper or foil if you do that).
Fill pans 1” from top and bake until a skewer comes out clean – 3 ½ to 5 hours
depending on size of pans. Cool on rack. If you make the cake ahead of time, go
ahead and soak a cheesecloth in rum and wrap in foil, Freezing also helps blend
the flavors. When ready to serve decorate with almond paste or icing.
pan. Grease cake pans (line with greased brown paper or foil if you do that).
Fill pans 1” from top and bake until a skewer comes out clean – 3 ½ to 5 hours
depending on size of pans. Cool on rack. If you make the cake ahead of time, go
ahead and soak a cheesecloth in rum and wrap in foil, Freezing also helps blend
the flavors. When ready to serve decorate with almond paste or icing.
Recipe can be doubled to fill 3 graduated wedding cake pans.
Serve with a dusting of magic!
Marti Bell is facing the prospect of a very
unmerry Christmas. Reluctantly leaving her married lover, she travels toward
ice, snow, and judgmental family until a magic Santa sends her to a surprise
destination in the warm waters of the Caribbean.
Wherever Island would be paradise, except the
only place to stay is the beachside cottage of gorgeous globetrotting
photographer Cliff Holmes. Cliff wants to unwind and treat Marti to a little romantic
Caribbean Christmas fun but she’s determined to stay in the warm ocean and out
of hot water
Thanks for letting me visit!
Hope the Christmas spirit lasts and lasts…
And if you need a lift listen to "Jingle Bells" played by steel drums on my book video.
Amber