Julie Jarnagin – Romantic Excerpt & Recipe for Romance – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Contemporary romance author, Julie Jarnagin shares a romantic excerpt & recipe from her latest release, Kiss the Cowboy. Comments will go into Monday and Friday’s drawings with a deadline of June 27th, 11:59 pm central time. Be sure and scroll to the end post to get Julie’s free novella. Here’s Julie:

Food plays such a big part in my inspirational romance novel, Kiss the Cowboy, and in the romance between Lucy, a trained chef, and Dylan, a cowboy cook. The scenes with food were so much fun to write and added an extra layer of romance to the story. The characters cooking together provided so many smells, sights, sounds, and feelings for us to experience right along with them.
One of my favorite food scenes is when Lucy and Dylan make caramel sauce together in the tiny kitchen of his little farmhouse. Here’s an excerpt and the recipe (and be sure to scroll down to the bottom to get my FREE novella)
Excerpt from Kiss the Cowboy:
Working in the small kitchen with Dylan soon turned into a dance. As Lucy stirred the bubbling amber-colored caramel, he slid behind her to get the cream from the refrigerator. When she reached around him to take the sea salt from the spice rack, he rested his warm hand on the small of her back as he leaned across the counter for a whisk. The scent of the campfire on his shirt mixed with the sweet smell of caramel sauce made her lightheaded. “Just let me know if I’m in your way.”
“I was just thinking that this small kitchen has its advantages.”
Lucy fumbled with the whisk, and it fell beside her feet.
Pulling another one from the drawer, he narrowed his eyes. “Everything okay?”
She gripped the edge of the counter behind her. “Sure.” But it wasn’t okay. Lucy needed to escape. Away from the heat of the kitchen. The heat of Dylan and the intoxicating scent of his cooking. Embarrassed by the memories of the day she’d finally given in to her feelings and kissed Dylan. “Everything’s fine.”
Dylan stepped closer to her, and she looked up to see his face. His eyes were soft, and that cocky smirk that she loved to hate was gone. It had been replaced by something different. He wanted to kiss her, and she swallowed because in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to kiss him back.
Dylan’s fingers brushed her hair off her shoulder. “I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again, and now it’s like God brought you back here for a reason.”
She wanted to argue. She wanted to tell him it was just a coincidence that they’d walked into the same kitchen. That she and God weren’t really on the best terms after everything that had happened to her father. “I don’t know if—”
This time, it was Dylan who quieted her by planting his lips on hers.
Her muscles tightened, but then her feet curled up onto her tiptoes, deepening the kiss.
He cupped his hand on the back of her neck. Heat sparked and crackled between them as his other hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer.
Her head spun with delight, and her palm slid up the soft fabric, over the muscles of his stomach, and rested on him for support.
Something brushed against her ankle, and she pulled back, grateful the counter was behind her, because her legs threatened to give out underneath her.
Red stood at their feet, looking up at them. Lucy laughed and rested her forehead against his chest.
Dylan slid both arms around her, and she relished the way they molded to her.
“Way to ruin things for me, Red,” Dylan said.

Lucy & Dylan’s Sea Salt Caramel Sauce

1 cup sugar

2 T water

1 cup cream

1 pinch of salt

1 t vanilla extract

Directions: Mix sugar and water in a saucepan until sugar is moistened. Cook on medium heat until the mixture turns golden brown. Whisk in the cream, vanilla, and sea salt. Continue whisking and cook for two minutes on low to thicken. Pour into glass jar and refrigerate.
Question: Do you like caramel sauce? What’s your favorite sweet treat?
About Julie: Julie Jarnagin is a multi-published author of inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. To get the latest updates on new releases and freebies, sign up for Julie’s newsletter at www.JulieJarnagin.com/connect
About the book – Kiss the Cowboy:
What if your competition for your dream job…was your dream man?
All Lucy Pickett needs to become executive chef in one of Dallas’s finest restaurants is to pull off the high-profile wedding she’s catering. So what if she’s forced to share duties with Dylan Lawson, a modern-day chuck-wagon cook? So what if he’s got rugged looks and cowboy charm? None of that is going to knock her off her game. Until she learns the restaurateur is considering Dylan for the position she wants. Game on–and it’s a winner-take-all event!
Dylan Lawson finally has the opportunity he’s been waiting for to prove he can do more than just be a ranch hand. The only thing standing in his way is the fiery chef fighting for the same position. Will the heated competition scorch any chance they have for love?

Purchase Links:         Amazon                Barnes & Noble               iBooks

Also, don’t miss out on my FREE novella. The Art of Falling is a prequel to my Taste of Texas series: http://amzn.to/1AsXoQw

Come back June 19th for Katy Lee!