Shannon here: Contemporary Romance author, Valerie Comer shares a romantic excerpt from her latest release, Sweetened with Honey (Book #3 Farm Fresh Romance series) plus a recipe for homemade mocha. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: Dec 13th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Valerie:
Homemade Mocha: Sweetened with Honey
SWEETENED WITH HONEY, the third story in the Farm Fresh Romance series, finds beekeeper Sierra Riehl hopeful to catch the eye of widower Gabriel Rubachuk, knowing he must first face the past. Yet as he begins to embrace hope and fall in love with her, reality changes. Sierra begins to suspect she can’t give Gabe what he deserves, and their budding romance fizzles. But how can she trust him with her devastating secret?
And right about at that fizzling stage of the novel, Sierra fixes Gabe a cup of homemade mocha just the way I make it for myself every morning! Maybe you’ll enjoy it, too.
Excerpt from Sweetened with Honey by Valerie Comer:
“Would you like some coffee? Or I could fix you a cup of mocha. I was just sitting down with mine.” She indicated her steaming mug.
“Mocha? Sounds good. I didn’t even know you could make that at home.”
Sierra reached in the cupboard for a mug. When she turned around, he was right there, like he belonged. Too close. “Excuse me,” she whispered as she stepped around him to the coffee pot.
He peered over her shoulder, his presence warming her back while chilling her heart. How could she let this man go? But it wouldn’t be her choice. It would be his, as soon as he knew. Was today the day to talk about it? No. She needed the rest of her facts. In a few days. Soon.
“It’s not exactly like a coffee shop, but I like to control the quality of my ingredients. Plus, I can’t afford five bucks every day.” Or double, if she wished to indulge in a second cup. “To say nothing of driving to town for it.”
“Right.” He watched her spoon in honey and add a pinch of salt and a dash of cinnamon. Then she put in a rounded teaspoon of cocoa.
“I recognize that can!”
“Yep, I buy my organic fair trade cocoa at Nature’s Pantry.” She stirred then opened her under-counter fridge to add a good slosh of cream. She handed the mug to Gabe. “Give that a try. I can add more honey if you like.”
Gabe inhaled the fragrance. “Smells great.” He took a sip. “That’s really good. I’d probably go with a bit less sweetener if I were making it myself, but I’m surprised how full the flavor is this way.”
And she’d given him only half as much honey as in her cup. Her cheeks flushed. Claire always teased her about how much she used. “It’s the salt that rounds out the taste. Everything we buy ready-made is loaded with sodium, even something like hot chocolate mix, which I might use for this in a pinch. So adding a controlled amount helps it taste normal.”
About Valerie: Valerie Comer’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their creation-care-centric church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
Valerie writes Farm Lit where food meets faith, injecting experience laced with humor into her award-winning Farm Fresh Romance stories. Please visit her at www.valeriecomer.com where you can sign up for her monthly newsletter, follow her blog and/or social media, and learn where food meets faith…and fiction.
About the book – Sweetened with Honey: Gabriel Rubachuk returns to Galena Landing, Idaho, once the setting of a charmed life before an accident killed his pregnant wife. Will he embrace hope for a new life or escape once again?
Beekeeper Sierra Riehl has spent three years helping to keep Gabe’s health food store afloat while he worked with orphans in Romania. Now he’s back, but it looks like he might bolt. Can she hold him still long enough to spark a romance? But Sierra’s hope falters when she begins to suspect she can’t give Gabe the life he deserves.
Is new love sweet enough to overcome the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future?
Question: Do you substitute ingredients in recipes to make them healthier? If so, share how.
Come back Dec 3rd for Rose Allen McCauley!
Yes, I substitute honey for sugar and add other spices instead of salt
I love to bake, but usually follow the recipe pretty closely! I sometimes do hunt out healthy recipes for baking, that use some of the known substitutions.
My Dad is a beekeeper, so I’m always keeping my out for recipes that use honey!
I substitute ground turkey for hamburger in a lot of soup and casserole recipes. I cook the turkey in whatever seasoning the dish calls for and it’s less noticable, so I can get away with it with my family.
I usually follow the recipe pretty closely when I am cooking.
melback at cebridge dot net
I have a winner! Melanie Backus won the drawing. I appreciate Valerie for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.