Guest Blog: Adele Downs: Santa Claus is a Flirt!

When Entangled Publishing announced its call for submissions for Christmas stories based on the song Santa Baby, the Country music version by Taylor Swift came to mind. I love Country music and wanted to do something different with my story, using a contemporary version of the classic recording. A verse about a convertible sparked an idea for the plotline. The next thing I knew, I envisioned a firefighter, since I'd sold a story under another pen name to a firefighter anthology around that time. Jamey Tucker became my story hero.

After tumbling Santa Baby lyrics around in my head with images of Taylor Swift, a convertible, and a firefighter, the story began to evolve. A pediatric nurse named Heather Longhurst emerged as my heroine. The writing flowed. SANTA TO THE RESCUE became one of two Santa Baby themed stories picked up by Entangled's Flirt line. Today is release day and I'm happy to be celebrating with you. To share a toast, enjoy the free recipe below for Cranberry Orange Margaritas.

--CONTEST ALERT! -- Leave a comment for author Adele Downs and be automatically entered to win a firefighter themed Christmas ornament for the holidays. USA and Canada mailing addresses please. Follow Adele’s blog tour for multiple chances to win. Weekly winners announced on Adele’s blog Saturdays through December. http://adeledowns.wordpress.com

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Jamey Tucker and Heather Longhurst, the hero and heroine of SANTA TO THE RESCUE are making Cranberry Orange Margaritas for a get-together with firefighters and their wives from Appleton Fire Station. This is the perfect between-the-holidays adult beverage for those who like a little something extra in their fruit punch. Jamey and Heather hope you enjoy it and wish you the happiest of holidays!

Here’s the recipe, courtesy of the Sauza® Tequila. Posted with permission.

Cranberry Orange Margarita:

Ingredients: Serves 2

8 parts cranberry juice

4 parts orange juice

2 Oranges

1 cup cranberries, frozen

2 parts of Sauza® Blue 100% Agave Silver Tequila

1 part Orange Liqueur

2 tbsp. sugar

To Make:

First make your garnishes. Freeze one cup of cranberries. Make two orange twists: using a paring knife slice the rind off one of the oranges, rotating it as you go. Once you have the peel, slice it into two thin pieces and remove as much of the white pith as possible. Wrap it around a straw, secure it with a piece of masking tape, and put it in your freezer while you mix the drinks.

Zest the remaining orange onto a small plate. Combine with the two tablespoons of sugar. Cut the oranges in half. Rub one orange half around half the rim of your glasses. Run the glasses through the sugared orange zest.

In a shaker or a pitcher, combine the rest of the sugar and orange zest mixture with the cranberry juice, orange juice, Sauza® Tequila, orange liqueur, and the juice from the two oranges. Remove the twists from the freezer and carefully slide them off the straw. Place on the prepared glasses. Serve your cocktails! Salud!

For more Sauza® Tequila recipes, visit http://us.sauzatequila.com/

 BLURB:

Firefighter Jamey Tucker knows three things in life to be true: An honorable man doesn't go back on his word, never hurts a woman, and lasting love isn't a myth. But with his recent move to a new job at the Appleton Fire station, the long hours don't offer hope of finding the love he’s looking for.

When Jamey meets beautiful pediatric nurse Heather Longhurst after hearing her sing Santa Baby in a supermarket aisle, he offers her a promise he discovers he can't keep. Heather has been betrayed by men in the past, making it hard for Jamey to gain her trust. Determined to find a way to win her heart, Jamey uses firefighter engine-uity and Heather's favorite song to prove he's got Christmas spirit she can believe in all year.

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BIO:

Adele Downs writes contemporary romance inside the office of her rural Pennsylvania home. She is a former journalist, published in newspapers and magazines inside the USA, UK, and Caribbean.

Adele is an active member of Romance Writers of America and her local RWA chapter where she serves as past-president. She has written several articles for RWR magazine (Romance Writers Report), the trade journal of Romance Writers of America, and has presented workshops for writers. When she isn’t working on her current project, she can be found riding in her convertible or reading a book on the nearest beach.

Visit Adele Downs at http://adeledowns.wordpress.com

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