My Evil Valentine Elixir Read online

  “He has?” Sera questioned. “Does it have to do with the bookclub’s next trip?”

  “I don’t know. Where are you going?”

  “Transylvania,” Sera replied.

  “Really? I’m surprised the book club is still doing that after what happened on the last two trips?”

  Sera shrugged. “Well, Nelle hasn’t formally announced it yet but we’re reading Bram Stoker this month so I’m on to her plan.”

  Daemon eyed her. “Plan?” He leaned back.

  “Let’s just say, Nelle always has an ulterior motive for her book selections.”

  “That should be interesting,” Daemon said, raising one of his devilish eyebrows. “Balthazar says I should tag along....”

  “Really, you’d be interested in coming to Transylvania?” Sera said, giggling. “I mean, I know your forte is in communicating with the dead, but vampires aren’t exactly ghosts.”

  Daemon shrugged. “Why not? You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”

  “I’m not sure the undead are exactly like the dead-dead.”

  “What’s the matter, Popescu. You worried one of those seductive vamps will try to steal me away? I might be just their type.”

  “I’m more worried about you being their blood type.”

  Daemon grinned as he took Sera’s hand. “It’s okay. I know you’ll be there to protect me.”

  Sera was relieved that he’d taken her hand although she was still confused as to why he pulled away earlier. “What makes you think I can protect you?”

  “Oh gee. I don’t know. Maybe the fact that Vampires hate light.”

  Sera furrowed her brow when Daemon pointed to the mirror on the wall. Dang! No wonder he pulled away. He didn’t want third-degree burns. Her hair was glowing like some sort of ember fresh out of the fire. She really hoped it wasn’t permanent. She bit her lip, twirling her hair seductively. “You did say you wanted a hot and steamy Valentine’s Day date this year, didn’t you?”

  “I suppose I should be more careful with my words in the future.”

  Sera started to reply but Daemon cut her off, pulling her in for a long and lingering kiss that smoldered almost as much as her hair. When they broke a part he said, “Or maybe not.”

  Want to read more of Sera Popescu and her fabled fairy tale adventures?

  Check out Scandal & Gretel (book one) and Hyde & Seek (book two)

  in the Bookish Adventures in Witch-Lit trilogy. This series is part of a bigger Bohemian Lake Cozy Mystery World so you’ll find Sera in plenty of other sets as well.

  Valentine Love Elixir

  A dreamy, whimsical and romantic cocktail made with all of the love and none of the evil!

  INGREDIENTS

  Strawberries

  Vodka

  Simple Syrup

  Grenadine

  INSTRUCTIONS

  Mash up a few strawberries in a shaker. Add 1 ice cube, vodka, simple syrup and grenadine. Shake for a few seconds to chill the drink.

  Add about 1/2 - 1 tsp of powdered dry ice to the bottom of the glass (optional).

  Strain potion over dry ice to create that shimmery, smoky effect. and garnish with a strawberry heart for even more Valentine’s Day cocktail vibes.

  ABOUT DRY ICE - ONLY ADD COMPLETELY CRUSHED DRY ICE. Wait until the smoke effect stops, because then you know the dry ice has completely evaporated, and the drink is now completely safe to drink. Just crush the dry ice (to a powder). I buy pellets OR add the dry ice into an ice bag and crush it using an ice crushing mallet or similar tool. ALWAYS wear gloves when handling dry ice.

  You can add a little to the bottom of your cocktail glass to give it that spooky, smoky effect when you pour the drink, and maybe add another touch of powdered dry ice after that for a smoky effect that lasts a bit longer. But you should NOT swallow or ingest bits of dry ice. Wait until the dry ice has completely evaporated. This happens fast, and it leaves no residue behind as it evaporates. The powdered dry ice evaporates even faster.

  And ALWAYS use gloves when handling dry ice. Never touch it with bare hands. Make sure dry ice is used in a ventilated space. In a part setting, make sure the cocktails are used in an open setting to avoid CO2 build up.

  Mini Cherry Heart Pies

  For a snack as sweet as you! Happy Valentine’s Day!

  INGREDIENTS

  1 box Refrigerated Pie Crust

  11 oz Cherry Pie Filling

  1 Egg

  1 tbsp Milk

  White Sparkling Sugar

  Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter

  INSTRUCTIONS

  Preheat your oven to 350.

  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  Lay out your pie crust and using a 3 to 4″ heart shaped cookie cutter, cut about 16 hearts.

  Cut as many shapes as you can, then reroll scraps as needed to get more hearts (get an even number).

  Mix your egg and milk to make an egg wash.

  Place half of the hearts on prepared pan(s).

  Use egg wash to wet the edges of the hearts on the pan.

  Place a small amount of the pie filling in the center of each heart.

  Make a small x cut in the center of the remaining half of the hearts that are not on the pan.

  Place your x heart crust on top of each filled heart and press and crimp edges. A fork can help crimp.

  Brush sealed pie with egg wash and dust with sparkling sugar.

  Bake for 14 to 16 minutes until crust is browned.

  Allow to cool.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Rachael Stapleton lives in a Second-Empire Victorian with her husband, children and pets in Canada, eh! She delights in writing about all things cozy, whether it’s a crisp autumn morning or hot chocolate by a crackling fire. Of course, she also loves the strange and unusual—murder, mayhem and wee ghosties. The fact that her house is the quintessential haunted old Victorian, resembling something out of a Scooby-doo episode could have something to do with it.

  To get exclusive updates on new releases, giveaways, and exclusive content, subscribe to Rachael Stapleton's Newsletter.

  Follow & Connect with Rachael:

  Facebook | FB Group | Amazon |BookBub

  Bohemian World Recommended Reading Order by Date Published:

  A Penning Trouble Mystery: Murder, She Floats

  Haunted House Flippers: Cookies, Corpses & the Deadly Haunt

  A Penning Trouble Mystery: Murder, She Slopes

  Haunted House Flippers: Candy Canes, Corpses & the Gothic Haunt

  Bohemian Murder Manor: Gypsies, Traps & Missing Thieves

  Bohemian Murder Manor: Make-Believes & Lost Memories

  Haunted House Flippers: Crumb Cake, Corpses & the Run-of-the-Mill

  A Penning Trouble Mystery: Murder, Ye Bones

  Bohemian Festival Fiasco: Nuttier than Pecan Pie

  Bohemian Murder Manor: Ouija, Death & Wicked Witchery

  Haunted House Flippers: Crème Eggs, Corpses & the Farmhouse Fixer

  Bookish Adventures in Witch-Lit: Scandal & Gretel

  Hexing Holidays in Bohemian Lake: Mistletoe and Hauntings

  Bookish Adventures in Witch-Lit: Hyde & Seek

  A Penning Trouble Mystery: Murder in the Catacombs

  Hexing Holidays in Bohemian Lake: My Evil Valentine Elixir

  Bookish Adventures in Witch-Lit: Night of the Living Well-Read

  Haunted House Flippers: Black Cats, Corpses & the Pumpkin Pantry

  Bohemian Murder Manor: Ferris Wheels & Fortune Squeals

 

 

 
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