Osiyo~

Welcome to the Summer Solstice book buffet scavenger hunt with lots of tasty dishes to enhance your blogging and reading experience! There might even be a little something extra on some. Just hop to each participating authors’ sites to get more and more books and recipes for your delight. Oh- but you have to go to the website of Hop Founder, Linda Joyce to gather your ingredients for all the recipes. 😆 Either click on Linda’s name OR go to my recipe below to get my ingredients.

*Read all the way to the end of this post for a special treat from me!

Cocktail

Blackberry Gin and Tonic by J.K. O’Hanlon –Three Ingredient Cocktails ~ http://thirstyjane.com/

Pomegranate Martini by Kathy L Wheeler – Quotable ~ http://kathylwheeler.com/

Appetizer

Japanese Chicken Wings by Jan Morrill –The Red Kimono ~ http://theredkimono.com/

Sweet & Sour Hawaiian Meatballs by Vonnie Davis – Rain Is A Love Song ~ http://vintagevonnie.blogspot.com

Easy Stuffed Mushrooms by Alicia Dean – Liberty Awakened (Isle of Fangs, Book 1) ~ http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

Salad

7-Layer Salad by AJ Nuest –  She’s Got Dibs ~ http://ajbooks.blogspot.com/

Mandarin Orange & Spinach Salad by Barbara Barrett – And He Cooks Too ~ http://barbarabarrettbooks.com/

Entrée

Pesto Chicken by Nancy Parra – Gluten for Punishment ~ http://nancyjparra.blogspot.com/

Taquitos by Calisa Rhose – Risk Factors ~ https://calisarhose.com/chit-chat/ You are HERE!

Linda’s Summer Shrimp Boil by Linda Joyce – Bayou Born ~ http://lindajoycecontemplates.wordpress.com/

Oven Fried Peach Chicken Juli D. Revezzo – The Artist’s Inheritance ~ http://julidrevezzo.com/blog/

Betty’s Nutty Pork Chops by Betty Bolte – Hometown Heroines ~ www.bettybolte.com/blog.htm

Dessert

Kolaches by Gina Hooten Popp – The Storm After ~ https://www.facebook.com/ginahootenpoppauthor

Chocolate-Cherry-Coconut Cupcakes by Luna Zega – Tokyo Tease ~ http://lunazega.wordpress.com/

Fruit Compote by Brenda Sparks – A Midsummer Night’s Demon ~http://www.brenda-sparks.com/blog.html

After Dinner Drink

After Dinner Iced Coffee by Sandra Sookoo – Winging It ~ http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/

SMOTHERED TAQUITOS

Ingredients here

A quick summer meal or just a snack for the family.

Sure to put a smile on everybody’s face!

Heat oven to 350 degrees (f) (177 c) (adjust as needed as ovens vary). Layer frozen Taquitos snugly into a 9×11 baking pan. Pour your preferred heat-level salsa over the taquitos and spread evenly. Smother in your preferred shredded cheese. Sprinkle with jalapeno chips for a spicier experience. Tent pan with aluminum foil and bake for about thirty minutes, or until cheese is completely melted and taquitos are thoroughly hot inside (I usually cut one to check this). Serve hot with or without a dollop of sour cream, green onions, and tomato chunks on top, or add your favorite sides for a full meal. Refrigerate left-overs in a covered dish. *servings vary, but will feed five or more.

RISK FACTORS

Love, like life, is not without risk.

BLURB:

Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales,

Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being

considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife

vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps.

Now Connor, a patient’s owner, is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material

because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for.

Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away

from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him,

leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their

daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having

her feel the hurt of being left…again.

Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove

she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv–and himself–enough to play the possibilities?

EXCERPT:

It was close to five o’clock and Viv wanted to go home. Winter hadn’t reached the Midwest yet, but from September through October the temperatures often dipped and dove sporadically, before diving for the long winter ahead. There’d been a slight chill in the air that morning and she hoped for a few more weeks of warmth before harsh weather moved in.

She looked forward to a hot soak in the bathtub, but Skittles was due for pick-up first. Connor had assured her he’d pick her up, or have his father get her before five. She glanced at her watch again. Four-fifty-six. She didn’t mind staying late if she needed to; it would be a shame to leave the nervous animal alone another night.

She opened the small closet to put the dust mop away.

“Hello.”

With a start, she spun and her hand caught the broom handle on her way around. Gasping, she grabbed uselessly, horrified as the cleaning tool flew sideways from the closet. In slow motion she saw it shoot out against Connor’s shoulder and fall with a sharp snap onto the tile floor.

“Oh! I’m so–so sorry! Are you hurt?” Instant heat rushed up her neck and she bent to reclaim the errant broom to shove into the closet. She slammed the door and leaned against it on a sharp breath.

“I’m fine. You worried your killer broom might attack again? You might consider putting a lock on the door,” he said with a crooked smile.

Puzzled, Viv looked around and realized with total humiliation how it appeared she’d trapped the broom inside the closet–when in actuality, she wanted to climb through the door beside the instrument and hide.

“Of course not. That would be silly. I didn’t expect you right now.”

“It’s two minutes of five. I told you I’d be here for Skittles. Is it too late?”

Right. The skunk. “No. I’m sure she’s more than ready to go home. Do you have the pet carrier to put her in?” She probably didn’t need to ask when Connor stood empty-handed before her.

He lowered his head and she knew he’d forgotten it, fought back a smile at his forgetfulness. “Sorry. I drove straight from work and didn’t think about it.”

“No worry. I have one you can borrow.” Which meant he’d have to see her again. She’d definitely need to see him again.

“Thank you. I’ll bring it back tomorrow.”

“Oh, there’s no rush. I keep a few on hand for emergencies.” She led him back to the cage where the skunk still huddled, and got a carrier while he opened the cage to retrieve his daughter’s pet. As he lifted the black fur ball out, Viv set a pink case next to him.

He hissed under his breath and almost let the animal loose. Viv opened the cage and held it upright for him to lower the skunk down inside and shut the door. Once he stood with the pet taxi, she detected a smear of red on one finger.

“She bit you?” Skunk bite, rabies, germs…

“It’s fine. When she’s scared she tends to nip a warning like a cat.” Connor’s lack of care concerned Viv, however.

“I should clean it with antiseptic before you go.”

“I’ll tend it when I get home.”

“But, it may have germs…get infected.”

“It’s not the first time, and her rabies vaccination is current. Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”

Viv stopped by a cabinet on the way to the front reception area to grab ointment and a Band-Aid.

***

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Also, Risk Factors is on Authorgraph! Get your copy signed. http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/CalisaRhose

Author Bio:

Calisa Rhose is an Okie, born and bred, through and through, and proud of it. While growing up, when she wasn’t on the back of a horse, she could be found with pen and paper in hand. Her writing career began with poetry in her younger days. Then she discovered Rock-n-Roll and cute musicians. Poetry turned into stories of romance and dreams. These days she lives with the same man who convinced her to take a romantic journey with him almost 30 years ago. After raising three strong daughters she spends her days loving their granddaughters, hoping for a boy someday, and writing. When she’s not writing, you can find Calisa putting on her editor hat and working to help other published and aspiring writers.

She is working on more projects with her favored contemporary cowboys, first responders  and firemen, as well as, the occasional ‘other’ heroes- and their sexy female counterparts, those sassy, stubborn heroines.

Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.com

Twitter@CalisaRhose, Facebook/Calisa Rhose, Goodreads, Pinterest and Amazon

**Leave me a comment and I’ll select one person via Random.Org to gift a copy of Risk Factors to on Sunday.

Thanks for playing and I hope you enjoy all the yummy books! Oh, and the food. 😀

Dodadagohvi~