Well, Feasters, the Christmas season is well and truly on us. Melbourne’s halls are decked and the Myer Christmas window display in Bourke Street Mall is delighting small and big children alike with its tribute to Rob Scotton’s sheepy children’s book Russel’s Christmas Magic. So in the spirit of the season, let’s play with some angels. Some decidedly unsheepish ones!

Many of you may know Western Australian author Christina Ashcroft already from her alter ego Christina Phillip’s wonderful (and super hot) Roman Britain-set books Forbidden and Captive. These are fantastic stories, overflowing with passion and beautiful, lyrical writing. I am, as you can probably tell, a fan. She may have had a name change but I bet Christina’s writing and storytelling remains just as captivating in her new release, Archangel of Mercy.

Check it out!

ARCHANGEL OF MERCY

Between an angel and a desperate woman comes salvation-

and a raw passion that challenges them at every turn…

When Aurora Robinson attempts to open a rift between dimensions to embrace her true heritage, an arrogant Archangel is the only one who can save her from the jaws of hell. And while she owes Gabriel her life, she’s determined not to fall at his feet-despite the desire she feels whenever they’re together.

After his wings were brutally destroyed millennia ago, Gabriel has no compassion for humans like those who ruined him and betrayed the ones he loved. But when he inexplicably finds himself defying ancient protocols to rescue a woman from a fate worse than death, he is shocked by the searing attraction he feels for a mortal.

As the ancient forces that seek to punish Aurora for her actions close in, Gabriel offers the tempting woman protection at his private sanctuary. But as they both succumb to their desires, they discover an even deeper connection-one that threatens to consume them.

Ooh, I cannot wait to read the drama awaiting Aurora in Gabriel’s private sanctuary. Methinks things are going to get sweaty!

Archangel of Mercy releases December 4^th, 2012 but you can pre-order your copy now from The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble or Amazon. For more links, including an excerpt, please visit Christina’s website.

Now here’s Christina!

Archangel of Decadent Delight

Thank you Cathryn for inviting me back to your delicious Friday Feast to help celebrate the release of ARCHANGEL OF MERCY!

I wanted to share something completely mouth watering and seeing as it’s summer here in Oz (even though my internal clock insists it should be cold, dark and windy outside at this time of year!) what could be better than something chilly and gorgeous straight from the freezer?

Back in the Dark Ages, before the kids came along and I had the time and inclination to experiment in the kitchen, I used to work my way through all sorts of amazing sounding recipes. Not that they always turned out so well once I got my oven gloves on them (I will NEVER forget the duck a l’Orange I once tried to create in an effort to impress my new husband. The grease! You could have paddled in the stuff. I’ve never been able to try duck since!)

But I did find one yummy dessert that not only sounded great but also tasted divine. I was so excited at my Masterchef marvellousness that I made this dessert umpteen times (right up until the kids came along and we then proceeded to exist on a diet of fish fingers J )

It’s totally easy-peasy to make and in honour of my Archangel Gabriel just for today I’m going to call it…

Archangel of Decadent Delight

Ingredients (Makes anything from 2 to 4 servings, depending on how large your sundae glasses are!)

425g can of well drained pineapple pieces

4 tablespoons of rum or orange juice

300ml soft scoop vanilla ice cream

To Serve

150ml whipping cream

2 tablespoons desiccated coconut

4 maraschino cherries, drained

15g chocolate sprinkles

First of all you need to chop up half the pineapple. A good idea would be to buy a tin of already crushed pineapple (I’m going to do this next time!) Pop this in a bowl and sprinkle with half the rum or OJ.

Pour the rest of the rum over the remaining pineapple pieces, cover both bowls with cling film and then pop them in the fridge for an hour or so.

Once they are nicely chilled, drain the juice from the chopped pineapple and reserve the juice. Then quickly mix this mashed up pineapple into the ice cream with a fork. It’s good exercise!

Divide the mixture between your sundae glasses. They need at least 4-5 hours in the freezer or better still overnight.

To serve – whip the cream until soft and standing in peaks. Whisk in the coconut and the juice from the chopped pineapple. Take glasses from freezer. Add the rest of the pineapple pieces on top of the ice cream, including any juice. Then top each with coconut cream, a maraschino cherry and a little, or lot, of chocolate sprinkles. Serve at once and enjoy!

I usually use the rum, but tried it out with orange juice and it still tastes completely delicious. If, like me, you suffer a domestic disaster with the whipping cream then I can confirm that cheating and using Dream Whip totally works!

And here’s one I made earlier!

And now for the giveaway! I have an e-copy of my erotic futuristic fantasy TOUCH OF THE DEMON and some Archangel swag to giveaway to one lucky commenter. Just leave a comment or let me know who you’d love to share your favourite summer dessert with (extra brownie points if you let us know what your fave summer dessert is too!!!)

Wow, that dessert looks and sounds as luscious as your hero, Christina, and perfect for cooling off after reading one of your books.

So come on Feasters, take your eyes of that sexy cover and start revealing who you’d like to share your favourite dessert with. Seeing as I’ve now watched Thor about ten times, I’m going to put a little Santa wish in for a bare-chested Chris Hemsworth (in character, of course), hand feeding me crème brulee. Although I wouldn’t say no to Daniel Craig in his Cowboys and Aliens chaps either. There’s just something about a man in chaps…

Giveaway closes midnight, 4th December 2012 AEST. Open internationally. Rah!

You can keep up with what’s happening in Christina’s crazy writerly world over on  Facebook and Twitter. She loves to chat with readers and would love to see you over there! You can also sign up for Christina’s Newsletter via her website.