Karen’s Killer Fixin’s
**AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with BRIA LEXOR!
Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, BRIA LEXOR, and her favorite recipe for MEXICAN STYLE, ARROZ CON LECHE aka RICE PUDDING!!
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CRIMSON SAVIOR
Hell’s Guardian Chronicles 1
BY BRIA LEXOR
Blurb
Zyra Falls is a young girl who is thrust into the vampire lifestyle. Not only is she a Stregoni Benefici but she is also hell’s Guardian, a Super Heroine Vampire who is sent out to protect the innocent Lugat from the evil Varacolaci. Can she fulfill her destiny, or will she die trying to be a superhero?
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CRIMSON SAVIOR
Hell’s Guardian Chronicles 1
BY BRIA LEXOR
Excerpt
Chapter 1
I finally decided to call it a night. I hadn’t quite finished my homework, but I was extremely exhausted. My brain had already shut down as I turned off the light. I yawned as I climbed into my soft, comfortable bed. I had just settled in and closed my eyes when suddenly the light flicked on. I shielded my eyes with my hand and found my mom standing in the doorway.
“Mom,” I said, annoyed that my sleep was being interrupted for God only knew what.
“Sorry, Zyra. But we’ve got to go. Now.”
Something in my mother’s voice set off warning bells in my head. I was completely awake now. I quickly changed into some clean jeans and a purple shirt. I combed through my hair with a brush.
When I was a child my mom had told me we were placed in a Witness Protection Program. Even then, I knew when mom said it was time to go, we left, no questions asked. However, I am sixteen now. Mom and I were living in Anaheim, California. Whenever I would ask about my father, she would only say he lived overseas, and that I would meet him when I was older.
Maybe this was it! My heart started pounding in my chest at the thought of finally meeting my father. What did he look like? What would he think of me when he saw me? The questions went on and on, but I shook them away.
I went to meet my mom downstairs and I heard voices coming from the living room. My mother was talking to a man. I walked into the room and everyone looked at me. There stood my uncles, Mark Berwind and Zero Lockheart. They were dressed in black and gray BDU’s and were loading their 9mm Beretta hand guns.
Mark was in his mid-thirties. He was very handsome. I often wondered why he hadn’t settled down and had a family. Maybe he was busy with work. My uncle Zero was handsome as well, having green eyes and short brown hair. But on the other hand, he was rather immature for his age, to say the least. He is my mother’s twin brother, but for some reason she still looks very young for her age, certainly younger than Uncle Zero. She must have good genes. My mother is also more reserved than Zero. Her name is Samantha Falls. Most people say that I resemble her and in most ways, and I do. We have long flowing brown hair, gem-green eyes and of course, we’re very beautiful.
And me? My name is Zyra Falls. How my mother came up with that name I’ll never know. It’s different, but cool. I’m very short, five feet to be exact, but, what I lack in height I make up for in attitude. I’m shy until I get comfortable around you, then out comes the attitude, full force.
I received a slight nod from both as they continued their work. There was another man standing by the window who I hadn’t noticed at first. He was dressed in a suit and tie and was holding a manila folder. He smiled as he took me in. He was older — much older. At least in his fifties with graying hair. I stopped near the front door and looked at my uncle’s then over to my mother.
“Are we robbing a bank or what?” I asked, cracking a joke, which nobody thought was funny. Then I got frightened. “Seriously, what’s going on?”
“Zyra, this is Mr. Cruz.” My mother nodded towards the older gentleman who walked toward me. I took a step back. There was something off about him. Something… strange.
“So, this is the beautiful Zyra.” Cruz extended his hand to me and I hesitantly shook it. “You have a brilliant future ahead of you, my dear. Everything has been prepared and you have been accepted into the most prestigious academy around.”
“Huh?” I gave Cruz a strange look. “What academy? I’m already in school.”
“Zyra,” my mother said softly the took my hands and gently sat me on the couch, kneeling in front of me. “Our cover’s been blown, and we have to go to a safe house.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, looking down at my shoes. “What about my life?”
“You’re starting a new one, kid,” Zero said, cocking another gun. He placed it in his holster.
“But I don’t want a new one,” I protested. “I like the one I have here.”
My mother helped me to my feet. “I know, and I’m sorry. But this is the way it has to be.”
“You should start packing,” Uncle Mark said. “There’s not much time before they get here.”
Someone’s coming? Do they want to kill me? What has mom been hiding from me?
I ran up the stairs and dumped the contents of my backpack onto my bed. It was a clutter of school books, writing utensils, papers, folders, and other girly stuff that was irrelevant. I ran to my dresser and pulled open the drawers. I grabbed a handful of socks, undergarments, and shirts. I dug in my closet for jeans and a backup pair of running shoes. I stuffed them into my backpack, surprised that everything fit. I had a Ziploc bag for my hairbrush and toothbrush, and a travel case of shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste. I zipped all of it up.
I looked around and grabbed my guitar case and violin case. Hey, I’m a songwriter. I need my instruments if I was going to be a star one day.
I met my mother in the hallway. She offered me the sword that had hung on her bedroom wall. She said before that it was a present from my father and I haven’t been allowed to touch it. “What’s this for?” I asked.
My mother rolled her eyes at me. She took the violin from my hand which freed me to take the sheath, which I held awkwardly in front of me.
“Your father wanted you to have it.” She opened the door and the lights cut out.
I knew this but said nothing. For some reason, I thought there would be more pomp and circumstance to the giving of this gift. More so, I had secretly hoped he himself would one day take it off the wall and give it to me, perhaps explaining its significance as well.
“Dang it,” Mark said under his breath. “They’re here.” He instructed Zero to lead us out.
“Where’s Mr. Cruz?” I whispered to Zero. I had just noticed the older man had seemed to vanish into thin air.
“He never sticks around for the fun stuff,” Mark said with a tight grin that didn’t reach his eyes.
Zero cleared us out and into a black van that had been waiting for us. My mother and I climbed into the van and after only a few moments had passed, Mark came tearing out of the house followed by a trail of gunfire.
“Stay down!” Mark shouted as he flew into the open van. The tires squealed as we pulled away.
Pure adrenaline was pumping through me and truth be told, I was scared out of my mind. I covered my head with my hands. The popping sounds turned into crashes as the windows shattered around us.
Meet Author Bria Lexor…
Bria Lexor is a multi-published popular YA author of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. Bria has always had a fascination with the supernatural and the paranormal as well as folklore. She enjoys watching creepy ghost shows and is obsessed with anime and wrestling (The WWE). She started writing song lyrics at the age of 4 and was a rapper in a Hip-Hop group Called: Mount West. Bria was inspired to become a writer after reading novels like Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black, The Resident Evil series by S.D. Perry and the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead. A lifelong reader, Bria also became an author after wanting to become a Manga Comic Book Creator as she also draws her own characters for her stories. Born and raised in Colorado, she works on many new Series full-time.
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Links to Bria’s website, blog, books, etc.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Rn4uU4
Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/BriaLexor01/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BriaLexor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brialexor/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Bria-Lexor/e/B075QL8HCV/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/brialexor/
Website: https://brialexor.wixsite.com/brialexor
I hope you enjoy the recipe Bria is sharing today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy Eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 403 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right-hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.
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MEXICAN STYLE, ARROZ CON LECHE aka RICE PUDDING
Ingredients & Directions:
Combine 2 1/4 cups of water, rice, and lime peel in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until the rice is tender.
While the rice is cooking, combine 1/2 cup of water, the cinnamon stick, and anise in another saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring mixture to a low boil for 3 minutes, then remove saucepan from the stove.
Strain flavored water into a bowl and set aside, discarding cinnamon stick and anise pieces. After rice has simmered for 20 minutes, carefully remove the lime peel with a slotted spoon, and over low heat, gradually stir evaporated milk and condensed milk into the rice. Mix in the cinnamon and anise-flavored water, vanilla, and salt. Add raisins, if desired.
Continue to stir until the mixture thickens, about 7 to 10 minutes. If the pudding is too watery after 10 minutes, turn up heat to medium-low and stir continuously. When pudding reaches desired consistency, remove from heat and pour into individual dishes, or a large bowl.
Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Enter Bria’s giveaway for a chance to win a $30 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of CRIMSON SAVIOR here:
Thanks, Bria, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
This is going to be a great read. I frequently read YA because the books are so well done!
Nothing like a good rice pudding on a winter’s day.
Thanks, Karen and Bria, (a lovely name).
Good morning, Bria, and welcome to Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. I love a good YA fantasy. I enjoy them and love to share my favorites with my eldest granddaughters. My husband and I both love rice pudding so I’m going to have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing with us today, Bria!
Thank you for sharing the Rice Pudding recipe with us. I am going to try it as soon as I get a lime and anise.
“Happy New Year” to all and happy reading in 2019