Tag Archive | Earl Gray Tea

It’s that time of the year….

….for refreshing, delicious, sweet Iced tea.

This recipe; (ingredients and directions listed below) compliments of the heroine in my current contemporary romance, Maddie’s Saunders.

Maddie’s Iced Tea 

In my contemporary novel (WHAT A GIRL WANTS) the heroine, Maddie Saunders is addicted to an iced tea which she has concocted and has never shared with anyone (until now of course).

She drinks this iced tea. A lot. Even though it makes her go to the ladies room, but hey, it’s okay for a heroine to visit the loo. After all we all have to go pee once in a while (well, probably a lot for those of us who love to drink mounds of water through out the day, so I ensure my heroines get a bathroom break). It also takes her out of the scene so things can happen without her knowing.

Here is an excerpt from the book, where the iced tea makes her suspicious of the luncheon invitation she accepted from the mysterious, intriguing, and slightly eccentric Maxwell Hollister.

A man that once introduced into her life, changes her life in unexpected ways—not in a good way, but you can be the judge of that if you choose to read the story.

Readers will think they know who Maxwell is and why he has an immense interest in Maddie, but of course I throw a wrench into things, ending up shocking and surprising not only the readers, but the characters as well.

Set up to the excerpt:

While lunching with Maxwell Hollister, Iced Tea is served, but not only any Iced Tea, Maddie’s special Iced Tea recipe.

Maddie’s journalistic and inquisitive nature shift to high gear, and suspicion replaces her hankering for food (something else she loves, besides sex, kick-ass shoes, napping and Dolce and Gabana dresses….she loves to eat…cooking, not so much).

So how did Mr. Hollister know the ingredients of her iced tea…a recipe she’s never shared?

How did Mr. Hollister know about all her favorite foods, and why would he even care to impress her that much? The man was old enough to be her grandfather and it was clear he didn’t have any amorous interest in her at all.

Those question aren’t answered in the excerpts I am sharing, after all, there is a lot of mystery in WHAT A GIRL WANTS so I don’t want to give anyway any spoilers.


Copyright Selena Robins 2013

All Rights Reserved

Some background. Maddie is a travel journalist with a popular following in magazines for her articles.

Carl is Mr. Hollister’s Man-Servant, Assistant, Butler

Reece is Maddie’s best friend.

Alex is the hero, and Maddie’s love interest.


“Is something wrong?” Maxwell signaled for the young servants to stay. “Would you rather have something else prepared?”

“Oh no, that’s not it at all.” She took in the different dishes. “I had a big breakfast.” She gestured to the mound of food. “This looks…delicious.” And familiar.

The spread was a replica of Maddie and Reece’s gossip night menu: nachos with the trimmings, chicken wings, lasagna, spicy olives, baguettes served with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and assorted dipping sauces, and no fewer than three types of salads—Caesar, Greek and corkscrew pasta salad, all her favorites. One tray held three bowls of melted chocolate, surrounded by the largest strawberries, kiwi and pineapple slices she’d ever seen.

Apprehension, not hunger, swirled in the pit of her stomach, as if a couple of hummingbirds drunk on tequila had taken up residence there. The feeling intensified when the last tray was placed on the table: chocolate peanut butter pizza topped with roasted marshmallows.

What. The. Hell?

This was beyond odd. There was no way that she and Maxwell Hollister shared the same taste in food. And how would he know that these exact foods were her favorites? At the cocktail party, she’d noticed his chef had prepared some of her favorite desserts, but she’d given him the benefit of the doubt. After all, she’d mentioned them in a couple of her articles.

But this?

Carl dismissed the servers and poured her a glass of iced tea. She thanked him, took a sip to wet her parched throat and almost choked when she tasted it. The iced tea tasted exactly like her own tea mix—a combination of green, earl gray, mint leaves, cranberry juice and honey.

She hated to admit this, but she was regretting having forbidden Alex from accompanying her. While Maxwell spoke to Carl, she sipped her tea and tried to figure out how she’d quickly and safely escape, if she needed to.


After a lot of apprehension and her journalistic mind putting a few things together, she did manage to relax and enjoy lunch and unfortunately, way too much iced tea.

Ladies, I’m sure you can identify with Maddie’s predicament after all that iced-tea. Women tend to have bladders the size of an acorn, and when we gotta go, we gotta go.

Here is a short snippet of the result of that iced tea indulgence:


Maddie nodded, walked through the door and dashed toward the bathroom. She turned the corner, her destination only a few feet away, when she heard her name called in a hushed tone.

She swung around. “Alexander Thomas Donovan, you said you wouldn’t follow me.”

“Maddie Elizabeth Saunders.” He shot her a lopsided grin. “I said I wasn’t showing up for lunch. Something wrong with your foot? Why are you hopping around like that?”

She turned and opened the bathroom door. “I’m so going to get you for this—”

“How did you get in here?” Maxwell’s voice beamed an icy attitude toward Alex.

She shut the door on Alex’s answer. She wouldn’t stick around to see the rest of this drama played out.

Damn iced tea. Damn Alex too.

I hope you enjoyed the short snippets and that it piqued your interest about the mystery surrounding Maxwell Hollister and his animosity toward Alex, and Maddie’s goal in finding out more about the man and the Island in Hawaii she has been assigned to with Alex.

Here is Maddie’s recipe for her special iced tea, make up a batch and let your taste buds in on the magic they will experience with this refreshing drink.




4 cups water

2 Earl Gray tea bags

2 green Tea Bags

1 cup cranberry Juice

a handful fresh mint

pure honey to taste

fresh lemon


Bring water to a boil and pour in large pitcher, add the tea bags and let stew.

Remove tea bags and add: cranberry juice, honey, juice from the lemon, mint leaves.

Store in fridge for an hour.

Please stop by and visit Nancy Lauzon as she shares her recipe for delicious French Toast.