Rachel Blaufeld | Toasting in the New Year

Happy New Year Fresh Fiction Readers!

I hope that you all rang in The New Year exactly how you wanted!

As for me, I was in my jammies long before midnight, tucked into my bed with my beagles snoring by my side and a good book on my kindle!

And maybe, just maybe, a glass of sparkling vino on my nightstand!

Today, I’m toasting to my new release, BREAK POINT.

BREAK POINT is a two-part romance. Part One is equal parts steamy and sad. College transfer student and tennis hopeful, Juliette Smith, falls for her dreamy, alpha coach, Drew King. He’s all man with the most spectacular forearms. Their affair is forbidden and steamy until it’s not…anything…anymore.

Part Two reintroduces us to Jules and Drew a few years later, both carrying baggage—Juliette’s slightly heavier than Drew’s. Given a second chance, the pair has to work through all the emotions and coming to terms with their past while taking care of Darla—Jules’ daughter.

At one point during the story, Drew is tasked with caring for a sick Darla. With a sore throat and a fever, Darla is a mess. Inside Drew’s bachelor pad, he doesn’t have much to offer her for comfort other than a can of Arnie Palmer Iced Tea and Lemonade. Of course, Darla is smitten with Drew at her first sip of “Arnee’s.”

I happen to agree with Darla—I love an Arnold Palmer. A true mocktail, it’s refreshing and sweet. Named for the golf legend, the drink has been around for a long time.

His website tells the following story, “Arnold had been drinking the combination for years. After a hot day on the course at Latrobe Country Club, he would ask his wife Winnie to make him an iced tea with lemonade.” Years later, he ordered his combo at a restaurant, and a woman nearby said she’d have what he was having. The rest is history.

Although it is widely believed to be equal parts iced tea and lemonade, Arnie himself told ESPN it’s three parts iced tea and one part lemonade.

Now just because an Arnie Palmer doesn’t typically have alcohol, doesn’t mean we can’t spike it up for a good adult time!

I personally happen to love frozen vodka lemonade mixed with iced tea. Poolside. :-)

Check out this recipe I found for Sweet Tea and Vodka Lemonade on epicurious:

INGREDIENTS