Do you need a cocktail? I think you do. We’re going through a bit of a heat wave right now in New England and hailing originally from a state that has a lot of central A/C, I am positively miserable. With this cocktail, I got a little selfish because I really wanted something refreshing for the dog days of summer.
Our inspiration this month is Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews. This is the tenth book in the Kate Daniels series and I know it’s one that many of you will be picking up on release day. Kate is a badass. She’s found love with her lion shifter mate, Curran, and she has a kid, which means she’s about to go mama bear (or lion?) on someone’s ass.
For this month, I’ve jazzed up one of my favorite summertime drinks: the Arnold Palmer. A typical Arnold Palmer is lemonade and iced tea (sweet tea, preferably!). It’s tart and delicious and tastes best out of a mason jar. This time though, there is booze involved and I added some ginger beer for a kick because of the aforementioned ass-kicking heroine. What I truly love about this drink is how customizable it is and for the kids, you can definitely make a non-alcoholic version!
I will say that the Hidden Legacy series by Andrews is my favorite, but the Andrews team is a lot like this drink. You think it’s simple and old fashioned because maybe you’re about to read the tenth book in a series and nothing can surprise you this time. But yet somehow they’re able to craft these amazing characters and wonderful stories and nothing about whatever reading adventure you’re going on is ordinary at all!
It may be cliche, but I’m naming this drink Pride because Kate has created her own little family and I love that. She has a lot to be proud of and if you’ve stuck with her since book one, I think you’ll all be proud of her too!
As a bonus, the team at Ace has five (5) copies of Magic Triumphs to give away! Thank you so much to Ace!
Shopping list:
Lemonade
Sweet tea booze
Ginger beer
Proportions:
4 oz. lemonade
3 oz. sweet tea booze
Top remaining glass with ginger beer
Modifications and notes:
- I was so glad to finally use my iced tea mead. I purchased this bottle at a delightful meadery in Maine, but I doubt their distribution is very wide. To replace this, sweet tea vodka is a great substitute.
- Hate artificial tea flavors? Use real iced tea and switch the lemonade for lemonade vodka to still get your booze in!
- As I mentioned before, all of the ingredients can be non-alcoholic, if you want to make a family friendly version. I suspect this would be delicious for a cookout and you can make a big vat of it with some sliced lemons!
Giveaway time! To enter the giveaway, comment below with which Kate Daniels book has been your favorite so far!
Standard disclaimers apply: We are not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Open to US residents where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18. Please keep an eye on any and all rambunctious shifter babies! Leave your magical swords with coat check before you come in. And, if you feel the need to shift, please use our privacy rooms on the third floor. Comments will close Sunday September 2, 2018 around noon ET, and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter.
Good luck and drink up!
Winner update: Congrats to the following five winners of our Magic Triumphs giveaway!
Ohh what a great drink for these days. I think Hidden Legacy is my favorite series. But I love Kate Daniels for its complexity. If you have read the Innkeeper series I recommend that as well. Would love to add this book to my library.
If I had to narrow it down to a single book, then it would have to be On the Edge.
Rose + Declan!
I have an ebook in this series, and I keep meaning to start reading, but haven’t started yet because I think I will end up with a large project to read all of them!
I’m not caught up on the series, but so far Magic Strikes and Magic Bleeds are my favorites.
Yes! Kate Daniels is a badass and I love her. I think I have to say MAGIC SLAYS is my favorite, but I really love MAGIC BREAKS too. It is so hard to choose because MAGIC SHIFTS is a terrific book. I’ve had the damnedest time holding off reading MAGIC TRIUMPHS until I can spend the entire day with Kate and crew making their final bow. Sad/glad/nervous/excited over a book, it must be love or obsession.
I know there’s a lot of discussion about this, but the first book, MAGIC BITES, is one of my favorites. They had me for life at “Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty.” I’ve loved every minute. Thanks for the giveaway and recipe.
My favorite IA book is whichever one I happen to be reading at the moment. Already on my second read of Magic Triumphs. Sweet tea is the beverage of choice in the KD books, so this drink is perfect. And with Kate being a non-drinker (for reasons), an Arnold Palmer would be right up her alley. Although I’m sure she could get tea mead from the neo-Vikings, if she really wanted some.
Tough choice! There are a couple that I didn’t like as well as the others but that meant a 4.5 rating instead of a 5+. I’m going to pick MAGIC BINDS out of a hat because Roman the Black Volv as a wedding planner? And touching base with all the other wonderful characters, including Teddy Jo and Christopher and…and…so freaking many of them. Kate and Curran are getting married! *throws confetti* All is wonderful! Well, except for those pesky visions about Atlanta burning, Curran and/or his and Kate’s future son dying at Roland’s hands, a couple of pesky deities, Kate’s Aunt Ara (the City Eater) and a pregnant Andrea.
I also love her Hidden Legacy series, and enjoyed The Edge. Haven’t really gotten into the Innkeeper. Maybe I should give it another try. First though, I may have to relisten to MAGIC TRIUMPHS!
Oh my gosh- I just glommed the series, so it was more like one giant Kate Faniels book and I don’t know which is which. I had a lot of fun.
Ooh, that’s a really tough one. Ilona Andrews is/are probably my favorite pair of comfort writers, so I end up rereading their stuff when I’m in a slump/need something to take my mind off things. I think… I think my favorite of their books is probably White Hot. It’s the second book in the Hidden Legacy series and it’s SO MUCH FUN. I’m super psyched for Magic Triumphs!
Oh man! I thought I knew which book was my favorite, until I read all the comments. But I guess I’ll go with Magic Bites, because getting introduced to a new world is a hard sell sometimes, and I was hooked because it was so well done.
Thank you so much for including an alcohol free version for sober or alcohol free people! 🙂 <3
@jan: You’re welcome! And I’m happy to mention alcohol-free alternatives in the Notes section in the future.
Still Magic Strike! Insert long feelsy comment I don’t want too rewrite after a browser crash.
I started reading this series when Kate first introduced it…the characters have grown along with the story, making me even more entrenched in this world…so glad you liked it! Can’t wait to read this one!
I haven’t read this series yet, so I can’t pick a favorite.
The drink sounds fabulous.
I’m actually behind on this series. From the ones I’ve read, I habe to go with MAGIC BLEEDS.
That drink sounds delicious! On Kate Daniels -I can’t pick a favorite. I’ve enjoyed all of them so much!
Thank you for this giveaway.
Magic Bites is my pick – Curran was still a scary lion and we were all just getting to know the Atlanta of Kate Daniels. It’s been a fun ride!
It’s so hard to choose, but I’m going to go with Magic Bleeds!
I always say that I’d read the phone book (and love it) if Ilona and Gordon wrote it. That being said, my favorite series of theirs is the Hidden Legacy series, but of the Kate Daniels books, I think my favorite is Magic Bleeds because Kate and Curran’s relationship really advances in that one.
Still in my TBR, sounds like I need to move it up.
Which Ilona Andrews book is my favorite? Whichever one I’m reading of course!
Thing is, I read the different series or short story to match my mood at any given time. If I try of pick one, three other “but what abouts” immediately pop up. Only thing I can state firmly is that the last Edge book was a DNF for me.
Well, I just picked up Magic Bites for .50 from the WONDERFUL J Crawford Books in Sacramento, CA this summer so I’ll have to say that one. It was the perfect thing to read while relaxing at the river.
Magic shifts is one of my favorites, but love last 2 magic binds magic triumphs. Also love Hidden Legacy and the innkeeper series. Go maud and Arland
I love the one with the Midnight Games, mostly because it contains Andrea saying “And now you’re stuck here together for the rest of the week. Like a honeymoon!”
Y’all. I died. I laughed so hard I died, and this is my ghost typing.
I’ve been reading and rereading this series since book one first came out, and I love it, and I’m so sad it’s over.
Love all the books, all the series. Truly don’t have a favorite child . . . .
Thanks for the giveaway! Kate Daniels is one of my favorite urban fantasy series so I love them all, but MAGIC STRIKES is special to me because it’s when Kate and Curran’s relationship turns into a romance.
I’m glad to see all the love for Magic Strikes! I was a fan of the series before this book, but this one made me a rabid fan. (It’s OK, I take medication for it.) It’s a really grim book, but there are so many scenes that make me bust out laughing no matter how many times I read them.
(I also want to slip in a plug for Silver Shark.)
I did it wrong and started reading the series with Iron and Magic. But I really enjoyed it and am eager to start the series from its true beginning. It’s my favorite for now!
My favorite is Magic Bleeds. The slow burn, when Aunt Bea understands more than Kate anout Curran’s intentions, is wonderful to read. Truly though, I love the whole series, one of, if not THE, best UF series out there. Hidden Legacy is also a favorite series. They’re amazing writers!
I like them all, but today I am going with Magic Strikes.
Magic Bleeds. Their mating dance was hilarious- the catnip, the “bimbo room”, the glued chair. I’m rereading the series in preparation for Magic Triumphs and am up to Magic Shifts.
What stands out for me is their give and take in the relationship. They are on equal footing and that’s rare. Once they commit, there is no doubt about the relationship.
Magic Strikes! That’s when IA’s writing really solidified for me, I love the background of the Midnight Games, Derek’s storyline makes you root hard for him, and Kate starts to break her rules. This is where KD turned into a love series for me.
I I have to choose, I have to say Magic Bites is my favorite at this moment! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
Magic Shifts
Um, I haven’t read any yet…
So glad to see so much Magic Strikes love! It’s my favorite Kate Daniels series book too!
@Amanda, hey, did you choose that brand of ginger beer because of the name?
Innkeeper, but it was also the first IA I read, so it gets all the credit…
I think my favorite Kate book has to be Magic Bleeds! I do love all of them but that one is so good 🙂