Isabelle Drake's Blog

1. It's the first real warm Saturday of the season. You:

A) Drive to the nearest body of water with a tote bag full of snacks and a book you've been saving since March.

B) Text five people "what are we doing today" and let chaos decide.

C) Open every window, put something good on the speaker, and spend the morning just… existing in it.

D) Start planning. Itinerary, reservations, the works. Summer doesn't organize itself.

2. Your summer drink is:

A) Whatever's cold and comes with a little umbrella.

B) Something spicy...a jalapeño margarita, obviously.

C) A big glass of iced tea on the porch, no rush.

D) Champagne. It's always the right answer.

3. Pick a summer shoe:

A) Sandals you've had for six years that go with everything.

B) Sneakers because you never know when you'll need to run toward something fun.

C) Bare feet, honestly.

D) Wedges. You didn't come here to be comfortable, you came here to look good.

4. Your ideal summer read:

A) A big, sweeping romance set somewhere beautiful.

B) Something with a plot twist you didn't see coming.

C) Literary fiction you've been meaning to get to...finally, the time.

D) Whatever everyone is talking about right now.

5. The summer playlist is:

A) Nostalgic — songs that take you somewhere.

B) Whatever has the best beat right now, shuffled.

C) Something moody and soft for slow mornings.

D) A bop from beginning to end, no skips.

6. You're packing a beach bag. What's in it?

A) Sunscreen, a book, snacks, a spare book in case you finish the first one.

B) The bare minimum...travel light!

C) Everything you need to be comfortable for six hours, carefully considered.

D) Nothing that won't photograph well.

7. Summer dinner is:

A) Something on the grill with people you love.

B) Wherever looks good when you're hungry; spontaneity is the whole point.

C) A recipe you've been wanting to try, made slowly, with music on.

D) A restaurant with a patio and a good wine list, booked ahead.

8. How do you know summer is officially starting?

A) The first evening where it's still warm enough to sit outside after dinner.

B) Someone texts you something spontaneous and you actually say yes.

C) You slow down without guilt for the first time all year.

D) You have a plan, a reservation, and an outfit already picked out.

 

Summer is basically knocking on the door with a bottle ofrosé and zero apologies, but before you dive in, let's figure out what kind ofsummer you're actually having this year.

 

Mostly A's? The Golden Hour Girl

You don't need a plan, you just need good light and goodcompany. Your summer is warm, a little nostalgic, and full of the kind ofmoments that feel like the cover of a novel. You are, essentially, the vibe.

Mostly B's? Chaotic Sunshine

Your summer is spontaneous, loud, and slightly unhinged inthe best possible way. Things happen around you. You're the friend people textwhen they need an adventure and the one with the best stories in September.

Mostly C's? Slow Burn Summer

You are not rushing anything. Your summer is intentional,sensory, and deeply satisfying — long mornings, good food, the kind of quietthat actually recharges you. Underrated aesthetic. Extremely healthy.

Mostly D's?  MainCharacter Energy

You have a vision for this summer and you are executing it.Outfits planned. Reservations made. Standards high. You're not waiting for agood summer to happen to you — you're producing it yourself.

The past couple months were filled with conference travel. 

In early March, I attended an academic/literacy conference in Baltimore. It's an event I've attended on and off for over a decade. When I first started attending, I went as an MFA student. The faculty of the MFA program I was attending told us the event was a blast - super fun! I am, and was back then, all about having fun especially if it involves books and writers. So, expecting the sort of fun I typically had at a writing event, off I went. 

As it turned out, as I figured out the first time I went, it was not that kind of fun. I found the other attendees to be a tad stuffy at times. No laughing in the halls. Very literary. As it turned out, it was a serious event filled with serious people. I did have the promised "good time" but it took some rethinking on my part. Once I caught on to the serious nature of the event, I decided not to tell anyone I was a romance author. Meanwhile, over the years, I continued attending that event as an academic and editor while also publishing romance and attending actually fun events, like BookLoversCon. 

This year, these two worlds collided. I was asked by a small press to sign copies of the multiple genre anthology that contains my essay, How to Write an Erotic Romance Novel. The editor invited me to bring some of my romance novels to sign alongside the literary anthology. Photo below! Doing this meant explaining to people who stopped by that I was both Melissa Ford Lucken, serious literary author, and Isabelle Drake, author of romance, erotic and not, and horror (sex-cult zombies!). As you can imagine, this caused much confusion and some disbelief. 

Why are you both people?

Which do you like better?

Why do you write that when you could write this?

I had no answers for these Very Important Questions.

I did have a good time, though. So, I'm counting the event a success. 

Motivational speaker and personal improvement expert Jaya Vinar is out of control--or so people keep telling her. When her boss pairs her with a handsome personal consultant, things get even more out of control. She wants to scare him off, he wants her in his bed. Only one can win. And neither is exactly who they’re pretending to be.
Sometimes wild, and rocky, starts lead to even wilder, and happier, endings.

Excerpt

The Troy, Michigan hotel bar was circled by oil paintings ofthoroughbreds grazing on rolling hills. Thanks to the wall paneling and brassfixtures, it was businesslike and sophisticated, yet still cozy.

An ornate mirror ran the length of the bar, reflecting thebrightly-colored liquor bottles. The only person seated in the row of tallstools was a brown-haired man in a nondescript navy jacket and khaki pants. Aglass of white wine sat in front of him and his full attention on his phone.

She stood back, watching him, a plan forming in the back ofher mind. The idea rose up out of her recently shredded self-confidence,clawing its way to the surface, and pulling itself together like the shamefulhussy that it was. She should’ve considered all the ramifications of thebeastly plan, but she didn’t.

She unbuttoned two more buttons on her beige blouse thenshimmied to reveal some cleavage. Once done, she fluffed up her hair, marchedover to the bar, and slipped onto the stool beside the brown-haired man.

She settled onto the seat, crossing her legs slowly.

He didn’t look up from his phone, but the bartender spottedher and came over.

“What can I pour for you, Miss?”

She leaned to the right and nudged the man beside her. “Whatdo you think?”

He blinked behind a pair of round glasses.

She touched her collarbone then ran her fingertips down thefront of her blouse, pausing at each button before dropping her hand to herlap. “To drink.” She tipped her head toward the bar. “What do you think Ishould get to drink?”

“Ummm…”

She tapped her fingertips along the inside of her thigh. “Asa professional, I’m sure you have an opinion.”

Get you copy on Kindle.

The Sloe & Cranberry Sour may feel like a vintage classic—something your great‑aunt might have sipped in a velvet‑draped supper club—but in truth, it’s a relatively modern creation born from two intersecting trends in cocktail culture: the revival of sloe liqueurs and the renaissance of the sour.

Sloe berries—tiny, tart, wild relatives of the plum—have been steeped in gin and spirits in the UK since at least the 1700s. Traditionally, sloe gin was a farmhouse project: pick the berries after the first frost, prick them with a needle, drown them in gin and sugar, and wait for winter to do its magic.

By the mid‑20th century, sloe gin had a reputation problem. Cheap, overly sweet versions flooded the market, and bartenders largely ignored it. But the craft spirits movement of the 2000s changed everything. High‑quality, small‑batch sloe liqueurs—like Edwards 1902 Mulled Sloe Liqueur—brought the ingredient roaring back into fashion.

Enter: The Modern Sour Revival

The classic sour (spirit + citrus + sweetener + optional egg white) is one of the oldest cocktail families, dating back to the 1800s. But around the 2010s, bartenders began reinventing the sour with new spirits, seasonal fruits, and artisanal liqueurs.

Sloe liqueur, with its ruby color and tart, berry‑forward profile, was a natural fit.

Cranberry Joins the Party

Cranberry juice—long associated with highballs and holiday punches—found new life in craft cocktails thanks to its acidity and jewel‑toned color. Pairing cranberry with sloe liqueur created a layered tartness: the deep, plummy sharpness of sloe berries meeting the bright, clean bite of cranberry.

It was only a matter of time before a bartender somewhere shook the two together with lemon juice and egg white, creating a drink that was wintery yet refreshing. The Sloe & Cranberry Sour was born.

The cocktail became popular because it checks all the boxes of a contemporary favorite. It feels like a rediscovered classic, even though it’s a modern invention

Today, it’s a staple in bars that celebrate heritage spirits and updated classics—proof that sometimes the best “history” is a blend of old traditions and new creativity.

Sloe and Cranberry Sour

Ingredients 

50ml Edwards 1902 Mulled Sloe Liqueur

25ml Cranberry juice

25ml Lemon juice

Half an egg white

Directions 

Add all ingredients to a shaker and dry shake.

Then add ice and shake again.

Strain into a chilled glass.

Garnish 

Cranberries or lemon peel, rosemary, whatever you like

1.You walk into a New Year’s Eve party and the first thing you reach for is:

A.The charcuterie board — you negotiate contracts, you can negotiate cheese.

B. Ajewel‑toned mocktail that looks like it belongs on your Instagram grid.

C.Your work bestie, because you two communicate in eye‑rolls and ambition.

D. Aquiet corner where you can finish the last chapter of your book beforemidnight.

 

2.Your phone buzzes at midnight. Who’s texting you first?

A.Your group chat of overachievers who hype each other like it’s a sport.

B.Your mentor, sending a “Proud of you” message that makes you emotional.

C.Your crush, who finally figured out how to use punctuation.

D. Noone — you put your phone on Do Not Disturb to protect your peace.

 

3.You wake up on January 1st craving:

A. Abold new project that scares you in the best way.

B. Afresh planner, color‑coded tabs, and a latte the size of your ambition.

C. Along, luxurious morning in bed with a novel and zero obligations.

D. Abrunch date with friends where you debrief the entire past year like it’s aseason finale.

 

4.Your signature New Year accessory is:

A. Apower lipstick that says “I’m running the meeting AND the plot.”

B. Asleek notebook filled with goals, quotes, and half‑formed book ideas.

C.Practical‑but‑chic boots because you walk fast and mean business.

D. Asparkly headband that says “I’m the main character, obviously.”

 

5.Your rom‑com moment of the year will most likely happen:

A. Ata conference, when someone hands you their business card and it feels electric.

B. Ina bookstore, when you both reach for the same novel and freeze like it’s fate.

C. Atthe office, where the slow‑burn tension finally hits boiling point.

D. Athome, when you realize the magic was in your own routine.

 

6.Your first big purchase of the year will be:

A. Asleek laptop that makes you feel like a CEO in a rom‑com montage.

B. Astack of new releases because your TBR pile is a lifestyle, not a problem.

C. Apair of power heels that say “I negotiate before breakfast.”

D. Acozy reading chair because you deserve a throne.

 

7.Your ideal Friday night in the new year looks like:

A.Catching up on a passion project that secretly thrills you.

B.Getting lost in a novel until 2 a.m. without regret.

C.Drinks with colleagues who double as your hype squad.

D. Asolo date with takeout, a blanket, and zero expectations.

 

8.The plot twist you’re most likely to experience this year:

A. Asurprise promotion that makes you question your entire five‑year plan.

B.Meeting someone who recommends a book that changes everything.

C.Realizing your “backup plan” is actually your dream.

D.Discovering that slowing down is the real power move.

 

9.Your New Year power song sounds like:

A. Aconfident pop anthem you strut to on your way to meetings.

B. Adreamy indie track that feels like reading by lamplight.

C. Ajazzy number that makes you feel like the heroine of a 1950s office romance.

D. Acozy acoustic song that pairs perfectly with tea and self‑reflection.

 

10.The universe sends you a sign in the form of:

A. Aperfectly timed email that opens a new door.

B. Abook falling off a shelf at exactly the right moment.

C. Achance encounter with someone who feels like foreshadowing.

D. Aquiet morning where everything suddenly makes sense.

 

Mostly A’s: The Power Move Year

You’re stepping into the new year like it’s a boardroom you already own. Promotions, bold choices, and “I didn’t know I could do that but apparently I can” moments are ahead. This is the year you pitch the idea, take the lead, and walk away from anything that doesn’t respect your ambition.

Mostly B’s: The Book-Girl Glow-Up Year 

Your year reads like a beautifully written novel: introspective, romantic, and full of quiet breakthroughs. Expect new books, new ideas, and maybe a new person who understands your annotated margins. Your inner world becomes your superpower.

Mostly Cs: The Slow-Burn Success Year 

You’re building something steady, smart, and deeply satisfying. This year is about long‑term wins: strengthening relationships, leveling up at work, and realizing that consistency is its own kind of magic. You’re not rushing — you’re rising.

Mostly D’s: The Cozy Main-Character Year 

Your year is about peace, clarity, and choosing yourself without guilt. Think soft mornings, meaningful routines, and breakthroughs that happen when you finally slow down. You discover the love story was with yourself all along.

Boat House Punch was created by cocktailier Julie Reiner from Clover Club and Flatiron Lounge of New York. This fizzy, citrus-packed concoction is pretty much summer in a punch bowl.

First up: lemon oleo saccharum. Sounds fancy, right? But it’s just muddled lemon peels and sugar. Its like they are having a sweet little spa day until they release the oils and turn into syrupy gold. Easy peasy lemon squeezy… literally.

Next, you’re pouring in dry gin (your sophisticated side), Aperol (bittersweet and bold), St-Germain (floral vibes), and a juicy trio of lemon, orange, and grapefruit. And just when you think it couldn’t get any dreamier, in comes the sparkling rosé for that flirty fizz that screams “celebration!”

This isn’t your average overly-sweet mystery punch that leaves you rethinking your life choices. Surprise! Boat House Punch is chic, flavorful, and fabulous. So whip up a batch, pop on a sundress, and let the good times (and compliments) flow.

INGREDIENTS

4 lemons, peeled1/2 cup superfine sugar1 liter dry gin750 mL Aperol12 ounces St-Germain12 ounces grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed12 ounces lemon juice, freshly squeezed12 ounces orange juice, freshly squeezed750 mL sparkling rosé

DIRECTIONS

Muddle the lemon peels (save lemons for juicing) with the sugar in a bowl until the sugar looks slightly moistened.

Cover and let sit for at least one hour, or overnight, so the sugar can absorb the lemon oils.

Add the gin, Aperol, St-Germain, grapefruit juice, lemon juice and orange juice to a large pitcher or punch bowl. Add the lemon-sugar mixture, and let sit for 15 minutes.

Remove the lemon peels, drop in a large ice block, and add the sparkling rosé.

GARNISHES

Orange wheels

“You don’t understand yet, do you? Let me explain. Youbelong to me now. Until I’m done with you, that is.”

Hayden ground his teeth, trying to crush the sensation inhis jaw, but couldn’t pull his gaze away from Mattie’s glistening, exposedbody. Tiny icicles clung to the tangles of her hair and flakes of snow dottedher thighs, bare above the edge of the tights.  

“The guy I work for thinks they’re a great tie-in to thezombie stuff—my piece, the comic convention and the opening of Zombie Rites.And all that stuff about zombies—”

“Roaming the streets?” she cut in, grinning as she droppedher hand to smack snow off her limp skirt. Once she got the clumps off, she ranher fingers across the hem, inching it up her bare thighs.

Hayden glanced at the apartment. Rachelle was not peeringout the window, watching for him. He shifted back. Hayden found himselfwatching the flicker of her stubby black fingernails as she inched up the hemof her skirt. He knew she wasn’t wearing panties. 

He took a sharp step forward, ready to shove her out of theway if necessary. She grabbed his arm and jerked him close enough for hernipples to brush against him.

“My girlfriend is waiting for me,” he said, pointing to thethird story of the brownstone.

Mattie tossed back her mass of hair, exposing a small blackdevice tucked into her ear. “I know. ‘Don’t make me wait.’ Isn’t that what shesaid?” A cruel smile tugged on the corner of her full mouth as she took in hisexpression. “You don’t understand yet, do you? Let me explain. You belong to menow. Until I’m done with you, that is.” She forced one of her legs between histhighs. “I’m liking you more and more, so we may be together a while.”

Hayden jerked his arms free and reached for her pale throat.The skin beneath his palms was wet, slick, smooth. And cold, lifeless.

“Go up there, do your girlfriend,” she said, then shoved himaway and moved toward the wall of the row house. She propped her booted foot onthe cornerstone and lifted herself. She slithered up; her hands clutching thefrost-covered bricks, then paused about ten feet from the ground. “And make ithot. Because I’ll be watching.” And with that, she crept up to the third-floorwindow and nestled under the eave.

(This excerpt edited for content. Text in the book ismore graphic.)

Servant of the Undead, Book 1

Having sex with an ice-covered, smudgy-eyed woman in tattered fishnets and a barely-there mini-skirt is Hayden Thomas’ first mistake. His second: thinking he’s in control of what happens next.
The city of Boston is hostage to Snowmaggeddon and rumors about zombies roaming the streets, looking for human flesh, drift among the citizens. Hayden Thomas, tabloid newspaper writer, is out to get something fresh about the phantastic creatures. At the Boston Public Library, he uncovers some dubious research suggesting that some zombie tribes use human sexual energy, not flesh, for sustenance. The next thing he knows, he’s tangled up with a brutal woman who is as merciless as she is demanding.
In a city frozen by fear, there is no escaping the punishing depravity of the tribe.

Get your copy of Book 1, ebook or paperback

Hello August!

July was a quiet month for me. I spent most of the timereading, finishing a story, working on a new series, and doing some academicresearch. Does that sound quiet? LOL. I mean quiet in the sense that I was atmy desk, on the porch reading and writing, or in the yard pulling weeds. I  wanted to have some time to take time, relax,and kick back before August hits and the academic year, the holidays, andeverything that comes with those events happens. Being busy is good; rest isgood too.

August will be a different story. I have a research tripplanned early in the month, middle of the month will be the start of theacademic year, toward the end of the month I have a trip and a writers' weekendis planned somewhere in there, too.

Here are a couple things I always want to do every summerbut have not yet done--long bike ride, outdoor concert, farmers' market, fleamarket, fish market... Just kidding about the fish market. Well, maybe not???

 Hit here for the August newsletter

Clara’s morning was a blur of mismatched socks, forgottenkeys, and a disastrous attempt at winged eyeliner. It was only 9 and she wasalready ready to call it a day. But then, she saw it—The Bloom Café, its cozysign promising "Breakfast, Brunch, Bliss."

A little bliss was exactly what she needed.

She slipped inside, the warm scent of freshly brewed coffeemingling with the subtle citrus of something sweeter. Clara found a cornertable, shoulders relaxing as she scanned the menu. Just as she did, her bestfriend Lily burst through the door, cheeks flushed. “Sorry, sorry—I missed thebus!”

Clara waved her over. “Perfect timing. I’ve just foundsomething to brighten our morning—The Breakfast Cocktail.”

A server appeared.

Clara lowered the menu. “Please! Tell me everything aboutthis cocktail.”

 “Ah, the BreakfastCocktail. We start with 1 1/2 ounces of gin, 1/2 an ounce of orange liqueur, 3/4ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and the secret touch—a barspoon oforange marmalade. It’s all shaken with ice and strained into a chilled glass.”

Clara’s eyebrows lifted.

Lily leaned in. “Two, please.”

Moments later, two glistening glasses arrived. Clara took asip, the flavors blossoming on her tongue, the citrus tang balanced by the warmsweetness of marmalade.

“Perfect.”

Lily clinked her glass against Clara’s. “Breakfast cocktailsmake everything better.”

They lingered, laughing about old memories, sharing storiesof missed trains and messy dates. An hour slipped by like a gentle breeze. Whenthey finally stood to leave, they promised each other more of these mornings.

Clara and Lily walked out of The Bloom Café, their chaotic mornings nothing but distant memories. Sometimes, a little sparkle in a glass was all it took to turn a day around.

Ready to make one?

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 ounces gin1/2 ounce orange liqueur (such as Combier)3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed1 barspoon orange marmalade

DIRECTIONS

Add the gin, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and marmalade into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously until well-chilled.Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass.

GARNISHES

lemon wheel or lemon peel

TIPS

Use Quality Gin: A smooth gin with subtle botanicals works best.

Balance Sweetness and Citrus: Adjust the lemon juice to your taste.

Orange Marmalade is Key: It provides sweetness and a hint of bitterness.

Shake Well: Properly mixing the marmalade ensures a silky texture.

Chill Your Glasses: Serve in a chilled glass for the best experience.

 hit here for June newsletter