All Eyes on Alexandra - children's book review

In All Eyes on Alexandra, young Alexandra Crane is terrible at following her family in their flying Vee. She can’t help it that the world is so full of interesting distracting sights! When it's time for the Cranes to migrate to Israel's Hula Valley for the winter, Alexandra is excited but her family is worried. Will Alexandra stay with the group, and what happens if a dangerous situation should arise? Might Alexandra—and the rest of the flock—discover that a bad follower can sometimes make a great leader?

Based on the true story of Israel’s annual crane migration.

Print Length: 32 Pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Kar-Ben Pub
ISBN-10: 1512444391
ISBN-13: 978-1512444391

All Eyes on Alexandra is available to purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target, Thrift Books, and IndieBound.

About the Author, Anna Levine

Anna Levine is an award-winning children’s book author. Like Alexandra Crane, the character in her latest picture book, she loves to explore new worlds. Born in Canada, Anna has lived in the US and Europe.  She now lives in Israel, where she writes and teaches.

You can find Anna Levine online at:

Author website: http://www.annalevine.org/

Twitter: @LevineAnna

Instagram: @booksfromanna

About the Illustrator, Chiara Pasqualotto

Chiara Pasqualotto was born in Padua, in northern Italy, currently teaches illustration and drawing classes to children and adults, in particular in Padua during the summer at the Scuola Internazionale di Comics and in Rome. Since 2008 she's been living in Rome and working with illustration professionally: her first picture book, Mine, All Mine! was published in 2009 by Boxer Books (UK), since then she published with Oxford University Press, Giunti, Terranuova and some American publishers (Paraclete Press, Tyndale, LearningAZ, Kar-Ben Publisher).

You can find Chiara Pasqualotto online at:

Artist website: https://romeartweek.com/en/artists/?id=1495&ida=1004

Blog: http://chiarapasqualotto.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clairepaspage/

----- Review by the Otto Family

Our family absolutely loves "All Eyes on Alexandra" by Anna Levine and illustrated by Chiara Psqualotto. The youngest members of the family enjoy the bright colors and beautiful pictures. The older children found the story to be interesting, but appreciated most, the opportunity to discuss some new places. As we would read, the older children would ask where a particular place was and then we could took at a map and learn more. This would be a great read for a wide variety of ages and stages - and even I as a mom enjoyed the storytelling, the scenes, and of course the time spent with the children.

Beautiful!

-- Upcoming Blog Tour Dates


December 27th @ Linda's Blog
Visit Linda's blog again where you can read her interview with author Anna Levine.
https://www.lindaleekane.com/blog

December 28th @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Visit Beverley's blog today you can read her review of Anna Levine's book All Eyes on Alexandra.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

December 31st @ Strength 4 Spouses
Visit Wendi's blog and read Anna Levine's guest post on learning about families and different cultures.
https://strength4spouses.blog/

January 2nd @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Visit author Anthony Avina's blog where he shares his thoughts about Anna Levine's picture book All Eyes on Alexandra. 
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

January 3rd @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Visit Beverley's blog again where you can read Anna Levine's blog post about getting into the head of your middle-grade characters.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

January 4th @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Visit author Anthony Avina's blog again where you can read Anna Levine's blog post about using fiction to write non-fiction.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

January 7th @ Strength 4 Spouses Blog
Visit Wendi's blog again where you can read her thoughts about the book All Eyes on Alexandra by Anna Levine.
https://strength4spouses.blog/

Keep up with the latest blog stops by following us on twitter @WOWBlogTour.

Instant Pot Chicken Dumpling Soup - Easy Recipe - Comfort Food

Here is a delicious chicken soup recipe you can make quickly and easily in your Instant Pot - easy to make and since it's all made in one pot, the clean up is even easier than the prep!!!

You can easily substitute noodles or rice for the dumplings - so first I'll give you the soup recipe and then at the end the dumpling recipe and you can decide how you want to do it.

I used a 6qt Instant Pot but you could easily use a larger instant pot and increase the ingredients proportionately.



Ingredients:

1 T olive oil (or whatever cooking oil you like)
3 good size boneless/skinless chicken breasts (cut into cubes)
salt
pepper
1/2 C diced onion
1 C chopped celery
4-6 C sliced carrots
2 C frozen peas

Directions:

Set your instant pot to saute and once the indicator reads "HOT" go ahead and add 1T olive oil (or cooking oil of your choice). Then add 3 boneless/skinless chicken breasts that have been cut into cube size pieces. Stir them into the oil a bit then add a dash of salt and pepper. While the chicken is cooking, dice up 1/2 C of your favorite flavor onion (I prefer red onions) and toss the onion in with the chicken when the chicken is about 1/2 cooked. Stir and allow to finish cooking while you chop up the following:

1 C chopped celery
4-6 C sliced carrots
2 C frozen peas

When the chicken is just about cooked through, add the vegetables and give a quick stir before turning off your Instant Pot.

Now add a bit more salt and pepper to taste as well as enough water to just barely cover the chicken and vegetables.

Cover your instant pot with the pressure cooking lid and use the soup button to cook everything perfectly.

Once done, allow for a 5 minute natural release followed by a quick release.

Add another 2-4 C of water plus whatever salt and pepper you feel would compliment the delicious broth you've created. While that continues on the "keep warm" setting, you can boil up your noodles, steam your rice, or make your dumplings.

Dumplings:

Ingredients:

2 C flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 C buttermilk
2 T melted butter

Directions:

Combine dry ingredients in your mixer (or mix by hand) then add butter and milk - add the milk slowly and decrease or increase the amount to make a sticky dough. Drop the dough spoonful by spoonful into the soup and allow to cook for 10-15 minutes before serving.


After my dumplings are cooked through, I give the soup a stir and add some parsley on the top because I think it looks pretty and tastes delicious!

ENJOY!!

May your paths be abundantly filled with lemons, sugar, sunshine, and lemonade (and a big bowl of delicious homemade chicken soup)!

xoxox
Crystal

Crystal is a secretary, council secretary, and musician at her church, birth mother, babywearing cloth diapering mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, Press Corp teammate for the DairyGirl Network, Unicorn Mom Ambassador, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their five youngest children (Carmen 11, Andre 10, Breccan 5, Delphine 3, and baby Eudora who somehow turned 1 this fall), two dogs, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff here, and at WOW! Women on Writing and their Muffin Ezine - Crystal is dedicated to turning life's lemons into lemonade!

New Year Blog Tours - Sign Up Today

The new year is fast approaching and I have two exciting book blog tours to announce through WOW! Women on Writing. Please contact me today to reserve your copy and participate in one or both of the tours. If you've never participated in a tour, feel free to inquire and I'll be happy to explain how it works - you don't even have to have your own blog!

Send an email today to participate - email address: crystal@wow-womenonwriting.com or crystaljotto@gmail.com

Be sure to include the following:

* The email address you'd like your ebook(s) sent to - and indicate the title, titles, or "both"

*The name and url for your blog, or a note letting me know you do not have a blog

*A date you would prefer as your first choice, as well as a 2nd choice - this will be the date your review will be posted to your blog/this blog and social media. (Jane Bertrand's tour runs 1/7-/2/7 and Neill McKee's 1/28-2/28)

Including posting to a blog, it would be fabulous if you could post your review on Amazon/Goodreads as well as your own social media. This is greatly appreciated although not mandatory to participate in a book blog tour.

As soon as all the dates have been filled for each tour, and a calendar has been put together, I'll email a media kit to everyone involved in the tour. This kit will include the authors head shot and bio as well the book cover and official summary and buy links for you to use. This email will also include the calendar for the tour and should be able to answer most (if not all) the questions you may have concerning tour participation.

If you are an interview only blogger, please email with your interview questions as well as the dates preferred.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in this and all matters.

A select number of guest posts may be available soon - if you prefer a guest post instead of a review, please email as soon as possible to choose a date and get in line for a guest post.

You Started WHAT After 60? Highpointing Across America

by Jane T Bertrand

launches January 7th 2019

About the Book:
Itching for a challenge when she turned 60, Jane Bertrand set out to reach the highest point of each state. Her strategic mistake was to start with the easiest ones, leaving the most strenuous for the end of this decade-long quest. She recruited over 50 family members, colleagues, and childhood friends to join her in making this the experience of a lifetime.

About the Author:

Jane T. Bertrand, PhD, MBA, is a professor of the Department of Global Health Management and Policy at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She also holds the Neal A. and Mary Vanselow endowed chair. Her professional interests involve program evaluation and behavior change communication in the areas of international family planning and HIV prevention. Dr. Bertrand has been on the Tulane faculty since 1979, except for the period from 2002-09 when she directed the Center for Communication Programs (CCP), at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her published research focuses largely on Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. In recent years she has worked primarily on the implementation and evaluation of family planning programs to increase contraceptive use in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At Tulane she teaches two graduate level courses: monitoring of health interventions in global settings, and health systems strengthening: International family planning. She is fluent in French and Spanish.

Finding Myself in Borneo;

Sojourns in Sabah

by Neill McKee

launches January 28th 2019

About the Book:
Finding Myself in Borneo chronicles, with good humor, a young man’s adventures while teaching secondary school as a Canadian CUSO volunteer in Sabah, Malaysia (North Borneo), 1968–70. McKee learns the craft of teaching, the Malay language and local customs, and gains many friends in his small community. He bonds with Borneo by climbing the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu, and having a love affair. He navigates Borneo’s backwaters to make his first documentary film and takes a freighter to Indonesia where he discovers the scars of that country’s recent genocide, a contrast to his hilarious motorcycle journeys in Sabah with his American Peace Corps buddy. They make a hallucinogenic discovery—North Borneo is, indeed, J. R. R. Tolkien’s famed Middle-Earth of The Lord of the Rings! The enterprising duo establish the North Borneo Frodo Society (NBFS), an organization Tolkien joins.

About the Author: 
Neill McKee is a creative nonfiction writer, presently concentrating on the beginnings of an international career as a teacher, filmmaker, and media producer in many countries around the world. His first work in this genre is a travel memoir on his early experiences as a high school teacher in North Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia) during 1968-70, as well as stories of his second two-year sojourn (1973-74) to this exotic land and follow-up visits.
More memoirs are also in the works, including one on his childhood and youth based on the humorous theme of trying to escape a polluted, industrial home town in Southern Ontario, and another on searching for the stories of his ancestors in Canada and the USA. McKee is also beginning the outline for a memoir on 45-year, international career as a filmmaker, media producer, and cultural exploration and traveling on assignments to over 80 countries and living and working for 18 years in Asia, Africa and Russia.

McKee holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Calgary, Alberta (1968) and a Master of Science in Communication from Florida State University, Tallahassee (1988). He is the author of several books, articles and manuals on communication for development and the producer/director of many films, videos and multi-media initiatives.

Cathy Hansen gives "Son of Saigon" by David Myles Robinson 5 Stars

Hank and Norm were living the good life: two friends with plenty of money, homes in a lovely California retirement town, and no problems except for the boredom that felt almost fatal. Then Mai came into the picture, the love of Hank’s life during his CIA days in Saigon, desperately needing his help to save the son he’d never known he had. Boredom was over, as Hank and Norm hit the road, following the few clues Mai could give them in search of a man who desperately wants not to be found. What they find is a slew of lies and hidden truths, strange characters, improbable danger that has them fighting to survive, and the happy lesson that their lives are far from over.

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Terra Nova Books (June 1, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1948749009
ISBN-13: 978-1948749008
ASIN: B07HFJ4WKY

Son of Saigon is now available to purchase on Amazon as an e-book and print, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.

 

About the Author:
David Myles Robinson grew up in Pasadena, CA. He holds degrees from San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco School of Law. After practicing law for thirty-eight years in Honolulu, Hawaii, he retired with his wife, former Honolulu judge Marcia Waldorf, to Taos, NM. Robinson is the author of three previous novels: legal thrillers Tropical Lies and Tropical Judgments, and Unplayable Lie, a golf-related suspense novel.

Find David Online:

Website: www.davidmylesrobinson.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7027829.David_Myles_Robinson

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DMRobinsonWrite

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMylesRobinson/

Book Review (5 Star) by Cathy Hansen


Son of Saigon, by David Myles Robinson, is a fast and suspenseful read. A mystery carefully crafted and woven through this historical fiction novel, along with the witty comments of Hank and Norm make this an entertaining page-turner.

Recently widowed, Hank spends his days in a retirement community contemplating his own death. He and his friend Norm even refer to the retirement community as the death farm. Their lives take an exciting turn when Hank receives a visitor from his past: Mai, the Vietnamese woman he fell in love with while working in Saigon for the CIA. Mai has news for Hank: he has a son, but that son has been missing since his high school graduation, and she needs Hank’s help to find him.

Hank and Norm hit the road in search of adventure . . . and answers. It quickly becomes evident that there are people who do not want them to find the answers they are looking for, but they press on, accompanied by their newly adopted dog, Stoner, determined to find out what drove Hank’s son to leave town without a trace.

I could not put Son of Saigon down! Robinson has done an excellent job of developing characters for this novel. I found myself invested in them, and wanting things to turn out well for them. I worried for them, and I laughed at their comments. The characters grow and learn and improve themselves throughout the novel, learning lessons from other characters and events that unfold. Hank goes from a widower waiting to die to a pretty assertive guy, willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Thank you, David Myles Robinson, for a fun read. Son of Saigon did not disappoint.



----------Blog Tour Dates

Monday, November 12th  @ The Muffin
Author Interview & Giveaway
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Tuesday, November 13th @ Cathy Stucker’s Selling Books
Cathy Stucker interviews retired lawyer and successful author David Myles Robinson about his latest novel Son of Saigon.
https://www.sellingbooks.com/

Wednesday, November 14th @ Bring on Lemons with Crystal Otto
Crystal Otto shares her thoughts on the latest novel by David Myles Robinson – is it a lemon or sweet lemonade? Readers can’t wait to find out!
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, November 20th @ Coffee with Lacey
Lacey reviews Son of Saigon by David Myles Robinson and shares her thoughts with readers at Coffee with Lacey. Don’t miss an opportunity to learn more about this page turning novel!
https://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, November 21st @ Bring on Lemons with Cathy Hansen
Wisconsin educator, mother, and business owner Cathy Hansen collaborates with her teenage daughter as they review and discuss the latest novel by David Myles Robinson. See what these ladies have to say about Son of Saigon.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 22nd @ Lisa Haselton
Lisa Haselton interviews David Myles Robinson about his latest work – Son of Saigon.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

Friday, November 23rd @ Author Anthony Avina
Fellow author Anthony Avina pens his fascinating review of David Myles Robinson’s latest novel Son of Saigon.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

Tuesday, November 27th @ Beverley A. Baird
Beverley A Baird reviews Son of Saigon by David Myles Robinson. Readers won’t want to miss an opportunity to learn more about this interesting novel.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, December 4th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles delights readers at World of My Imagination as she reviews the latest page turner by David Myles Robinson. You won't want to miss Nicole's thoughts about Son of Saigon.
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, December 5th @ Bella Donna’s Books with Dawn Thomas
Dawn Thomas reads and reviews the latest novel by David Myles Robinson - stop by Bella Donna's Books to learn more about Son of Saigon.
http://belladonnasbooks.com/

Thursday, December 6th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Fellow author Madeline Sharples reviews Son of Saigon by David Myles Robinson. Don’t miss her thoughts about this latest novel.
http://madelinesharples.com/

Thursday, December 6th @ A Day in the Life of Mom
Ashley Bass reviews David Myles Robinson's latest page turner, Son of Saigon.
Don't miss her insight and thoughts on this exciting new book!
https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

Thursday, December 6th @ Cheekypee Reads and Reviews
Don't miss Cheekypee's review of David Myles Robinson's latest Son of Saigon.
http://cheekypeereadsandreviews.blogspot.com/

Friday, December 7th @ To Write or Not to Write
Sreevarsha Sreejith reviews Son of Saigon. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Sreevarsha and visit To Write or Not to Write.
http://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.co.at/

About today's reviewer:

Cathy Hansen is a wife, mom, teacher, independent
beauty consultant, and small business owner. She and her husband operate SeedsNBeans, a local nature store, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

Book Review - David Myles Robinson's Latest Novel: Son of Saigon

Hank and Norm were living the good life: two friends with plenty of money, homes in a lovely California retirement town, and no problems except for the boredom that felt almost fatal. Then Mai came into the picture, the love of Hank’s life during his CIA days in Saigon, desperately needing his help to save the son he’d never known he had. Boredom was over, as Hank and Norm hit the road, following the few clues Mai could give them in search of a man who desperately wants not to be found. What they find is a slew of lies and hidden truths, strange characters, improbable danger that has them fighting to survive, and the happy lesson that their lives are far from over.

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Terra Nova Books (June 1, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1948749009
ISBN-13: 978-1948749008
ASIN: B07HFJ4WKY

Son of Saigon is now available to purchase on Amazon as an e-book and print, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.

 

About the Author:
David Myles Robinson grew up in Pasadena, CA. He holds degrees from San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco School of Law. After practicing law for thirty-eight years in Honolulu, Hawaii, he retired with his wife, former Honolulu judge Marcia Waldorf, to Taos, NM. Robinson is the author of three previous novels: legal thrillers Tropical Lies and Tropical Judgments, and Unplayable Lie, a golf-related suspense novel.

Find David Online:

Website: www.davidmylesrobinson.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7027829.David_Myles_Robinson

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DMRobinsonWrite

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMylesRobinson/

Book Review (5 Star) by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

I was hooked from the first page of Son of Saigon! I definitely have to start by saying this was NOT one of those books I handed to my 10 year old son or 11 year old daughter though - I absolutely recommend it for my adult friends, but there is quite a bit of adult "stuff" going on and my tweens aren't quite ready for that yet. With that said, the characters in this book drew me in immediately. I couldn't pick a favorite character if I tried - there was something I could relate to in each and every character - even the grumpy old Hank and his trusty sidekick Norm. David Myles Robinson is a talented storyteller and I appreciate how well the book was written and edited as well. Robinson definitely did his homework!

Son of Saigon is a book I hope to remember forever - there were many lessons to be learned, but the two I want to share with you are this:

Running away doesn't solve anything and could potentially make things worse for not only yourself, but those who love you.

Life doesn't end with retirement and the characters in the book show you this, but also the author himself. I love hearing about David Myles Robinson and his adventures!

Now go out and pick up your own copy of Son of Saigon so you can enjoy the adventure for yourself!!!




----------Blog Tour Dates

Monday, November 12th  @ The Muffin
Author Interview & Giveaway
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Tuesday, November 13th @ Cathy Stucker’s Selling Books
Cathy Stucker interviews retired lawyer and successful author David Myles Robinson about his latest novel Son of Saigon.
https://www.sellingbooks.com/

Wednesday, November 14th @ Bring on Lemons with Crystal Otto
Crystal Otto shares her thoughts on the latest novel by David Myles Robinson – is it a lemon or sweet lemonade? Readers can’t wait to find out!
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, November 20th @ Coffee with Lacey
Lacey reviews Son of Saigon by David Myles Robinson and shares her thoughts with readers at Coffee with Lacey. Don’t miss an opportunity to learn more about this page turning novel!
https://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, November 21st @ Bring on Lemons with Cathy Hansen
Wisconsin educator, mother, and business owner Cathy Hansen collaborates with her teenage daughter as they review and discuss the latest novel by David Myles Robinson. See what these ladies have to say about Son of Saigon.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 22nd @ Lisa Haselton
Lisa Haselton interviews David Myles Robinson about his latest work – Son of Saigon.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

Friday, November 23rd @ Author Anthony Avina
Fellow author Anthony Avina pens his fascinating review of David Myles Robinson’s latest novel Son of Saigon.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

Tuesday, November 27th @ Beverley A. Baird
Beverley A Baird reviews Son of Saigon by David Myles Robinson. Readers won’t want to miss an opportunity to learn more about this interesting novel.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, December 4th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles delights readers at World of My Imagination as she reviews the latest page turner by David Myles Robinson. You won't want to miss Nicole's thoughts about Son of Saigon.
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, December 5th @ Bella Donna’s Books with Dawn Thomas
Dawn Thomas reads and reviews the latest novel by David Myles Robinson - stop by Bella Donna's Books to learn more about Son of Saigon.
http://belladonnasbooks.com/

Thursday, December 6th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Fellow author Madeline Sharples reviews Son of Saigon by David Myles Robinson. Don’t miss her thoughts about this latest novel.
http://madelinesharples.com/

Thursday, December 6th @ A Day in the Life of Mom
Ashley Bass reviews David Myles Robinson's latest page turner, Son of Saigon.
Don't miss her insight and thoughts on this exciting new book!
https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

Thursday, December 6th @ Cheekypee Reads and Reviews
Don't miss Cheekypee's review of David Myles Robinson's latest Son of Saigon.
http://cheekypeereadsandreviews.blogspot.com/

Friday, December 7th @ To Write or Not to Write
Sreevarsha Sreejith reviews Son of Saigon. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Sreevarsha and visit To Write or Not to Write.
http://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.co.at/

WOW! Women on Writing Book Tour - Cindy Fazzi's "My MacArthur"

Thank you WOW! Women on Writing for inviting me to participate in the book blog tour of My MacArthur by Cindy Fazzi - I was absolutely excited to read this book and review it!

The year is 1930. The place: Manila. Douglas MacArthur is the most powerful man in the Philippines, a United States colony. He’s fifty years old, divorced, and he falls in love at first sight with a ravishing young Filipino woman. He writes her a love note on the spot. Her name is Isabel Rosario Cooper, an aspiring movie actress. One glance at his note and she thinks of him as my MacArthur.

MacArthur pursues his romantic obsession even though he’s breaking numerous taboos. She reciprocates his affection because he could open doors for her financially struggling family. That MacArthur happens to be handsome compensates for the fact that he’s as old as her father.

When MacArthur is appointed the U.S. Army chief of staff, he becomes the youngest four-star general and one of America’s most powerful men. Out of hubris, he takes Isabel with him to America without marrying her.

Amid the backdrop of the Great Depression, MacArthur and Isabel’s relationship persists like “a perilous voyage on turbulent waters,” as she describes it. In 1934, after four years of relationship, MacArthur leaves Isabel for fear of a political scandal.

The general goes on to become the iconic hero of World War II, liberating the Philippines and rebuilding Japan. Isabel drifts in Los Angeles unable to muster the courage to return to Manila.

Print Length: 285 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Sand Hill Review Press
ISBN-10: 1937818969
ISBN-13: 978-1937818968
ASIN: B07HR4W8BP

My MacArthur is now available to purchase on Amazon.com as an e-book and print, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.



About the Author, Cindy Fazzi

Cindy Fazzi is a Filipino-American writer and former Associated Press reporter. She has worked as a journalist in the Philippines, Taiwan, and the United States. My MacArthur, published by Sand Hill Review Press, is her literary debut. She writes romance novels under the pen name Vina Arno. Her first romance book, In His Corner, was published by Lyrical Press in 2015. Her second romance novel, Finder Keeper of My Heart, was published by Painted Hearts Publishing in 2018. Her short stories have been published in Snake Nation Review, Copperfield Review, and SN Review.

You can find Cindy at:

Author Website: https://www.cindyfazzi.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CindyFazzi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindyfazzi/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cindy-Fazzi-779654065440439/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/862157.Cindy_Fazzi

GooglePlus: https://plus.google.com/+CindyFazzi/about



book review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

My MacArthur is a beautiful love story. What really made this book for me was how the author, Cindy Fazzi, did such a great job with historical facts, but also the way her characters came alive. She is a storyteller and a talented one at that! This was a quick read and I was drawn in by the easy to relate to young character of Isabel. The character development throughout the book is without a doubt one of the things I loved about this book. If someone on the street asked me to quickly summarize  My MacArthur I would simply say the characters were well developed, the facts were checked and double checked, and once I started reading I couldn't put the book down.


--- Blog Tour Dates

November 5th @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Stop by Women on Writing's blog and read an interview with the author Cindy Fazzi and enter to win a copy of the book My MacArthur.
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

November 6th @ Coffee with Lacey
Get your coffee and stop by Lacey's blog where she share her thoughts on the book My MacArthur.
http://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/

November 7th @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Stop by Beverley's blog and find out what she thought about Cindy Fazzi's book My MacArthur. This book is sure to entice historical fiction readers everywhere!
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

November 8th @ The Frugalista Mom
Stop by Rozelyn's blog and catch her thoughts on the historical fiction book My MacArthur. You can also enter to win a copy of the book too!
https://thefrugalistamom.com/

November 11th @ Bring on Lemons
If life hands you lemons, read a book! Come by Crystal's blog Bring on Lemons and find out what she had to say about the book My MacArthur.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

November 13th @ Mommy Daze: Say What??
Want to know what this mom had to say about the book? Stop by Ashley's blog and read her thoughts on the historical fiction book My MacArthur.
https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

November 16th @ Amanda's Diaries
Find out what Amanda had to say about Cindy Fazzi's historical fiction book My MacArthur in her review today.
https://amandadiaries.com/

November 16th @ Chapters Through Life
Stop by Danielle's blog where she spotlight's Cindy Fazzi's book My MacArthur.
https://chaptersthroughlife.blogspot.com/

November 19th @ Madeline Sharples Blog
Be sure to catch today's post over at Madeline's blog author Cindy Fazzi shares her tips for writing fiction about a famous person.
http://madelinesharples.com/

November 20th @ Let Us Talk of Many Things
Visit today's blog where you can catch Cindy Fazzi's post on overcoming prejudices against romance writers.
https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

November 21st @ Mam's Rants and Reviews
Stop by Shan's blog where she shares her thoughts on the historical fiction book My MacArthur.
https://shanelliswilliams.com/

November 25th @ The World of My Imagination
Catch Nicole's review of the book My MacArthur and find out what she had to say about this fantastic book.
http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com

November 26th @ Break Even Books
Stop by the Break Even Books blog and read Cindy Fazzi's article on the pros and cons of using a pen name.
https://breakevenbooks.com/

November 28th @ Charmed Book Haven Reviews
Visit Cayce's blog and check out her thoughts on the book My MacArthur by Cindy Fazzi.
https://charmedbookhavenreviews.wordpress.com/

November 29th @ Memoir Writer's Journey
Start your journey today at Kathleen's blog Memoir Writer's Journey where author Cindy Fazzi talks about the challenges of writing different genres.
https://krpooler.com/

November 30th @ Joyful Antidotes Blog
Want a joyful way to start your day? Stop by Joy's blog where she reviews the incredible historical fiction book My MacArthur.
https://joyfulantidotes.com/

November 30th @ The Uncorked Librarian
Make sure you stop by Christine's blog and read what she thinks about the book My MacArthur.
https://theuncorkedlibrarian.com

December 1st @ Charmed Book Haven Reviews
Visit Cacye's blog again and read her interview with author Cindy Fazzi.
https://charmedbookhavenreviews.wordpress.com/

December 2nd @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Start your morning out right by reading Anthony Avina's review of the book My MacArthur.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

December 2nd @ 2 Turn the Page Book Reviews
Visit Renee's blog when she reviews Cindy Fazzi's book My MacArthur and interviews the author.
https://2turnthepagebookreviews.blogspot.com/

Keep up with the latest stops by following us on Twitter @WOWBlogTour.

The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe - Lemon or Lemonade? See what Michelle DelPonte has to say!

A book review by guest reviewer Michelle DelPonte

About the Book:

Susan Jordan awakens at her Santa Fe apartment, cloudy and disoriented. Her clothing is unfamiliar. Where has she been? Her nose crinkles as she smells his scent. Jack's back! Rubber filled legs brace against the stone cold tile floor as she reaches for the pile of mail haplessly setting on the table. Dozens of letters! Jack Monroe never stops. Susan wishes he would just leave, take his advice and go back to Detroit. He's gaining too much control! He's taking over!

Paperback: 232 pages
Publisher:  Silver Leaf Books LLC (September 10, 2018)
Genre: Mystery
ISBN-10: 1609752376
ISBN-13: 978-1609752378
ASIN: B07FMX9HLH

The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe is available for purchase in print and as an ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.    



About the Author:  

When I was a child growing up in the Detroit area, I thought I wanted to be a painter, and then as a teenager the idea of being a musician intrigued me, then as a young adult, I realized that I’m a writer.

After attending Western Michigan University for two party filled years, I decided to leave academia and explore the real world to learn what life is truly about. For fifteen years I’ve traveled the country working in restaurants, writing and doing readings wherever I was welcome.

While living in Minneapolis during my twenties, I was fortunate enough to be tutored by Dr. Jonis Agee, who was at the time head of the creative writing department at St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul. Her lessons were imprinted in me for all of these years, and have influenced my writing ever since.

My adventures landed me in San Diego, Chicago, San Francisco, and Oregon, finally leading me to the Land of Enchantment where I’ve resided since 1994. Living in Santa Fe, and the beauty and isolation that surrounds me, has inspire my creative muse in ways that no other place has. While still working in the hospitality industry, my passion for the craft of writing has never been stronger. And I know with each sentence I write, and every paragraph I compose, my ultimate goal is to find the perfect word.

Keep on bookin!

Connect with Mary online:

Website: www.marymaurice.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marymauriceauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MMauriceAuthor


---- review by Michelle DelPonte


What can I say about this book, The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe besides I absolutely loved it!

I was so excited to get the chance to read this book that I dropped everything to go and pick it up. What I did not realize, was how engrossed I would get. The suicide rate is skyrocketing lately. I have heard of young children killing themselves. As someone who struggles regularly with clinical depression, this is horrific to me. How can someone so young not want to go on? What could possibly be so bad?

Mary Maurice tells the story of Jack Monroe indescribably well. I could feel his pain and frustrations. Jack decides that he is going to start a new career as an author of suicide notes. His reasoning is not to help people kill themselves, but to help save them. Jack’s heart is poured into these letters to remind the people what they have to live for. He reminds them of who and what they will be leaving behind. By reminding people of all they have to lose, is sometimes enough to change their mind.

While volunteering as a counselor for sexual abuse survivors, I was trained to get them to focus on something they enjoy. All it took was them wanting to see another episode of their favorite show. Jack just needed to distract his clients and remind them of how good life can be. When given the opportunity, life can surprise you. It is a lot like this book. I knew I was ecstatic to be chosen to review it. While it was not exactly what I thought, Mary did a phenomenal job with a very tough taboo topic. There needs to be more awareness to mental health, she brings this to light effortlessly.

This is a must read!


----------Blog Tour Dates

Monday September 17th @ WOW! Women on Writing
Interview & Giveaway!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Tuesday, September 18th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe for readers at World of My Imagination. Don't miss this chance to learn more about Mary Maurice's latest work!
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 19th @ Beverley A. Baird
Beverley A. Baird reads and reviews Mary Maurice's latest work, The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe and shares her thoughts on this page turning novel!
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

Thursday, September 20th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Mary Maurice writes an intriguing guest post at Choices today. Don’t miss this post and opportunity to learn about The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe. 
http://madelinesharples.com/

Thursday, September 20th @ Lisa Haselton Reviews and Interviews
Lisa Haselton interviews Mary Maurice about Maurice's latest novel The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 21st @ Bring on Lemons with Crystal Otto
Crystal reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe as readers of Bring on Lemons learn more about this latest page turner by Mary Maurice!
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Monday, September 24th @ Cathy Stucker's Selling Books
Don't miss today's interview with Mary Maurice and learn more about her latest book The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
https://www.sellingbooks.com/

Tuesday, September 25th @ Words from the Heart with Rev. Linda Neas
Linda reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe for readers at Words from the Heart!
https://contemplativeed.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 26th @ Bring on Lemons with Michelle DelPonte
Wisconsin mother Michelle DelPonte reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe for readers at Bring on Lemons - will this be a lemon or some tasty lemonade?
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Thursday, September 27th @ A Day in the Life of Mom
Ashley Bass reviews Mary Maurice's latest page turner, The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe. Don't miss her insight and thoughts on this exciting new book!
https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

Monday, October 1st @ Strength 4 Spouses
Stop by Wendi Huskin’s blog Strength 4 Spouses where she shares her thoughts about Mary Maurice's The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
www.strength4spouses.blog

Tuesday, October 2nd @ Coffee with Lacey
Lacey reads and reviews the unusual and intriguing new novel by Mary Maurice - you won't want to miss her thoughts about The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
https://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, October 10th @Kathleen Pooler's Memoir Writer's Journey
Mary Maurice is today's author in the spotlight at Memoir Writer's Journey. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Maurice and learn more about her latest work - The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
https://krpooler.com/

Friday, October 12th @ Author Anthony Avina
Fellow author Anthony Avina reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe by Mary Maurice!
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com


Keep up with the latest stops by following us on twitter @WOWBlogTour.


About today's reviewer:

Michelle DelPonte is a busy mom and health care worker. Her two sons are the focus of her life and she works diligently to raise awareness about autism in the community. She loves reading, anything to do with history and geocaching just to name a few of her many hobbies. Michelle, her husband Ben and their two sons Sebastian and Asher live in Manitowoc, WI on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan where they enjoy walking and biking on the Mariner’s Trail and spending time at the Library.

Book Review - The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe

About the Book:

Susan Jordan awakens at her Santa Fe apartment, cloudy and disoriented. Her clothing is unfamiliar. Where has she been? Her nose crinkles as she smells his scent. Jack's back! Rubber filled legs brace against the stone cold tile floor as she reaches for the pile of mail haplessly setting on the table. Dozens of letters! Jack Monroe never stops. Susan wishes he would just leave, take his advice and go back to Detroit. He's gaining too much control! He's taking over!

Paperback: 232 pages
Publisher:  Silver Leaf Books LLC (September 10, 2018)
Genre: Mystery
ISBN-10: 1609752376
ISBN-13: 978-1609752378
ASIN: B07FMX9HLH

The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe is available for purchase in print and as an ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.    



About the Author:  

When I was a child growing up in the Detroit area, I thought I wanted to be a painter, and then as a teenager the idea of being a musician intrigued me, then as a young adult, I realized that I’m a writer.

After attending Western Michigan University for two party filled years, I decided to leave academia and explore the real world to learn what life is truly about. For fifteen years I’ve traveled the country working in restaurants, writing and doing readings wherever I was welcome.

While living in Minneapolis during my twenties, I was fortunate enough to be tutored by Dr. Jonis Agee, who was at the time head of the creative writing department at St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul. Her lessons were imprinted in me for all of these years, and have influenced my writing ever since.

My adventures landed me in San Diego, Chicago, San Francisco, and Oregon, finally leading me to the Land of Enchantment where I’ve resided since 1994. Living in Santa Fe, and the beauty and isolation that surrounds me, has inspire my creative muse in ways that no other place has. While still working in the hospitality industry, my passion for the craft of writing has never been stronger. And I know with each sentence I write, and every paragraph I compose, my ultimate goal is to find the perfect word.

Keep on bookin!

Connect with Mary online:

Website: www.marymaurice.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marymauriceauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MMauriceAuthor


---- review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto
I struggled with writing this review - not because the book wasn't fabulous, but because I didn't want to say too much about anything. So here goes:

1) This book will not take you long to read at all (I devoured it in one evening and quite possibly without even breaking to use the restroom)

2) You'll love each and every plot twist Mary Maurice includes in this page turning novel; you'll be at the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next.

3) The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe is not at all a predictable read - in fact, you may finish it and have thousands of unanswered questions. It's a book that sticks with you. A book you'll want to discuss with others, and a book you'll reach for to read a second time (and possibly a third).

4) This book isn't like anything I've read before and it's quite possibly a one of a kind sort of story.

So...if you are looking for something new and unique to read and share with your friends and family, grab a few copies of The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe and enjoy each and every page!


----------Blog Tour Dates

Monday September 17th @ WOW! Women on Writing
Interview & Giveaway!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Tuesday, September 18th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe for readers at World of My Imagination. Don't miss this chance to learn more about Mary Maurice's latest work!
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 19th @ Beverley A. Baird
Beverley A. Baird reads and reviews Mary Maurice's latest work, The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe and shares her thoughts on this page turning novel!
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

Thursday, September 20th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Mary Maurice writes an intriguing guest post at Choices today. Don’t miss this post and opportunity to learn about The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe. 
http://madelinesharples.com/

Thursday, September 20th @ Lisa Haselton Reviews and Interviews
Lisa Haselton interviews Mary Maurice about Maurice's latest novel The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 21st @ Bring on Lemons with Crystal Otto
Crystal reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe as readers of Bring on Lemons learn more about this latest page turner by Mary Maurice!
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Monday, September 24th @ Cathy Stucker's Selling Books
Don't miss today's interview with Mary Maurice and learn more about her latest book The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
https://www.sellingbooks.com/

Tuesday, September 25th @ Words from the Heart with Rev. Linda Neas
Linda reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe for readers at Words from the Heart!
https://contemplativeed.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 26th @ Bring on Lemons with Michelle DelPonte
Wisconsin mother Michelle DelPonte reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe for readers at Bring on Lemons - will this be a lemon or some tasty lemonade?
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Thursday, September 27th @ A Day in the Life of Mom
Ashley Bass reviews Mary Maurice's latest page turner, The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe. Don't miss her insight and thoughts on this exciting new book!
https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

Monday, October 1st @ Strength 4 Spouses
Stop by Wendi Huskin’s blog Strength 4 Spouses where she shares her thoughts about Mary Maurice's The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
www.strength4spouses.blog

Tuesday, October 2nd @ Coffee with Lacey
Lacey reads and reviews the unusual and intriguing new novel by Mary Maurice - you won't want to miss her thoughts about The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
https://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, October 10th @Kathleen Pooler's Memoir Writer's Journey
Mary Maurice is today's author in the spotlight at Memoir Writer's Journey. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Maurice and learn more about her latest work - The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe.
https://krpooler.com/

Friday, October 12th @ Author Anthony Avina
Fellow author Anthony Avina reviews The Suicide Letters of Jack Monroe by Mary Maurice!
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com


Keep up with the latest stops by following us on twitter @WOWBlogTour.

Thank you Providence Book Promotions for allowing us this opportunity to participate in the book blog tour of The Last Weekend Of the Summer by Peter Murphy. What a fabulous book!

A little bit about the book before my review...

Synopsis
They have been coming to their grandmother Gloria’s lake cottage since they were babies. Now Johnnie and Buddy have families of their own and C.C. has a life full of adult drama and adventure. And this trip – the only stated purpose of which is to bring the family together for the last weekend of the summer – seems full of portent. Gloria has been hinting that there’s more on the agenda than grilling and swimming, and when the three siblings learn that their estranged father will also be in attendance, it becomes clear that this weekend will have implications that last far beyond the final days of the season.

A touching, incisive view into the dynamics of a family on the verge of change and filled with characters both distinctive and utterly relatable, THE LAST WEEKEND OF THE SUMMER is a rich, lyrical reading experience that will resonate in your heart.

Genre: Literary Fiction

Published by: The Story Plant

Publication Date: August 28, 2018

Number of Pages: 224

ISBN: 1611882575 (ISBN13: 9781611882575)

About the Author
Peter Murphy was born in Killarney where he spent his first three years before his family had to move to Dublin. Growing up in the verdant braes of Templeogue, Peter was schooled by the De La Salle brothers in Churchtown where he played rugby for “The Wine and Gold.” He also played football (soccer) in secret! After that, he graduated and studied the Humanities in Grogan’s under the guidance of Scot’s corner and the bar staff, Paddy, Tommy and Sean. Murphy financed his education by working summers on the buildings sites of London. He also tramped the roads of Europe playing music and living without a care in the world.

But his move to Canada changed all of that. He only came over for a while and ended up living there for more than thirty years. He took a day job and played music in the bars at night until the demands of family life intervened. Having raised his children and packed them off to university, Murphy answered the long-ignored internal voice and began to write. He has published five novels so far and has begun work on a new one. Nowadays, he lives in beautiful Lisbon with his wife Eduarda and their well-read dog, Baxter.



Connect with Peter at:
– peterdmurphy.com
– Twitter – PeterD_Murphy
– Facebook – PeterDMurphyAuthor


Review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto
I have to begin by telling you I had no idea how this book was going to end. It was just like real life - funny, raw, edgy, filled with emotions, and completely unpredictable. The Last Weekend Of The Summer was a joy to read and I would feel comfortable allowing my teenage children to read the book as well. There wasn't anything that struck me as inappropriate for readers of all ages.

I finished this book weeks ago and still find the characters coming across my mind - they are well-written and each one has qualities I found myself loving and hating at the same time. What sticks with me most is the thought of what we all leave behind - what will our legacy be? As a young mother or a mother with young children (whichever way you prefer to look at it), it's hard for me to fathom our family dynamics in a few years when everyone is grown with relationships and potentially families of their own. I love how Peter Murphy explored family dynamics and relationships in this beautiful story - I would absolutely recommend The Last Weekend of  the Summer to friends and family (might also be appropriate for a book club read).

Thank you again Peter D. Murphy 

and Providence Book Promotions!

About today's reviewer

Crystal is a council secretary and musician at her church, birth mother, babywearing cloth diapering mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, Press Corp teammate for the DairyGirl Network, Unicorn Mom Ambassador, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their five youngest children (Carmen 11, Andre 10, Breccan 4, Delphine 3, and baby Eudora), two dogs, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff here, and at WOW!Women on Writing - Crystal is dedicated to turning life's lemons into lemonade!

A Taste of Fall - Recipes for Applesauce Cake, Caramel Sauce, Applesauce, and Cream Cheese Frosting

Happy Harvest Time! Here I am in my little corner of the cornfield here in lovely Wisconsin. The nights are getting cooler and we are in the middle of many things, one of them being chopping hay and right around the corner will be the corn. I've been busy canning spaghetti sauce, corn, tomato juice,  ketchup, salsa, and applesauce. Next up comes the pears, more apples, pumpkin, and then we can start the process for sauerkraut. This is a busy yet rewarding time of the year. I'm first going to give you the recipe for this delicious caramel apple cake with cream cheese frosting and then I'll also give you the recipe for my homemade applesauce as well as the homemade caramel. You can absolutely make the recipe with store bought ingredients though - so don't be intimidated! This cake embodies everything fall to me - enjoy it with a steaming latte in the wee hours of the morning and start your day off on the right foot!

Hugs,

~Crystal

Caramel Apple Cake (aka Applesauce Cake)

Cake Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1 C sugar
1 C applesauce (chunky is nice)
2 eggs
2 C flour
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 T cinnamon
1 pinch cloves
optional: raisins or walnuts

Instructions:
Cream together your butter, eggs, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. If your butter is already room temperature this will work fine - if it's cold, just heat it up a bit before you begin. Now is about the time I turn on the oven to preheat it to 350F - I let the mixer do the work!

If you're using homemade applesauce, I wouldn't add so much cinnamon and cloves, but that's up to you. Add the cloves, cinnamon, etc... but not the flour yet. Make sure everything is mixed well and then add the flour. You may need to adjust the flour a bit depending on where you live, time of day, humidity, etc... but ultimately your batter shouldn't be as runny as pancake batter but not as firm as a cookie dough.

Grease your 9x13 pan and then add the cake mix and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean - 34-45 minutes at my house.

While the cake is baking, you can make your caramel sauce and cream cheese frosting- if you're not making it from scratch (you can totally buy caramel ice cream topping and cream cheese frosting), you can just relax during this part!

In case you want to make the frosting and such - those recipes are below.

When cake is done - allow to cool in the pan.

Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the cake (if you're like me, you'll need to space them just right so there's 13 rows of 8 holes in each row...but honestly, just poke some holes!!)

Pour the caramel over the top of the cake so the holes are filled and the cake is glazed with caramel deliciousness.

Frost with cream cheese frosting and if you have more caramel left, drizzle it on top - and maybe sprinkle some nuts along the top too - dress it up as you see fit and enjoy!

Caramel Sauce 

Ingredients:

1 C brown sugar

1 stick butter

1 pinch of sea salt

1 t vanilla

1/2 C heavy cream

Instructions:

Combine sugar and butter in a pan on the stove (low heat)  - stirring continuously. Add sea salt and vanilla - keep stirring. Add the heavy cream and stir until smooth and evenly combined. Remove from heat and continue stirring until caramel is room temperature and then it's ready to add to your cake (see above) or enjoy with ice cream. 

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 C sour cream

1 T vanilla

2 C powdered sugar

1 stick butter

Instructions:

All ingredients should be room temperature - just cream them together using a stand mixer (or hand mixer). If you'd like to add pumpkin pie spice, caramel, or cinnamon you can - depending on the recipe, this might be desirable. 

Enjoy!

Home Made Apple Sauce - Made Easy

Ingredients:

4-6 medium sized apples

1/4 C sugar or honey

2 T lemon juice

1 T cinnamon

1 dash of cloves

Instructions:

You may core and peel your apples if you wish - but when I make a dozen quarts at a time, I simple core the apples and leave the skins on (then at the very end, I use a hand blender to blend the skins down so you don't know they're still in there) - totally your call! Anyway - get your apples into a pan (with or without the skins, but definitely cored). 

Using medium heat, add the rest of the ingredients and stir together then cover the pan. Check back and stir often until it begins cooking down and then remove the lid. After 1-15 minutes, you should be able to blend or mash the mixture - if you like chunky applesauce, just mash with a potato masher and enjoy, but if you've left the peels on, you'll want to blend the mixture so it's not as chunky. Voila! 

Enjoy! 

Wisconsin Educator, Mother, & Business Owner Cathy Hansen Reviews "Rose Colored Glasses" by Jo Ann Simon

Thank you WOW! Women on Writing for including us as a blog stop on the book blog tour of Jo Ann Simon's  Rose Colored Glasses- it truly is a pleasure!



Head over to JoAnn's blog for more reviews and information about this fabulous memoir! 

Dear Tom,
I'm back on Anna Maria Island... missing you.
But walking down these beautiful beaches reminds me of us and makes
me feel a little less far away from you. And that encourages me as I am writing our story.
Hopefully this will help other people who are feeling our pain too.
I love and miss you every day, darling.
Love,
Me

When he first saw me, Tom said that he would spend the rest of his life with me. To my surprise, he actually did. He was the love of my life. We shared a story that felt like a dream. Every moment was an adventure... and then Tom became ill. As his mysterious symptoms persisted we were hurtled through a maze of fear, tests, doubts and sorrow. But while doctors toyed with diagnoses--Lyme disease, ALS--we filled each day with joy, hope, good food, wine, music and travel. Even when death came to crush our storybook romance, we found that the human spirit is greater than the frailties of the body, greater than suffering and grief.

From the fateful tick bite on Block Island to central nervous system failure, to healing my grief and loss, I stayed afloat, upbeat, and connected to Tom through devotion, true love, and by donning my own special pair of rose-colored glasses.

Paperback:  288 Pages
Publisher:  WiDO Publishing (May 29th 2018)
Genre: Memoir
ISBN-10: 1947966049
ISBN-13: 978-1947966048

Rose Colored Glasses is available for purchase in print and as an ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.  



About the Author:

Jo Ann Simon, a corporate executive, is a lifelong nutmegger, living in various locations in the Nutmeg state of Connecticut. She is a constant traveler, exploring the world including her favorite country, Italy. When she is not traveling, Jo Ann loves spending time with her family, friends and her seven grandchildren. Her day job running a company, painting fine art, gardening and writing fill in the blanks of her life. Palm trees are essential in her personal landscape with beaches to match.

Find JoAnn Online:

Website: https://www.joann-simon.com/

Blog: https://forgetmenotjosi.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ForgetMeNotJoSi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannsimonauthorpage/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-ann-simon-27626518/

Instagram: forgetmenotjosi



Keep up with other book tours by following us on twitter @WOWBlogTour.


Review by Cathy Hansen:


Rose Colored Glasses is a story of love, loss, and optimism in the face of terrible obstacles. Jo Ann Simon bravely tells the tale of her journey with her husband, from their meeting and eventually falling in love and marrying, and through his health struggles that eventually took his life. One would expect this to be a sad tale, but Simon is able to point out the silver lining even through the difficult times.

Simon allows readers a window into her life as she shares her joys and her struggles, both the wonderful moments with her husband, as well as the heartbreaking days of dealing with his illness, doctors, and treatments. Rose Colored Glasses is a beautiful book for those dealing with the loss of a loved one, thanks to Simon’s positivism and the way she pushes on and works through the loss, never forgetting the good times. I particularly enjoyed the letters Simon included in the book, telling her husband Tom about her visit back to the vacation destination they had enjoyed together before his illness.

Rose Colored Glasses is also a book of hope, understanding, and awareness about ALS. Even though I know of families who have been touched by ALS, I didn’t know much about the mysterious illness or how families struggle to find a diagnosis. Simon’s story is a powerful tool to help others understand what families go through when an illness like ALS strikes. Thank you, Jo Ann Simon, for bravely sharing these moments with your readers.

About today's reviewer:

Cathy Hansen is a wife, mom, teacher, independent
beauty consultant, and small business owner. She and her husband operate SeedsNBeans, a local nature store, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.