Magical Murmurations ~ @Donna_Fasano #Starlings

So much is known about starlings—their birdsong, their breeding rituals, their migration routes—but starlings participate in one practice that still remains a mystery. And it is called murmurations. How these birds swoop in such large clouds without colliding is unknown. Here’s a video I found on YouTube posted by National Geographic. I could watch this over and over. The behavior of these beautiful birds is fluid, graceful, magical, mysterious. I am utterly transfixed. 

I hope you enjoy the video!

This month, I’m featuring 2 books on sale.

Save 50% on FOLLOWING HIS HEART. The book is 99¢ and is available at these stores: Kindle  *  Nook  *  Kobo  *  iBooks

Save 66% on THE WEDDING PLANNER’S SON. This book is also 99¢ and is available for Kindle Readers. It is a free read for members of Kindle Unlimited.

As an Amazon, Nook, and iTunes Associate, Awesome Romance Blog earns from qualifying purchases. This post may contain paid links.

New Cover Reveal ~ His Wife for a While by @Donna_Fasano

Brand New Look ~ Same Romantic Story

Desperate Bachelor - Ben Danvers is about to lose everything―unless he finds a woman willing to become his wife. The terms of his grandfather's will are outrageous, but they are ironclad. Just when Ben is about to give up all hope, the last woman he ever expects to help him makes a startling proposal.

Bargaining Bride - Chelsea Carson offers Ben a deal he can't refuse. He can keep the family fruit orchard if he will make her one and only dream come true. But there are to be no strings attached in this deal, no messy emotions when it is over. Their makeshift marriage will be perfect―unless Chelsea allows love to bungle the plan.

What readers are saying:

“For readers who love romance, children, and surviving the odds… you won’t be disappointed.”

“Touching, enjoyable read.”

“…I would definitely recommend!”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW COVER? :) 

Find this Bargain-Priced eBook:

Kindle Worldwide

Nook

Kobo

iBooks

Google Play

As an Amazon, Nook, and iTunes Associate, Awesome Romance Blog earns from qualifying purchases. This post may contain paid links.

Happy Mother's Day

To celebrate mothers everywhere, I am offering two 99¢ deals this month. Like me, many of you are still under stay-at-home orders so we won’t get to spend the day with our children and grandchildren. That doesn’t mean we can’t visit with them. I intend to video chat with my sons and my granddaughter.

Since you can’t see your kids, do something fun for yourself. This evening, I plan to cook shrimp and grits for myself and I’ll break open a bottle of my favorite wine. Yum!

Wherever you are, however you can, celebrate. This is your day! How do you plan to make today special for yourself?

Here are the Kindle deals I’m offering. Reduced prices will remain through the end of May and are available in Kindle Stores worldwide.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a few pennies from qualifying purchases. This post may contain paid links.

Magic Custard Cake #Recipe

I hope you and yours are well! Are you going nuts with this quarantine thing? I am. I’ve been reading, writing, chatting with friends on the phone… and I even dragged out my sewing machine to try my hand at making face masks. (See my favorite in a photo below.) I’ve also been cooking and baking. I saw this “magic” cake online and thought I would try. I liked it. I hope you will, too.

Magic Custard Cake

Ingredients:

4 eggs (whites and yolks separated), room temp

1 tsp white vinegar
2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup sugar

1/8 tsp salt
8 Tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk, lukewarm
powdered sugar for dusting cake

Instructions:

      1.    Preheat oven to 325 F degrees. Grease and Line 8 inch x 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.

      2.    Separate egg whites from egg yolks. Add the egg whites and the vinegar to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until stiff. Set aside.

      3.    In a medium sized bowl, beat the egg yolks & sugar until light (use a wire whisk or electric mixer, your choice). Add the salt, butter, and vanilla. Beat for two mins. Add the flour and mix it in until fully incorporated.

      4.    Slowly add milk and stir until everything is well mixed. Add the egg whites, a third at a time, gently folding in with a spatula. Repeat until all egg whites are folded into the batter.

      5.    Pour batter into baking dish and bake for approximately 45 minutes or until the top is lightly golden. Cake will have a little jiggle in it. Don’t over bake as over baked custard tastes eggy. Cool completely and dust with powdered sugar before serving. Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Keeps for up to three days.

      Here's my starfish face mask: 

What are YOU doing to fill your time during the quarantine?

Only 2 days left of my April Sale.

WILD HEARTS OF SUMMER is just 99 cents.

Available for Kindle - Nook - Kobo - iBooks

As an Amazon and Apple iBooks affiliate,

I receive a few pennies from buy links used on this page.

Mother Teresa's ANYWAY Poem

Today I saw a quote that touched my heart. “Your capacity to allow people to live a truth completely opposite to yours, without shutting off your compassion for them, is a reflection of how powerful your love is.” I don’t know who said that, but those words had a profound affect on me. I have been engaging in a lot of political discourse lately and finding myself feeling very frustrated and irritated. I need to work on cultivating my compassion for those whose truth is completely opposite of mine. The quote reminded me of Mother Teresa’s ANYWAY poem. I’m posting it here for myself and anyone else who might need to read these wonderful words.

Mother Teresa’s ANYWAY Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Love them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Use Library Apps ~ They're Free ~ They're Fun @DonnaFaz

During this time of self-isolation, I have wondered what I might be able to do to be helpful. I have been using my local library via its various library apps (the physical building is closed). I have been enjoying audiobooks, but there are also ebooks, magazines, and movies available for use. All free of charge. I thought I would alert people to these library apps and how to use them.

First, find your local library’s website online, and if you don’t have a library card, apply for one online. It costs nothing for you to apply for a card/account. The “apply now” button on my library’s website is easy to find:

Second, find the link on the website that allows you to download an app. Some of the apps available on my county library’s site are specifically for children which is great for those of you who have children at home. Other apps give you access to movies, magazine, and newspaper, just to name a few of the available resources. The “downloading and streaming” apps on my library’s site were easy to find:

I have also downloaded an app called Libby that allows me to search my library directly from my iPhone (rather than going through the library’s website). If you have an iPhone, click the Apple App Store icon, search for the library app used by your library, and click “get.” Libby and Overdrive are two very popular library apps. Once the app has been downloaded on your phone, click it to open. Then log in, using your library account number. Once you’re logged in you can search for thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and other free reading material.

Library apps are easy to use, and best of all, they’re free! I hope you find this information helpful, and please remember to STAY HOME AND STAY HEALTHY.

DIY Hand Sanitizer ~ #Coronavirus Defense

All this talk of Coronavirus has me feeling nervous. I am planning to fly across the country next week and the last thing I want is to catch a bug. So I went to the store today for hand sanitizer—and the shelves were empty. However, I read online that I could make my own. Here’s my recipe:

DIY Hand Sanitizer

Ingredients:

2/3 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol

1/3 cup 100% aloe vera

Directions:

Measure alcohol and aloe vera into a clean glass mixing bowl. Use a wire whisk to stir until well combined. Pour the hand sanitizer into clean containers.

Yield: 1 cup (about 236 ml)

Other things you can do to avoid getting sick:

Wash your hands thoroughly and often.

Don’t touch your face.

Avoid shaking hands. Some people are bumping fists or elbows. I’m avoiding that, too as it is still skin-to-skin contact. Besides, people often sneeze into their hands and elbows.