Reclaim Your Heart on SALE! 75% off the cover price through Aug 3rd! #MustRead


I'm offering Reclaim My Heart for 
75% off the normal cover price ($3.99). 
The sale will run through Aug 3rd
Grab your copy today!

"Fasano’s best book yet." ~BooksAndPals.com

"Captivating and beautiful…" ~NerdGirl Reviews







I'd like to thank The Book Chick for that 
fabulous graphic above!
Visit her on Facebook too! 

Make Your Own Body Scrub #DIY #Beauty #AlternativeHeath

Exfoliating your skin with a salt or sugar scrub encourages new skin cells to regenerate and leaves you feeling smooth, refreshed, and rejuvenated. You'll be amazed by how your skin will glow!

I prefer salt scrubs, and I make my own. It's easy and inexpensive. Give it a try.


What you'll need:
  • 1/2 cup oil (sweet almond, grapeseed, coconut, or light olive oil)
  • 1 cup fine sea salt (don't use iodized table salt, it's too harsh -and if you have sensitive skin, substitute sugar for the salt)
  • 5-10 drops of essential oils (citrus oils are refreshing, lavender is relaxing, rosemary and peppermint are stimulating)

Put salt (or sugar) into a bowl. Add oil and stir until combined. Add essential oil and mix until fully incorporated.

Body scrubs make a great and inexpensive gift for friends, teachers, hostess gifts, etc. You can find fancy glass containers in any craft store, or simply buy small, inexpensive Mason jars.

Joan Reeves Has a To-Be-Read Pile--and I'm On It! #MustRead #AmReading @DonnaFaz @JoanReeves


Author Joan Reeves

Joan Reeves, owner of that great blog called SlingWords, just informed the world that my newest book is on her to-be-read list. Pop over to her site and see the other great titles on the list. Click here to visit



Thank you, Joan. I hope you enjoy Reclaim My Heart.

Roasted Asparagus Frittata

I don't know about you, but I like to eat light during hot weather. Here's a nice frittata that cooks up in no time. My herbs are looking beautiful at the moment, so I have been known to substitute purple basil or chives for the parsley. Enjoy!

Roasted Asparagus Frittata


1 lb fresh asparagus,
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil,
course salt and cracked black pepper,
2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley,
7 eggs,
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese,
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika,

Preheat the oven to 400°.

Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper until they are frothy. Set aside for a moment.

Rinse asparagus and snap each stalk at the point on the stem where the stalk wants to break; cut into 1-inch pieces.

Set a 10-inch cast iron skillet over high heat. Pour in the oil and rotate to coat bottom. Add the asparagus stalks to the hot oil. Cook for approx. 2 minutes, shaking the skillet occasionally to turn the asparagus. When asparagus becomes bright greet, pour the beaten eggs over the roasted asparagus. Tilt the pan to evenly distribute the eggs.

Once the eggs start to set, gently lift the edge with a thin spatula. Tilt the skillet to allow the uncooked egg to run beneath the cooked egg. Place the skillet on the burner again and swirl it to redistribute the egg. Cook for about a minute or so, continuing to lift and tilt until the egg on top is no longer runny.

Sprinkle the cheese and smoked paprika over the surface of the frittata. Slide the skillet into the oven. Bake the frittata until it is firm to the touch, about 5 minutes. Do not overcook!


A Mark of Excellence - Phenomenal Book Sale - July 12th-14th - #LetsDoBooks

We all love excellence... we all love excellent books... some novels can even be called phenomenal for one reason or another: the unique story, the easy style, the imaginative prose, the vivid descriptions or the amazing and believable characters.

I am participating in a weekend sale of phenomenal books that have been reduced in price just for you—the avid readers out there who just can't get enough excellence. (I count myself among you and will be buying a few of these titles myself.)


So pop over to FaithMortimer's blog where you'll find a great list of excellent books.

Reclaim My Heart on the Landing Page @AboutDotCom and @AboutPublishing

Once again, About.com has me jumping up and down like a giddy kid. They've put the cover of my newest romance – Reclaim My Heart – on the landing page of their site! Valerie Peterson, the editor of About.com Book Publishing, told me the cover will be there for the full month of July because, well...because July is the month of romance. I am so excited and so grateful for the exposure. Please pop over there and take a look:



You can sign up for the About.com Book Publishing newsletter here.


Kid Friendly Summer Recipes

With summer temperatures sweltering here in the US, no one wants to heat up the kitchen. The heat only makes picky eaters even more finicky. So I've put together a few easy and kid-friendly recipes to help moms and dads beat the heat.

Remember, kids like to be involved, so let them in on the decision AND on the hands-on making of the meal!

Chicken Quesadillas


Flour (or corn) tortillas
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 can refried beans
2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Spread a thin layer of refried beans on a tortilla. Add a layer of chicken and a layer of cheese. Top with another tortilla. Heat just until cheese is melted (let's call it gooey…kids LOVE that word). Heating in a microwave (30 seconds or so) will result in a soft tortilla. Heating in a skillet gives the tortilla a nice crispness. Heating on the grill offers crispness and a wonderful smokiness. Cut each quesadilla into quarters and serve with various condiments: salsa or pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, salsa verdi, etc. (Add more grown up toppings for the adults: shredded lettuce, roasted red peppers, sliced scallions, caramelized onions, etc.)


Bagel Pizzas

Bagels (regular-sized for the adults, mini bagels for the kids)
1 jar pizza sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1 bag pepperoni slices

Slice bagels; top with sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni. Heat just until cheese is gooey. As stated above, the microwave works, resulting in a soft bagel. Heat in a skillet or on the grill for a crisp "crust." You could also pop the bagels under the broiler for a few minutes.


Watermelon Lemonade

6 cups of seedless watermelon (cut into 1" cubes)
1 ten-ounce bottle lemon juice
6 cups water
¾ cup sugar

Working in batches, puree watermelon with the lemon juice in a blender or food processor. Place puree into a large pitcher. Add water and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over ice cubes. Yum!

 
Ice Cream Sandwiches

1 package store-bought chocolate chip cookies
1 container ice cream
rainbow sprinkles, chocolate Jimmies, minced nuts, mini chips (optional)

Place a scoop of your favorite ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies. Roll sides in sprinkles, Jimmies, nuts, mini chips. Enjoy!



No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Squares

1 package graham crackers
1 eight-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
6 tablespoons confectioner sugar (super fine)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Fresh strawberries, sliced

Mix the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until completely combined. Spread onto graham cracker squares. Top with sliced strawberries. Delicious and easy summer dessert.


Introducing Author Carmen DeSousa #Mystery #Suspense @Author_Carmen


Today, I welcome my friend, author Carmen DeSousa, to my blog. Here's what she has to say about her newest release, Split Decisions:
~ ~ ~
As I was doing my final read-through of She Belongs to Me eighteen months ago, I realized I’d left several options open for a new story.
Like my real life, my female protagonist had many options to fail or succeed in her life. Every choice she made good and bad brought her to a crossroads. Some situations, of course, were out of her control, just as they are out of our control in real life. We don’t always see what awaits us on the other side of the door, and that can be scary or thrilling, happy or sad, wonderful or horrifying.
One of my favorite quotes to deal with all of these choices—good and bad—is…
“I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much.” ~Mother Teresa
I liked the quote so much I used it in my newest novel, Split Decisions, as I discussed this very issue of the choices we make and the situations others thrust us into without our approval. As I considered my life, at all the horrible things that have happened to me, all the bad decisions I’ve made, I realized that if I hadn’t made every one of them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And more importantly, I wouldn’t have ended up where I did twenty-three years ago, the year I met my husband. He is the reason I am alive and the reason I can write ‘happily ever afters’.
So remember, it doesn’t matter what door you decided to walk through, you can always make it the door to your dream. No matter if someone shoved you through it or if you opened it on your own volition, make that decision work for the good.
If my musings interest you, you will find all of these concepts in my stories. My first novel, She Belongs to Me, follows the life of a woman who has gone through many tragedies, but via one decision meets a man hell bent on saving her from them. She just has to learn to trust again and let her past and secrets go.
From there, all my novels have a slight connection to each other, so you can continue the journey and meet different protagonists with different issues and tragedies to overcome. Every story has a mystery, there’s always a gentle message, and above all, there’s always romance and suspense.
For more information on my stories, follow the links to your
favorite retailer:
Until next time, happy reading, friends!
Carmen DeSousa
I love talking about all things books, so please connect with me via one of the links below.

4 Quick, Simple Tips for Blogging Success

1. Offer Fun, Interesting Content

Your blog posts offer you a prime opportunity to shine, so write witty, write fun, write entertaining. Your blog posts should spark some sort of emotion in your reader. Make 'em happy. Make 'em sad. Make 'em think.

2. Ask For Comments

When you visit other websites and see lots of comments, what do you think? This site is popular! And that's exactly the opinion you want visitors to have about your site. So always include at least one open-ended question at the end of your posts.

3. Respond To Comments

If visitors take the time to comment, you should be a good host and respond. This isn't difficult. Click the setting on your blog so that you're alerted by e-mail any time someone comments.

4. Leave Comments On Other Blogs

Comment boxes usually offer a chance to add the URL of your blog as part of the comment process. DO THIS! You never know who might happen along, read your witty comment, and enjoy it so much they click through to your blog.

There you have it, my 4 quick and simple tips for blogging success. What tips have you found that have made your blog a success?


Time To Celebrate! I Am @AwesomeTrilogy Of The Week!

And the title is so GLITTERY! 
Please pop over to take a look at The Single Daddy Club.


If you love trilogies and series--be they books, movies, television, or music--you should bookmark this site.