My bizzy life over the holidays!!

So This Holiday brings all kinds of fun for us! I was able to spend Thanksgiving with my immediate family, minus some family members. I made a dish that flopped, but Abbys chocolate pretzels were the bomb! We all had a great time. Then the next day, we had a get together with some of our friends for game night. If you saw my husband, you would have thought I didn't feed him. Chuck and I were famished, and the girls had a blast! It was a lot of fun, and I can't thank Jennifer and Tom enough. These two are kind enough to have a few get togethers in their home for our club will county women. So then, my husband goes to the store because we didn't make our own turkey. He got a nice turkey, and with the assistance of our youngest, we will have a turkey dinner. I love turkey!! The left overs are amazing.. You can make turkey sandwiches, soup, turkey salad. I'm sure there are a plethora of other ideas which I can find on pinterest. Last night, we went to my brothers again because my nephew came in from Louisiana with his girlfriend. Another great get together. Of course I had to get home and do housework, and good intentions of doing paper work. That never happened. (the paperwork) I was bushed, I had worked and then went to the get together. I still have housework, and need to get to the gym today. And I need to get the Christmas presents to the inlaws so the snoopy snoops don't look at everything they got. Yes, even at their age! Until next time!!! Carole

Do you geocache? Here's a review on an interesting thriller, take a look!

Cache a Predator is a geocaching thriller about a father’s love, justice, and the unhinged game of hide-the-cache.

Officer Brett Reed will do anything to gain custody of his five-year-old daughter, Quinn. But when a judge grants Brett's drug-addicted ex-wife custody and slaps him with a protective order for losing his temper, he fears for Quinn's safety. Who will protect her now?

When Quinn is found abandoned on the streets, she's placed in a temporary foster home until Child Protective Services can complete an assessment. It should only take a few days.

But a lot can happen in a few days.

Especially when there's a deranged psychopath on the loose, someone who's attacking pedophiles, someone who wants to protect children like Quinn, and someone who's planting body parts in geocaching sites.

This book is hidden in cache sites all over the US and Canada with the goal for it to travel to all 50 states. It’s mission is to spread awareness of child abuse and how it harms victims, families, and communities.

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"The author has developed her innate talent to frame events with a clarity and color that keeps the reader anxious to turn the page to get to the next level of interest."

""This book is like watching Criminal Minds or Law and Order." 

Midwest Review said, "Any who look for deep psychological elements in their mysteries will find this a satisfying read, moving beyond the usual one-dimensional focus on mystery to reach out and tweak the reader's heart." - D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer 

About the Author

Michelle grew up in the suburbs of Detroit with five brothers. She enjoys writing her novels and encouraging writers and readers alike. She is living her dream writing stories of real people searching for their dreams and confronting their fears, showing the passion of the characters' plights, often giving her the ability to show the reader the 'other' side of the story. When she is not writing she enjoys life on the tennis court and is known as “Queen of the Rim Shots.”

Her debut novel, CACHE a PREDATOR, a geocaching mystery. was launched in July, 2013 and has been an Amazon best-seller in the crime/thriller category.  Her other works include: Willow, Scattered Links, Kelly’s Story, Eclair Series, and The Vision in a Kiss.  She has won contests in both The Writer’s Journal and The Writer’s Digest. Love is Just a Word (Scattered Links) was a bronze medalist is the 2010 Frasier Contest, a 2011 semi-finalist in the ACFW Genesis Contest, and won the Aspiring Writer’s Contest withe THE READING ROOM, 2013.

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I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

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My Review: Boy since I started doing book reviews, I've read one good book after another. Cache a Predator is no different. Just as it sounds, it has the adventurous hobby of geocaching mixed in with a thriller type story line. This book actually has two story lines in it. One of child neglect, which is a reality in our society today. The other is of a mystery who seems to have an unusual way of revenge mixed in with geocaching. This story does remind me of the Lorena Bobbit story long ago. If you remember that whole story line, you'll get the other story line of the book, but with a twist. I couldn't stop reading, but I will think about going geocaching. Oh, and it has a little bit of a love story in this too. It is very dark, and deals with alot of real topics. Not for the faint of heart. Will Brett find happiness, and get Quinn? Will Sarah finally let a man into her life? Will Ali get the help she needs? Find out! Loved it, and I can't wait for a follow up. Until Next time. Carole

Christmas baking

How many of you enjoy baking during the holidays? I always mean to bake, but run out of time. This year we will spend Thanksgiving with my family, and the day after at a friends for more celebrating. I think we will bake some things to have people test for the holidays. My Christmas gift to my family was going to be Potica from our favorite bakery, but if I have time, I plan to do home made cookies. That's alot of baking. Can I ask my readers how they bake for large families? I will post some yummy recipes I have saved from Pinterest. I have to admit, that is my new addiction. Christmas baking recipes: Easy for me~ Description These easy, colorful, sweet & salty treats are perfect for Memorial Day picnics and pretty much any festivity you can think of. Ingredients 1 bag Pretzel Twists, Squares, Or Circles (9 Ounce Bag) 1 bag Hershey's Kisses (12 Ounce Bag) 1 bag (12 Oz. Size) M&Ms Preparation 1. Spread your pretzels out on a cookie sheet, and place one Hershey’s Kiss on top of each pretzel. 2. Place sheet in the oven at 275 degrees for 3 minutes–just long enough for the Kisses to get soft. 3. Remove from oven, and immediately press a single M&M on each. 4. Refrigerate until eating to make sure they are deliciously solid Cream Cheese Cookies If you like tangy cream cheese frosting and soft buttery cookies, you’re going to be in heaven. The cream cheese stays slightly soft, gooey, and tastes much more like cream cheese frosting than it does like cheesecake. The cookies have a caramely, buttery, rich depth of flavor thanks to dark brown sugar. It has more moisture than light brown because it has more molasses, creating cookies are supremely soft, tender, and moist. Graham cracker crumbs add another subtle layer of flavor and provide a tiny bit of texture. Make sure to chill the dough before baking. YIELD: 9 large cookies PREP TIME: 20 minutes COOK TIME: about 12 minutes TOTAL TIME: 3+ hours, for chilling INGREDIENTS: Cookies 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick) 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed (I used 1/4 cup of light and 1/4 cup dark) 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs 1 teaspoon cornstach 1/2 teaspoon baking soda pinch salt, optional and to taste Cream Cheese Filling 6 ounces brick-style cream cheese, softened (lite is okay) 1/4 cup granulated sugar DIRECTIONS: Cookies - To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl and electric mixer) combine the butter, sugars (highly recommend using some dark brown sugar), egg, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until creamed and well combined, about 4 minutes. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, graham cracker crumbs, cornstarch, baking soda, optional salt, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute. Using a large cookie scoop, 1/4-cup measure, or your hands, form 9 equal-sized mounds of dough, roll into balls, and using your fingers, hollow out the center of each ball as if you were making thumbprint cookies. In doing so, the cookies will naturally flatten. Make sure not to go too deeply and punch through the bottom but go deep enough that each cookie will be able to hold 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling. Place mounds on a large plate or tray and place in the freezer while you wash the mixing bowl and make the cream cheese filling. Cream Cheese Filling - To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl and electric mixer) combine the cream cheese, sugar, and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy and creamed, about 4 minutes. Using a small spoon, equally distribute filling among dough mounds, smoothing the tops lightly with the back of the spoon or a spatula. Place mounds on a large plate or tray, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 3 days. Do not bake with unchilled dough because cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading. Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray. Place dough mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 6 cookies per sheet) and bake for about 12 minutes, or until edges have set and cream cheese is just set; don't overbake for soft cookies (bake a few minutes longer for firmer cookies). Cookies firm up as they cool. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for about 15 minutes before serving. I let them cool on the baking sheet and don't use a rack. Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days (I'm comfortable storing items with baked cream cheese at room temp; store in the fridge if you prefer) or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired. Recipe from Averie Cooks. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you. I got these off pinterest. I haven't tried them yet. When I do I will let you know how they taste. Until then follow me on pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/mom4abb/ Until next time. Carole

Seaside Hearts giveaway right here!!!

NEW RELEASE SEASIDE SUMMERS BOOK 2.....
The newest addition to the LOVE IN BLOOM series, featuring a group of fun, sexy, and emotional friends who gather each summer at their Cape Cod cottages. They’re funny, flawed, and will have you begging to enter their circle of friends. You met them in READ, WRITE, LOVE, (The Remingtons, Book 5), follow these friends on their search for forever love in the Seaside Summers series.

SEASIDE HEARTS
Jenna Ward is vivacious, spontaneous, and confident—except when she’s around the man who stole her heart years earlier, strikingly handsome, quiet, and reliable Pete Lacroux. After years of trying to get his attention and overwhelmed from dealing with her mother’s new cougar lifestyle, Jenna’s giving up on Peter—and is ready to explore other men.

As the eldest of five siblings, with an alcoholic father to care for, boat craftsman Pete Lacroux always does the right thing and has no time for a real relationship. He’s looking forward to seeing his friend Jenna, a welcome distraction who’s so damn sexy and so painfully shy that she equally entertains and confuses him.

When Jenna picks up a hard-bodied construction worker, jealousy ignites Pete’s true feelings, and he’s powerless to ignore the desires for Jenna he never realized he had. But Pete’s not the quiet guy he appears to be, and his life is anything but conducive to a relationship. Can Jenna handle the real Pete Lacroux—the sexiest, most passionate alpha male she’s ever seen—or will she crack under pressure? And can Pete reclaim the life he once had without tearing apart his family?

SEASIDE SUMMERS are the newest addition to the LOVE IN BLOOM series
**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

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Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of a number of International bestselling novels. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women's Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Cafe. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, she's written for Calgary's Child Magazine and Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on The Women's Nest or her personal website.

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I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

ALSO AVAILABLE 

Books 1 - 3 Snow Sisters, Love in Bloom Series #1 - 3

Books 1 - 6 The Bradens, Love in Bloom Series #4 - 9

Books 1 - 5 The Remingtons, Love in Bloom Series #10 - 14 


Books 7 - 12 The Bradens, Love in Bloom Series #15 - 20


Books 1 - 4 Seaside Summers, Love in Bloom Series #21 - 24


NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

Five lucky winners will each win the first two ebooks in the Love in Bloom Series, 

Sisters in Love & Sisters in Bloom
Ending on Sunday 23rd November at 11.59pm EST

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After the Fog book review

Another great book that involves nursing in a positive way.  If you're a history buff, the way in which this author takes you back to industry is awesome.  The reader will feel like they are standing in the mills, in the town of Donora with her descriptive writing.  I felt like I was transported back in time.  I felt like I was with Rose and her patient Isabella and Ian.   Alot of drama, and secrets that are kept. No matter what your profession, working or not, you'll love it. If you're a soap opera buff, you'll love it. However, due to the language, I wouldn't recommend to anyone to read under 16 to 18. That's my preference. I can't imagine what had to be like in nursing during Roses' time! Overwhelmed, stress, deceit, lies and trust. It's always more fun when it isn't you the reader, that's why this book is soooooooo good! Enjoy!

A Nurse’s Obligation
A Town’s Demise
A Mother’s Regret
A Son’s Calling
A Daughter’s Mistake
A Time to Forgive

For every woman who thinks she left her past behind…Historic, environmental drama wrapped in a love story...

It's 1948 in the steel town of Donora, Pennsylvania, site of the infamous “killing smog.” Public health nurse, Rose Pavlesic, has risen above her orphaned upbringing and created a life that reflects everything she missed as a child. She’s even managed to keep her painful secrets hidden from her doting husband, loving children, and large extended family.

When a stagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighbors grow sicker and Rose’s nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she never could have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life, making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressure mounts, Rose finds she’s not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fog finally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family—and the whole town—splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgive herself and let her family’s healing begin?

***2013 Eric Hoffer Award Finalist*** 

***Independent Publisher Awards: 2012 Silver, Best Regional Fiction–Mid-Atlantic*** 

***National Indie Excellence Awards: 2012 WINNER-- Literary Fiction***

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“Shoop masterfully details familial struggles, secrets, and consequences that keep the reader riveted til the end.” - Melissa Foster

 “A great and satisfying read. Rose’s triumph over adversity touched me deeply. Ms. Shoop truly knows how to tug the heartstrings. S. K. McClafferty, author of The Ghost and Devlin Muir.” - S. K. McClafferty, author of The Ghost and Devlin Muir

 “This is a well-written story set authentically in a historic place and time, around an intricate plot which includes most of the elements that provide for a good “soap opera,” or a book that would be accepted by Oprah Winfrey.” -Historical Novel Society

About the Author

After the Fog is the second novel by bestselling Kindle author Kathleen Shoop.  Her debut novel, The Last Letter, garnered multiple awards in 2011.  A Language Arts Coach with a Ph.D. in Reading Education, Kathleen lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Kathleen has also written award winning Love and Other Subjects and her stories have also appeared in several of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

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I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

THREE Lucky Winners will each receive a $15 Amazon Giftcard,

courtesy of After the Fog author, Kathleen Shoop

Ending on Sunday 9th November at 11.59pm EST

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