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"Mom, get a life!"

Her teenage daughter's words were daunting. True, struggling single mom Julia Jones hadn't had a date in over a decade, but she could still catch a man–if she needed to! So Julia, who claimed not to want a husband, found herself entangled in a fake romance.

Ryan Shane was tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome. And he just so happened to need a no-strings date himself. Their plan was perfectly thought out. Until a conveniently staged good-night kiss turned into very inconvenient passion…

Her Fake Romance contains bonus material that includes several delicious recipes! Save $3 now! Get this ebook for just 99¢!

US Kindle  *  UK Kindle  *  iBooks  *  Nook  *  Kobo

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Two Mug Cake Recipes by @Donna_Fasano

Sometimes I feel like treating myself to a sweet snack, but I don’t want to heat up the house by turning on the oven. Here are two recipes for mug cake that will take you about two minutes to mix up and a minute and a half to “bake” in the microwave. I have tried them both (hey, someone had to be the Guinea pig!) and they’re both delicious.

Chocolate Mug Cake

Cake:

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt (optional)

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

1 heaping tablespoon chocolate chips

Directions:

1.     Measure flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt into a 14-ounce microwave-safe mug. Stir to combine.

2.    Add milk, oil, and vanilla. Stir until all ingredients are completely incorporated.

3.    Cook in microwave on high for 1 and a half minutes (90 seconds). Overcooking will result in a dry cake. Do not overcook.

4.    Remove from microwave and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top in a single layer. Allow cake to sit for 2 to 3 minutes.

Vanilla Mug Cake

Cake:

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt (optional)

2 1/2 tablespoons milk

1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

1 heaping tablespoon shredded coconut

Directions:

1.     Measure flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a 14-ounce microwave-safe mug. Stir to combine.

2.    Add milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir until all ingredients are completely incorporated.

3.    Cook in microwave on high for 1 and a half minutes (90 seconds). Overcooking will result in a dry cake. Do not overcook.

4.    Remove from microwave and sprinkle coconut over the top in a single layer. Allow cake to sit for 2 to 3 minutes.

 

When it comes to toppings, use your imagination. If you don’t like coconut, you can substitute all sorts of things. The sky is the limit! Topping suggestions:

1 tablespoon hazelnut chocolate spread

1 tablespoon peanut butter and a drizzle of honey

1 tablespoon jarred caramel sauce

1 tablespoon jarred fudge sauce

1 tablespoon strawberry jam

I often incorporate my love of food into my books. In HER FAKE ROMANCE, Julia Jones is a caterer. She's a struggling single mom of a -- gulp -- teenaged daughter. 

Her Fake Romance is a fun, lighthearted sweet romance. Here's what one reviewer said, "The author's style was pure delight, fun and funky. Modern and very entertaining. I never would have thought that a fake romance could be so funny and emotional at the same time. HJ Top Pick!" ~HarlequinJunkie.com

About the author:

Donna Fasano is a USA Today Bestselling Author of sweet romance, contemporary romance, and women’s fiction. Learn more about her at her website. Sign up for her newsletter by clicking here.

 

 

 

Sour Cream Fudge Cake with Butter Cream Frosting by Donna Fasano

This cake is rich, moist, and chocolaty, the filling is decadent, and the frosting adds just the right sweetness. I recently baked this cake for a special occasion and it was a huge hit! Give it a try.

Sour Cream Fudge Cake with Butter Cream Frosting

Ingredients

For the cake:

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup cocoa

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

For the filling:

1/2 cup Nutella Hazelnut Spread

For the butter cream frosting:

1 stick butter

3 cups confectioner sugar

2 tablespoons sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°. Spray two 8 or 9 inch round pans with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, salt, sour cream, milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla until combined, scraping the bowl occasionally, for about 3 minute. Divide evenly into pans.
3. Bake until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, about 28 to 32 min. Do not over bake! Allow cakes to rest in the pans for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and place on wire rack. Cool completely! (If cakes are not cool, the Nutella filling will melt and you'll have a mess on your hands.)
4. For the frosting: Beat the butter with electric mixing until fluffy. Add confectioner sugar, sour cream, and vanilla, and beat until combined, fluffy, and of spreading consistency.
5. Place 1 cake layer on a plate, spread Nutella on cake, top with second layer, and spread frosting over the top and sides.

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This month, I am offering my book HER FAKE ROMANCE for just 99¢ for Kindle readers. Here are a few reviews:

“I loved the emotional build-up with just the right amount of sexual tension.” ~Kindle Reader

“…strong characters, heated passion.” ~Romantic Times

“The author's style was pure delight, fun and funky. Modern and very entertaining. I never would have thought that a fake romance could be so funny and emotional at the same time. HJ Top Pick!”  ~HarlequinJunkie.com

About the book:

“Mom, get a life!”

Her teenage daughter's words are daunting. True, struggling single mom Julia Jones hasn't had a date in over a decade, but she could still catch a man--if she needed to! So Julia, who claims not to want a husband, finds herself entangled in a fake romance.

Ryan Shane is tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome. And he just so happens to need a no-strings date himself. Their plan is perfectly thought out. Until a conveniently staged good-night kiss turns into very inconvenient passion...

This book contains bonus material that includes several delicious recipes! Grab this deal in the Kindle Store.

Happy Eating and Happy Reading!

Birthday Reflections by Donna Fasano

I hit a milestone birthday last week and I’ve been doing some thinking about how I’ve lived my life. Have I achieved success? Have I helped others? Am I living with purpose? Have I learned from my struggles? Have I been true to my deepest values? Yeah. Deep, deep thoughts, right? 

I’ve spent a large part of my life writing romance novels. Now, I realize that I’ll never save the world with my writing. But I do feel that my happily-ever-after stories have the ability to lift spirits, warm hearts, and put smiles on faces.

One of my most memorable fan letters arrived in the spring of 1995 and was written by a woman who lived in Oklahoma City. She had lost eleven friends and family members in the horrible bombing. One of my Harlequin books came out that same month and the woman said that she had gotten lost in one chapter of my book each night for ten nights. She thanked me for giving her a respite from her grief. That letter made me cry.

Creating characters and inventing stories has brought me a great deal of joy. Will my books change the world? No. But I hope they’ve offered readers a bit of joy. In fact, if my life were a book, I think I’d like the title to be A Little Joy Every Day.

If your life were a book, what would your title be?

Please look for my novels wherever eBooks, Paperbacks, and Audiobooks are sold.

About the author: Donna Fasano is a USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author of sweet romance, contemporary romance, and women's fiction. Discover more about her, her books, and her favorite recipes at her website. 

Put Your Clown Nose On And Inspire

I don't know about you, but I really like the idea of being an inspiration. Okay, so maybe I don't go so far as to don a red rubber nose or big, blue shoes that flop with each step, but inducing grins, lifting spirits, stirring confidence, boosting courage, all of these things energize me and make me feel alive. Bringing people up is so much more fun and rewarding than knocking them down. I often encounter grumps and wonder how they make it through the day. You know the type, people whose brows are pinched, who constantly frown, and who can't find a positive thing to say to anyone about anything—but enough about the "Negative Nelsons and Nellys" of the world. This post is about making a positive impact, which is something that some people just don't understand and never will.  

Inspiring others isn't all that difficult. It doesn't cost a lot of money. It doesn't take a great deal of effort. Here are a few simple suggestions on how you can become an inspiration:

Smile

Max Eastman said, "A smile is the universal welcome." He was right. I have found that a smile is a lot like the common cold—infectious (thankfully, a smile doesn't make your nose run). When I offer a smile of greeting, nine people out of ten will smile back. I've heard it said that the eyes are the window to the soul. I'd take that a step further and claim that a smile is the light that tells people you're home…you're engaged…you're interested…and, most importantly, they matter. I've also learned that a smile will often confuse an approaching frown. I know I shouldn't take such delight in confounding the grumps out there, but nothing fills me with more joy than forcing a pair of pursed lips to curl up at the corners.

Show a little concern

I can't tell you how many cashiers I have stunned with a sincere, "How are you doing today?" Of course, the question is so overused that it often goes unheard. But it's the delivery that matters. Asked in a heartfelt manner, cashiers (or bank tellers, or department store clerks, or…you get the idea) will stop what they're doing, they'll look me in the eye, they'll smile and answer, and most often they'll ask me how I'm doing in return. For that one moment, we truly connect. Letting people know you genuinely care has an extremely positive effect.

Look for the good

We seem to have no problem telling the server that our chicken is tough, or our potatoes are cold. We're often too quick to complain to the theater attendant that the air temperature isn't just right. Have you ever stopped to think how rarely people hear praise? When someone offers you a compliment, how does it make you feel? Well, think how great it would be to go around sprinkling that good feeling on everyone like it was fairy dust. It isn't difficult to say something nice, and that one compliment you give could be the only one that person hears all day long. Just think! One small show of appreciation could make someone's spirit soar.

There you have it…three easy tips that will set you on your way to being an inspiration in the lives of family, friends, and strangers alike. And once you start putting these suggestions into practice, I'm sure you'll find that YOU are the one who is most changed for the good. Now please don't get me wrong. Even though I've talked of rubber noses, smiles, and compliments, I do know that life isn't always a fun-filled circus. However, developing a habit of thinking of others, being connected and centered, making a conscious effort to notice those around you rather than moving through life on auto-pilot, showing honest caring and kindness toward those you meet, will give you an attitude of gratitude, and scientists are learning that a healthy mental outlook is a powerful contributor toward living a happy life.

Okay, now it's your turn. Leave a comment. It's your chance to say something nice. *smile*

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Donna Fasano is a wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt, and an all-round happy individual. Oh, and she just happens to be a USA TODAY Bestselling Author. You can learn more about her at her blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter. She loves to hear from her readers.