Friday, October 4, 2019

BOOK: The Belterra Saga b y Carol Ann Kauffman


The Time After Time Series follows a pair of unlikely lovers on their adventures through their many lifetimes together, this time on an alien planet divided into four tribes.

Can one person make a difference?

When Neeka, daughter of the Lord of the Warrior Clan, was out picking lavender in their vast fields of the West, she felt a stirring in her heart. She felt him coming for her, and she was ready for him. 

When Braedon, Lord of the Soldier Clan of the East, rode into those lavender fields, searching for the woman he had dreamed of so often, he had no idea if she were even real. But there she was, standing there looking up at him, smiling. 

He reached his hand down to her. She accepted, thus beginning their new adventures together, changing not only their lives forever, but the course of life, unity, and the political structure on their planet forever. 
An alien planet. 
Or is it?



Dark Return is the sequel to Belterra, Time After Time, and takes place about ten years afterwards. When Belterra was populated long ago by a select group of humans sent here by the ancients in the hope of saving the human race, the indigenous race of bat-like creatures called the Batrach were forced into the ocean and underground sea caves by a giant force field. The force field has now weakened. The Batrach have emerged from their watery prison and they want their planet back.




This is the original cover of BELTERRA. It was taken looking down into one of the lush green valleys in the Tuscan region of Italy. Because I took the photo myself, I allowed myself to be talked into believing it did not properly convey the feeling of the book.

The second cover was the large green tree. It did not go over big, either.



This is the current cover, by the wonderful Suzi Albracht of Wickedly Awesome Designs. It typifies the main character, Neeka, and how one person CAN be the instrument of change.



This is the sequel to BELTERRA. In Dark Return, we still have Neck and Braedon, but the indigenous race of bat-like creatures have regained their strength and now want their planet back. They emerge from the dark and watery caves near the shoreline, intent on devouring the human race.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT: On Amazon Prime Video - Carnival Row, Series, Season 1


 Give this series a chance. It starts a bit slow and dark, photographically, because it has some important world building to do. The writing is excellent, the acting superb. And I love the costumes and special effects. It is steampunk Victorian fantasy with a very real current events aura.

I give this series a Carol 5 Star rating.




Orlando Bloom is nothing short of wonderful in this series as a detective called in to solve a series of gruesome crimes.



Tuesday, October 1, 2019

FOOD: Easy Pumpkin Cake

Dear Gentle Readers,


With October comes thoughts of pumpkin. This easy, "dump cake" recipe is a hit served warm with vanilla ice cream on a brisk autumn evening.

 EASY PUMPKIN CAKE

1 large can of pumpkin
1 can evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1½ teaspoon ginger
1½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3 beaten eggs
1 box yellow cake mix, regular size
1/3 cup melted butter
Grease bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Combine first six ingredients. Pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over the top evenly. Drizzle melted butter over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.


Sunday, September 29, 2019

SCHEDULE: Sept. 30 - Oct. 4, 2019


Mon., Sept. 30 - BOOK REVIEW:
Bounder Redeemed by Alison Jean Ash
Tues., Oct. 1 - FOOD:
Recipe - Easy Pumpkin Cake
Wed, Oct.2 - ART: Ode to Mexico
by Parker Kaufman
Thurs., Oct. 3 - ENTERTAINMENT:
Amazon Prime Video - Carnival Row
Series, Season 1
Fri., Oct. 4 - BOOKS: The Belterra Saga
BELTERRA and Dark Return 
by Carol Ann Kauffman