Release Celebration for STRANGER ON THE SHORE

I’ve been long awaiting the day that I could celebrate the release of STRANGER ON THE SHORE with you all!! You were the first group of readers to see scenes from this story, back when it was called “Gifts by the Shore,” and when my tale of two very different sisters found a home in the middle of the Mirabelle Harbor series, you were the first friends with whom I shared that news. 😀

So, THANK YOU, above all, for asking about my nod to Sense & Sensibility and this modern, Austen-inspired story, and especially for wanting to know what happened to Marianna and Ellen!

For anyone who is unfamiliar with the novel’s premise, here’s the back-cover blurb:

On the verge of turning forty and having just lost her job, Marianna Gregory flees Mirabelle Harbor for the summer with little more than a suitcase, her beat-up car, and the blessings of her good friend Olivia Michaelsen. Her ex-husband is living a new life in California. Her college-aged daughter is spending her vacation with her boyfriend in Michigan. And the house Marianna once called her own finally sold, so she has nowhere to live in Illinois now anyway.

However, her wealthy sister Ellen owns an empty bungalow on the beach in Sarasota, Florida, so Marianna turns to the sea for a chance to go shelling, regroup, and figure out what to do with this new chapter in her life. She doesn’t bargain on having to face down several family crises while she’s away, nor does she count on meeting a handsome beachcomber who bears a striking resemblance to Elvis. Just as surprising is the craft project she gets roped into volunteering for and the new group of friends who might just change the way she views the world and her future.

The most unexpected gifts can be found where the land meets the sea. STRANGER ON THE SHORE, a Mirabelle Harbor story. 

AVAILABLE NOW on Kindle, Nook, iBooks, and Kobo in ebook form, and in paperback on Amazon and B&N!!

A few lovely reviewers have already said:
“The summer on the beach and the stranger on the shore is more than a shallow summer read. Though light with characters who keep you in stitches, as only Marilyn knows how to write about, each one adds her piece of blessing to the recipe for a wonderful story with a magical ending.” ~Blogging Under the Shade Tree
“I have fallen in love with Ms. Brant’s Mirabelle Harbor series, and its characters. #4 in the series, Stranger On the Shore, is no exception. A FUN. Sexy. Perfect Summer read. For the beach. Or just a lazy Summer day.” ~Brandy
“This one just makes me crave the beach.” ~Austen Coffee & Music
“Have thoroughly enjoyed the Mirabelle Harbor series and this story is no exception. Marilyn’s descriptive language makes you feel like you are at the beach feeling the sand between your toes…I highly recommend this story.” ~Deborah
“I have enjoyed every book so far, and I am looking forward to what’s to come next.” ~Gina Rose

***If you’d like to read an excerpt, I have one HERE and another one HERE. Enjoy!!***

Here’s one summertime recipe I absolutely love, and I wanted to share it with you:

“Fruit Pizza” 😀

Crust

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup milk

Topping:

• 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese
• 1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar

Also you’ll need to get assorted fruits to top the pizza – strawberries, grapes, kiwi, mandarin oranges, raspberries, blackberries, bananas, pineapple, peaches, apples, blueberries, or whatever your favorites might be.

Directions for the crust: Blend sugar, shortening, and vanilla. Add egg and mix until smooth.  Add dry ingredients and then add the milk until you have a dough.  Chill dough for 1 hour.  Spray an 14-inch pizza pan with cooking spray.  Press dough into pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.  Let crust cool. (Alternately, you can just use a packaged sugar cookie mix and make it according to directions for a large pan or you could make individual cookie-sized fruit pizzas. If you want to reduce sugar, you can use a light unsweetened dough for the crust, as if making thin-n-crispy style pizza.)

Directions for the topping: In a large bowl, blend ingredients with a mixer until smooth.

Assembly: Spread the topping onto the crust, leaving about an inch of the edge of the crust uncovered.  Arrange fruit over pizza into a pretty pattern. If desired, drizzle the fruit with melted chocolate!

Wishing you all a fabulous July… XOX