Cassie: Apron Strings Series, Book Eight

Apron Strings #8

by Lisa R. Howeler

One cookbook connects them all...
Cassie ~ Book Eight in a string of heartfelt inspirational stories, featuring different women throughout the decades from 1920 to 2020.

Cassie Drake starred in a popular sitcom over a decade ago, but she hasn’t been able to find a job since the show ended five years ago.

Now it’s 1995 and fired by her talent agency, Cassie decides to accept her sister’s offer for an extended visit in their hometown. Back in Coopers Grove, she’s just Cassie Mason, sister to Bridget Martin, the local volunteer extraordinaire with the handsome husband and three wonderful children.

When an accident at the site for the Martin family’s new café and farm store leaves Bridget frantic for help with the community center open house she’s planning, Cassie feels forced to step up—even though it involves something she’s clueless about.

Cooking.

Even with Mrs. Canfield’s Cookery Book, Cassie fails at every attempt. Fortunately, her sister’s handsome neighbor, Alec Alderson, steps in.

As a former chef, he’s more than capable of giving her some tips. Will his charming smile during cooking lessons be too distracting though?

Watching others use their talents leaves Cassie wondering if God, whom she’s barely spoken to in the last few years, is telling her she was made for more than the career that became her identity.

183 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2024

About the author

Lisa Robinson-Howeler is a writer and photographer from Northeastern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is a former small-town newspaper reporter. Her fiction focuses on issues of failings and triumphs, romance, and personal growth through faith and life lessons. Lisa has had her writing and photography featured in newspapers, magazines, both nationally and internationally. In addition to being a new novelist, she is a wife, blogger, and a homeschooling mother. She blogs about fiction, faith, photography, and life at www.lisahoweler.com.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story set in the 90's about a TV star who comes home after being out of work for awhile. As with the others in this series, she comes across a cookbook that's been passed along from one person to the next.

As Cassie learns to cook, she reconnects with who she really is. This is a heartwarming story of finding home and direction in life. There is a sweet romance, strong family connections and lots of great 90's pop culture references.

[Katie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book to read! I love the 90’s and this book had all the great references. I was brought back by the mentions of Frutopia and Nutrageous! Cassie’s story was close to my heart as I love reading about actors. The scenarios that happened in the country made me laugh out loud. I truly recommend this book to anyone who grew up in the 90’s or just enjoys reading about them.

[Mary Mccauley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's go back to 1995

My daughter graduated high school in 1995 so this was a fun reminder of those days.
I enjoyed Cassie and found one of my favorite Bible verses became hers too.
I look forward to trying her recipes.
I have enjoyed this series and can't wait to see where the cookbook goes next.

[Marbeth Skwarczynski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could pick up any book by Lisa R. Howeler and feel like I'm visiting with friends. Cassie was no exception. This book will especially appeal to those who came of age in the 1980s when family television was entertainment gold. Cassie is a former sitcom star struggling to stay relevant in a world where youth entertainment is the newest trend. When her agency drops her, Cassie steps back to decide what she wants out of life. There is no better place to figure things out than her hometown of Coopers Grove. When her sister needs help with the community center open house, Cassie is tasked with baking treats for a sale--not exactly her forte. Even when provided with Mrs. Canfield's Cookery Book, Cassie has no idea what she's doing. Thankfully, her sister's handsome next-door neighbor is a former chef who is willing to walk her through the steps of the recipes, all while encouraging her to live the life she's made for.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman in the Apron Strings series is as unique as their story and the same can be said of Cassie, the 8th book and 1990s story of the Apron Strings series by Lisa R. Howeler. Acting is all that famed actress Cassie Drake knows and the only job she has ever had. When Hollywood stops calling and her agent Saul drops her as a client, leaving Cassie to feel adrift with her life and purpose, Cassie is drawn to go home back to the small town of Cooper’s Grove and her family. Driving back home, Cassie’s Mustang dies and her sister, Bridget, sends her neighbor, Alec to pick Cassie up. Alec isn’t what Cassie had in mind and Cassie wasn’t what Alec had in mind. As Cassie spends quality time with her family, they inform her that they are opening up a Cafe and Store. When Bridget gets injured, there is talk about the opening of the family business possibly being postponed until Cassie steps up to the plate to help out. The only problem is that Cassie doesn’t cook. Alec steps up to the plate as well, along with Cassie’s Mom, to help Cassie hone in on her cooking skills using the help of Mrs. Canfield’s Cookery Book. As Cassie takes everything that she is learning to heart not only in cooking, but in life as well, Cassie begins opening her heart to God and Trusting Him with the Purpose for Her Life.

Cassie is true delight to read! Lisa R. Howeler does a fantastic job of sweeping the reader into the 1990s. I love how Mrs. Canfield’s Cookery Book is woven into Cassie, making the cookbook an important part of the story, but not front and center. Cassie as a character is a hoot! I love getting to know Cassie and the antics she seems to find herself in is hilarious! I thought it was interesting that Cassie was portrayed as a girl who cared about her looks like a stereotypical actress, but at the same time was not shallow nor afraid of getting her hands dirty and work hard for the sake of her family. My heart went out to Cassie for feeling adrift with her life, because I have been there myself. I appreciated the lessons of Trusting God that were woven throughout Cassie that Cassie learned because I also learned something too. I love how all of Cassie’s friends and family in Cooper’s Grove pointed her back to Jesus and remind Cassie to Trust that God has a Purpose for her feeling adrift, that He still does have a plan for her life. I love the character of Alec and believe he is a perfect match for Cassie. I like how Alec succeeded at a plethora of skills and wanted to share his knowledge with others so that they can use those skills in their own lives. If you are looking for an uplifting read with a powerful Message, then I highly recommend Cassie by Lisa R. Howeler! I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in the Apron Strings series!

Have you read Cassie? What did you think of the book? What other books have you read in the Apron Strings series?

My review is also on Amazon and my blog Leslie's Library Escape.

[Jenny Knipfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is Cassie Drake a washed up actress at 29? Her agent seems to think so. Putting big city life in her rearview mirror, Cassie goes back home to her family and the small town she grew up in. There, she meets Alec Anderson, a handsome neighbor and friend her family.

Alec happens to be a chef and winds up giving Cassie cooking lessons when she signs up to help at the local community center and her family-operated café. With Alec’s help and inspiration from an old cookbook, Cassie learns a thing or two about cooking but also comes to care for her teacher.

When big city life comes calling again, Cassie’s agent extends a tempting olive branch. Will Cassie choose to accept the tempting offer or stay rooted back in her hometown and explore her growing feelings for Alec?

Part of the Apron Strings series, which is a series connected by one cookbook throughout a 100 years, Cassie is a fun and inspirational splash into the 90s that might inspire you to open your cookbook and start cooking. As always, Howeler tells a personable, relatable story with witty skill and aplomb.

[Dawn Klinge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Back to Coopers Grove and highly recommend it. Cassie is a lovable and relatable character, and her journey of finding her identity through God rather than her career is both inspiring and uplifting. This novel is a delightful read for anyone who has ever struggled with finding their place in the world or who simply enjoys a well-crafted story about faith, family, and love.

[Sandi Niemeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good.

Cassie and Alex's story was just as good as all the other books in this series. Sweet, Christian, and entertaining. This is book eight in the Apron Strings Series. I've traveled 80 years with this series and have enjoyed each decade. On to the 2000s!

[Patti Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, real characters, entertaining and great use of the character’s spiritual wellbeing. In an artificial world true love can be found. I enjoyed this salt of the earth story. Thank you Lisa.

[Erralee Hendrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Cassie's story and the remembering the 1990s. Cassie is a strong character who is used to being on her own and still finds time for family. I liked the characters and how the story moves right along. Also interesting recipes.