Protected by Copyscape Web Plagiarism Check

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thursday Must Reads–6/23 Addition

Well her you have it many books I’ve seen the last few weeks.  I had my share of misses and some hits.  Going to the gym sure does help me keep up on my reading!  Some of my misses you may like so I’m going to include them along with the ones I loved.  Enjoy Smile

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover

I really must stop trying to get these wizard books attract me because I have been having a bad run with them.  his one sadly was one of the ones I couldn’t get into after 30 pages so I gave up.

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover: Jazz can't decide whether to scorch him with a fireball or jump into bed with him. Jasmine Tremaine, a witch who can't stay out of trouble. Nikolai Gregorivich, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire cop on the trail of a serial killer. The sizzling love affair between Jazz and Nick has been off-again, on-again—for about 300 years. Mostly off, lately. But now Nick needs Jazz's help, and while Jazz and Nick try to figure out their own hearts and resist their ever-increasing attraction, they must steer clear of a maniacal killer with super-supernatural powers. They are surrounded by a hilarious cast of oddball paranormal characters, including Irma, the chain-smoking ghost who haunts Jazz's sports car, Dweezil, her ghoul of a boss, and Fluff and Puff, a pair of bunny slippers with sharp teeth and short tempers (watch your ankles)!

Banana Hammock

Now this book had a FUN idea to it you read a few pages and you pick the way it goes does he go this way or that way.  Really it sounded very cool, but I could NOT get into it either.  The humor was dry and cliché in some ways it actually was just boring to me Sad smile.

Banana Hammock is not a single, linear book, and should not be read sequentially, page by page. Instead, it is an interactive text adventure.

This ebook is meant to be read out of order, depending on the path you, the reader, choose.

Harry McGlade is a continuing character in the Jacqueline “Jack" Daniels series. At the end of each section, you decide where Harry goes, and what he does. By following different paths, you can arrive at many different endings. There are literally hundreds of variations.

You control the character. You control the fun.

The Accidental Human

Yup you know it another one that looked like it would be fun and one I enjoyed but couldn’t get into it.  It had a fun story that looks like it would be up my alley but I couldn’t get into it.

The Accidental Human : Wanda Schwartz is raking in the dough selling Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics—and she's a pro at recruiting new saleswomen. So, she's shocked when a man comes to one of her in-home parties—a very hot man. Heath Jefferson is sure to put some extra spin into a lot of women's color wheels.

When Wanda is diagnosed with a terminal illness, it doesn't have to be a death sentence. With a werewolf and a vampire for best friends, she has options that most ordinary people wouldn't. As Wanda ponders what to do about her mortality, Heath reveals he has secrets, and one of them is that his former bloodlust has turned into an old-fashioned lust—for Wanda. And he's already given up too much to lose the love of his lifetimes.

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party

You know how I love a good wedding story and thought heck why not a book around it.  The book looked like it would be good but it just didn’t grab me right away the story was a little weak in the beginning it could have picked up but I couldn’t get into it.

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party: At a remote cattle post south of Gaborone two cows have been killed, and Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's No. 1 Lady Detective, is asked to investigate by a rather frightened and furtive gentleman. It is an intriguing problem with plenty of suspects--including, surprisingly, her own client.
To complicate matters, Mma Ramo-tswe is haunted by a vision of her dear old white van, and Grace Makutsi witnesses it as well. Is it the ghost of her old friend, or has it risen from the junkyard? In the meantime, one of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's apprentices may have gotten a girl pregnant and, under pressure to marry her, has run away. Naturally, it is up to Precious to help sort things out. Add to the mix Violet Sephotho's newly launched run for the Botswana Parliament and a pair of perfect wedding shoes--will wedding bells finally ring for Phuti Radiphuti and Grace Makutsi?--and we have a charming and delightful tale in the inimitable style of Alexander McCall Smith.

Now for a few that I love:

blissfully Yours

This book was such a great read and I truly enjoyed.  You watch as the romance blooms and the trust is built.  It has a great Christian feel but not all about that either.  A great balance.

Blissfully Yours: It was an offer I couldn't refuse: take some time off from teaching and help out at the opening of my friend's brother Mitch's fabulous Bliss Village ski resort. After all, thanks to my mother, I'd already dated most of the so-called eligible men in Tumbleweed, Arizona. What was left to hold me here?

Um, cowardice? I haven't taken many risks outside of my familiar environment. Okay, try none. Still, if risk comes in the shape of tall, blond and handsome Mitch Windsor, how can I say no?

Blonde with a Wand

Now I’m warning you this book was a great read but it was VERY graphic with adult content, the kind that will make you blush at times.  The story was funny and you fell in love with the characters and the story of what doing good for others can make you a better person.  BUT again it is an adult book!

Blonde with a Wand: Sexy witch Anica Revere has one rule: never under any circumstances get involved with a man before telling him she's a witch. Still, what's one silly rule? Especially when the guy in question is as cute as Jasper Danes. But when Anica and Jasper have a spat, she breaks an ever bigger rule of witchcraft and turns him into a cat. Bad news for him.

Can You Keep a Secret

What a fun book, you start with a terrifying airplane ride and you can’t but help loving this character that pours her heart out to a stranger.  Who knew this stranger would be her boss?  Oh yes and what is to come is great.  Are secret’s ok?

Can You Keep a Secret? Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.
But come Monday morning, Emma's office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company's elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from
the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn't possibly get worse--Until they do.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

This is a cute book I totally forgot I had read it years ago (after about 20 pages into it I remembered .. lol).  The movie also is one of my favorites also.  This is a fun book that has great charm.

Confessions of a Shopaholic: Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it -- not any of it.
Her job writing at Successful Savings not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. And lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank -- letters with large red sums she can't bear to read -- and they're getting ever harder to ignore.
She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds. Becky's only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something...

The Manning Grooms

Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors.  She writes a lot about Seattle and the Washington area so of course that drew me to her in the beginning. The book had such a great feel to it and you loved all the characters and the mood of going with love and not waiting was so romantic.

The Manning Grooms: Jason Manning is content with his life as a bachelor, a slob and a sports fan. Then a precocious girl named Carrie Weston decides to play matchmaker, introducing him to her mother, Charlotte. To his relief, Charlotte is as averse to marriage as he is. But Jason's feelings start to change once he gets to know his Bride on the Loose.

James Wilkens was almost a Manning groom—because he almost married one of the Manning sisters. With that broken engagement behind him, he spends New Year's Eve in Las Vegas...where he meets Summer Lawton. She's just suffered a painful betrayal, and James promises her that in a year, she'll be over it. To prove his point, he makes a date to meet her in Vegas Same Time, Next Year. Except it turns out to be more than a date—it's a wedding!

the-knitting-diaries-debbie-macomber-ebook-3e3f1

Yes another Debbie Macomber book that I loved.  She has a GREAT series about knitting I’ve told you about before and this one was three books in once.  Now I would have liked them to be 3 separate books because you only got a snip it of it and sometimes a bit rushed but still good stories I just wanted more!

The Knitting Diaries: The Twenty-First Wish by Debbie Macomber

Anne Marie Roche and her adopted daughter, Ellen, have each written a list of twenty wishes— which included learning to knit. But Ellen has added a twenty-first wish: that her mom will fall in love with Tim, Ellen's birth father....

Coming Unraveled by Susan Mallery

When Robyn Mulligan's dreams of becoming a star give way to longing for home, she returns to Texas, running her grandmother's knitting store. But handsome, hot-tempered T. J. Passman isn't making it easy. If he can learn to trust Robyn, and overcome his past, they might discover a passion like no other.

Return to Summer Island by Christina Skye

After a car accident, Caro McNeal is welcomed by a community of knitters on Oregon's Summer Island. She also finds purpose in the letters she exchanges with a marine. But when life takes another unexpected turn, will Caro pick up the threads of hope, opening her heart to wherever it takes her?

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Must Read & Watch (Special addition)

Making all the parents proud some books, with a little TV and some DVD’s.  You know I love my books and now going to the gym I read threw a book in 2 or 3 days so little time for TV or DVD’s.

BOOKS MUST READ (WELL ONE MAYBE NOT)

Dying In Style

This book has charm, now it did have some slow moments but you really fell in love with this single mom who is a mystery shopper who gets wrapped up in a murder and then must solve the murders to clear her name.

Dying In Style

Mystery shopper Josie Marcus's report about Danessa Celedine's exclusive store is less than stellar, and it may cost the fashion diva fifty million dollars. But Danessa's financial future becomes moot when she's found murdered, strangled with one of her own thousand dollar snakeskin belts—and Josie is accused of the crime.

Twenties-Girl

I truly loved this book you fell in love with the main character who becomes haunted by her great aunt who passed away.  She finds out things about herself and becomes a new person with even a chance at new love.

Twenties Girl

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don't get visited by ghosts. Or do they?
When the spirit of Lara's great-aunt Sadie--a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance--mysteriously appears, she has one request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie's possession for more than seventy-five years, because Sadie cannot rest without it.
Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie's necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different "twenties" girls learn some surprising truths from and about each other. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella's books beloved by millions,Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.

Wicked Craving

This book I thought I would love the lead is a curvy girl, perfect I thought but sadly the first 30+ pages just didn’t grab me. 

Wicked Craving

Savannah Reid may have a few extra curves on her full-figured body, but that hasn't stopped her from becoming one of California's most successful private investigators. Her latest case puts her hot on the trail of a shady weight loss therapist who's made a killing treating—and cheating—his overweight patients. The question is, did he kill his wife, too?

Pound for pound, this is shaping up to be one of Savannah's toughest cases ever. But she'd better find the killer soon. . .or else the bodies will just keep piling up.

DVD’S MUST WATCH

Gnomeo and Juliet

I’ve been so excited for this to come to DVD (since I NEVER go to the movies).  It didn’t disappoint I laughed so hard at the things that were so cliché but you just had to laugh.  And come on how could you NOT love a Gnome with Oz Osbourne’s voice coming out of him.  When Amazon has it on sale I will be buying it!

Gnomeo and Juliet

An edgy Shakespeare adaptation like no other, this animated musical transports the classic tale of forbidden romance between two star-crossed lovers from warring families to the unlikely yet hysterical world of garden gnomes. Featuring songs from legendary recording artist Elton John, this movie features the vocal talents of Emily Blunt, James McAvoy, Jason Statham, Patrick Stewart and Michael Caine.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt I

A few of the movies haven’t held up to the book in my mind but this one was great and I can’t wait for part II.  I need to add it to my collection.  Cole even sat down and watched with me for movie night.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Pt I

The first installment of the two-part conclusion to the Harry Potter series finds the bespectacled wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) walking away from his last year at Hogwarts to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, putting an end to Voldemort's bid for immortality. But with Harry's beloved Dumbledore dead and Voldemort's unscrupulous Death Eaters on the loose, the world is more dangerous than ever.

Narnia The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Another one that was a book that I grew up reading this series and spent many hours that helped my mind go into a great imagination world.  This movie was another great one to watch and to add my collection.

Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

With their dour, bookish cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) in tow, the youngest Pevensie offspring -- Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) -- take an unexpected trip back to Narnia and join noble King Caspian (Ben Barnes) for an epic high-seas adventure. Setting sail aboard the Dawn Treader, the young heroes head for the end of the world, determined to rescue seven once-powerful lords banished by Caspian's evil uncle.

No Strings Attached

This was a cute movie at times I was like ok come on move on, of course with the title of the movie you’ll know what the first half of the movie is going to be about, so after a bit that was the point I said let’s move on.  The middle and end was very funny!

No Strings Attached

Emotionally unencumbered and sexually satisfied, friends with benefits Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) have an open relationship that suits them just fine. That is, until those pesky little things called feelings enter the picture. Ivan Reitman directs and Kevin Kline and Cary Elwes co-star in this comedy that explores the perks and pitfalls of modern romance.

The Dilemma

This movie had some moments in it that were kind of silly but there were also some great moments.  It is worth a rental.

The Dilemma

Oscar-winning director Ron Howard serves up a delicious comedy about two best friends and business partners -- Ronny (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James) -- who are about to land a fantastic deal when Ronny learns something about Nick's wife, Geneva (Winona Ryder), that rocks his world. Ronny turns amateur sleuth to determine whether Geneva's cheating on Nick and learns that telling a friend the truth is even more difficult than concealing it.

TV MUST WATCH:

extreme makeover weight loss edition

I love these heart warming shows about real people that touch your heart.  Now I’m not at the weight close to these people but I do NEED to loose a good amount of weight and I so want this guy to come to my house! Smile

Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition is a unique undertaking that's unlike anything you've ever seen TV. The show documents the amazing makeover of eight courageous, obese individuals who set out to safely lose half of their body weight over the course of a year. The metamorphosis is truly amazing.

Trainer/transformation specialist Chris Powell (The 650-Pound Virgin) guides each of the eight participants through the process after moving into their homes. He's there to make sure the participants get the proper nourishment and exercise movement. Chris provides a fresh perspective to individuals whose lives have become unmanageable because of their weight.

In each of the eight one-hour episodes, participants undergo a transformation not only of their bodies, but of who they are as individuals. Each stand-alone episode of Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition chronicles one participant's journey.

franklin & bash

TNT has a new show that has two lead actors I have always loved.  This show has some potential it is a little kooky in some moments but I do like the characters.

When they're not hanging out at their favorite hot dog stand pontificating on what they'd go through to enjoy a night with their favorite female celebrities, Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) are chasing down their latest clients...sometimes literally. With business cards in hand, they're ready to nab a client within seconds after a car accident, arrest for solicitation or any other incident where their legal services may be needed. Once in the courtroom, they show their flair for the dramatic and the shocking.

SYTYCD

Ok don’t laugh at me but I just got into this show, yes it’s on season 8 … lol.  I never thought it would be something I would enjoy but I caught the first try out episode and loved it.  Well that and seeing the clip on Ellen of her dancing really made me wanting to watch it!  And I’m loving it, these people are so talented.

America's favorite summer series, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, has kept viewers amazed and inspired as talented dancers skilled in everything from Hip Hop, Krumping and Popping to Salsa, Quickstep and Jive compete to be named America's Favorite Dancer.

Hosted by Cat Deeley, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE traveled across the country to Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New York, Los Angeles and Miami, in search of dancers who represent the best in America. Those who shine during auditions are given a ticket to Las Vegas for callbacks, where they work with top choreographers to learn and then be judged on multiple styles of dance.

So there you have it a lot of fun things to read and watch!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Must Read Books II (Well some I found, not all my style)

I downloaded a bunch of books, sadly a bunch of them didn’t grab me.  I have a rule of thumb I go by a book must grab me by 50 pages or I’m done.  I can’t read threw a whole book so the book may get better but I don’t have the patience to keep going so I’m sorry to say some of these books didn’t capture me.

Death by Cashmere

I was so excited to find another knitting murder mystery series but sadly the first part of the book kind of dragged on didn’t get me right in.  I didn’t try any of the other books in the series, so it may have just been this one.

Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum

This brand-new mystery series spins a yarn about knitters and murder in a quaint seaside village.
Not long after Isabel "Izzy" Chambers opens up a knitting shop in the sleepy fishing town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, a diverse group of women begins congregating each week to form the Seaside Knitters.
Izzy raises some eyebrows when she rents the apartment above her shop to Angie Archer, whose reputation for loose behavior and a quick temper has made her unpopular with many locals. But could any of them have wanted her dead? Angie's body is discovered drowned in the harbor, her long red hair tangled like seaweed in a lobster trap.

Death by Darjeeling

This book was set in a tea shop, I felt to be a little bit of an older generation then for me.  I couldn’t identify and get into the characters.

Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs

Theodosia Browning is the owner of Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina. Her business is growing in the historic tourist town and she is building a strong, knowledgeable staff: Drayton Conneley, tea sommelier, Haley Parker, Theo's clerk and baker, and Bethany Shepherd, Haley's roommate, who fills in on occasion. Theo also caters local events, most recently the Lamplighters Tour, tours of the historic homes of Charleston. During one of the stops, local developer Hughes Barron drops dead after a cup of Theo's special blended tea.

Night of the Living Dandelion

Since Vampires are the thing now to read I thought what the heck I’ll try this one!  The character was cute and cheecky but I just couldn’t get into it.  It just lacked something to draw me in.

Night of the Living Dandelion by Kate Collins

Flower shop owner Abby Knight does not believe rumors that Vlad Serban, friend and employee of Abby's fiancé Marco, is a vampire. But how to explain that Vlad is from Romania, has prominent canines, likes bizarre plants such as bloodwort and Dracula orchid, and dresses entirely in black?

When a local woman is found dead, her body drained of blood, the stakes become life and death. With Vlad the #1 suspect, Abby and Marco race to find the real killer, before Vlad's life really starts to suck.

The Backup Plan

This was another one I just couldn’t get into.  It had great characters I wanted to fall in love but I found my mind wandering the whole time I was reading it.  I bet it got better and I would love to find out what happened but I just couldn’t make it threw it.

The Backup Plan by Sherryl Woods

Every woman needs a backup plan...
And no one knows that better than foreign correspondent Dinah Davis, who's spent years wriggling out of international hot spots. Now she's come home to South Carolina's Low Country to hook up with the dependable man who long ago promised his devotion. But instead of finding the safety she's seeking, she winds up in the arms of his black sheep brother.

Pepperoni Pizza Can Be MurderOne of my favorite types of books of course is murder with food.  This book had some slow moments but the sister duo is a great team and it did keep you guessing until the end on who done it.

Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder by Chris Cavender

For once, it seems, no one is trying to pin a murder on Eleanor Swift, owner of the scrumptious pizzeria A Slice of Delight in the quiet little town of Timber Ridge, North Carolina. But someone has to answer for that body in her kitchen. . .and it looks like the final stop for Gregg Hatcher, her deliveryman, may be the state penitentiary

The Best Gift‘This book is one I truly enjoyed and kept wanting more and more of it.  The only thing that bugged me is that The story talked about 3 sisters and the gift left to them but only one sister was followed in this novel.  I bet there are more books to come but the way it was set up in the beginning of the book set it up as all three.  Great book, it has a Christian feel to it.

The Best Gift by Irene Hannon

After her beloved aunt Jo passed away, sassy redhead A. J. Williams inherited her aunt's bookstore...and the store's handsome manager, Blake Williams. Like oil and water, A.J. and Blake didn't mix. A.J.'s motto had always been Go with the Flow, and God Will Lead the Way, while Blake lived a practical, conservative life. But they had to find a middle ground when they were forced to work together to solve a problem that could affect both their lives. Could their budding friendship--and a bit of divine guidance--lead to the love of a lifetime? Because with Aunt Jo's legacy, anything was possible

So there you have it a few misses but two good ones that I enjoyed reading!  Have a great week!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Shoulder Bags & Shootings (Book Review)

As many of you know murder mystery books are my favorite to read. I love to figure out who done it, and along with a great story line that makes me feel like apart of.

Shoulder Bags and Shootings is the third book in the Haley Randolph Mysteries Kensington series. In this book you pick up the story with Haley who is minimum wage associate in a department store. This department store is the same one own by her new boyfriend Ty. She has just returned from a wonderful trip in Europe where the only thing she didn't return with was her rent money!

With an obsession for the newest hot "handbag" she borrows her boyfriends grandmothers car. A quick stop at her job she despises and back out to the car to find a not so nice treat in the trunk ... a dead body. Come to find out this is not the first time she has found a dead body.

Follow along while Haley while she becomes the sleuth to find out who the real murderer is along the back story that she didn't know about the people around her.

The only thing that I missed was some back story on the previous books. One thing about reading series is if you haven't read the previous ones you can be a little lost or feel like your missing something. I am now on the hunt to find the previous books, I just loved the story and the lead character Haley. I truly enjoyed this book, it is a fast read that you'll be wanting more when it's over.

BUY IT: Shoulder Bags and Shootings by Dorthy Howell in hardback for $22.00 or currently on Amazon for $15.84 or on Kindle for $9.49.

Thank you for FSB for yet another amazing book for my collection.

My amazing friend at Firefly has the best disclosure, It about sums it all up :). Thank you sweetie for the disclosure.

Disclosure – The product featured in this review was provided to me free of charge, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Boy, I'd Hate To Be Made Out of That Stuff Book Review


These days I'm up for a laugh were ever I can get it. I have such fond memories of sitting up with my granddad reading the funnies. The best part was when my granddad was done reading the funnies he would save them and then wrap birthday and Christmas presents. Anytime I see a funny I think of him.

I found this amazing book filled with them, now there will be no using these to wrap presents but I sure laughed and enjoyed every moment! Meet the Lunar Antic Players: Zeno man from the moon more than two billion years old. Zed Math wiz and shy. Linda only female moon member that can hold her own. Drusus can't keep a secret to save his soul. The professor rounds out this group is a gifted Earthling music professor.







BUY IT: The Lunar Antics Presents: Boy I'd Hate to be Made out that Stuff $17.95 on sale at Amazon for $14.00.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

The Promise of Lumby Book Review

The fourth addition in my favorite series is great, they just keep getting better and better! I'm telling you this is a series I could read and read again. Usually I'm a read once and I'm done, but these characters have grown on me and I feel like I know them personally. Gail Fraser has the best way of writing that makes you feel like you're sitting down with some old friends talking about what is new in town.

The newest addition to The Lumby Series is "The Promise of Lumby". When the beloved vet has gone threw with her promise to retire the town just doesn't want to hear it. They don't believe she would actually leave them. Weeks before leaving the town for good for a long overdue vacation and then on to move closer to family her clinic still hasn't sold and it's looking like the town may not have a vet anymore. That is until a stranger comes to visit. Dr. Candor is a mystery and is looking into buy the practice. The town that usually doesn't like anyone new is opening their arms wide open to fill a much needed spot in there town.

Dr. Candor keeps to himself doesn't answer many questions which leads Dennis the owner of the local newspaper to want more answers. Can this man be for real or is he hiding a deep secret? While Dennis and the Mayor Jimmy D start to question Tom and his past, Tom falls for Mac the towns best craftsman or should I say craftswoman. Tom tells her about his past the accident that his wife was in that lead to a mishap while he was performing surgery on a very rare panda. That one moment led to so many things that went wrong, he lost his job, his wife who was pregnant by someone else and the life he knew so dearly. He paid his dues and earned back his license, all he wanted to do was to start over and leave the past behind him. He didn't want pitty so he never told the town about what happened and when the newspaper detailed only about he loss of his job and the poor panda, it looked like the town turned on him.

Going back to face his past and leave Lumby forever he asked Mac to come with him. Will the town figure out what happen and know that they pushed away a great man? Tragic events may just lead him back to Lumby and for good. Add in the monks from Saint Cross who are receiving exotic animals as gifts and you may just have a zoo on your hands! Trust me I was laughing out loud yet again reading this. The people at the gym think I'm nuts, I'm giggling in the corner holding a book and trying not to fall off the machine.

Thank you again FSB you have given me the gift of the best series I've read in YEARS.

BUY IT: The Promise of Lumby paperback for $15.00, currently on sale at Amazon for $6.00 or on Kindle for $12.99.

I was not paid for this review these are my opinions and experiences, I received products to try and to tell how I liked them. No monetary or any other form of compensation was given to me. I review products free of charge to give my experience and opinion.

Lumby's Bounty Book Review

As you know I'm in LOVE with the Lumby books, I've already made it a goal to meet Gail Fraser the author of this amazing series. Lumby is set in a small town in my home state Washington. Just one of the reasons I love the series. The other is Gail's writing style it just keeps you wanting to turn the page and find out more about this unique town. I promise you will laugh the whole way threw these books!

Lumby's Bounty is centered around a hot aired balloon festival. Turns out the towns misfit son signed the town up to hold the festival. Not knowing anything about hot air ballooned they form a committee with Mark (the owner of the Montis Inn) as the leader. Mark can never do a project with out something going wrong. Of course the first balloon attempt goes terribly wrong, let's just say the Monks at the Saint Cross Abbey an hour away had some roof damage from a fly away balloon.

Thankfully two men visiting Saint Cross come to the rescue who have experience with building and flying Hot Air Ballooned. The small town of Lumby don't always take kindly to new people and this is no exception. A romance blossoms with one of the foreigners and one of the most prominent ladies.

The first balloon sewn by the Mayors wife sadly didn't survive a mishap, can she make a second one in time for the big event? Along with the goings on of this huge event they will encounter bad weather, rumors and a budding romance. This was a fast read that I was sad to put down! Hank the plastic flamingo that is the town mascot of course makes several appearances and helps keep the humor and the town never having a dull moment.

Enjoy I promise you'll love it and even better you'll find some amazing recipes in the back of the book! Thank you again FSB, I truly cherish this series and think Gail needs to write them faster because I'm not sure what I'll do when I reach the latest one.

BUY IT: Lumby's Bounty paperback for $15.00, currently on sale at Amazon for $10.20 or on Kindle for $12.99.

I was not paid for this review these are my opinions and experiences, I received products to try and to tell how I liked them. No monetary or any other form of compensation was given to me. I review products free of charge to give my experience and opinion.

The Happy Stepmother Book Review

As a step daughter I know the unique dynamic of the role of being a stepmother. We fit right into the percentage of what is now called "the blended family". As we know it doesn't always go smooth. Stepping into the role as a stepmom is a hard role to fit into, the mold that was left behind may just not be the same shape of the new mom to be.

Being a stepmother is a hard balance between knowing were you fill and where you step back. Many families with stepmothers find themselves caught between trying to please both the children and of course their husbands.

Dr. Rachelle Katz, Ed.D., LMFT founder of the website stepsforstepmothers.com created a book to bring you to the Happy Stepmother faze. Full of stepmom stories, tons of tips, strategies to help find that happy place you've longed for. As for all mom's one of your the tips that is a must take care of yourself. Stepmom or not you feel better if you have a positive outlook things around you are better. I know most of you are saying yes you say take care of yourself easier said then done. Believe me it's a hard one for me too, but as she points out in the book there are simple and easy ways to make this part of your life. One of the things threw out the book is the importance of journaling. Along with that are questions for you to answer during different chapters of the book.

You're not alone and believe me there are many things that can help you become a happier person and stepmother. Even though I'm not a stepmom I found several things in the book that was very helpful for just being a stressful mom on the go.

BUY IT: The Happy Stepmother: Stay Sane, Empower Yourself, Thrive in Your New Family for $15.95 or currently on sale at Amazon for $10.85 and on Kindle for $9.99.

Thank you again for FSB for another book that is close and dear to my heart.

I was not paid for this review these are my opinions and experiences, I received products to try and to tell how I liked them. No monetary or any other form of compensation was given to me. I review products free of charge to give my experience and opinion.

Queen of Your Own Life Book Review


Awhile back I caught a Kathy Kinney & Cindy Ratzlaff on a talk show talking about their new book Queen of Your Own life. I just had to read it. First off I just LOVE Kathy Kinney, who played Mimi for years on "The Drew Carey Show". She has the best sense of humor in all the interviews I've seen her in and of course who could not laugh at Mimi and her troll dolls?

Currently I am not at the middle point in my life but as we know time flies and who doesn't want to read up and humor to what I need to look forward to. The book is written with the perfect spice of humor and life lessons.

How the book started, this is what made me laugh because my mom has said this same thing! Kathy couldn't sleep one night because her feet where hot, so of course what does one do when we can't sleep we hope on the internet. Yup I've never done that (as I write post at midnight ... lol). As she searched about hot feet she found that sites said she was in the "Crone Stage" get ready sit back and just except your in the ugly part of your life. Nothing like being told you're a Crone Aged women to set out to write the book to let others know you're just at a new and exciting part of your life!

Kathy & Cindy met up for a Girls Getaway (I so need one of these) for travel and dinning and the thoughts came together became the hilarious book Queen of Your Own Life: Welcome to the Rest of Your Life!.

A taste of what you will find in this book:

Seven gifts
Here are the seven gifts you’ll give yourself by reading our book:

1. Claim your beauty and feel your power

2. Clean your mental closet and find your Queen voice

3. Admire yourself for who you’ve become

4. Build deep, fulfilling friendships with other women

5. Establish firm boundaries that will strengthen all of your relationships

6. Discover the simple trick to finally being happy

7. Proclaim yourself Queen of Your Own Life

Enjoy I promise this is a perfect book for yourself or a GREAT idea for a Mother's Day Gift!

BUY IT: Queen of Your Own Life for $18.95 currently at Amazon on sale for $11.07 or Kindle for $9.99.

Thank you again to FSB for another funny book to my collection!

Mimi (Funny Lady) Of course Kathy in real life with Cindy!















I was not paid for this review these are my opinions and experiences, I received products to try and to tell how I liked them. No monetary or any other form of compensation was given to me. I review products free of charge to give my experience and opinion.

Created by MyFitnessPal - Nutrition Facts For Foods

Thank You to My Wonderful Sponsors!!!

1800flowers
Baby Pop
BzzAgent
cafe Press
CSN
Easy Lunch Boxes
Faith Words
Glasses USA
Great Wolf Lodge
Hachette
Jump Start
My Baby Clothes Boutique
My Blog Spark
Ouchies
Pleasures.com
red envelope
She Speaks

tote bags
Strap Doctor
You Can Make This

Total Pageviews

Awards I've been Given! You Really Love Me!! (Yes my best Oscar Speech)

Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
friendhip2 from Anissa
passoinate-blogger-award (Heidi @ Tried & True Cooking)
You're a Superstar Blogger
you-dont-say-post - Kristie Notes
Annisa (Over the top)
Jessica Mommy Needs Coffee (Lovely)
Annissa (Queen Award)
Your Blog is Fabulous
Best Comedic Performance
Splash Award
Best Blog Award
Dragon's Loyalty Award
Photobucket
The Heartfelt Award
Daffy Commenter Award
 
Pin It button on image hover