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Friday, March 19, 2010
My Son- U.S. Army Soldier
Do I need to set up blogging rules for myself? Oh! I think I do!!
Well see, now go back to the part where I said I 'hide the non-winning entrants, copy & paste (what I think are ONLY the winning entrants) get the email typed up and hit send'. Yep. I emailed EVERYBODY!!! So everyone that entered thinks they won Jordan. And if I could afford it, I would buy each and everyone of you a copy. But, I'm unemployed and have not had any luck in finding a job yet. So I've reached out via email and let everyone know about my emailing
But this doozy of a blunder has caused me to stop and think that I need to set up some ground rules (which I will add to as I think of them):
Don't rush and blog. If I don't have the time that the post deserves, I'm going to wait & do it right!
When I am emailing the winners, no more copy & pasting more than 1 email address at a time!
I will not hold more giveaways than my l.i.f.e. will allow me to actively keep watch over!
When I make a mistake, I will own up to it! (even if it is embarassing!!!)
Winners for Jordan by Susan Kearney!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Silent Scream by Karen Rose
When a teenage girl dies in a suspicious fire, Detective Olivia Sutherland is assigned to track down the arsonist. Then she discovers something more sinister: a vicious blackmailer who preys on young people and murders without hesitation. Making her work even harder is sexy firefighter David Hunter. He's not only sharing the case but sparking memories of their long-ago night of passion, when feelings were left unspoken and hearts were broken.David has his own ghosts, and a million regrets. But while he and Olivia try to face the wall of pain between them, a diabolical puppet master is pulling strings to make a group of twentysomethings do his bidding. Soon Olivia and David are scouring the city for a calculating criminal who seems tantalizingly close--and is moving in for the kill. about the author~ (from the authors website)
RITA-award winning, USA Today best-selling author Karen Rose earned her degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland. For a number of years she worked in the engineering field, earning two patents, but began writing romance suspense novels when scenes began filling her mind and her characters would not be silenced.
Her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has released eight more novels and a novella. To date, her books have been translated into five languages. Her third novel, I'M WATCHING YOU, received the Romance Writer's of America's coveted RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005. In that same year her second novel, HAVE YOU SEEN HER? was also a 2005 RITA finalist.
Her fourth novel, NOTHING TO FEAR, was a 2006 RITA finalist, was nominated for Romantic Times Magazine's Best Suspense and for the SIBA Book Award for Fiction.
Karen's ninth novel, DIE FOR ME, was a RITA finalist for Best Romantic Suspense and won the Romantic Times' Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense of 2007.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of twenty years and their children. When she's not writing, Karen enjoys traveling, karate (she's just starting!), and although not a popular Florida pastime, skiing.
my thoughts~
If you've read I Can See You (and you should have, HERE's my thoughts on it!) then you might just happen to recall Eve's friend David. (sorry, my computer has been wonky and I couldn't finish on time!)
Silent Scream is David & Olivia's story and.while it took me awhile to read, mainly because l.i.f.e. was happening! But once I was able to actually sit down & read it, I found it hard to put down! I really enjoyed how the story and look forward to reading more, more, more of Karen Rose's work!
If you enjoy reading Karen Rose (and really, how could not? lol!) then you will want to pick up Silent Scream when it hits the shelves near you June 1st!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.
Tasty Tuesday~ Berry Trifle

This recipe was sent to me in the mail from our local grocer. I made it last week and it was delish!
Ingredients
1 16 oz bag frozen Blueberries (thawed)
1 16 oz bag frozen Strawberries (thawed)
1 16 oz bag frozen Raspberries (thawed)
1 Quart Whipping Cream
1 Tbsp. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 10 oz. Jar of Lemon Curd
1 C. of Frozen Pound Cake, thawed, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
Directions
- Strain the berries and dry on several paper towels. In a bowl, whip the cream, sugar and vanilla extract to soft peaks. Put the lemon curd inot a separate bowl and stir in a little of the whipped cream to loosen it. Then fold in the remaining cream.
- To assemeble the trifle, spoon a layer of lemon cream into a large glass bowl. Add a layer of pound cake cubes. Then a layer of berries. Continue layering until serving bowl or glass is full, finishing with a layer of lemon cream.
Friday, March 12, 2010
And The Winners Are!!
The winners have been notified via email! Giveaway! Dark Deceptions by Dee Davis
A-Tac is an elite CIA unit masquerading as faculty at an Ivy League college. Brilliant, badass, and seemingly bulletproof, the members of A-Tac are assigned to the riskiest missions and the most elusive targets.TORN BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE
Covert operations expert Nash Brennon has spent the last eight years trying to forget Annie Gallagher, his former field partner and the only woman he ever loved. Annie betrayed him when he needed her most, then vanished without a trace. Now suddenly she's back in the game - this time as a suspected traitor and threat to national security.Annie's son has been kidnapped by political terrorists. The price for his life? Assassinate a UN ambassador. When Nash and his group find her, the smoldering passion between Annie and the man she swore she'd never contact again blazes out of control. But can Nash trust her? The stakes couldn?t be higher: Their enemy's endgame is personal, and one false move could cost them their lives.
Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group
go HERE to enter!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Quick and Easy Tips to Lose Weight by health and wellness expert Georgina Salgado Chavez is for any person who has been struggling to lose weight and is looking for a permanent solution to keep the pounds off, and intends to boost their health to optimum levels. These tips are as practical as they are easy to do, and they can help anyone feel better, and gain strength, balance and energy. Written in reader-friendly prose, Chavez’s book takes a holistic and modern view of weight loss, addressing stress factors, chemical toxicity, movement and proper nutrition, as well as diet. Whether readers want to shed a few pounds or many, Quick and Easy Tips to Lose Weight is the sensible and effective way to do it.about the author~
Georgina Salgado Chavez holds degrees in naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and hypnotherapy. Specializing in consultations and lectures, she has been featured on ABC News, iparenting, and more. She lives with her family in Chicago, Ill.
my thoughts~
Quick & Easy Tips To Lose Weight has statics that were shocking to me. The most shocking...Did you know that by age 3 children already have fatty deposits in their arteries? By the age of 12, they already have hardening of the arteries!
All of the tips in this book are common sense, but you have to actually use common sense...I say this because some of the tips, I didn't know about nor had I thought about!
Some of my favorites:
- #1- Drink water. In the book it explains to you how much water you should drink
- #12-Laugh. It helps reduce stress and lots of other things.
- #29-Eat Chocolate. Um, hello! Any tip that suggests eating chocolate at a way to lose weight will always make my list!! According to the book, chocolate has more antioxidants than tea! It also explains which chocolate is better to eat!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Tasty Tuesday...Apple Crisp from Betty Crocker!

4 medium tart cooking apples, sliced (4 cups)3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Cream or Ice cream, if desired
™
2. Spread apples in pan. In medium bowl, stir remaining ingredients except cream until well mixed; sprinkle over apples.
3. Bake about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve warm with cream.
Or serve it with some Vanilla Bean Ice Cream...I did! Yum!
Monday, March 08, 2010
Blog Tour~ The Bride Collector by Ted Dekkar
FBI Special agent Brad Raines is facing his toughest case yet. A Denver serial killer has killed four beautiful young women, leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene, and he's picking up his pace. Unable to crack the case, Raines appeals for help from a most unusual source: residents of the Center for Wellness and Intelligence, a private psychiatric institution for mentally ill individuals whose are extraordinarily gifted. It's there that he meets Paradise, a young woman who witnessed her father murder her family and barely escaped his hand. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Paradise may also have an extrasensory gift: the ability to experience the final moments of a person's life when she touches the dead body. In a desperate attempt to find the killer, Raines enlists Paradise's help. In an effort to win her trust, he befriends this strange young woman and begins to see in her qualities that most 'sane people' sorely lack. Gradually, he starts to question whether sanity resides outside the hospital walls...or inside.As the Bride Collector picks up the pace-and volume-of his gruesome crucifixions, the case becomes even more personal to Raines when his friend and colleague, a beautiful young forensic psychologist, becomes the Bride Collector's next target. The FBI believes that the killer plans to murder seven women. Can Paradise help before it's too late?
about the author~
(from the authors website)
Ted Dekker (born October 24, 1962) is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty novels. He is best known for stories which could be broadly described as suspense thrillers with major twists and unforgettable characters, though he has also made a name for himself among fantasy fans.
Early in his career he wrote a number of spiritual thrillers and his novels were lumped in with ‘Christian Fiction’ a surprisingly large category. His later novels are a mix of mainstream novels such as Adam, Thr3e, Skin, Obsessed and BoneMan’s Daughters, and Fantasy thrillers that metaphorically explore faith. Best known among these is his Circle Series: Green, Black, Red, White and The Paradise Books: Showdown, Saint, and Sinner.
my thoughts~
Hold onto your seats boys & girls! This book will take you on a ride you will not soon forget! This was the first Ted Dekkar book that I've read, but I've already added a couple more to my TBR pile! I love his style of writing, the plot was fantastic and I look forward to reading more & more from this author!! If you like a great thriller, then you really need to read this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
In My Mailbox...
A Touch of Scandalby Jennifer Haymore
The last thing Garrett, Duke of Calton, expects to find while tracking his sworn enemy is the delectable, mysterious Kate. This beautiful servant girl rouses a longing the battle-scarred ex-soldier had never hoped to feel again. But when she turns out to be the sister of the man he seeks, he's convinced he's been betrayed.Kate knows her duty to her family, yet how can she ignore Garrett's powerful pull on her heart? Or the heady temptation of his stolen-and sizzling-kisses? Scandal has followed the duke since the war. Now the greatest shock of all is on its way-the one that can separate Garrett and Kate forever.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Some Random Things That I Love...

Here are somethings that I love:
- Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Shampoo & Conditioner- this stuff rocks on my naturally curly hair!
- Victoria Secrets Drenched in Pink Sweet & Flirty body lotion- this is my 'everyday' lotion. Just smelling it makes me happy :-)! There's just something wonderful about Sugar Berry & Grapefruit that makes me smile...(May I suggest~SPLURGE, get the All Over Body Mist too! It's a happy maker, too!!
- Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Cream Body Wash & Lotion. This I save for those 'special' days that I just need a little something special. You know what I mean...
- Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara- this is the best mascara that I've found and I've tried alot...
- Cover Girl TRUblend Micromineral Foundation- It puts some color on my white, pale face without looking like I'm wearing foundation.
- Cover Girl TRUblend Micromineral Blush- Again, it puts some mahvelous color on my pasty face. As long as I have the foundation, blush, and MK mascara on, I can actually leave the house and not be embarrassed if I run into someone I know...
- My Plan Ahead Mother's Planner. -Nope, I don't use it much to keep track of my kids, I use it to keep track of my reviews, bunco nights with the girls and the ever popular dr.'s appointments. Oh I also keep track of book & movie releases that I want to read and see! I keep it right on my computer desk...
That's not all I love. There's more. Those are some of my favorites though...What is something you can't live without?
Friday, March 05, 2010
Friday 56...

Watching her eyelids close in appreciation as she sipped the wine he'd bought. Watching her lick the sweet almond tart filling from her fingers and the crumbs from her lips.
A Touch Of Scandal
by Jennifer Haymore
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Blog Tour~To Sin With A Scoundrel by Cara Elliott
A reclusive widow known for her scientific scholarship, Lady Ciara Sheffield is shadowed by rumors that she poisoned her husband . . . A rakehell rogue notorious for his devil-may-care antics, Lucas Bingham, the Earl of Hadley is not accused of murdering anything—save for the rules of Polite Society. The only thing they have in common is seeing their names featured in the lurid gossip columns of London’s newspapers.Until an ancient manuscript draws them together.
Ciara needs a titled fiancé to quell the slanderous speculations which may send her to the gallows. Lucas needs brilliant scholar to help his elderly uncle decipher the secrets of the mysterious manuscript. So when her friends urge her to accept the earl’s proposal of a temporary alliance, Ciara decides that she had no choice but to make a deal with the Devil.
And so begins a seductive dance of sinful pleasures and hidden desires as the two of them waltz through the mansions of Mayfair. Lies, intrigue, treachery, sex. They find themselves facing slanderous whispers, unscrupulous relatives—not to speak of their own simmering passions, which quickly ignite into dangerous flames. It’s a potent mix and the result may be explosive—and perhaps deadly—if they don’t watch their step.

about the author~
(from the authors website)
I began my writing career at age five with a number of lavishly illustrated Westerns, which were lovingly preserved for posterity by my first fan (Thanks, Mom!) As you can see, I believe in immersing myself in the mood and character of my stories!
I have since moved on to Regency England, an era that has fascinated me ever since I picked up a copy of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice. (Sorry, no picture of me in my ballgown and tiara!)
Books have always been an important part of my life. I’ve always been a voracious reader, and I’ve always had a very vivid imagination . . . so much so that I think at times it worried my parents that I was so happy in my own little world, drawing pictures and creating stories. My teachers will also tell you that I was the class history geek, even in grade school. I don’t really know why, but I have always been fascinated with the past.
As an undergrad at Yale, I majored in art and went on to get a MFA in Graphic Design. So storytelling got put on the back burner for a while. But The Muse kept whispering in my ear, and one day I sat down at the keyboard . . . and realized that writing is what I love.
my thoughts~
I really enjoyed reading this book! Lady Ciara is accused of murdering her husband while the Earl of Hadley is only interested in having "fun" (yep, I'm wagging my eyebrows up & down! You know what kind of fun he's interested in!!). So the two come to an arrangement to help each other.
To Sin With A Scoundrel is the first book of what I think will be a great series!
I'm already looking forward to the second book in the series~ To Surrender To A Rogue. It will be available June 2010!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Waiting on Wednesday
Wedding baker Laurel McBane is surrounded by romance working at Vows wedding planning company with her best friends Parker, Emma, and Mac. But she's too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that their clients seem to long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man just like Parker's older brother Delaney, on whom she's had a mega-crush since childhood. But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her-or so she thinks. When Laurel's quicksilver moods get the better of her-leading to an angry, hot, all-together mind-blowing kiss with Del-she'll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever...Publisher: Berkley Trade; Original edition (April 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425233685
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Romance Novel Sluts
My Mom. She started it all. I started sneaking her romance novels when I was 12 or 13.
That comment really didn't do it justice. I didn't just sneak & read her romance novels. I devoured them. It didn't matter to me who wrote it. It didn't matter what genre it was (heck, back then I didn't know what a genre was!). I just grabbed the books that had the sexiest covers. As a matter of fact, I think the majority were either historical or based around Native Americans with the white woman as a slave. All that mattered to me was that it had to be a Happily Ever After. Thats it. It just needed a HEA. And even now, a HEA is necessary for me to enjoy a book. If it doesn't have a HEA, I won't read it again.
Do you know what else I loved to sneak & read?
I loved her True Romance magazines (do they still sell those?)too. I just loved how you got so many short stories that were true in a magazine! It just made my young, young, teen heart go pitter patter! And for the early 80's I think they were a little risque, too!
So. I ask you this. Who contributed to you becoming a Romance Novel Slut?
Teaser Tuesdays
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!
You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add
the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Tasty Tuesday! Loaded Baked Potato Soup...

Ingredients~
8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
8 cups milk
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
chopped green onion
salt and pepper to taste
Directions~
Place cubed potatoes into a glass dish, and cook in the microwave oven for 7 to 10 minutes, or until soft.
While your cooking the potatoes, melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat using your whisk blend in the flour until smooth, then stir in the milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
Stir in the potatoes and cook for 5 more minutes. Stir in the sour cream, cheddar cheese and bacon bits until melted and well blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste. This is great with yeast rolls!









