My MIL's 80th Birthday Party!

Hello! As I said in a previous post, this last month and a half has been crazy! Planning my MIL's 80th birthday party, Britt's Prom last month, Britt's graduation & graduation party is next week! Matt leaving for Basic Training on the 1st. I posted pictures of Britt's Prom and so I'm going to post some pictures of Lottie's birthday party.

Her sister, the baby of the family, came up from Jacksonville Florida, just for her birthday!

She doesn't get many chances to come up & visit so this was a huge surprise for Lottie!

Here are the 4 remaining siblings.

Clyde, Helen, Charlie & Lottie

They all grew up in Beverly, WV and they lost their mom

when they were young. Helen & Charlie were raised by the older

siblings. Lottie married, & had 4 children with him. When they divorced,

she met Jims (my sweetie!) dad & had Jim. It amazes me that she had all 5 of her kids at home!

Here's 4 of the 5: Bert, Angela, Mavles & Jim!

The one missing is Dana, and he couldn't be there that day.

Interesting fact: Bert, Angela & Mavles are still married to their original spouses!

Interesting fact: Bert & Angela were both born on the same day.

Interesting fact: Lottie, Mavles & Mavles' grand daughter were all born on the same day!

Needless to say, there are alot more pictures, but I have to go get ready.

 Matt & I are going to see Iron Man 2 this morning.

We usually hit alot of movies throughout the summer

but since he won't be here. Well, you know. We want to get at least one in!

I hope you have an excellant day. An awesome weekend.

I have some reviews that will be posting over the next few weeks!

Yippee!

I've posted about how busy & crazy my life has been for the last month or so. Well, I finally started going through my emails last week and guess what I found!?! I found an email from Jason with CSN Stores asking if I'd like to do another product review. So, I of course said, oh yeah! Then I started looking through their 200 stores and oh my goodness! Do you know that they have everything from bathroom vanities to shoes & handbags! Hello! I'm in shopping heaven! I will post my review as soon as I recieve the item!

 

Sorry I've been absent

This last month has been CrAZy for me! I've been sick, had Britt's prom, preparing for Jim's mom's 80th birthday party, preparing for Britt's graduation, graduation party (filling out and mailing invites for both!) and making sure that all of the paperwork is filled out and turned in for her college scholarships and last but not least Matt leaving for Basic Training June 1st!It's a good thing I'm still unemployeed! NOT!!
Oh, and I started a diet that I'm suceeding at!
Needless to say, I have not had a lot of time to read & blog. Hopefully things will slow down for June!
Here's pictures of Britt & her date!

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Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn

FORBIDDEN LOVE

Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she’s been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown’s most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal—and a bold rescue—land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.

UNDENIABLE DESIRE
As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he’s not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire… and desperate for more. With Davina’s secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can’t live without.

about the author~
Paula Quinn has been married to her childhood sweetheart for 16 years. They have three children, a dog, and too many reptiles to count. She lives in New York City and is currently at work on her next novel.

my thoughts~

Robert MacGregor is to die for! He has everything that a woman can want: strength, good looks, and most importantly, a great heart.
Davina Montgomery is a beautiful, thoughtful woman raised in a convent for her protection. Together they create a story that will be remembered for a long, long time! I can't wait for the next book, Seduced by a Highlander that comes out in the fall!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.

Silver Bourne by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, never knows what the day-or night-may bring in a world where "witches, vampires, werewolved, and shapeshifters live beside ordinary people" (Booklist). but she is about to learn that while some secrets are dangerous, those who seek them are just plain deadly...
Mercy is smart enough to realize that when it comes to the magical fae, the less you know, the better. But you can't always get what you want. When she attempts to return a powerful a fae book she previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.
It seems the book contains secrets-and the fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him lest his own father declare Samuel's life forfeit.
All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she may not have many more...

my thoughts~
I loved, loved, loved Silver Bourne! Mercy & Adam rock! They are in my top 5 couples to love! I mean really. Who doesn't love an Alpha Male? Mercy once again proves that she can be a loyal friend and will make an excellant mate for Adam. Silver Bourne was a quick paced read that was fantastic for me! As always I can't wait for the next Mercy book!

The Hellion and the Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Only one man could set her heart ablaze . . .

Lady Averill Mortagne learned to control her fierce temper as a young girl. But if her father insists on parading her before one more English lord who looks askance at her flame-colored hair, she'll simply scream! Her only respite is the time she spends with Kade Stewart, the wounded Scot her brother brought home from the Crusades. Who could have imagined a Highland warrior would be the only gentleman around?

Lady Averill helped save his life, and for that Kade is truly grateful. She is also almost unbearably beautiful, but he could never subject such a sweet and gentle lady to the rough life of a Stewart laird's bride . . . or could he? When she braves an unexpected danger by his side, Averill will prove to Kade that her heart is as fiery as her hair . . . and that submitting to their scorching passion would be heaven indeed.

my thoughts~
This is the 3rd book in The Devil Of The Highland series and I hope there will be more!! I really enjoyed how Kade found a way to keep Lady Averill from stammering! Lynsay Sands has a way of making her characters come to life! I have already added the first 2 books to my list to buy!! This book is a keeper!

I won a copy of this book from the author and The Optimistic Pessimist blog. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.

Fantasy In Death by J.D. Robb

Bart Minnock, founder of the computer-gaming giant U-Play, enters his private playroom, and eagerly can't wait to lose himself in an imaginary world—to play the role of a sword-wielding warrior king—in his company’s latest top-secret project, Fantastical.

The next morning, he is found in the same locked room, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. It is the most puzzling case Eve Dallas has ever faced, and it is not a game...
NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas is having as much trouble figuring out how Bart Minnock was murdered as who did the murdering. The victim's girlfriend seems sincerely grief-stricken, and his quirky-but-brilliant partners at U-Play appear equally shocked. No one seemed to have a problem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire. Of course, success can attract jealousy, and gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks—as Eve's husband, Roarke, one of U-Play's competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naive, and quite capable of fighting back in the real world as well as the virtual one.
Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction-and the price of defeat is death...

J.D. Robb's Website

my thoughts~
I have read & re-read all 30 of the In Death books that have been released so far.Yes, even Fantasy In Death! For me, Fantasy In Death did not disappoint! I don't know how she does it, but J.D. Robb/ Nora Roberts makes every In Death books fresh! For me, each book is better than last (except for the very first, Naked In Death).  If you haven't read them yet, you must start with the first and work your way through the series!

Blog Tour & Winners~ Dark Deception by Dee Davis

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. Then Nash finds her, and immediately, the smoldering passion between Annie and the man she swore she’d never contact again almost 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.

about the author~

Dee Davis has a BA in Political Science and History, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration. During a ten-year career in public relations, she spent three years on the public speaking circuit, edited two newsletters, wrote three award winning public service announcements, did television and radio commercials, starred in the Seven Year Itch, taught college classes, lobbied both the Texas State Legislature and the US Congress, and served as the director of two associations.

Her highly acclaimed first novel, Everything In Its Time, was published in July 2000. Since then, among others, she’s won the Booksellers Best, Golden Leaf, Texas Gold and Prism awards, and been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Holt and two RT Reviewers Choice Awards. To date, she has sold eighteen books and three novellas, including Chain Reaction and A Match Made on Madison.

She’s lived in Austria and traveled in Europe extensively. And although she now lives in Manhattan she still calls Texas home.

And the winners are:

Donna

Laura R

Darcie K

Marion G

Shari D

I will email you today!

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

Journey Back to Regency England—Land of the Undead!


Readers will witness the birth of a heroine in Dawn of the Dreadfuls a thrilling prequel set four years before the horrific events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English country side. They idle away the days reading, gardening, and daydreaming about future husbands until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horribly awry.
Suddenly corpses are springing from the soft earth and only one family can stop them. As the bodies pile up, we watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. Along the way, two men vie for her affections: Master Hawksworth is a powerful warrior who trains her to kill, while thoughtful Dr. Keckilpenny seeks to conquer the walking dead using science instead of strength. Will either man win the prize of Elizabeth's heart? Or will their hearts be feasted upon by hordes of marauding zombies? Complete with romance, action, comedy, and an army of shambling corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls will have Jane Austen rolling in her grave and just might inspire her to crawl out of it!

my thoughts~
Ok, I'm going to ask you to sit down. Are you sitting? Ok. Here is my confession: I have never, yes, you heard me, I said NEVER, read a book by Jane Austen. Yes, I've heard what great books she's written. Guess what...are you still sitting? I haven't even watched the movies. And I passed on the opportunity to read the first, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, when it came out. But then, I recieved an email for Dawn of the Dreadfuls. And I thought to myself, why not? It has zombies. How bad could it be? Are you ready? I LOVED IT! I loved it to the point that I went out and bought the 1st book before I was even finished with this one! Now, Dawn of the Dreadfuls is the PREquel to P&P&Z. And maybe because I haven't read Ms. Austens book first, I really enjoyed it! I liked the Bennet sisters, really disliked Mrs. Bennet and was hoping for an early dimise of a certain Lord.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.

The 3-Day Cleanse by Zoe Sakoutis & Erica Huss

Celebrities, foodies and media people rely on the Blueprint Cleanse for relief from the excess, overindulgence and toxins we are all exposed to every day. Now, the founders of the cleanse praised in Elle, Vogue and Every Day with Rachel Ray, offer THE 3-DAY CLEANSE, an at-home juice cleansing program for everyone. Cleansing allows the digestive system to rid itself of the toxins everyone accumulates from unhealthy eating or from the environment. This is a customized program based on your own personal health and lifestyle. Unlike other programmes the Blueprint Cleanse includes enough calories and natural fats for an easier yet incredibly effective cleanse. This books guides readers through step-by-step guidelines for a 1-day, 3-day and 14-day cleanse, as well as a long-term maintenance plan. There are sidebars with quick tips, secrets and advice from people who have done the cleanse and in addition to the juice, raw and part-raw recipes the authors include advice on battling the urge to cheat and working the cleanse into a busy lifestyle. It will boost your immune system, alleviate allergies and PMS, improve your mood and sex drive and clear up your skin. Finally.

my thoughts~
I'm waiting to do this cleanse until after the kids are out of the house for 3 days. When they aren't bringing in the snacks and fast food that I find oh so hard to pass on. BUT. And here is the thing. I am 99% sure that I will be able to do this. They provide some great recipes (Cherry, Banana, Peach Smoothie anyone? YUMMY!) And the other great thing is it is only 3 days! That doesn't even give me time to miss the junk food!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.

Iron Man 2~ GIVEAWAY!!!

"I am Iron Man." With those words, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark revealed his secret identity. Now a famous high-tech superhero, he uses his powers to protect mankind. Yet things are not going well for Tony Stark. The U.S. military demands control of the most powerful weapon on earth--the Iron Man suit. His beautiful new assistant has a strange, mysterious agenda while his best friend, Rhodey, has betrayed him. And Tony is hunted by a vengeful Russian criminal armed with a lethal technology that may be stronger than Tony's suit. But even as he fights his demons, the hero faces his greatest threat--one that no armor can defend against . . .

Giveaway Rules:

Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group

Five winners will be choosen

The Contest ends at midnight on April 24th

Open to US & Canadian addresses.

No PO Boxes please.

go HERE to enter!

Island of Betrayal by Alan L Moss

A beautiful young girl is taken to an unconventional medical facility. Weak and disoriented, she is subjected to a radical, untested stem cell procedure. Months later, in a hot air balloon speeding across New Zealand s Central Canterbury Plains, the results of that test give birth to an international conspiracy. When a giant tuna cannery makes early tax payments to the American Samoan treasury, a high-ranking but corrupt government official will divert millions to New Zealand s Health-Cell Corporation. The medical research firm is desperate for cash while its stem cell breakthrough undergoes a required three-year test protocol. In return, Health-Cell will supply the official and his co-conspirators with stem cell cure kits to sell on the black market, yielding huge profits. The only way the early tax payments will not be made, scuttling the conspiracy, is if a Special Industry Committee raises Samoa s minimum wage by more than two percent. Enter Michael Bloom, a government economist charged with the responsibility to administer public hearings that lead to deliberations of the Committee. He has risked his marriage to get Samoa s impoverished workers the significant wage increases long denied them. Unknowingly, his efforts to win large wage gains for Samoa s workforce threaten to derail the conspiracy. The story accelerates to breakneck speed as Bloom encounters the beautiful director of Samoa s Visitor Information Bureau. He is framed with a dastardly crime, flees the police, and returns to the South Pacific to unravel the conspiracy and get revenge.

my thoughts~
I found this book to be a little hard to get through at first, but once I read about 1/4 of the way into it, it hit with me. I thought the characters were believeable and I enjoyed the premise. I will be keeping this book on my shelf to be read again!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.

Love In Mid Air by Kim Wright

A chance encounter with a stranger on an airplane sends Elyse Bearden into an emotional tailspin. Suddenly Elyse is willing to risk everything: her safe but stale marriage, her seemingly perfect life in an affluent Southern suburb, and her position in the community. She finds herself cutting through all the instincts that say "no" and instead lets "yes" happen. As Elyse embarks on a risky affair, her longtime friend Kelly and the other women in their book club begin to question their own decisions about love, sex, marriage, and freedom.

about the author~

Kim Wright has been writing about travel, food, and wine for more than twenty years for many magazines including Wine Spectator, Self, Travel & Leisure, and Vogue, and has twice won the Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing. She is the food and wine editor for Charlotte Taste. She has written the annual Fodor's Walt Disney World with Kids for 18 years and also writes erotica. This is her first novel. Kim lives in Charlotte, NC.

my thoughts~
So, I'm late (really, really late) with my review. It was due on March 31st. So here it is:
I read this book in a day, I just couldn't put it down once I started. I will just come out and say it. I did not like Elyse at all. I thought she was selfish & I don't know, immoral maybe? I'm not sure what word I want to use to describe her. She did remind me to remember: no matter how great somethings look from the outside, it doesn't mean that they ARE great! Or maybe that no matter how great some people have it, they still aren't happy with what they have? I think that each reader will take something different away from this story. And that is what I think makes it great!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.

A Touch of Scandal by 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.
 
my thoughts~
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!!! What a fantastic book! I was in the mood for a romance, and that is just what I got! I think that this was a great follow up to A Hint Of Wicked, with this being Garrett's story! He so deserved getting his own story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.

The lucky winners of the giveaway are:

Mary (Bookfan)

Sandy J

Wanda B

Throuthehaze

Marian

Congratulatuions!

You should have an email with details!

The Clouds Roll Away by Sibella Giorello

Raleigh Harmon's life seems as impossible to solve as the high-profile case she's pursuing.

Closing her assignment with the FBI's Seattle office, forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon returns to her hometown of Richmond, Virginia, expecting a warm welcome. Instead she finds herself investigating an ugly cross burning at a celebrity's mansion and standing in the crosshairs of her boss at the Bureau. And the deeper Raleigh digs into the case, the murkier the water becomes...until she's left wondering who the real victims might be.
To make matters worse, Raleigh's personal life offers almost zero clarity. Her former confidant is suddenly remote while her former boyfriend keeps popping up wherever she goes. And then there's her mother. Raleigh's move home was supposed to improve Nadine's fragile sanity, but instead seems to be making things worse.
As the threads of the case begin crossing and double-crossing, Raleigh is forced to rely on her forensic skills, her faith, and the fervent hope that breakthrough will come, bringing with it that singular moment when the clouds roll away and everything finally makes sense.


my thoughts~
This is the second novel in Sibella Giorello's Raleigh Harmon series of novels. I'm going to have to find the first (The River Runs Dry)! I loved this book. Once I picked it up and started reading, I couldn't put it down!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of this book.

Oh Thank Goodness, Spring Break Is OVER!

I'm BACK! Well, I didn't go anywhere, not really. But I did use this week to spring clean my house. It's been forever since I went through drawers and rearranged furniture (so what if I moved almost everything back to the way it was! That just means I had it right the first time!!! LOL!) and well, you know how it is. And I READ.  A. LOT.  So there will be reviews popping up quite a bit! And emails to return. I haven't even checked those this week! (well, I did peek & return a couple, but not many!) So whats new with you? What did you do this week?

Waiting on Wednesday

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell...




Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (April 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451229738
ISBN-13: 978-0451229731

Blog Tour & Giveaway Winners~Montana Legacy by R.C. Ryan

They're the McCords...



three rugged, sexy cowboy cousins who'll inherit the family range--if they seek the treasure hidden on it. But even more precious are the women who can tame their wild hearts...


She was the one person who shook Jesse McCord's quiet determination. She was the only one he ever let in, body and soul. Then suddenly Amy Parrish was gone and the oldest McCord cousin devoted his life to the family ranch. Now Amy is back, offering help to Jesse find the McCord gold. Yet Jesse's not about to give her a second chance, and he hopes his pride will protect him from her irresistible charms. But under the wide prairie skies a dangerous, unseen enemy is fast closing in, threatening Amy and Jesse's very lives and the promise of their ...

about the author~
New York Times bestselling author R.C. Ryan has written more than ninety fiction novels, both contemporary and historical. Quite an accomplishment for someone who, after her fifth child started school, gave herself the gift of an hour a day to follow her dream to become a writer.

The Lost, an anthology of stories by J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Patricia Gaffney, and R.C. Ryan writing as Ruth Ryan Langan was published in Fall 2009. Ms. Ryan’s story, “The Legacy,” is an exciting tale of intrigue and other-worldly adventure.
In a career spanning more than twenty years, Ms. Ryan has given dozens of radio, television, and print interviews across the country and Canada, and has been quoted in such diverse publications as the Wall Street Journal and Cosmopolitan. She has also appeared on CNN News, as well as Good Morning America.

my thoughts~
When I first began reading 'Montana Legacy', I immediately fell in love with the story line. 3 handsome cousins, best friends from birth, looking for a lost treasure. I was NOT disappointed with Jesse & Amy's story. Ms. Ryan has created a cast of characters that make me want to head to Montana just to see if I can find them! LOL! I look forward to reading the next in the series-'Montana Destiny', which will be Marilee & Wyatt's story and it will be released in May! Not such a long wait, huh?

and the winners are~

Woops! I had this scheduled to post and did not get up in time to get the winners added before it posted! Here they are:

Cheryl M

Cheryl K

Jennifer (Scorpio M.)

emily l

CherylS22

I will be emailing you today!!

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~ Deviled Eggs

So the Grandbabies are coming over this weekend and we are going to decorate our Easter Eggs & they will get their Easter Baskets that Nana (thats me!) made for them. Now, we are not big hard boiled egg fans, but we love our Deviled Eggs! So here is the recipe that I've come up with that I think everyone likes best. I'm guesstimating the exact measurements. I usually just eyeball it! This is the recipe that everyone (Matt!) expects me to make for all the holidays!

Ingredients~
6 hard-cooked eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
Paprika

Directions~

1. Carefully peel your eggs. I have found that if your eggs are at least 1 1/2 weeks old, they peel easier. I don't know why, but if you know, let me know!
2. Slice eggs in half lengthwise; remove yolks and set whites aside.
3. In a small bowl, mash yolks with a fork.
4. Add the mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, mustard and salt; mix well.
5.  Stuff or pipe into egg whites. Sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate until serving.

 

Ok, I finally figured it out (with alot of HELP!!! )

I sat down today and created a FACEBOOK Fan Page for My Guilty Pleasures!  All I have to say is this: If you haven't found Katydid & Kid yet, you should definately go take a look-see! She hosts a fantastic meme called Tech Tuesday, which is how I finally did it! The directions are excellant and can be found HERE if you need them! So far I'm the only fan...it sure is lonely over there all by myself! LOL!