Saturday, March 19, 2011

Weekly Wrap Up
(03/19/11)


Books Reviewed
This Weeks Posts

Current Giveaways
Our Week In Review
I've managed to read a few books this week. I've read Treachery In Death, Dead Witch Walking, Kiss An Angel, Dream A Little Dream & The Dukes Night of Sin. I haven't watched as many movies this week, only 3 on DVD~ My Soul To Take, Due Date & Life As We Know It. I Robert Downey Jr! He has made such a great comeback! He is probably my favorite leading man, for now.
Wednesday, I had lunch with Terese, my best friend since 3rd grade (we aren't going to discuss just how many years! (34) and Daisy, from my Bunco group.  It was an hour of laughter! I love those girls!
That about sums up my week, pretty boring I know, but I've come to enjoy boring! So...
How was your week?



Friday, March 18, 2011

Dream A Little Dream
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips


A Desperate Young Mother
Rachel Stone's bad luck has taken a turn for the worse. With an empty wallet, a car's that's spilling smoke, and a five-year-old son to support, she's come home to a town that hates her. But this determined young widow with a scandalous past has learned how to be a fighter. And she'll do anything to keep her child safe- even take on. . . A Man With No Heart
Gabe Bonner wants to be left alone, especially by the beautiful outcast who's invaded his property. She has a ton of attitude, a talent for trouble, and a child who brings back bad memories. Yet Rachel's feisty spirit might just be heaven-sent to save a tough, stubborn man. Dare To Dream
Welcome to Salvation, North Carolina- where a man who's forgotten what tenderness means meets a woman with nothing to lose. here two endearing lovers will set off on a funny, touching journey of the heart. . .to a place where dreams just might come true...



my thoughts~
Oh, Oh, Oh! I love Gabe! He is such a tortured soul, having lost his wife & son he is broken and his brothers are coddling him. Lucky for Gabe, Rachel's car breaks down right outside his drive-in that he is renovating to open and she only have $9 in her pocket & a 5 year old to care for. This book made me weepy, the way SEP writes about Gabe's wife & son, the trials Gabe, Rachel & Edward (the 5 Year old) have to endure to become the family that each one of them needs. It's no secret that SEP writes happily ever afters. But she writes great happily ever afters!


Thursday, March 17, 2011

Happy Blogging Birthday!
Gift Card Giveaway!

Happy Blogging Birthday!
My Guilty Pleasures turns an astounding 2 today! When I first started this blog, I had no intention, really of it turning into a (mostly)book review and giveaway blog. But I'm sure glad that it did! A lot has happened in the 2 years. My daughter graduated high school, moved to Florida & is making me a Mamaw in August. My son has joined the Army reserves, will be graduating in June from high school, and will spend the second summer in a row training to be all he can be. I spent 12 days in a drug induced coma because the doctors had no clue what was wrong with me and that was the only way they could keep me from dying. When their 'House' team finally figured out what was wrong, I had to learn how to walk again and I  had a hard time talking. The day I got out of the hospital, I lost my job, due to company downsizing along with 2 others (we knew changes were coming, I just didn't expect it to be the day I got home from the hospital). Needless to say, it was very upsetting no only for me, but for my family. But they stuck with me and we worked through the problems. I'm trying to take on a knew attitude, not to stress out over things that I can't change, to spend more time doing the things that I enjoy (ummm, reading!) and spend time with the friends that I've let slip out of my life over the years. I'm happier now than I have been in awhile, and that means a lot to me. And since this is a Birthday, there are gifts!The giveaway is lasting a whole month and you can enter daily!
I'm giving a $50, $25 & $10 gift card away! I'm pretty sure I can buy the gift cards online and email them directly to you. Thats my plan. If not, then I will buy them and mail them to you through snail mail. All you have to do it fill out the form below! The ONE rule I won't bend on: YOU MUST BE A FOLLOWER!






Kiss An Angel
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips


Wedding Day
Pretty, flighty Daisy Devreaux can either go to jail or marry the mystery man her father has chosen for her. Arranged marriages don't happen in the modern world, so how did the irrepressible Daisy find herself in this fix?
Alex Markov, as humorless as he is deadly handsome, has no intention of playing the loving bridegroom to a spoiled little feather-head with champagne tastes. He drags Daisy from her uptown life to a broken down traveling circus and sets out to tame her to his ways.
But this man without a soul has met his match in a woman who's nothing but heart. Before long, passion will send them flying sky high without a safety net... risking it all in search of a love that will last forever.

my thoughts~
I always lean toward the paranormal, but every once in awhile, I just have to pick up a straight romance. You know what I mean. No witches, werewolves, vampires. Just a normal girl meets a 'somewhat' normal boy and they end up living happily every after. Today, I wanted one of those books. Boy, I'm sure glad that I downloaded this sweet, sweet book from my library! I read devoured this book in less than 8 hours (and 2 of those hours were spent enjoying  lunch with a couple of good friends) because I just didn't want to put it down!  I've read a few of SEP's books before and found them enjoyable, but this I enjoyed and I'm thinking I might just have to buy to keep on my shelves. Yes, I thought it was that good. I will be re-reading this book!



Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Memories of You
by Bobbie Cole


Cold case detective Charlie Vargas is searching for a killer—but what she really needs to know is what happened to her lover, who vanished several months ago. When the phone rings and she hears Seth's voice, she's skeptical. He tells her his name is Mason Alridge, and the only thing he remembers after his accident is the number he called...hers.
Mason looks nothing like her former lover, but there's something about his mannerisms, if not his face, that draws Charlie in. As they begin to piece together what few clues and skimpy details they have, Charlie and the man she believes is Seth slowly discover a mutual passion. With the Feds following at a distance and someone trying to kill them, will they live long enough to find out his true identity?

my thoughts~
 I really enjoyed reading Memories of You and I think the cast of characters are great! I fell in love with not only Seth but also Julio (Charlies partner) and Sam, her Dad! He just made me laugh! I love that he brought her beer & flowers! This story will take you from Houston to Mexico on a trip to find out who Mason/ Seth really is, and who is behind everything that's happened.
Photobucket
 Thanks to Carina Press for allowing me to read this great book!

Waiting On Wednesday
(03/16/11)

Waiting On Wednesday 
is hosted each week by


Clary, Jace, and Simon are back in this thrilling fourth book of the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Who will be tempted by darkness? Who will fall in love? And who will betray everything they've ever believed in?
Publishing Details
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Date: April 05, 2011
ISBN13: 9781442403543
ISBN: 1442403543








Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Dead Witch Walking
Kim Harrison


Rachel Morgan is a runner with the Inderland Runner Services, apprehending law-breakers throughout Cincinnati. She's also a witch, one of the many Inderlanders who revealed themselves after a genetically engineered virus wiped out 50% of humanity. Witches, warlocks, vampires, werewolves-the creatures of dreams and nightmares have lived beside humans for centuries, hiding their powers. But now they've stopped hiding, and nothing will be the same.
On the run with a contract on her head, Rachel reluctantly teams up with Ivy, Inderland's best runner…and a living vampire. But this witch is way out of her league, and to clear her name, Rachel must evade shapechanging assassins, outwit a powerful businessman/crimelord, and survive a vicious underground fight-to-the-death…not to mention her own roommate!

my thoughts~
I might have read this book years ago, because some things seem familiar, but then some don't, so I'm not sure. But I can't imagine reading this book and not reading the others. I really enjoyed Rachel, Ivy & Jenks, especially when he is drunk on honey! I thought this was a quick & easy read (my favorite!) that while it takes place in a completely false 'world', I found it believable, if, you know, there were witches, weres, fairies, pixies, demon, vampires, etc. So, yes, I did enjoy the book and I look forward to starting the next soon! 



Monday, March 14, 2011

Treachery In Death
by J.D. Robb

Eve Dallas and her partner, Peabody, are following up on a brutal, senseless crime -- an elderly grocery owner killed by three stoned punks for nothing more than kicks and snacks. And for the first time, Peabody is primary detective on the case, which means she has to get used to a new level of authority and responsibility. Good thing she learned the ropes from a master like Eve.
But after rounding up the perps, Peabody stumbles upon a much trickier situation. Determined to start working out as hard as she grills suspects, she chooses to do it at the old, rarely used gym at Central. After a grueling workout, she squeezes into one of the narrow shower stalls, happy to have the place to herself. Just after she shuts the water off, the gym door clatters open -- and while she cringes inside the stall, trying not to make a sound, Peabody overhears two fellow officers, Garnet and Oberman, arguing. References are made to delivering product, and a house in the islands, and someone named Keener who's supposed to look like an OD. It doesn't take long for a naked and vulnerable Peabody to realize that both officers are crooked -- guilty not just of corruption but of murder as well. Fortunately, the two clear out of the locker room without realizing there was a witness.
Eve Dallas may have trained Peabody well -- but this is too dangerous for one person to take on alone. Now Peabody, Eve, and her husband, Roarke, must try to get the hard evidence they need to bring the dirty cops down -- knowing all the while that the two have already killed to keep their secret, and are no doubt willing to do it again.




my thoughts~
I just finished this book and I have to say, I still love this series! I know there are, like, 3? books in this series so far, but I'm just not tired of reading about Eve & (especially) Roarke yet. Each time I sit down with a book from this series, I feel like I'm catching up with old friends. Which I think is one reason why I enjoy the books as much as I do. But. I do wish that I could have seen how things wrapped up with Devins mother. And I think that we will see Detective Strong again, maybe in Homicide instead of Illegals. I hope we do anyway.

a LOL moment~
(Eve with little baby Bella)
"Slooch!"
"Yeah, yeah, I remember." Smooch, Eve thought, and eyed Bella's lips- and more drool. "On the mouth?"
"Slooch!" Bella pursed like a guppy and made kissy noises.
"Fine, fine." Eve gave her a little pec, then stared into her big blue eyes. "Now what?"

The whole scene between Eve & Bella just had me rolling. Mainly because Eve is simply terrified of all things baby. Including the babies themselves! LOL!




Alice in Zombieland
by Lewis Carroll and Nickolas Cook


Off with their heads! Zombies have made their way into wonderland. Lewis Carroll's classic novel becomes curiouser and curiouser with the undead...

Zombies. That's right - zombies. In Wonderland.

When Alice follows the Black Rat into the open grave, she falls and falls, and soon finds herself in an undead nightmare of rotting flesh and insanity. Following the Rat, she ventures further into this land of monsters, encountering madcap characters along the way. But there's something else troubling poor Alice: her skin is rotting and her hair is falling out. She's cold, and she has the haunting feeling that if she remains in Zombieland any longer, she might never leave. Can Alice escape Zombieland before the Dead Queen catches up to her?

Have a seat at the table for the wildest tea party of your life and explore the unforgettable adventure that is Alice in Zombieland. A fresh and hilarious new zombie mash-up, bringing the hottest format on the humor shelf to a beloved classic, complete with zombie-fied updates to the renowned illustrations by Sir John Teniel.


This was a quick read at only 240 pages. We follow Alice as her adventures begin from chasing a rat and falling into an open grave. After a very long fall, she lands in a world where almost every creature she comes in contact with is dead. Like the previous novel, she has issues with shrinking and growing taller than other characters. The longer she stays in this underground world, the hungrier she becomes and she begins to wonder if she will make it out alive. If you enjoyed the classic Alice in Wonderland and you like zombies, you will find this a refreshing take and amusing in many ways.






Sunday, March 13, 2011

And The Winners Are...

The winners for the
'From Scotland, With Love'
2 Book Giveaways are:
Kathy P.
Stacy S.
and
Marie E.
Congratulations and I will email you today! 
Enjoy!





In My Mailbox
(03/13/11)




from the library~
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern
The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander

eBooks to review~
A Lady's Wish by Katherine Ashe
Moon Spell by Samantha Young
The Reluctant Vampire by Lynsay Sands
Devil Without A Cause by Terri Garey
The Neon Graveyard by Vicki Peterson

books to review (or feature)~
Face of Danger by Roxanne St. Claire
Chiver of Fear of Roxanne St. Claire
Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione
Never A Gentleman by Eileen Dreyer






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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library