Giveaway~ 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 ...

Five Fun Facts:
1. The names of all three cousins in this series are famous Western names that I've always loved: Jesse (James), Wyatt (Earp), and Zane (Grey).
2. There really was a gold strike in 1862 Montana at Grasshopper Creek. I doubt the nuggets were as big as a man's fist or thumb, but why not dream big? I love the idea of a treasure lost for a century or more, leading a family into the treasure hunt.
3. In Montana Legacy, part of the fun of reading is that Jesse McCord and Amy Parrish were childhood sweethearts, separated by circumstances. I think everybody can recall their first big love. A few very lucky people actually reconnect with that first love and make it work. Oh, I'm one of them. Very happily married to the guy I met in first grade.
4. Montana is one of my favorite locations in which to set a series because it has such an ever-changing landscape. In that single state, you can find plains, hills, mountains, waterfalls, and four distinct seasons, each of which is simply more spectacular than the last, and I purposefully tried to use all of them in this series.
5. I'm not certain this story could work anywhere else but in the rough, rugged west. Though Jesse tries to be politically correct, there's just something in his genes that has him breaking a lot of rules. I find readers are much more willing to give a pass to a cowboy. Don't you agree? But maybe I'm prejudiced, since Jesse was inspired by my husband—a blunt, plain-spoken rule-breaker. A warrior who would risk his life for the people he loves. And for all his rough edges, he's the most loving, tender-hearted man I know.

about the contest

Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group
Five winners will be choosen
The Contest ends at midnight on March 24th
Open to US & Canadian addresses.
No PO Boxes please.
We are changing how we do things!

Go HERE to enter the giveaway!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme

is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along!Just do the following:
Grab your current readOpen to a random page

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!

My Teaser:

"You've tied me up, taken my clothes and my Lightblade", she reminded him, sounding extremely reasonable considering the circumstances. "Stop pretending that I'm anything other than a prisoner."

Shadow Blade
by Seressia Glass
page 228

I haven't made it this far in the book, but when I opened it these were the first sentences I read and I thought, oh those are good!! LOL!!

Tasty Tuesday! Something I really did just throw together

You know when you take something out of the freezer, put it in the fridge to thaw

and forget about it? That happened to me last week when I took out chicken breasts to make the

Zesty Chicken Tortilla's from kraftrecipes. So after frying the chicken breasts, I began making the mayo/sour cream & flour mixture when I noticed there were big black things floating in it. Needless to say, ugh! So I took the pan off the stove to investigate. It was the teflon off the bottom of my pan! So in the trash it went. But I had these chicken breasts and tortilla's. What was I going to do? I took a look in my fridge and what did I find? The left over 5 layer Mexican Dip that I had made for the superbowl! hmmm... so this is what I came up with and it was a HUGE hit!!

ingredients:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

burrito tortilla's

shredded mexican cheese (I love Sargento's) for the dip, too!

sour cream for the dip too!

the ingredients for my 5 layer Mexican Dip (that aren't listed above)

refried beans

1 lb hamburger

taco seasoning (I use Old El Paso)

taco sauce

green onions

tomato

what I did was make the dip for the super bowl. I always just wing it, I never follow the recipe. And I use what I have on hand, usually. I just layered the beans, taco mixture, light taco sauce, shredded cheese, tomato, green onions and dalloped sour cream on top. What was left over after the super bowl went into the fridge. I fried the chicken breasts, shredded them and then threw the leftover dip & shredded chicken into my big pot. Once it was hot, I put the tortilla's in the microwave between 2 damp paper towels and warmed them for about 15 seconds. I then layered the chicken/dip mixture, shredded cheese, sour cream and tomato onto the tortilla and wrapped it tight! I didn't take pictures, but I should have, because it was delish and I will be making it again!!

the boy...

So. Matt, my only son, my baby will be turning 17 on Thursday. Matt has had it arranged for at least six months that his dad & I will meet at the recruiters on Friday and sign the papers for him to join the Army Reserves. This is nothing new to us. The boy has said he wanted to be a soldier since he was 5. His plans go like this: Army Reserves once a month while he is still in school. Basic Training for *gasp*10 looooonnnngggg weeks over summer break, then back home to finish his senior year while going on his once a month weekend warrior stuff, then once he graduates, he will switch to the regular Army. Then he will belong to Uncle Sam. This is not new news to me. So why, since this last Friday have I been on a constant verge of tears? I want the kids to move out. No, really, I do. This is what I raised the kids to do. Move out, be independant adults, who rely on themselves. So Matt, I want to tell you, I love you. I'm so proud of you and the young man that you've become. You make me a better person just having you in my life! Thanks for all the movies you've sat through with me, so I wouldn't have to go alone. I know it sucked going with your old mom. You are an amazing person!

P.S. I like you better without the goatee.

P.S. S. But you already knew that.

and the girl...

This is Brittni & her friend Courtney.
They have been friends forever

Or so it seems!

Brittni graduates from high school in May and then she's off to college in the fall where she wants to study to become a doctor. The girl is so smart, she has earned a full scholarship, for 8 semesters, to a private college close to home. She says if she doesn't get the room & board scholarship that she's moving out. She's so excited to be taking that next step and I'm so excited for her! But, even though we argue & don't always like each other, the idea that I won't be able to see her the 10 minutes a day that I see her now, makes me incredibly sad. Yes, I've already made plans with what I'm going to do to her room once she moves out. But it wouldn't kill me to put those plans on hold for awhile, say another 4 years...hint, hint, hint Britt! So Britt, I want you to know that I love you bunches & bunches & bunches. I am so proud of you! You have really become an amazing woman and I know that there are great things ahead for you! You work hard, you love your family & friends and you have a good heart.

P.S. Thanks for always loaning me one of your great purses
P.S.S. Sorry you got the purse & shoe addiction from me! LOL!
P.S.S.S. What I'm really sorry for is that your foot is so much smaller than mine, I've missed out on some of your awesome shoes! LOL! Love you baby girl!!

Blog Tour & Giveaway~ Jordan by Susan Kearney

A DANGEROUS MISSION
Vivianne Blackstone devotes herself to her career, putting her love life on hold. Her latest project is a spaceship designed to protect Earth from the deadly Tribes. But its engineer, the alluring Jordan McArthur, now threatens both her job and her wary heart . . .
AN UNDENIABLE DESIRE
Jordan's past goes back to King Arthur, and he must find the ancient artifact that can save the galaxy. Vivianne's ship is his best hope, but convincing the fiercely independent beauty won't be easy. Especially when the passion flaring between them burns through their defenses - and love is the last thing they need to survive

about the author~
USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Kearney is a native of New Jersey and has a Business Degree from the University of Michigan. Her fifty plus books include contemporary, romantic suspense, historical, futuristic, science fiction and paranormal novels. She resides in a suburb of Tampa-with her husband, kids, Boston terriers and iguana. Currently she's plotting her way through her 52st work of fiction. You can reach her through her web site at http://www.susankearney.com/.

my thoughts~
Well, I completely missed RION that is the second book in the Pendragon Legacy Trilogy (darn it!) while I was recouperating from my hospitalizations in October & November. And even though I missed Rion, I really enjoyed Jordan. It was a great book that I thought stood alone quit well. I am sure that reading Rion would enhance Jordan, I don't think I missed anything in Jordan because I didn't read Rion (which I will be reading soon!).
I really enjoyed reading Vivianne & Jordan story!

about the contest
Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group

Five winners will be choosen

The Contest ends at midnight on March 15th

Open to US & Canadian addresses.

No PO Boxes please.

We are changing how we do things!

Go HERE to enter for the giveaway!!

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

In My Mailbox...

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

If you haven't visited her blog, you should!

I bought alot of books this week, so I'm just going to list them with the description, no pictures!

Shift by Rachel Vincent~
Being the first female werecat enforcer isn't easy. Scars accumulate, but I'm stronger in so many ways. As for my personal life? It's complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother's death and my father's impeachment, it's all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.
With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option….
Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd~
A thousand years ago, a brutal warrior struck a terrifying bargain. In return for the ability to change at will into a cold-hearted predator, he promised his soul, and the souls of his descendants, to the devil.
Handsome, powerful Rurik Wilder battles darkness — the darkness without, and the darkness within. For he possesses the power to transform himself into a fierce bird of prey, and that gift has caused death and destruction.
At last he is offered the chance to redeem himself and break the evil pact which has held his family in thrall for centuries. Only one woman stands in his way — flamboyant Tasya Hunnicutt, a writer determined to wreak revenge on the assassins who murdered her family. Assassins, it’s been rumored, who have powers no human should ever possess..
Touch of Darkness by Christina Dodd~
Handsome, powerful Rurik Wilder holds the power to transform himself into a fierce bird of prey-a gift that's caused death and destruction.
At last he's offered the chance to redeem himself. Only one woman stands in his way-a beautiful writer determined to wreak revenge on the assassins who murdered her family. Assassins, it's been rumored, who have powers no human should ever possess...
Into the Shadow by Christina Dodd~
Blessed—or cursed—with the ability to change into a sleek panther, and driven by a dark soul he’s accepted as his fate, Adrik Wilder abandons his family and his honor to pursue a life of wickedness. He excels at every vice, including kidnapping Karen Sonnet to use for his selfish purposes.But Karen’s spirit and passion make him question the force of his family’s curse. And when a new evil emerges, Adrik must choose whether to enact revenge on his enemies and redeem his soul, or save Karen from a fate worse than death…
Into the Flame by Christina Dodd~
meet Doug Black—the Wilder brother who’s been missing for centuries. With no idea of where he’s from, he's become an angry young cop with the ability to transform into a cougar. in search of others like him, he comes across a beautiful woman who may hold the secret to his destiny...
Wicked Nights by Nina Bangs~
Come to the Castle of Dark Dreams, the delicious attraction in an adult amusement park where women take role-playing to new erotic heights with the three brothers-Eric, Brynn, and Conall McNair-who work there. Okay, so they're not human, but that's a secret. Tonight, Eric, the castle's resident vampire, will prove that he's everything bad should be when he drives a female talk show host absolutely wild with desire.
Master of Ecstasy by Nina Bangs~
WARRIOR, HIGHLANDER, VAMPIRE
Meet the MASTER OF ECSTASY. Darach MacKenzie is everything dark, dangerous, and delicious. His voice is a tempting slide of sin, and he's the primitive need that lives in every woman, no matter how much she denies it. But even five hundred years of sensual knowledge haven't prepared him for the woman who awaits him in his clan's ancestral castle.
HAPPINESS IS HER BUSINESS
In a distant future, Blythe works for Ecstasy Inc. to make people happy. That's her job, and she does it well. Company policy forbids the use of sensual solutions to cure unhappiness, and Blythe agrees that sex is a short-term fix. When her abilities are called into question, Blythe travels back to the Scottish Highlands of 1785 to prove that she can make anyone happy. She hasn't counted on a centuries-old vampire for a client.
Darach believes that sexual pleasure is the key to happiness. Blythe thinks that Ecstasy Inc. has all the answers. Neither one considers love as an option. They're about to discover how wrong they can be.
Born of Night by Sherilyn Kenyon~
In the Ichidian Universe, The League and their ruthless assassins rule all. Expertly trained and highly valued, the League Assassins are the backbone of the government. But not even the League is immune to corruption . . .Command Assassin Nykyrian Quikiades once turned his back on the League—and has been hunted by them ever since. Though many have tried, none can kill him or stop him from completing his current mission: to protect Kiara Zamir, a woman whose father’s political alliance has made her a target.
As her world becomes even deadlier, Kiara must entrust her life to the same kind of beast who once killed her mother and left her for dead. Old enemies and new threaten them both and the only way they can survive is to overcome their suspicions and learn to trust in the very ones who threaten them the most: each other.
Born of Fire by Sherilyn Kenyon~
In a universe where assassins make the law, everyone lives in fear—except for Syn. Born of an illicit scandal that once rocked a dynasty, he always knew how to survive on the bloodthirsty streets. But that was then, and the future is now…
Syn was raised as a tech-thief until his livelihood uncovered a truth that could end his life. He tried to destroy the evidence, and has been on the run ever since. Now trained as an assassin, he allows no one to threaten him. Ever. He is the darkness that swallows his enemies whole.
Shahara Dagan is the best bounty hunter in the universe. When Syn comes back on the radar, she’s the only one who can bring him to justice. There’s only one problem: Syn is a close family friend who’s helped out the Dagans countless times. But if she saves him, both of their lives will be on the line. Is Syn’s protection worth the risk? The only hope Shahara has is to find the evidence he buried long ago. Now it’s kill or be killed—and they, the predators, have just become the hunted…
Born of Ice by Sherilyn Kenyon~
In the Ichidian Universe, the League and its ruthless assassins continue to keep rule. But at what cost? Welcome back to the future…and a whole new world.
Devyn Kell spent his life in service to the League until he learned of the double dealing and backstabbing that was costing innocent people their lives. Refusing to play those politics, he became a Runner—someone who makes sure planets get the weapons, medicine and supplies they need to survive. May the gods have mercy on any who get in his way, because he definitely won’t.
Alix Garran is a woman on the run from a past she can’t escape. Signing on to work for Devyn as a System’s Engineer, she finds a cause she can fight for—and a man she can respect. But as Alix’s past catches up to her, and Devyn’s old enemies turn lethal, they have to fight together…or fall alone.

So, what was in YOUR mailbox this week?

Blog Tour~ Seduced by a Rogue by Amanda Scott

A fair-haired beauty at 19, Lady Mairi is heiress apparent to her father Lord Dunwythie's rich barony. He has carefully taught her how to manage their estates, but a feud between his clan and the Maxwell clan is brewing as the two families edge toward a clan war - their dispute over money owed. Mairi's father believes he owes nothing, and of course Mairi sides with him.When the impulsive and blue-eyed Rob Maxwell chances to meet Mairi in a barley field, they feel instant attraction, despite their families' antagonisms. Knowing he must put his clan first, Rob enacts a plan to force Dunwythie to pay his debt: Rob kidnaps Mairi, making the abduction appear the work of a stranger; then he and his sheriff-brother offer to help Dunwythis rescue his daughter IF, and only if, he will pay them the monies due. Yet after Rob captures Mairi's body, she captures his heart. When Dunwythie summons the aid of the most powerful clan in all Scotland (the Douglases), clan-tensions rise to a fever pitch. Love takes its own feverish course, as Mairi and Rob join forces to prevent a clash between hot-headed clans, and to protect their budding love.

about the author~

Amanda Scott, best-selling author and winner of the Romance Writers of America's RITA/Golden Medallion and The Romantic Times' awards for Best Regency Author and Best Sensual Regency, began writing on a dare from her husband. She has sold every manuscript she has written. More than twenty-five of her books are set in the English Regency period (1810-1820), others are set in fifteenth-century England and sixteenth-and eighteenth-century Scotland. Three are contemporary romances. Amanda lives with her husband and son in northern California.

my thoughts~

LOVED IT!! I think this book was great! It had alot of details, the author paid great attention to the dialect, I could just go on and on. Thanks Amanda Scott for a fantastic book!! It's a keeper!

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

Weekly Wrap Up...

Books read and/or reviewed this week

Shift

Born of Night

Spider's Bite

Storm of Visions

Wake

Current Giveaways

Dare To Surrender

Countess of Scandal

Worst Case (audiobook)

The Moon Looked Down
Ecstasy Unveiled

My Posts

Tasty Tuesday!

Oh Things, they are achangin'

My Valentine's Day

Reminder! Interview with Larrisa Ione on Blog Talk Radio Today!

Waiting on Wednesday

Friday Fill Ins

My Week

My Valentines Day was very sweet. I recieved the saucepan that I asked for and a huge Hershey's Chocolate Bar. Walmart was out of one of my prescriptions, so instead of paying $4, I had to pay $18.80, which is alot cheaper than I thought it would be. Matt turns 17 on the 25th, so I've been planning his birthday dinner~ he asked for Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches and he asked for a Jello Poke Cake and I've been thinking about how my baby really isn't a baby anymore. And feeling oh, so old! LOL! We went out to dinner Friday night-The Outback Steakhouse. Then after dinner we just went for a drive, just the two of us. It was really nice.

So, how was YOUR week?

Audobook Giveaway~ Worst Case by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

WORST CASE (Unabridged)

By James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge, read by Bobby Canavale, John Glover, Orlagh Cassidy

From the bestselling author who brought you the Alex Cross novels comes James Patterson's most action-packed series yet. With the heart-pounding suspense that only Patterson delivers, WORST CASE will leave you gasping for breath until the very end.

Listen to an Excerpt

View the Video

Visit JamesPatterson.com

Available in CD and Digital Download Formats

Also Available in Hardcover, in a Large Print Edition, and as an eBook

about the contest

Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group
Three winners will be choosen
The Contest ends at midnight on February 26th
Open to US & Canadian addresses.No PO Boxes please.
We are changing how we do things!

Go HERE to enter for the giveaway!!

Friday Fill Ins

Friday Fill Ins is hosted by Friday Fill Ins!

1. Johnny Weir who.

2. _I have not watched the 2010 Olympics.

3. And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom..

4. Laugh if you get an urge.

5. Having sweet dreams are SWEET!

6. What does it take to be happy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out at home, tomorrow my plans include Taylor & Kaylee spending the night and Sunday, I want to recuperate!

Shift by Rachel Vincent

Being the first female werecat enforcer isn't easy. Scars accumulate, but I'm stronger in so many ways.
As for my personal life? It's complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother's death and my father's impeachment, it's all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.
With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option….

my thoughts~

WOOHOO! I didn't have to wait until the original March 1st date! My copy arrived on Thursday and I read it in one sitting (ignoring everything & everyone else of course!)

This was a great book! It makes me incredibly sad that there is only one more book in the Shifters series. Shift hit all the right spots for me...yet leaving some things open for Alpha. You really see how Faythe has matured since the first book, Stray. If you haven't read the series yet, you should! The books already out: Stray, Rogue, Pride, Prey & Shift. Alpha is due out October 2010.

Blog Tour~ Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South -- when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.
Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way -- good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction...especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.



about the author~
from Simon & Schuster website


By night, Jennifer Estep is an author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fun, sexy fantasy idea. Jennifer currently writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The star of the series is Gin Blanco, an assassin who can control the elements of ice and stone when she’s not too busy running her barbecue restaurant, the Pork Pit. Jennifer is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance books, which feature sexy superheroes, evil ubervillains, and smart, sassy gals looking for love. Titles in the Berkley series include Karma Girl (May 2007), Hot Mama (November 2007), and Jinx (September 2008).By day, Jennifer is an award-winning features page designer for a daily newspaper with a broad range of journalism and media experience. She's also a certifiable fangirl and an authority on fantasy literature and culture. Jennifer is a member of Romance Writers of America, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and other writing groups. Jennifer's books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Southern Living, and a variety of other publications.
For more information, visit her Web site at http://www.jenniferestep.com/.


my thoughts~
This was another book that once I started reading, I just couldn't stop! I put off going to the grocery (sorry kids) and doing the dishes (sorry honey)! This book kept me on the edge of my seat. What a ride! Gin is one tough chic who knows how to kick some major ass! I loved getting to know her, Finn, Sopia & Jo-Jo. I can't wait for the next book 'Web of Lies' to come out!

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

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted

by Jill over at Breaking The Spine

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - vampire warriors, defenders of their race...John Matthew has been through his vampire transition and taken to the life of the Brotherhood with a vengeance, but he still can't shake the nightmare of his past and is unsure of his future as a warrior hero. He's made a promise to honour the Brotherhood and their fight with the slayers at all costs, until the love of his life is kidnapped and he is forced to make a choice that could change his life and the Brotherhood's forever...

Oh, I love me some Black Brother Daggerhood! Is it April yet?

Reminder! Interview with Larissa Ione on Blog Talk Radio TODAY!

Please join us in a live interview with Larissa Ione, author of
ECSTASY UNVEILED!!

Date: February 17, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Author: Larissa Ione
Title: Ecstasy Unveiled
Publisher: Forever Romance
BlogTalkRadio/HBG Program:
Larissa Ione, an Air Force veteran, lives a nomadic lifestyle with her U.S. Coast Guard husband and young son. She currently lives in Wisconsin and is hard at work on her next Demonica novel. Visit her website at http://www.larissaione.com/. She writes: "After I'd joined the Air Force and was in dire need of something to read between shifts at the weather station, I continued to read horror, but I'd branched out into fantasy, and then, finally, romance (though I admit I went kicking and screaming to the latter.) Turned out that I loved romance! So I started writing it, but again, my style and voice leaned toward the dark, paranormal side. Fortunately for me, paranormal romance, as a sub-genre, was booming. I let my imagination fly, and soon I'd sold a series of dark, sexy paranormal romances to Grand Central Publishing. I still read a lot of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and in fact, one of my all time favorite books about writing is On Writing, by my favorite childhood horror author, Stephen King. If you're an author or a reader, I highly recommend this book for an insight into an author's mind—which can sometimes be a very scary place. Go ahead; Seduce your dark side."
Call-in with your questions during show time to participate in the live interview @ 646-378-0039. Listen-in or chat on the Grand Central Publishing channel on BlogTalkRadio. If you would like your questions to be read on air by the host or if you would like to give advanced notice of your participation during the live call, email anna.balasi@hbgusa.com.

My Valentine's Day (and I'm tossing in a product review!)

I'm never big on celebrating Valentine's Day. I mean, really. Why do you need that one day to show the person you love, that you love them? I try to show Jim my love everyday. Don't get me wrong. If he wants to bring home a box of chocolates (or anything chocolate for me), hey, that's more than ok. But he surprises me with chocolate often anyway. This year he asked what I wanted and I actually told him something besides "pshh, nothing". I wanted a new 3 qt saucepan. It didn't have to be fancy, just not teflon. So, for Valentines Day, we went out to eat at Applebee's, where I had the 3 Cheese Chicken Penne, we went to some Antique stores that we hadn't visited for about a year at least and I got the best 3 qt saucepan, EVER!!! This is what I received from my Valentine:

It has the dual pour spouts, with the strainer in the lid. It has even heating distribution, that makes it wonderful to cook with!

my thoughts~

I love cooking with this pan and I've already told Jim, that as my other pans (that are not good quality pans) wear, I'm buying only Wearever! This pan will last until I'm no longer able to cook!

Oh Things, they are achangin'!

Well the most notable thing that has changed is the look...what do you think? I love the purple! And the girls up there drinking their coffee & having some girl talk? LOVE IT!! I love that it is so simple!! Oh and the navi bar accross the top! I love that too!

What else is changing? Well, when I host a giveaway, now you fill out a form that includes your mailing address so when you win, I already have. Don't worry, I'm not going to sell your info, or anything nefarious like that. You will still be notified by mail, and the winners will still be posted here.

And of course theres Tasty Tuesday. I'm really enjoying searching the web for those easy, inexpensive dinner recipes and when I find one, sharing!

I'm just now getting back into my reading 'groove' it seems. I think I might have been depressed after getting out of the hospital & losing my job. I just wanted to watch tv. Worse-reruns. Of shows that I've already seen and almost know by heart. But like I said I'm getting back into my reading groove, blogging groove, woohoo! Thanks for baring with me through the tough times!

Giveaway & Blog Tour~Dare to Surrender by Lilli Feisty

HE MEETS HIS MATCH.
SHE MEETS HER MASTER.
Art gallery curator Joy Montgomery has never liked her body's generous curves. And she's always been too shy to explore her wild side. But tonight, everything is going to change . . . Desperate to save her job, Joy approaches bad-boy artist Ash Hunter and asks him to exhibit his erotic work at her gallery. Ash agrees on one condition: Joy must pose as his model. But business soon turns to pleasure, as Joy experiences a passion beyond her wildest imaginings and Ash finds more than just inspiration in his voluptuous new muse.



Product Details~
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (February 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446541931



about the author~
(from the authors website-it's long but I LOVE IT!!)

Lilli Feisty was born in the San Francisco Bay Area. Like a piece of driftwood, she has washed up on nearly every beach between Santa Cruz and the Oregon border.
Because she never attended any particular elementary school for more than a few months at a time, she amused herself during lonely recesses by writing what would nowadays be labeled fanfic featuring Michael Knight and Han Solo. Sometimes in the same story.
She owned an own art gallery for several years, holds a degree in Creative Arts and was just a few units short of her MA when she decided to drop out of school to write smut.
Her first novella was published in March 2007 and she’s been hard at work ever since. Her last novel, Bound to Please, has been nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Erotic Romance.
Ms. Feisty currently resides in Northern Nevada. When she’s not writing you might find her conducting “research” at brothels, staring out windows, or making Martinis.
And if that wasn’t enough….
Here are 50 Fascinating Feisty Facts!
Fascinating Feisty Facts:
1) She thinks the movie Clueless is one of the most brilliant Jane Austen film adaptations ever.
2) Her keyboard frequently needs to go in for repairs do to pesky, invasive toast crumbs.
3) She shattered her leg playing roller derby and, despite an overwhelming amount of pain, still managed to make the ER doctor blush.
4) She smokes little cigars.
5) She’s had a crush on Will Smith for over two decades.
6) She can do the Humpty Dance because it’s her chance to do the hump. She also once got busy in a Burger King Bathroom. Okay, it wasn’t Burger King.
7) Her favorite band is the Pixies.
8 ) Her favorite live performance was Prince.
9) She loves the phrase “Sugar on my Tongue”.
10) She thinks the musical episode of Buffy is the most brilliant thing ever written and considers Joss Whedon a genius.
11) She keeps threatening one of her best friends, who is a tattoo artist, that she’ll make him tattoo Spike on her right hand.
12) She’s right handed.
13) She likes sandwiches, and Joey is her favorite Friend.
14) One day she wants her house to be totally illuminated by Christmas lights.
15) She cried once while standing in front of a Kandinsky painting.
16) More than once, she’s sold the majority of her belongings in order to buy a plain ticket.
17) Once, she got off a train in Budapest and had no idea why. Turned out the city was amazing.
18) She once ate octopus at a tapas bar in Madrid at 2AM. She proceeded to get sick on a moving train the next morning, which belied the fact that she is:
19) Totally clumsy. She’s always falling down and covered in bruises. Hence, a friend has coined the phrase: Feisty Falls Down. So?
20) She will never stop saying the word “rad” and has passed on that legacy to her young son.
21) She has a habit of trying to urinate in mens’ urinals and has not quite perfected the skill.
22) Every year, on July 14th, she gets sad for no apparent reason. Then she remembers it’s the anniversary of her mother’s death.
23) Her next important birthday takes place on December 21st, 2012, a day some people believe the world will end due to a series of cataclysmic events. Lilli just hopes her friends will still remember to bring her presents despite all the end-of-the-world hoopla.
24) She likes writing when it’s raining outside.
25) Her biggest pet-peeve is when people say they “could” care less. She realizes this makes her a snob and really could not care less.
26) Thinks it’s funny when snobby people have bad table manners.
27) Enjoys cooking, but only for people she likes.
28) Is fascinated by Día de los Muertos
29) Her mother’s birthday is on Dia de los Muertos,
30) She thinks her ankles are her best feature but only the right one since the left one did not heal correctly after she broke her leg. It really bothers her that her calves and ankles are no longer symmetrical.
31) Always looks at a man’s hands.
32) Is a hopeless romantic and loves the phrase hopeless romantic.
33) Thinks Wild at Heart is one of the most romantic films ever made.
34) Her first finished novel was published and was nominated for an award.
35) She detests warm sprouts. They make her gag.
36) She thinks the lyrics, “Sometimes the tapestries of life get tangled in the loom” are brilliant, and the fact that they’re from a song called Writer’s Block make them even more brilliant.
37) She will sing karaoke anytime, anywhere, but will not speak in front of a crowd.
38) She has an uncanny sense of direction.
39) She hates exercise. Hates.
40) She loves the song “My Dick” by Mickey Avalon.
41) She can sing every song featured in The Pick of Destiny. By heart.
42) She owns one pair of jeans and approximately 100 dresses.
43) She hates shopping but likes things.
44) Dorothy Parker is one of her idols.
45) So is Peaches.
46) She likes to dance, but isn’t very good at it. However, her milkshake still brings the boys to the yard. And a few girls, too.
47) Her favorite book is Choke, by Chuck Palahniuk.
48) Eating waffles in a hotel room at 3AM is one of her favorite activities.
49) Would like to one day kiss Colin Firth, in the snow, while standing in her underwear.
50) Thinks the song “Fuck her Gently” by Tenacious D is incredibly romantic.
follow Lilli on Twitter


my review~
Sexy. Fun. EROTIC. If someone said that I could only use three words to describe this book, those would be my three words. I am planning on picking up 'Bound to Please' and any other book Lilli Feisty writes! I loved Joy and how messy she was. I loved Ash and how he took care of his family.

about the contest

Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group

Five winners will be choosen

The Contest ends at midnight on February 26th

Open to US & Canadian addresses.
No PO Boxes please.

We are changing how we do things!

Please go HERE & enter your info for a chance to win!

Tasty Tuesday! Three Cheese Chicken Penne from Deanna's Corner Cooking

I was surfing the web Monday morning and found this wonderful blog! Deanna's Corner Cooking is fantastic! She has some fantastic recipes! If you haven't found her blog before, you should head over and check it out!!

Three Cheese Chicken Penne

Ingredients~
1 stick of butter
1 cup of cream
6 ounce provolone
6 ounce mozzarella
1 cup parmesan
4 chicken breasts
1 box of penne pasta

Directions~
Grill or bake your chicken according to your taste preference. Cut into bite size strips. Boil penne pasta in salted water according to package directions.Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Pour in cream and add cheese. Stir until all is melted and well mixed. Pour sauce over pasta and chicken and toss well.

Storm of Visions by Christina Dodd

Jacqueline Vargha has always run from her gift. Now Caleb D'Angelo forces his way into her life, demands his place as her lover, and insists she take her place as one of the Chosen. She flees, he pursues, but she can no longer deny her visions, or the dangerous man who is her downfall — and her destiny.

my thoughts~
I'm torn. Really. I wanted to love this book. It's the first in the Chosen Ones series and I love a great series. This book was ok. Not great. Not 'WOW'. I don't feel the need to rush right out and find the second book so I can read it right now. I will pick up the second book "Storm of Shadows" but I'm not in a rush. I think there is great potential for the series, which is why I'm not willing to give it up yet. The book was a little slow, but the last 50 pages or so felt overstuffed with...everything. If you've been wanting to read the series, go ahead. You might really enjoy it. Maybe it was the mood I was in. But I will be giving the second book a chance, but I'm buying from the UBS. If you've read "Storm of Visions" what did you think?

Wake by Lisa McMann

Not all dreams are sweet.
For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.
She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.
Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

my thoughts~
I'm usually the last one to get into a series. It was no different with Wake. I've wanted to read Wake forever, but just hadn't gotten around to it. I'm so glad I finally did! I decided this was going to be the first book that I read for the 2010 YA Challenge that I had signed up for. Well Fade (book2) and Gone (book 3) will now be included! I thought Janie, Carrie & Cabe were fantastic characters! If you read YA books, and you haven't read Wake yet, what are you waiting for? Go on, go get your copy...and while your buying Wake, you might as well pick up Fade & Gone. It will save you the trip!

Blog Tour & Giveaway~Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee

As children, Eliza Blacknall and William Denton ran wild over the fields of southern Ireland and swore they would be friends forever. Then fate took Will away to England, while Eliza stayed behind to become a proper Irish countess. Years later, Will finally makes his way home-as an English soldier sent to crush the Irish uprising. When he spies the lovely Eliza, he is captivated by the passionate woman she has become. But Eliza's passions have led her to join the Irish rebel cause, and Will and Eliza now find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous conflict.When Ireland explodes in bloody rebellion, Will's regiment is ordered to the front lines, and he is forced to choose between his duty to the English king and his love for Eliza and their Irish homeland.

about the author~

Laurel McKee is the pen name for regency romance writer Amanda McCabe.

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)

She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.

Email her at laurel@laurelmckee.net

my thoughts~
The first book in a trilogy (Yay!!!) Countess of Scandal is a story that centers around a heroine who is strong and steadfast in her beliefs. She is loyal to Ireland, as she thinks of herself as Irish since she was born there. The hero is torn between the woman he loves and his loyalty to his country. They loved each other when they were younger, but when Will joined the British Army, Eliza turned her back on him. He comes back into her life 7 years later and there are 'fireworks'!! This story is one that I will be rereading in the future! The next story is Anna's - Duchess of Sin, scheduled for release in December, 2010.

About The Contest

Thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group
Five winners will be choosen
The Contest ends at midnight on February 27th
Open to US & Canadian addresses.

No PO Boxes please.To win:
Your first comment should be your name & email address (1 entry)
Your second comment should be that you are a follower (but only if you are!) (1 entry)
Your third comment, should you choose to do so, should be a link where you have posted about the giveaway (this will count for 2 entries)