Weekly Wrap Up (01/22/11)

Books Reviewed:

Tenderly and Softly by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck
Cell by Stephen King

My Posts This Week:

Tenderly and Softly by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck
Cell by Stephen King 
Waiting On Wednesday

What Makes A Writer A Writer?

And The Winner Is...

 

My Week In Review:
I got together with a couple of my friends Michelle & Monica to watch the first season of True Blood. It seems like it's been a long time since we just hung out with no kids or husbands. It was just us girls, and it was great! Don't get me wrong, their kids are great and I love them dearly, but sometimes you just need a "free" day. I think we are going to the Vera Bradley outlet sale together this year. I can't wait! I just recently found VB and I LOVE IT!  I read alot this week. I finished Cell, Father Mine: Zsadist & Bella's Story(a novella), I finished Eternal Prey, I read Carpe Corpus & Fade Out! I was a very busy girl, books wise! And I went to the library to get my new library card (mine had expired) and so I've been downloading books to read! I love having a Kobo ereader! I've joined a ebook tour group, Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours! Well that's it for the week. How was YOUR week?

And The Winner Is...

And the winner of the $45 gift card

to ANY of the 200+ CSN Stores is...

Mo'Betta!

You will receive an email from me today with your $45 promotion code! Congratulations!!

CSN Stores + Giftcard= GIVEAWAY!

In my email today was a little something from Cameron with CSN Stores! Did you know, CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from stylish furniture, modern bedding, or great cookware! And that isn't all they have. Head over there and take a look at everything they do have! It's an awesome way shop! So here's the deal: I have a $45 gift card to give to one lucky winner! To win you must be a follower. Leave me a comment then  feel free to surf your way over to visit some of the CSN Stores.  If you want, come back here and leave me a comment with what you MIGHT like to use that $45 gift card on! Now don't worry, you don't have to buy that item, just think of it as a "wish" comment! And also leave your email address and I will send you the promotion code via email. The winner will be selected and announced on January 22!

CSN Stores Giveaway ending 01/22/11!

Reminder! 

The CSN Stores $45 Gift Card 

Giveaway ends tomorrow!

Go Here to enter!!

What Makes A Writer A Writer?

A few days ago, I joined a ning network, Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction and I received an invitation from author Lynda Coker (who created WRDF) for a free issue of BOLD, her new E-Zine. And it said that if I am a blogger, I could submit an article for the E-Zine. Immediately, I thought, oh no! I'm not a writer, why would I do that? Then I thought about it. I do write, short, to the point reviews for books and products that I choose to review. I write short posts about things that go on at various times throughout my day, if something is blog worthy. Does that make me a writer? My answer is, kinda. I can write. Do I think I write well? No. But I write honestly. I wish I could create worlds that people fall into when they read them. I think I can come up with some get ideas. But the actual story. Nope, the people are boring. The conversations are horrid! If they were real, I would fall asleep talking to myself! So will I submit an article? Who knows! But this makes me wonder. What do you think makes a writer a writer?

Waiting On Wednesday (2)...

 

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted each week by

Breaking the Spine

My pick this week:

River Marked by Patricia Briggs 

Mercy Thompson Novel #6

Publisher: Penguin Group

Date: March 01, 2011

ISBN13: 9780441019731

ISBN: 0441019730

BINC: 3224013 

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River-one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help... 

Cell by Stephen King

from stephenking.com

Artist Clayton Riddell had been in Boston negotiating a successful deal to sell his comic book project.  His joy at finally hitting it big is shattered by an event called The Pulse which causes all those who were using their cell phones at the time of The Pulse to become zombies attacking and killing anyone in their way.  Fortunately for Clay, he does not own a cell phone.  In the panic to get out of Boston and find his way home to his wife and son in Maine, he is joined by Tom McCourt, a man he meets in the meleé immediately following The Pulse and a young girl, Alice, who they rescue from being killed by one of the “crazies.”  The story follows their terrifying journey, avoiding capture—and worse—by the “crazies” who are beginning to “flock” and are led by one they call Raggedy Man as they attempt to reach Maine and a place called Kashwak which they hope will be their salvation. 


my thoughts:
Let me start out saying this book took me awhile to really get into. I think I was intimidated by how big the book was. BUT. Once I pushed my way past that, I really enjoyed it! This is the first Stephen King novel that I've read and I can tell you it won't be the last! And not just because I'm participating in the 2011 Stephen King Reading Challenge!

Tenderly & Softly by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck

Maybe out there in the country she could catch her breath, learn to breathe again…
Happily married, and owner of two successful boutiques, Jade longs to begin a family with her husband, Max. But when she discovers that Max has an illegitimate son - who he wants her to help raise - Jade's life is turned upside down.
She flees to her childhood home, a rambling Iowa farmhouse, with enough room to breathe. There - while her mother's health grows fragile, and the tug of her first love grows stronger - Jade begins to question everything she thought she knew about family, love, and motherhood.
In the wide-open landscape, Jade begins to see a future that doesn't rest on the power of her past, but in the goodness of God's tender mercies.

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595544909
• ISBN-13: 978-159554490

 My thoughts:
I loved this book! When I asked to read & review Softly & Tenderly, I didn't realize that it was the second in the Songbird series. But like any great book, it can stand alone. Jade's story touched me. She's happily married to Max, a lawyer who has (she thinks) overcome a drug addiction, together they have suffered through the loss of miscarriages, her mother living with them while fighting leukemia and refusing another round of chemo & radiation. She finds that her in-laws are keeping secrets, and those secrets have the potential to destroy Jade's world. But Jade's ability to forgive and her faith help her through some of the toughest times. I will definitely buy the first book, The Sweet By And By and read it soon!
&1/2

Weekly Wrap Up (01/15/11)

Books Reviewed:

Dining With The Dollar Store Diva by Elizabeth Fisher

Awakened by P.C. & Kristin Cast

My Posts This Week:

CSN Stores + Gift Card= Giveaway!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday's Fabulous Find

Dining With The Dollar Store Diva by Elizabeth Fisher

Awakened by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Yes, I'm back...well, maybe...no really I am! 

Waiting On Wednesday

The 2011 Stephen King Reading Challenge

 

My Week In Review:

Well, my week has been pretty boring! Well, except for the blogging and trying to get caught up 

after my 5 month hiatus. But I have read some great books, My Guilty Pleasures is lucky enough

to be hosting a giveaway from CSN Stores. I did have my group therapy session (and let me tell ya, it's ain't nothin' like Bob Newhart!) and I am thankful I only have 2 more to go! Matt, my youngest, donated blood today at school and passed out for a couple of minutes. Lucky for him he doesn't have a Mama that panics over stuff. LOL! Well, that's it for my week, how was yours? 

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill Ins is hosted by Friday Fill Ins!

1. Right now I need to read.

2. Diet Dr. Pepper is what's in my glass.

3. A copy of this letter is here.

4. Ice Cream is best with a spoon.

5. The best movie I've seen lately is The A-Team.

6. From like; To love.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with my sweetheart, tomorrow my plans include my grand daughter's 10th birthday party and Sunday, I want to watch Season 1 & 2 of True Blood!

Friday's Fabulous Find (2)...

from rachelvincent.com

SOUL SCREAMERS PREQUEL NOVELLA

Kaylee Cavanaugh's trip to the mall ends with a brutal panic attack and a brainscrambling shriek she can't stop. Her secret fear is exposed. It's the worst day of her life.

Until she wakes up in the psychiatric unit.

But the hospital isn't a safe place for Kaylee, and getting out won't be easy because everyone thinks she's crazy. Everyone except Lydia, who has a secret of her own...

This prequel novella is free to download from Rachel Vincents website. But if you go anywhere else, it's going to cost $2.99!

Dining With The Dollar Diva by Elizabeth Fisher

About the book:
(from Amazon.com)
This cookbook contains "divalicious" recipes created with ingredients that cost one dollar or less. Author Elizabeth Fisher is a regular mom who is a wiz at creating exquisite menus and dining experiences at economical prices. Each recipe is accompanied by an interesting story about how that recipe came to be created. Most ingredients can be found at your local dollar store or in the dollar section in your local supermarket. This is the first book in the Dollar Diva series.

• Perfect Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: The Elevator Group (March 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982528248
• ISBN-13: 978-0982528242

About the Author:
Elizabeth Fisher is a single mother of two adult sons, Marques, and her “adopted” son, Harold. She loves to cook and eat, and she prays that everyone enjoys this book as much as she enjoyed writing it.She is known for her annual July 4th get together, which she has hosted for over twenty years. The party has grown from grilling a few burgers to a neighborhood block party event entertaining up to 100 people. Visit The Dollar Diva™  on her blog at www.dollardivameals.blogspot.com.

My thoughts:
Ok, when I read that this was a cookbook and all the items could be bought at the Dollar Store, I thought, Oh Yes, this is for me! Ms. Fisher has created a cookbook with some fantastic recipes with items that can be found at the Dollar Store! I ran out and bought the items (yes! at the dollar tree) for the Butterfinger Brownies. They were a HUGE hit in my household! I can't wait to try some of the other recipes... How does Pepperoni & Swiss Knots sound? Delicious, right? Yummy. So if your like me and your shopping at the Dollar Tree, swing by the book section and pick up a copy of Dining With The Dollar Diva by Elizabeth Fisher. It's only a $1!

Awakened by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Zoey has returned from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey--or her relationship with her super-hot Warrior, Stark--ever be the same?

“My love, speak to me.  Tell me everything.”  Neferet went to Kalona, kneeling before him, stroking the soft, dark wings that unfurled loosely around the immortal.
“What would you have me say?”  He didn’t meet her eyes. 
 “Zoey lives.” Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.
“She does.”
“Then you owe me the subservience of your immortal soul.”  She started to walk away from him.
“Where are you going?  What will happen next?”
 “It is quite simple.  I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma.  There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.”
Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey.  Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z.  But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there.  Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it?  Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…
And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim?  The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship?  Does he betray his father or his heart?
In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

 
My thoughts:
WOW! So much happened in this book! I couldn't believe some of the twists that happened for Zoey and the gang. A couple of times I was left utterly speechless (and anyone who knows me, knows that does NOT happen often!). Choices were made that would (in my opinion) change the House of Night forever. I don't know how P.C. & Kristin Cast do it, but every House of Night book is better than last! My one objection with this book? The way it ended. I thought it was too obvious of a cliff hanger. But as far as cliff hangers go, it was an awesome one!

Yes, I'm back...well maybe... no really I am!

 Well, it's been about 5 months since I've posted. I've been really neglectful and I'm sorry! I had to take a break and try to get my life back on track. At the beginning of June, my son (mini me) left for Basic Training for the Army Reserves. The day he leaves, my daughter & I got into a tiff and she moved OUT. I mean just left. I thought she would be coming back home. NOPE. She stayed with her friend until she could be moved into her dorm. Unfortunately, she didn't make it a semester. She decided Florida, yes, you heard me, Florida had better forensic schools, so she withdrew from classes (oh did I mention that she had a full ride to a private college? No, well she did) and moved to Florida and now lives with her boyfriend, his parents and his grandparents. Hopefully she can get into summer classes and get into the swing of things. Needless to say, even mini me coming home from Basic Training wasn't enough to pull me out of the dumps I was feeling. So, I went to a dr. asked for some handy dandy anti-depressant and voile! I am reading again! So here is where the maybe comes in. I received a Kobo ereader for Christmas! Woohoo! And I had the bright fabulous idea to start another blog. My lavender Kobo. BUT. I'm thinking I like it here. So the few posts I have made there, I will try to import them here! But I will tell you this: I will NOT be having as many giveaways. It was starting to cause me to much stress. Fortunately our friends at CSN just emailed me about a giveaway! So I think that is the perfect way to start the new year! Be looking! Details to come soon!!

Waiting On Wednesday (1)...

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted each week by

Breaking the Spine

My pick this week is: 

The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship by Lisa Verge Higgins

From Borders.com

Rachel Braun was the inspiration to her group of friends, the one who 
lived each day to the fullest--and the one whose life was cut tragically short. Upon her untimely death, Rachel leaves letters for her three closest friends challenging them to face their biggest fears.What makes a wife a lover?
For Kate, the spark went out of her marriage long ago but her husband doesn't seem to notice. Their role as parents consumes their lives so they need to rekindle the romance they once shared.
What makes a woman a mother?
For Jo, a high-powered career has led her to believe that she doesn't have a single maternal instinct. When an orphan unexpectedly enters her life, she is forced to confront her own unhappy childhood and the walls it has built around her heart.
What makes a man the love of your life?
For Sarah, home is the steamy jungles of Africa while the man of her dreams waits in the air-conditioned confines of Los Angeles. Her longing for this man from the past is blinding her to a new love standing right in front of her.

What these women all have in common is a friend with a generous soul, an irrepressible spirit- and a serious illness. In her final letters, Rachel raises one last question: 
What makes a friend live in our hearts forever?

The Proper Car and Maintenance of Friendship will be released January 26, 2011

2011 Stephen King Reading Challenge!

The 2011 Stephen King Challenge
Hosted by Book Chick City

I haven't read any of Stephen King's books but I have heard many great things about them from my son and a couple of friends so I think it's about time I read a few!

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

• Rules - There are two levels: Read either SIX (6) or TWELVE (12) Stephen King novels in 2011 (6 is the minimum but you can read more than 12 if you wish!)

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

For the rest of the details click here!

Go to the challenge page HERE

My goal is to read at least six (6) Stephen King books!

Books I Have Chosen

- Cell
- The Running Man
- Carrie
- Full Dark, No Stars
- It
- Salem's Lot

Friday's Fabulous Find (1)...

Every Friday (I hope every Friday) I am going to post what I think is a fabulous ebook find!

This Friday's Fabulous Find is:

Available at kobobooks.com

All 15 books cost 0.89 cents! What a great deal! Make this your New Years Resolution. Sit down and read at least The Wizard of Oz (with or without your kid!).

Burned by P.C. & Kristin Cast

About Burned:
Zoey Redbird is the youngest High Priestess in House of Night history and is the only person – vamp or fledgling – that can stop the evil Neferet from raising all kinds of immortal trouble. And she might just have a chance if she wasn’t so busy being dead.
Well, dead is too strong a word. Stevie Rae knows she can bring her BFF back from her unscheduled va-cay in the Otherworld. But it’s going to take a lot more than hoping to bring Zoey back. Stevie Rae will have to give up a few secrets of her own . . . 

My Thoughts:
I bought Burned by P.C. & Kristin Cast (House of Night book 7) earlier this week for My Lavender Kobo. I have read all of the House of Night books and had big hopes for Burned. And boy did it live up to them! I imagine it would be hard to keep all those details straight! The story begins where Tempted ends. Zoey's spirit is shattered when she witnesses Kalona killing her human Consort, Heath. Zoey, Stark, Stevie Rae, Aphrodite and even Kalona tell their parts of the story, and I must admit that I found it a little distracting. Why change? The first 4 or 5 books were told from Zoeys point of view. BUT I did find by the end of the book that I liked knowing what Stark and the others thought and felt. Over all I was pleased with the book. And I can't wait to start Awakened!

eBooks Read in 2011...

For 2011 I have decided to join the goodreads.com challenge and read (at least) 100 books! So here is a list of books that I have read so far in 2011. Yes, I am counting re-reads! These may be printed books or ebooks. I am an equal opportunity reader!

 1. Marked by P.C. & Kristin Cast (re-read)
 2. Betrayed by P.C. & Kristin Cast (re-read)
 3. Chosen by P.C. & Kristin Cast (re-read)
 4. Untamed by P.C. & Kristin Cast(re-read)
 5. Hunted by P.C. & Kristin Cast
 6. Tempted by P.C. & Kristin Cast
 7. Burned by P.C. & Kristin Cast
 8. Awakened by P.C. & Kristin Cast
 9. Halo Hunter by Michele Hauf
10. Softly and Tenderly by Sara Evens and Rachel Hauck
11. Crime Scene At The Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels
12. Dining with the Dollar Store Diva by Elizabeth Fisher
13. Cell by Stephen King
14. Father Mine: Zsadist & Bella's Story
15. Eternal Prey by Nina Bangs
16. Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine
17. Fade Out by Rachel Caine
18. My Soul To Steal by Rachel Vincent
19. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
20. Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa
21. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

The rest of this list will be on goodreads.com!

My Lavender Kobo...

 Now that the holidays are behind me, it's time that I start sharing with the world the love that I feel for My Lavender Kobo! I received that Kobo as an early Christmas present and have completely fallen in love with it!

The Kobo comes with the Border app already installed, but I quickly switched to Kobo Books and love it so much more! No particular reason, I'm not computer savvy, not really computer illiterate. I know the basics.  I haven't figured out how to unregister my computer on ADE so I can register my Kobo. So until I figure out how that works, I will not be renting ebooks from the library. LOL!
I have read blog entries where people have deleted the 100 books that come pre-installed on each Kobo and I wonder why? They are all classics that everyone should read at least once in their lives. Ok, so the truth is, I haven't read any of them YET, but some great movies have been made from these classics.
I was so excited about my Kobo, that I immediately sat down and crocheted (yes, I am a woman of many talents!) a little fuzzy pink sleeve that it slips into, to protect it from "stuff" floating around my purse. It works well for me, and it didn't cost $39.99 like most of the ereader covers (that I liked) cost.

I love how small the Kobo is. It's 4.7 x 7.2 x 0.4 inches, it has built in WiFi and a slot for a 4 GB SD memory card! When I'm reading it is so easy to "turn the pages" and the pages! Oh, they look REAL! I wish I had a camera that wasn't attached to my crappy cell phone just so I could show you how great the pages look!

So my goal for this blog will be to keep track of the books that I read on my ereader, and also about any tips or tricks that I come across (if I come across any!).