I can't believe it!

It is hard to believe that another year is gone and that it is time to start looking forward to a new opportunity of new beginnings.

I also want to say that with this post I have accomplished writing 50 entries this year in my blog. Now that may not seem like a lot to some of you die hard bloggers out there, but I am pretty impressed. I way surpassed the amount I wrote the previous year and I feel like I know more about the blogging world than I used to.

now that doesn't by any stretch of the imagination mean I am an expert. I still have a ton to learn, but I hope in the coming year to keep growing as a blogger. And more importantly a writer!~

Well off to celebrate what's left of this year with my family and with that said~

HAPPY NEW YEAR~!!!

Book Review: Cold River by Liz Adair

Cold River By Liz Adair is a romantic suspense thriller based on the author's own experiences while living in a little town where she taught for several years in Washington.

Cold River is the kind of story I love reading. I instantly fell in love with this fast paced intriguing story, where the people of the small town Mandy comes to work in make being there a bit of a challenge. She doesn't fit in with her big city ways and has to work to convince the town's people that she is right for the job as the new superintendent, even though they still turn to the former one for all their answers.

But Mandy is tough and determined to show them that she knows what she is doing and begins to make some connections. In doing so they come to trust her, but even more so, she finds that she is losing her heart along the way to the most unlikely person. Who she ends up with, you will have to read to find out. That is part of the fun of reading Cold River.

I loved the way Liz developed the story, and as Mandy grows and learns about her depth and determination, she discovers someone wants her gone so much they are willing to kill her to achieve it. But Mandy proves tougher than her assailant expects, and with the arrival of Mandy's little sister, the stakes on keeping them both safe soar. And Mandy decides to do a little investigating of her own, and as a result the surprises in Cold River keep mounting.

I loved to watch the character arc develop with the main and side characters. The changes they went through as their views of events and people change and how they come to see that maybe there is more to be gained by trusting each other.

I found myself up late into the early hours of the morning turning pages to see what happens next, would Amanda survive the next attempt on her life? Would she make it out alive with all the crazy unexpected events that any of the less than friendly members of the town could easily be suspect? Does Mandy stand strong against it all, or give in to the idea that there are other places that she can go that might be safer? And who of all the men interested in Mandy does she ultimately give her heart to? I couldn't help myself, I had to find out the answers, and was so sad to see the story end.

Find out all the answers to these questions by picking up Liz's book Cold River by clicking here, and you can catch up on what Liz is doing on her blog by clicking here. You won't be sorry you took the time to read Cold River. I know you will love it as much as I did.

Disclaimer: While at times I do receive copies of books to review, my opinion is and will always remain my own.

Book Review: Heir to Power by Michele Poague

Heir to Power By Michele Poague is the first book in The Healing Crystal Triolgy. It is a YA science fiction novel about lost technology, the morality of power and the creation of religious and political philosophy.

Overview:
The colony of Survin has been hidden for centuries, protecting an ancient religious artifact called the Healing Crystal from men who would steal or destroy it. Kairma, heir to the Crystal, is destined to mate with the handsome Naturi and become the leader of the reclusive colony, but she is too young to realize the peril soon to arrive.

At sixteen, Kairma is too young to realize many things .... Kairma would rather go spelunking with her brother and his best friend than study ancient medicine and religious laws, but the discovery of a tomb containing ancient artifacts leads Kairma to question her religion and the true nature of the Crystal. To further complicate Kairma's ascent, a childhood illness has left her resembling a nearby race of men both hated and feared by the people of Survin. Because of this, Kairma's younger sister Kinter, who is in love with Naturi, believes she is the rightful heir.

Disease and infertility have decimated Survin, but bigotry and religious laws forbid the introduction of new members so things heat up when a traveling archeologist stumbles upon the reclusive colony and introduces a powerful new weapon. Forced into a larger world, the Survinees discover they hold an object of unimaginable power, a power other men covet, a power that might save or forever damn the human race.

My take:
I liked that in Heir to Power, Kairma starts off feeling maybe she really isn't able to live up to everything everyone always expects of her, that becoming the hier to power is more of a burden than anything else. She resents it in many ways. But I loved the character Arc as she grows throughout the story and discovers inside of her strenghts and abilities she never new she possessed in addition to finding some mysterious things that cause her to question what is going when the White Ones begin to show up around her. She also begins to embrace her differences rather than hide from them.

Also the growth Collin , her and her brother's best friend goes through is very fun to be a part of as he realizes the importance of bringing new information into the colony and wants to explore beyond it even though it is forbidden. With the arrival of the stranger, Trep, Collin becomes fascinated with what is beyond their little valley and is determined to leave, and bring back innovations that will help their community to grow and protect themselves more efficiently. He is also the most willing to accept Trep for who he is and sees that it is a good thing that he came, and tries to convice those in the colony not to be threatened by him Trep's presense. He also realizes how much he is willing to fight for what is important to him, and on top of that list is Kairma. He knows that Naturi is expected to be her mate, but he will not let it be easy for Naturi to take her.

Naturi, has always known he would be the one to stand by Kairma when it came time to take a mate. He has trained all his life to take his place in the healing family and lead the community. It is something he has looked forward to all his life, but when Collin leaves the colony with the stranger, he along with Kairma's brother go with him. While gone he discovers there is more to life than what he expected and he begins to see things differently.

I found the changes and discoveries the characters made fascinating, and was drawn in by each new thing they found about themselves and the world around them. I looked forward to what would happen between Naturi and Collin. I loved how Kairma found that she was ok with who she was and that she could be confident too. I really liked how all the little things play in together to create intrigue and mystery, that make me excited about the next book in the trilogy.

Heir to Power was a fast paced page turner. It drew me into a world that was familiar in many ways, but had so many differences that I wanted to see how they overcame them. I liked the interaction between the many different characters. I found the prejudice over simple things the members of the colony display toward things that are different or unfamiliar. There is suspicion and intrigue brought out. It was nice to see how each character handled the different challenges that came and how growth resulted. I am really excited to see what is in store next in the next book, to see who wins Kairma, Collin or Naturi.

Personally, I hope Collin wins Kairma's hand. He is one of my favorite characters. His independent thinking and strength really called to me. I am keeping my fingers crossed and look forward to the next book to see what happens.

Heir to Power is appropriate for all ages. I didn't want the story to end, and look forward to finding out what happens next. If you want to see what all the excitment is about then you need to get your Copy of Heir to Power right away by clicking here. To learn more about Michele Poague and the things she is working on next, click here to go to her website. You will be glad that you didn't miss out on all the fun.

Disclaimer: While at times I receive copies of books to review, my opinions will always be my own.

Book Revie:The Assassination of Governer Boggs by Rod Miller

The Assassination of Governor Boggs By Rod Miller is fictional exploration written from the view point of Detective Calvin Pogue who was hired by William Boggs the son of Governor Boggs to find out who shot his father in the head so many years ago, to gain a sense of closure. A name is given as who the family suspects was the gunman. When asked who, one legendary Mormon was named as the shooter, Porter Rockwell.

The cold case takes Pogue across the country, as he interviews various individuals who knew of or had contact with the either the situation or Rockwell himself. Taken from the neutral eyes of Pogue, each character interviewed displays his personal feelings for the situation and their opinion about Rockwell, or Boggs. The venom or unease from either side of the story is clearly evident. And the reader learns how biased some individuals still remained regarding the events of years gone by.

As the case unfolds, Pogue's travels take him to where it all began and then across country to Utah, and eventually to old Porter himself. All ending with an unexpected ending that will leave your heart racing.

I enjoyed learning the different points of view and gaining a better understanding of the events surrounding the shooting of Governor Boggs. The letters, documents, interviews, and journal entries help build the story.

I do wish there was more showing in the story instead of telling about past events through dialogue with different characters. But I did come away from the story with a better sense of what happened during that time frame as told through the experiences of prominent individuals during that period of time.

If you are a lover of early LDS Church History, at a time of turmoil and unrest when great persecution towards the saints was rampant, and if you enjoy those off the beaten path kinds of individuals like Porter Rockwell, then The Assassination of Governor Boggs by Rod Miller is the book for you.

To get your copy click here, then you can step into one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the time period and see if you can determine who really shot Governor Boggs.

Disclaimer: At times I do receive copies of books to review, but my opinions are and will always remain my own.

Book Review: Bound By Chrisitne Bryant

Bound By Christine Bryant is a young adult parnaormal romance and the first in The Crystor Trilogy. I have actually had the privelege of reading Bound more than once and can honestly say that I grew to love the characters even more the second time I read it.

Bound starts off with Kira, an average girl who struggles with fitting in, lacks the physical strength to climb that blasted rope in gym and is counting down the days to graduation. She has issues with her mom and her step dad, and finds peace only when she is with her best friend Lydia.

Lydia convinces Kira to go on a photo shoot with her in the mountains and that is when Kira's normal everyday life gets shot to pieces and nothing is the same again. It is when Kira discovers there is more, much more to her best friend of two years. The kinds of things that take Kira by surprise and test the strength of her friendship with Lydia.

Then there is the discovery of Lydia's older brother, Octavian. He is incredibly handsome, super protective and brooding. He confuses Kira with his upredicatable attitude and she doesn't know whatquite to make of him. Then he asks her to make a choice that will forever alter her life and lead her on the path of discovering life beyond the world she knows. To discover mythical creatures, beautiful worlds, evil villians, new found abilities and adventures she never dreamed existed. These things come at a price though. She must leave all she has ever known behind, and never look back, because more than just Kira's life depends on it.

Can Kira make the choice necessary and is she willing to give up what she knows for the hope and promise of something more? As things heat up between her and Octavian, and she finds how deep the bonds of friendship can really go, she learns she is being hunted and she must turn to the two people who would show her what love, family and freindship are all about . All leading up to a climatic ending you won't expect that will leave you begging for more.

But in order for you to find out all the juicy details you have to read Bound! It isn't your regular paranormal romance, there are great surprises waiting inside to be revealed. Christine's imagination is phenomenal and her descriptions are so clear you feel at times you can reach out and feel the cold water rush by, or see the brilliant sky and hear the wind rustle gently in your ear. Not to mention the way she describes her characters. They take on a three dementional life of their own.

I love how Kira learns she is not someone to be easily manipulated or pushed around as she once believed. I think the strength and courage she displays allows one to look into themselves to see where they can make weak things strong within themselves.

I love the bonds of friendship that Lydia and Kira hold strong. That they are willing to move beyond what is expected to create something extraordianary. I love Lydia's loyalty and selflessness to Kira. She always looks for ways to help Kira be who she really is but could never see for herself.

And Octavian is wonderful to read. He is strong and powerful and sometimes callous until he starts to realize his behavior has consequenses. Octavian then fights the warrior inside himself to find the compassion he once possessed. He learns that he can open himself up and not be guarded all the time. I love the changes in him as he remembers who he once was as he strives to bring parts of himself back to balance in with the protective warrior he was forced to become.

I felt the plot has surprising twists and turns that leave you wondering what is going to happen next. I thought it was well played out and that subplots that ran through it supported the over all direction of the story line. I felt that the characters were well developed and grew as they learned and recongnized things about themselves to help them be stronger. I felt that the world of Kira, Lydia and Octavian was beautifully written .

Don't miss out, to find out what happens next and why I read Bound twice (which I don't ever do, until now) click here, here and here to get your own copy. You'll be glad you did. Click here to see Christine's website to learn more about the next exciting book in the Crystor Triogy, Broken, which I am really anxious to get my hands on!

Disclaimer: While I do sometimes receive copies of books to review, my opinions are and will always remain my own!

Whooo Hoo and the Lucky Winner Is????

I want to say a happy congratulations to the lucky winner of Nora Robert's book, Morrigan's Cross is Kelly Blackwell! Now for a round of applause everyone!

Yippee!!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Nov Blog Hop hosted by Tristi Pinkston and I'm a Reader not a Writer with me and my friends! It was lots of fun and thanks for all the new friends I have made along the way!! Sorry it took so long to announce the winner.

I look forward to the next fun blog hopping experience.

Book Review: Exiled by RaShelle Workman

Exiled by RaShelle Workman is a YA Sci-Fi Romance about Venus, a sixteen year old princess who is about to go through a traditional right of passage where she becomes immortal. But before she can begin her journey things go terribly wrong and she falls ill and passes out. She wakes up to find herself accused of things she never did and exiled to Earth, a planet that will kill her in a weeks time.

Luckily, her guardian Zaren followed her, and was given the parameters that will allow her exile to be revoked and allow her to return to her home planet. She must help the earth boy Michael find his soul mate, and true love. Something Venus thinks, given humans volatile emotions, should be easy enough. Except things are not exactly as they seem and humans are unpredictable in what they choose to do. Now the clock is ticking and as Venus grows weaker, she is desperate to help Michael so she can go home to find out who set her up, but will she live long enough to make it happen?

I really loved the concept of the plot and how RaShelle weaves all the intricate sub plots into her story line. I fell hard for her characters and found my self rooting for them. Well the good guys anyway. But I thought she developed a wonderfully evil antagonist as well in Vinny.

I was drawn page after pager deeper into the story and was left in the end wondering what would happen next. I thought Exiled was a swift page turner and look forward to the next book in the series.

So some are rooting Team Zaren or Team Michael. I am rooting for them both, and interested to see how it all falls out as the story goes forward. I don't want to choose sides just yet. But if you want to know what I am talking about then you should hurry and get your copy of Exiled by RaShelle Workman so you can see exactly what I am talking about.

To get your copy of Exiled, click here, so you too can be caught up in the world of Venus and all the intrigue that surrounds her as she accomplishes her mission and discovers things about being human that are both compelling and undeniably fascinating, all while trying to understand the strange new emotions whirling inside her for the first time ever.

You can visit RaShelle's website here, and learn more about Exiled and her other books.

Disclaimer: Although at times I receive copies of books to review, my opinion will always remain my own.

November Blog Hop Give-a-way

Welcome to the November Blog Hop, where you can visit new blogs and enter to win prizes and have a great time! Come join me and my friends for a lot of fun in this huge November Blog Hop Giveaway, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and Tristi Pinkston. Thanks girls!

At the bottom of this post, you'll see a list of participating blogs. Just click on each link, check out the prize, and follow the easy instructions to enter. You can enter on each blog, so it's possible to win multiple times. It's thankfully easy.

On this blog you can win....

A gently used copy of Nora Roberts book Morrigan's Cross Book One of The Circle Triolgy

As a storm rages, the tale begins... of a powerful vampire's lust for destruction~ and of the circle of six charged by the goddess Morrigan to stop her.

To enter, all you need to do is:

1. Become a follower of my blog.

2. Leave a comment and tell me why you would like to win this prize. If your e-mail address isn't visible through your Blogger profile, please also leave it with the comment so I can notify you if you win. You can enter until Midnight of Novemeber 11th.

That's it! You are now entered. Now please go visit all my friends on the list below.

Book Review: No Holly For Christmas By Julie N Ford

No Holly For Christmas By Julie N Ford was a fast paced suspense romance that captured me on the first page. Attorney Brian McAlister steps into a high profile case when his father becomes seriously ill. As he is nursing a broken heart from a long time love he tries to move on, with little hope of it ever mending. But with the demands of the case he's been assigned there isn't much time to think about the past, especially when Holly Winter a social worker who helped a suspect on the case before his release from the hospital steps on the scene.

In no time, Brian persuades beautiful Holly to help him in his case to lure an escaped con back to the hospital where Holly counseled him through his wound. Before he knows it he is neck deep in protecting Holly and her 2 children and working against the clock to unravel the many disjointed pieces of the case against a high powered wealthy man bent on using any means available to pressure Brian into dropping the case.

Never did Brian expect in the process that he would lose his heart, nor that he would find that what he once believed as black and white truth maybe had some gray tinges to them.

Holly meanwhile is trying to piece her life back together after the unexpected death of her husband less than a year ago which forced the drastic changes to the type of wealthy, organized and orderly life she was accustomed to living. In the process she too finds herself changing her ideas of what is really important in life and with Brian stepping into her life she discovers some changes and bending can be rather nice. Even if it means losing your heart.

I really loved reading this book. I found the characters grew so much and I really liked them and hurt with them. From main to side characters, Julie creates a full and rich world that grabs and holds you tight.

I felt a connection with Holly and could understand that life throws you a curve ball or a hundred and it demands you to look at things in a different way. I liked watching her discover that she could survive and be strong and be more and not have to yield to the dictates of her high class upbringing all the time. She was strong, and confident, but at the same time vulnerable and in some times unsure. It was nice to see the contrasts in her.

I also enjoyed Brian and his take on things. That when all the control in his life slips through his fingers, he learns that maybe that is OK, and that maybe the things he never thought he wanted were exactly what he needed all along. Forcing him to look inside himself at what really matters.

I could not put this book down. I was drawn in by the plot twists and the desire to know who would win, the good guys or the bad guys. I felt the clock ticking down as the climax built until I was on pins and needles wondering how it would all end up. I loved the sub plots and all the build up of the relationship between Holly and Brian.

No Holly For Christmas by Julie N Ford, is a clean read. There is lots of intense sensuality and hinting but it doesn't go beyond that. I was impressed with how well Julie was able to build the romantic steamy tension between Brian and Holly with out going any farther, and I commend Julie on her writing skill. I look forward to reading more from Julie N Ford.

To get your own copy of No Holly For Christmas just in time for the Christmas holiday click here. You can learn more about Julie N Ford by checking out her website here.

disclaimer: While at times I do receive copies of the books I review, my opinion is and will always remain my own.

Book Review: Deep Blue Secret By Christie Anderson

First of all, I am praying that Christie Anderson is writing a sequel because I am dying to know what happens next! Not that Christie leaves you hanging, just wanting more of her story to continue on.

Deep Blue Secret took you deep into the emotions and frustrations of Sadie James, as she discovers her perfect happy life isn't quite as perfect or happy as she thought it was. It is unusual for her to feel off balance, and uncertain and she tries to understand why she is in tears so often when she is always exhilarated to be alive.

Sadie learns some secrets about herself that surprise and confuse her in her struggle to understand them and the changes her body is going through that at times send her into a panic. All she really wants is to go back to being normal, and not deal with everything. To the happy perfect life she has always known.

But there is the mysterious boy with the brilliant sparkling green eyes that she can't get out of her mind. She sees him at school and feels an instant connection and searches for him everywhere, only to run out of luck. But that doesn't stop her from dreaming of him. Until she finds him again unexpectedly. Or rather he finds her. But the attraction to him only grows stronger each time she meets him, only to find that he is protecting her and watching her, keeping her safe. But why does she need a body guard? Not that she minds considering how gorgeous he is, but still she wants to know the answers as to why she needs protecting, when she is just a regular girl.

I loved reading the developing story between Sadie, and her protector Rayne. The characters were well developed and I liked the way you could feel the confusion and turmoil go through Sadie as she grows and learns more about who she is. Rayne was a dynamic character, who struggles with his own feelings as he watches over Sadie. He is sweet, caring, charismatic, and the kind of guy who makes every heart beat a little faster when he shows how tender he is with Sadie. I thought the sensual tension between the two was strong, and really really wanted more than the teasing the author gave. Christie created strong ties and bonds between Sadie and Rayne and the yearning they felt for each other was palpable.

Christie had strong secondary characters that really leap from the page in their personalities. They were fun to see interact with Sadie, and to see how she handled their antics was fun. With her friend Heather and the boys Justin and Nick and their crazy antics.

The villain in Deep Blue Secret, Voss, was dark and definitely dangerous. My heart beat faster on his parts of the story. The author was able to capture his sinister nature perfectly and I wanted to know more about him and his purposes, why he was so evil, why he so desperately needed to break out of prison and wanted more interaction with him in the story. He is one of those villains you love to hate. The kind that stays with you when the story is finished. He was a very compelling character.

I also wanted more of Ash, Rayne's best friend. I wanted to know more about him and how he and Rayne became such good friends when they were so different from each other. And what is the depth of that friendship, in the midst of strain.

I would classify Deep Blue Secret by Christie Anderson as a Y/A paranormal romance. It is a clean read appropriate for ages 10 and up. It starts a little slow, building you up to unexpected events that leave you anticipating more.

Check out the really cool trailer here.You can learn more about Christie at her website here. To get your copy click here!

disclaimer: Although at times I receive copies of the books I review, my opinions are and will always remain my own.

And The Winner Is....

I just wanted to congratulate and say WHOO HOO! Yippee Yay, to Chris Jensen, who is lucky number 10! Yay!! I am so excited that you won Geralyn Dawson's contempary romance Give Him the Slip.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the October Blog Hop give away. I hope you all come back for another chance to win in the November blog hop give away, that is just a few weeks away!

I am having a great time being doing blog hops, who new you could meet so many wonderful and interstesting new people in a blog hop. Thanks again Tristi Pinkston, for sponsering this blog hop give away and the one coming in November.

Birthday Month Is Now Over

What is Birthday Month? In our house it is the time between Sept 16 and Oct 17. Why is that? Because in our family we have 4 birthdays in that time. My youngest Camilla turned 8 on the 16th of Sept. My oldest son, Michael turned 18 on the 26th of Sept. My oldest daughter Breanna, turned 21 on the 6th of Oct. And my second oldest son Christian turned 16 on the 17th of Oct. It is a crazy time that leads into the holidays, but it is fun too!

And in the middle of it all our youngest daughter decided to get baptized into our church too, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Yes! I am a Mormon.

So that meant that we got to have my two oldest children fly home to be with us and have the entire family together, my mom even came. It was wonderful, and way to short at the same time. Only 3 days. But I will take 3 days with all 7 of my living children together every chance I get!

Even though birthday month is over, it is still time to look forward to celebrations that are coming up. There is Halloween that leads right into Nanowrimo, (for writers), then Thanksgiving and Christmas. I get the chance to sit back and see my wonderful children and know I am so happy to have such a great family. And to tie it all in and make it even more wonderful is the knowledge tath I get to share it everything my amazing hubby of 23 years, Brent.

Book Review: Sleight of Hand by Deanne M Blackhurst

Is it possible to con your way out of hell? Fifty-two year old Daniel Cabrero hinks so
and why wouldn’t he? That’s how he spent his entire life. But Jonah his spirit guide has
reasons of his own for making sure Daniel pays for all the suffering and misery he’s
caused others. Still sometimes people can change, and maybe Daniel can keep his son
from following in the same path.

In Sleight of Hand by Deanne M Blackhurst Daniel Cabrero finds himself in Wasteland after he dies trying to pull off a huge scheme. At first things in Wasteland seems great but soon it becomes his own personal Hell and his guide Jonah, tries to help him adjust to his new home. But Daniel was a pretty self absorbed guy who sought his own interests and pleasures regardless of who was left hurt.

Sleight of Hand pulled me right in and I found myself relating with the character, even rooting for him as he chose to make some very difficult decisions while in Wasteland. I felt that in spite of his extreme wickedness and the revelation of his debauchery, that I wanted him to change for the better and even found myself wishing he could go back and change the results of his actions. I liked how Deanne showed the consequences of Daniel's decisions. Often he felt his choices were inconsequential, but discovered they had lasing impact long after he was gone. Deanne Blackhurst showed me why Daniel ended up in Wasteland. For me going along for the ride as Daniel discovers things about himself long buried and forgotten that are hard for him to face was fascinating.

Daniel decides to face his own demons and in doing so he evolves. The things Daniel experiences is developed in such a way that I wanted to know what would happen next, and at times I felt my stomach drop in anticipation. Deanne was able to write a believable character. I was impressed by how well developed Daniel was and the nuances of his personality that are often left out were there. I thought it very revealing to learn how he evolved into the man who ended up in Wasteland, and felt compelled to take that journey with him, to see what he would make of the entire experience in the end. Thought Daniel's character evolved and the idea of redemption and growth while waiting for a final decision was appealing.

I really enjoyed Sleight of Hand, and found myself lost in the book. I was drawn into the plot line and how it would surface in unexpected place or experience that Daniel would re experience. I I felt like I was an active participant at times when the scene leapt to life off the page. I found myself wondering what it would be like go through some of Daniel's experiences as journey bloomed to life as I read and could feel some of the intense things Daniel experienced. It was fascinating to see how Deanne developed the workings of the after life. I liked how the story ended, and was left wanting more, hoping to see what would become of Daniel after the last page was finished.

This was a fast read, that had your eyes eating up the pages. To get your copy of Sleight of Hand By Deanne M Blackhurst click here. You don't want to miss out!

Disclaimer: At times I receive copies of books to review, but my opinions remain my own.

OCTOBER BLOG HOP

Welcome to the October Blog Hop, where you can visit new blogs, enter to win prizes, and have a great time!

At the bottom of this post, you'll see a list of participating blogs. Just click on each link, check out the prize, and follow the easy instructions to enter. You can enter on each blog, so it's possible to win multiple times. It's frighteningly easy.

On this blog, you can win ...

Geralyn Dawson's contempary romance Give Him the Slip.

Maddie Kincaid thought she'd left trouble behind when she settled into peaceful Brozos Bend. DEA Agent Luke Callahan just settled into his much needed fishing vacation, and the last thing he needs on his line is a stowaway with secrets and a killer on her trail.


To enter, all you need to do is:

1. Become a follower of my blog.

2. Leave a comment on this post and tell me why you'd like to win this prize. If your e-mail address isn't visible through your Blogger profile, please also leave it with the comment so I can notify you if you win. You can enter until midnight MST on Saturday night, October 15th.

That's it! You are now entered. Now please go visit all my friends on the list below. It's almost like trick or treating!



October Blog Hop Participants

1. Tristi Pinkston 2. I Am a Reader, Not a Writer 3. Bonnie Harris 4. Michael D. Young 5. Misty Moncur 6. Debbie Davis 7. Mandi Tucker Slack 8. Mary Ann Dennis 9. Deanna Henderson 10. Laura Bastian 11. Kristy Tate

12. Kristy Wilson 13. Jennifer Debenham 14. Jenny Moore 15. Elizabeth Hughes 16. J. Lloyd Morgan 17. Close Encounters with the Night Kind 18. Billy Boulden 19. Scott Bryan 20. Maria Hoagland 21. Shirley Bahlmann 22. Shelly Brown

23. Marcy Howes 24. Lynnea Mortensen 25. Jaclyn M. Hawkes 26. Diane Stringam Tolley 27. Gail Zuniga 28. Betsy Love 29. iWriteNetwork 30. Canda's InkBlast 31. Stacy Coles

Learn more about October Blog Hop here.
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Book Review: The Outer Edge of Heaven

I have just one thing to say about Jaclyn M. Hawkes book The Outer Edge of Heaven! I absolutely love, Love, LOVE it!


Okay, really, I actually do have more to say about it. . .


I never wanted The Outer Edge of Heaven to end, and when it did, I wanted more. I could not get enough of this story. It was so well written and the characters so well developed that they were three dimensional. The plot was laced with intrigue and anticipation, not to mention lots of humor and butterfly inducing events. And besides, who can resist a gorgeous hunky cowboy or two?

Charlie(Charlene) is tired of being bullied by her high society influential parents and makes the decision to go with her best friend, Fo to his cousin's ranch in Montana for the summer to escape them. She looks forward to the opportunity to work there and finds that she loves learning the little ins and outs of ranch life and falls in love with the Big Sky Country.

While there she finds that there is a lot to love about the Langston Family, and feels more at home and at peace than she has in a long time in spite of all the dysfunctional craziness that comes with it. It all adds up to lots of great adventures, and some unexpected surprises, especially one in the form of Fo's gorgeous cousin Luke Langston.

While at the ranch Charlie learns that she doesn't more about what it is she really wants in life and finds that it doesn't match up with the path her parents have chosen for you. But instead of running and hiding from them as she has in the past, Charlie struggles to find a way to stand up for herself, all while chasing baby pigs, a bunch of impetuous kids and discovering that she has lost her heart in more than one way to a Big Montana Ranch all while fighting to escape a lurking danger.

This story kept me turning pages as fast as I possibly could. I couldn't read it fast enough to find out what happened next. I was up all night reading, I honestly couldn't help myself. I was so wrapped up in the characters, the story line and the laugh out loud humor that it was impossible to put down. Each page lured me further on into the depth of the story. Unexpected surprises popped up as well as comical out takes that made reading The Outer Edge of Heaven a pure delight!

This is a must read! Treat yourself to a great time. You won't regret it! I highly recommend this book if I were a 5 star rating kind of girl, this book would get 6!~ I am a sucker for a romance and this one delivered and then some.

So what are you waiting for? Get your copy of The Outer Edge of Heaven by Jaclyn M Hawkes click here. And lose yourself on the Langston Ranch for a while. The smile that will soon be on your face will be worth it!


Disclaimer: While I sometimes receive books to review, my opinions are and always will be my own!

Book Review: Indelible by Lani Woodland

Indelible by Lani Woodland is the much anticipated second book in the Yara Silva Trilogy. It isa Y/A paranomal romance, with plenty of ghostly action. Yara and Brent are back again at Pendrell Academy with their friends for their senior year. Things are going to go different this year, with the the capture of Thomas the villainous ghost, and the Curse broken they have nothing to fear. But that is when all the fun begins. When Yara discovers things about herself she never understood or knew she could do as a Waker. Someone with the ability to see and talk to ghosts. She finds that after coming back from the dead she has more than just a few fears she must confront and some new enemies both living and dead she must contend with. Brent her boyfriend must also battle his own demons and it ultimately comes down toYara making a life or death decision that will alter her life forever.

I loved Indelible, it was fast paced amazing thrill ride, that had me on the seat of my pants wondering what would happen next in the unexpected twists and turns along the way. Just when you think you have it figured out, you find another convaluted layer in the plot to untangle, and wonder how in the world can they make it through. And if you read Lani's first book Intrinsical, you know impossible sacrificial decisions must be made that can't possibly be chosen will be found in Indelible as well.

I fell in love with Yara, Brent, Steve and Cheri all over again, and welcomed the added depth of Vovo, Yara's Grandma. I felt the plot was rich and intricately woven as all the subplots intermixed through out the book weaving back and forth through the over all theme. The depth of character development made them leap to life off the page, and feel as if they could walk into your room or astral project in front of you at any time. I felt that this second story is vital to the overall story that so many things happen with in the story line you cannot skip reading it.

This ghost story adds extra elements of surprise that will keep your eyes flying across the page until the wee hours of the morning, as you bite your fingernails in nervous anticipation of how it will all turn out. But be sure to keep the lights on, because this ghost story will have you pulling the covers over your head if you aren't careful. But I promise you will be glad that you stuck through until the last satisfying page, which will leave you anticipating the next installment of the Yara Silva Trilogy. But as I found with Indelible, it will definitely be worth the wait.

Lani Woodland's book Indelible is a must read! It is appropriate for all ages and is a clean read. It teaches you that everyone deserves second chances and that hope always out weights all else. That the bonds of love and friendship are strongest when put to the test. In addition Lani was also the photographer for the cover as well! Beautiful isn't it?

To learn more about Lani, visit her website here, and her blog here. Click here for your own copy of Indelible, I promise you will be glad you did and besides it's October, what better time for a ghost story, right?

Disclaimer: While at times I do recieve copies of books to review, my opinions are and will always be my own!

Book Review: The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack

The Way I See It:The Alias by Mandy Slack was a fast paced story about a lady name Jayce Grayson who is forced to go into hiding to protect both herself and her young son from her ex-husband. As if that isn't enough, FBI agents show up at her door one day asking her about her ex-husband business dealings and her part int it. Concerned that if the FBI can find her, then her ex-husband can, she makes a desperate move to take on someone else's identity and steps into life as them in order to buy some time.

Little did Jayce realize the deep impact the loving, welcoming LDS family has on her heart and her conscience. And for the first time in her life she feels accepted and part of a real family. Guilt builds inside her as a result of her deception, but she can't help but notice that her withdrawn and sullen son is perking back to life and acting like any nine year old boy should. She finds peace and a sense of security in the open arms of the McCoy's.

And then things begin to narrow as Jacey must find a way ensure her son's safety even if it means the possibility of her own death, she will do whatever is necessary to protect him. And she must rely on others to help her, something she doesn't do well.

I found this story to be fun and filled with unexpected dips and turns. Some things caught me off guard and at times I was worried and really afraid for the outcome of the characters and wondered how things would all end. I really couldn't be 100% sure until the end of the story. I loved the build in tension as Mandi weaves all the player's parts together through a timeline of events that lead to the surprising conclusion.

I liked how Mandi handled the delicate subject of an abused spouse in hiding. The way this story reveals what happened and how Jayce learned to stand for herself in the face of someone who once held great trust in her heart was wonderfully done. I came away from this story with such hope when Jacey was able to find strength within herself to do what she needed to do no matter the cost to herself. That she was more than she ever realized and that growth is shown through Jacey's emotions and how she is able to confront demons from her past head on.

I loved the way you felt the countdown race to the climax and a sense of not knowing the outcome for sure, made the race that much more desperate.

I enjoyed watching the different journeys of side characters as they learn great things about them selves and the strength they have to over come their darkest hours. I loved seeing that magnificence inside them shine and blossom through the course of the book.

This adventurous story is a story is a clean read that I recommend to children 11 and older, because of some of the descriptions of violent events that occur with the main character.

To get your own copy of The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack click here. Click on the e-book edition and note that the e-book option is only $3.99, which is an excellent price for an LDSe-book, of course paper copies are available as well.

You can also check out more great things about the book The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack by clicking here to check out here website.

Disclaimer: While at times I do receive copies of the books I review; the opinions expressed are and will always remain my own.

Book Review : The Key of Kilenya By Andrea Pearson

I am excited to get the chance to review Andrea Pearson's new book THE KEY OF KILENYA. I love her amazing imagination and still wonder how she was able to come up with so many fantastic creatures and detail to scenery and location as she wove her story together. I was in awe at how well she developed them to the smallest detail.

Synopsis:
When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark down a path from our world into another, his life is forever changed. He has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon—evil, immortal beings who are jealous of powers he doesn’t know he possesses—powers they desire to control.The inhabitants of the new world desperately need Jacob's help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkonand is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, his life will be at risk. But if he chooses not to help them, both our world and theirs will be in danger. The Lorkon will stop at nothing to unleash the power of the key—and Jacob's special abilities.


My take:
This story is about a 14 year old boy named Jacob who has lived his entire life in the shadow of his older brother Matt. Matt is Jacob's hero and in Jacob's mind, Matt is everything he isn't. Popular, courageous, easy going, smart, athletic and the list goes on. It is about how Jacob comes to find out for himself that he is every thing his older brother is and more. As he discovers this, he is able to move himself out of his brother's shadow by being forced to shine in the light on his own as he learns to rely on his own wit, skills and abilities that require him to be all the things Matt is in the face of real dangers.


I love how Jacob learns to have confidence in himself and that as he learns about who he is and what he can accomplish he realizes how much he has to offer and that even though he still admires his brother, he is now more on equal footing with him by the end of the story. I love the self discovery he goes through and the feelings of doubt he overcomes as he meets each new obstacle.


This is a perfect book for all ages! It is entertaining and filled with great mystical beings from another world. Andrea takes great care to paint the picture of this new land with words and the images pop vividly in your mind, as you can see in technicolor the world and creatures she has created. It was fun to see what new things Jacob would run into along the way of finding the Key or new obstacle he would have to figure a way to overcome, and sometimes it was one and the same.


This is a great book to read as a family together, or to spend a few hours alone just immersed in another world. It is clean and fun and full of great perilous adventures that keep you wondering to the end how will certain things turn out, only to find you must wait until the next exciting installment of the series. I love Andrea's amazing imagination and how she created a unique world that was fun to explore with Jacob. I know you will enjoy the fun as well.


Hurry and get your copy of Andrea Pearson's The Key of Kilenya by clicking here. And check out Andrea's website here to learn more about her great series!

Disclaimer: while I sometimes receive copies of books to review, my opinions are and will always be my own.

And the lucky winner is....

Thank you everyone who participated it the Sept hop give away with me! It was my first give away and it was so much fun to be a part of it and now I get to announce the lucky winner of Debbie Macomber's book One Night. Are you ready??

Big Pause . . . and now the applause please!! clap clap clap

It is lucky number 27! In a random drawing this was the number chosen. Alright everyone shout out WHOO HOO!! Yippe Yay!

Brendajean! Congratulations on winning the book you were lucky number 27! I will be emailing you on how to get it to you.

I am so excited to have so many new faces and freinds on Blogger Thank you agian for joining me! Look for the next fun blog hop coming in Oct. It promises to be full of great fun too!

Fantastic Sept Blog Hop!

Welcome to the September Blog Hop! Celebrate the beginning of fall with me and my blogger friends by hopping around, visiting our sites, and entering our contests! There are no limits - you can enter the contest on every blog. With over 40 blogs participating, that's over 40 prizes you could win. Just click on the links below to move on to the next blog.

On my blog, you can win …

A copy of New York Time's best selling authro Debbie Macomber's book One Night

Would you like to win this prize? You just need to do two things.

1. Become a follower of this blog.

2. Leave me a comment in the trail and tell me why you'd like to win this prize.

That's it! You are now entered. The contest ends on Saturday night, September 24th, at midnight MST, and the winner will be contacted shortly thereafter. Please either leave your e-mail address in the comment trail or make sure it's visible through your profile so I can contact you to tell you that you're the lucky winner.

Now go visit my other friends ...

1. Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author 2. Joyce DiPastena 3. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer 4. Mandi Slack 5. Michael D. Young 6. Six Mixed Reviews 7. Pam Williams 8. Laurie Lewis 9. Kristy Tate 10. Marilyn Yarbrough 11. Stacy Coles 12. Kristie Ballard 13. Lynn Parsons 14. Pushing Past the Pounds 15. Sheila Staley 16. cindy Hogan

17. Jamie Thompson 18. Jaclyn Weist 19. Cathy Witbeck 20. Secret Sisters Mysteries 21. Tamera Westhoff 22. Tina Scott 23. Lynnea Mortensen 24. Danyelle Ferguson aka Queen of the Clan 25. Jeanette A. Fratto 26. Bonnie Harris 27. Melissa Lemon 28. Mary Ann Dennis 29. Stephanie Black 30. Jane Still 31. Janice 32. Laura Bastian

33. Tamara Bordon 34. Betsy Love 35. Maria Hoagland 36. Amber Robertson 37. Debbie Davis 38. 39. Christy Monson 40. Carolyn Frank 41. Rebecca Birkin 42. Melissa Cunningham 43. Emily L. Moir 44. Ronda Hinrichsen 45. Lisa Asanuma 46. Joan Sowards 47. Jordan McCollum 48. Diane Stringam Tolley

Learn more about September Blog Hop here.

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Book Review: Modern Sorcery By Gary Jonas

Today I get to review Modern Sorcery By Gary Jonas. I really enjoyed this book, it hooked me hard and fast and I couldn't stop reading it.

Synopsis

Magic can be deadly...

When Private Investigator Jonathan Shade's ex-lover walks into his Denver office asking him to prove her father didn't commit the murder that dozens of witnesses saw and security cameras captured, Shade finds himself in the thick of magical intrigue. In a world where evil warlocks refuse to die, magically engineered assassins deal merciless death and ancient myths aren't quite so mythical, only Shade and his sexy partner, Kelly, can stop a power-hungry sorcerer from taking over the world.

Too bad Shade doesn't have any magic.

My thoughts

I loved Modern Sorcery by Gary Jonas! I couldn't put it down once I started. I read all night long and then I borrowed my friend's kindle to finish it the next day since I didn't want to lug my lap top with me everywhere I needed to go. But I would have if necessary. I didn't want to stop reading, I had to find out what happened next!

There was a ton of great action, lots of funny banter, an amazingly evil villain, (Gotta love those) and a handsome, butt-kicking, dynamic hero. (Gotta love those even more!) But then let's not forget the unexpected twists and turns and laugh out loud moments that ease the tension at just the right time. I want more Jonathan Shade and Kelly Chan fight scenes and interaction and quick shots at each other I just couldn't get enough.

I thought the mix of magic and mythology was blended masterfully. The plot and sub plots pulled you along page by page and it was easy to be caught up in Jonathan's world. Character development was three dimensional and you felt as if you knew each one personally. I want to know what happens next for Sharon, Kelly, Ester and Jonathan, I want to know how the magical world collides with mythology and the mundane world in the next book, I just want more!

Modern Sorcery read so fast and the details were so vivid that it was as if it all played out in real life before me. I was surprised by the ending that I didn't see coming, and didn't want the story to end. I look forward with great anticipation to more Modern Sorcery adventures in this exciting new series, and can't wait for more of Jonathan Slade's action packed punches with his unique touch of sly humor.

You can get your copy of Modern Sorcery by Gary Jonas by clicking here to get the ebook, paper back copies will be available in Oct. Hurry you don't want to miss out on the adventure!

When did it happen?

I want to know when it happened that I became old enough for my youngest child to turn eight years old? Who gave her permission to grow up? I certainly didn't, she was supposed to stay my baby forever, well at least until I told her she could move beyond that stage when I was good and ready. But she didn't ask permission at all, she just did. And now she is going to be baptized and she is so excited about it. But what is even better is that she can't wait for her oldest sister to come home and share in the celebration with two of her brothers who have birthdays over the next 30 days.

Fun you say? Sure! Especially when you consider that from Sept 16th until Oct 17th it is one birthday after another, it isn't hard to imagine. Some how we managed to have 4 birthdays 10 days apart...one on Sept 16th, then Sept 18th, then Oct 6th and then to big finale on Oct 17th. Then to round all the fun off we have Halloween.

But the worst part of my baby turning 8, is that her older sister will be turning 21. I cannot allow that~! It isn't supposed to happen, especially since I refuse to believe I am old enough to have a daughter who is 21! Why you say? Because I still feel like a teenager! I still feel just like I did when I was a teenager, and don't feel like I am any older. So when did it happen?

I think instead I will take a page from my hubby's book of life, where he says, "I refuse to grow up and grow old! Age is only a state of mind, and I choose to stay young!" I am 100% on board with that ideology!

So my kids may grow up and older, but I refuse too. I will still dance around my house and sing at the top of my lungs to the top 40 songs, I will still get in tickle and wrestling fights with my husband and kids, I will still be goofy and funny, just for the sake of making some one laugh. And talk in funny accents until my kids roll their eyes. Why? Because it is way too much fun not too!

Life is too short to take too seriously! So let the party begin! The month long celebration of four of my eight kids! WHoo Hooo!!!

Check out this Contest for Fall By Jennifer Hurst

Yesterday I posted about how much I loved FALL a paranormal romance written by Jennifer Hurst. Today I want to give you the fun and exciting details of the contest itself and how you can win some pretty fun things.

Here's How It Works!

In conjunction with this blog tour, Jennifer is holding a contest. It will involve any of the blogs that Jennifer visits or where her book is featured and will close on December 31st, 2011. The entrants have to answer three questions about the book they’ve read (bought, borrowed, or stolen - shame on you) and post a link to Jennifer's website on their Twitter, Facebook, or blog (need link for verification). Then the names will be entered in a random name picker generator (http://textmechanic.com/Random-Line-Picker.html) and announced on Jennifer's website (http://www.fabulousreads.blogspot.com/www.jenniferhurst.com) on January 31st, 2012. The winner will receive a gift certificate for a night’s stay at the actual bed and breakfast where the story takes place. Other prizes include an autographed copy of FALL, and she will randomly select 3 contestants’ names to use in the sequel to FALL. Plus, they will receive a free copy of that book when it is published. Each blog that Jennifer Hurst visits will have a different set of questions people can answer, and they may enter as many times as they want - but they can enter once per blog site that they visit. So the more sites you visit, the more you can enter your name, thus increasing your chances of winning the gift certificate, a copy of the book FALL, and your name in the sequel.

Get the book, read the book, and then read over the questions below. Once you have your answers, e-mail them to Jennifer. fall.jenniferhurst@gmail.com

Your privacy is respected and your email address will NOT be used for anything but the contest. Once the contest is over - your email address will be deleted from the database.

Here are the questions for you to answer:

What kind of bird did JD eat for Thanksgiving?
What did the delivery man forget when he delivered the office trailer?
What did JD take with her to go camping with Matthew?


If you would like to visit the other sites, go here for the master list of all participating sites: http://fallbyjenniferhurst.wordpress.com/

Best of luck, and thanks for participating!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your self a copy of Fall ~details and links on my previous posting and get to it! Don't miss out on the fun! Cuz believe me when I say, I am all over this contest!

Book Review: Fall By Jennifer Hurst

Synopsis of Fall By Jennifer Hurst:
Women and construction shouldn't mix. At least, that is what the client, Mr. Blackwell, thinks when Twenty-one year old Julia Dayle Halstead is promoted to project manager to remodel a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse into a bed and breakfast. However, the schoolhouse contains a secret. And it wants out.

Construction is in Julia's blood, so when she is promoted to Project Manager to renovate a turn-of-the-century school house in a bed and breakfast, she has high hopes of proving herself in the male-dominated construction industry.But Julia discovers there is more to managing a construction project than just contracts and budgets - especially when she meets Matthew Rigo, the demolition contractor who seems bound and determined to cross the lines Julia has imposed. Vandalism and other unexplainable occurrences beset the project, leading Julia to believe there is much more to the school house than she first realizes. Something is inside the hundred year old school house, and it wants out. Is Julia the key to its release? And are Matthew and Nathan what they appear to be?

My Thoughts:
I am so excited to review FALL a clean paranormal romance By Jennifer Hurst. If you love gorgeous brooding men and amazing strong female characters who know how to use power tools, then you will love Fall! I loved this book from the moment I read the first sentence. It grabbed me by my boots and took me on a wonderful roller coaster ride, that left me begging for more. I could not put this book down. I was so drawn to it. As a matter of fact, I tried put it down half way so I could attend to other matters and it pulled me back, and before I realized it, I finished Fall! The only thing that I could say could be better about it would be that there was more to read. I was so sad to see it end. But it makes me super excited for the sequel!


Jennifer's characters are strongly developed, and three dimensional. She knows how to weave a story filled with unexpected twists and turns that are unpredictable. All the subplots bring your curiosity level high and leave you anticipating what happens next. I loved how distinct and rich the characters feel. It was as if I was watching a live action movie and dreading the closing credits.


I want more of Matthew, more of Nathan, and more of JD. I loved the pull of good verses evil in this story and felt the fight for JD'ssoul as brothers Nathan and Matthew choose sides and use JD as the pawn between them. I thought it was clever to renovate and make it a central hub for otherworldly activity. I felt that all the story arcs were fun and brought new depths to the story.


I highly encourage you to get your copy of Fall as soon as possible. I know you won't be disappointed, I am shouting it out to all my friends that they have to check this book by Jennifer Hurst. She blew my socks off and I applaud her fun, skillful, and unpredictable story tell, and anxiously look forward to more Matthew, Nathan, and JD, I am dying to know what will happen next!


Hurry, click here to get your own e-copy of Fall, or go here for other purchase options. I promise you will NOT be disappointed. Click here to see my review on Amazon.


Click here to access Jennifer's web page to learn more about all things Jennifer and put your answers in for the FABULOUS contest she is running. Check back tomorrow for the questions and rules for the contest.


Disclaimer: while I sometimes receive books to review, my opinions will always remain my own.