Monday, October 24, 2011

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.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

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.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

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.

Monday, October 17, 2011

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.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

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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Sunday, October 9, 2011

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!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

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!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

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.