Double Time ~ Book Review ~

Release Date: 6 Nov 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks

ISBN: 9781402271519

Page Count: 416 pages

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the Publisher:

Olivia Cunning delivers the perfect blend of steamy sex, heartwarming romance, and a wicked sense of humor in this menage story featuring the hottest guy in the Sinners band.

Trey Mills, the notoriously sexy Sinners rhythm guitarist, gives up his bisexual lifestyle and is swept into a hot, heady romance with Reagan Elliot, a female rock star sensation. But when Trey encounters Reagan's sexy bisexual roommate, Ethan Conner, he can no longer deny who he is or what he wants. Reagan heartily agrees to a solution that opens up a hot new world of sexual experience—and love—with the two men she wants the most.

My View:

November Reading Challenge #4 ~ M/M Challenge ~

Thought this challenge is designed for the Goodreads M/M Romance group, it could be easily adapted to your favorite genre.

1. Happy Birthday! - Read a book that you have chosen from the shelves of one of our November B-day Celebrants.
2. Guy Fawkes Day (11/5) – Read a book that takes place in England.
3. Veteran’s Day (11/11) – Read a book in which one or both of the main characters is in the military.
4. Young Readers Day (11/13) – Read a coming of age story or a book with a young character/s.
5. Have a Party with your Bear Day (11/16) - Read a book from the MM Books Featuring Bears list or a book featuring a bear shifter.
6. Take a Hike Day (11/17) – Best Gay Enemies/Rivals/Opposites Become Lovers
7. Thanksgiving (11/22) – Read a book that takes place over Thanksgiving or a book with fall colors on the cover.
8. Black Friday (11/23) – Read a book in which one of the MCs works in retail or a book with a completely black cover.
9. Group Hug - Read a book written by one of our group members (see link above).
10. Book of Your Choice - (BOM selection, Pick it for Me book, other challenge book, etc…)

Bonus: November 3rd is Book Lovers Day! Read a book that you’ve been dying to read or reread a book that you absolutely love.

Naughty and Nice ~ Book Review ~

 

Title: Naughty & Nice: Three Holiday Treats

Authors: Ruthie Knox, Molly O'Keefe, & Stefanie Sloane

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell

Pub Date: 5 November 2012

ISBN: 9780345544360

Pages: 210

Stars: 3.5/5

 

 

 

 

From the Publisher:

’Tis the season for romance with three original holiday-themed novellas! Unwrap this festive eBook bundle and discover why these authors are quickly becoming the biggest names in the genre. Ruthie Knox tells a heartwarming contemporary story of first loves given the gift of a second chance; Molly O’Keefe releases the ghosts of Christmas past with a prequel to her novel Crazy Thing Called Love; and Stefanie Sloane weaves an irresistible Regency tale of fiery passion that burns deep on a cold winter’s night.

ROOM AT THE INN by Ruthie Knox

Carson Vance couldn’t wait to get out of Potter Falls, but now that he’s back to spend Christmas with his ailing father, he must face all the people he left behind . . . like Julie Long, whose heart he broke once upon a time. Now the proprietor of the local inn, Julie is a successful, seductive, independent woman—everything that Carson’s looking for. But despite several steamy encounters under the mistletoe, Julie refuses to believe in happily ever after. Now Carson must prove to Julie that he’s back for good—and that he wants her in his life for all the holidays to come.
 
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU by Molly O’Keefe

Maddy Baumgarten and Billy Wilkins are spontaneous, in love, and prepared to elope the day after Christmas—that is, if Maddy’s family doesn’t throw a wrench in their plans. After all, Maddy’s barely out of high school and Billy’s a notorious bad boy. Maddy doesn’t care about Billy’s rough past—all she cares about is living in the here and now. But after Maddy’s mother stops speaking to her in protest, and a Christmas Eve heart-to-heart with her father leaves her with butterflies, Maddy starts to get cold feet. She loves Billy, but is she taking this big step too soon?
 
ONE PERFECT CHRISTMAS by Stephanie Sloane

After being jilted by her fiance, Jane Merriweather turns to her dear childhood friend, the Honorable Lucas Cavanaugh, for support—and unlocks the smoldering desire simmering in the man’s troubled heart. Frightened by his newfound feelings, Lucas flees to Scotland. But when the Christmas season brings them together again, one glance is all that’s needed to reignite his yearning. If Lucas can convince Jane that his intentions are as pure as the falling snow, they’ll turn a dreary December into a joyous Yuletide affair.

My View:

Muddled-Up Farm ~ Book Review ~

 

Title: Muddled-Up Farm

Author: Mike Dumbleton

Publisher: Star Bright Books

Publication Date: 15 Mar 2013

ISBN: 9781595726308

 

 

From the Publisher:

Muddled-up Farm is a very special place. From the cat to the cow, the pig and the goat it is full of surprises that will have young readers laughing out loud as they discover everything that is mixed up on Muddled-up Farm! Muddled-up Farm is a Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book.

My view:

Around the World in 80 Days Reading Challenge

Yep I am at it again.  Another Reading Challenge for you all.  This one is a lot of fun.  It last 3 months and starts TODAY.  It is the Around the World in 80 days (or so) Challenge.  It is the brainchild of the Romance Readers Reading Challenges group on Goodreads.  Here are the rules:

This challenge runs from November 15, 2012- February 15st, 2013. Please feel free to jump in at any time during the 3 months :)
There is no minimum page count, re-reads and audio books are allowed.

The Continents-
Asia
Africa
North America
South America
Europe
Australia
Antarctica

1. Read a book for each continent-
You may use the setting of the book, author's place of birth or current residence, or title of the book to read one book for each continent.
The author was born in the continent or lives there now. The setting of the book is from that continent. The title of the book contains the name of the continent.

And/ Or

2. Spell out a continent (or more than 1)
- any books can be used. As long as the book title or author's first or last name is found in the spelling of the continent, you may use it. The criteria in #1 above does not have to be met.
The first letter of the author's first or last name or the first letter of the first word in the book title may be used for this option. Articles such as the,a, an may be used or ignored.
Bonus-
When spelling out the continent in #2- Use only books related to a continent - author/ setting/title

So what am I reading?  Keep reading to find out :)

My First Words Outside ~ Book Review ~

Title: My First Words Outside

Author: Amy Geller

Publisher: Star Bright Books

Publication Date: 15 Mar 2013

ISBN: 9781595723321

Format: Board Book

 

 

From the Publisher:

In this photo-filled book featuring the great outdoors, there are dozens of words for babies and toddlers to learn.  A wonderful word-filled adventure awaits on every page where familiar and new objects, animals, and places abound!

My view:

Look Twice (Blaze of Glory #2) ~ Book Review ~

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Look Twice (Blaze of Glory Book #2)

Author: M. Garzon

Release: 12 Nov 2012

Link to my review of Blaze of Glory (Book 1)

 

From the Author:

Blood is thicker than water.
I didn’t understand that expression when I was a kid. I only knew that I was closer to my brother Seth than to anyone else in the world. He was the calm to my storm, the light to my dark. We were tied to the rest of our complicated family by bonds beyond blood—love, loyalty, convenience—but as it turns out, the pull of blood is strong. Maybe even strong enough to tear me away from the person with whom I shared my very first breath.

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book. I absolutely fell in love with Blaze of Glory by M. Garzon the first time I read it, so of course I jumped at the change to review Look Twice, the latest installment in Tea's story.  Read on for my review of Look Twice:

Surrender the Dark ~ Book Review ~

Title: The Three Musketeers #1: Surrender the Dark

Author: Donna Kauffman

Release Date: 8 October 2012

ISBN: 9780345537874

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

 From the Publisher:

Surrender the Dark, the first novel in the Three Musketeers series by Donna Kauffman, offers the tantalizing story of a hardened, highly trained operative-and the woman who must save him.

They call themselves the Three Musketeers: three lifelong friends, men who will put it all on the line in the name of honor and loyalty. Jarrett McCullough values those bonds as seriously as he values his job heading a covert group of operatives skilled in handling sensitive international information. But his current mission has suddenly gone very wrong-and he finds himself wounded and near death in the last place he ever expected to be.

Rae Gannon is stunned to find her ex-boss bleeding from a gunshot wound, mere paces from her front door. It has been two years since her move to the remote Blue Ridge Mountains, where she tried to erase the memories and the pain she suffered from having been part of McCullough's team. Yet as Rae tends to Jarrett's battered body she realizes that the air between them is still sizzling with a slow-burning need. But this time there are more than just hearts at stake. The mission that almost got Jarrett killed threatens to put Rae back in harm's way. And if they surrender to their desires, it may cost them their lives.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Blaze of Winter, Light My Fire, and Santerra's Sin.

 

My View:

November Reading Challenge #3 ~ Smut Challenge ~

My third challenge for the month is of course the smut challenge (from the Kindle Smut group on Goodreads).  This month's theme is "All in the Family"  it is actually a combined challenge for November and December so it has 10 books instead of only 5.

Here are the categories from which to choose:

Family Matters- Features a big family on one side or the other of the relationship
Keeping it in the family- an inlaw, step-sibling/step-parent, etc
Creating a new family- at least one person has a child already
Family is more than blood- a "family" unit made of good friends, closer than their blood relatives
OUT of the family- falling for someone different- IE human/shifter, human/vampire, different breeds of shifters falling for each other
Family Disapproval- someone in the family does NOT approve of the relationship for whatever reason
Modern Family- involves one of the newer definitions of family- either same sex or menage ending in commitment
Family business- siblings in business together, so are always meddling, there, etc
Instant family- accidental pregnancy, before marriage
Friend of the family- one or both have a pet that is part of the story
Estranged-where one or both are estranged from their family.
Broken Family- someone is either divorced or an orphan
Lost Family- One or more partner is a widow(er)

My Picks:

TruKid Hero Stick ~ Review and Giveaway ~

As a mom of 3 small children, I am constantly soothing bumps, scraps, and bites... of both the real and imaginary persuasion.  I love having something natural that I can use to sooth those bumps and scrapes.  The new Hero Stick from TruKid is a life saver for me.  It is in a solid stick form (much like an oversized chapstick) so I can keep it conveniently in my wristlet.  I haven 't carried a real purse in years, I either have my wristlet or my wristlet inside the full on diaper bag, so I like that it is small enough to fit conveniently in small places so I can always have it with me.

Like all TruKid products, the Hero Stick is made of natural ingredients that you can use on your kids with confidence.  The Hero Stick helps sooth all those little hurts, or so my kids tell me :)  One of my favorite uses has been for Mosquito bites, which are so prevalent here in the Houston area.  I have also used it on my kids' eczema when I was out of their prescription creams with success.

I encourage you to check out the Hero Stick and other items from the TruKid Lineup.

You can see my review of other TruKid products here.

TruKid on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Yelp

 

From the Manufacturer:

Mom's Kiss in a Stick! TruKids Hero Stick is a natural soothing balm that protects and soothes skin irritations. Perfect for backpacks and purses, moms kiss in a stick will make boo-boos, bug bites, eczema and rashes feel better. Made with Balm of Gilead, Calendula and Plantain Leaf to protect while skin heals. There are no parabens, artificial colors or fragrances in this biodegradable formula. 0.6 oz. tube.

Directions;Apply Hero Stick to burns, ezcema,  bites and other boo-boos to help protect your skin.

Ingredients
Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax),Simmondsis Chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, Commiphora Gileadensis ( balm of gilead) extract, Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria(Chamomile)Flower Oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Calendula Officinalis Flower (Calendula),Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Root, Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort), Plantago Lanceolata (Plantain), Oleoresin Rosmarinue (Rosemary) Officinalis

 

All Organic Ingredients in this product are listed in BOLD

Thanks to TruKid for providing me a free sample of the Hero Stick in exchange for an honest review

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

November Reading Challenge #2 ~ Spell It Out ~

My second reading Challenge for November is the Spell-it-out Challenge.  Take a word that means something to you in relation to the month and find a book for each letter in the word where the first letter of the Title or Author's name matches.

My Word for November is THANKSGIVING

My Picks:

The Marriage Mistake ~ Book Review ~

Release date: 6 Nov 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 9781476717524

From the Publisher:
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Marriage Bargain comes the final installment in the Marriage to a Billionaire series

Jennifer Probst’s first book, THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN sold more than a half-million copies in six months and has spent more than 20 weeks on the New York Times bestsellers list. The contemporary romance followed an impulsive bookstore owner who gets wrapped up in the plans of a billionaire who doesn’t believe in marriage but needs to marry in order to inherit his father’s corporation. In THE MARRIAGE TRAP, a supporting character in the first book got her shot at love and marriage. THE MARRIAGE MISTAKE focuses on Carina, sister of Michael Conte, as she navigates through her own romantic adventure.

Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother Michael’s best friend, Max Gray, since she was a teenager. Now she’s earned her MBA and come to work at Michael’s new venture, America’s fastest-growing bakery empire. But some things never change: her family still treats her like a child. With three drop-dead gorgeous siblings, she’s still the ugly duckling of the bunch. And Max, the company’s new CEO, still barely notices her.

Max knows Carina Conte is strictly off limits. But hot-blooded lust wins out at a conference when the two share a scorching one-night stand—and are busted by her mother! Now, forced by old-world Italian tradition into a marriage he’s not ready for, Max is miserable—and Carina is furious. Her new husband is about to realize that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed….

My View:

Smartfoods ~ BzzAgent Review~

I recently had the pleasure of sampling some new treats from Smartfood Selects.  They have a number of varieties, but we tried the Sour Cream and Onion Puffed Corn, Garlic Tomato and Basil Hummus Popped Chips, and Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Multigrain Popped chips.

I will say that myself nor my children were huge fans of the Garlic Tomato and Basil Hummus chips.  I love hummus, but it just didn't translate well to chip form for me.  I can't really put my finger on why, I just no that I couldn't eat them and I couldn't even get my son, who will eat anything, to eat them either.

The Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Multigrain Popped Chips, however were very good.  They had just the right amount of sweet and spicy without being overwhelming.  The Chip itself was crispy and light without the grease and heaviness of "normal" chips.  They will definitely be purchased again.

The biggest hit was the Puffed Corn variety.  My kids kept coming back for more and more and I didn't feel guilty adding a few as a side to a good sandwich lunch or just as a snack during an afternoon of play.  They are a light and fluffy corn snack that is not fried.  Kind of like Popcorn but without the hull to deal with.  The seasoning was liberally applied but not overly so (does that even make sense?).  I will definitely be purchasing more varieties of these in the future.

 

I would like to thank Smartfood Selects and bzzAgent for providing me the product for free in exchange for my honest review.

Thoughtless ~ Book Review ~

Publication Date: 6 Nov 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 9781476717470

For almost two years now, Kiera’s boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she’s ever wanted: loving, tender, and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together—Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university—everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart. Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he’s purely a friend she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes . . . and none of them will ever be the same.

November Reading Challenge #1 ~ Cover hunt ~

My first reading Challenge for November is the Cover Hunt challenge.  For November the terms are as follows (from Happily Ever After Cafe on Goodreads):

Rules: Read 2 books with the following items found on their covers; choose 2 of the 3 options below. Be sure to post your book covers, dates read, and star ratings. If you want, you can do this at the end of the month after you reviewed your covers. Feel free to do all three if you want.

COLOR: Red!

HOLIDAY: (1) Thanksgiving - read a book about Thanksgiving or a gathering of friends and family, or a book about someone who discovers something to be thankful for they didn't expect to find. (2) It Summer 'Down Under' - so, to celebrate with the hemisphere, pick something to go with the Summer Holidays. (3) Veterans Day - read a book with some type of a member of the Armed Services in it. (4) Election Day - a book involving the political arena, or someone in politics. (5) Day of the Dead - read a book that involves a ghost or haunted place.

ITEMS: Topaz, Chrysanthemums, Elephant, Donkey, Flags, Clock (daylight saving time) Scorpio (Scorpian) & Saggitarius (The Archer), Bow and Arrow, fall leaves, Turkey, cornacorpia, people eating a dinner, football, parade, uniform, medals, pilgrims, pie, ships.

My Choices:

When Love Comes to Town ~ Book Review ~

Publication Date: 1 Mar 2013

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company

ISBN: 9780807589168

With a new introduction by James Klise

First US Edition!
25th Anniversary

The year is 1990, and in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, Neil Byrne plays rugby, keeps up with the in-crowd at his school, and is just a regular guy. A guy who's gay. It's a secret he keeps from the wider world as he explores the city at night and struggles to figure out how to reveal his real self--and to whom.
First published in Ireland in 1993 and compared to The Catcher in the Rye by critics, Tom Lennon's When Loves Comes to Town is told with honesty, humor, and originality.

Ages 13-up/Grades 7-up

Praise for the 1993 Irish edition
"In many ways his work is superior to The Catcher in the Rye."--Irish Times