Its a Blog Hop!

Hey everyone! Its black Friday and a lot of people are braving the crowds. I must say I got up early to do a little shopping though I am really just disappointed with how Walmart is doing things last year and this year. So next year I think there will have to be something I just can't live with out to get me up at 4am to go shopping.

Well on to the blog hop part of things. This is hosted by Crazy-for-books and if you want to participate please go to her sight and read the rules and sign up.


Today's question is: What is your favorite book cover?

I can honestly say I have not a clue. If I have one I can't think of it and nothing really seems to come to mind so I don't know. I know I have seen a lot of cool ones out there but I don't really have a favorite.

Hope everyone is having a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

I am up and cooking some pumpkin cookies and I just thought I would pop on here and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving to all of my followers that celebrate the day! =0)  Hope everyone has a safe and happy turkey day and you eat lots of yummy foods. If you stop by today let me know what your favorite part of Thanks Giving is? Got a favorite food you can't wait for?  I love my pumpkin cookies!! yum yum.

Waiting on Wednesday!

Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My choice this week is A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford.

Death isn't what Eden expected. Where the hell is her release? Her quiet ending? Not that Eden remembers the details of her final hours, but one thing is for sure--becoming a sider, trapped between life and death, was definitely not part of the plan...

For Eden, nothing seems to be coming easy. There's no way of telling what will happen when her fingertips graze human skin. The power that builds inside her, Touch, strips away morals and logic.

Some people only feel a high; others are overcome by their darkest thoughts.

But honestly there's not much time for her to worry about her effect on mere mortals. She's got her own drama. Somehow, word's gotten around that her Touch can kill her own kind. With desperate siders already camping out on her doorstep, the last thing Eden needs is the rumor to spread. Especially since it's true...

A TOUCH MORTAL is the first of a planned trilogy. (From the authors website)

It sounds like it could be a interesting read but it doesn't come out till March 1st, 2011 so I guess I will have to wait and see. :0)


What are you waiting for?

Teaser Tuesday!

So, here’s the idea: Every Tuesday, check out the posts here at SHOULD BE READING for the “Teaser Tuesdays” weekly event! For this event, you do the following, based off a popular meme that has been floating around the blogging / book-group circles for quite some time…

The Rules:

*Grab your current read

*Open to a random page

*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

*Share the title & author.

Here is mine:

Changeless by Gail Carriger
Page: 42

"She snapped open the lid of her dispatch case and extracted her harmonic auditory resonance disruptor, a spiky little apparatus that looked exactly like two tuning forks sticking out of a crystal."

I just  teased myself..LOL I am just starting this book and can't wait to finish it because I loved the first one and can't wait to read the next one in the series!!

Your turn, tease me!! =0)

Review of Dining with Joy

Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck
Pages: 320
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Joy Ballard has a secret: she's a cooking show host who can't really cook.


When her South Carolina-based cooking show, Dining With Joy, is picked up by a major network, Joy Ballard's world heats up like a lowcountry boil.

Joy needs help. Then she meets chef Luke Davis who moved to Beaufort after losing his Manhattan restaurant. A cook at the Frogmore Cafe, he's paying debts and longing to regain his reputation in the elite foodie world.

Luke and Joy mix like oil and water…until Joy is exposed on national television. With her career and his reputation both under fire, they'll have to work together to fix the mess. Is it possible that they can learn to feast on God's love and dine with joy?

Rachel Hauck's book is a nice enjoyable, fun read.

You ever wonder if those cooks you see on TV who show you how something is made and then take out a already prepared meal out of the oven, can really cook? I know I always wondered and that is what this book is about a cooking show host that can't cook. You know its not going to end up good at the end of the book, but its a pretty fun ride getting there.

Its bad enough that Joy can't cook and hosts a cooking show, but when her show is bought by a major company the stress starts to mount. Then add a nice looking male cook to the show things start to sizzle. Luke and Joy are very enjoyable characters and it was fun to read about them and the sparks that fly between the two.

This is the first Rachel Hauck book I have read and I found it to be very enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone who likes to read light-hearted romances with a dose of comedy.

Oh I almost forgot Rachel Hauck is hosting a contest on her website where you have a chance to win a Kitchen Aide mixer! How cool is that, so head on over there and enter to win.

Here are some other places you can find web:

Rachel's blog:  http://rachelhayeshauck.blogspot.com/
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/RachelHauck
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/RachelHauckAuthor

I received this book as a part of TLC book tours.

Review: Gaming system Kinect

Introducing Kinect for Xbox 360

You are the controller. No gadgets, no gizmos, just you!

Kinect brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways without using a controller. Imagine controlling movies and music with the wave of a hand or the sound of your voice. With Kinect, technology evaporates, letting the natural magic in all of us shine.

Here is a cool Youtube video that shows people having fun with the Kinect. So you can get a feel for the system.




I was so excited when I heard about this system for xbox 360, I love my Wii but you still have to have a controller and this one is hands free! It is so much fun and a great way to exercise and have fun at the same time. Since I am overweight its hard to get into exercising so I was hoping that this would be a motivation and help me lose weight while having fun. It can really get the blood pumping if your unfit like I am so I think it will be a great thing for me.

See one reason I like it over the Wii fit is because you don't have a balance board to stand on that doesn't really work for people who are over weight like me. This one uses your whole body and you just stand on your living room floor, no gadgets, just you. The games I have played so far are really fun and you really have to move yourself you can't fake it. I tried to fake jump because I am not good at jumping and it wouldn't work you actually have to jump off the ground to get your little character to jump (so see great exercise).

If you have a child who loves video games and might be a little over weight I would recommend getting one of these to see if it gets him/her more active. Its a lot of fun for the whole family and a great way to enjoy family game nights. I am glad I got mine and can't wait for more fun games to come out!

2011 YA books of the 80's & 90's Challenge

The Book Vixen has a great idea about reading YA books from the 80's and 90's. I grew up during that time but I can only remember reading Christopher Pike..LOL So I thought it would be a great challenge for me.  If you would like to sign up for this challenge just go check out The Book Vixen.

Here is my List:

1) Welcome to Dead House (Goosebump #1) by R. L. Stine
2) Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Will post more as I decide what to read.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

Okay, here I go again I am going to try a few challenges. This year I didn't really have a good concept of how to keep track of what I was doing and I just really didn't do them, so this year I have a strategy so hopefully this time I will actually finish one. :0)

The 2011 Debut Author Challenge is hosted by The Story Siren and its has to do with Middle Grade and Young Adult books. You have to read at least twelve books, so that's easy right? LOL  Well if you read one a month there you go challenge done...I CAN DO IT!!!!! =)

Here is the start of my list because these are the only ones I really know that I want to read I will have to post the others as I figure them out. :-)

1)Warped by Maurissa Guibord
2)Vesper: A Deviants Novel by Jeff Sampron
3)The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
4)Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
5)Kat the Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
6)The Rotten Adv. of Zachory Ruthless by Allan Woodrow
7)Across The Universe by Beth Revis  (review)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)

So if you want to do this challenge then go now and check out The Story Siren sign up page.

My Review of Mid Back Office Chair with 3 Motor Massage in Black

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

Features:

• 3 vibration massage motors relax the mid and lower back
• Soft simulated leather like upholstery with attractive contrasting double stitch design
• Easy to use hand held controller with intensity adjustment for vibration massage
• Equipped with A...

Mid Back Office Chair with 3 Motor Massage in Black

Great office chair

By ladystorm from Missouri on 11/19/2010

 

4out of 5

Pros: Easy To Assemble, Attractive Design, Rolls Smoothly, Good Lumbar Support, Ergonomic, Love the massage feature, Sturdy, Comfortable

Cons: The cord gets in the way

Best Uses: Computer Chair

Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper

Primary use: Personal

I was in such a need for a new computer chair so when I got the chance to review a product from CSN I jumped at the chance and I found this great chair to review. Not only is it large enough that you can fit into it comfortablely, but its very comfortable to sit in as well. It has a thicker cushion than the chair I originally had.

One of the great things about it is the massage feature. It has a lower back and upper back setting as well as high, med, and low. After a long day at work its great to come and sit and my computer do a bit of blogging or surfing the web and get a massage at the same time.

The only downfall to this chair for me is the fact that you have to plug it in and the cord gets in my way a lot and I have gotten it wrapped around my chair a lot of times. I am one of those that twirls either to the left or right depending on which way I want to get out of my chair and with this chair I would have to try and remember not to twirl into the cord. :(

(legalese)

Review of Silent Order

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Silent OrderSummerside Press (November 1, 2010)byMelanie Dobson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good.

Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.

Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters —Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Rural America - 1928. After the murder of his partner, Detective Rollin Wells hides away in an Amish home near Sugarcreek, Ohio, to find out who in the police force is
collaborating with Cleveland’s notorious mob. While Rollin searches for answers to his partner’s death, he befriends an elusive young Amish woman named Katie and her young son. As Rollin learns about Katie’s past, he’s shocked at the secret Katie is hiding - a secret that has haunted Rollin for eight years.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Silent Order, go HERE.




Short review:

Normally I am not a huge fan of Amish books to me they are just to fluffy but this one was a little different. I haven't got to finish it yet because I am trying really had to play catch up with all the novels I have to review since I had emergency surgery, that was so not planned, happen and I have gotten a little behind. I have read enough of it to know that I will like it once I finish it.

To me it reminds me a lot of the movie Witness with Harrison Ford but a little different and I think that is one of the reasons I chose to review this book. If you like Amish books I would suggest that you give this one a try also. :0)

Review of The Forever Queen

The Forever Queen by Helen Holick
Pages: 656
Publisher: Sourcebook

Aged only thirteen, Emma, daughter of the Duke of Normandy, is married in a strategic alliance to King Aethelred of England. Inept and arrogant, Aethelred is loathed by his young wife, whom he punishes for his many failings as a ruler. Their first son, Edward, is born through an act of violence that is little more than rape. England is invaded by the Viking King Swein Forkbeard and his son Cnut. After a bitter struggle, Aethelred loses his kingdom and his wife. Emma, now dowager queen, holds London against the invader Cnut. When he demands she surrender or suffer the consequences, Emma stakes everything on a dangerous gamble, but troubles and tragedy still await the indomitable queen as she struggles for power and for survival...

From time to time I like to read a little bit about history and I don't really know a lot about England during the 1002- I had never heard of Aethelred or Emma. So it was interesting to learn about them but why does historical books have to be so long, they just don't hold my attention because I feel like I am never going to finish.


I know times were different back then but to think of a girl of thirteen having to marry a man in his thirties was just appauling. It just made me sick, especially the way he treated her. Since she was so young when she became Queen it was interesting to watch her grow and learn and become a very good Queen.  To have to endure a horrible husband and marriage and still come out on top and be Queen to two kings, have two sons that become kings and be the great aunt to William the Conquer is a great feat.


Though at time you might wonder if her intentions were for her people or just for her I have to admire this great historical figure and recommend that anyone who loves history especially English history to get a copy of this book.

The one thing I didn't like about the whole book was the length, which is probably why I don't read many historical based books. I tend to get bored and skip around. Over all its was a good story though.

Chronicle Books Haul-iday contest!

Chronicle Books is celebrating the Holidays with a $500 giveaway. All you have to do is make a list of the books you would love to have from Chronicle books up to $500 and if you win you get your list. All they are asking for is that you post a blog listing the books you would like to have so below is my list of books I would like to have if I win the Haul-iday contest.

• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The Interactive Mystery By Sam Stall
• Dracula's Heir: An Interactive MysteryBy Sam Stall
• Batman: Murder at Wayne Manor: An Interactive Mystery by Duane Swierczynski, David Lapham
• Murder Alfresco: A Sunny McCoskey Napa Valley Mystery by Nadia Gordon
• deadgame: A John Marquez Crime Novel Kirk Russell
• In a Family Way: A Bill Damen Mystery James Calder
• Night Game: A John Marquez Crime Novel by Kirk Russell
• Secret Lives of Great Filmmakers: What Your Teachers Never Told You About the World's Greatest Directors By Robert Schnakenberg
• Audrey Hepburn: International Cover Girl by Scott Brizel 
• 
  Katharine Hepburn: A Life in Pictures by Pierre-Henri Verlhac, Charles Higham
•  TCM Classic Movie Crossword Puzzles By Turner Classic Movies, Robert Osborne
• The Indiana Jones Handbook: The Complete Adventurer's Guide By Denise Kiernan, Joseph D'Agnese
• How to Survive a Horror Movie: All the Skills to Dodge the Kills By Seth Grahame-Smith
• Scary Stories By Barry Moser, Peter Glassman
•  Suburban Legends: True Tales of Murder, Mayhem, and Minivans By Sam Stall
•  Christopher Walken A to Z: The Man • The Movies • The Legend By Robert Schnakenberg

Okay so there is my list, its not $500 dollars worth but its the books I would like to have if I won. I think its a great haul and a lot of books I have never heard of so they would be interesting to read. You can also tell I am a huge movie buff with some of my picks..LOL

Oh yeah and if you don't have a blog to put up a post then comment on my post with your wishes and you can still be entered!! How cool is that!

So go on make your list and enter the Chronicle Books Haul-iday giveaway contest!!

BTT: Veteran's Day

It is November 11th, known here in the U.S. as Veteran’s Day, formerly Armistice Day to remember the end of WWI but expanded to honor all veterans who have fought for their country, so …



Do you read war stories? Fictional ones? Histories?


First off I would like to say thank you to all the men and women who put their lives on the line to make sure we are safe.
 I have never really been a fan of war stories. Historically I have read a little about some older wars like the Revolutionary war, etc. War was the one thing I hated in most of my history classes that I took because it just didn't interest me. So as far as fiction is concerned I just don't do war stories. I love Tom Clancy if I watch a movie he has done but I don't read his stories. (I know its weird) Just like I can play war video games like Tom Clancy's Rainbow 6, but I just don't like to read about it. I think it just gets mundane with me when I have to read it. I don't even watch that many military movies though I have watched them.

What about you?

Waiting on Wednesday!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. Its were we feature a book that we can't wait to come out.

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 1/25/2011

Emily Webb is a geek—and happy that way. She’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for parties. And she definitely doesn’t start fights or flirt with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that … the same night a classmate—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing this. Every night, she gets wilder until it’s not just her personality that changes; she’s also becoming strong, fast, and utterly fearless. Has she been bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely—something not human?

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 12/1/2010

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

What are you waiting for?

Check it Out: How would you like to be a character in a book?

Bestselling author looking for real people to be characters in new novel!

Steve Alten is the author of 10 novels, four NY Times bestsellers, three international bestsellers, and three optioned as movies. His latest novel, GRIM REAPER: End of Days was just released on 10-10-10.  He has also written the books Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror (about a huge shark!)

Steve has just announced a contest where the top 50 winners will become characters in his next novel.

RULES:

The winners have sixty days from November 1st to spread around ONE OR ALL THREE versions of the GRIM REAPER video book trailer to as many places as possible (YouTube, websites, facebook, etc) with the top COMBINED traffic results declared as winners. The 3 versions are 1) Queen’s Death on Two Legs, 2) The Marmalade’s Reflections of My Life and 3) Rolling Stone’s Gimme Shelter. You can choose any one or all three, the most cumulative traffic for the top 50 contestants will be winners.

The KEY is to send the link of your postings to everyone on your mailing list AND ASK THEM TO DO THE SAME. If ten people view, that’s ten hits. But if ten people view and each tells ten more, that’s 110 hits. The trailers are amazing to watch, so people will naturally pass it on, but tell them you need their help. Besides the character winners, he'll be sending signed posters to everyone who gets a combined 10,000 views, and collector GRIM tee-shirts to those who put in the extra effort!

To enter contest go to: http://www.variancepublishing.com/grim-reaper-end-of-days-contest.html

This is Queen's version: http://drop.io/hpe6ux7/asset/trailer-1-mp4?ref=yahoo
This is the Marmalades' version: http://drop.io/8ojrgum/asset/grim-reaper-trailer-mp4?ref=yahoo
The Rolling Stones version http://drop.io/jmerm1y/asset/rollingstone-version-1-mp4?ref=yahoo

Immortality is just a few clicks away.

Review of Honky Tonk Christmas

Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown
Pages: 384
Publisher: Sourcebook

The choices outgoing and talkative Sharlene makes have always shocked her traditionally minded family, so when she assumes ownership of the Honky Tonk saloon, and sells her debut paranormal-romance effort, she avoids her family rather than share her news. But her close association with handsome carpenter Holt Jackson, whom she hires to build an addition onto the Honky Tonk, and his six-year-old niece Judd and her twin and his nephew Waylon, soon has her second-guessing her decision never to marry and raise a family. Especially because her undercover sniper assignments in Iraq have resulted in debilitating nightmares whenever she closes her eyes, except when she’s in Holt’s secure embrace.

This is my first book by Carolyn Brown and it was a delightful read. Even though its the last book in her Honky Tonk series I don't feel like I missed anything by not reading the others in the series. The author puts just enough in her last book of the series so that you get a idea of what went on before this one.

I really liked the characters in this book. Sharlene is spunky, she has been to Iraq and still has the nightmares to go with it but for some reason being in the arms of a certain cowboy, Holt, she doesn't seem to have the nightmares. There is a certain charm that goes with the Honky Tonk as it seems that a lot of people especially the owners seem to find love and move on. Sharlene is not looking for love or to leave the Honky Tonk.

Holt is a man with great character and charm. He has taken on a great responsibility of raising his niece and nephew that are twins. He just recently got out of a relationship and he is in no rush to find another. He just wants to find some decent work and raise his niece and nephew, but even he knows there is something about the spunky owner of the Honky Tonk that he just can't get out of his mind. I loved the kids Judd and Waylon, they really gave the book a breathe of fresh air with their antics.

The one thing I didn't really care for much was all the characters that you try to keep up with that came through the Honky Tonk. They really had nothing to do with the main story and were pretty much just filler, though I know some books need fillers to up their word count. I find this happens a lot with romances, but over all I still think it was a cute story and worth reading.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read romances.

This book was giving to me by sourcebook for review.