Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Things We LOVE Review - Larabar - Uber Bar Cherry Cobbler


Product:  Larabar - uber bar Cherry Cobbler - 

Maker:  Larabar

Review:  Love Love Love these big time - I am gluten and dairy free so snacks are hard to find - there bars are fabulous - it tastes like a candy bar and I don't even miss the chocolate in this delicious snack bar.  YUMMY!!!!!  I just wish our Walmart would start carrying them again - there carry other flavors which are good - but of all the ones I have tried I love these the absolute best - I would reach for one of these above a candy bar any day.  

One drawback is the  cost they are at least $1.25 each but well worth the price with the flavor - sweet - crunch - chewy - goodness in your mouth - I really do love these and I am a chocoholic but these satisfy that craving as well - YUMMY go and give them a try you will be happy you did.

Safety Warning
Contains almond, pecan and cashew ingredients.

Ingredients
Almonds, Dried Cherries, Brown Rice Syrup, Pecans, Raisins, Cashews, Dates, Honey, Sea Salt. - Yep folks that is all that is in these delicious wonderful yummy snack bars - my kids love them too!!!!!

Monday, April 28, 2014

Book Review - Killer Cupcakes - Leighann Dobbs

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Title: Killer Cupcakes

Author: Leighann Dobbs
 

Review:   Lexy Barker has finally opened her dream bakery, gotten rid of her cheating boyfriend, has a hot cop, Jack Portillo  who lives next door and settled down in  her grandmothers house. Life seemed perfect until her ex boyfriend is found murdered by Lexy's cupcakes.

Lexy's grandmother and her iPad friends try to solve the case so Lexy can reopen her bakery.
 
 
This book is as cute, predictable sweet as the cupcake recipes at the back of the book. The romance is obvious from the first chapter which kind of took away from the build up as I like to call it 'Will They? Won't They?' moment.
 
The second the murder enters the picture it’s so obvious that I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading.

If a book has fun and interesting characters with lots of humor it can make up for the weak and predictable plot but this novel had none. Lexy was too sweet, Jack was too flat and grandma and her "detective club" were lacking something.

I love Nancy Drew when I was a kid and sometimes pull them out for fun but as an adult I want mysteries to be exciting, intriguing not predictable and flat.

I found several grammar and spelling errors though the book and that is the reason I gave it two stars instead of three.

Thank you Heidi for this review.

Pages:  Kindle Edition, 146 pages
Published:   November 2012
ISBN:  ASINB00A0NOF7G
Quick Rating:  2 out of 5 stars
Why I read this title:  Free on Kindle

Synopsis:  Things are going great for Lexy Baker. She's finally opened her dream bakery, gotten rid of her cheating boyfriend and settled into her grandmothers house with her perky dog Sprinkles at her side.

But her blissful life doesn't last long. When her ex boyfriend is found poisoned with cupcakes from her bakery, Lexy finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation headed up by her hunky neighbor detective Jack Perillo.

With the help of a gang of iPad toting, would-be detective grandmothers, Lexy decides to take it upon herself to find the real murderer in order to clear her name and get her bakery back in business.

As things heat up on the murder trail, in the kitchen and between Lexy and the hunky detective, it's a race against time to put the real murderer behind bars and get back to baking.

Will Lexy get her man?
 Leighann Dobbs
Author Information:  Leighann Dobbs is the pen name of a not so famous author who lives in New Hampshire with her husband, her trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and her beautiful rescue cat, Kitty. She likes to write romance and cozy mystery short stories and novelettes perfect for the busy person on the go. These stories are great for someone who doesn't have a lot of time for reading a full novel. Why not pick one up and escape to another place the next time you are waiting for an appointment, enjoying a bath or waiting to pick up the kids at soccer?

She also writes books about healthy eating under the name Lee Anne Dobbins.

Other Reviews:  Goodreads
Amazon Reviews 

Friday, April 25, 2014

Book Review - Emma of Aurora - The Complete Change and Cherish Trilogy - Jane Kirkpatrick

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Title:  Emma of Aurora (Change and Cherish series 1-3)

AuthorJaneKirkpatrick

Review:  This book is good. It is based on a true story about Emma Wagner Giesy. I enjoyed reading it. Because it is a series put into one very large book, I’ll break up the review into the three separate books.

The first book, A Clearing in the Wild, was a little difficult for me to get into. It is about a girl named Emma who lives in a mostly German communal colony in the 1850’s in Missouri. I found it a bit tedious at first because I didn’t fully understand why people would choose to live in this type of setting. Once I got into it, however, I enjoyed participating in Emma’s journey west with the menfolk. She is one of the first to blaze a trail to the west for her colony. There are a few twists and turns and she is “such a girl” to me; in that she has mood swings, she has thoughts that she speaks when she probably shouldn’t, she does things for selfish reasons and she manipulates people. I enjoyed getting to know her unconventional character.

The second book: A Tendering in the Storm, was my favorite of the three books. Just when you think Emma finally has her feet under her, she gets knocked down. Like any good story, this one has a real climax. She really struggles in Washington and tries her hardest to do what she deems best for her and her family only to realize that it is futile. We watch her look within herself as she finds that she needs others in her life. I enjoyed her turn from selfish girl to accepting woman.

The third book, A Mending at the Edge, was my least favorite of the three books. Emma takes charge of her life and she moves on to seek the help and comfort of colony ways. I feel like I waited throughout the third book for something to happen and it never really did. She tries to find her place within the colony but still struggles as she stands out. She did change the course of how women were treated and she pushes the importance of women’s place within the religious community, but it was so gradual that you could almost miss it. I wanted her to do something daring, something amazing, but she never did. I wanted an0ther climactic moment like the second book had had.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Seeing as it is based on a true story, I can see that their maybe wasn’t much to add that wouldn’t be fictional.  She turned into a person who did what was right without looking for recognition or fame; unlike the girl from the first book and I liked her transformation.

All in all, it was a good story. If you view it as a whole and not three separate pieces it is rather amazing what this one woman did. It was interesting and it was fun to read. Looking at the series as a whole, I rather liked it. It is a good story about fighting for what you want and understanding your place in the world. Other than carrying around a giant book (which I didn’t love), It was fun to read. I have and would recommend this to others to read.

Thank you Heather for this review.


Published:  Published November 5th 2013 by WaterBrook Press
ISBN:  9780307732156
Page Count: 1168
Quick Review:  4 out 5 stars as a whole - 
Why I Read this Title:  Sent by the publisher for review.

Synopsis:   The Change and Cherish trilogy, based on the true story of Emma Wagner Giesy, now available in one volume:

A Clearing in the Wild
When Emma’s outspoken ways and growing skepticism lead to a clash with the 1850s Bethel, Missouri colony’s beloved leader, she finds new opportunities to pursue her dreams of independence. But as she clears a pathway West to her truest and deepest self, she discovers something she never expected: a yearning for the warm embrace of community.

A Tendering in the Storm
Determined to raise her children on her own terms, Emma suddenly finds herself alone and pregnant with her third child, struggling to keep her family secure in the remote coastal forest of the Washington Territory. As clouds of despair close in, she must decide whether to continue in her own waning strength or to humble herself and accept help from the very people she once so eagerly left behind.

A Mending at the Edge
As a mother, daughter, sister, and estranged wife, Emma struggles to find her place inside—and outside—the confines of her religious community. Emma reaches out to others on the fringe, searching for healing and purpose. By blending her unique talents with service to others, she creates renewed hope as she weaves together the threads of family, friends, and faith.
 Describe the photo or the page it links to
Author Information: A writer weaving the stories of our lives - beautiful, relevant, and written for you.


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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Book Review - Seeds of Vengeance - Sylvia Nobel

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Title:  Seeds of Vengeance

Author:  Sylvia Nobel

Review:  This is a Kendall O'Dell mystery, by Sylvia Nobel.  Kendall is an investigative reporter who has relocated to Arizona for health reasons following her broken engagement. She is now engaged to a local rancher whose uncle, a judge, is found missing during a hunting trip.  His body is found, in a pool on his own property, having been shot, decapitated, and miles from where he went missing. The story builds nicely and has several suspects which could be responsible for the foul deed. If you follow the story line carefully you might be able to correctly identify the murder.

I would read other books by this author and give this one a solid 4 stars.

Thanks Frank for this review.


Published:  Published September 1st 2006 by Nite Owl Books (first published January 1st 2006)
ISBN:  9780966110562
Page Count: 385
Quick Review:  4 out 5 stars –
Why I Read this Title:  Picked up at KindleBuffet.com

Synopsis: Reporter Kendall O'Dell is dragged into a frightening world of secrets and intrigue after the remains of a prominent judge are discovered at a secluded Arizona ranch. As she narrows down the possible suspects, Kendall finds her life—and her engagement to be married—in jeopardy. Torn between withdrawing from the case for her own safety and following a shocking secret in the hopes of solving the murder, Kendall becomes enmeshed in a case that grows more frightening every day.
 Sylvia Nobel
Author Information:  Author Sylvia Nobel, has been a resident of Arizona since 1961. In that time she has learned to understand and enjoy Arizona's unique beauty and the people who have made the State synonymous with the "Old West". Through the books available from Nite Owl, readers can participate in an adventure that provides the true ambiance of the modern west. The attention to detail and the eloquence of the masterfully written stories, will give the reader a vivid picture as well as present great insight into these well researched contemporary tales based on actual news articles.

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Monday, April 21, 2014

Book Review - Worse Than Being Alone - Patricia M Clark

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Title:  Worse Than Being Alone

Author:  Patricia Clark

Review:  This story is about two individuals who became friends in high school, attended college and became nurses.  After a number of years they became case managers for an insurance company.  After one leaves the St Louis area and returns they open their own case management business and sideline into workers comp cases. The main story revolves around one partner’s father who marries again for the second time. They feel that the new wife is only after the father’s assets. As the story unfolds it turns out that this individual has had multiple husbands and most have died under suspect circumstances. There are also some subplots going on at the same time. The techniques they use are real and are blended into the story very well. I could say how it all ends but that would give it away. It is excellent story that is presented very well.

Thanks Frank for this review.


Published:  Published July 9th 2012
ISBN:  B008J6RN0C
Page Count: 271
Quick Review:  5 out 5 stars –
Why I Read this Title:  Picked up at KindleBuffet.com

Synopsis:    Worse Than Being Alone is a riveting tale involving multiple cons, a vicious murder, romance, betrayal, and escape as it vividly explores just how far all of us are prepared to go to avoid being alone.

Kitty and Roni are building their fledgling investigative agency by following workers' comp cheats. Every PI's dream of catching real criminals seems to be coming true when they begin to suspect one of their targets is engaged in more nefarious activities than just a bogus comp claim. Their cat and mouse game gets twisted when they realize they are the ones being stalked.

A personal and potentially lethal inquiry emerges after Roni's father marries a woman with a checkered past, and they fear he has found his Worse Than Being Alone. When their investigation points to a shady past involving a trail of life insurance payouts and dead husbands, they wonder if Dad has married a Black Widow or an extremely unlucky woman.

As that case boils over, along comes the most talented con artist of them all. After his angry employer hires them to check him out, Kitty and Roni slowly come to realize he has the makings of a master criminal. They uncover numerous identities along with multiple workers' comp claims. Then here are his almost daily trips to the same bank wearing different disguises.

Surprises abound as Kitty and Roni break up a sex slave ring, thwart a bank robbery, nab a shoplifter, and document a Black Widow's treachery. A sudden death leaves them stunned as they second-guess their activities, forcing them to confront a murderer.
Image of Patricia Clark
Author Information:  Growing up in a family of ten children, Patricia Clark acquired a sense of humor and source of fodder for her stories. Her Aunts and Uncles also had large families so her extended family included a host of interesting characters and situations. Obsessed with all things medical, she became a Registered Nurse and worked in Emergency Room, Burn, and Intensive Care units. Later, she worked files as a Nurse Case Manager for Workers' Compensation Injuries. Creative writing classes stoked an interest in a second career. All of her books involve composites of patients, workers, colleagues, and situations based on her medical experiences.
  

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Blog Tour - Righting a Wrong - Rachael Anderson

Righting a wrong
Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year ended in a fiasco. Only Jace Sutton knew the real reason why—that she was a spineless coward. Now, seven years later, her father's been in an accident and needs help, and Cambr has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and boards a plane, hoping against hope that Jace is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs—in the past. If only life worked that way. Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she’d led him on, bruised his heart, and left town without a backward glance, he was forced to pick up the pieces and try not to hate her for it. Eventually, he put it behind him and moved on, creating a life for himself in his beloved hometown. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jake instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs. If only it were that easy.
RachaelAuthor Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
Updated Ripple Effect
The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors. "Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love." Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver Book 6: Immersed by Jennifer Griffith
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/28/14 a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Book Spotlight - Pump Up Your Book - Slyvie and the Spark - Gianna Day

Sylvie and the Spark banner
Title: Sylvie and the Spark
Author: Gianna Day
Publisher: AKA Press
Pages: 88
Language: English
Genre: Erotica
Format: Kindle ($2.99)
One night of phenomenal sex isn’t enough to convince Sylvie that she should stay with Dave, her long-time boyfriend who borders on dull when not in the bedroom. When a set of twins moves in across the hall, Sylvie’s horizons broaden, though this pair might not turn out to be exactly what they seem. With a backdrop of inappropriate coworkers, a humping-addicted mutt, and a set of sexy suitors, SYLVIE AND THE SPARK is sure to please, in more ways than one.
Gianna Day writes erotica and erotic comedies. She lives in the pacific northwest where she enjoys running, flying kites, exploring museums, and eating late-night desserts in all-night diners. She believes that with a healthysense of humor, everything will be just fine. She’s the author of the Hot Secrets Collection, which includes five erotic, lesbian short stories, and The Sylvie Series, a collection of hetero-novellas full of both comedy and naughty bits (sometimes at the same time). Sylvie & the Spark and Sylvie Says Yes are available now on Amazon. Sylvie on Strike is soon to follow. Visit her atwww.GiannaDay.blogspot.com.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Book Review - Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand

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Title:  Unbroken


Review:   I thought I was reading about a person’s experience as a Japanese prisoner of war, and it was that for the most part.  The retelling of Louis Zamperini’s experience as a Japanese prisoner of war was compelling and kept me reading.  This book was more detailed than I was prepared for however.  The first 175 pages were back story.  While interesting, it was lot of detail that seemed nonessential for the story.  While telling about Louis’s experiences many other prisoners are introduced often including a lot of details about their lives.  All of this was interesting, but made it difficult to maintain a good flow in the story.  The book continued with a lot of detail about Louis’s life after the war.  Again, it was interesting. Quite honestly I think it is important to tell the full story.  Nonetheless I was not prepared for the story to be so expansive. 

In short, the first and last sections of the story were slow to get through.  The middle held my attention fully. 

Thanks Amanda for this review.


Published:  Published November 16th 2010 by Random House
ISBN:  9781400064168
Page Count: 473
Quick Review:  3 out 5 stars –
Why I Read this Title:  A friend recommended this book to me.

Synopsis:    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography and the Indies Choice Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year award

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit. Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

Laura Hillenbrand 
Author Information:   Laura Hillenbrand (born 1967) is the author of the acclaimed Seabiscuit: An American Legend, a non-fiction account of the career of the great racehorse Seabiscuit, for which she won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2001. The book later became the basis of the 2003 movie Seabiscuit. Her essays have appeared in The New Yorker, Equus magazine, American Heritage, The Blood-Horse, Thoroughbred Times, The Backstretch, Turf and Sport Digest, and many other publications. Her 1998 American Heritage article on the horse Seabiscuit won the Eclipse Award for Magazine Writing.

Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Hillenbrand studied at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, but was forced to leave before graduation when she contracted chronic fatigue syndrome, which she has struggled with ever since. She now lives in Washington, D.C.

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Friday, April 11, 2014

Book Review - Every Reasonable Doubt - Pamela Samuels Young

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Title:  Every Reasonable Doubt


Review:   This is the first of four Vernetta Henderson legal thrillers.  A violent death takes place in the prologue and the story only builds from there.  As the tale is spun out sufficient information is provided for the reader to form their own opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the victim's wife who is on trial for his murder.  A second murder, counsel infighting, inexperience and marital problems trouble the defense team.  But can justice be achieved to the satisfaction of all involved. That is something that can only be decided, by the reader, after reading this well written story.  I would rate this at five stars and look forward to reading the other three books in the series.

Thanks Frank for this review.

Published:  Published January 1st 2013 by Goldman House Publishing (first published February 1st 2006)
ISBN9780989293532
Page Count: 426
Quick Review:  5 out 5 stars –
Why I Read this Title:  I like murder mysteries.

Synopsis:   Determined to become the first African-American partner at one of LA.'s most prestigious law firms, employment attorney Vernetta Henderson is thrilled when she's tapped to defend a prominent socialite accused of murder--"until she learns that Neddy McClain will try the case with her. The only other African-American attorney at the firm, Neddy is hot-tempered and distant, making a complex case even tougher to handle. But the women vow to put aside their differences to prove the client's innocence. Coping with the mounting pressures of defending a high-profile murder case proves challenging, and as the case starts to garner media attention, Vernetta has no choice but to spend more time in the office. Vernetta's new husband, Jefferson, unwittingly adds more stress to the mix. He is anxious to start a family, a venture she isn't quite ready to undertake. Tired of being placed on the backburner, Jefferson's patience begins to wear thin. As Vernetta's professional life dangerously intrudes upon her personal life, she soon comes to realize that providing a client with the best possible defense could come at a very high price. A victory on the case should be sweet, but how will it be without the man she loves by her side?

Pamela Samuels Young 
Author Information:   Pamela Samuels-Young is the author of the legal thrillers In Firm Pursuit, a Romantic Times magazine "Top Pick," and Every Reasonable Doubt, a USA Book News Best Books of 2006 finalist in the mystery, suspense, thriller category. Her short story, Setup , is featured in the Sisters in Crime anthology, LAndmarked for Murder. A former television news writer, Pamela works as an employment attorney for Toyota, is an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands' School of Business and writes a legal column for Global Woman magazine. She is a graduate of USC, Northwestern University and UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law.

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