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Showing posts from February, 2011

#38: Rock Bottom - Erin Brockovich & C.J Lyons

Synopsis & Book Info: From New York Times bestselling author and internationally renowned environmental and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich, comes Rock Bottom, a debut thriller and first in a series of novels that introduces one of the most fascinating and memorable characters in suspense fiction. Ten years ago, Angela Joy Palladino left home as a pregnant seventeen-year-old in trouble. Far from home, AJ succeeded in establishing her career as an environmental activist, dubbed "The People's Champion," only to suffer failure once again in the wake of a crushing media disaster. So when AJ is offered a job with a lawyer who has taken on large mining corporations hoping to stop their mountaintop removal of her hometown, she is torn. As a single mother of a special needs nine-year-old boy, AJ needs any work she can get. But doing so will mean returning to the West Virginia hometown she left in disgrace so long ago. AJ finally accepts, hoping to find a sense of purpo

Teaser Tuesday

HOST * Grab your current read. * Let the book fall open to a random page. * Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. * You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from…that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given. * Please avoid spoilers! My Teaser: Mary Theresa flashed Rosa a glare as if she had been betrayed. Rosa responded with an innocent "I didn't say anything!" shrug of the shoulders and returned to her sewing machine. ~ Page 168, Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing - Kathy Camo-Murillo

February Monthly News

Welcome to the Groundhog / Valentines edition of Monthly News! Around here, according to that blasted groundhog, we WILL NOT look forward to more snow. YAY! Valentines, my true love gave to me: 12 Long Stem Roses My love to you was expressed in a giveaway for a $35 CSN code. Yeah I love you guys THAT much! BOOKS: 1. Rough Cut - Mari Carr (recommend) 2. Free For All Cooking - Jules E. Dowler Shepard 3. The History Book 4. The Illustrated Step By Step Cook (recommend) 5. A New Birth of Freedom - Robert G. Pielke 6. Sima's Undergarments for Women - Ilana Stanger-Ross 7. A Billion Reasons Why - Kristin Billerbeck (recommend) 8. Tattoo's & Tequila - Vince Neil 9. House of Dark Shadows - Robert Liparulo (HIGHLY recommend) 10. The Postcard Killers - James Patterson (recommend) 11. A Tiny Bit Marvellous - Dawn French 12. The Year I Turned Sixteen - Dianne Schwemm 13. The Rough Guide to the Future - Jon Turney 14. Coming Back Stronger - Drew Brees (re

#37: Rombies - Tom Taylor

Synopsis & Book Info: As an empire decays.... all roads lead away from Rome. Comic: 20 pages Publisher: Gestalt Publishing Pty Ltd. ASIN: B0044UK1PG Purchase at Amazon ©2009 My Opinion: My son really though this was a cool comic book, though he said he wished it was longer. He is 15. I, on the other hand, only appreciated the ending for the most part. I did enjoy the illustration and attention to details too. But the story was just meh, and I agree with my son, it was short. So it will flip some and not others. 2.5/5 Recommend? To teen boys, yes. ~I won my copy. I was not compensated for my opinion.~

#36: Ten Little Zombies: A Love Story - Andy Rash

Synopsis & Book Info: When being chased by ten little zombies (no matter how cute they are), your only option is to systematically destroy them one by one, or else become zombie number eleven. In this love story wrapped in a tale of zombie mayhem, a resourceful couple flees from and picks off their undead pursuers with fast-paced ingenuity and an entertaining range of zombie-thwarting tools. As the zombies shuffle and stumble their way toward a variety of gruesome ends, our heroes must come up with new ways to escape sticky situations and stay together. This darkly funny illustrated tale think Bunny Suicides meets Edward Gorey meets Hallmark celebrates the romantic side of a zombie plague, with plenty of BRAINS and a lot of heart. Hardcover: 48 pages Publisher: Chronicle Books ISBN: 9780811877237 Purchase at Amazon Author Bio: Andy Rash is an artist and writer living in Brooklyn, New York. ©2010 My Opinion: This was one of the cutest things I've ever read! I wa

#35: Coming Back Stronger - Drew Brees

Synopsis & Book Info: When a potentially career-ending shoulder injury left quarterback Drew Brees without a team—and facing the daunting task of having to learn to throw a football all over again—coaches around the NFL wondered, Will he ever come back? After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving more than 80 percent of the city underwater, many wondered, Will the city ever come back? And with their stadium transformed into a makeshift refugee camp, forcing the Saints to play their entire 2005 season on the road, people questioned, Will the Saints ever come back? It takes a special person to turn adversity into success and despair into hope—yet that is exactly what Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees has done—and with the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. Coming Back Stronger is the ultimate comeback story, not only of one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but also of a city and a team that many had all but given up on. Brees’s inspiring message of hope and encouragement

Oscar Party Games Pack

Product Description: Looking for an instant fix for your Oscar Night party entertainment? Our pack of 16 superb printable Oscar party games is perfect! You'll receive your games in minutes and can be playing right away. What You Get: Oscar Winners Prediction Game Best Actor Oscar Trivia match Best Actress Oscar Trivia match Best Director Oscar Trivia Match Oscar Acceptance Speeches Trivia Oscar Trivia 1 Oscar Trivia 2 Hall of Shame Celebrity Trivia Hot Actors Trivia Lord of the Rings Trivia Matching Disney Trivia Meet Your Match Celebrity Acting Game Famous Beach Movies Trivia James Bond Villains Trivia Champagne Trivia Scary Synopsis Horror Movie Trivia ©2011 My Opinion: What a great way to create a buzz around the awards show event! It was a lot of fun answering these trivia questions, and seeing just how many we could remember. All you need is a computer and printer, some food and friends, and you will have a fun night. 3/5 Recommend? Fo

The Friday 56

Welcome to Week 17 with me! Rules: *Grab a book, any book. *Turn to page 56. *Find any sentence that grabs you. *Post it. *Add your (url) post below in Linky. It's that simple. Rock Bottom - Erin Brockovich & C.J. Lyons PAGE 56: I snagged the crutch, tugged it from beneath the duffle bag, and handed it to Elizabeth before diving back in.

Check out my Poetry at VVB32Reads!

Head over to Velvet's blog and check out all her great events and happenings. There is always something fresh and fun happening there! Read my guest post , with original poetry written by yours truly.

Giveaway: Miss Scarlet's School of Patterless Sewing - Kathy Cano-Murillo

Synopsis: Sometimes to find your life's true path, you have to stray outside the lines . . . Scarlet Santana is never happier than when creating fabulous fashions for women of all shapes and sizes. Now, after years of hard work, she finally has the chance to live her dream and study under the hottest designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, teaching a type-A working mom whose rigid parenting style is causing her family to unravel and an enigmatic seamstress with a mysterious past. But as stitches give way to secrets and classmates become friends, the women realize an important truth: There is no single pattern for a good life. Happiness is always a custom fit. Thanks to Brianne and Hachette Book Group, I have 2 copies up for grabs! Only residents of the U.S. or Canada, No P.O. Boxes, please. One copy per household rule applies. Mandatory Entry: (Answer this question in the comm

#34: The Rough Guide to the Future - Jon Turney

Synopsis & Book Info: Find the future now with 50 predictions in The Rough Guide to the Future. Wondering what's really in store for the human race? Nanotechnology and gene enhancements, solar power and carbon capture? Or oil shocks, water wars, food shortages, and mass extinction? The Rough Guide to the Future cuts a clear path through the jungle of scientific research and political debate, steering you around the prophets of doom and the utopian visionaries, to take you on a tour of the likeliest possibilities for the rest of this century - and beyond. It covers 50 predictions from the world's leading futurologists and chronicles predictions from the past along with visions of the future. You'll find out where we go from here with The Rough Guide to the Future. Paperback: 376 pages Publisher: Rough Guides ISBN: 9781858287812 Purchase at Amazon ©2010 My Opinion: I'm positive some one, some where, will disagree, but I was so bored by this book. It wa

Digital Download Of The Day

AVON VOICES RELEASES FIRST OFFICIAL SONG, “UNTIL YOU LOVE YOU” PENNED BY AWARD-WINNING SONGWRITER DIANE WARREN NEW YORK – February 23, 2011 Avon Voices, the company’s first-ever global online singing talent search for women and songwriting competition for men and women today released “ Until You Love You ” written by Diane Warren. The song, exclusively available for download now through Avon Voices in the U.S. is performed by Valeriya, Russia’s biggest pop star with 17 number one hits and more than 100 million albums sold, and produced by David Pack. Warren, Valeriya and Pack are all members of a renowned judging panel comprised of music industry leaders from around the world including Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield, Lea Salonga, Ivete Sangalo, Diego Torres, Delta Goodrem, Sheila E. and Maia who will be selecting contenders from around the world to participate in Avon Voices and the opportunity to record a professionally produced album. “’Until You Love You’ is about loving a

Teaser Tuesday

* Grab your current read. * Let the book fall open to a random page. * Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. * You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from…that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given. * Please avoid spoilers! My Teaser: He looked offended. his hand combing through her thick coat. "She's more than a person, she's my partner. She'd take a bullet for me, and I'd take one for her. That the way it works." ~ Page 153, Rock Bottom - Erin Brockovich

#33: The Year I Turned Sixteen - Dianne Schwemm

Synopsis & Book Info: Rose dreams of becoming a singer, but when her obligations as the oldest sister start to hold her back, she faces an impossible decision. Sick of being the "good" sister, Daisy is drawn to a boy with a more dangerous edge and pulls away from the people who care about her most. Laurel must deal with the loss of someone close, but a new love in the wake of tragedy might be just what she needs. With her sisters all figuring out their futures, Lily feels lost, and for the first time she must figure out who she is all on her own. With more than cupcakes and candles on their minds, each of the Walker sisters is in for a sweet sixteen that will change everything. Paperback: 700 pages Publisher: Simon Pulse ISBN: 9781416985976 Purchase at Amazon Author Bio: Diane Schwemm is the author of The Year I Turned Sixteen, as well as the Silver Beach series. ©2010 My Opinion: This is a chunkster, at 700 pages. Yet it wasn't overwhelming at a

The Friday 56

Welcome to Week 16 with me! Rules: *Grab a book, any book. *Turn to page 56. *Find any sentence that grabs you. *Post it. *Add your (url) post below in Linky. It's that simple. The Year I Turned Sixteen - Dianne Schwemm PAGE 56: Daisy stood in the doorway for a few seconds, biting her lip, her eyebrows furrowed. When I didn't look at her, she finally turned away and disappeared down the hall.

CrazyDog Tshirt Review & Giveaway

They have a variety of Funny T Shirts for everyone! Check out their selection of St Patricks Day T Shirts ! Mens Tshirt Ladies Tshirt Boys Tshirt Girls Tshirt CrazyDog Tshirts Sister Site: NachoMama Tees ©2011 My Opinion: Now this is a tshirt store that even Pauly D from Jersey Shores would go nuts for! Come to think of it, I'm going to twitter him and let him know of it. " IT"S TSHIRT TIME!! " Yup, this place is that cool! When I first went on the website, to pick a shirt for review, I had no idea how hard the search would be. There were just so many to choose from. In the end I chose the Canadian eh team t-shirt , which you can find in the Canadian Funny TShirt section of the website! Plus I rock red dontcha think?! Anyways, this cool site is one I definitely think everyone should check out. It's got great pricing, and shows up fairly fast to your door. Look, why keep reading this when you can click and go get one of your own. I'

#32: A Tiny Bit Marvellous - Dawn French

Synopsis & Book Info: Everyone hates the perfect family. So you’ll love the Battles. Mo is about to hit the big 50, and some uncomfortable truths are becoming quite apparent: She doesn’t understand either of her teenage kids, which as a child psychologist, is fairly embarrassing. She has become entirely grey. Inside, and out. Her face has surrendered and is frightening children. Dora is about to hit the big 18 . . . and about to hit anyone who annoys her, especially her precocious younger brother Peter who has a chronic Oscar Wilde fixation. Then there’s Dad . . . who’s just, well, dad. A TINY BIT MARVELLOUS is the story of a modern family all living in their own separate bubbles lurching towards meltdown. It is for anyone who has ever shared a home with that weird group of strangers we call relations. Oh and there’s a dog. Called Poo. Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Michael Joseph ISBN: 9780718157869 Purchase at Amazon Author Bio: Dawn French has been making people laug

#31: The Postcard Killers - James Patterson & Liza Marklund

Synopsis & Book Info: NYPD detective Jack Kanon is on a tour of Europe's most gorgeous cities. But the sights aren't what draw him--he sees each museum, each cathedral, and each restaurant through a killer's eyes. Kanon's daughter, Kimmy, and her boyfriend were murdered while on vacation in Rome. Since then, young couples in Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, and Stockholm have become victims of the same sadistic killers. Now Kanon teams up with the Swedish reporter, Dessie Larsson. Every killing is preceded by a postcard to the local newspaper--and Kanon and Larsson think they know where the next victims will be. CD: 6 Discs Publisher: Hachette Audio ISBN: 9781607883821 Purchase at Amazon ©2010 My Opinion: Ever read or listen to a book that you found yourself rooting for the bad guys? Well, that's what happened to me with this audiobook. I really enjoyed the killers, and found their characters to be fresh and exciting! Sylvia is one coo

Teaser Tuesday

* Grab your current read. * Let the book fall open to a random page. * Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. * You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from…that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given. * Please avoid spoilers! My Teaser: STOP IT MO! Come on. Think. What happened? How did it go? Go back over the whole thing. ~ Page 164, A Tiny Bit Marvellous - Dawn French

#30: House of Dark Shadows - Robert Liparulo (Dreamhouse Kings Series)

Synopsis & Book Info: Dream house . . . or bad dream? When the Kings move from L.A. to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander is beyond disappointed. He and his friends loved to create amateur films . . . but the tiny town of Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land. But he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into--as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house. They soon discover there's something odd about the house. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school. Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading off to far-off places--in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen's dream come true . . . or his worst nightmare. Print Length: 304 pages ASIN: B001

I LOVE MY FOLLOWERS (GIVEAWAY)

Image credit Even though my family is still in financial troubles, I wanted to show appreciation to you, my followers, and give back somehow. The only thing I could come up with is a $35 CSN Gift Code. I won it, and will turn it over to one of you! I love you THAT much! The only rule is you MUST be a GFC follower to get in on the action. Leave a comment with your email, and you have to be a follower. It's easy. Of course you can get an extra entry if you tweet or share it on Facebook. Just leave a separate comment with the URL link to your tweet. Good luck everybody! OPEN TO US & CANADA (Some shipping may apply) Winner announced March 1st. Happy Valentines Day!

#29: Tattoo's & Tequila - Vince Neil

Synopsis & Book Info: Like so many rock stars who survive into their 40s, Mötley Crüe front man Neil has produced an autobiography. Raised in Compton, Calif., just as gangs were starting to take over, Neil turned multiracial good looks and a bad attitude into a career singing for the leading hair band of the 1980s. Mötley Crüe embraced the values of rock star excess and garnered fame as much for their drunken exploits as for their music. In one grim episode, an inebriated Neil crashed his Ford Pantera into a Volkswagen, killing his passenger and critically injuring two others. Later, Neil was ejected from the band but eventually returned. Today, he lives in Vegas, making music and running several businesses, including a chain of tattoo parlors. Neil makes no pretense of being thoughtful or reflective, but with Sager's help he's done a more than adequate job of representing himself. Much is said about all the women he's had, all the drugs he's done,

A Business Plan Is Not The End Of The World with Jennifer Lynne Matthews

Author of Fashion Unraveled Business plans can be intimidating for anyone, which probably explains why there are thousands of books on how to write one. But do YOU really need one? Answer this question: Do you sell things you make, resell merchandise you buy or sell your services for a profit? 1. Yes, I make a living doing it. 2. Yes, I’m making some money but I’d like to make a living doing it. 3. Yes, but it’s just a hobby that brings in a little extra cash. 4. No. If you answered d, please proceed to the next article, I don’t know why you would even be reading about business plans. If you answered a, b or c, well then, we need to talk business plans. I think the scariest words to an entrepreneur is “business plan,” so let’s make this subject a little less frightening. Here are 5 reasons we use a business plan. 1. Entrepreneurs are creative individuals, and as you may know, creative individuals are highly susceptible to short attention spans and the curse of

The Friday 56

Welcome to Week 15 with me! Rules: *Grab a book, any book. *Turn to page 56. *Find any sentence that grabs you. *Post it. *Add your (url) post below in Linky. It's that simple. Tattoo's & Tequila - Vince Neil Page 56: Growing up, I had never thought for one minute I'd end up in music--I had no idea what I wanted to be.