Freda's Voice

Welcome to the Labor Day/Back-to-School Edition of Monthly News! Even the hubby went back to school!  He is still locked out of work at U.S Steel Canada. So wish him well. My step-dad passed away September 28. R.I.P. We love you. And special thanks to everyone for the messages of love and condolence. BOOKS:   1. Home Herbal (recommend) 2. Desperate Souls - Gregory Lamberson (recommend) 3. Remember Me - Christopher Pike (recommend) 4. Jack the Theorist - Jon Hartless (recommend) 5. Three Women - Emma Eden Ramos 6. India Black and the Widow of Windsor - Carol K. Carr (recommend) 7. Boyfriend from Hell - E. Van Lowe (recommend) 8. Wunderkind - Nikolai Grozni 9. Nine Dragons - Michael Connelly 10. Dust of 100 Dogs - A.S. King (HIGHLY recommend) 11. Don't Mess With Texas - Christie Craig (recommend) 12. Heartstrings and Diamond Rings - Jane Graves 13. Heiress - Susan May Warren (recommend) PRODUCTS: 1. Back to School Sampler Back and Progress Book (r

They can buy anything they want—fame, power, beauty, even loyalty. But they can’t buy love. The beautiful and wealthy heiress daughters of August Price can buy everything their hearts desire. But what if their desire is to be loved, without an enormous price tag attached? When one sister betrays another for the sake of love, will she find happiness? And what happens when the other sets out across the still untamed frontier to find it—will she discover she’s left it behind in the glamorous world of the New York gilded society? What price will each woman pay for being an heiress? Set in the opulent world of the Gilded Age, two women discover that being an heiress just might cost them everything they love. Read an Excerpt HERE Paperback: 380 pages Publisher: Ellie Claire ISBN: 9781609362188 Purchase at Amazon ©2011 Author Bio: Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award

Nikki Hunt thought her night couldn't get worse when her no-good, cheating ex ditched her at dinner, sticking her with the bill. Then she found his body stuffed in the trunk of her car and lost her two-hundred-dollar meal all over his three-thousand-dollar suit. Now not only is Nikki nearly broke, she's a murder suspect Paperback: 464 pages Publisher: Forever ISBN: 9780446582841 Purchase at Amazon by clicking the link in the photo. ©2011 My Opinion: This was a fun read! I was expecting it to be heavy on the romance, which it was pretty steamy, but it was heavy on the mystery. I loved that this story had me wondering at every page turn, who did it and why, not so much as to whether people would hook up. I am glad they hooked up though. These characters were made for each other. I mean both sets. A definite recommendation to mystery-romance lovers from me! 5/5 Recommend? DEFINITELY! HE'S THE MAN OF HER DREAMS . . . In a world full of frogs, Alison

SHOULD BE READING * 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! Out of the corner of his eye David saw a flash of movement as he struggled to come to terms with the fact that the scream hadn't come from the vampire. Despite his best efforts the stake had struck bone and he frantically tried to push through it as he half turned.

Hello readers! Today we have author John Podgursky joining us for a question session. Please give him a warm welcome and be sure to check out his book, The One Percenters . 1. Please tell readers about your current book. The One Percenters is a psychological thriller about a man (Edward) who believes that modern medicine and distorted economics have skewed survival odds within society. Survival of the fittest has become defunct, with the weak and weak-minded able to pass on their genes, provided they are suitably funded. Edward is predestined to become a one percenter, an agent of nature given the job of eliminating the weaker persons from society. He learns that his task requires the discipline to discern between the people he wishes would die and those who should. The One Percenters is reflective in nature, and challenges the social and religious differences among all of us. It's available in paperback at amazon, or as an e-book here: www.damnationbooks.com/book.php?isb

Please give a warm welcome to author Marie Harbon. She has been cool enough to stop by with a few words, and offered up a book at the end to one of you lucky readers! Thanks for that, Marie! 1. Please tell readers about your current book. It’s the first in a five part journey about life, the universe and everything! Drawing together the genres of science fiction, fantasy and the paranormal, we travel together from the 1940s, through the 50s and 60s to modern day, following the lives of five principal characters. Sprawling locations, different character perspectives, electromagnetic fields, measuring the soul, psychic powers and their explanation plus consciousness projection into other worlds all immersed in, as one blogger summed it up, a sci-fi soap opera… that may remind you at various times of Sliders, Avatar, Flatliners, X-Men and Star Trek… all wrapped up in a research saga’! There’s geeky science in there twinned with spirituality, seeking to ask the age old questions – Is

Welcome to Week 45 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. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple. Yes. He was a mess. And if only every man on earth did messy the way Brandon did, the world would be a far, far better place.

Spirit Seeker By Jamie Haden ISBN: 9781617060748 Price: $14.99 Genre: Fantasy Age: Young Adult Available at:  www.pillhillpress.com  & most other online retailers! Book Description: Life is strange and difficult for the granddaughter of a shaman. Sixteen-year-old Talisa Santiago was born in the desert underneath the full moon in January—the wolf moon. However, she left the desert with her mother when she was a young girl. She remembers bits and pieces of her past but it isn’t until she and her mom move to a remote barrier island off the coast of North Carolina that she feels fate has finally called—secretive and mysterious he stands alone on the edge of the bank. Her friends tell her to stay away; she hears rumors that he is dangerous. Still, she can’t resist Whether Talisa realizes it or not, she knows a thing or two about boys like Jag Chavez. Fate is funny that way. For the first time in her life, Talisa meets kids just like her—Native Americans who know the way of the

Designerliners are stylish biodegradable trash bags that can beautify any room in the home. The bags come in ten different color/pattern combinations; Pink Polka Dot, Orange Polka Dot, Navy Blue Polka Dot, Red Gingham, Gold Gingham, Black Leopard, Blue Leopard, Red Toile, Blue Toile, and Black Tattersol. Website My Opinion: Love these cool and stylish bags! They fit nicely in most office or bathroom garbage cans. And the styles to choose from are great! I was sent some red checkered bags. They reminded me of a picnic table cloth, but I liked that. Immediately I put it in my garbage can and though they are a little large, it was okay to fold them over and create a new look on my can. I appreciated that they held together well, and were easy to dispose of too. Definitely a new favorite for me, since I am constantly at the Dollar Store buying up all the little bags I can find. 5/5 Recommend? Most definitely! I received one or more of the products mentioned above for fr

SHOULD BE READING * 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! At noon on Monday, Alison brought her car to a halt in front of a dreamy little two-story prairie-style house on the outskirts of downtown Plano. It was painted a soft, mossy green with burgundy trim, and its front porch spanned the width of the house.

Visit VVB32 Reads for Talk Like A Pirate Day. OFFICIAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY WEBSITE In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with 'the dust of one hundred dogs', dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body - with her memories intact. Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica. Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Flux ISBN: 9780738714264 ©2009 My Opinion: If you could see me now, you would see me standing tall, clapping bravo to A.S. for such an incredible adventure. I really feel like I just got back from the most amazing time in my life. Saffron, Emer, whatever you wanna call her, she is brilliant! I would get on a ship and do her bidding too! She's incredibly strong and has a lasting impression on you right away. This ma

Please welcome author Joseph Rinaldo to the blog today. Why don't you check out his website , and come back and let me know what you found interesting. 1. Please tell readers about your current book. My one and only ebook available for sale at this point is A Spy At Home . When Dad becomes the lone caregiver for a dependent adult son, Dad has to answer the terrifying question: What happens if I die first? Toward the end of his career in the CIA, Garrison sees his work as a foreign field agent as a deadly and foolish game that wastes money for no good reason. The CIA trained Garrison to go into third-world countries and promote rebellion. Ideally, the rebels would take control and further American interests in the area. Having spent his entire professional life working for the CIA, Garrison no longer believes the agency helps America by overthrowing governments in impoverished countries. On his last assignment, this disenchanted spy diverts most of the money intended for the r

Black is back-Her Majesty's favorite spy is off to Scotland in this new adventure to ensure the Queen doesn't end up getting killed. When Queen Victoria attends a séance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral. Prime Minister Disraeli suspects the Scottish nationalists plan to assassinate the Queen-and sends the ever resourceful India and the handsome British spy, French, to the Scottish highlands. French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the guests-and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the household staff. India is certain that someone at Balmoral is determined to make this Her Majesty's last Christmas... READ MY REVIEW HERE This is book 2 in the series, and I do think you should read book 1, India Black, first. Read my review of that one HERE . Thanks to Carol , the author, and her awesome publisher, we have 2 copie

Welcome to Week 44 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. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple. To be seen on the arm of Foster Worth, her future brother-in-law, couldn't hurt her prospects for next season.

With school starting again, sports practices and work, September is a busy time for Mom! To help in the kitchen, Kraft and Paula Deen’s Real Women of Philadelphia online community have shared some of their favorite quick and easy recipes with Philadelphia Cream Cheese to cook a delicious meal in less than 30 minutes. Quick and easy recipes include: ·          Santa Fe Chicken Tacos  With Avocado Cream ·          Hidden Veggie Garlic and Bacon Pasta ·          Easy Chicken Flautas ·          Cheesy Beef and Potatoes More delicious and easy-to-prepare dishes like these are featured on Paula Deen and Kraft Foods’ online community – Real Women of Philadelphia and in their cookbook Real Women of Philadelphia: The Cookbook which can be purchased online at Lulu.com .

9 Dragons is the 14th novel in the Harry Bosch series and the 22nd book (21st novel) by American crime author Michael Connelly. It was released worldwide on October 13, 2009, although it had been released in the U.K. and Ireland on October 1. The novel is partly set in Hong Kong, where Bosch's daughter Maddie and ex-wife Eleanor Wish live. The main plot involves Maddie being kidnapped by a Chinese Triad (crime syndicate), which Bosch believes is due to his investigation of an L.A. murder, in which his primary suspect is a member of a triad that was shaking down the victim. As a result, Bosch heads to Hong Kong in an effort to rescue her. The name of the most populated region of Hong Kong, Kowloon, means "nine dragons" in English. Audio CD: 9 Discs Publisher: Hachette Audio ISBN: 9781600247439 Purchase at Amazon by clicking the link in the photo. ©2009 My Opinion: Did any of you watch Hill Street Blues or Cagney & Lacey in the 80's? This book was rem

Aww, Hell No! Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together. “But come on, guys, she’s my mother… Can I really tell her that while we’re snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I’m secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not…” The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She hasn’t had a man in her life since Megan’s father left ten years ago. Enter two mysterious young men, Megan’s new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships. But neither of the handsome guys is quite what he seems. In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn’t, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL. Tha

Life in Sofia, Bulgaria, in the late 1980s is bleak and controlled. The oppressive Communist regime bears down on all aspects of people’s lives much like the granite sky overhead. In the crumbling old building that hosts the Sofia Music School for the Gifted, inflexible and unsentimental apparatchiks drill the students like soldiers—as if the music they are teaching did not have the power to set these young souls on fire. Fifteen-year-old Konstantin is a brash, brilliant pianist of exceptional sensitivity, struggling toward adulthood in a society where honest expression often comes at a terrible cost. Confined to the Music School for most of each day and a good part of the night, Konstantin exults in his small rebellions—smoking, drinking, and mocking Party pomp and cant at every opportunity. Intelligent and arrogant, funny and despairing, compassionate and cruel, he is driven simultaneously by a desire to be the best and an almost irresistible urge to fail. His isolation, buttressed

Synopsis & Book Info: Aww, Hell No! Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together. “But come on, guys, she’s my mother… Can I really tell her that while we’re snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I’m secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not…” The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She hasn’t had a man in her life since Megan’s father left ten years ago. Enter two mysterious young men, Megan’s new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships. But neither of the handsome guys is quite what he seems. In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn’t, either Megan or Suze are quite liter

SHOULD BE READING * 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! Dallas O'Connor walked into the building that housed both his business and apartment. Stopping just inside the doorway, he waited. Five seconds. Ten.

HOST Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011 RULES: * To read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!) * You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go. * You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year. * At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews. There will be a monthly prize too courtesy of the lovely Simon & Schuster - you must be signed up to the challenge and add the link to your review to be entered into the monthly prize draw. One of my favorite genres, and when I saw this challenge I flipped back and forth, but what the hay! Let's do this! 1. THR3E - Ted Dekker 2. India Black - Carol K. Carr 3. House of Dark Shadows - Robert Lipar

Black is back-Her Majesty's favorite spy is off to Scotland in this new adventure to ensure the Queen doesn't end up getting killed. When Queen Victoria attends a séance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral. Prime Minister Disraeli suspects the Scottish nationalists plan to assassinate the Queen-and sends the ever resourceful India and the handsome British spy, French, to the Scottish highlands. French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the guests-and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the household staff. India is certain that someone at Balmoral is determined to make this Her Majesty's last Christmas... Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Berkley Trade ISBN: 9780425243190 Purchase at Amazon by clicking the link on the photo. ©2011 AUTHOR BIO: Carol K. Carr is a former attorney and corporate executive. She lives i

A truly unique and awe-inspiring collection, Emma Eden Ramos wows readers with her narrative-style writing in Three Women: A Poetic Triptych and Selected Poems. 37 Pages Download a free PDF ©2011 My Opinion: A unique way of telling the story of 3 women and how they connect in the end. Usually I prefer verse poetry, but this story was properly fitted with the prose Emma chose. I really enjoyed the 3 women, Annette, Julia and Milena, though I appreciate Milena's no-bullshit attitude most. Definitely a quick read, but a good one. 5/5 Recommend? Yes! ~I received a digital copy from the author. I was not compensated for my opinion.~

The "Back To School Sampler Pack" includes 15 Progress Cards focused on the best ways to help prepare children to start the school year off with the greatest chance for success! The 15 Progress Cards included in this Sampler Pack are: Attendance Tips, Bedtime Routine, Bus Safety, Discover Similarities With Others, Focus & Listen Better, Friendship Skills, Healthy Meals & Snacks, Homework Routine, Learning Attitudes, Morning Routine, Responding To Put-Downs, Sleep Better, Stick Up For Others, Study Skills, and Test Taking Tips. Progress Books are reproducible for other children to use. The Progress Book is designed to help children identify their current strengths and to help them decide which areas they wish to improve. Matching Progress Cards are available for all 70 areas to help children identify specific behaviors to practice in order to achieve their goal(s). You can visit the website and download 2-3 samples from the Friendship Skills & Study Skil

Only one man dares to confront the meaning behind the crimes. Only one man sees through the tangled skin to the truth. Only one man knows the answers. Or, at least, only one man thinks he knows the answers... Follow Professor Wolf, the world’s first Ripperologist, on his delusional journey into the world of the Ripper. Follow his long-suffering friend, Sir Arthur Smythe, who suspects that it will all end in tears. Gasp at the revelations. Tremble at the truth. Wonder at the sanity of a mind that leaps from conspiracy to conspiracy without ever touching reality. Kindle Edition: 152 KB Publisher: Vagabondage Press LLC ASIN: B005H82HG0 Purchase at Amazon by clicking the link on the photo. ©2011 My Opinion: Interesting, to say the least. I enjoyed the theories, and how they flowed within the story. Sherlock Holmes fans will like this a lot. 4/5 Recommend? Yes ~I received a digital copy from Vagabondage Press . I was not compensated for my opinion.~ Please give a

Avon Voices Songwriting Competition Winners Also Announced NEW YORK, September 8, 2011-- Avon Products, Inc. announced the names of the 10 Finalists from nine countries who will be advancing to the final round of Avon Voices   – the company's first-ever global online singing talent search. The 10 Finalists (in alphabetical order by last name) are Pauline Alencar from Brazil, Evelina Anusauskaite from Lithuania, Cissy Crutcher and Jaclyn Dustin from the Unites States, Selena Gittens from Canada, Joy Loria from the Philippines, Roslynn Mahe from the United Kingdom, Rapeeporn Pratum-Anon from Thailand, Claudia Santos Morandi from Venezuela and Natalia Terekhova from Russia. These 10 talented women started their Avon Voices journey in December 2010 by simply submitting a 30- second performance video. Since that time, the Finalists have advanced through three rounds of voting, with 2.4 million votes cast from around the world.  As part of this journey, they have travell