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The Guilty Innocent Book Blast & Giveaway!

The Guilty InnocentThe Guilty Innocent

The Guilty Innocent is the second novel of the Darkness Chronicles Series. In this installment, Darian, the gorgeous, charismatic and charming master vampire of Chicago is framed for a crime he didn't commit, but why? His lover, Xavier, Natasha and a few others must travel halfway across the world to find out who and why before time runs out and all hell breaks loose! Original, sexy and gritty, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget!  

Purchase The Guilty Innocent on Amazon.

About Author D.N. Simmons

D. N. Simmons lives in Chicago IL., with a rambunctious German Shepherd that's too big for his own good and mischievous kitten that she affectionately calls "Itty-bitty". Her hobbies include rollerblading, billiards, bowling, reading, watching television and going to the movies. She has been nominated at Love Romances and More, winning honorable mention for best paranormal book of 2006. She has won "Author of the Month" at Warrior of Words. She was voted "New Voice of Today" at Romance Reviews and "Rising Star" at Love Romance and More.

Follow D.N. Simmons Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Read Reviews by Bloggers - 2nd Book to the Right Sizzle and Swoon  

This is a very good length story and the author has put a lot of thought into the creation of a complex plot and well written characters. There is humor, angst, anger and tenderness between all the characters that gives the book a well rounded feel. Diane @ Turning Back the Clock  

The Guilty Innocent was an excellent read. It's packed with action, passion and vivid characters. If you love the supernatural genre, you'll enjoy The Guilty Innocent. Jessi @ Mamas Got Flair

The Guilty Innocence is an addicting, sexy, mystery that's very hard to put down. D.N. Simmons crafts a fast paced world where the supernatural works and plays in one of my favorite cities, Chicago. ~Jen @ The Crafty Cauldron  

What more can you ask for than shapeshifters and vampires. Wouldn't life be devine stuck in a love triangle with 2 hot vampires. Lisa @ Mommy Read too Much

D.N. Simmons is giving away a $100 Amazon Giftcard and everyone who enters gets an e-copy of Desires Unleashed. Fill out the form below to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Promotional Book tours. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Knitting - A Kindle/Kobo Sleeve

This past week I decided I needed to make a kindle case. I looked at a few patterns online but I wanted a case with an owl in the middle on both the front and back. I decided I could come up with one, I know how to knit and purl and the owl is cabled which would be a great next step in knitting. I did try to start this project a few times only to rip it out as it was too big for what I needed.
I got started with what I thought would be the right amount of cast on stitches and I decided I would do a pattern of stocking stitches for 6 rows and then flip it and do another 6 rows before centering two owls. I knitted this case flat but I may try to make it on circular needles next time as I think it will be easier to follow the owl patterns available online.

Once I got on a roll I good to go but something happened when I was cabling the owls that they don't exactly look like what I was aiming for. In the end.... The case fits (a bit snug but I wanted it snug, next time though maybe an extra couple stitches would be good), the owls look okay and well I have a case for my kindle when I am on the go.

Mission accomplished for now.
I am also debating but I may embroider Genuine Jenn on the spots above and below the owls.

If people would be interested in the pattern, I would be more than happy to post it after a little more tweaking. Please send me an email or leave a comment if you are interested.

Next I am making a Frilly scarf for my mom for Easter. I know it is almost spring but she has been dying for one of those scarves everyone has worn all winter. Now that I am knitting I figure why not make one for her and she will have it for next year.   


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Wordless Wednesday - A Peanut Butter Surprise from Kraft


What more can a peanut butter addict ask for? A jar of Kraft Peanut Butter with my photo on it! This was a thank you from Kraft for the support! 

Thank You Kraft Canada!


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

UNPLUGGING: People First, THings Second



           Parenting consciously and making decisions that mirror your heart and innermost values take guts, no matter what the issue is. They require an unwavering commitment to your family’s well-being, in both the short and long term, as well as weathering the disapproval of your children. As we know, it’s harder to say no than to say yes — particularly when that no goes against the norm of our culture. Your kids are not likely to celebrate the establishment of media guidelines, and you may find any rules difficult to follow as well. When we’re overworked and exhausted, the electronic babysitter is easy to turn to and always available. Yet as we’ve seen, this seemingly harmless choice can develop into a negative habit that can create an ocean of disconnection, frazzled nerves and minds, and an ongoing barrier to true intimacy. 

So begin with baby steps. Invite in self-compassion. Cultivate a sense of curiosity: What would happen if I became less plugged in? How can I model this for my kids? What are some half measures and partial steps I could try? What fun things could I replace screen time with? When are the most important times when I want my family unplugged (for example, during dinner or on Sundays)?  

Sit down with your partner, or with your entire family, including the kids, and discuss everyone’s priorities and values — what is most important for your family? What is essential for each individual and for the entire family’s emotional well-being? Make a list; this may include unscheduled time, physical activity, playing in nature, eating dinner together, not feeling rushed, making time for creative or free play, and so on.

Then, take a look at your schedule. How are you using your waking hours? Outside of work and school, how many “free” hours does each person have, and how much time does the family have together? For most families, this may amount to only three to four hours of free time together a day. Many families find that once they’ve identified and scheduled what’s really important to them, there’s not much time left for TV, Internet surfing, and video games.

Here are some of the ways families are taming the technology dragon. Perhaps one of these ideas will resonate as you develop media guidelines for your family. Give yourself the freedom to experiment, discarding what doesn’t work and keeping what does:  
•    If you watch TV every night, try giving it up for one night a week. Then progressively add more TV-free nights each week (until you reach three or four), and instead enjoy music, reading, time outdoors, or playing games on those evenings.
•    If your habit is to often or always have the TV on as background noise, replace this with a classical music station. (My family finds this to be really calming in the morning and at dinnertime.)
•    Some families allow their kids to have screen time only on the weekends — establish a total number of hours (say, two to five) that your kids can spend however they like from Friday to Sunday.
•    Ditch the cable and only use the TV for watching family-friendly movies, either through a subscription service or by checking DVDs out of the library. Then, make a regular occasion of “family movie night” — reserve one night of the week for watching a movie you can all talk about afterward.
•    Allow for one hour of educationally oriented screen time a day, and schedule this time for when Mom and Dad need it the most, such as while cooking dinner, replying to emails, and so on.
•    Maintain a land line and answering machine at home. This way you can screen phone calls without interrupting precious family time.
•    Insist that all cell phones and electronics be turned off during meals and whenever the family is enjoying time together.
•    For the parents: abstain from getting online before work in the morning or after work in the evenings. These are natural family-gathering and transition times each day, so make your priority being present for your kids and for each other as a couple. Talk, connect, and share the day’s events.
•    Consider making electronics off-limits during everyday car rides around town. Let your child sit quietly and “get bored” looking out the window, or use travel time as an ideal moment for talking about school, friends, and what’s going on in your child’s life.
•    Avoid temptation by not getting a smart phone. These gadgets are a slippery slope, and how much do you really need all that they do? Instead, get a regular, basic cell phone with texting (you’d be surprised how many are choosing this!).
•    Move the TV from the family room, or the center of your house, to an upstairs guest room. It’s interesting to see how viewing habits change, and usually lessen, when the TV is in an out-of-the-way spot.
•    Make one weekend day entirely, 100 percent unplugged, with no media and no phone calls at all until a certain hour in the evening. Reserve this day for 100 percent family time, and make it fun: go hiking or to museums, make fancy all-day meals, visit friends or relatives, or go swimming. Initially, long stretches of unstructured time may seem hard to fill, but propose this as an experiment and give your family’s collective creativity a chance. Your older kids might continue to complain, but I bet they will secretly like it!

As parents, we need to change our own mindsets and behaviors and really take charge of the technologies in our homes. It’s like eating. You need a balanced diet. You don’t want to raise your kids on junk food, and you don’t want their whole worlds to revolve around screen time. The earlier you create healthy habits in this arena, the better. I’ve found looking at our media diet and paying close attention to what types of messages, images, and themes we’re consuming can be helpful.

Jana shared, “My kids and I had gotten into a habit — really a slump — of watching the same programs on TV every week. They weren’t great shows; it was just ‘what we did.’ One night we all ended up playing soccer in the backyard instead of being glued to the screen. I was surprised at how much better we all slept that night and how much happier everyone seemed in the morning. It really got me thinking about how I want to change our habits around TV — not only when we watch it, but what we watch.”

Plus, once the complaining dies down and kids accept a new routine, you may be surprised by what you find. My brother, a thirty-seven-year-old technology hound and dad of two, recently discovered his three-year-old son actually loves going to the library — just as much as he used to like playing Angry Birds on dad’s smart phone. Baby steps.

In fact, all the families I’ve known and coached that have made a conscious decision to set up media-use guidelines, instill boundaries, and in general “consume” less media have found this has made a huge impact on their personal well-being and on their family’s sense of peace and harmony.
# # #
Life balance coach/speaker Renée Peterson Trudeau is the author of the new book Nurturing the Soul of Your Family.  Thousands of women in ten countries are participating in Personal Renewal Groups based on her first book, the award-winning The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal. Visit her online at www.ReneeTrudeau.com

Excerpted from the new book Nurturing the Soul of Your Family ©2013 Renée Peterson Trudeau. Published with permission of New World Library http://www.newworldlibrary.com

The Fetish Box: What Remains (#3) by Nicole Camden Book Review

ADD TO GOODREADS
The breathtaking final installment in the Fetish Box eBook series, where anything is possible…when passion is unleashed, only time will tell what remains…In an attempt to seek out the source of the violence against her friends, Mary takes on a role she’d never imagined she’d play—a role that requires Mary to embrace the darkest parts of her soul.

For the first time in her life, Mary understands who she is and where she belongs. What remains when you take away the sex and fun and adventure…is love. Love for her new friends, love for her lover, and love for the mother she never knew. She’s willing to risk anything—do anything—to keep them safe…

Pick up a Kindle copy on Amazon

My thoughts: This is the third book in the series that ties it all together or really just finishes the book. This book follows Mary as she decides to stay and settle into her new home and lifestyle along with her new man. The book moves fast as it is less than 100 pages as like the first two. Mary also sees that her mother had thought of her all these years and had packaged gifts to her but never sent them. Mary's best friend arrives to live with her near the end of the book also and brings more fun for Max. The characters in these books are really easy to like. One thing the books are very fantasy, how many people pick up and move across a country, are virgins with men coming on to them and let them to sexual on the very first meeting, also hold fetish parties. It is a fun read to take you away from the everyday life and send you into a fantasy world. 

This book gets a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it but I feel they should have put them all together instead of 3 ebooks as each books ends in a middle of a scene with the next picking up right at the same spot. See my reviews of Part 1 and Part 2.

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Bound to You Book Blast Giveaway

 

Bound to You (Book 3 of the Spellbound Series)

Toni’s life is just one complication after another. First, her past comes back to her, then she has to deal with a psycho, and now it’s the biggest of them all. A choice that could destroy one life and be the bright future to the other. How is a girl supposed to choose between two men that she loves? On one hand, she has the Greek god Hades, the love from her past and the other, Ben the hot Vampire nurse that she met just over a week ago. Both have captured her heart in their own individual ways but whose love is the greatest? Who does she ultimately love the most? In the end, a decision is made in Bound to you...

**This Book Includes Sexual Content**

Bound to Remember, a Paranormal Romance (Book 1 of the Spellbound Series) FREE Unbound, a Paranormal Romance (Book 2 of the Spellbound Series) $2.99 Bound to You (Book 3 of the Spellbound Series)

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

About Lola

Lola James
Lola James has been reading romance novels since her teens, and fell in love with the paranormal after discovering Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Her love of the dark worlds of vampires and witches, as well as her fascination with Greek mythology led her to create the Spellbound Series, an ongoing Paranormal Romance combining all of the above into tales of suspense with a little bit of humor in an Urban Fantasy setting. A long time lover of reading and writing with a passion for a great story, James became discouraged by the complicated and arbitrary publishing process, James had initially set down her laptop and her hopes of being a writer. However, with the purchase of her first e-reader, James became re-energized by the new possibilities for an undiscovered author to reach the masses. Dusting off her keyboard she finally finished Bound to Remember, the first book of the Spellbound Series and self-published it. Energized and ambitious, James is now hard at work on both the Spellbound Series as well as the Fate Series, a paranormal romance about dreams and what happens if they come true.

Follow on Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Website

Lola James is giving away a Fun Swag Pack. Open to US residents 18+.

Fill out the form below to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway
~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Knitting: Bow Headband

My latest project... A pretty bow headband for A. It's funny how I came upon this pattern. My neighbour of forever found out I am learning to knit and offered me this great project that she made numerous time for family members.

The pattern is a hat and accessories from DK peter pan

This was an easy pattern for a beginner, I did need to ask my friend what st st meant and found out that it meant stocking stitch which is one row knit then one row purl. As far as skill for this, if you know how to purl and knit you will be fine. It knits up really nicely and it stretches to fit even my head. I am sure I will be making a few more. I am thinking a plain band with a multi-colored bow would look really nice.
It took me a few days to finish it and the kids and I went out to the thrift store to pick up some buttons. P found the purple buttons with the diamond in the middle (or what my kids call a diamond). I am really happy on how the headband turned out and my daughter hasn't taken it off except to wash and I was able to get it off her for bed. 
 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own. This is not a sponsored post*~

Mobilicity Unlimited Plans

Are you looking for a new phone? Maybe looking to upgrade from a basic flip phone to a smartphone or just looking for a great monthly plan? If you are looking for unlimited talk, text and data you will find that with Mobilicity.

If you live in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver you can use Mobilicity. They offer a wide range of Smartphones that run on Android, Blackberry, or Windows. They do not offer iPhones but have other great phones available. Also after using an Android phone I am loving some of the same apps I would use on my iPhone but these offer better features, in my opinion anyways. 
Each plan offered through Mobilicity includes Unlimited Province-Wide Talk, North American Text and Picture Messaging, Caller ID, and many more great features. The plans start at $25/month and go to $55/month which is the everything plan. The best value plan is the $40/month plan, it is on sale for $5 off a month at the moment. This plan includes everything you would need to stay connected with family and friends when you are on the go.

Want to save more? If you pay for multiple months ahead you can save up to 40% off! Mobilicity offers great plans for a great price. Also head over right now to check out the great sale on phones.

Visit Mobilicity.ca for more information and don't forget to "Like" on Facebook or follow on Twitter.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Mobilicity. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Book Review ~ Going Under by S. Walden

New Adult 
Date Published: March 19, 2013

Synopsis: 

Brooke Wright has only two goals her senior year at Charity Run High School: stay out of trouble and learn to forgive herself for the past. Forgiveness proves elusive, and trouble finds her anyway when she discovers a secret club at school connected to the death of her best friend. She learns that swim team members participate in a “Fantasy Slut League,” scoring points for their sexual acts with unsuspecting girls.


Brooke, wracked with guilt over her friend’s death, decides to infiltrate the league by becoming one of the “unsuspecting girls,” and exact revenge on the boys who stole away her best friend. An unexpected romance complicates her plans, and her dogged pursuit of justice turns her reckless as she underestimates just how far the boys will go to keep their sex club a secret.
(This is a New Adult fiction book with mature themes.  It contains explicit language and descriptions of sexual violence.)


Author Bio:
S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams include raising chickens and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens included). When she's not writing, she's thinking about it.


She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her blog where you can get up-to-date information on her current projects. Follow on Facebook or Twitter.
 
Purchase Going Under on Amazon, Smashwords, Createspace (paperback). Don't forget to add Going Under to your Goodreads shelf!

My thoughts: I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!  

This is the second book I have read of S Walden and well again she blew me away with her story! This book jumps right in no beating around the bush. Brooke attends her best friends funeral but we learn that over the summer they weren't best friends anymore because of a horrible act on Brooke's part, she slept with Beth's boyfriend. Brooke is super hard on herself and feels that it is her fault but has been putting blame on everyone else around her.  

To be honest I have been having a hard time coming up with how I wanted to write this review, I was just blown away. I wont tell you what happens because you will want to read it for yourself. Just be prepared to follow a very twisted/broken teen who finds love but is trying to free herself from the betrayal/guilt she was left with when her best friend committed suicide. 

Through dreams of Brooke's we see flashbacks into what happened between Brooke and Beth's boyfriend Finn and also what drove Beth to suicide. Be ready for a very emotional ride in S Walden's new novel Going Under! I can't wait to read more of her work, she is by far one of my FAVE indie authors!


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Reading Addiction Book Tours. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Interview with Sandi Richard & A Knorr Recipe





















































What's for dinner? I am sure you hear this question as much as I do and I am sure like most of us you think I don't know. I used to be great at planning out a week or more of meal plans and then everything seemed to fall apart last fall. I am slowly getting back into planning my meals ahead of time and this helps with the dinnertime stress! It also helps the kids know the answer to that question I hear almost daily "Mom, what's for dinner?"

As a busy family and well some days I am just too tired to even think about preparing a meal I like to turn to grocery store helpers. I have been a huge fan of Sandi Richard for years now and have her original cookbook called Life's on Fire: Cooking for the Rushed. Recently I had the opportunity to ask Sandi a few question to share with my readers.

I want to thank Sandi for taking the time to speak with us about getting dinner on the table. Sandi has teamed up with Knorr to help busy families answer "What's for dinner?" with quick and stress free recipes.

Q1) Sandi, can you explain to myself and Genuine Jenn readers what the importance of meal planning is? Why should we spend time each week planning what to eat?

The first and most important reason is because it saves time! As the Knorr survey points out, the parent taking responsibility for choosing the weeknight meals are spending almost one hour per day just stressing about the decision! The survey clearly points out that weeknight dinners are about stress, lack of time and guilt, so we need to help our families with that! Modern day meal planning only takes a few minutes vs. the hours of time taxing our wonderful parent’s overtaxed brains!

Q2) I have a lot of people tell me they don't meal plan as they feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start. What would you tell them?

Start with your family at a low stress time! That’s the best place to start! Grab the recipes your family loves and sit down asking them, “Which meals would you like next week?” This is a much different question than the high stress question, “What do you want for dinner tonight or tomorrow?” Often the latter comes along with a large dollop of “I don’t know” and inevitably disappointment for the parent trying to plan! How can moms find meal ideas that are not the same go-to meals over and over again? Start slow! I am known to say, “We are a fix it today and mess it up tomorrow culture!” Let’s not do that! Add one new recipe to your current repertoire. Once that becomes familiar, it’s time to try another! Looow stress adventure!

Q3) Being a fan of your work, I know you talk a lot about grocery store helpers. Can you tell Genuine Jenn readers what this means and how they can help simplify dinnertime? 

Thanks! I really do wake up each morning with a smile knowing I can help families! You’re right; I am a huge fan of helpers. Here’s what I mean by that: just a few generations ago, Great Grandma would make helpers (jams, stocks, sauces, pastes, you name it). They would use these helpers all winter adding them to fresh ingredients to make a well rounded nutritious meal. We now have the world’s helpers at our fingertips! Ok, so we don’t have time to make them, but it works the same way! Take a look in the fridge of a health nut. You will find all kinds of helpers and all kinds of fresh ingredients. They understand the work-life balance of food, activity and stress. If our families learn to be at peace with fresh ingredients added to helpers they will
save time and be a whole lot healthier!

4) I want to have the children involved someway in the dinner planning (My kids are 5 and almost 7) What can I have them do to help make meals enjoyable for them and also help learn to help in the kitchen? 


Another great question! Parents shouldn’t feel guilty that they don’t always have the energy to teach kids to cook at the dinner hour. After all, most people have been working all day and then embark on a whole new series of activities when they get home. I suggest lying on the floor with your kids in a low stress time with all your favorite recipe books and favorites. Get everyone involved in the picking. This goes such a long way when each family member feels that his or her opinion counts.

Then I suggest a parent starts involving their kids by what I coin “Cooking-Together-Apart.” This means
a parent cuts or chops a few things after kids have gone to bed…only a 5-10 minute task. Expect the
older child to assemble the meal the following night with a little supervision. A couple of things happen
here. You offer your children the ability to take care of themselves. You praise your child for being such a great cook, for example, “Daniel’s famous lasagna!” Once this child can do the assembly so well, only then should a parent teach them one of the prep steps. Eventually this becomes that child’s specialty. Then of course add more specialties over time! In the case where there is more than one child, the younger children want to be grown up just like their older sibling. They are being seasoned that participating in the prepping and assembly of the family meal is a good thing!

Q5) Would you like to share some other thoughts with my readers about meal planning and calming the hectic dinner time rush? 


Yes…parents, don’t be so hard on yourselves! Stop listening to every little piece of science as if it were the new solution to all our food woes. Science usually doesn’t incorporate LIFE! Instead, filter the information with the understanding that we live in a modern world! We lead busy, fast paced lives. Remember, one of the reasons we stress about dinner is because we instinctively know that dinner is a time to connect with the people we love the most. So let’s not complicate the dinner making process in the work week…aaand when it comes to the eight million conflicting pieces of food science that continually makes us question our good judgment…breathe! 

Here is a quick and easy Knorr recipe we tried recently that was nutritious and very tasty. Don't forget to visit Knorr on Facebook for other great recipes.
Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes & Black Bean Rice
  • Recipe serves:4
  • Prep Time15 min
  • Cook Time40 min

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless centre-cut pork chops, (about 450g.), trimmed of fat
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 large sweet potato or yam, peeled and cubed
  • 3-1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
  • 1 pot Knorr® Homestyle Stock Reduced Sodium Chicken
  • 1 can (540 mL) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

  • Season chops, if desired, with salt and ground black pepper. Heat 15 mL olive oil in deep large nonstick skillet over high heat and brown chops. Remove chops and set aside.
  • Heat remaining 15 mL olive oil in same skillet over medium-high heat and cook onion with sweet potato, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown, about 8 minutes. Stir in water, rice and Knorr® Homestyle Stock Reduced Sodium Chicken. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered 15 minutes.
  • Stir in beans and cilantro, then top with chops. Cover and cook until chops are done and rice is tender, about 10 minutes.
Tip: Out of Knorr® Homestyle Stock? Substitute 875mL of Knorr® Chicken Broth® for the Knorr® Homestyle Stock and water in the recipe.

 
~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Knorr Canada. I received a gift bag of Knorr products.  All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Book Tour ~ Evol by Jess Wygle



Thriller
“I will do whatever it takes to keep us together. Nothing can keep us apart. You’re mine now.” She’d love him just as he loved her. She had to. She didn’t have a choice.



In love and happily living the life she always dreamed of, Venna Caldwell doesn’t know she is the object of a secret obsession. Until one night when she’s home alone and her stalker finally acts on his fantasies, dragging her into a sadistic nightmare that she barely escapes. Running for her life, from a man who will never stop hunting her, Venna reaches out to her estranged half-brother, grasping desperately at what little hope she has left. How far will she go

to keep out of the clutches of the unrelenting monster that's hungry for her?

Excerpt:

Her cracked lips opened slowly and she sucked air in between them. She tried to open her eyes, but they disobeyed and remained shut. She laid still, the way she’d taught herself to and waited for the pain to catch up with her still sleepy mind; the pain she knew would be coming. It would come in a wave, all at once. Her neck, head, back, and limbs all started to ache in unison, like violins in an orchestra being conducted to life. Each bow glided lightly across the strings, bobbing up and down, like the pulsing throbs now playing a painful melody through her whole body.

It took some convincing, but her eyelids eventually parted. The sunlight pooled at the foot of her bed blinded her initially. Eventually, her vision was restored to normal. This room was not the one she’d come to know. It was different, clean, safe.

Safe.

A word she believed to be unattainable. Doing a quick survey of the room, she realized she was alone, a comforting, yet frightening thought.

 
Author Bio: Jess Wygle

Jess Wygle is a short story author and novelist. Her titles include Keep it Safe, Evol, Not Alone, Long Awaited, and Where’s My Accident. Primarily writing thrillers, she has included non-fiction and romance in her repertoire.

Jess is married to her husband, AJ and has a young son named Landon. She’s also mother to a one-year-old red fox lab. This self-proclaimed movie buff has a knack for photography. She’s currently enrolled at a local college studying education and has plans to teach English at the high school level as she works her way up the bestseller list.

Follow the author: Blog, Book Rix, Twitter @jcwgle 

Purchase on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes or B&N

My thoughts: If you are looking for a "keep you on the edge of your seat" kind of book you will love this one. It starts off fast in the suspense/thriller area with Venna being kidnapped from her parents home. Every time you think Venna has gotten away her "kidnapper" is right behind her. Jess builds a great line of characters, character that are very easy to like or in Merrick's case dislike. I like the authors flow and keeping her readers wanting to know more and see what will happen next. 

I give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading more from Jess Wygle.  


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Reading Addiction book tours. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Book Review: Heart Like Mine by Amy Hatvany

Add to Goodreads
When a young mother dies under mysterious circumstances, those she leaves behind begin looking for answers in the past—and find a long-buried secret they could have never imagined.Thirty-six-year-old Grace McAllister never longed for children. But when she meets Victor Hansen, a handsome, charismatic divorced restaurateur who is father to Max and Ava, Grace decides that, for the right man, she could learn to be an excellent part-time stepmom. After all, the kids live with their mother, Kelli. How hard could it be?

At thirteen, Ava Hansen is mature beyond her years. Since her parents’ divorce, she has been the one taking care of her emotionally unstable mother and her little brother—she pays the bills, does the laundry, and never complains because she loves her mama more than anyone. And while her father’s new girlfriend is nice enough, Ava still holds out hope that her parents will get back together and that they’ll be a family again.

But only days after Victor and Grace get engaged, Kelli dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances—and soon, Grace and Ava discover there was much more to Kelli’s life than either ever knew.


Purchase Paperback or E-book.

My thoughts: When I read the synopsis of this book I was very intrigued, I couldn't imagine not wanting to be a mother and then in an blink of an eye becoming a full time stepmom. That would be a huge adjustment. This book is told through the eyes of both Grace and Ava with flashbacks into Kelli's life growing up. We learn about why her parents disowned her and what troubled Kelli into the mental state she was in. I wont get into details about the plot as you will want to read it yourself but it is a great read. I loved how well the book flowed back and forth between each character. Ava is an old soul, having to grow up so fast when her parents divorce and she takes care of her mother who is struggling with so much loss in her life.

I loved Grace's character, she is a strong, independent, career woman who works in a shelter for woman. When she meets Victor it was like a dream come true.Victor is a successful restaurant owner who has two children that visit 2 weekends a month and he doesn't want to have anymore children. They hit it off right away and get comfortable in the life they have planned. I think Grace handles the situation of becoming a full time stepmom very well under the circumstances.

I give this book a 4 stars. It is a great book of love, bonding, courage and helping family through rough times. I look forward to reading more from Amy Hatvany. 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Book Tour - Seduced by Pain by Kimberly Kinrade

Their passion will destroy them.
Only true love can save them.

"Hope is a fragile thing, yet strangely enduring. It hides in the crevices of pain, burrowing
deep until unseen, for fear that sorrow, in its rage, will devour hope's desperate hold on the
heart.

It can live there for years, silent and waiting. Or, it can be slaughtered with a word--
mankind's most powerful weapon.

They say that universes are created with words.

And with words, they are destroyed.

Just as mine has been."

In the sequel to Seduced by Innocence, Derek and Rose face even greater threats to their love as Derek fights to protect the core of his family's power while Rose struggles to control her own dark gift.

***
This book is recommended for 17+ due to explicit sexual content. It is a new adult paranormal romance with erotic content and includes shifters, demons and witches.

**Rose's story is a trilogy, not stand alone books. The first two books have cliffhanger endings. Her complete story in one book will be available as "Seduced" when the author finishes writing all three books and they are out. If you do not like cliffhanger endings, please consider waiting to purchase until Seduced the omnibus edition is out.**


Look for these books in the Seduced Saga coming 2013.

Seduced by Innocence (Rose's Story, Book 1)
Seduced by Pain (Rose's Story, Book 2)
March 2013- Seduced by Power (Rose's Story, Book 3)

TBA - Seduced by the Sea (Ocean's Story)
TBA- Seduced by Love (A Surprise!)

About the Author: 
Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes fantasy and paranormal stories for all ages and still believes in magic worlds. Check out her YA paranormal series The Forbidden Trilogy, her lower grade fantasy series The Three Lost Kids, and watch for her New Adult romance and fantasy books coming in 2013 including The Seduced Saga, Sunrise and Nightfall, Death by Destiny and The Fallen Trilogy and her next YA fantasy adventure, The Reluctant Familiar. You can find her books on Amazon, B&N and Goodreads among other fine retailers.

When she's not writing, she runs Daring Books Design & Marketing with her husband, Dmytry Karpov, where they help authors with all manner of marketing, editing, and design needs until such a time that their brilliant children take over the business for them.

She lives with her three little girls who think they're ninja princesses with super powers, her two cats who think they're gods (and probably are), her two dogs who think they're humans and her husband, also known as the sexy Russian Prince, who is the love of her life and writing partner.

Follow Kimberly Kinrade: Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads Amazon

My thoughts: This is the second book in the series. I would suggest reading them in order as you will not know who the characters are or the storyline that is carried over. I did read the first and will have a review of it up on April 2. If you love shape shifters, demons and witches along with some hot romance you will love this series. We follow Rose while she and Derek try to overcome what happened to them and their relationship in the first book. Blake is on a huge mission to get Rose to love him, but he is also in cahoots with her mother to stay in the body he is in right now, a demon of the sorts.

I love Kimberly Kinrade's chilldrens series and I was very interested to see how she switches over to write a fantasy/erotica type series. The author does a great job at switching into adult gear and making her books easy to read, flows nicely between each character (one chapter is Rose, Derek or Blake). The erotica scenes are hot and it leaves you wanting more. Each chapter starts off with a quote from Shakespeare. I am not a be fan of Shakespeare but the quotes are fitting for the chapters and makes a great touch.

I give this book a 4.5 stars and would recommend it to anyone who loves a great romance book of witches, demons and don't forget hot shape shifters.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of IO Book Tours. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Web Hat ~ Finished

Materials needed for the Web hat.
Last week I shared with you a pattern (Web hat) I was going to attempt as my next knitting project. Guess what? I finished it! It actually didn't take long at all to complete, I worked on it over a few days.

This pattern challenged me as a beginner knitter. I had to switch needles twice, count stitches in a row and also use double point needles (DPN) for the first time. I also learned that as you go on to the next row while knitting in a round you are doing what is called laddering. I was told I did a good job at it for a first timer. Yay!!

I love how it turned out, along with the great wool I used. It is soft and fits nice but not too snug. It can be worn down on my forehead or back a bit to be a small slouch hat. I absolutely love the dark brown with the flecks of color and didn't find it hard to knit. 

Take a look at the photos below for my progress.
Just starting out. I am finished the ribbing.
Half way done, switched over to the 6 1/2 mm circulars.
Almost finished! Last 6 rows, just switched to the DPNs.
Finished! My daughter modeling the end product.
Out for a walk, staying warm.
Next on the list of projects? A headband with a bow for A.

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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