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Littlest Pet Shop Halloween Fest DVD Review

Dim the Lights for Five Chilling Adventures! 

It's the spookiest time of the year and Blythe and her best friends from the Littlest Pet Shop are ready for all the spine-tingling adventures, including investigating werewolves, ghosts, pet psychics, aliens from outer space and a mysterious jungle curse! It's all here in Littlest Pet Shop: Halloween Fest!

Episodes Included 
  • Door-Jammed 
  • Eight Arms to Hold You
  • Pawlm Reading
  • War of The Weirds 
  • The Very Littlest Pet Shop 
  • Bonus : Sing-Alongs

Purchase a copy on Amazon.

Review: (This review was written by Abby)

I love this movie because its about HALLOWEEN!!!  It has Halloween episodes with the Littlest Pet Shop gang. My favorite characters are Zoie and Blythe.  In one of the episodes, Blythe had to take care of Russell for a night at the littlest pet shop.  When Russell had to stay at the littlest pet shop with Blythe they had a lot of fun. Two pets from the littlest pet shop heard that Russell got to stay at the littlest pet shop for a night. Inside the DVD package you will get a Penny pumpkin carving stencil.





~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn.I received a copy of this dvd in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Get Set, Sew by Jane Bull ~ Book Review, Sewing & a lot of FUN!

This past August we had a fun visitor for the UK, her name is Jane Bull Doll and Abby had a blast. Jane & Abby went everywhere together and enjoyed some library time, ice cream and sewing! Abby is just learning to sew and we sat down with Jane Bull Doll, my Singer sewing machine and Get Set, Sew book by Jane Bull. 


About Get Set, Sew:

Jane Bull's Get Set, Sew is a beginner's guide to mastering your sewing machine with 20 easy projects. The latest in Jane Bull's successful series of craft titles, Jane Bull's Get Set, Sew is a clear, fresh, enjoyable introduction to sewing on a machine. Jane's friendly, jargon-free instructions and step-by-step photos will walk you through everything you need to know to learn how to use a sewing machine.

Master sewing machine basics one at a time, then put newly learned skills to work with 20 simple sewing projects to make — including creative and original bags, accessories, cushions, and toys. Jane Bull's Get Set, Sew includes templates, sewing patterns, and everything you need to make your first sewing projects and lay the groundwork for countless creative fabric crafts to come.


Purchase a copy through DK Canada


About the Author: 

By seeing the world through a child's eyes, award-winning author Jane Bull creates fresh, original, and energetic designs that inspire children to get crafty. Jane has been involved in an enormous range of adult and children activity books including bestsellers Make It! and Made By Me. Jane lives in London with her husband and three children. 

Review: 

I learned to sew back when I was just a little older than my daughter by a friend's mom. I think I was about 10 and we were doing a sewing 4H course. Fast forward to when I had my daughter I decided to learn to sew again and made a quilt. Then my machine got put away with the crazy busy life of toddlers. Now that both of my kids are older I wanted to pull out the sewing machine again. My daughter also wanted to learn to sew so we were very excited to read Get Set, Sew. 

This book is for beginners and geared to kids but I absolutely love it and wish I had it years ago when I was teaching myself to machine sew again.  The book starts out with learning the sewing machine and each part of it, along with tips and sewing safety! We went over these two pages a couple times to make sure we knew what we were doing. Then we learned about how stitches work and how to thread the sewing machine! This was prefect, I love how easy this was to follow. Next learning to fill a bobbin and now learn to sew! The pictures are very big and bright and I found them great for kids and even adults. Everything is laid out nicely with numbers for each step.

There are many fun and easy beginner projects. If you are looking for advanced projects this isn't the book. These are perfect for a beginner or someone just learning to get crafty. There are projects to make pillow pals, bags, a cover for the sewing machine and even a bunch of zipper pouches! Zippers are really not that hard to learn but they are intimidating for sure. Jane makes learning to sew a breeze with this new book!

My daughter has learned a lot about sewing and has a list a mile long of things she wants to make in the future. We plan on doing more sewing for the holidays.

 We give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and look forward to more books by Jane Bull!


We had finished pictures but I can't seem to find them after having to get a new phone. :( 


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

The Peach and the Poppy by Caesar J.M. Kauftheil ~ Book Review

Book Synopsis:

After an unpleasant breakup with her girlfriend, Poppy goes on a solo trip to Paris. Her first morning out she encounters a beautiful stranger, but it proves to be the only good part of the day. Though she tries to appreciate the beautiful city she's come to escape in for a time, Poppy can't help but feel something is lacking.

When her best friend suggests what she needs is a fling to clear away her ex for good, Poppy approaches the beautiful woman from before to be her tour guide for the duration of her vacation, but as the trip draws all too quickly to an end, Poppy realizes that in seeking a cure for heartache, she may instead have just made the problem worse...
Purchase a copy on Amazon.
Connect with Caesar J.M Kauftheil on Facebook.

Review:

This isn't my typical genre but I have been working on trying new ones and stepping outside the box. I have to say this was a nice short read. It is about Poppy who has just been through a horrible breakup with her girlfriend Shannon. The two were suppose to take a trip to Paris together, instead Poppy goes on her own. There she meets a beautiful French Asian lady and the hunt begins. It is really an innocent story of a will see wont see and when will they finally hook up. We learn about Poppy and when she realized she was a lesbian even before she knew what it was. She has a middle school crush and then we learn about her college girlfriend. These are all Poppy's memories she takes us down while daydreaming also of this French lady. Finally they meet up again and start hanging out over Poppy's stay (which is only a week). The story flows really well and kept me wanting to read more and find out when Poppy will get her first kiss with Rochelle, even if Rochelle is even lesbian. The love scenes are steamy yet not rude or offensive.

I really enjoy this especially as it is written by a man but you wouldn't really think so. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

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

The Wild Swans Retold & Illustrated by Jackie Morris ~ Book Review, Guest Post & Giveaway!

The Wild Swans
Retold and illustrated by Jackie Morris

This very beautiful and lyrical extended version of the fairy tale 'The Wild Swans' by Hans Christian Andersen is the much anticipated companion to East of the Sun, West of the Moon. With strong characterization of the heroine and also with more rounded characterization of the wicked stepmother than in the original version, and with delicate watercolor paintings throughout, this is both a wonderful story and delightful gift.

Purchase a copy through Quarto Publishing.

About the Author:

Jackie Morris lives in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with children, dogs and cats. Ever since leaving college, Bath Academy of Art, at least one cat has watched over her while she works. Big cats and small are a passion in her life, and it was while reading and watching her cat Pixie sleeping in winter that the idea for I am Cat came about. Among her many books for Frances Lincoln are The Ice Bear,The Snow Leopard, and Tell me a Dragon. Visit Jackie's Website.

Guest Post by Jackie Morris

In The Wild Swans there is a dog. Her name is Shadow. She was written first, before she was painted. She’s not in the original tellings of The Wild Swans. I wrote her into the text because I wanted Eliza to have something of her mother always with her. From the minute she came into the story I knew exactly what she looked like. She walked in, centre stage and draped herself around my imagination. Shadow, huge deer hound who lives first as Eliza’s mother’s faithful hound, then Eliza’s constant companion, magic dog.

From the first day I painted her something strange happened. A week later my friend came in to my studio where I was working and said, “ Jac, I need to ask you something. Kait has to find a home for Ivy. Do you want her?”

My dog Bella is old. I had decided that I wouldn’t have another dog until Bella died. Without hesitation I said, “ Yes.”

Ffion suggested that I think about it, but I had thought about it for 5 years. I had met Ivy when she was a puppy. She’s the sister of Ffion’s smooth black hound, known to many as “The Eelhound”.She’s like a cottage sized deerhound. Deerhounds were bred for hunting deer and wolves and lived in castles. I live in a cottage. So, “Yes” had to be the answer, even though Bella is still alive, because when Ivy was a puppy I had so fallen for her. ( Best just add here that Bella has been fine with Ivy, and having a younger dog is bringing me back to fitness, which is good. I walk more with the Grey Dog, Ivy than I had been with my old beauty)

Ffi had taken Ivy out from the dog’s home with Belle, for Kait because Kait’s dog had died. And then it had snowed so Kait was stuck on the side of a hill in the snow and Ivy spent the first six weeks with Ffi, and we would walk the dogs on the beach and tuck them into jumpers when the wind blew hard. But then the snow melted and Ivy went away, even though I had wanted her to stay, but I had 6 cats at the time and 3 dogs and two children and a small house.

So the next day we went and we picked up Ivy and since that day she has been my Shadow.

In the book Shadow watches silently over Eliza, guards her and guides her, keeping her safe. She asks for nothing, but is given love. Unconditional love. Because Ivy came to me there are so many more pictures of Ivy in the book than there would have been, and because Ivy is my Shadow she comes to events with me when I am working with The Wild Swans.

And even as I write this she curls at my feet. Now Ivy wants her own book, and next year, for a start we will be making a calendar together, not just of Ivy, the Grey Dog, but also with The White Cat. Because for me, now, these are the days of the white cat and the grey dog.


Review:

This is such a beautiful book. I fell in love with the watercolor pictures throughout this book. It is an amazing story of love, silence, magic, and courage. Eliza and her brothers are put through so much in their lives, losing their mother, then being locked into a tower with a maze outside, ultimately losing their father to another women because he didn't trust her with the children. There is magic within this story as the brothers are turned to Swans during the day and boys at night. Eliza wants to save her brothers but need to make a pact with a fae to break the spell on her brothers. It is a sad story of loss and growing up on her own, so much courage Eliza has. She shares her time with a hound named Shadow that was her mothers dog. Love finally finding Eliza. A must read!


Visit the next blog in the tour Prose and Kahn and check out the rest of the tour on Quarto Kids Blog and enter below to win a copy of The Wild Swans!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

My Secret to Tell by Natalie D. Richards ~ Book Review ~ Excerpt

Title: My Secret to Tell
Author: Natalie D. Richards
Pubdate: October 6th, 2015
Book Description: 

His smile is a crime. Emerson May is “the good girl.” She’s the perfect daughter, the caring friend, the animal shelter volunteer. But when her best friend’s brother breaks into her room, his hands covered in blood, she doesn’t scream or call the cops. Because when Deacon smiles at her, Emmie doesn’t want to be good…

The whole town believes notorious troublemaker Deacon is guilty of assaulting his father. Only Emmie knows a secret that could set him free. But if she follows her heart, she could be trusting a killer…

You can’t always trust the boy next door. 

Buy Links: Amazon | Apple | BAM | B&N | Chapters | Indiebound

About the Author: 
 
After years as a professional paper-pusher, NATALIE D. RICHARDS decided to trade in reality for a life writing YA fiction. She lives in Ohio (Go Bucks!) with her husband, three children, and a ridiculously furry dog named Yeti. This is her second novel. Visit her on Twitter @natdrichards or at nataliedrichards.com.

Excerpt: 

“Emmie?”

My name lands somewhere between a hiccup and a sob, and my feet stall out on the sidewalk in front of my house. I adjust my grip on the phone, hoping I misheard her tone. This doesn’t sound like Chelsea. This voice is breathless.

Frightened.

“I’m here,” I say. “What’s up? You don’t sound right.” 

“I’m not.” She takes a shuddery breath. 

My shirt’s sticking to my back and cicadas are click-buzzing the end of another blistering day, but I go cold. Something’s wrong.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. 

“It’s my dad, Emmie,” she says. I can tell she’s crying. 

I grab my chest. It’s too tight. Burning. “What happened?”

Her words all tumble out on top of one another, interrupted by shaky breaths. I try to pick out pieces that make sense. “He’s hurt—bleeding—we’re behind the ambulance and I can’t—he’s not—someone attacked him.”

I start climbing the porch steps, because she’ll need me. I’m her best friend, so I should be there. 

I need to change clothes and go. “You’re on the way to the hospital, right? They’ll help him there.”

Another sharp breath. “I don’t know if they can. He’s so bad. So bad.” 

My heart clenches. “Where are you?”

“We’re almost there. Joel’s with me.” 

“Okay, good. I’m coming,” I say, crossing my porch and hauling my front door open. “Let me just call Mom. I’ll borrow the car.”

Chelsea’s still crying when I storm down the hallway toward my bedroom. 

“Emmie, I can’t find Deacon…”

“Your brother never answers his phone,” I say, pushing open my door. “I’ll run by the docks first and—”

“No. No, he was there. He was at the house.”

Chelsea makes a strangled sound, and I notice the liquid-thick heat in my bedroom. The kind of  heat that tells me the air conditioner is broken. Or my window is open. My gaze drags to my fluttering white curtains, to the dark smudge on the windowsill. 


Chelsea’s voice goes low and raspy. “He ran, Emmie. God, he was there with Dad. He was in the house, but he ran.”

I swivel with an invisible fist lodged in my throat. My bathroom door is open, a red-black smudge beneath the knob.

My mouth goes dry, my pulse thumping slower than it should. Then I see the blood on the floor by my sink, and my heart tumbles end over end.

“We’re here. I’ll call soon,” Chelsea says and hangs up. 

I see him, his back to my tub and his dark head bowed on one bent knee. Oh God. 

He’s covered in blood. It’s on his legs, his hands. Dripping onto my white tile floor. He looks up, and my heart goes strangely steady.

I take a breath that tastes like purpose. “Deacon?”

Review:  

My Secret to Tell was a very well written young adult or new adult romance. I fell in love with Deacon and Emmie from the start. Deacon is the typical bad boy personality that your parents warn you about. He loves to flirt with all the tourist girls but also flirts with Emmie. Emmie has a HUGE crush on her best friends brother. Emmie's mom wants her to stay away from Deacon and then he is involved in his father's beating. He said he didn't do it but all signs are pointing to him, Emmie is the only one standing behind Deacon. The author does a fabulous job of showing a caring loving side to Deacon that Emmie sees and believes there is no way he could have hurt his father. Sometimes you hope that Emmie isn't being too naive and ends up being hurt. The author has many twists that in the end I really didn't see that coming. I saw some of it leading up to the reveal but not everything.

I give this book a 4.5 out 5 stars.
 
~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Night Sky (Night Sky #1) by Suzanne Brockmann, Melanie Brockmann ~ Book Review


Book Synopsis:


SHE’S THE ULTIMATE WEAPON IN FIGHTING DESTINY.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann and her daughter Melanie Brockmann have written a pulse-pounding novel of paranormal suspense set in a near future both fantastic and frightening.

Skylar Reid is shaken when Sasha, the little girl she babysits, is kidnapped. Scared that the weird dreams she’s been having about Sasha are real—and even more afraid that Sasha is already dead. When a mysterious girl with extreme butt-kicking abilities roars into town on a motorcycle and, well, stalks Skylar things get even weirder. Supergirl Dana tells Sky that she also has abilities – that a hormone in their blood makes them stronger, faster, smarter. A hormone that the makers of a new drug called Destiny will murder to get their hands on.
Dana and Milo, her dangerously hot yet oh-so-forbidden partner in crime, want Sky to join them in their mission – to mold Sky into the ultimate weapon. She can sense there’s something about her abilities they’re not telling her. But the only way to save Sasha and stop other girls from being taken is to embrace the weird…and fight Destiny.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Authors:


Suzanne Brockman, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author, has won 2 RITA awards, numerous RT Reviewers’ Choice, and RWA’s #1 Favorite Book of the Year three years running. She has written over 50 books, and is widely recognized as a “superstar of romantic suspense” (USA Today). Suzanne and her daughter, Melanie Brockmann, have been creative partners, on and off, for many years. Their first project was an impromptu musical duet, when then-six-month-old Melanie surprised and delighted Suz by matching her pitch and singing back to her. Suzanne splits her time between Florida and Massachusetts while Mel lives in Sarasota, Florida. NIGHT SKY is Mel’s debut and Suzanne’s 55th book. 

Visit Suzanne at www.SuzanneBrockmann.com.

Review:

I was hooked into this story from the beginning. I have never read any of Suzanne Brockmann novels before and now I am not sure why I haven't. This is a great novel, especially a debut for Melanie! I love all the characters in some way shape or form, even Garrett, McDouche. Sky and Calvin have become great friends since Sky moved to Coconut Key. Calvin and Sky get a long so great, they are the best of friends and have a lot of fun together. Calvin has a quirky personality and love his would-you-rather game he likes to play with Sky. I absolutely love Calvin's character! I think the ladies did an amazing job with his character. There are not many YA novels that teens are in wheelchairs and function on their own. Way to go with showing his abilities instead of a disability. The story flows together really well right from the beginning, we get to know Sky and Calvin and how Sky's week was just plain weird or freaky and just got worse.

Greater-Thans and Destiny addicts are the main plot of this series and I love how Sky comes to learn about her powers and develops them throughout the book. She has a list of new powers that she is learning about, all the while trying to find and save Sasha, the little girl Sky babysits that was kidnapped. I never felt there was a dull moment in Night Sky and found I was kept on the edge of my seat with all the plot twists and turns.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars! I just started reading book #2 Wild Sky!


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

Preorders for Lisa Brunette's Framed and Burning: Book 2 in the Dreamslippers Series {Promo Blast}


Lisa Brunette is gearing up for her new release of Framed and Burning: Book Two in the Dreamslippers Series. Release date is November 27, 2015 and pre-orders are being taken now for this new novel.

Framed and Burning, Book Two in the Dreamslippers Series
Published by Sky Harbor LLC
# of pages TBD since it's a pre-order
November 27, 2015 pub date
Genre: Mystery

Book Synopsis:


The Dreamslippers are a family of private investigators who have the ability to "slip" into your dreams. The first book in the series, Cat in the Flock, was published to critical acclaim and is trending at 4.5 stars on Amazon with 35 reviews. In Framed and Burning, someone sets fire to Mick Travers’s art studio, killing his assistant, and Mick won't give an alibi. His dreamslipping sister--the eccentric Amazing Grace--is convinced he's innocent, but her granddaughter and the police aren't so sure. Was it Mick, or is something darker behind the fire?

ADVANCED PRAISE
"Framed and Burning is the second book in the Dreamslippers series. It’s easy to follow and hard to put down, making readers who may not have read the first book race back to give it a try!"  - InD'tale Magazine

"Lisa Brunette continues to develop vibrant characters in a stunning story that will keep you reading well past your bedtime!" - On My Kindle

PRE-ORDER ON EBOOK NOW FOR $1 OFF!

Only $2.99 if you order before November 27, 2015 - price goes to $3.99 afterward.
 
In the U.S. - Amazon - Apple iBookstore - for all iOS devices - Barnes & Noble - for the Nook - Kobo - numerous devices - Smashwords - for Kindle, Android, and most other formats
 
Outside the U.S. - pricing and discount varies - Amazon Australia - Amazon Canada - Amazon UK - Nook UK - Kobo International
 
About the Author: 

Lisa Brunette is the author of the Dreamslippers mystery series. Book One, Cat in the Flock, is an indieBRAG honoree title that has been praised by Kirkus Reviews, Midwest Book Review, Readers Lane, and others.

Brunette is a career writer/editor whose work has appeared in major daily newspapers and magazines, including the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Woman, and Poets & Writers. She's interviewed a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a sex expert, homeless women, and the designer of the Batmobile, among others.

She has story design and writing credits in hundreds of bestselling video games, including the Mystery Case Files, Mystery Trackers, and Dark Tales series for Big Fish and AAA games for Nintendo and Microsoft platforms.

She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from University of Miami, where she was a Michener Fellow. Her short stories and poetry have appeared in Bellingham Review, The Comstock Review, Icarus International, and elsewhere.

She's also received many honors for her writing, including a major grant from the Tacoma Arts Commission, the William Stafford Award, and the Associated Writing Programs Intro Journals Project Award.

She blogs at www.catintheflock.com and has been a guest-blogger for Author magazine and Dr. Chris Michaels's blog.

Brunette is a member of Mystery Writers of America and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association.

Connect: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Google+ | Instagram |


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

Author Interview with Mind Over Bullies Author D.K. Smith

This week Genuine Jenn is welcoming D.K. Smith to our  Author Spotlight Saturday! We had the opportunity to review Mind Over Bullies this past summer and can't wait to read book 2! 

Welcome D.K. Smith!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and why/what inspired you to write? When did you start writing?

For me, I began writing in high school but never felt like any of my ideas were worthy of pursuing. During my sophomore year my creative writing teacher told me that I had a knack for storytelling and my English teacher told me that I if I honed my skills I could possibly pursue a writing scholarship. But it wasn’t until my 30’s that I began to pursue publishing any of my works. I actually wrote a few short children’s books in an effort to create stories and characters for my expected niece. I wanted her to have a set of stories that were all her own. Funny thing is that while she hadn’t really taken a liking to them, my other nieces and nephews have (all ages 2-4) and the public has really taken a liking to them. In fact, the Sock n Boots stories have been downloaded thousands of times in over 10 different languages. 

What was your inspiration for ‘Mind Over Bullies'?

I like to watch world events to get inspiration. So as I perused the internet one day, I saw the story of a young teen girl that jumped in front of a moving subway train to end her life. Later it was discovered that she was disheartened over constant bullying centered on rumors that were spread about her. The more I searched, the more I stumbled upon other disturbing stories like the first one. It was frightening to me that so many young people were either hurting themselves or other people in response to bullying. I wanted to create an entertaining way to promote two main ideas 1) there is life after bullying and 2) don’t fight the battle alone.

Plus, I am a complete superhero fan so I figured that it would be cool to make a group of heroes that tackled such a nasty issue but in a way that had an entertaining spin on it. My hope was to create moments that would resonate with bullying victims and possibly help bullies understand how serious their actions are as well.

Not to get too far off topic, I really think that the media’s coverage of the bullying epidemic is improperly targeted. I think more effort should be placed on promoting the idea that there is so much life to live after the school years are over. In the story Margo had something horrific happen to her that changed her life, and she attempted to take her own life. What readers get to see from Margo however, is the good that a person can accomplish after surviving a bullying incident. I just strongly feel that the message of surviving, conquering and thriving afterward should begin to take center stage in the media as it relates to the bullying issue. Can you imagine the effect that stories like that could have on young minds?

What three words would you use to best describe Mind Over Bullies?

Entertaining, suspenseful and engaging

Can you tell us if you’re working on anything else at the moment?


I am currently working on the sequel to mind over bullies. The MOB team face a test of their own, a new company come to Oak View and two new bullying victims surface. It has more of the twists and turns that reviewers enjoyed about part I and it promises to be just has intense.

I have also completed a sci-fi novel titled ‘Actuality.’ The premise is that science reasons that during REM sleep the mind disconnects from sensory input from the world around it. Professor Victor Melburn has worked for years to disprove that notion. His argument is that the mind of a sleeping person, and thus the person themselves, can connect to and even interact with the world around them… through memories.  If the professor is correct and a sleeping person consciously interacts with the world around them, are they really asleep? If the connection and interaction is made through memories, would the person be interacting with the past or the present? 

All of the professor’s theories are prematurely tested by the deep seated desires of one student researcher, Jacob Alson. With the opportunity to go back and meet the mother he never knew he violates every rule of the research project to seize the moment. The results far surpass all expectations… for better and for worse.

Then there is another children’s book from the Sock n Boots series about imagination and an espionage novel. So my plate is full.

What was your very first book that you wrote?

It was Sock n Boots – Share. You can find it on Amazon within the “Sock n Boots Adventures” storybook.

Other than your own, what are your favourite books?

You’re gonna laugh at this. I actually don’t do much reading. I am a huge fan of movies. I love stories but when I read my mind wanders, so I don’t do it. Outside of serious reading like the bible or some self-help books. Weird,,,I know.  

When you are writing do you like to listen to music? What is on your playlist?


I am so focused when I write and I get so involved in the character’s world that I couldn’t listen to music and write at the same time though I am a huge fan of music.

I like Maroon 5 a lot, I like Tina Marie and lately I’ve been listening to Rick James, Sade, and a bunch of oldies. Music today has downgraded so much and to me that there isn’t much to zero in on. Nobody makes entire killer albums anymore so I watch MTV from time to time and the apple commercials and I always find new singles that way.I am pretty diverse in what I will listen to. If it grabs me then I will try to find out who sings it. 

Who is your favorite character in your books?

Margo from Mind Over Bullies and I like the lead character from the espionage novel I mentioned. Margo is tough, resilient and over time she becomes humble. I like her wit.

I can’t say who the lead character in the espionage novel is yet, but he’s a guy, intelligent, well-traveled, and cultured with a vulnerability that makes him likeable.

Do you ever take characteristics or nuances from close friends or family when working on character development and if so has that friend or family member noticed and what was their response to it?


Honestly, I like to make my characters from scratch so to speak. I have a general idea of who they are and their personalities develop as the story does. It is an unconventional style of writing but it works for me and lets me feel free and a lot more creative.


Visit D.K. Smith on Amazon.


Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions here on Genuine Jenn for our readers.  


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

Hot Mama: 12 Secrets to a Sizzling Hot Marriage by Kathi Lipp & Erin Macpherson ~ Book Review

Book Synopsis:

"These hot mamas tell you how you can stop feeling 'whatever' about sex and start feeling 'woo-hoo!'"--Sheila Wray Gregoire, author of The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex

It's easy for us moms to slip into the habit of letting the craziness of our days interfere with our relationships with our husbands. We simply don't have the energy or the ideas for a spicy, satisfying sex life. We're usually just amazed we made it to the end of the day without collapsing or throttling someone.

Hot Mama to the rescue!

In this witty book, hot mamas Kathi Lipp and Erin MacPherson share hilarious stories and creative ideas from moms everywhere to help you build a relationship with your spouse that's happy, healthy, and fun. From building confidence and banishing guilt to flirting (remember that?) and wearing clothes that get you--and him--in the mood, Kathi and Erin show you how to take your sex life from ho-hum to sizzling hot.

Purchase a copy through Baker Publishing Group website.

About the Authors:
Kathi Lipp is the author of Praying God's Word for Your Husband, The Husband Project, and I Need Some Help Here! She is a conference and retreat speaker who reaches thousands of women each year and has been a guest on numerous national radio programs, including Focus on the Family. She and her husband have four children and live in California. Learn more at www.kathilipp.com.

Erin MacPherson
is a wife, mom, speaker, and writer. She is a staff writer and editor for a number of major online parenting and educational publications, including Nickelodeon and Dun & Bradstreet. Her popular blog, ChristianMamasGuide.com, offers women godly, tell-it-like-it-is advice and information. She and her husband have three children and live in Texas.
Review: 

While reading Hot Mama I could tell that Kathi & Erin must have had a lot of fun working on this novel together. It is light, fun and informative. It was definitely a quick and easy enjoyable read. I love that they talk about how it is okay for women to enjoy ourselves in the bedroom with our husbands and not feel yucky or ashamed. They talk about life, family and everything else going on around us and how we should make time to have special time with our husbands to strengthen the bonds between each other. Sex is not a sin and is not just for men, God intend women and men to both enjoy it together. Tips on how to feel a lot sexier for our husbands is also discussed throughout the book.

Each chapter was written by one of the ladies and at the end of the chapter there are three things for the reader to think about or do: A Hot Mama Pledge, Real Hot Mama Ideas and Hot Mama Bucket List. The ladies give the readers ideas on how to put a little fun and passion into our relationships and talk about how to achieve a stronger bond with your partner. This book is geared for women, hence the title Hot Mama but I am sure your husband will enjoy some of the book also. I read some of it out loud to mine and he would ask so when are you thinking we should try this or he would laugh out loud with some of it.

I really enjoyed this fun read and would recommend it to any Christian Hot Mama who isn't feeling so hot at the moment. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.


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

Loot by Chris Keane ~ Book Review

Book Synopsis: 

In the spirit of The Goonies and Stand By Me comes an exciting new tale about adventure, friendship and risking it all for the Atari 2600.

It’s the autumn of 1977. Twelve-year-old Andy Astoria’s life is about to change forever. His aunt dies, leaving behind a farmhouse full of treasures. And the Atari 2600 is about to be unleashed on throngs of adoring fans at Middlebrook Junior High.

On a perfect Halloween day, Andy convinces his best friends, Carl and Teddy, to skip trick-or-treating. Their mission? Search his aunt’s farmhouse for cash so they can purchase their generation’s Holy Grail. Two tiny problems. They’ll have to navigate the winding hills of northern New Jersey to get there. And manage to outrun Andy’s pack of crazy, greed-fueled relatives hot on their trail.

Will they make it to the farmhouse in one piece? Will Andy discover something more important than the treasure? When in doubt, leave the candy…and go for the LOOT! 


Purchase a copy on Amazon

About the Author: 


Chris graduated from Rutgers University and studied the art of storytelling at Gotham Writers Workshop in New York City. Chris' short stories have appeared in various BLOGS and writers' forums on holiday and eighties nostalgia. His story, "Christmas Service", was featured on the Holiday Tales website in December of 2013. Chris wrote the screenplay for a short film, "The Baseball Card", about three twelve-year old boys who fight over a Don Mattingly baseball card during the summer of 1984. "The Baseball Card" was an official selection of the Garden State Film Festival, Hoboken International Film Festival, and Maryland International Film Festival in 2014. He is currently a contributing writer for Pennant Collective (Atlantic Highlands, NJ).
 
Connect: Twitter | Goodreads |

Review: 

If you remember the Atari 2600 game system then this will bring you down memory lane, this is a quick read that is just perfect for the fall/Halloween time. It is about friendship, adventure and games! Andy, Teddy and Carl need to get their hands on the Atari 2600 system but can't get their parents to buy one. Andy has the perfect way to get a hold of some money to buy the Atari and all the games out if the boys can get to his Great Aunt's house, who just passed away and hated banks, so rumor has it she has money stashed all over the farmhouse. Only problem is they need to find the hidden loot before any of his cousins get their hands on it. The three boys head out on the bus to the old farmhouse and have quite the adventure to obtain some loot and miss out on all the candy loot from Halloween.

I look forward to reading more from Chris Keane as I fully believe this would have been a great full length novel. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. 



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

47 Little Love Boosters by Marko Petkovic ~ Book & Audio Review

47 Little Love Boosters: Amazingly Simple Little Things Successful Couples Do: Connect and Instantly Deepen Your Bond No Matter How Busy You Are 

Do You Want To Be Able To Connect and Instantly Deepen Your Bond With Your Loved One No Matter How Busy You Are?

>>> Why you need to read this book

Whether your relationship is a new romance, or one that has passed the test of time, there might be days when you wonder how to keep the fire burning.

As you read this book, you’ll discover amazingly simple little things successful couples do to show their love and connect with their loved one in just minutes a day, even if they’re busy parents with young kids!

We call them the “Little Love Boosters for a Happy Marriage” because they:

✓ require no cooperation from your spouse

✓ take very little of your time—sometimes only seconds!

✓ you can do them at home

✓ are free!

>>> Your secret to lasting love

You are here. It’s your time now, and you’re ready to take action.

When you download the book, you’ll get the complimentary, beautifully designed golden collection with 47 little love boosters and a FREE success checklist. You can save it to your phone or print it out and have a quick peep anytime and anywhere you want.

This will become your little secret to achieving a lasting love and a happy marriage even if you’re not an overly creative person or a hopeless romantic.

>>> No fancy jargon

You won’t be wasting your time sifting through useless jargon. Instead, you’ll find straight-to-the-point advice, proven by the author and his wife themselves.

>>> Bonus FREE Audio Book Included!

This book comes with a FREE bonus audio book. You can listen to it while driving the car, cleaning the house, working out, or going for a jog—when your mind is available. This way you don’t have to take any extra time out of your life to make the happy marriage you and your partner deserve.

>>> The results are magical. Download this book now to find out how you can achieve them too.

Get your copy FREE on Amazon.

About the Author: 

Marko Petkovic is the author of the 47 Little Love Boosters and
Feel Good Marriage and creator of feelgoodrituals.com, dedicated to helping people achieve healthy, fulfilling relationships, personal success and abundance by developing habits and rituals that make us feel good.

He believes that successful relationships are acts of doing, not having, and can therefore be learned. Marko believes that every person has a choice, and that everyone can change.

Married for more than fifteen years to a beautiful woman who has a successful career of her own,
Marko writes for modern women and men of the twenty-first century who struggle balancing their professional work with home and raising kids while trying to be good partners to their life mates.

Marko is also the father of two boys. He would like to consider himself to be a kickass husband and father, but he still screws up every now and then. When this happens, he says to himself, “Tomorrow, I’ll do better,” and sees those everyday family challenges as inspiration for his own work. He starts his day early and believes that hope is not a plan.
 

Connect: Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Review:

I am reviewing the audiobook on here. The author narrates his own ebook onto audio. I really enjoyed listening to Marko Petkovic read his book. He doesn't read it too slow or fast and has a great cadence. I also love his accent, which could be hard for some people to listen to though as it is pretty thick. 

Marko's book is about making positives and rituals in your relationship with your partner. Doing little things to show you respect and care for your spouse. Marko gives examples of some little things we sometimes don't even think about like making a coffee for our partner or saying encouraging words. It is simple and easy to say I love you but the actions do speak louder than words. Surprise your partner, have meaningful conversations, spend time together having fun, this one can be hard sometimes as we all get busy with the kids and their activities, work etc forgetting to actually spend quality time with our partners doing fun activities not just cleaning the house or paying bills.  Marko shares 47 love boosters to use in your daily life to help keep the magic going in your relationship. Included in a checklist you can print off his website. 

I give this audiobook a 3.5 out of 5 stars. It is nice to have the little reminders to do something just for your partner for no reason and give them touches to feel connected in our busy lives.  


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

Evitable Destiny by Izabela Monick ~ Book Review & Tour


Book Description: 

Since Chris's mother died when he was sixteen years old, he has lived for only one goal: seeking revenge on his mother’s ex-lover, Kevin. Determined not to repeat his mother’s mistake, Chris vows never to fall into love’s seductive, deceptive clutches.

With Kevin’s business teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, Chris senses his chance. He kidnaps Kevin’s stepdaughter, Julia, and sets a ransom—if Kevin cancels a company-saving business deal, then Julia will be returned. The scheme seems perfect—until Chris’s long-suppressed feelings for Julia bubble to the surface. Julia, meanwhile, proves a resilient captive with a knack for pushing Chris’s buttons, even as her own feelings for her kidnapper become increasingly conflicted.

As the passion between Chris and Julia heats up, other forces come into play. Chris isn’t the only one who wants Julia, nor is he the only one willing to abduct her to satisfy his needs. Julia’s life—and perhaps Chris’s only chance at love—are in danger. Will Chris fight for his happily ever after—or will he let destiny take its own path? 


Purchase a copy on Amazon

About the Author: 

Izabela Monick is the author of the suspenseful romance novel Evitable Destiny, a complex mix of love, hate, trust, betrayal, and steamy sexual encounters. Izabela lives in New York with her husband and two children. She works as an accountant during the day and as a writer at night. Since she was young, Izabela has loved both math and writing, but when she picked an accounting career to pay her bills, she still dreamed of becoming an author. Finally, she found the courage to sit down and write her own novel. Now, Izabela delights in shocking her readers with unexpected twists and turns while keeping her plots brimming with heated passion until the final page.  

Connect: Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon |  


 Follow the Tour on Legit Lit Books
Review: 

This book had me full of mixed emotions. The story jumps right into the action and doesn't let up throughout the book. I found that the author did a great job at keeping the reader on their toes and throwing more and more twist into the plot. When you think things couldn't get worse for Julia, they do. Julia, the main character goes through so many ordeals from two kidnappings, rape, being controlled by everyone in her life. The author has a lot of characters throughout the book but does a great job of intertwining them all together. I would have liked to have had a bit more time to get to know Eva a little more at the beginning. 

Here is my thoughts on the main characters

Julia - I did like Julia but she drove me nuts throughout the book with how naive she is and her falling in love with her kidnapper.  Julia had a hard life after her father passed away and has been controlled by everyone in her life there after. I believe she is a smart, kind, loving girl who needs to get some major help to break away from all the hardships that has happened to her in her life.

Kevin - Julia's stepfather, I really never got to liking this man even in the end I found he had a lot of issues that needed to be resolved in his head.

Chris -  Had this guy not kidnapped Julia and had massive control issues then I would have really enjoyed his character and rooted for Julia and Chris to be together. He does have a heart of gold under the controlling crazed man he is but he needs some therapy.

Pat: At first I couldn't stand this man but by the end I found myself liking him even though I know I shouldn't.

You will need to go into this book with an open mind as there are scenes of control and rape and Julia displaces Stockholm syndrome and it is really hard to not want to throw the book at a wall and yell at Julia to not be so dumb.

I do give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars as it hooked me from the beginning and kept me wanting to find out what would happen next. The sex scenes are smoking hot. For a debut novel from this author it didn't read like one at all. The author did a fabulous job!


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

Interview with Nine Lives Author Stephanie Barr

Please welcome Stephanie Barr author of Nine Lives book #2 in the Bete Book series! Stephanie was kind enough to let us ask her a few questions about the new novel and herself. Let's get started!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and why/what inspired you to become a writer? When did you start writing?

I literally can't remember when I didn't love telling stories. Most of my "essays" in high school were made more into stories and I wrote more besides. Truthfully, although I wrote stuff before then, the first thing I wrote that I still have is a poem "A Cold Wind on the Hill" that I wrote when I was t13 or 14. Before that, I'd write a poem or a short story or something, read it, think, "That's not too bad," then throw it away. This poem, I showed to my father. Although it might have been the last thing of mine he really enjoyed, he made me keep everything I wrote after that. In high school and into college, I wrote tons of poetry. In college and into real life, I wrote tons of short stories. But, when I dove into novels, I mostly stayed.

I think poetry is a great way to start writing. It can really make you cognitive of the power of language, the sound and cadence, the importance of the right word. Short stories teach a great deal as well, how to introduce and make real characters with a few short lines, how to make dialog feel genuine, how to write for impact.

Since my degree is in Engineering Physics, and I tested out of college English, I'm pretty much entirely self-taught, but I know what I like to read and that's what I write.

What was your inspiration for ‘Nine Lives’?

The whole series was largely inspired by Fruits Basket, not that they're really alike so much but I did like delving into the notion of having a hard time coming to grips with a shape-changing baby. And I liked the matchup that didn't happen in Fruits Basket, so I wrote Beast Within, the first in the series. But I'd always seen it as at least three books, each exploring one of the three friends: Xander, Laren and Rem.

Laren is the obnoxious hotheaded foster brother from Beast Within, and he's funny but often overshadowed by his kickass foster brother, Xander. When I turned to Nine Lives, I wanted to give Laren a chance to shine in ways where he never had because Xander had always been there to do it. By taking Xander out of the equation, Laren had to step up, but do so in a way that didn't negate his character, just grow it up. My husband at the time was convinced I couldn't make Laren totally the star, but he changed his tune and, truthfully, I'm not sure he doesn't like Nine Lives even more than Beast Within.

What three words would you use to best describe Nine Lives?
Laren proves himself.

Can you tell us if you’re working on anything else at the moment?

I've always got some novels in the works, but I haven't really leapt into anything for a while. I have another novel I'm about to put out there, but I finished it a long time ago. Recently, I've been dabbling with short stories again and may play with that until my subconscious figures out what novel it wants to write next.

What was your very first book that you wrote?

First one I wrote was a Regency romance novel called An Unknowing Vow. Don't look for it out there because it's entirely devoid of a plot and I won't do anything with it until I come up with one. The second novel I completed and the first one that's really finished is Curse of the Jenri which I'm hoping to publish by the end of this year or early next year.

Other than your own, what are your favourite books?

This is always a tough question for me because I've spent most of my life as an avid reader, eclectic and diverse. And I don't usually think of titles so much as authors that I devour whole like Robert Heinlein and Robert Ludlum and James Clavell and Frank Herbert and Sharon Lee and Steve Miller and Georgette Heyer and Nora Roberts and the list goes on. I love strong characters and humor in my books; I love to get lost in them.

Now, the past five years or so, I've left much of my novels on the shelf and I've been reading a lot of manga. It's been fascinating for me and I'm not quite sure what I'm trying to soak up with each of them, but all the novels (except Curse of the Jenri and An Unknowing Vow) have been inspired by a character or an idea in manga.

When you are writing to you like to listen to music? What is on your playlist?

I don't listen to music. I like to listen to music I can sing to and I can't have words coming at me when I'm writing. So, writing is one of the few things I do without a music background. Music is great for doing math, though.

When I listen to music it's even more eclectic than my books. Good voices, good harmonies, good melodies. I've been listening to a lot of Straight No Chaser and Pentatonix recently.

Who is your favorite character in your books?

I love most of my protagonists. I mean, you have to if you're going to spend gobs of time with them. Some charm the snot out of me (Laren, Dante, Tander), some are just so easy for me to identify with (Layla, Xander, Dylan). Dylan Chroz, from Saving Tessa is probably my absolute favorite character because I totally identify with him. He has all of my awkwardness when it comes to social situations but all of my acumen and skills (x10) and that professional self-confidence that throws people.

Do you ever take characteristics or nuances from close friends or family when working on character development and if so has that friend or family member noticed and what was their response to it?

I absorb everything in my day to day life, people I meet, situations I find interesting, people I know well. Almost all of it finds a home in a totally different venue. I think, most of the time, people don't recognize it. But, when they do, they've usually been pleased and/or amazed at how well I reproduced their train of thought.

Thanks for talking to us at Genuine Jenn and sharing with our readers! 

Purchase a copy of Nine Lives on Amazon
Book Synopsis: 

Nine Lives – The Bete, Book 2: The planet where the Bete and humans crashed has not finished with its nasty surprises, incapacitating the Bete leaders: Xander the Dragon and his healer mate, K'Ti. Suddenly everything is in the hands of Xander’s hot-headed foster brother, Laren.

Laren must not only race against time to stop the virus before it infects others or kills his brother, but deal with threats from the humans that have overrun the other camp. Can Laren set aside his pugnacious character and save his brother? Can he save his own camp and rescue those humans who support them in the other camp? These questions will matter to you. Ms. Barr builds characters that grow and become a part of the reader. You’ll care about these people.

Nine Lives is a fantasy adventure Young Adult novel with an ensemble cast. It is intended for the emerging adult market, but accessible for adults as well. The book is the second in the Bete series (following Beast Within). The series is a worthy successor to the warrior adventure tales of the “Golden Age” of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

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

Once Upon a Zombie (Book One: The Color of Fear) by Billy Phillips

Book Synopsis: 

Unexplainablenews.com is reporting strange phenomena in cemeteries in Scotland, Germany, Italy, and America. Only one individual knows what's happening - and why! This person also knows the one girl who can prevent an unspeakable and imminent catastrophe from taking place. But will she? When Caitlin Fletcher's mom disappeared (or left?) four years ago, Caitlin began suffering from breathless bouts of anxiety. Her new move to London, with her Dad and her brainiac sister, threatens to lead to more situations that will trigger panic. Now, she's having anxiety over the possibility of having anxiety! Caitlin's life takes a turn for the bizarre when she's tricked into climbing down a "rabbit hole", landing in a wondrous fairy tale universe - except it's crawling with savage, starving blood-eyed zombies. But what's scarier - a blood thirsty zombie, a panic attack....or the painful truth?!

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

Visit Once Upon a Zombie website for more information on this new series and the dolls!  Follow on Twitter & Facebook

Review: 

If you are a fan of the fairy tales Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White etc then you will love how all our favorite fairy tale characters come to live or well Zombified in this book. This is a great YA book with a mission to help young teens overcome fear in their lives. I really enjoyed following Caitlin's adventure to help the princesses save the Kingdom from the Queen of Hearts. Caitlin has many fears since her mother left, she has anxiety really bad and also has a few run ins with some girls who like to bully other peers.

I really loved the character, Natalie, Caitlin's eleven year old super intelligent sister. She is a great addition to the story, who has very little fear compared to her sister. The author does a fantastic job with the flow of the story keeping readers following the adventure. The character development for this book is really good and I can't wait to see where Caitlin and her sister go in book two. It is a fun twist on the fairy tale characters and adding the much loved zombies into this YA book. I feel it could be read by 9 +. I have actually set it aside for my daughter to read in a couple years.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

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

Fugly Book Review


Book Synopsis: 

UGLY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER...
My name is Lily Snow. I am twenty-five years old, and despite being born with an unattractive face, I have never doubted who I am: smart, driven, and beautiful on the inside.

Until I met Maxwell Cole.

He's handsome, excessively wealthy, and the owner of Cole Cosmetics. It's been my dream to work for this man for as long as I can remember. The good news is he wants to hire me. The bad news is he wants me for all the wrong reasons. Ugly reasons.


In exchange, he's offered me my dreams on a silver platter. The job. The title. A beautiful future. But this man is as messed up and ugly as they come on the inside. I'm not sure anyone can help him, and he just might take my heart down with him.

Purchase a copy on Amazon.  

Book Review:

This is a hard one. I’ve read the other reviews and can empathize with those who had trouble visualizing a woman with perfect hair, ideal body type, matching brains, and still thought to be unattractive. But, I found myself remembering the insecurities of a younger me. (God, what I wouldn’t give to have just those insecurities.) We are our most hardest critics. 

So, the author embellished the reactions of others to the heroine’s physical appearance? Don’t we do that ourselves? That’s the point. 

The love story exposes how we, as women, let our insecurities ruin and run our lives. It perfectly illustrates how our self-doubts and personal uncertainties can stop the very truth that emotional attraction can enhance physical attraction to levels that go beyond lust. And, hinder our abilities to believe in the good of love and, inherently, our capability to be love.
This book is worth reading. Difficult for our visual reading to comprehended at first, but very much worth it. You have to understand the author’s position, and be open minded to her obvious message going into the book. If you can do that, you will find yourself caught in a love story so true and real that you will doubt the authenticity of other romance writers. 

Just try to be as open minded as possible and read this one. Then, look in the mirror, find yourself, and tell your evil insecurities to get lost.

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