12 Days of Christmas Books ~ Christmas Wishes by Patricia Kiyono

Tuesday, December 03, 2013 Anonymous No comments

Book Summary:

Photographer Mitch Carson is tired of big city life. He just wants to settle down in a quiet town with his daughter, Angie. Even that doesn’t quell his fear of losing his daughter to his scheming mother-in-law.

Sophie Gardner wants to be a screenwriter. She's ready to leave small-town Zutphen, Michigan and go to Hollywood. With a theater degree under her belt, she's busy writing scripts while helping out her sister Joanie, who's bedridden with a difficult pregnancy. Unfortunately, Joanie has somehow coerced Sophie into directing the Christmas pageant at Zutphen Community Church.

When Sophie and Mitch meet, the attraction is instant and mutual. But each wants what the other is trying to get away from. Can they deny their feelings and pursue their dreams? Or will the holiday prove to them that their true wishes might not be what they'd thought.

Purchase an e-copy for only .99!

About the Author:

During her first career, Patricia Kiyono taught elementary music, computer classes, elementary classrooms, and junior high social studies. She now teaches part time at Grand Valley State University.
She lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from her children and grandchildren. Current interests, aside from writing, include sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and music. A love of travel and an interest in faraway people inspires her to create stories about different cultures.

Connect: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

My Thoughts:

I loved this book! A great contemporary romance that had me from the very first page. This isn't your typical girl meets guy and falls head over heels. This story is of a single dad of a little girl who moves to a small town from the be city to raise his little girl. His wife passed away but that didn't stop her mother from keeping a close eye on Mitch to prove that he isn't a fit father. She goes to extremes while Mitch goes on with his life and meets a beautiful blonde name Sophie. Sophie is friendly, beautiful and great with kids. She also falls for Mitch and his daughter. Sophie was determined to move away from the small town to the big city until Mitch arrived. This is a great Christmas story as it takes place over the holidays and Sophie is putting together a Christmas concert at the church also where Mitch's daughter attends. There is a twist with Mitch's mother in law keeping Mitch on his toes all the while he settles in to his new home and new life that he would love to share with Sophie.

I felt that the author did an great job with forming the characters that made me feel it was a very realistic story line. I really liked Mitch & Sophie and would love to see more about these two in maybe a second book. The storyline flowed well and didn't have any "slow" spots.

I give this book a 5 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.*~

12 Days of Christmas Books ~ Romancing the Dustman's Daughter by Ruth J Hartman

Monday, December 02, 2013 Anonymous 2 comments

Add to Goodreads shelf

Book Summary:

Augustus Sinclair has a broken heart. His betrothed has dropped him for his best friend. Former best friend. When he meets Anne Balfour, though, he questions whether he'd ever really been in love with his fiancé. Some of Anne’s reactions to what he considers everyday activities are puzzling, but that doesn't stop him from falling head over heels for the first time in his life.

Anne Balfour is amazed to be a guest at the Shrewsbury’s, one of Mayfair’s most well-to-do families - even if the circumstances are less than ideal. Still, she can't help but get caught up in the excitement of society life. Especially when in the company of Augustus Sinclair. He makes her believe in love and romance, even if she is just the dustman’s daughter.

Purchase a e-copy for .99!

About the Author:

Ruth J. Hartman spends her days herding cats, and her nights spinning sweet romantic tales that make you smile, giggle or laugh out loud. She, her husband, and their three cats, love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats, Maxwell, Roxy and Remmie, sit in the people's recliners. Not that the cats couldn't get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else's. You know how selfish those little furry creatures can be.

Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, Jeep driving, farmhouse-dwelling romance writer uses her goofy sense of humor as she writes tales of lovable, klutzy women and the men who adore them. Ruth's husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her in spite of her penchant for insisting all of her books have at least one cat in them. Or twelve. But hey, who's counting?

Connect with Ruth on her Blog * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful fairytale romance just in time for the holiday season. A budding romance comes together all because of a father's love for wanting to get rich. Anne's father came home one day with this elaborate scheme of blackmailing a client to take in his daughter and wed her to a rich man.

Anne didn't want to go along with her father but didn't want to let him down either. Anne meets Augustus and builds a budding relationship with and his friend Fritz.

I fell in love with both Anne and Augustus, they are very well rounded individuals that have a caring personality. I also loved the maid's character and how Anne had her to confide in when she really needed someone to be there for her through everything.

I had a hard time putting this book down when I had to pick the kids up from school. I was hooked from the beginning and loved the story line. I felt really connected with Anne, she is such a strong lady and took everything with her head up high. She didn't let people bring her down even when she didn't fit in with the wealthy individuals. This is a clean romance book that contains no swearing or sex but it doesn't mean there wasn't some thinking of sweet physical romance.

I give this a 5 star and can't wait to read the next book by Ruth J Hartman.

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

Black Friday Nail Wrap Designs

Friday, November 29, 2013 Anonymous No comments

Looking for some wrap nail art to add as stocking stuffers or gifts for your loved ones. Maybe even something for yourself to wear during the holidays? Head on over to http://jenniferlevac.jamberrynails.net/ and pick up one or all of these fabulous exclusive designs! Just for Black Friday!

Keep an eye out for TWO great Cyber Monday Deals - One for my Canadian fans and One for my American fans!

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

Guest Post ~ When “no” doesn’t always mean “no” by Jen McConnel

Thursday, November 28, 2013 Anonymous 1 comment

Sometimes, it takes a little bit of luck to realize your dreams, and sometimes, you need to get out of your own way and stop believing the worst.

When I first began pursuing a writing career, I didn’t know the difference between a good rejection and a form rejection. No meant no, and that was the end of the story. I didn’t even save some of my early rejection; I know we’ve all read about writers who carried around every rejection they’d ever received, and at the time, I didn’t want to have that kind of psychic baggage.

Silly, I know. You can learn a lot from rejections, and over the years, I’ve learned the difference between a good rejection and a form rejection.

I think we all know what a form rejection feels like. It’s a closed store, a form letter, a “thanks, but no thanks”. These rejections are hard to process, and other than when to move on, they don’t offer much educational value.

But a good rejection is different. This might be a rejection that opens the door for future projects, or a rejection that provides real feedback and critical suggestions; both of these things were included in the first rejection I received from my editor at Bloomsbury Spark, and I’m so glad I didn’t hit that rejection earlier in my life as a writer. When I queried Spark, it was with a YA project I still haven’t found a home for, and the editor wrote me a great rejection letter. She offered plot suggestions and story arc feedback, and she told me how much she loved my voice, even if the project wasn’t right.

That rejection turned into a dialogue about my other work, and ultimately led to the acquisition of my New Adult novel THE SECRET OF ISOBEL KEY.

No doesn’t always mean no. Sometimes, it means, “try something else”; sometimes, it means, “revise and resubmit”; and sometimes, it means, “what else do you have?” A good rejection can be the luckiest thing that happens to you, if you are able to get passed “no” and find the advice.

But remember: sometimes, no really means “no”. Learn to tell the difference between a good rejection and a form rejection, and act accordingly. Much as it pains me to say this, save all your rejections; you never know what you might learn from them, and most of the time, you won’t be ready to hear it right away. Just don’t wallpaper your bathroom in them or anything; trust that luck and persistence will bring you to the place you are longing to be, and remember there’s a fine line between learning from your rejections and dwelling on them.

credit James Barrett 2013

About Jen

Jen McConnel first began writing poetry as a child. A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches college writing composition and yoga. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time. Her debut NA novel, THE SECRET OF ISOBEL KEY, is coming December 2013 from Bloomsbury Spark .

Connect With Jen

THE SECRET OF ISOBEL KEY

Lou is in the middle of a quarter-life crisis. Fresh out of college, she’s unemployed and unsure of herself. But when she gets the chance to escape to Scotland with her best friend, it could be the answer to her quest for self-discovery. The trip is not at all what she expected, especially when her tour guide turns out to be the dreamy historian Brian, and together they embark on a hunt for information about Isobel Key, a woman accused of witchcraft in the seventeenth century.

They set out to learn the truth of the condemned witch, but Lou isn’t prepared for the knowledge that awaits her. She must face her own demons if she has any hope of righting the wrongs of the past.

Flashing between seventeenth century Scotland and a contemporary romance, THE SECRET OF ISOBEL KEY is a mystery that will please readers of all ages.

Learn More

Read my review of this fabulous book!

Wordless Wednesday ~ First Snow Storm

Wednesday, November 27, 2013 Anonymous 4 comments

Woke up to our first real snow storm in our area, buses cancelled and people out shoveling.

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

I'm a Jamberry Independent Consultant!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013 Anonymous No comments

At the beginning of October I was on Facebook like any normal day, checking out my news feed, seeing what everyone was up to and posting a new status update. I saw a friend having an online party for Jamberry. I popped into the party to see what it was all about and discovered something that has become part of my daily life.

Jamberry is a company out of the USA that was founded by three sisters who loved hanging out and getting their nails done. They found though that it was hard to get everyone together for the time it took to go to the salon and spend a ton of money and they needed babysitters. They decided they needed a solution to this and came up with their own at home mani's. They offer a great ground level business with a wide open opportunity for women to choose how they would like to do their own business. Some join just to get a great discount on their nail wraps and other supplies and others join to make a great business opportunity for themselves. I joined to check it out, to save money and who knows maybe make a business that I can do part time with a full time income. The last would be my ultimate goal!

Anyways I jumped on the Jamberry wagon really fast, October 9th was my start up date and I started to work on this awesome opportunity right away. I set up my business page on Facebook (Jenuinely Jammin Nails), ordered 500 business cards and shared my excited with all my friends on Facebook and everywhere I go. Now that I have a few minutes I wanted to share my love for Jamberry with my readers!

Jamberry just launched in Canada September 1st and only started in Ontario and BC. They have more provinces opening December 1st - Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan! I am sure there will be other places soon enough and if you are interested let me know and I will keep you updated.

These amazing nail wraps are non toxic, latex free and gluten free! They have over 300 designs (including a Jr line for girls under 8 or women with small nail beds), along with a monthly exclusive design called the Sister Style Exclusive!

There is no drying time or chipping, they are heat and pressure activated. They can last up to TWO weeks on your fingers and up to SIX weeks on your toes, isn't that awesome?

I have posted a couple of my manicures and can't wait to share more with you. I have been keeping really busy with vendor events, home parties, fundraisers and online parties since I started!

Pop on over to my website (jenniferlevac.jamberrynails.net) and check it out! Let me know if I can help you in anyway. Don't forget to take a peak at what is coming up on Black Friday and "Like" my Facebook page to see the up coming Cyber Monday deal!

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

Dinner Made Easy with Maggi So Juicy ~ Review

Monday, November 25, 2013 Anonymous No comments

The Million dollar question that most of us ask ourselves at 3 or 4pm is What's for dinner? I am going to prepare some mashed potatoes, veggies and chicken. Recently I was introduced to a quick and easy way to make juicy and flavorful chicken right at home.

Maggi So Juicy comes in 3 flavors - Mixed Herbs, Rotisserie and Garlic. It comes in a pouch that includes a cooking bag and seasoning. It is as simple as:

This was very quick, easy and tasty. Everyone enjoyed all three flavors with Garlic being our family favorite. I found the chicken seemed to cook faster also and was really juicy. The juice in the bag after cooking also made a really nice homemade gravy. It was a nice change to our regular cooked chicken.

Learn more about Maggi So Juicy on their website. Connect on Twitter & Facebook.

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

Get Fit ~ Weeks 10 & 11

Friday, November 22, 2013 Anonymous No comments

Weeks 10 & 11 flew right by! The past couple weeks have been really weird weather wise which has kept Molly and I in more than getting our outside walks completed. Last week we had a lot of cold wind and our walks are on a trail beside the water. This is the best place to walk with Molly as she is less distracted with smells, garbage, other dogs & their business. Why can't people pick up after their dogs? The last two falls (since getting Molly) I have seen a huge increase in people not picking up after their dogs do their business in the fall/winter. Why? This is the worst time not to pick up as people don't see it until they have stepped in it. Or in my sons case last fall he jumped into a pile a leaves that had a pile of nasty stuff under it. That experience has scarred the boy for fall leaf jumping forever! He refused to have fun this past fall and it was really sad as I remember that was one of the fun fall activities my friends and I enjoyed when we were his age.

Anyways I totally got off topic. So the last couple weeks I have been struggling to keep on my walking routine for a few reasons but I am happy to say I am down 6lbs and my clothes are fitting much nicer! I have also increased/toned my legs and buttocks. YAY!

I am still trying to figure out when to squeeze in some cardio at least three times a week. I would be even happy with twice a week to begin with. I have been dragging this past week as I have a sinus/head cold trying to push its way on me.

Last weeks Kilometers
Nov 11th - treadmill walking for 30 minutes - 2.29km with incline intervals up to 8
November 12 I was outside for a 3.52km walk
Nov 12th I also did treadmill walking for 30 minutes - 2.58km with incline intervals up to 5
Nov 13th - treadmill walking for 22 minutes - 1.6km with no inclines as I was super tired but a walk is better than no walk right? I was also able to get out for 1.5km outside.

Total last week 12.32km I missed my goal of 15-20km.

This past week I didn't get on the treadmill and walked only outside. I am hoping to get a least 30 minutes later today on the treadmill.
Nov 18th 4.73km
Nov 21st 4.73km
Nov 22nd 5.73km

This week I made my goal just barely at 15.19km. Next week I will push to get moving at minimum 15km.

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

Book Release Party Today for Imperfection by Phaedra Seabolt

Thursday, November 21, 2013 Anonymous No comments

Meara Falk always followed her parents' rules, until one night in March when the temptation to let loose changed her life forever.

Nine months later, disowned and with a baby on her hip, she discovers werewolves exist after being on the wrong end of some teeth and claws. During her first change, werewolves attack, stealing her son and driving her out of her home.

Now she’s looking for the man who kidnapped her baby and turned her life upside down. Meara's son is in the middle of a threatened war between two powerful packs. Getting him back will jeopardize the lives of everyone she loves.

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

It's not often I get to do an event for one of my bloggers, and this one is doubly special, because Phaedra is my publishing sister with Hayson Publishing!! Join us Thursday November 21st from 7-9 pm EST for some fun and games and a chance to chat up author Phaedra Seabolt!

Stalker links:

Facebook

Twitter

Website

Hope to see you all there!!

Brought to you by the Release Day Diva

Wordless Wednesday ~ Jammin Nails

Wednesday, November 20, 2013 Anonymous No comments

On the weekend A and I played around with a few of the Jamberry nail wrap samples that I have on hand. Those are Quill (blue, black, red, green & white) and Frill (red with white flowers & some of the left over of the wrap on her ring fingers) These are both new to the Fall/Winter 2013 catalog.

A's manicure was actually done with the adult sized wraps. It took about 35 minutes to do them with trimming the 2 strips! That is all it took! There are Jr sized wraps available also. A was super happy on how they turned out and it was so cute watching her with all the little girls at the bus stop Monday morning!

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

Exciting new series, cover reveal, and GIVEAWAY: Blood Orchid!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Anonymous No comments

Are you ready for a new kind of heroine? A new kind of antiheroine? Tough, outspoken, skirting the edge of morality in the the name of justice? Award-winning authors Karpov Kinrade (KK) and Anne Chaconas (ABC) have teamed up to bring you the kind of woman you can cheer for and would never want to cross.

Even better--you can be a part of it, too! Check out the Rafflecopter below to find out how you can get your name in one kickass story!

Meet Beverly Orchid

Who is Beverly Orchid?

KK: Bev is a complicated character who is motivated to act when others might sit back and let someone else handle the dirty work. I love her for that. I think fans will love that they can relate to her. We've all had those moments where we WISH we could act on our most base needs of revenge and blood justice, and that is what she does. She grabs her life by the balls and squeezes. Hard. She doesn't always make the morally right choice. But she makes the right choice for her and her family. She does what has to be done, and she's not afraid to get blood on her hands to do what she thinks is right.

I'm incredibly excited about exploring a darker character in contemporary fiction. Of all our Karpov Kinrade books published to date, my favorite characters have often been the villains who become antiheroes because of some redeeming moment or quality. (The Seeker in Forbidden Fire, Blake in Seduced by Pain and Seduced by Power) In fact, the antihero Blake, from Seduced: Rose's Story, is getting a 7 book series because he's so fucking badass and epic. Blood Orchid will give me a chance to not only work with one of my very best literary besties (ABC), but to tackle darker themes and characters in a contemporary setting with a female protagonist who has the kind of life from the outside that most of us can relate to.

I truly believe this series, which is 50% mystery and 50% thriller, will be 100% EPIC!

ABC: I can't fully pinpoint why I'm so very excited to dive headfirst into the world of Beverly Orchid. I don't know if it's because she's fully badass. I don't know if it's because she does shit that I wish I had the balls to do. I don't know if it's because I wish I knew her in real life, or because, on the surface, I could be her in real life. The thing about Bev is that she really could be that mom you see at the playground--no make-up, hair in a messy bun, wearing yoga pants and a baggy sweatshirt. Pushing her kid on the swing. Smiling in the sunshine.

Packing a 9mm in her purse. Getting ready to set things right.

Beverly's tough, funny, smart as a whip. She doesn't apologize for her choices. She is, however, sorry she's not sorry.

She's also vulnerable, confused, and frightened.

She's real. Writing her will be a bitch, because she's human. She's got all those foibles and peccadilloes and contradictions. Her motives aren't always good, and her actions don't always make sense. Sometimes she does one thing and sometimes the complete opposite (and feels they are both okay). Just. Like. Us.

Writing her will be a bitch--but I have a sneaking suspicion both KK and I are up for the kickass, groundbreaking challenge.

Coming Spring 2014: Blood Orchid

Beverly Orchid is out for blood. Blood Orchid Beverly Orchid Anne Chaconas Karpov Kinrade

When her twin sister ends up beaten and in a coma after taking Bev's place at a charity event, Beverly will stop at nothing to find her sisters' attacker and make him pay. But this seemingly random mugging takes a sinister twist as she's pulled deeper into the dark world of human trafficking and discovers a shocking lead in her investigation.

The attack wasn't random. And Beverly was the intended target.

As the trail goes cold and the police give up, Beverly is forced to make a choice between what is right--and what is just.

Darkly humorous, dangerously addictive, full of mystery and ethical conundrums, Blood Orchid will have you questioning what you would be capable of when faced with the worst kind of evil humanity offers.

Add Blood Orchid to your Goodreads to-read list!

Wondering exactly what kind of real-life antihero hero KK and ABC are crafting? Check out these back-and-forth tag-team blog posts, and you'll get a pretty good idea. **SPOILER** She's pretty damn badass.

Let's hear it for the anti-hero! - KarpovKinrade.com
I am an anti-hero. - AnneChaconas.com

Boys vs girls vs heroes vs antiheroes vs THE WORLD - AnneChaconas.com
Success: It's not just for men - KarpovKinrade.com

Why women need to be more than just the madonna or the whore - KapovKinrade.com
WOMEN: Be the change you want to see - AnneChaconas.com

Antiheroes: The new heroes - AnneChaconas.com
Our heroes have fallen: We need an anti-hero - KarpovKinrade.com

Get your name in Blood Orchid!

Enter the Rafflecopter below--the grand prize is having a character named after you! a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Light Bulb Baking by Todd Coopee ~ Book Review

Monday, November 18, 2013 Anonymous No comments

This first definitive retrospective of the Easy Bake® Oven celebrates its journey from children's toy to pop culture icon and inductee to The National Toy Hall of Fame. The book explores the innovation, history, economics, commerce, advertising, and marketing behind the toy’s 50 year history. This book is a must read for vintage toy collectors, nostalgia buffs, foodies, and anyone who has ever peered through the oven's watch it bake window, eagerly anticipating the moment they will be able to serve and enjoy their very own culinary concoction.

Purchase it on Amazon

About the Author:

Todd Coopee is a writer, award-winning business owner, toy historian, and pop-culture enthusiast. His affinity for nostalgia, vintage toys, and baking fed his passion for the Easy-Bake Oven, which led to his 2013 retrospective, Light Bulb Baking: A History of the Easy-Bake® Oven. Todd lives in Ottawa, Ontario and has been known to bake tiny treats for his friends and family.