IMM - In My Mailbox





WON from A Few More Pages for her birthday giveaway:
YOU CAN STILL ENTER THE LAST TWO OF HER BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAYS
The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen
My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren

BOUGHT
ONLY 99cents from B&N
buy it here
Saved by Allegra Skye
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

Won from Infinite Shelf
Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

What was in your MAILBOX this week?

On My Wish List


She’s all about going green. Could he be her white knight—or will he make her see red?

Tree-huggin’, animal-lovin’ Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan is on a mission. Well, two. First she has to come to terms with being a widow at thirty-three. After all, it’s been four years and even her five-year-old niece and nephew think it’s time she shed her widow’s weeds. Second, she needs to find a buyer for her family’s estate—a Biltmore-inspired mansion surrounded by hundreds of acres of unspoiled forestland. With family obligations forcing the sale, Bridget is determined to find an eco-friendly developer to buy the land, someone who won’t turn it into single-family homes or a cheesy theme park.

Enter J. C. Dirk, a high-energy developer from Atlanta whose green property developments have earned him national acclaim. When he doesn’t return her calls, Bridget decides a personal visit is in order. Unfortunately, J. C. Dirk is neither amused nor interested when she interrupts his meeting—until she mentions her family name. In short order, he finds himself in North Carolina, and Bridget has her white knight—in more ways than one. But there are things Bridget doesn’t know about J. C., and it could mean the end of everything she’s worked for…and break her heart.



One is the loneliest number.Nine years ago, Katie and Scott Monroe were blessed beyond their wildest dreams with identical triplets, Sammie, Alex, and Jackie. Three beautiful daughters and two adoring parents formed the picture-perfect party of five. But this tight-knit family unravels when the three little girls go to see a movie, but only one emerges from the darkness of the theatre. How could Sammie and Alex vanish without a trace? Plunged into the abyss of a parent's worst fear, Katie and Scott hang by a thread-waiting, worrying, not knowing, and confronting the terrifying realization that the kidnapping may not have been a random act.Who took Sammie and Alex? Why? Where are they? When will they be found? And what if they're never found, or not found alive? When Jackie, the remaining triplet, crumbles under the weight of grief and survivor's guilt, Katie and Scott struggle to hold out hope and hold on to what remains of their family.Until-or unless-Sammie and Alex are found safe, this picture-perfect family can't be put back together again.

What's on your wishlist?

Read the book? See the movie!

Here is the list of movie I have to see now that I have read the book -

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
(coming to theaters soon)

Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston (review coming soon)
Movie - 172 hours

Beastly by Alex Flynn

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
(Coming soon)

Books I'd still like to read BEFORE seeing the movie -

One Day by David Nicholis

Too Big To Fall by Andrew Sorkin

True Grit by Charles Portis

Fair Game by Valerie Wilson

Let Me In by John Lindqvist

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand


Review - But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

Title: But I Love Him
Author: Amanda Grace
Publisher: Flux
Publish Date: May 1. 2011
Paperback, 264 pages

GoodReads
Barnes and Noble
Amazon

This book broke my heart. Each and every page made my insides cry. When I wasn't in tears, I wanted to strangle the main character, Ann. Though I totally understand why she fell in love and kept loving Connor, but to keep the love alive when it's obvious that love is the main reason for being together. Well, I know from personal experience that love is not enough.

The pain that this couple goes through, together and apart is tragic. I find it sad that they couldn't be together and yet, I could see from the beginning why. I really enjoyed the way Amanda Grace told this from the end to the beginning. It really gave good perspective on how Ann came to where she was.

The continuous angst of watching Connor go through his life taking care of and protecting his mother knowing she gave up everything, including him, to be with his alcoholic and abusive father and then to turn around and not see that he is doing the same thing to Ann, his girlfriend. It killed me.

To know that her mother doesn't know how to reach out due to the death of Ann's father and her friends, out of respect and not-knowing let her go is so sad.

All these connections, all these feeling and thoughts and Ann still continues to dig deeper in to the horrendous relationship with Connor. Oh man, the first time he hits her . . . Amanda Grace is a spectacular writer. Even with such a touchy and sad subject. She writes it so well. Maybe a little too well.

Summary -

Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap.

At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved — and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything — and everyone — in its path.

This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.


Wordless Wednesday - My Girls


These are my two kitties, Izabel on the left and Tuesday laying on the right. This is the closest I have seen them as they usually don't want to be this close. But there was a lot of activity out the window this particular day. Neither wanted to miss out on the action.

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday - Tune In & Teaser

This Tuesday, I picked the song that no matter when it plays, how I feel or where I am I CRANK IT UP and sing at the top of my lungs. This song was meant to be played loud and sung even louder in public. It just takes me over each and every time I hear it. I do not care who is listening. lol

Journey - Don't Stop Believing




TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
  • Grab your current read.
  • Let the book fall open to a random page.
  • Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
  • Please avoid spoilers!

  • "Maggie. She didn't fit into my assignment at the school, and I seldom, actually never got up the nerve to talk to her. The few times I'd run into her in the hallway, my tongue had swollen to the size of a small whale, essentially blocking off the oxygen supply to my brain."

    (sorry I know that was 3 sentences, but really, I had to)


    From the ebook Unlovable by Sherry Gammon
    (FYI: Only 99cents at Barnes and Noble and $1.99 at Amazon)


    Review - Unlovable by Sherry Gammon

    Title: Unlovable
    Port Fare Series #1
    Author: Sherry Gammon
    Publisher: Sherry Gammon, Smashwords
    Publish Date: January 20, 2011
    EBook

    BUY IT NOW ONLY 99cents at B&N!!!
    GoodReads
    Barnes and Noble (.99cents)
    Amazon ($1.99)
    It's a steal peeps!!!

    Okay let's just start with the cover. Go on, take a nice long look. Very spooky, but well done no? Get's you in the mood for an innocent girl, feeling down and surrounded by evil and shadiness. Good stuff there.

    Maggie is the daughter of an alcoholic who constantly berates her. Maggie is the adult in this household, cleaning and cooking and trying to take care of her mother regardless of how she treats her. She is a good student, a kind person and just trying to survive. In walks Seth, a transfer student to her high school. He is so good looking it is hard not to fall in love at first sight, but he is in with the rich crowd and because of this he is flirty and cannot be trusted. Seth has a secret. He is an undercover MET agent on an assignment to find out where the heroine is coming from that is flooding this school and town. Maggie with her skinny body, dark rings under her eyes and an alcoholic mother who gets vodka from the strange man next door is the spitting image of an abuser. Seth is asked to get close to Maggie. What develops is more than either of them could imagine. They get entangled in their love for each other and at the same time grab the attention of a psycho set of sons of a drug mob.

    I cannot believe how quickly I was sucked in to this book. One moment I was thinking, I guess I'll start this book and the next I was a quarter of the way through the book. I loved this book because each time I thought it was getting close to wrapping up, I realized I had more pages to read.

    I have to say, I really liked that there wasn't any sex in it for two reasons. One, it was very romantic to get back to basics where these two people can cherish each other without showing the world their assets. Two, I can recommend this to my 14 year old niece and not worry about her experiencing anything unsavory. I like that. It is a breath of fresh air. Kudos to Sherry Gammon for being a part of the Clean Romance group!

    I am thrilled that this will be one of a trilogy. I fell in love with the other two characters who will be the center of attention in the next two books - Booker and Cole. Book 2: Unbelievable with Cole who is a doctor who takes care of Maggie during all her stints with danger, as well as her mother. Book 3: Unbearable with Booker who is Seth's Team Leader with squad and like a brother to him. I cannot wait for the next book!

    Summary -
    Port Fare, New York, has fallen into the clutches of true evil. The Dreser brothers have arrived with a scheme to increase drug sales in the area by whatever means possible. Seth Prescott is part of MET, Mobile Enforcement Teams, a branch of the DEA. He's been assigned to work undercover at Port Fare High, and things aren't going very well, until senior Maggie Brown enters the equation. He's harbored a secret crush on her from day one, and now that she is in the center of the case, he's trying to stay clear and objective while walking the line between business and unrequited love.
    Maggie is truly the poster child for Heroin Chic, complete with jutting bones and dark-ringed eyes, but is she an addict, or is there another reason for her appearance? She struggles with her feelings for Seth, fearing he is just another person who will eventually let her down, as everyone in her life has done thus far.
    Maggie has spent her life caring for her alcoholic mother. A task that has left her heavily burdened and alone. Before long, her mother's health takes a turn for the worst, sending Maggie's life into a tale-spin.
    While Seth works relentlessly to inject fear into the dealers and flush them out into the open, Maggie fights to stay alive as the hunt turns deadly.
    Seth and Maggie's romantic journey is one of humor, heartbreak, and self-discovery.

    A BIG thanks to Sherry Gammon who offered up
    a free copy of her fantabulous book for me
    to read and review!!!


    Big Brother 13 - episode 3-5

    Well all it took was one chaotic week at work to mess with watching Big Brother. I am finally all caught up on the episodes. DEAR CBS - PLEASE FIX YOUR WEBSITE. THE SHOW IS AWFUL TO WATCH WITH ALL THE STOPS AND STARTS. Not to mention, the commercials actually play over the show?!? What is going on over there? Do none of the CBS people watch online to see if it is working?

    I still cannot get over how many times the words TRUST HONEST ALLIANCE are used throughout this GAME!! I swear it makes me want to smack people when they think that anyone has their back in this game.

    I am sad that Evil Dick is gone because he cannot try and mend his relationship with Danielle at all being gone even if they only have a relationship during this show. It's more than if they are never on this show. And even though I feel like everyone is entitled to their privacy - WHY DID DICK REALLY LEAVE? At first, I thought it might be a ploy and he made a deal to leave and come back later, but now I am pretty darn sure he is gone for good. Bummer. He may be confrontational, but he is way more fun than Rachel.

    Really excited to see Cassi come up as a STRONG PLAYER, but if she doesn't keep her mouth shut around the AllStars she will be eliminated. She is working the Newbies well, but the AllStars cannot be played out in the open like that. Hell, she had me convinced to vote Keith out, except I love Jeff and Jordan. Cassi is completely my other player I'm voting for.

    Voted for Keith to go home from Newbies -
    Kalia
    Shelly

    New HOH -
    Jordan (AllStars)

    Golden Key Holders -
    Danielle
    Porsche

    I am stunned at the conversation after the eviction meeting that Rachel went in the HAVE NOT room and the Newbies really talked to her and told her how they felt. Are these Newbies crazy?? You never tell your feelings or strategy to the other side. Stupid!! Check out the AllStars LIE DEFLECT LIE DEFLECT LIE DEFLECT LIE each and every time. Rachel is doing a great job playing each side, even though (my opinion) she is too forceful with her negotiations.

    RANDOM COMMENTS -
    Danielle run for your life, Dominic, is not the one for you. But who knows, maybe a little showmance would work for her. But be damned if Dominic screws her over. And as far as selling his soul to the devil, uhm, she is the devil's daughter.

    Per Rachel, "Cassi and her are AWKWARD!" Rachel is so insecure. So sad. Really. Good for Cassi giving Rachel something to stay awake about at night.

    I am sorry, but seriously, WHO DOESN'T LOVE JORDAN? She is so damn nice and sweet and honest that you can't NOT love her.

    It is great to see Brendan make fun of himself and have a good time in his HERO costume. Weird, but good to see. He is way too serious. Good for Dominic, too, he is way too serious about this GAME.

    Adam you are stupid. WHO ADMITS TO pissing on the AllStars who are obviously in control of the house right now?!?! Adam's best option is to lie to the AllStars and try to get back in good with the Newbies. Than again, I love his excitement.

    Funny that Rachel is right about Cassi, but for the wrong reasons. She is paranoid that Cassi is prettier than her and yet, she is pulling the Newbies to her side.

    I am surprised that I am enjoying Lawson's commentary. He has some great cracks.

    Whether it is game or not, I find it refreshing to see the concern on everyone's faces when someone is hurting. (in reference to Have Not competition and Kalia)

    My thoughts are this - I think that with Cassi siding with the Newbies and Shelly siding with the AllStars they are in like flynn. I am hoping the Cassi and Shelly can top the charts with being the Newbies that survive and play til the end. The ones that will lose are the ones that turn on their partner. No matter what they have to stick together or at least give the impression they are. Cassi and Shelly are competing, but looks and conversation it sounds like they are together. Good game plan. If you can't be a team, fake it.

    HAVE NOTS - Jelly Beans and Jerky (not bad)
    Whoever is coming up with these competitions should be given a raise because I have laughed so damn hard through these because they look ridiculous!! They are stacked on top of each other like some horrible porn movie. And the comments are worse!
    Lawson and Kalia
    Cassi and Shelly
    Adam and Dominic

    Nomination for Eviction -
    Adam and Dominic

    IMM - In My Mailbox






    Bought:
    On Hitler's Mountain by Irmgard A. Hunt
    Forgotten by Cat Patrick (review posted this past week)
    But I Love Him by Amanda Grace (review posted this past week)
    Uglies by Scott Westerfield (review posting next week)

    What was in your mailbox this week?