December 28, 2013

I have been reading while relaxing over the holidays and inadvertently didn't blog my updates.  Here they are.

18) Coyotes Mate - Del Rey and Anya - Coyote Breed - For six years Anya Korbin worked with Del-Rey Delgato—the genetically altered rebel known as the Coyote Ghost—to free a group of coyote women kept in her father’s lab. As Anya matured into a woman, she and Del-Rey grew close…but then he broke his promise and wounded her father. Now she must deal with her animalistic desire for the one who betrayed her.

I read this book before but found this time the plots and twists were much more exciting than I recall before.  I enjoyed learning about the Coyotes as opposed to the other breeds.  It was exciting to see the introduction of the female Coyotes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

19) Christmas Kiss, Hawke and Jessica's story (HOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS anthology) - Wolf Breed-.  After Jessica was caught betraying the breeds she is arrested and awaiting her fate.  Hawk has to find a way to clear Jessica’s name as mating heat scorches them both.

I accidentally missed this one in the order and skipped straight to the Bengals Heart.  I am now reading this one and will be done tonight and blog it tomorrow.

20) Bengals Heart–Cabal and Cassa- Bengal Breed-  In Bengals Heart, Cabal St. Laurents has to deal with is mate in a very interesting way. Reporter Cassa Hawkins is investigating a series of murders suspected to have been committed by a breed. Six of the rumored Deadly Dozen, a hunting parting that once preyed upon escaped breeds, has been murdered. The crimes scene photos suggest a breed killer. The problem is, those crime scene photos are the only evidence that a murder was ever committed.

I loved this book so much! I loved mostly the introduction of the Primales.....this was an exciting twist in the world of breeds.  I also liked the twists of old hurts and betrayals as well as new characters.  I can't wait for Jonas or Dogs stories!!

December 21, 2013

So I find when I am ill as I have been for three weeks I tend to read a lot more.

Last night I started a story and this evening have finished it and intend to start the next one.

17) Christmas Heat (The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)- Noble and Haley - Jaguar Breed  - Haley has witnessed a spy in Sanctuary and now her life is in danger.  Now it is up to Noble to keep his mate alive as death and destruction follow her every move.

I enjoyed this novella.  I cannot call it a complete story as it was far too short and choppy in my opinion to be considered a stand alone story.  I loved the "spots" on his pelt...that was hilarious to me.  I liked that he was willing to adapt to her life to keep her as most of the breeds don't seem to be able to adapt well with all their dominance intact.  I would say I would give this one a 6/10 as it could have been smoother in odometer areas and broadened into its own full story.  While I haven't read the other stories in this book yet as I have a nasty itch that if I enjoy a series I can't "interrupt" it with other stories too...but I will surely keep it in my open files to be read.

December 20, 2013

16) Mercury’s War (available tentatively October 2008) - Mercury and Ria - Lion Breed -   Someone has been slipping the Sanctuary’s secure information to a pharmaceutical company. Now it’s up to Ria Rodriguez to pose as a clerk and uncover the leak. Yet she has no idea of the danger she’s about to encounter—or the passion she’s about to ignite in one of the greatest Breeds ever created.

I found this book AMAZING and hard to put down.  I loved all the twists and turns in this book.  I found the depths of the characters fascinating and found I stayed up well into early morning to read.  This book is by far my favorite in the series so far.  I would give this book a 9/10 rating. Good work!

December 19, 2013

15) A Jaguar’s Kiss (in Shifter anthology) - Saban and Natalie - Black Jaguar Breed - Natalie Ricci is hired to teach breed children. She wasn’t aware the job came with the all too sexy, too exasperating breed bodyguard, Saban Broussard. Cajun and too hot to handle, but once his kisses fill her senses, she’s lost in the man she’s learning he truly is.

I found this book difficult to read. Now it must be hard for an anthology that follows Dawns book...but it left me wanting more.  It had a big buildup with her ex...and simply stopped with a foiled attempt by the council to take her. I am glad it's over and I can move on to the next one.

December 18, 2013

14) Dawn’s Awakening - Dawn and Seth - Cougar Breed - The runt of the lab she was created in, Dawn Daniels endured years of torture by her pride brother and the council soldiers. Finally freed from her torment, she’s now a Breed Enforcer, in control of her own life. Until she’s assigned to protect the one man destined to be her mate–and realizes it’s far too easy to lose total control.

This is so far my favourite book of this series.  It has many exciting points, tells you a great story and keeps you enthralled.  I couldn't put this book down and simply read the entire day as it was such a great read.  I don't recommend reading these books out of order as the old characters make appearances and it's important for understanding them by reading previous stories first.  This book also bring Cassie's potential mate into the picture and damn if I want to read that one!?!

December 17, 2013

So I had a luxury to watch The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug late the other night.  We have watched the whole LOTR trilogy many times and also saw the first Hobbit movie last year.

We saw it in 3D, in Dbox seats.  For my first response to this movie.....if you are at all afraid of spiders <as I am> the first 20 minutes of the movie I suggest to 1)not wear the glasses if it's 3d, 2)not watch  the movie, 3) be late to the movie.  This part literally terrified me and my poor hubby's arm has gouges from my nails days later.  He thought he was safe with the dbox spacing.....nope.

Once the spiders portion was over it was an interesting movie.  It followed the typical Peter Jackson films with tons of beautiful cinematography.  I enjoyed the movie storyline but it didn't have many new surprises...seemed to stick to the basic storyline one would come to expect.  Dragon, Hobbit, Elves, and of course the Dwarves taking back their home.  It had a few characters I didn't recognize but wasn't far off what one would expect from these stories.

I will probably purchase BlueRay as we have all the rest.  If I were to rate it I would give it an 8/10 but would not recommend the Dbox seating as it it very expensive and didn't find it felt much movement during this film.  Stick to regular or 3d.  

December 16, 2013

13) In a Wolf’s Embrace (in Beyond the Dark anthology) - Matthais and Grace - Wolf Breed - Grace had no idea the man that rescued her from a mugging was a breed assassin, until she catches him in the act of assassinating a known Genetics Council member. Now Matthias has kidnapped her, but rather than threatening her, rather than harming her, Matthias shows her a love she could have never imagined, and the true horror of the council catches up with them, nearly destroying the life she dreams of having with him.

This book was not closely connected to the other stories in it involved mostly just them.  There were a couple connections but I wasn't impressed with how it was such a "thrilling" tale with kidnapping and assassins and in a couple chapters she just accepted this all....I would have liked more from this book.

December 12, 2013

I finished another book.  Lora Leigh's series at moments can take me 3 days to read a book or I can finish within a night.  It doesn't really matter that some are longer it matters more how engaging the storyline is to me.  I also find that some stories are buried beneath erotic sex scenes while others it is just a part of the story.  

12) Aiden’s Charity - Aiden and Charity - Wolf Breed - But can the human heart accept and adapt as easily? Can Charity bestow the love and the acceptance that has always been a part of her, to the man whose very survival depended on the hardening of his heart, of his soul? And can Aiden maintain that cruelty now, in the face of the sacrifices she made? Only time and nature can tell…

I found this book hard to get into at the beginning.  Towards the end I started to get more into the story as it became more cohesive and brought more story lines into one.  It makes me look forward to further books.  I did not enjoy the lack of the original Breed family we got so used to in the first books and it's hard to follow a timeline.  I found that there were many errors in the book with mixed up names etc that could make a normal person completely confused if they couldn't figure out the error.  I don't know if this is a translation error when putting it into ePub format but it was annoying to have a puzzle in the middle of a book.  That's probably why I wasn't as addicted to this book as others. 

December 11, 2013

My personal review: <note I have not yet read the books> 

this movie has amazing visualizations and effects! I love the storyline and enjoyed seeing another chapter of this woman who thinks she isn't a leader but due to circumstances throughout the movie slowly becomes one.  I enjoy the fact that it shows girls that no matter what their heart is saying <let's run away in this case> they can fight and make a true difference.  Also shows that a system that seems corrupt to all but the elite few isn't unfailable and can be toppled with the rise up of the general populace.  I give this movie an 8/10 on my personal scale of quality movies for the past year and do intend to buy this on BlueRay DVD as soon a s it comes out.  Well Done!

December 8, 2013

I was able to participate in an event in Brampton that I think was a great success.  

Brampton Mompreneurs Holiday Magic Show 2013.  I went to this expecting to simply see booths of things I never needed or wanted.  I came out loaded with tons of pamphlets, brochures, books, goodies and crafts my daughter did.  I thoroughly enjoyed talking with so many capable women who have found something they enjoy and are pursuing it.  I have toyed with many ideas throughout the years but just haven't found something I would be passionate about and willing to commit to fully.  Many ideas were brought to the table and while none of these seem to fit me....I am sure there are other moms out there who would benefit from this wonderful resource.  

My reviews do specific booths I stopped at that stood out a day later:

Pampered Chef: while the idea is intriguing of all the fancy gadgets they offer I will be honest in saying I found a lot of the "tools" sold were comparable to items I find in our local Dollarama.  I did learn from the lovely ladies that because Wooden spoons tend to soak up the foods prepared and become very riddled with bacteria - bamboo is a shoot and not wood so it does not do this and is also a susatainable resource.  I enjoyed this lesson and will browse the catalogue but doubt finances of an average mom will allow for such extravagant buy except on special occasions.

Arbonne: I walked up to this booth with my minimal makeup on and was studiously ignored by the makeup artist.  I was interest in the makeup as I hadn't heard of the brand but the lovely lady at the table wasn't able to answer my questions to my satisfaction.  I walked away disappointed as I was truly interested.  Maybe next show it'll be different.

Party Lite: I spoke in depth with this woman about the options available.  She spoke to me about hosting a "party" and all the great fun in this.  I spoke in length as. I have in the last year began using Scentsy (their competitor).  She explained the differences in the brands and what they used as well as the difference in warranties.  I haven't confirmed this but was told Scentsy voids their warranty if other wax scents are used in their melters.  This disappoints me as not only is it difficult to find someone buy buy replacement bulbs for them....I find this brand has LED and lifetime warranty. Wowzers!  I was given a couple magazines and will consider replacing Scentsy with these ones or adding to my scented room collections.  I loved this booth and she was so forthcoming in information.

Author Deborah Armstrong: as I haven't been one to go out of my way to meet authors I do enjoy a good book.  I spoke to her about her books and supported her writing by buying two books.  She sent these to me today in my preferred format and I look forward to reading them when I am finished with my current series.

Crave cakes by Margarida: I purchased two chocolate cake pops as my family loves cake pops.  I have to be honest while I liked the size of this cake pop I will admit I prefer my own recipe.  It seemed dry while mine is more moist.  This is just my preference and in no way is knocking the product.  I also loved how they had a table setup for kids to decorate their own mini cupcake.   I didn't even get to see my daughters as by the time I was finished paying for the cake pops she was done decorating and half done eating it.  

Joy of life photography: this was a wonderful photographer and her art and experience show in her work portfolio set on the table.  I would enjoy having a session with my family with her but at $150/session I don't think I could afford the pictures.  With a higher income I would definatley choose her to take my families portraits.

SMcK Fashions: I enjoyed speaking with her and the jewelry is all lovely and reasonably priced.  I was excited after asking to find out all products were nickel free as this is a common problem for me.  I will certainly be looking into buying some after the holidays.

Sweet Gems Creative Cakes: I purchased a lovely mint cupcake and being as objective as I was before I thought the cake wasn't moist but was very dry.  I did not enjoy the frosting on this cupcake and cannot explain why.  It seemed very.....I am uncertain how to describe it but it wasn't one I would like again.  Keep in mind this dosent make the product bad I simply didn't enjoy it.

Finally:

Personalized Roses:  I almost walked by this booth as it looked simply like a bouquet of roses...the timid lady at the booth came out and told me they personalize fresh roses with anything.  It intrigued me greatly how they would do this.  Upon closer look it looks like a stamp with silver or gold ink was used on the outside.  It was a very creative idea but I am capable enough to know now that. I can go to michaels and get the needed tools and probably save a tons on this.  I give them an A for creativity but need to work on their marketing technique and possible have a more personalized example on the table....just "Happy Holidays" stamped on it was not as good of a sales tactic as could have been.

All in all I enjoyed my time and intend to go again.

Please note all above reviews are my own personal opinions and thus should not reflect badly upon the company as I am but a simply complex mom who knows what she likes.

November 29, 2013

I had a wonderful opportunity to attend a showing of The Little Mermaid that was playing at The Elgin Theatre in Toronto.  While I went into this thinking it was the Disney show and my daughter would love it....after reading reviews and a synopsis online it became clear this WAS NOT the Disney version.  I went into this knowing it wasn't so it wasn't a disappointment to me.  I can understand how someone might pay a lot of money (these tickets aren't cheap) and go to it with kids expecting a Disney show, but I enjoyed it.  I found it to be highly interactive for kids and often enjoyed the kids responses as they are instructed to boo when specific characters come onstage.  I found it started in a strange place with Sponge Bill Triangle Pants who is the lesser known Canadian cousin of Sponge Bob Square Pants...then the sea monsters opening dialogue was ripe with political rhetoric and innuendo about Rob Ford....kids stared confused.  It quickly adapted into a cute tweaked version where the ending was a great surprise.  A character that held his/her own in this show was Plumbottom.  She was hilarious in her excentricity.  I had a very hard time watching her face with the horrid makeup though and found it difficult to carry the storyline if watching her speak.  This was a first time experience at Elgin Theatre with my daughter.  We were treated to a lovely buffet dinner before the show and seating that was VIP.  The theatre was immaculate and sparkling with gold.  One thing I did not enjoy myself was the kids in front of us who bought glow in the dark wands that they used throughout the show directly affecting my experience.  Overall I found it an entertaining experience to be had for the while family.

December 9, 2013

So I am starting with my person reviews of recipes and books I read.  

I was fortunate this weekend to get a chance to meet an author local to my area.  I bought her books and look forward to reading them and reviewing them but I find it is important to review the books I currently and reading first.

I am currently reading a series of books by Lora Leigh 

This series makes it know upon starting to read them that they are classified erotica.....while the series starts out that ways it also has an intriguing underlying storyline that is easily believable.  If the sex scenes weren't so vividly detailed it would even be a series young adults would enjoy.  I don't mind the sex scenes but will admit there are parts that do not turn me on at all.  Use of certain words explicitly isn't favoured and I will admit this is the only series so far I have openly blushed when my husband saw me reading a page and caught a glimps of the sex scene writing.......I didn't stop reading but have not had that response for any book thus far.

I will give a small review of each book so far I have read:

<synopsis taken from www.loraleigh.com website>

1) Tempting the Beast - Callan and Merinus - Lion Breed - Merinus Tyler discovers a secret in the Kentucky mountains. Men and women who were created in and escaped from the labs of their creators. Human, with the genetics of the predators of the world. And Callan Lyons, the leader of this small Pride, will change all life in ways she had never imagined possible.

I found this book to be quite entertaining.  I love how the woman is so strong and unafraid of a domineering man.  I was heartbroken to hear all the atrocities these "Breeds" encountered from the genetics council but relieved to hear that more people were outraged by this.  I enjoyed this book.  I think it wasn't necessary to include such details of the sexual encounters as the clear delineation of man from animal was written into the story so well.  

2) The Man Within - Taber and Roni - Panther Breed - Roni Andres had once loved Taber Williams until he broke her heart and left their small Kentucky town amid the shocking news that he and his ‘family’ weren’t exactly human. But he did something to her before he left. The mark he left on her now endangers her life, and the dreams she had of finding love after Taber. And Taber, part man, part animal, now has to face the fact that the woman he couldn’t forget knows exactly what he is.

An even stronger woman.....fantastic! I love how it was love lost and found again.  I also like how they are coming out into public and attacking the attackers.  I like how the men are also affected by this mating frenzy.  I like the fact that all of the characters are introduced in the original family and the world of breeds is expanded slowly through the introduction of new labs and new "packs" and "prides" of all the different breeds created.  Great read, but also heavy on erotica scenes.  Not appropriate for young adults under 18!

3) Elizabeth’s Wolf - Dash and Elizabeth - Wolf Breed - Elizabeth is running for her young daughters life, and losing the race. But when her daughter takes up correspondence with a Special Forces soldier overseas and he learns the danger they’re in, all the fury of a Wolf Breed fighting for his mate is unleashed. And secrets are revealed that could destroy a child’s life.

Fantastic read though sometimes confusing as it wasn't part of the original breed, I did get confused and had to retread a few times as two main characters named Dash and Dane.  As fast a reader as I am it was immensely confusing at times to remember names.

4) Kiss of Heat - Sherra and Kane - Snow Leopard Breed - Sherra has kept the natural mating heat breeds and their mates experience under control for far too many years. Its been ten years since the lover she was torn from in the labs returned. Ten years that’s she’s been forced to confront him nearly on a daily basis. And the heat is growing out of control. The woman’s emotions and fears are tearing through her. Now, she won’t be able to run from her mate much longer as old fears and deceptions begin to fade away beneath the love and aching need she never forgot for one man.

I found this one intriguing as it was like a backwards situation...the breed was female and human was male...making for different complications.  I think this story is where the erotica is a lot less and the storyline started to develop exponentially.....creating not just a series but a whole world for me to experience good and bad.  I really liked the quick whit of Kane.....he was hilarious.

5) Soul Deep - Kiowa and Amanda - Coyote Breed - Kiowa was just supposed to watch the President’s daughter from afar. But when an attempted kidnapping nearly succeeds, he finds himself with much more on his hands than he ever imagined.

This one was a good read as the previous 4 books indicated how horrible the Coyote breeds are...then comes Kiowa who rescues the presidents daughter.....great look at how a prejudice can be broken with one single person or in this case breed.  My empathy is growing for the coyote breeds from this book.

6) The Breed Next Door (in Hot Spell anthology) - Tarek and Lyra - Lion Breed - Undercover breed enforcer, Tarek Jordan is searching for a soldier that tormented breeds in the labs. There’s a bounty on the man’s head, and the Bureau wants him, bad. His next door neighbor is hindering that process. With home baked bread, a tempting little boy and more emotions than he ever dreamed he could feel. But when his mission endangers her, Tarek learns, there’s much more to those emotions than he could have ever imagined.

This book wasn't my favourite in the series and seemed like an attempt to grow the world with a novella type.  The book was an ok read but seemed less put together than the regular novels.  I do think it is necessary to read it as there are small references in later books that would make no sense without reading this one.

7) Megan’s Mark - Braden and Megan - Lion Breed - When breeds start turning up dead in her desert, Deputy Sheriff, Megan Marks is forced to confront breed enforcer Braden Arness as he tries to take over her investigation. And as a desire, a need, that she hadn’t envisioned begins to sear them, she learns that love is just a heartbeat away in the arms of the  most incredible man she’s ever known.

This is the exploration of a woman who had contact with the breeds and incorporated a Native American heritage with small empathic powers into it,  it was a very good read and I quite enjoyed the playful nature of the breed Braden....I enjoyed the bickering and fights they endured.

8 ) Harmony’s Way - Harmony and Lance - Lion Breed - Sheriff Lance Jacobs, Megan Marks cousin finds himself enmeshed in a manipulation and a desire he can’t resist when the director of Breed Affairs assigns his own sister to the sheriff’s office, in an attempt to save her from Breed law. Assassin, Harmony Lancaster has been alone, wild and free for too many years and filled with too much rage. Council members are dying unsanctioned and those deaths are being laid at her feet. But when Breed opponents in Lance’s county begin showing up dead as well, Lance knows Harmony has to be innocent. There’s no other choice, because she’s stolen his soul, and he can’t allow anyone or anything to harm what is his. Complicating this, is the information Harmony holds, that her enemies want. Information that get them both killed.

While I liked the fact that harmony was "death incarnate" I didn't like how she ended up "being suppressed" by her nature. But ended up submitting to Lance.  I am finding it gets boring when all these strong women adventually submit to men....less erotica and lots of bickering.

9) Tanner’s Scheme - Tanner and Scheme - Bengal Breed - After the Feline Breeds’ main base is attacked, Tanner desires revenge. So he kidnaps Scheme Tallant-the daughter of a one-time high-ranking member of the Genetics Council. But when Tanner discovers that Scheme herself is a target of her father’s ruthless mission, his vengeance takes a back seat to saving the life of the woman he hopes to claim as his mate.

This was a funny one as it showed how someone may be in blood relation to a monster doesn't mean they are also a monster.  And underline story of how images can easily be deceived was nice.  I enjoyed the unpredictable aspects of this book, there were surprises left and right.  I enjoyed how you even got a flicker into David <Callan and Merinus' son>.  I liked the constant plot twists in this book.

10) Wolfe’s Hope - Wolfe and Hope - Wolf Breed - Hope believed Wolfe was dead, but he was only waiting for the right time to claim her. The scientist who created him, Hope’s mother, has forced his hand. She wants her creation back, and she wants any children he may breed on her daughter.
He is a man whose DNA was altered, infused with the genetic code of the wolf. His unique genetic makeup has created a male unlike any other and will make itself known in the most surprising ways. Now Hope must convince her mate she hasn’t betrayed him, and they must defeat the plans of a scientist gone mad.

This was a really a different angle for the books.  Wolfe was pack leader in a different lab and this is the beginning of expansion on his pack.  I really enjoyed this book and especially the interactions with Jonas.  I already read this series years ago and know his book is coming but would highly anticipate it if it weren't already in my book list.

11) Jacob’s Faith - Jacob and Faith - Wolf Breed (both of them) - Jacob left Faith six years before, unaware that the mark he left on her also left her in an agony of sexual heat that never dimmed. Now Jacob and Faith are together again, but surprises lurk around every corner and dangers as dark and deadly as their very creation surround them in more ways than one.

I am highly annoyed with this book and have spent a lot of time on this book as I keep getting distracted by life.  While it is a part of the series I am annoyed by the lack of communications with this male breed.  He seems stupid to me and it irritates me how he assumes left and right then waves off her perceived wrongs as if he did nothing wrong.  I am looking forward to finishing this book so i can go on to the next.

So here is my synopsis reviews of the recent books I have read.  I have read upwards of 300 books in the last couple years and have become an avid reader.  I have a huge collection and am currently rereading series I have already read.

I hope you take the time to enjoy a good book,  there is nothing like the escapism one can get from sitting with a good book and cup of hot tea.  Happy readings my friends!