I've got to get something off my chest...

Sometimes it surprises me that family can hurt you so easily. I've had my share painful times due to my family. I'm the youngest of 5 so I've pretty much experienced it all. I've felt ignored by my parents because they were too busy dealing with my sister's issues or worrying about my brother's pot habit. I've felt hurt beacuse I virtually know nothing of my other sister because she doesn't want anything to do with my mother. Sometimes families suck. I've felt happy because they've given me my nieces and I've felt loved and accepted. I've also felt ashamed. Ashamed that my sister doesn't work, is on welfare, and always trys to manipulate everyone around her to make her life easier as she does nothing. But sometimes something happens that shocks me and wounds me so deep.

I've spent almost my whole life trying to do the right thing. To NOT be like them. To not become a teenage mother or do drugs or not finish school or any of the other hundreds of things that they have done. I've tried to be better and be a good role model for my nieces. But one thing I've never done is be a hypocrite and I seem to be measured by a different stick by my sister.

I've now been accused of being not only a bad influence morally but I'm also an alcoholic who's actively trying to corrupt children. Only the children in question are over the age of 18 and in college. Normally I would laugh this off but the hypocrisy pisses me off. I'm being accused by someone who not only supplied me with alcohol when I was a teenager but my friends as well. And she drank before she was legal so why now the change? Why the sudden morality? Why the bashing of my friends? WHY?! I have no answer to this question but the accusations still hurt.

There are a couple things I know for certain about myself. I am not perfect. I do make mistakes. I am NOT an alcoholic but I do drink alcohol occasionally and yes I do get drunk. I don't do drugs. I believe in GOD, although the practice may be eclectic. I am a good person. Maybe sometimes I just need to remind myself who I am and stop listening to others. No matter if they are family.

Review: The Pleasure Garden

The Pleasure Garden by Amanda McIntyre

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



These three separate stories, and authors, managed to blend a common theme in with very sexy writing. The story of the Green Man plays an important part in each story. Each group of lovers must come together and overcome obstacles for the garden to bloom and release the curse on the Green Man and his lover. Each story progresses in time and they all have a common theme of being centered around a time of war or conflict. In each story, lust blooms quickly and with it comes a true love that is tested by obstacles of laws, family, and self doubt. But as is true to any good legend, love finally conquers all and the curse is lifted with all living happily ever after. These really were a great read especially if you're looking for a true romantic story with a lot of sexy passion.



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Review: The Pleasure Garden

The Pleasure Garden by Amanda McIntyre

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



These three separate stories, and authors, managed to blend a common theme in with very sexy writing. The story of the Green Man plays an important part in each story. Each group of lovers must come together and overcome obstacles for the garden to bloom and release the curse on the Green Man and his lover. Each story progresses in time and they all have a common theme of being centered around a time of war or conflict. In each story, lust blooms quickly and with it comes a true love that is tested by obstacles of laws, family, and self doubt. But as is true to any good legend, love finally conquers all and the curse is lifted with all living happily ever after. These really were a great read especially if you're looking for a true romantic story with a lot of sexy passion.



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Review: A Wife for a Westmoreland (Harlequin Desire)

A Wife for a Westmoreland (Harlequin Desire) by Brenda Jackson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



In A Wife for a Westmoreland readers will get the classic love story they expect from Brenda Jackson. This story blends both friendship and newly discovered desire with a goodhearted story of family and overcoming all obstacles set in a world of ranchers and cowboys. With the Westmoreland's you get the strong, tough men with a heart every woman wants and a bond to family that is remarkable. And as always, Ms Jackson gives us a damsel not-so-much in distress. Her women are always strong and steady and a perfect match for the man they choose. This novel is an easy read and at the end makes you feel warm with emotion and wanting more.



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Review: A Wife for a Westmoreland (Harlequin Desire)

A Wife for a Westmoreland (Harlequin Desire) by Brenda Jackson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



In A Wife for a Westmoreland readers will get the classic love story they expect from Brenda Jackson. This story blends both friendship and newly discovered desire with a goodhearted story of family and overcoming all obstacles set in a world of ranchers and cowboys. With the Westmoreland's you get the strong, tough men with a heart every woman wants and a bond to family that is remarkable. And as always, Ms Jackson gives us a damsel not-so-much in distress. Her women are always strong and steady and a perfect match for the man they choose. This novel is an easy read and at the end makes you feel warm with emotion and wanting more.



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Failing again...

Wow so I didn't realize that it has been since February that I posted on here. I've definitely read more books and need to review them and have piles more waiting to be read. I also need to review a few movies that I have seen too... I think I need a to-do list on here. Things for me have been kinda crazy lately. Life was turned upside down for a while following the Epic Tornado Outbreak on April 27th. Gotta say I thank God that my family, friends, and myself were not harmed in any of the storms. It was heartbreaking to see the destruction and there are many still rebuilding their lives here in North Alabama. But aside from mother's natures wrath life indeed does go on, although it's not necessarily pleasant. Last month my father was in a motorcycle accident that left him in the hospital for almost a week. Luckily it was mostly broken bones but those heal and he's still with us. Since then I've realized how much more I value my family and friends and how tenuous life can be. All these events have kept me away from my computer much longer than I had anticipated. As I'm writing this I remember how much I enjoy writing and how much I have missed it in the past months. Hopefully I'll be able to keep at it a little more regularly now and who knows? I may even work on some of my novels while I'm at it.

Review: Queens of All the Earth

Queens of All the Earth by Hannah Sternberg

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Although it was a relatively short book this story seemed to drag on and on. There was a lot of gorgeous description of Spain but not enough meaningful dialogue between the characters. The story also jumped around too much between points of view and it wasn't always clear whose it was. There wasn't a big revelation, maybe a small one, and it didn't really seem like the conflict had been resolved. There was a little romance, and while that was cute it was very abrupt. And then the book ends. There's no true ending just a few paragraphs saying they went home and so and so did that or so and so did this, the end. I was left feeling like I had truly wasted my time and effort trying to read this.



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Review: The Lipstick Laws

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When you're invisible to everyone at your school, what's your option to become noticed? April Bowers knows this dilemma all too well. After her best friend moves away she's left all alone knowing no one, unless you count the weird geeky boy of her mom's friend (and she doesn't). Then she's paired up with the school's Queen Bee- Brittany. When Brittany asks her if she's new to school she says yes and immediately gets an invite to sit at her table at lunch. What's a girl to do but say yes? Even though April has seen the way Brittany treats other people and has been warned by her own best friend she manages to hold her tongue and fit in. After going through many changes and insults leveled her way by Brittany who is "training" her to be her friend she's finally asked to sign the Lipstick Laws- a code of conduct for the elite group of friends. Even though April believes these laws are stupid she's too alone to not sign them. Bad friends are better than no friends right? Wrong. After April is charged with breaking one (or three) of the Lipstick Laws she is not only kicked out of the popular group but is harassed and ostricized by everyone. So what's a girl to do? Get even. April realizes that she's not the only one to have broken one of these stupid laws and recruites the rest of the Lipstick Lawbreakers- a group of girls that become true and close friends. Over the remainder of the book the lawbreakers manage to bring brittany down a peg or two but only by becoming more like her- eventually April finally takes the higher ground and shows a little class. There are some amusing incidents in this book as well as a definite understanding of high school social situations. What I really liked in the end is that by being herself April is able to end with true friends who are supportive of each other and that's more of what these types of books need to focus on. I thoroughly enjoyed the read.



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Review: Last Dance

Last Dance by Linda Joy Singleton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Sabine is back in action in the second book of The Seer Series. Along with Thorn and Dominic, Sabine heads out to Pine Peaks to get some answers about an old family recipe she needs to help her grandmother. While there she connects with the local ghost. After some petty vandalism and assorted ghostly entanglements she manages to use her gift to help the ghost find some peace. For a second book in a series this didn't move quite as fast as the first one did but was still unique and interesting. Plus there are some sparks flying between Sabine and Dominic that I'm dying to know what happens between them.



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Review: Don't Die, Dragonfly

Don't Die, Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What happens when you're destined to receive visions? Your life is never normal. This is something that Sabine knows too well already. She moved to live with her grandmother after being run out of town after predicting a boy's death in a fiery car accident and has since tried to hide her gift. Unfortunately her spirit guide Opal won't leave her alone and soon Sabine has a vision of a bloody dragonfly tattoo. Who does the tattoo belong to? and why is it bloody? Those are only a few of the questions the author has you asking throughout the book. Toss in some teen angst about boys, popularity, and friendship as well as some tension between Sabine and Dominic, a gifted farm hand, and you have one great read. Personally I couldn't finish this book soon enough and immediately bought the next in the series.



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Review: Bite Me

Bite Me by Parker Blue

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book grabbed me from the start. Val gets kicked out of her home, and basically her family, on her 18th birthday. Why? Because her mom thinks she's a bad influence on her little sister. But why would a regular teenager be a bad influence? Drugs? Sex? Nope, it's because Val is 1/8 demon. She's part succubus, a female lust demon, and the only way she has found to appease her demon side (whom she calls Lola) is to hunt and kill vampires. So what is an 18 year old with no home and no job supposed to do when found on her own? Well, she ends up collecting a best friend... a part hellhound canine companion named Fang who's able to communicate with Val telepathically. Then she joins the SCU (Special Crimes Unit) of the San Antonio Police Department and gains a very handsome partner, Dan. With these great new additions to her life they set off to find and stop a deadly vampire vein who is keeping her sister enthralled. During the way she meets other part demons that make up the Demon Underworld and learns more about controlling her demon half. Of course there's some humor, some fighting, and yes, some lust but overall it's a great read that keeps the reader invested during the entire book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series because the plot is so different than others in this genre. The author does a great job of portraying demons and vampires as having human emotions and characteristics, just a little amplified. Too many paranormal authors make the "otherworldly" vastly different than humans so this is a nice change. Plus the humor is very well done, slightly snarky and sarcastic but it perfectly fits Val. This book ended up being one the most satisfying stories I've read all year.



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Review: Fools Rush In

Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Honestly this had too much religion and prayer in it for me personally and it distracted me from the story. I'm sure others will like it for that reason as well. Overall it was ok but not great. It was pretty slow and there was very little character growth between the two main characters.



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Review: Plan B

Plan B by Charnan Simon

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was really looking forward to reading this book. The premise was so captivating to me- Lucy, a high school student, finds out she's pregnant and together with her boyfriend Luke they must make a choice and decide what to do. The beginning and lead up to their first time together was good, not great, and I felt cheated about any sort of connection between the characters. Then all of a sudden Lucy's pregnant and freaking out, she's avoiding talking to Luke and her mom. Then she tells Luke and he's gone, not talking to her. Then her mom freaks out when she's told, which is normal, but then she's almost taking over and Lucy is trying to take back the reins on her life. Then Luke starts talking to her and everyting is good, they'll make the decision together. All that happens in about 3 chapters, it's really fast and not fleshed out all that well. I felt rushed from the discovery of the pregnancy to the end- which is the first doctors appointment. And through all this, nothing is decided. All they decide is that abortion is out and that adoption is a possibility and that they aren't ready to be parents. Which is all well and good but where's the conclusion? Where's the hard choice? There was no ending and I was left completely disappointed in this story.



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Review: The Guy Next Door

The Guy Next Door by Lori Foster

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


With the first story Ready, Set, Jett by Lori Foster I was a little disappointed. There was a lot of passion and a good chemistry with the main characters but overall the story fell flat for me. I felt like not enough happened between them for them to end up together.
In the second story Gail's Gone Wild by Susan Donovan I cheered for Gail from the start. The whole story was fun and charming and perfectly paced. I loved how the daughter became protective of her mom's relationship with Jesse. This was my favorite story from the whole novel and would love to read more by this author.
In the final story, Just One Taste by Victoria Dahl, I was left wanting more. I know it was written as a prequel to the series and it was done wonderfully. I can't wait to read more about these characters, as well as the ones you barely meet, and see what actually happens after this brief and wonderful first meeting. I'm not sure how I'll actually wait until November for the release of Real Men Will.



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I'm a major FAIL at this blog!

So I know I don't really have any followers or many people who even know about this blog but I'm always hoping and unfortunately I've been a big fail since I relaunched this blog as public months and months ago. When I first started I meant it as a more private place where I could talk about whatever I wanted to and that intention hasn't changed. My circumstances have some and this has turned more into a review blog than I originally intended as you can see by the previous posts. I still intend for a lot of my reviews- or all that I write- to be posted here but I really want to get back in the swing of writing for myself as well. I think I've burnt myself out after Nanowrimo on the whole writing thing and it's a complete shame for me because I enjoy it so much. Perhaps when I finally get back to writing my novel after this sabbatical I've taken I'll start posting some polished portions- realistically though I'll probably never be secure enough for that LOL. Anyways let's talk about what I have been up to lately. A few weeks ago- a month? omg...- anyways I was offered a new position at work as our Administrative Coordinator. This position comes with more responsibility and earlier hours (I've always been a night owl) but I've really been enjoying it a lot more then my previous position. (Did I mention that I'm no longer required to make calls constantly but only when necessary to help out? oh yeah BIG change! I love it!) During this change my parents also moved into a new house. So for the past month I've been helping them move and unpack as well as trying to get my sleep schedule under some sort of consistency. So all my reading and writing and tweeting and facebooking have taken a backseat. But now I'm feeling better and have got a new routine down so I'm back. I'm gonna be writing a lot more- i promise.

Review: Wicked Lovely

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I wasn't overly impressed with this book at all and I'm not sure if I'm going to persevere and read the others. The story seemed to be very slow to develop so that I became bored very quickly. For as long as it was I really and truly thought more would happen. I really liked the character of Seth and how he related with Aislinn but wished there was more character development overall. There are still questions left in my mind and I guess if I want to see if they're answered I'll have to continue the series. The worst thing I can really say about this book is that it isn't one that I would read more than once and personally there are very very few books that I won't reread.



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Review: Populazzi

Populazzi by Elise Allen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed reading this book. This is the story of Cara, a new student at a new school, who is convinced by her best friend Claudia to climb the ladder of the Populazzi at her new school and become the Supreme Populazzi. What I liked most about this book was that the characters were very well fleshed out. Each group and rung of the ladder was very close to how high school society really is. There's always those few who don't care and you know it. Then there's the groups that band together over a common activity, ie band geeks, computer nerds. And there's always the popular group, made up of beautiful girls every girl wants to look like and the handsome boys everyone wants. The struggles that go on are real life struggles and I loved how the author showed that sometimes what we think and what really happens are two different things. The only thing I didn't like is the way Cara's parents were portrayed. I don't know anyone like these people and I think that it was a little overdone with everything else that was going on. Another downside was that the story was pretty predictable, especially to anyone who has seen the movie Mean Girls. Personally I kept flashing to scenes of the movie and how alike they were while still be completely different. Overall I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting because I became so engrossed in Cara's struggles.



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Review: Going All In

Going All In by Jess Dee

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Didn't really care for this. Even the sex was only so-so. It was very short and felt like there was very little back story and character development.



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Review: Make Mine Midnight

Make Mine Midnight by Annmarie McKenna

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I don't really read erotica or stories about threesomes and now I see why. This story was too quick moving, had barely any back story and the characters were not true to life. If you want a story with some hot sex then ok, this was pretty good there. If you're looking for an actual story to go with it then you can probably find something better.



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