Happy New Years!

in less than 2 hours (my time at least), it will be a new year. Anyone celebrating new years doing anything special? Very mellow here. I stay at home and spend time with the family. We watch movies and watch the other new years celebrations, we have a shrimp ring, vegetable tray, kiddie cocktails and pizza puffs. What does your new years celebration consist of?

Does anyone still make resolutions? I have and I still plan to. This past year I didn't do too well on my resolutions but this year I plan on trying a little bit harder. I plan on eating better, doing more artsy crafty things, posting on my blog more often and so much more. Are you going to be doing any resolutions and what are they?

Well. . . Happy New Years Everyone! Stay safe and remember not to drink and drive.

-Jessica

Joanne' Fluke's Lake Eden Cookbook review

Joanne Fluke's Lake Eden Cookbook

This is my first time reviewing a cookbook and I couldn't do it without actually trying out some of the recipes first. This cookbook is mostly sweets and makes a lot so it would be great to do for group gatherings. In the index they do have them divided by types (appetizers, bar cookies, beverages, Bread & Muffins, Cakes & Cupcakes, candy, cookies, frostings & icings, other sweet treats, pies, quick and/or easy meals, salads, soups, and substitutions for some ingredients) and alphabetized. While this is titled a cookbook it does have a little story going on. It has sketches but no pictures.

Now, if you are, like me, trying to lose weight, this is NOT the cookbook for you. If you are looking to do more on the baking side of things and have a lot of get together's, this is the book for you. I especially like all the notes that the recipes have. It seems to make it more personal. Now I didn't try all of the recipes but the ones that I did try were very good. I'll have to try them again and post pictures of them at a later time. I would recommend this book to bakers, Joanne Fluke fans and anyone who likes cookbooks. I would actually give this book a 4.5 out of 5.

The Final picture of the lion

I decided to go with the purple background. Sorry again for it being sideways. I'll work this out eventually! This is made out of fabric from a picture that I took at the zoo with an 11X14 mat and shadow box frame.

What do you think? Would you like to receive this as a secret Santa gift?

-Jessica

Working on a Secret Santa Gift

With Christmas around the corner, I'm working on a secret Santa gift. I'm trying to decide what to put as the background and I'm finding myself leaning more toward the purple background. What's your preference?

Sorry that they are sideways. I'm planning on putting it in a shadow box with a mat on it. I'll post the finished product when I get it done.

What are you guys working on?

-Jessica

This week

I did 2 rows on my latch hook last night and 2 rows this morning for a total of 4 rows this week. The last row even has of one of the greens. I'm happy. I'm over 1/4 done with it. Still have a lot to do but the picture is showing my progress and I'm planning on either posting a picture a week starting this week or once a month. Hopefully this will encourage me to continue working on it each week.

In other news, I took a bunch of pictures of books in my room and posted the pictures on my facebook page where I am hoping that people will want to buy them. All of the money (which is donations or whatever anyone wants to purchase them for) that I collect from that will be going toward schooling. We'll see how that goes. So far I've got 2 people buying books, not many others.

I've joined a group called Romance Biggest Winners where I am trying to lose weight. I was hoping to be a little bit lighter than this by now but I am working on it. I've lost around 8 pounds and have been stuck on that and it's getting closer to the 2 month mark. Yesterday I started recording my food in a journal and then posting them on sparkpeople. I stayed in everything but went a little over my recommended fat for the day. I'll work on that and I'm going to have to start exercising some more/again. I think my problem is the exercising, stress/emotional eating and not keeping track of what I'm eating. I will get this down and plan on doing better. I'm starting a journal to keep track of my feelings and what I eat and I'm planning on starting a new exercise program this week.

How is everyone else's week going?

Adult Romance review- My fair Highlander

My Fair Highlander by Mary Wine

This is an adult historical fiction book.

The main characters are English woman Jemma Ramsden and Scots warrior Gordon Dwyre (Laird Barras). Jemma has been caring for her ailing father for a long time. Now that he is no longer around, Jemma has decided to live her life her way. On one of her many horseback outings, Jemma gets into trouble with some English ruffians. Gordon and his men step in to save her and bring her back with them to his lair. Gordon has already come to the conclusion that he wants to marry her because of her spirit but he has a tough time ahead of him. Jemma wants nothing to do with marriage or someone taming her. So Gordon sets out to woo her. Throw in an unhappy mistress, illness, love and you have a great book.

I really enjoyed this book. I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5. I loved the wooing and the Scots and English aspect. This story was believable to me, Jemma didn't give in too easily and Gordon kept up with wooing her. There was a part near the ending that you didn't expect. This is sort of giving it away but the author makes it out where the main characters think one person did it and that makes you think that that person did it too but it turns out to be someone else. It was a great book and I'd recommend it to people who like to read Mary Wine, historicals, Scots and English, romance and/or a wooing story.

Adult book review- The Hot Spot

The Hot Spot by Niobia Bryant



This is a contemporary romance. This is a 'cougar' romance. This is also book 4 in the Strong Family series.



The main characters include bartender Zaria Ali and cowboy Kaleb Strong. Zaria's husband has divorced her for a younger woman. After a little bit, Zaria loses some weight and begins working as a bartender and decides to live life to the fullest. Zaria and Kaleb meet on a night that Zaria is working and they begin a sex relationship. They both feel like they are 'scratching each others itches' (so to speak) as Kaleb is looking for a woman to settle down with and Zaria isn't looking to settle down. Throw in a couple of surprises, omissions, family, ex-husband, obsticles (external, internal and emotional) to over come, and this becomes a good book with good twists.

This was a good book. I'd probably give it a 3 stars. I felt that the author felt that she had to remind us that the main characters were African American (especially Zaria) by all of the sudden adding attitudes/comments that didn't seem to fit the characters that she built. Another thing that I couldn't seem to get over, and this isn't anything against the author, but their were parts that the editing wasn't too good. The ending also seemed a little too rushed or packed with too much. Over looking those things, this was a good book with a 'perfect/happily ever after' ending. The sex scenes were very hot tho. Even tho this is book four, I read it without reading the others in the series and would say that others can too. I would recommend it to people who like to read 'cougar' type books and like happily ever after stories and hot sex scenes.

Adult romance book review- Dragon Bound

Dragon Bound: a novel of The Elder Races by Thea Harrison









This is a paranormal adult romance book.









Enter a world full of Elves, mages, Wyrs and other mythical creatures. The main characters include half human and half Wyr Pia Giovanni and Wyr dragon Dragos Cuelebre. Pia's day just keeps getting better. She has been blackmailed by her ex boyfriend to steal something from the dragon's lair. The dragon, Dragos, doesn't take kindly to having his things stolen and wont give up until he finds the thief. Pia, after being on the run for most of her life, does what she does best, goes on the run. When Dragos figures out who she is and catches her, he considers her his. Throw in Pia's special gifts, a mystery, love, and adventure and you have an awesome book.

I LOVED this book. I'd give it a 5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to read more by this author. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves shifters or paranormal romance books.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!!

I hope that everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July.

Mine hasn't been too bad so far. Walked in the 4th of July parade with some of my church members (and I have the sunburn to prove it!), mowed my grandma's front lawn, went to a book sale (and didn't buy any books!! aren't you proud of me? :)), and ate some watermelon. The 4th of July wouldn't be the 4th of July without watermelon and fireworks.

How was your 4th of July?

Adult book review- Bodyguards in bed

Bodyguards in Bed by Lucy Monroe, Jamie Denton, Elisabeth Naughton

This book is an adult romance anthology.

The 1st story is called "Who's Been Sleeping in My Brother's Bed" by Lucy Monroe. The main characters includes a very young and smart PH.D . student and huge superhero fan Danusia Chernichenko and Atrati agent Maxwell Baker. After having her apartment broken into, Danusia goes to spend time at her brothers apartment only to find out that Max is also staying there while her brother is away. Danusia is working on her doctoral thesis about the use of nanotechnology in pharmaceuticals while Max is waiting for his condo to be ready. They soon give into their attraction and then Danusia finds out that her apartment has been broken into (again) and trashed. She begins to think that one of the companies (Luminescent Pharmaceuticals) might be involved with the break ins as their research doesn't seem to be adding up to what it should be.

The 2nd story is called "Hot Mess" by Jamie Denton. The main characters include Alyssa Cardellini and FBI Special Agent Noah Temple. Alyssa Cardellini works for Primo Security Services (just one of her many jobs over the years) and messed up the date for Charles Rolston, a former accountant for Bastian Pharmaceuticals, to come in by flight to be a federal prosecutor's star witness. Not knowing what he looks like she instead picks up Noah Temple. Noah is an FBI agent with an assignment to 'follow Rolston and make sure the guy testified at trial, them bring him in for questioning' but he lost Rolston somewhere in Kansas City. After landing and finding Alyssa with a sign that has Rolston's name on it, Noah decides to talk with her and plans on telling her that he isn't Roland but that's before he notices the 2 big men also looking for Roland. They give them the slip, give into their attraction to each other, and are being chased by the 2 men. Who are the men and will Noah ever tell Alyssa the truth?

The 3rd story is called "Acapulco Heat" by Elisabeth Naughton. Main characters include bodyguard Finn Tierney and supermodel Lauren Kauffman. Finn is in charge of guarding Lauren and they both find it hard to fight their attraction. After Finn makes it clear that he wont do anything with her, Lauren takes Javier Santiago (a male supermodel she's been modeling with all week) up on an offer to go out. Things heat up between Finn and Lauren while at the club but the night ends with some shooting, the death of Javier, hot wiring a car, and them being on the run from men dressed up like cops. Who are the guys dressed up like cops? What do they want with Lauren?

This book was very good. All of the stories have action, attraction, love and conflict. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes there romance with some action. I, personally, thought that Elisabeth Naughton shined with the most action and the closest to the title of the story. I would give this book a 4 out of 5.

Adult book review- One Night Scandal

One Night Scandal by Christie Kelley



This is an historical (1818) adult romance book.

The main characters are illegitimate matchmaker Sophie Reynard and Marquess of Ancroft Nicholas Tenbury. Sophie has matched all of her friends to there loves but is now wondering if she will ever find her match. While on vacation, in Venice, a man saves her from drowning when she fell into the canal. After a night of passion she find out that he isn't an Italian like she first assumed but an Englishman who doesn't only live in London (like her) but also turns out to be her best friend's cousin and in love with another woman!

Nicholas wakes up from a night of passion to find the woman missing but a earring left in the bed. After returning home he soon finds out who the mystery woman was. After another romantic encounter, he's convinced that he wants to have a relationship with Sophie but finds his hands full with trying to convince her. Sophie thinks he isn't her match because of their statuses. How could he be her match when she's nothing in the eyes of society? Throw in Nicholas' no good conniving seriously ill father who wants Nicholas to marry someone with a good line before he dies or Nicholas wont be in his will, some friends who think that they make a good match, the fact that Sophie can't tell her own or Nicholas' match, a surprise, a mystery and determined Nicholas, and you have a great story.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing was a little different and Sophie's stubbornness in how she isn't right for Nicholas is a little tiresome as it seems to come back to that over and over again. But overall it was a great story and I would recommend it to people who are into the one night stand type stories and/or historical romances. The steamy parts were very well written. Over all I'd give it a 4 out of 5 .

Adult book review- Changeling Moon

Changeling Moon by Dani Harper

A paranormal romance werewolf book.

Main characters are veterinarian Changeling wolf Connor Macleod and human psychic editor Zoey Tyler. This story starts off with a a short prologue of a view from a Changeling wolf perspective of the wolf wanting out of the human body. Next we meet Zoey as she recently moved to Dunvegan for an editor job and gets attacked by a wolf while trying to get into her car in the freezing cold weather. She is saved from death by Dr. Connor Macleod who has far sight abilities and was on his way home from a birthing of a calf. Turns out that she was attacked by a rogue Changeling werewolf that happens to be a part of his pack. To stop her from becoming a Changeling wolf and to stop the rogue from changing again, he injects them both with silver. Meanwhile Zoey tries to convince herself she wasn't attacked by a wolf since people think that it's a little crazy and having to deal with little changes that she seems to be experiencing. Throw in Tad Helfren (Paranormal Investigations) who's looking into werewolves and believes she was attacked by one, werewolf stories through the history of the town, deaths, the silver that doesn't seem to be doing it's job, Connor who seems to be really interested in spending time with her, werwolves, and Zoey has a very busy time in her new town.

This book was really good. I'd probably give it a 4.5 out of 5 rating. You had action, romance, werewolves and much more. It's a book that will keep you turning the pages to find what happens to Zoey but you know the bad guy from the beginning which is different and made this story better then I expected.

Adult book review- Embrace the Night

Embrace the Night by Crystal Jordan

This is an adult paranormal romance book. It is a VERY HOT book. Enter into a world full of Magickals (elves, Fae, vampires, werewolves, warlocks).

The two main characters are Chloe Standish, a witch biochemist, and Merek Kingston, a warlock detective who has a precognition ability. Chloe is part of a 3 person team of scientists working on a control for werewolf changes. One of the scientists, Chloe's vampire ex boyfriend, and his fiancee end up murdered. The other scientist Ivan Nemov, Chloe's best friend's werewolf husband, is missing. Chloe is brought in for questioning before being put under Merek's protective custody. Throw in Chloe's godson (Ivan Nemov's werewolf son) and Chloe's Siamese cat familiar Ophelia, and Merek has his hands full on trying to keep them all safe and one step ahead of whoever is after Chloe and the research that the 3 scientists posses especially when he can't 'read' Chloe (so he doesn't know her future or how this will all end).

Overall this book was awesome. I'd actually give it a 5 out of 5 review. It was full of a lot of hot sex, action and twists and turns. Once you start reading this book it will hook you and not let you go until you reach the end and find out who the bad guy is. It's a refreshing story, one that I was surprised with since I don't read witch stories too often.

Adult book review- Feel the heat

Feel the Heat by Lori O'Clare, P.J. Mellor, Lydia Parks

This is an adult romance book. This book is an anthology that contains 3 stories that all have firefighters, love, romance and some mention of high school in them.

The 1st story is called "Fight fire with fire" by Lorie O'Clare. The main characters include Mary Hamilton, a police phone operator, and Nate Armstrong, a firefighter. This story was unique. It starts out with a high school friend and fellow firefighter John dying and Nate feeling like it should have been him instead. Nate and Mary grow closer together as they try to work their way through this tough time. Throw in some fires, a high school crush, an arsonist and other high school ties and you have a really good story.

The 2nd story is called "Heat Wave" by P.J. Mellor. The main characters include Summer Wadsworth and firefighter Thorne Paxton. This story was funny. Whatever could go wrong, goes wrong. Even a few things that you wouldn't think could go wrong, does. It starts off with Summer catching on fire from some explosion outside and Thorne being the one finding her unconscious. Throw in Summers beagle dogs Lola, Thorne's not really motel home, 3 old lady triplets, and a ton more and you've got a story that will have you cringing and laughing at the same time.

The 3rd story is called "Smoldering Lust" by Lydia Parks. The main characters include Hannah Hayward, the city manager, and Lee Evans, the new fire chief. This story was an enjoyment to read. It starts off with a flashback to a high school party where Hannah is abandoned by her ride as he takes off with another girl and getting a ride home from Lee along with a kiss. Then it goes to present day where Lee has come back to become the new fire chief and going to Hannah to ask for money to help get the fire house in shape. Throw in some hot scenes, Sterling Mason (the rich, spoiled, everything goes my way, don't listen to others man who abandons Hannah at the party and thinks that they are an item in the present time), a proposal, budget and fire house matters and you have a really great story.

Overall, this book was good. I'd probably go with a 3.5 out of 5 star review. If you like to read firefighter, high school past references/memories, love, or romance stories, you'd enjoy this book.

Projects

Here's a list of projects I'm working on.

1. a large store bought latch hook. Haven't worked on it for a while but the only days that I do work on it would be on nights that I spend at my grandma's (Fridays and some other days when I've got to work in the mornings)

2. book reviews. Will post them on here and on goodreads shortly.

3. postcards- quilted and hand done ones to send to friends for fun.

4. scrapbook pages

5. cleaning up house/room

6. Christmas cards. I have many ideas and will be hopefully posting them on here when I'm done with a couple of designs.

7. starburst wrapper things. I found some today so I started to fold them and then searched on google to see what could be made out of them (so tired of making chains). Found that someone made a prom dress out of them and it took them 6 years. All I could think was WOW.

This is all that's going on at this moment. When more things pop up I will share them. When I'm done with one on the list I will take them off or just make a post on my updates and update the list as I go.

Anyone else have projects going on and what are they?

-Jessica

Our dogs have been so bad

I guess that yesterday they ate frosting and a bag of small Easter egg chocolate candies. We've been keeping an eye on them to make sure their health is good. If we see something we are going to take them to the vet ASAP. Now our dogs are a male husky and a female papillon. Our husky has always loved chocolate (we always keep it away from him) but he hasn't eaten any in about 3 years. I have no idea what's going on in his head. Now our papillon isn't as interested in chocolate as she is in peanut butter or stuff we accidently drop on the floor. We have no idea how much either one of them ate but they ate a lot. The worse thing was that it could have been prevented if my stepdad had not left them out and alone by themselves. He was home but he was holed up in his room and not paying attention to them.

Then today I guess our husky decided that he wanted to help himself to bread. I don't know when it happened but I was home with them all morning and most of the afternoon. Except for taking them out a lot of times, giving them more food and water, etc. they were perfectly fine. Sometime between me going to work and getting home from work, he ate about 2/3 of a loaf of white bread. Again, my stepdad and brother were home and my mom got home about halfway through.

I get that we are all at fault since we bought the stuff and left it in his reach but seriously, what's going through their minds?

Note- they have not been sick so far.

Overprotected - book trailer

Gena Showalters new book

Hi Everyone, Gena Showalter has a new book coming out. If you go to her page, she has a contest going on. The more visits you have (to your sites), the better chance you have at winning a kindle. Please check out my site. http://genashowalter.com/promo/JessicaBowes/ Good luck everyone! -Jessica

Moira RogersWilder's Mate Kindle Contest

Hi Everyone! I'm going to give this a shot and see if I can get this to work. I just copied and pasted it using the insert link. If you can give me pointers on how to fix it up, I'd appreciate it.

Moira Rogers is having a contest to promote her Wilder's Mate where you have a chance to win a Kindle. All you have to do is post/comment on this blog and/or the others listed here (click the here). Info can be found below. Join in the fun and good luck to everyone!

This post is part of Moira Rogers’ Wild Web Adventure Promo. For full rules and disclaimers, or to hold your own kindle contest, visit the contest post. Winners will be chosen during the first week of April.

http://www.moirarogers.com/blog/archives/3473
'>http://www.moirarogers.com/blogs/kindlecontests/wildercontest-header.jpg" alt="Wilder’s Mate Kindle Contest" width="500" height="225" />

Want to win a brand new Wi-Fi Kindle 3? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and you can have your chance! For more chances to win, visit the main contest page. Every participating blog you visit gives you another chance to win!

This post is part of Moira Rogers’ Wild Web Adventure Promo. For full rules and disclaimers, or to hold your own kindle contest, visit the contest post. Winners will be chosen during the first week of April.

http://www.moirarogers.com/blog/archives/3473
'>http://www.moirarogers.com/blog/archives/3473">http://www.moirarogers.com/blog/archives/3473

<>/>

Bitten By Books RSVP for contest to win $100 gift card

http://www.bittenbybooks.com/38904/author-sunny-r…-328-rsvp-here/

You can click on the site above or click on the banner/picture. I finally figured out how to make clicking on the banner/picture send you to a website. Now, if I can only remember that for the next time. LOL

Good Luck everyone!

First attempt at a book review

Rhymes with Cupid by Anna Humphrey

Book Description copied from Amazon (tho it technically wouldn't let me past it):

Goodman's Gifts and Stationary Store

February 14th
Cashier: Elyse

3 boxes of heart shaped candies. . . $12.00
Chocolate is the only good thing about the nauseating holiday

4 containers of candy hearts. . . $5.00
Ever since my ex cheated on me, I've sworn off love. Too bad my new neighbor Patrick didn't get the memo.
1 Valentine's Day card. . . $4.50
I'm not interested. Although, he is pretty cute. And sweet. And funny.

1 singing Cupid doll (promotional item). . . $0.00
Stupid Cupid! Point your arrows someplace else. . .

Subtotal $21.50
It's going to be a complicated Valentine's Day.


My thoughts on it:
The two main characters: Elyse and Patrick.
Elyse meets Patrick one day at work and tries to set him up with her coworker-sappy-panda lover friend Dina who she is trying to help get over her boyfriend.
She soon finds out that Patrick is actually her next door neighbor that her mom has asked to help Elyse get better with driving (she's failed the test 3 times).
It's easy to see that Patrick is trying to get together with Elyse and not Dina. But Elyse is not interested in boys since her ex did the unthinkable.
Will Elyse come to a different conclusion in the end? Will Patrick move on?


It was a really good book. A typical YA romance. You've got the perfect guy and the perfect ending. First person point of view through Elyse's eyes. There were some points that I think could have been better developed and felt that they were just thrown in (her mother- work and coworker). But it is a book that I would recommend, really enjoyable and a holiday read (for those who like to read some holiday books around the holiday times). I really came to love Patrick and Dina.

I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars.


So, that's my first book review. I'm posting it on my blog so that I can make changes to it. What's your input? Do I need to change anything? Did I do it wrong?

Lent

Do you give something up for Lent? Or do you do something extra?

I decided to give stuff up for Lent. Meaning, this year, I decided to give up more than one item. I gave up chocolates/sweets, fast food (going out to eat for lunch, frozen meals, etc.), AND the purchasing of books/ebooks, reading of ebooks, checking out of books/ebooks. The last one is so that I am trying to force myself into reading the thousands of books in my room that I have not read yet so that I can get rid of them.

I am also trying to do something extra. I try to check up on people, make positive comments to people, finish projects, etc.

So far I think that I'm doing pretty good. I'm missing pizza and some chocolates now and then but overall it's not as bad as I thought it would be.

What did you give up or doing extra? If you don't celebrate Lent, then what do you do instead?

My stepdad is an alcoholic/drinker

I don't like to say that I hate anything but I really hate drinkers/alcoholics. It has to do with past experiences.

My dad was an alcoholic but he drank at home and was a little physical.

My stepdad still is an alcoholic and drinks in bars.

I don't think that I'd mind it much except for the fact that he goes to the bar 4 days of the week because he's on pool teams. Since he's on these pool teams, he goes to bars to play and since he's in a bar he's got to drink. More likely then not, he will stay out until after midnight on pool nights.

It has come down to me having to drive my mother out there so that she can drive him back home.

What really gets to me is the inconsideration that he has for my mother. She tries to get him to come home and he wants to stay out longer. Then when they get home she has to fix him something to eat, put it on a tray and bring it up to him in their bed. Then she has to take a shower and bring the tray back downstairs when he's done. This takes maybe an hour and then she is hopefully able to go to bed (where she has to deal with my stepdad on the computer, lights on, and the TV cranked up so load that you can hear it downstairs) so that she can get up around 5:30 in the morning and go to work.

Another thing that gets me is the fact that he can't remember half of the stuff that he does. He also gets people angry with him and he in turn gets angry at people. And he keeps drinking. . . .

I also had an incident when he was drunk that made me uncomfortable (me in a long skirt, driving him home, his hand being where it shouldn't be. . ).

Tonight he got drunk again but mom was away with grandma and I had to go get him with my 15 year old brother. He wanted to stay and play pool and was starting stuff with some Spanish speaking people. We ended up going to 2 different places to eat because he didn't like the food at the one place. and again, the next morning he can't remember what happened.

I don't like what alcohol does to people and I plan to stay away from it. I might also have to say that the man of my dreams will have to not be a drinker/alcoholic, not a smoker and has to love cats and dogs.

What do you think of alcoholics/drinkers? What does your man of your dreams have to not do or do?

-Jessica

Bitten By Books Kindle contest

Desiree Holt is running a contest for a chance to win a Kindle or goodie bag over at bitten by books. http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=34882
contest ends 1/17. I'm supposed to put in the picture shown but I still haven't figured it out.

Good Luck everyone