Blog Tour: Series Spotlight + Giveaway: Surrounded by Secrets by Mandy Harbin

Series Spotlight + Giveaway

Hey!! Thanks for stopping by! This tour is brought to you by: Book Monster PromotionsDon't forget to enter in the rafflecopter below for a chance to win:

• Winner's choice of eBook from THE WOODS FAMILY series. 

Surrounded by Death
(Book #0.5 in the Woods Family series)
Purchase for FREE: Amazon | BN | ARe 
Author: Mandy Harbin
Publisher: Self Published (September 11, 2012)
ASIN: B0099GXQYS

SUMMARY:

His family speaks of his death as a tragic example of why it’s too dangerous for the Woods men to be around available women.
Eric Woods is now dead, but was his last night as a living, breathing mountain lion shifter as horrible as his family has always believed?
Experience Eric’s last night with Simone--a woman whose need for carnal pleasures for exceeds all rational thought.
Reader advisory: This book contains graphic language and explicit sex. It is meant as a bonus read in the Woods family saga and should not be viewed as a typical romance.

Surrounded by Woods
(Book #1 in the Woods Family series)
Purchase for FREE: Amazon | BN | ARe
Author: Mandy Harbin

Publisher: Amira Press (July 28, 2011)

ASIN: B005F6E7Z8

SUMMARY:

When Mikaela Patterson must take on a client with specific requirements that no single women be allowed on his property, she keeps her broken engagement a secret. She doesn’t realize her client and his sons are mountain lion shifters whose instinct to mate with any available woman turns deadly.

Josh Woods is her client's eldest son, and he is immediately drawn to Mikaela. Knowing his father would never allow an available woman on the property, Josh doesn't understand his fascination with her. Josh and Mikaela fight their attraction because of their own secrets, but when the truth comes out about Mikaela's true availability and Josh's animal instincts, they must be prepared to face the consequences.
Reader advisory: This book contains graphic language and explicit sex.

Surrounded by Pleasure
(Book #2 in the Woods Family series)
Amazon | BN | ARe 
Author: Mandy Harbin
Publisher: Amira Press (October 12, 2011)
ASIN: B005VFDD7Q

SUMMARY:

Krista Owens is an attorney who works too much and plays too little. When her colleague, Mikaela, requests her assistance for a month on the Woods estate, hinting that her brothers-in-law are all hot with commitment phobias, Krista agrees to tell the guys she has a boyfriend, hoping to finally lose her virginity.

Toby Woods doesn’t want anything to do with Krista, but watching his brothers fight over her ignites his feral side. He wants her, and he’ll stop at nothing to have her.

He knows it’s temporary, but will he be able to let her go when it’s time?
Reader advisory: This book contains graphic language and explicit sex.

Surrounded by Temptation
(Book #3 in the Woods Family series)
Amazon | BN | ARe
Author: Mandy Harbin

Publisher: Amira Press (October 10, 2012)

ASIN: B009P8NJBU

SUMMARY:

When Krista needs Ariel's biochemical expertise because her new boyfriend can turn into a mountain lion, Ariel thinks her sister has lost her mind. But the possibility of a major discovery like this is too much of a temptation to ignore. Create a drug to stop a shifter from forcing a mating? Only if she got to test his sexual limits herself.

Rob thinks Ariel is an angel in disguise, and he immediately knows she's the one for him. But is he strong enough to resist his animal's need to claim her once the temptation begins?

Warning: This book contains a shifter who must resist his feral need to mate and a biochemist who is hell-bent on testing his sexual limits. You'll never look at science the same way again.

Surrounded Secrets
(Book #4 in the Woods Family series)
Amazon | BN | ARe 
Author: Mandy Harbin
Publisher: Amira Press (January 16, 2013)
ASIN: B00B2B6MNU

SUMMARY:

Lillian Caldwell has eyes on the hottie with the body, Jack Woods, one of the men who bought her family land and now new boss. She has big plans for Jack, including the getting-him-horizontal variety, and she always gets what she wants.

Jack is the family hard ass who’s trying to make amends. His plans of digging into the family secret he discovered are thwarted when he’s forced to work with Lillian, his gorgeous, pain-in-the-ass neighbor.

But a night of passion will unlock the secrets surrounding them and change both their lives forever.

Warning: This book contains a spitfire woman who doesn’t take no for an answer and a strong alpha mountain lion shifter whose preverbal bark really is as a bad as his bite.

Mandy is giving away any eBook from THE WOODS FAMILY series to one lucky winner! To enter for a chance to win all you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter below :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY:

Mandy is giving away a $100.00 Gift Card to either Amazon or B&N (winner’s choice) to celebrate the release of SURROUNDED BY SECRETS.

TWO runners up will receive an eBook of SURROUNDED BY SECRETS.

To Enter:

Fill out the Rafflecopter widget below.  The more tasks you complete, the more points you get.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mandy Harbin is the author of several books across multiple romance genres that range from contemporary to paranormal erotic romance. Her books include the award winning Darkest Sin, an erotic romantic suspense and first in the new Darkest series. Mandy also continues to work on her Possession series, which explores BDSM elements with Digital Possession being the series starter, and the ever popular Woods Family series, which began with the best seller Surrounded by Woods. She lives in a small Arkansas town with her family and can be reached via:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads

Tuesday Jams #22

Tuesday Jams is a weekly post hosted by Sharonda @ Salacious Reads. This is a way to share with others your love (other then books of course) for music! Want to participate? Easy! Head on over to Salacious Reads & link back up with her Tuesday Jams post in her comments section!

So, last week I was listening to a lot of old school and was stuck for a good long while listening to disco music. AAANND you know what that means! DISCO WEEK! Oh, yeah! *turns up the speakers and starts dancing* 

This week, I decided to go with ABBA! I absolutely love this group ^_^ I remember listening to them growing up and *cough* performing a dance or two at weddings and talent family gatherings *cough* lol. My sister and I were grocery shopping the other day and Dancing Queen came on the speakers and we were dancing up and down the isles trying to remember the dance we learned when we were kids. Yeah, my family was big on entertainment lol. Elementary school talent show champs! lol 

Click play on the music player below to listen to a few songs by ABBA! Enjoy :)

Manicure Monday #1

Manicure Monday is a meme hosted by Nite Lite Book Reviews. Take your current read and give yourself one fantastic manicure! 

Hi guys! I know this is a whole day late, I was just super busy on Monday *le sigh* Anywho... on to the meme!

So, I saw this fantabulous meme while browsing blogs and I just HAD to participate. I LURVE nail polish (anything girly, really) So, I figured I'd challenge myself to give myself mani's to go with the book I'm currently reading. This is a fairly new meme on NLBR, but if you're a tote girly girl like myself, jump right on in and share your awesome mani's :)

This week I'm currently reading two books, but I figured I'd do my nails based on the physical book, rather then an eBook lol. I'm currently reading Three Sisters by Susan Mallery.

SUMMARY:

After Andi Gordon is jilted at the altar, she makes the most impetuous decision of her life – buying one of the famed Three Sisters Queen Anne houses on Blackberry Island. Now the proud-ish owner of the ugly duckling of the trio, she plans to open her own pediatric office on the first floor, just as soon as her hunky contractor completes the work. Andi's new future may be coming together, but the truth is she's just as badly in need of a major renovation as her house.

When Deanna Phillips confronts her husband about a suspected affair, she opens up a Pandora's Box of unhappiness. And he claims that she is the problem. The terrible thing is, he's right. In her quest to be the perfect woman, she's lost herself, and she's in danger of losing her entire family if things don't change.

Next door, artist Boston King thought she and her college sweetheart would be married forever. Their passion for one other has always seemed indestructible. But after tragedy tears them apart, she's not so sure. Now it's time for them to move forward, with or without one another.

Thrown together by fate and geography, and bound by the strongest of friendships, these three women will discover what they're really made of: laughter, tears, love and all.

Alright, as some of you know, I'm not very good with taking pictures of my nails *sigh* It's like...a mission for me to get a dang good picture lol. So, I took a picture and did a lil mini video for y'all to see :) 

See? Horrible lighting >.<

(sorry for the music...I was on a country high that night lol) 

And here's the video :) Gah. I'm so regretting clipping and filing my nails >.< They feel uber weird. They're usually way longer than this, but ehhh >.< So, on the cover, it's kind of like a sunset kinda thing and the book is set on Blackberry Island, so I figured I'd do a ombre (hence the messiness) background (light blue, white and yellow) and then on my ring fingers I attempted to make little birdies. lol. It's a total fail. I don't have a nail art brush, or a fine paint brush for that matter, so I used a toothpick....and failed. lol. But, it's still cute, que no?

Talking Zombies #9

Welcome back to another zombified week of Talking Zombies with Ana & Sharonda. If you missed last weeks TZ click HERE and check out our last post. This week we will be dishing about Sunday’s episode “I Ain’t A Judas” S03E11

Ana: Okay, so...tonight’s epi wasn’t as awesome as last weeks, but it was still good. Lacked a lot of action.  

Sharonda: I thought it was okay..could have definitely been better. 

Ana: Darryl and Carol *le sigh* Carryl? Darol? Lol. Their names are so hard to merge together. I liked their little “scene” today :) It was nice and KAAA-UTTTE...you know, in a zombie apocalypse kinda way xD

Sharonda: I just love them together..they are so mix-match. Its like they balance each other out and how cute was their little talk in Darryl's cell..I really ♥ them. Lolz, I like Darol. 

Ana: Pardon my language folks, but Andrea is such a PUUUUSSSSSYYYYY!!! GRRRRRRR!!! Ugh! Gah! Someone should have bumped into her from behind and then all would be gravy! lol

Sharonda: She is so damn useless! Ugh..what a waste of space. Carol tells you to fuck him and then kill him and what this dummy do? Cry! Cry?! How can you have feelings for someone that you KNOW is lying to you?! Like really Andrea...gah! I just hate her character. Okay rant over..lmbo!

Ana: Merel? Good guy? Bad guy? I think...he’s just a product of his environment. At least, that’s how I see him. He’s been shaped and molded long before the zombies decided to run the world lol. But, he’s him and I don’t think that’s going to change. Like I said last week, he looks out for himself and Darryl is all  he’s got left, so I’m okay with him...for right now lol.

Sharonda: Oh I totally agree with you. Merle is just trying to survive and he doesnt care who he has to use to do just that. I don't trust him and I think in the end, he'll muck it up again with Darrly..dude can't help himself. Did you see when he was apologizing to Michonne? *snorts* smh..I was like yeah..whateva..lols.

Ana: Carl, I think was pretty straight forward with his daddy. Rick has got to take the backseat. Seriously. It’s just... He needs to retire lmbo! 

Sharonda: ROTFL! Yes he does. Take a back seat and recover or whateva it is he has to do. But I'm glad Carl said something to him. IDK maybe it was pull him out of the nuttiness that has become Rick.

Ana: What do you think about The Governors toy soldiers? Smh. KIDS! KIIIDS! What’s ol’ boys name that is The Governors right hand man? The Dr. guy. He. Is. So. FIRED! Gahh. He’s scary! He doesn’t have a lick of a backbone in his damned body >.<

Sharonda: Man..that shit is crazy. ONE, they all stupid to be just following this fool. As soon as you said kids?! Listen...no..just no! Who does that? I'm just surprised that these people are still there..damn whimps! Oh..ol boy is a punk..straight up punk. I think he's just want to survive, unfortunately he chose the wrong leader. 

Ana: Ahh I believe that covers all the characters. Overall this epi wasn’t my best, but it was...okay. *shrugs* Beth’s voice and that final convo between Rick, Darryl and Hershel was a damned good one. I’m definitely looking forward to next week’s episode. 

Sharonda: Yeah. It was an okay epi..we shall see what happens next Sunday. Hopefully a lot more action. 

Question of the Week

So...what do you think will happen with the next episode? Now that they “see” the Governor ain’t playing with their asses, what’s next for the group? Do they continue to argue amongst themselves or pull it in?

Ana: If you would like to participate in next weeks Talking Zombies with us email us at...

Ana: beachbumreads@yahoo.com

Sharonda: mslowman@gmail.com

What's In My Beach Bag #23

What's In My Beach Bag will be a weekly post about all the books & other goodies that I've bought, borrowed or won! 

 

*Click on photos to enlarge*

RECEIVED FOR REVIEW

(Click on covers to take you to Goodreads)

 

♥Thanks to Tara @ Entangled Publishing for Speaking of Love by Ophelia London.
♥Thanks to Sarah @ Entangled Publishing for Keeping Secrets in Seattle by Brooke Moss.
♥Thanks to Jess Michaels for Her Perfect Match.

WINNER, WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

 

♥Thanks to Victoria Danann for The Order of the Black Swan Collected Tales: Books 1-3 (Hearts of Fire Giveaway)

♥Thanks to Alisha Paige (Ruby Vine) for My Little Texas Tornado (won over @ LilyElement)

♥I won...

• Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block
• Ghost Hunt 2 (ARC) by James Hawes and Grant Wilson 

from Lisa over @ A Life Bound by Books from her & Jessica's (Confessions of a Bookaholic) Haunted Halloween Cover Contest where my cover took 4th place. Thanks for the books ladies! 

Well, that's it for my haul! Hope y'all enjoyed it :) Did you get anything awesome?

ARC Review: Devil's Bargain by Rachel Caine

*Received from NetGalley*

Devil's Bargain
(Book #1 in the Red Letter Days series)
Amazon | Goodreads | BN
Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Silhouette Bombshell (September 28, 2005)
Genre: Adult, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, 331 pages
ISBN-10: 0263857042
ISBN-13: 978-0263857047
ASIN: B000MAH97U
My Copy: ARC eBook

SUMMARY:

What's the price of a deal with the devil?

Playing by the psychic underworld's rules has cost.

Jazz Callender's whole life just got turned upside down. Her friend Ben's been convicted of a crime he didn't commit, and Jazz is determined to clear his name, even if it means enlisting the help of dark forces.

Enter James, a stranger with a mysterious offer. If Jazz pledges to work for The Cross Society, a shadowy secret organisation, he'll help her save Ben.

But as she's thrust into a world of psychic powers and dangerous magic, Jazz isn't just bargain for her friend's freedom. She's bargaining for her soul too.

And how high a price is she willing to pay?

MY REVIEW:

Jazz Callender has been handed an offer she can't refuse. She needs the money. And they know it. What's she gotta do? Just follow the directions that are given to her via a red envelope. Jazz isn't alone though, she's been given a partner, whether she likes it or not, Lucia who is the opposite of Jazz in every way. But one thing they have in common? They're both being offered something they both really want. All they have to do is sign on the dotted line. And they minus well be signing in blood.

Devil's Bargain is the first book in the Red Letter Days series. It starts off with a bang. Jazz gets down and kicks some ass. All while being buzzed. Pretty badass, right? Rachel Caine slowly drags you into this mysterious world, where people are chess pieces and that opponents playing are masterminds, so to speak. Psychic more like it. Moving ponds and knights where they see fit all to gain the upper hand in this deadly game. While this book starts off with a bang, Caine leads you in slowly. But there is no lack of entertainment. Caine has a firm grasp on you, slowly baby feeding you tidbits of information so that you're not lost.

When you start the book you kind of get the feel and you think you know who the bad guy is, but as the story moves along, the game changes. Ponds are taken off the game board. Knights are defending the queen and king. Rooks are moving stealthily...and then BAM the story changes with it. More information is revealed and you're stuck with a "wtf just happened" kinda face. There is romance in this book. Like the story itself, it's slow in building, but it is building. It's not a big part of the story, but I do get happy when these little scenes come up in the book (My ever beating heart dying for romance lol). When the book ends you're left at a cliffhanger. The final red envelope of this book has you at the edge of your seat wanting more.

I would definitely recommend this book. While browsing NetGalley I saw this beaut and just HAD to request it! And I was approved *happy dancing* I'm no stranger to Rachel Caine, I love her Young Adult works (Morganville Vampires) as well as her Adult works (Weather Wardens). Rachel Caine has no problem working her magic with words and delivering a story with a world so different, you kinda actually wish you lived in it. And that doesn't stop with this series.

MY RATING:

Talking Zombies #8

Welcome back to another zombified week of Talking Zombies with Ana & Sharonda. If you missed last weeks TZ click HERE and check out our last post. This week we will be dishing about Sunday’s episode “Home” S03E10

Ana: Ahh. Let me just say this now, but Sunday’s episode was MUCH better than last weeks. Do you agree with me? Or do you agree with me? lmbo 

Sharonda: I do agree with you..lols. And what's even better?....you know...Darryl is back baby! Thank you baby Jesus because Rick is working my damn nerves. So what's your take on this episode?

Ana: Lol! OMFG! When I saw Darryl pop up on the screen, I was clapping and jumping up and down! HEEEEELLLL YEEAAHHH!! woooohooo!! Man. This weeks epi was THE BOMB! Well, you know... the ending lol

Sharonda: yes! They had the good sense to NOT keep him away for a long time. Now if they can hurry up and get Rick off the crazy train!

Ana: I kinda liked that part where Darryl and Merel helped those people (well, Darryl led it) but afterwards when Darryl is all “I might be the one walking away, but you’re the one leaving.” Damn....DAMN. I thought that was so damned good. Especially because Merel was all “I can’t go back there...” And ol’ boy was back there. I think, yeah, he’s an asshole, but he’s set in his ways long before walkers started roaming the earth. Same with Shane. He was like a gypsy ass nigga. lol. Didn’t know what he was gonna do. Crazy for sure. But, I dunno. I might not be the biggest fan of Merel, but he’s the “I’ma do me, fuck you” kinda guy. If that makes sense? 

Sharonda: You know Merle's not stupid..he knows he wouldn't last long without being in a group. Despite all his stupid ass ways, he's can be a good guy in his own way (ewww, do not believe I just said that). Anyways, I hope Darryl can talk some sense in him. But I'm dying to see what the next episode will bring, it should be very interesting..

Ana: Maggie and Glen. Oh. Wow. I don’t even know where to start with these two. Yes, Glen picked up and started to play Captain America (which, IMHO I didn’t like at all) I thought he was doing it out of hatred. Yeah, Rick’s gone into crazy town again and Darryl has familial issues, but Glen, I don’t think, was thinking about the group as a whole. Maggie? I dunno. I’ma leave ol’ girl alone and see what transpires next epi. 

Sharonda: I agree with you and I really didn't like the route he took, I felt kind of weird watching it. I liked them as they were..I just hope they do any drastic changes with their characters. 

Ana: Rick, Rick, Rick....Why I knew that was Lori’s ol’ dead ass >.< *facepalm* I am so over Ricks timely trips to wacky town. I’m not even gonna say anything else on that matter. Over it! 

Sharonda: Yup! If they drag this shit out...Especially with the Governor after them like that, I might have to bypass some parts (thank god for DVR!). Did you see this nigga was about the leave? Leave! like did your ass forget about Carl & idk...yo damn baby! wtf!

Ana: Andrea.... Again, done with her. She either has brass balls, or she doesn’t. She keeps flip flopping and it’s quite frkn’ annoying. Stand up for her friends? Or still be naive and believe the Governor and all his bs. Seriously, this character gots to go. Unless she steps it up and jumps out of la la land then, maybe she can stick around. Ricks group could use more people (even if they’re so picky choosy)

Sharonda: I'm not talking about Andrea anymore (well, unless you make me...lmbo)..to me, she's non-existent. Like you said unless they make a drastic change to her character..she is already dead to me. As for Ricks group, they just need to get their shit together and I might say, pretty damn quickly!

Ana: The Governor...crazy sonofabiznatch. He’s one helluva villain. I can’t stand and give him props for making me scream and yell at the tv. lol 

Sharonda: lols...I know right! I was yelling “duck!” But you see that? they weren’t paying attention & they lost ol’ crazy (you know the one that said Carol is gay, because she has short hair...lmbo!) poor dude...smh. What’s his name again? lols. 

Ana: No more prison mates. lol. Goodbye Axel, as much as I was starting to like you, you weren't doing much. But your body did shield my girl Carol. Lol! *sigh* That was mean of me lol. But, still, I think they made us “like” him at the end and killed him off in the end just to fuck with us. lol. 

Sharonda: That ain’t right Ana...rotfl! But I do hate when they do that...get you all comfortable & the BOOM! they dead...its a sad sight to see. 

Ana: Thanks so much for joining us for this weeks TZ! 

Question of the Week

So...what do you think will happen with the next episode? Now that they “see” the Governor ain’t playing with their asses, what’s next for the group? Do they continue to argue amongst themselves or pull it in?

Ana: If you would like to participate in next weeks Talking Zombies with us email us at...

Ana: beachbumreads@yahoo.com

Sharonda: mslowman@gmail.com

Movie Review: Brave

Brave
Genre: Adventure, Action, Animation
Rated: PG
Time: 93 min
Release Date: June 22, 2012
Director: Mark Andrews , Brenda Chapman  (More credits HERE)
Writers: Brenda Chapman (Story) , Mark Andrews (Screenplay) (More credits HERE)
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, and Emma Thompson (Full cast and crew HERE)

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

MY REVIEW:

When Princess Merida's mom pushes her to her limits about her life, Merida takes it upon herself to change this, and BAAAM it's curse central and Merida must find a way to undo this curse before it's too late.

Brave is now one of my favorite Disney movies. I really enjoyed this one. AAAAND OMFG the animation is Ah-maaazing. If I didn't like this movie, I'd tell you to watch it for that alone lol. But, alas, I loved this movie.Princess Merida is one tough cookie, though I wanted to slap her a time or two for being so mean to her mama. BUUUT, I guess it's that age for a young girl coming of age and wanting to be herself and not what her mother wants her to be.

This movie was really enjoyable and I think really teaches a lesson as well. LISTEN TO YA MAMA! lol. But, in all seriousness, I think if I didn't already respect and love my mom, then I would have pulled something out of this movie. The journey that Merida goes on to break this curse is one heck of a journey of blood, swear, and tears...okay, okay, just sweat and tears.

I would most definitely recommend this movie. Round up the kiddos and pop this sucker in the DVD player and hit play. OH don't forget the popcorn and the TISSUES, my mom cried when we watched this movie. But, I don't wanna spoil the movie, so I'll leave it at that. 

MY RATING:

MOVIE TRAILER:

ARC Review: Wyoming Bride by Joan Johnston

*Received from NetGalley*

Wyoming Bride 
(Book #2 in the Mail-Order Bride series)
Amazon | Goodreads | BN
Author: Joan Johnston
Publisher: Dell (January 1, 2013)
Genre: Adult, Historical Western Romance, 432 pages
ISBN-10: 0345527461
ISBN-13: 978-0345527462
ASIN: B008GP9H6Y
My Copy: ARC eBook

SUMMARY:

CAN SECRETS AND SECOND CHOICES EVER LEAD TO LOVE?

After three months in a mail-order marriage, Hannah Wentworth McMurtry is a widow—pregnant, alone, and near death in the Wyoming wilderness. Though she is saved by a man with a face cut from stone, she still grieves the husband who died on their journey west. Hannah needs a husband, but does she dare marry another stranger?

Flint Creed has also lost someone he loved—when the woman he hoped to marry chose his younger brother instead. Now he must find a ranch wife of his own. But every female in the remote Wyoming Territory is too old, too young, or already married . . . until he discovers Hannah on the prairie. Flint doesn’t pretend to love her, but he doesn’t tell her he loves another woman, either. Hannah doesn’t pretend to love him, but she doesn’t tell him about the child she carries. Though danger surrounds them on the Wyoming frontier, the greatest threats of all are the secrets within—revelations that could destroy the new life Hannah and Flint have begun to cherish.

MY REVIEW:

Hannah Wenthworth McMurty is a widow and carrying her dead husbands unborn child after only three months of marriage. She then finds her self saved by a Flint Creed, all out cowboy (mighty freakin' sexy) who is determined to find himself a bride to keep his treacherous thoughts and feelings about his brothers soon to be bride Emaline, the woman he loves, to himself. And so Flint has a proposition unto Hannah, for her to be his bride. Does he tell Hannah why? Nope, not a chance. But Hannah knows she needs a way to care for her unborn child and Flint is none the wiser. For now...

I absolutely loved these characters. Every single one. Yes, even the evil ones that were out to destroy the Creeds' ranch. Such good bad guys they played lol. After reading Texas Bride (Book #1 in the Mail-Order Bride series) I was hesitant about Hannah. I really enjoyed Miranda's book and her character. But, Hannah did me one better. Her character is feisty and set in her ways, a little like her sister, but different. Weak is not in this girls vocabulary. no siree. When Flint asks her to be his bride, she sets her own rules and runs with it, knowing that she's going to need a way to provide for her baby, even if she has to hide it from Flint. But Flint's got his own issues. Heart of the matter issues at that. He's in love with his brothers fiance, places her on a pedestal, but Hannah is no second rate woman. Nope, no chance of that, she's beautiful and slowly tugging at the heart strings of this big, bad cowboy.

Aside from this simmering romance, you've got an evil sonofabiznatch who is out to destroy the Creed brothers' ranch and take their cattle. This aspect of the book definitely adds a bit more umph to the story as whole. You've got a pregnant woman, cattle thieves, no sex having couples, and a mission to search for missing siblings all tied into a 432 paged book. Joan Johnston balances it all really well and doesn't just throw it at you with a heaping bowl of help yourselves. She lays out a nice dinner and carves the turkey for you and adds a some gravy on top to give it that kick of awesome.

Ahh. Joan Johnston does it again. Ms. Johnson is by far my favorite Historical Western Romance writer. Her stories just take you to another world and into the lives of these amazing characters. I would definitely recommend this book. All you historical romance lovers out there? You're gonna love this one. Joan Johnston does not disappoint! This is the second book in the Mail-Order Bride series by Ms. Johnson but I believe can be read as a standalone. Johnson throws in some tidbits of information from the previous book so that you aren't lost or thinking "what the fudge cake".  BUT, I would suggest you read this series from the beginning. You won't regret it :)

Click HERE for my review of TEXAS BRIDE (Book #1 in the Bride Order series)

MY RATING:

Movie Review: Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Rated: PG 13
Time: 106 min
Release Date: March 30, 2012
Director: Tarsem Singh
Screenplay: Marc Klein , Jason Keller (More credits HERE)
Starring: Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, and Armie Hammer (Full cast and crew HERE)

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

An evil queen steals control of a kingdom and an exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright.

MY REVIEW:

Ahh. Uhmm. I didn't like this movie at all. I knew going in I was going to be getting the opposite of Snow White and the Huntsman, but... I just... didn't like it. I was surprised too, seeing as Julia Roberts is in this movie.

I watched this one a while back (like a WHIIIILE back lol) with my little brother. He watched it already, but was a good sport and watched it again with me. And laughed when I was just flabbergasted by Lily Collins' eyebrows. They were like.......the stars of the movie! *sigh* I know, that was mean of me. But, I mean...they were just so.... okay, okay. I'm stopping now.

The acting? Mehh. Wasn't all too thrilled with it. Though, I did like the dwarfs. ^_^ They were pretty awesometastic. But, not awesome enough to raise my rating. The story as a whole was okay. I wasn't thrilled and I was quite bored with it. I'm not a big Snow White fan, but I think when it comes to this remake, I'll take the old school cartoon version.

I wouldn't really recommend this one if you're a big movie buff and are looking for something decent to watch. BUT, if you have kiddies and want to kill the time with a movie that isn't a cartoon or 3D for that matter, then I would say "Yeah, go on right ahead and pop this bad boy in the DVD player."

MY RATING:

MOVIE TRAILER: