Mailbox Monday

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend!

We had lots of rain, but thankfully the clouds disappeared taking the rain with it for most of Saturday, allowing for a dry day on the football field.

My 6 yr old son started his first year of football. We kicked off the season with a Jamboree, where the Warriors played two half games against two different teams. Sadly, we lost our first game, but we chopped it up to experience and learned from our mistakes. This was not only the boys first game ever, but most of our coaches have never coached a game either. We came back and showed our Warrior pride and won the second game 18-6. I am proud of our little guys on the team, but I have to give my son props... He didn't let anyone past him, he played Offensive tackle, and when his guy fell down he ran along side the kid with the ball making sure he didn't get tackled. I am really looking forward to our first official game this weekend!!

Now it's Monday and the rain is back and we had to get up early...yuck! There are errands to run and dentist appointments to keep. The highlight of my morning was doing some blog hopping and finding out that I won Highland Rebel by Judith James on Anna's blog. Thanks so much to both Anna and Judith James. I will be anxiously awaiting finding this one in my mailbox!

Here are the books I found this week in my mailbox:

I won Possession on Lea's blog during her Devyn Quinn week.

I won Where the Wind Blows on Emily Bryan's blog when Caroline Fyffe was guest hosting.


Thanks again Lea, Devyn Quinn, Emily Bryan and Caroline Fyffe!!









Last week I purchased a few books for my Kindle as well. There is just something about that instant gratification!!!




I broke down and bought the Lords of the Underworld bundle (couldn't beat the price--4 books for 9.99) containing: The Darkest Fire, The Darkest Night, The Darkest Kiss and The Darkest Pleasure.







I have been eying this cover for months now!! For some reason every time I look at it I think about The Last of the Mohicans.












Another one where I couldn't beat the price... Plus this cover is beautiful!







I had to buy an Eve Silver book after Barbara raved about this author.

A Wanted Man by Linda Lael Miller

A WANTED MAN
HQN Books
May 2008 Paperback


The past has a way of catching up with folks in Stone Creek, Arizona. So schoolmarm Lark Morgan and Marshal Rowdy Rhodes are determined to hide their secrets-and deny their instant attraction. That shouldn't be too hard, since each suspects the other of living a lie. Her too-fancy clothes and big-city ways inspire gossip all over town; his blond good looks and impudent grin belong to a man sporting a gunfighter's coat.

But Rowdy and Lark have one truth in common: the very real dangers they face. Like the gang of robbers wreaking havoc on the railroad heading toward Stone Creek-the men Ranger Sam O'Ballivan expects Rowdy to nab. And as past and current troubles collide, Rowdy and Lark must surrender their stubborn pride to the greatest power of all-an undying love.

My Thoughts:
I read the first, The Man from Stone Creek, in the Stone Creek series a few years ago, and thought what could be a better way to help celebrate the Great Western Drive (Ramblings on Romance) than to read the second in the series, A Wanted Man. I didn't count on not remembering much more than the hero and heroine. This created a feeling of picking up the series mid stride and experiencing this world for the first time. Linda Lael Miller did not disappoint by any means.

I enjoyed going back to the Old West and reading about train robberies, people with their troubles in a simpler time, and the loyalty of an old dog. A Wanted Man reminded me why I started reading HR in the first place and made me question the why of leaving the Old West for so long. If you have not yet had the pleasure of reading any part of the Stone Creek series, I suggest you take time and settle in. I am sure you won't be disappointed.

The Season

I found this website while visiting a group on Shelfari yesterday. I headed over to check it out and guess what I found.... Another great contest!!

For all of you out there that love historical romance you really need to check out The Season!

I entered yesterday for the chance to win Tracy Anne Warren's new release Seduced by His Touch


and Laurie Lee Guhrke's With Seduction in MindI got an email last night telling me that I actually won With Seduction in Mind.

The site is also doing a daily contest with four books up for grabs, only two winners. You are automatically entered into the grand prize, 25 gift card.

The Frasers- Clay by Ana Leigh

The Frasers: Clay book one in The Frasers series by Ana Leigh April 2004 ~ Pocket Star ISBN 0-743-46994-1 When Yankee beauty Rebecca Elliot discovers that single women aren't allowed on the wagon train bound for California, she takes desperate measures. Spying handsome Clay Fraser, she puts her flirty plan into action and wakes, the next morning, with a wedding band on her finger.

Clay Fraser, a former Confederate soldier, is horrified to discover that he somehow got married last night—and worse, to a Yankee. Worst of all, his new wife refuses to share his bed! Sparks fly and attraction burns as the wagon train heads west, but it will take a love as expansive as the Western sky to show Rebecca and Clay how to claim the passionate new life that is their destiny. ***from the author's website*** My predicament: I was in a mood where all I wanted to read was a book set in during the Civil War. I was also in one of those moods where I didn't want to wait for a book to be shipped to me or drive into Kennesaw or Rome for the closest book store. Yes, the bug had hit me...I want it and I want it now!!! So I went to Shelfari.com and asked for help. I wasn't having any luck doing my own searches, all the books I was finding were out of print or not available on Kindle (the fix for gotta have it now). Any how, the lovely ladies there came to my rescue and gave me suggestion after suggestion. By this time I had gone to the garage and found the last remaining box of books that my mother dumped on me, ok so she didn't dump them on me I willingly took them off her hands. I mean half of them were mine and the other half my cousins and we had used her as a storage facility. Ok running of course again!! What I found in the last box... And One Wore Gray by Heather Graham. This is the second book in her trilogy set during the Civil War. I can't remember if I read it or not. I went back to Shelfari and inquired after the two ladies suggesting this series if I really needed to read the series in order. It was unanimous, I had to read in order. But I was bound and determined to read a Civil War romance, so I grabbed the book and put it in my purse. I had to take my son to the doctor after an extremely long night of some really disgusting stuff that I won't really mention and battling a fever of 102. I get to the doctor sign my son in and sit down. I try to start reading while holding this 73lb crying boy in my lap while rubbing his head and rocking. I give up and put the book back in my purse. They call us back... I attempt to read some more while waiting. Well my son was not feeling well at all. He had all the nurses worried about him, and I'm thinking geez, its just the stomach flu. NO I am not unsympathetic to my child, I was really worried, but I had never seen these nurses flock to a sick kid like this before. Which in turn made me worry even more. Doctor comes in.... blah blah blah... Im sending you to Scottish Rite. Anybody familiar with Atlanta--- She is sending my baby by ambulance to the children's hospital. Heart plummets. My husband was worried "Swine Flu", no the doctor thinks Appendicitis. So I got my first ambulance ride along with my son's first ambulance ride last week. My husband, bless his heart, works about 30 mins south of us and we passed him on the road. He slides in behind the ambulance and is standing at the door when they let us out. Long and short of it.. I tried all day (my son was sleeping peacefully finally) to read that darn book without any success. My son is fine... it was indeed the stomach flu. He is back to playing football and knocking little boys around on the field like they are flies. But right now I think that the book is going to be buried in my TBR pile...is there such a thing as a bad luck book? I head back over to Shelfari and look for the other suggestions and found Ana Leigh and she had one available on Kindle. So I am going to get my fix!!! Now on to my thoughts on the book! The book takes place shortly after the end of the Civil War. Rebecca is in desperate need of a husband so she can make the journey West with the last wagon train out of Independence. She is a Yankee through and through, lost her husband at the very beginning of the war when he was shot on the battlefield. In searching the crowd of men, she is disgusted with them. She can either choose a filthy Yankee or a dirty Rebel (who at least takes a bath). She eyes Clay and his brother Garth and finagles dinner with them. Clay and Garth are headed West to find their sister who ran off with a Yankee that had been quartered at the family plantation. They have very little money left to their name, so they decide to sign on with the wagon train. This is playing right into Rebecca's devious little mind. She chose to trick Clay into marrying her. From here we witness the trials of being part of a wagon train, the turbulent air around Rebecca and Clay, and we watch them eventually fall in love. This marriage is suppose to be a business agreement but will they make it to California and be able to sever all ties. Over all it was an enjoyable read that kind of fit the bill. I was really looking for more of abook set during the War and not at the end. I was a little thrown off by some of the scenes, for example When did Clay run across the cabin? I really felt like I should have known there was a cabin there. It was almost like it was an afterthought, Oh its storming I have to have somewhere for the H/H to sit it out and finally come to terms with what is going on between them. There were only a few instances like this, but it didnt take from the story. Rating:3

Eve Silver Giveaway on Happily Forever After

The totally awesome Barbara is holding a superb contest involving not one but four books! Eve Silver has been generous and offered up a copy of His Wicked Sins.


Barbara is so excited about this author and her great books and she feels that the winner is going to catch the Eve Silver bug too... so Barbara has decided to throw in three more books by Eve Silver: Dark Prince, His Dark Kiss, and Seduced by a Stranger. So head on over to Happily Forever After and throw your name in the hat! This is one Give Away you don't want to pass up.

Contest Alert

Here's your chance to win Tempt The Devil by Anna Campbell. Royal Reviews is holding a give away and all you need to do is leave a comment on their post. This one runs until Sept.6, when the winner will be announced! So hurry over and put your name in the hat!

I received the Kreativ Blogger award from Barbara.

The Kreativ rules state that: Once you receive this award you are to list seven of your favorite things and then nominate seven other blogs.

1. Coffee

2. My family

3. Reading

4. Beaches/Oceans

5. A beautiful sunset

6. A full moon

7. Blogging...well blog hopping anyway. lol

My Nominees are:

1. Cheeky Reads

2. Emeraldfire's Bookmark

3. Heather's Books

4. Just Your Average Carpool Queen

5. The Book Queen

6. Caffey's Reads

7. Cindy Reads Romance

***I have been really awful about posting the awards to those of you who have deemed me worthy of getting them. For that I apologize and promise to make a better effort to post them. I appreciate all of the ones that I get!!***

Lea-- This is just for you!!

Alrighty!!! Last week Lea had a post on her blog about her feet. She had apparently promised another blogger that she would post some pictures of her own so called "ugly feet". Now Lea does not have ugly feet, but she thinks she does!!! I commented that I would post pictures of my favorite (and most hated) attribute to my body.



I love my feet! I think they are pretty. Why are they the most hated if I love them, you might ask. Well, in general I hate feet. I think they are the most disgusting visible part of the body. I don't like other feet touching me... Ron if you are reading this, take a hint and quit picking on me with your hammer toes!! No I don't want to touch your feet, sorry Michaela I really don't want to paint your toes. I do give in and paint my daughter's toes but only because she is my daughter. There is an exception to this feeling. I love baby feet. Baby feet last until probably about the age of 4. I think I said six while commenting on Lea's post, but my six year old son just cured me of that!! I had originally planned on including pictures of my kids feet with this, and I will strap my daughter down and get the picture of her feet, but she wants to repaint her toes. I will add those later!

sporting my favorite color... purple

Thumbs UP!!

Now, Who else is brave enough to post some pics of their dogs?!?!

Colters' Woman by Maya Banks

Maya Banks

Publisher: Samhain Pub Ltd
Pub. Date: January 2007
ISBN-13: 9781599983509
272pp
Rating: 4 stars

Adam, Ethan and Ryan aren't looking for women. They're looking for a woman. One woman to share their lives and their beds. They don't want a casual romp in the hay, they want the woman who will complete them and they're losing hope of finding her. That is until Adam finds Holly lying in the snow just yards from their cabin. He knows shes different the minute he holds her in his arms. But before Adam gets his hopes up, he knows he has to gauge his brothers reactions. Soon its evident that shes the one. There are a few problems, however convincing her she belongs with them and keeping her safe from the man who wants her dead.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, menage a quatre, violence.

My Thoughts:

This was my first Maya Banks read, and I have to say it most likely won't be my last. I really enjoyed reading Colters' Woman. Maya Banks did a superb job in making sure that the reader was able to see the emotion shared by all four participants. Each brother showed different characteristics that are needed in any good relationship... basically you wrap all three men into one and you have the perfect man. I would settle for either of the three amazingly hot men!!

I wasn't as impressed with Holly as I was the brothers. She started off as the defenseless damsel in distress who eventually strengthens as the story progresses. I can only surmise that this is because she is being so thoroughly loved by three hunky men. She is suppose to be a virgin upon meeting the brothers, but she seemed way to knowledgeable and willing to enter a relationship with three men. Holly did redeem herself by the end of the book in my eyes.

Overall this was an enjoyable first read by this author and I look forward to reading more from her. Next time I will have the following items at hand before reading:

• fan
• lots of ice
• a bottle of wine... hell you better break out the Crown!!
• send the kids to my sisters
• husband
  

Mailbox Monday

Over the weekend I received a few books that I have been anxiously awaiting. I have to give myself a pat on the back as well... Saturday my husband and I drove to Rome to drop my son off with my sister for the evening. We decided to eat out and were driving into town, when I saw the B&N. I always forget that Rome has a book store! Anyway, my husband had wanted to stop at a bookstore the other day to find a book on Coaching a football line, so I of course was very helpful and pointed it out. I am trying to be really good right now and not buy any new books (unless its an amazing deal like the three I found at the Dollar Tree last week). I am sticking to my husband like glue, not looking at the bargain table, not looking at displays at the end of each isle. I even asked for help, because I couldn't find the sports section, without redirecting myself down the romance isles. All the while I am telling my husband "Hurry Up!!! I can't trust myself in here." He took too long... I wound up circling around to a display that out of the corner of my eye I saw the Pamela Palmer book, you know the one... It looks like it could be the cover to the movie Last of the Mohicans (at least that is always what comes to mind when I see it). I called my mom, had to ask her which books I bought her for her birthday. I know I will be getting them back the next time I go see her, which will be forever now b/c she moved to W. VA. Then I found my way over to the romance section where I automatically grabbed Stolen Heat. Then I was thinking I need a book with Dream in the title for the upcoming Fall challenge. I found one, Sapphire Dream. So here it is I have two books, yes only two, in my hands. I go back to the sports section to find my husband and he is still looking. I laid my books down on the table directly behind him, he gave me this funny look and I had to ask "What?" then proceeded to tell him he needed to hurry or I was going to find more books. Well we started walking around again, and my conscience started getting to me... I have all those books at home crying to be read, this one will sit on a shelf collecting dust for months before I actually get to it, So I put Stolen Heat back. Then my husband said I don't really need this book, I can find all this stuff online and put his book up. That leaves me standing there with one book and a line at the checkout. Knowing how impatient my husband is I opt to put Sapphire Dreams up too. I would rather walk out empty handed than to have to listen to his ruffled feathers for the next half hour or so.

Then he started in on me about buying books for my Kindle. You see he only sees the books that come home in the mail or in a bag. He never gets to see the books I am buying for the Kindle. If he saw how many I have on there already he would probably freak! I have to say that I got really good deals on most of them ... really cheap to free! I told him I would wait until I got home to get the books that I just put down. They are probably cheaper at Amazon anyway right!!

OK enough of my ramblings... here'are the books I got in the past week:


I received my autographed copy of Highland Obsession over the weekend. I won this back in June on TBQ's blog. We are thinking that the first book got lost in the mail, so Ms. Halliday surprised me with a little something extra!!

An autographed copy of A Hint of Wicked.

I received Edge of Hunger from PBS as well.

I received another book in the mail, but I am not keeping it. I already have a copy of it so I am giving it out to a friend. Then I have the three books that I found at the Dollar Tree while in search of the infamous dividers (for my daughter's school notebooks).

I got Pamela Clare Ride the Fire, Sandra Hill's Truly Madly Viking, and Amanda Ashley's The Captive.