Daven Says - Turkey Edition

When the boys get together, rough play inevitably happens. Daven was running around with Cameron and Elliott, and Daddy joined in.  Adam had just captured Daven and put him in jail while Daven shouted, "Let me go, you moron!"

I shouldn't have laughed. I did. More than once. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday afternoon, I was lying on the couch at my parents' house, half asleep.  I had been put under earlier that morning to have a procedure done, and was still rather drowsy.  Daven frequently came into the room, hugged me, and kissed my forehead.  Often times he would continue to do this until I opened my eyes and hugged him back.  Then he would go back to the other room, where he was going back and forth between playing with Papaw and Nana.  It was such a sweet gesture for him to make.  He told me that he was taking care of me.

So today, when I was having to restrain him in order to wipe poop from his butt while he was kicking and screaming, I had to remember that special moment from yesterday.  Poop your pants; get mad at mommy!  Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and may all of the poop go into the potty! 

Book Review: Campbell

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It's such a thrill when authors want you to read their work.

Campbell is set in a present-day, dystopian world. It's 2013, but the only people who are around are the ones that were too young to be killed off by a mass-spread virus ten years before. The narrative switches between the present day and ten years prior, when the entire world changed. 

The children, who many are now grown, have somehow managed to keep major transportations, such as planes and boats, operational. But what didn't they have?  Internet. Interesting.  Broken up into territories like a compass, tensions are high, as the game for the throne escalates.

 Whoops! Wrong time, wrong kingdom.

I did have questions that were never answered, like how are these children flying planes?  Who's keeping the electricity going?  How did they learn to communicate and trade with other countries?  Like other dystopian-based books, I bet that more will be explained in future books to the series.   And I want to read it all. Now. 

The main players in this story are Tal, Leah and Connor from the West (California) and Lucy, Zoey, and Cole from Campbell (Canada).  LA hotshots and a farm family don't appear to have a lot in common, but when two of them are forced to spend some quality together, those assumptions are reevaluated. 

The further into the book I read, the more invested in the characters I became and the more intense the plot was. I craved a neat and tidy, happy ending. And while it wasn't quite a "George R.R. Martin, everyone you love is dead" ending, I wasn't thrilled with how the author left it. 

It's a love/hate relationship that I have with books that have at least one sequel. You've got to wait ages to continue on with the story!  There was an except at the end from he next book, but I didn't want to read it, since I couldn't have the whole book. ::pouty face::

I'll definitely be reading the subsequent books to Cambell.  If you'd like to read this one yourself, it's only $3.99, on both  Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Wake up the Magic

Every morning when it's time to open The Disney Store, a little boy or girl gets to help. Usually, whoever happens to be around at that time gets selected. But since Nana knew that she was going to be opening the store, she asked if we wanted to come over and have Daven help. 

The first step is to get your hands warmed up so that the magic can flow through them. 

Send the magic out!

Oops!  That didn't work. Maybe if we dress like Sorceror Mickey, that will help. 

Warm the hands up again. 

Don't forget to say the magic words!  "Let the magic begin!"

It worked!  The store's magic woke up and everyone was able to come into the store. 

We extended the magic by seeing Santa while we were at the mall. He told him about all the toys at the Disney store he wanted, as well as doing his Darth Vader impersonation. 

Book Launch Blog Tour: Ascension

Hey there, readers!  Haaaaaaaaave you met Stacey?

If you frequent my book reviews, I've talked about most of her books in the past calendar year.  Once I discovered her, I quickly read everything of hers that I could get my hands on.  And while The Gryphon Series is aimed at young adult readers, I have gotten sucked into the story every time, despite the fact that I am no longer a young adult myself.

 (Seriously.  I just started a new part time job this week and one of the girls that works directly under me called me old.  Does this mean I can start wearing muumuus?)

I am a part of Stacey's street team, and I do my best to promote her whenever I can.  She is an amazingly kind woman.  Well, how nice IS she?  She is so sweet and catering to her fans, that after we learned that our respective family vacations would be at The Happiest Place on Earth on the same day, she agreed to meet me.  For a few brief moments last month, my 3-year old son quoted Star Wars quotes to Stacey and her girls while they smiled and laughed, indulging in his imagination.  There, at the front of Magic Kingdom, with Main Street in front of us and the Electric Light Parade about to start, I met one of my favorite authors.

See, I told you that she's basically the best.

But you want to know about the new book.  Right.

 I was geeking out so much while reading this book that I was constantly facebook-messaging Stacey  throughout.  "Oh my word, that part was SO funny!" and "WHAT?!  I can't believe that this person enters the story!"  She was very patient at indulging me in my fan-girl silliness.

Celeste Garrette, how have you gotten yourself into such a mess again?  And Grams - how are you still so funny?  This book gave me all the feels and I'm still trying to cope with them.

This being the fourth book in the Gryphon series, I'm already pretty emotionally invested in Keni, Gabe, Celeste, and the whole gang. And of course, Mr. Pirate, Rowan and lad Irishman, Caleb. (So many feels). I knew going into Ascension that there would be obstacles that the family must face.

If you've read the proceeding books, you know that The Countess is practically stalking Celeste and is rather obsessed with knocking our conduit down.   Basically, this is her agenda:

The Garretts never really get much of a break, having the responsibility to save everyone from total destruction.  Celeste has some crucial tough choices to make, ones that I don't think I could make myself.   I couldn't read fast enough, trying to guess how everything was going to play out.

And then it was over.  And I don't know what to do with myself.

 

I wish, more than anything, that at least one of my friends would read this series so that I can get all book club-like and discuss it.  Maybe I should gift the books to someone for Christmas and pester them until they read them all.  

Buy it now on Amazon

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for your chance to get some great stuff!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: The Seven Steps to Closure

This was one of the many free books that I downloaded to my sister-in-law's kindle.  Sadly, many of them sit there, unread, for a long time.  But something drew me to this book, and I am happy that I decided to read it.

Tara turns 30 and learns that her husband is leaving her all at once.  A year later, the news is filled with images of her ex running for political office, and getting engaged...to her cousin.  She is in a constant fog, unable to move on.

Thankfully, Tara has a close-knit group of girl friends who are there to help her through her compulsion to purchase baked goods and be forever miserable.  An article in a magazine about achieving the seven steps to closure from a relationship turns into something that her friends insist that Tara try.

I really enjoyed this book.  I almost felt like I was reading Marian Keyes.  But she's Irish and Donna is Australian, so the book settings are different.  I feel like the main book theme is similar, though.  Females finding their place in the world and the man of their dreams, all at the same time.

If you like a good chick lit, give this book a read.  It's not free anymore, but you can purchase an ebook on Amazon currently for $3.99.  If you need a nook book, though, you're out of luck.  B&N only has the paperback edition of the book for sale.

Buy it on Amazon

Trust Me, I'm Going to Read This!

Love Me releases today!

Trust Me is available today, November 18 through the 25th for only 99 cents

Trust Me?

The Trust Me? Trilogy

Book 1

KE Osborn

  

Amazon    Smashwords

This book is for mature audiences 18+ It contains explicit language and sexual content.

Book Description:

Jenifer Taylor is content with her life, dull and boring as it is. Being absent from the dating scene means she doesn’t have to deal with the major trust issues she has with men that stem from a controlling and aggressive ex-boyfriend and an absentee father.  She’s happy being alone, sharing her life with her friends and family.

When Jeni starts a typical day in the big city of Mornington Vale, California, it turns from bad to worse when she’s involved in a chain collision on her way to work.

Her world changes forever that day because she meets Aiden O’Connell, the billionaire son of Alistair O’Connell, who owns Mornington Vale’s largest financial corporation. Aiden is an up-and-coming young businessman who's ready to take on the vice presidency of his father’s company. He is the good son, and it’s imperative to Alistair that Aiden succeed and follow in his footsteps. Life for Aiden involves working hard and not much else.

After the accident, however, Aiden’s world changes as well. He finds Jeni irresistible and instantly pursues her. With some coaxing, she eventually agrees to a date, and the attraction is mutual.

Jeni finds love quickly with Aiden, but trusting him is another issue.  When to trust is tested in many different ways but comes to a head when Aiden is investigated for a serious crime.  As her trust issues spark, she is forced to go through a journey of self-discovery.

She must decide once and for all whether she trusts the man she loves when she’s asked the ultimate question: “Do you trust me?”

My Two Cents:

I haven't read any of this trilogy yet, but I'm in the works with getting on the tour to help promote them.  I have really learned to appreciate indie authors this year, and I want to read as much as I possibly can.  I am looking forward to being able to read these books and review them for you.

Want to read them before I do?  Catch the sale in combination with the new release!  If you do, let me know what you think!  And if any of my readers are under the age of 18, you might want to think about waiting on these. 

Daven, why?!

In the past, I've written short posts titled, "Daven Says", to try to capture the moments when he says something outlandish, clever or silly.  And I'll still continue to write about these moments when I remember to!

Unfortunately, the new trend in the house is defiance and just plain preschooler grump. I'm sure that our runny noses and constant coughing from the ever-changing weather have played a part in escalating the grumpies, but Daven has just been a little turd this week. 

I posted the other day about how he tried to dump his oatmeal in the bathroom sink while I was in the shower. Yesterday, he got mad at ME because Adam left the house to run an errand and because Daddy didn't give him "one more hug", Daven bit me on the arm. What the heck, kid?  The number of timeouts are just exhausting. 

Today, between hacking up allergy junk in my throat and trying not to take pain pills for the pain in my side, I'm trying to clean house. Adam's band is coming over to practice, a couple people from a music magazine up north are coming to the house to interview them, and late tonight we will have overnight guests.

So what does Daven do?

He held up his plate that had his cinnamon toast on it and blew all the extra cinnamon sugar all over the couch, the floor, and himself. Why, Daven?

It's such a small thing that means nothing within the larger picture. I just wish I knew why he decided that he needed to do this. Don't worry though, Panic Manor. I'll make sure that he vacuums the couch before one of you crashes on it tonight. 

Book Review: Murder of an Oil Heiress

Available for purchase starting November 12

My experience with most mystery books has been that the big, bad, "Who done it?" moment happens at the very beginning.  It may have even happened before the story starts, with the opening scene in the book being a detective walking into a crime scene that is going to take the rest of the book to put the pieces together.  Or, if not, the reader briefly meets a character enough to like them, and then BAM!  Murdered.

Neither is the case for this book, although I found that to be refreshing in a way.  I kept reading and waiting for someone to die and then when they finally did, I was all, "Thank you!  Finally!"  Well, in my head I was, anyway.  Now, the title does give some clues as to who is going to be taking a dirt nap, but you've still got to guess a bit.

And who did it?  I'd like to parallel Breaking Bad for this because just like in that show, no one is completely innocent.  If you haven't watched that show, then you should log in to your Netflix account immediately, watch all 5 seasons, read this book, and come talk to me.  Every character has something to hide, it seems.

I enjoyed reading this book, and was glad for the opportunity to read and review it.

WEBSITE ~ TWITTER ~ PUBLISHER

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Candy Ann Little grew up in a small town in Ohio. She now resides in Michigan with her husband, two adult kids and 4 cats. She began writing in the aftermath of tragedy – her third child was stillborn. The nurse suggested keeping a journal to cope with the grief. Although she thought it a dumb idea at the time, she soon found a freedom and healing that only writing brought.

Eventually that pain and sorrow turned into her first Inspirational romance, Unforgiving Ghosts. Since then she has finished 2 more inspirational romances. Her historical romance The Unwilling Bride was published in 2011. She has also tried writing in the genre of mystery, including a novella, Death By Broken Heart, and her first full length novel, Murder of an Oil Heiress. Candy Ann finds it therapeutic putting her thoughts into the words and action of her characters. She also finds that discipline is the biggest lesson learned in her writing life.

When she isn’t busy writing, you can find her subbing in the public schools, or helping with church activities. Her favorite things to do are reading, cooking, baking and doing crafts.

 

A Breakfast Tantrum

Why did Daven throw an all-out tantrum this morning?

Because I wouldn't let him dump his oatmeal into the bathroom sink.

He was eating breakfast and watching Disney Jr. when I informed him that I was going to go take a quick shower.  I was just shampooing my hair when I heard him come into the bathroom.

"Daven, what are you doing?"

"I need to wash this."

"What do you need to wash?"

"I need to dump all my oatmeal in the sink."

I opened the shower curtain back, suds in my hair, eyes squinty from having my glasses off.  There he was, standing on his stool, getting ready to clog up the bathroom sink with his breakfast.

When I told him that it would make the sink stop working and to pretty please go put the bowl in the kitchen, he flipped out.  Screamed "No!" at me.  I had to walk my naked self out of the shower to physically take the bowl of oatmeal from his hands and put it where he couldn't reach it.  All the while, he's screaming at me to please give it back.

Why?  Just, why?  I don't get it. 

"I'm mad at you, mommy!"

"OK.  I'm sorry to hear that."

What else could I do?