Back and Ready to Blog

So I started this blog some time ago and seemed to have lost my faith as well as time to sit down and make an effort to blog. I am back now for good ... Yay!!!!! I am kind of changing what this blog is going to be used for. When first started I was only going to post book reviews on here and now I want to add in product, makeup, as well as books to review. Occasionally I will blog about everyday life just so you my readers can get to know me a little better. I am excited and so passionate which I seemed to have lost at some point ago, so here goes nothing guys and dolls....

Review:When Colors Bleed by Estevan Vega

When Colors Bleed

   By Estevan Vega

Release Date: March 4, 2011

Format: Kindle Edition
Source: Author

Description:  WHEN COLORS BLEED is a short story collection that features three unique colors: love, loss, and regret. Both palpable and haunting, each story is a glimpse into human frailty and desperation.


BABY BLUE:

Casey never had any luck with men, even though she was employed by one of the finest clothing stores in New England and saw attractive, “sure kinds” strolling through her section every day like clockwork. At twenty-three years old, she has given up on her dreams of the spotlight, of finding love, and of ever getting out of the small town she reluctantly calls home. But one rainy afternoon, Thomas Rayford, a very unusual and kind stranger, stumbles into her life looking for an odd, baby blue suit. One thing is certain: Casey, the twenty-three-year-old dreamer stuck in a line, will never be the same.

VANILLA RED:

From his cold hell in Block C, a nameless man unfolds this twisted tale. This is the story of a man who becomes something else. A man who had a father once. A man who loved once. “They want to know why. They want a reason,” he confesses. “But nobody likes the reasons. They’re like unwanted children or cancers with no cure. A reason is a justification, an excuse so we can’t be blamed. But I know what it is I’ve done, and there is no reason that can take it back.” So begins Vanilla Red, a confession, a story, a prayer, or perhaps a drip of dark truth in the batter of humanity. Take a look inside and tell me what color you see.


THE MAN IN THE COLORED ROOM:

Colin awakens in a room, jittery, afraid, and confused. He knows not how he got here, who brought him, or why. And the only thing waiting for him is a hot cup of coffee and a seemingly flawless room that bleeds colors. As an architect, he understands that no room is perfect, but somehow this anomaly has crawled through the cracks and pushed the limits of perfection. No seams. No lines. No windows. Enter a bald man in a suit. Once he steps through the door, he makes the colors disappear with the push of button. His name is Jack, and he claims to be a friend. Still unsure of anything, Colin wages war with his mind, with a dark truth he isn’t ready to accept, and with Jack. In the moments that follow, Jack asks Colin a series of questions, questions that will reveal the where, the how, and the why of his arrival.

My thoughts: I was asked by Estevan Vega to review this collection of short stories and seeming how I loved his book Arson I felt honored to do so . The first story Baby Blue gave me such a lump in my throat. It tells you the story of a unique relationship developed over a suit but the end is so very heartbreaking. The characters made me realize that even someone you meet in such a short time can change your life forever and you shouldn't be afraid to take chances. My heart broke for Casey in the end. Then we move on to the second story Vanilla Red which is total opposite storyline and quite might I say creepy. It takes you into the mind of a guy who has murdered a woman. Let me tell you his mind is a mess but makes you think ,do alot of other murderers think like him. I was at loss for words after reading that story but not in a bad way. The Man in the Colored Room was the last of the stories and kind of surprising at the end. All the stories have similar themes like loss,hurt,and rethinking themselves. Estevan did such an amazing job making them very realistic and making you want to know more about their stories. I can not wait to read more of Estevan Vega's work. What an amazing storyteller....

Review: Glory by Devin O'Branagan

Description: Glory Templeton's blood holds the cure for a deadly pandemic-plague and a vampire, an angel, and a witch are assigned to be her bodyguards. The legend of Glory begins...

Review: To say the least for being a book of only 210 pages Devin has packed this book with so many details that keep you turning page after page until you are finished. The main character Glory is a girl who the whole world depends on for a cure to a plague that has killed her father and is killing others.She is assigned to three very different people to keep her safe and get her to where she needs to be and eventually she develops feelings for two of them. Zane is an amazingly sexy cowboy who just so happens to be .... yes you guessed it a vampire. Then there is Dominic who at the begining is a very intense guy. He's an angel who is not impressed by the humans and the way they live but eventually finds his way. Kaia is a witch who has psychic sight and of course Glory's dog Hallie who belonged to her dad. These three amazingly different characters were sent to protect Glory because her task of getting her cure to the right people isn't easy when there are people who are trying to stop her and will do anything to stop them from finding the people Glory needs to find. All together this book is fun with a bit of sexiness(which I enjoyed) and thrill . It keeps you on edge wondering if they all make it and what happens next. I can't wait to read more.
     This book was amazing and I would tell anyone they should pick it up and give it a go. Devin has such a talent for taking you places you have never thought to go through her words. She has found herself a spot as one of my favorite authors. You can check out more on the story of Glory and the other amazing characters at
http://www.glorylegend.com/ .

Review: Witch Hunt By Devin O'Branagan

Published: October 24th 2010 by Cornucopia Creations Ltd (first published 1990)

Description: Leigh has been married to a Hawthorne for a decade, but never knew the family secret: the Hawthornes are witches. When the dynamic Preacher Cody instigates a new, world-wide witch hunt, Leigh must choose sides. Will she stand with her husband and children, or will she run? This isn't the first witch hunt the Hawthornes have faced, but it could be their last. Will anyone survive?


A classic novel, updated for the 21st Century!


 
 
 
Review: This book is I must say an emotional amazing journey of keeping the family line going without losing their roots along the way.It is a 21st century story with all the history to go along with it. The Hawthorne's are a long line of old blood witches whom have always found themselves being judged for their beliefs and practices. I really enjoyed the way Devin showed us the story of their ancestors from 1692 and the Salem Witch Trails, as well as 1840 and again showing us the life of the Hawthorne's in 1858,1895,1941, and present day. The characters in Witch Hunt are so very original that you can not help but want to know more about them and their life.
           Take for instance Leigh Hawthorne who came into the whole witch situation blind and had to make a choice whether to side with her husband's family and her children who bear the gifts of witchery or with the prejudice Preacher Cody who would like nothing more then to persecute the whole entire Hawthorne clan. I have to say this is a very emotional story as well as a story you can walk away from knowing you took along with you some very valuable life lessons. In every era we have people who do nothing but judge and look down upon people whether it be because of religion, money, or the way you look. This story shows us the greatest gift you can have or give is love. I really hope Devin will give us more on Leigh and her families life after everything that happened at the end as well as the lives of the ancestors. I would recommend this book to anyone who not only has an interest in witches but as well as someone who enjoys an exciting journey. I could imagine myself as being so many of these characters and to me a great book I have to be able to put myself in.
 
  Check out the site for the book @ http://www.newwitchhunt.com/ 





I give this book a 5 star rating and I WILL be reading this book again!

Review: Million Little Mistakes By Heather McElhatton

. Published: August 1st 2010 by Harper Paperbacks

Details:Paperback, 400 pages

Description:Congratulations—You just won $22 million in the Lottery! So what happens next?

       In Heather McElhatton's second do-over novel, Million Little Mistakes, you win $22 million in the lottery. Given the chance to live like a millionaire, you could realize all your dreams or learn that money only causes more problems. It all depends on the choices you make . . .
          Should you keep your day job? Stay in your relationship? Save an endangered species? Have a debauched weekend on Sex Island? Buy an aristocrat's life on eBay or pay off all your family's debt? Should you climb Mount Everest, trek the remote jungles of China, book passage on a luxury cruise, or become an infamous Voodoo priestess? Is your destiny to become a philanthropist, a pharmaceutical tycoon, a happy homemaker, or a burlesque stripper? Be careful. Your fortune could be lost in a Ponzi scheme; your wildest fantasy may bring you total bliss or lead you to a run-in with extortionists who try to kill you.
            There are hundreds of possible adventures sown inside Million Little Mistakes. Some lives end fabulously while others in utter disaster, so choose wisely. You can buy a lot with $22 million, but can you buy a happy ending?


 
 
 
Cover Review: The cover is very colorful , are are the many ventures through out the book.
Very pretty and a noticable cover.
 
Review: I have never read a choose your own adventure book before this one. I was on vacation during labor day weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a wedding and the night I got there I was bummed out not getting to go to concert nearby so I take my children swimming and low and behold who is there as well .... Yes it was Heather McElhatton herself and she was so very polite talked to my children and all. After I put them to bed so I can go hang out in the hot tub me and her talked. She told me about her book and gave me a copy for review so here I go :
     Like I said I have never read a choose your own adventure book before this one so I had no idea what to expect. It starts you win 22 million dollars and the first choices are do you keep your job or quit and naturally being me I kept working. The more I worked my way through my chosen paths and found happiness. I mean hell who wouldn't want to end up in life with your own restaurant and vineyard  as well as your love that has went through it all with you! Atleast for my first adventure I didn't end up dead like I did the next time I went to chosing how my story would unfold.
     I would say I loved this book. It was fun and a bit of a make you think kind of book to read. I liked that about it. Thank You Heather for being so kind when I met you and writing such a great book. I look forward to reading more of her work!!!!
 
I gave this book 5 stars because it was just that good!!!!!!
 
 
Readers note: This is an adult choose your own adventure book~~~

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Published: May 5th 2009 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Details: Hardcover 276 pages

Description: Some summers are just destined to be pretty

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along



Cover Review: I thought the cover to really be a nice summery cover. When I saw the cover in the store that is what made me want to read it.


Review: I will start by saying I loved this book and the fact it was a nice easy read. This story is about first loves and how they aren't as you always thought they'd be. I think Jenny Han really does a great job on the emotions and actions throughout it all.  At first I really did think Belly was just some immature girl but the more I read the more I found she was actually just like teens this day. She was in love with Conrad, her moms best friends oldest son, even though she thinks Conrad doesn't give a rats butt about her. She has started to really blossom into a young lady over the past summers and Jeremiah, Conrads brother, has started to take notice to her even though she sees him as just a pal. But not just Jeremiah is taking notice to her so is another boy in town Cam. When she starts hanging out with Cam it causes more tension then before he came along with Jeremiah and Conrad. Belly finds out alot about herself throughout the book and as the chapters do go from past to present it gives you insight on why she loves summer and the beach house. All the while letting you in on why she is so in love with Conrad.  The book did leave me with a few questions but not to worry I will be picking up the second book soon. I would recommend this book if you like easy fast reads  that make you want to go lay out and read.

I give this book a 4 1/2 star rating!!!!

Review: Forget You By Jennifer Echols

Published: July 20th 2010 by MTV

Details:  Paperback, 293 pages
Description:  WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . . AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER? There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug. (less)




Cover: I thought the cover to be  very beautiful in a simple and intimate way. Makes me want to grab this book and go outside, lay in the hammock and just read it.(Which by the way I certainly did.) It has a wonderful summer feel to it that draws you in!


Review: Let me start out by saying I want more of Zoey and Doug! Forget You was a book that I could relate to in so many ways. Zoey is so like most teens today going through parents divorce, having sex for the very first time at a time you know they shouldn't be, and how she is so judgemental of Doug before she really gets to know him. Brandon, the boy she loses her most prized possesion to is this big time player that doesn't even realize how much Zoey cares for him. Instead always coming to her with his girlfriend per-say problems and blowing her off after the night they have sex. Then there is the wreck and she forgets everything of that night even the most important of things and Doug tries to keep the memories from her. Not out of spite though. Zoey and Doug are so much alike that it makes for some pretty steamy chemistry. Zoey's world revolves around  Brandon until she finds out the truth.
All in all Forget You is more then some summer fling it will keep you on your toes wondering what exactly happened that night of the wreck, what happens to Zoey's unstable mother, and if Zoey and Doug will ever be together. Not to mention the ending is like WOW!