Review ~ Planning to Live by Heather Wardell

First let me be clear I absolutely love Heather as an author. She has become my number one must buy author which is shocking b/c Anne Bishop, Nalini Singhi, Grace Burrowes and Jim Butcher used to compete for number one. They have been knocked out by Heather.


Now moving on... This will not be a typical Sarai review b/c this is a very deep book. A very emotional book for me that touched me deeply and has also opened my eyes. So I am going to start with my back story so that you can understand why this book affected me so emotionally.

Very rarely do I ever connect with a character in a book. Usually I can sit back detached and judge the character, roll my eyes, maybe I get lucky and can sympathize with a character but NEVER have I ever related to a character as deeply as I did with Rhiannon.

First off I am over weight and no it’s not something random that I just decided on or no I’m not happy with my looks because I’m only 10 pounds overweight and well I hate that little bit of flab. No I am seriously obese. You wouldn’t know how much I weigh if I didn’t tell you but trust me when Rhiannon talks about how much she weighs at 5’10 I almost stopped right there b/c I weight that at 5’3. Rhiannon is OBSESSED with her weight she is beyond Obsessed down to the point of hating herself. Let me tell you that some days I am there with her oh heck who am I kidding most days I am down there with her. The difference between Rhiannon and myself is her Obsession has led her to set goals and MY GOD did the woman succeed when she set some goals. I on the other hand get beyond frustrated when something does work so I stop. That simple I stop caring, what would it matter anyway, whose going to care, it’s not like anyone likes me now as I am kind of thing.

Rhiannon thought everything I did but she was motivated to do something about it even when that wasn’t working. The sad part during all that obsessing about her weight and looks she forgot to live her life and because of that she missed out on a lot. I’m the same way. I can’t tell you how many times I refused to go somewhere (beaches, pool parties, dancing, out with a guy) simply b/c I was too big or I didn’t want to be the biggest one at the party ect. I hate clothes shopping right now because nothing fits. I hate going to bars because the guys only want to date and flirt with the skinny girls but with me they want to hang. All of this got worse after my divorce my limited self-esteem went down the drain. I became angry at myself for not trying so I would try only to become angry at myself for not losing weight, to turn around and be angry that I quit. It was and is a vicious cycle. This vicious cycle of anger and hate that Rhiannon and hundreds of other women out there can relate to.

Well not anymore after finishing this book I cried. Yes I bawled OMG it hurt so bad to know that this character who isn’t real was able to figure out that it is the journey not the destination that matters. And for some reason I never grasped that concept. My whole life it has been – life will get better when I’m thinner, the one I am meant to be with will come to me when I’m thinner, I will be happy once I lose this weight… and yet I still would quietly ask why can’t I be happy now?

SO no more through this book and reading what Rhiannon’s life was like I realize just how much I am missing out by not getting out there. By constantly worrying about my looks and weight I am missing out on spending time with those I love. Not to mention how many times they have to hear how fat I am when they love me know matter what. They see me as beautiful when all I see is ugly tell me where this is fair? It’s not fair to them nor me and it is strange to me that I could learn all this from a character in a book. And because of that character my life is already changing. I finished this book on Wed of last week and all I could do Thursday was think about it. Because of all that thinking I have already agreed to go to places I normally would’ve said no to. I am agreeing to things I would’ve passed on and I am meeting everyone with a confident smile on my face. Every day I am getting a little better but every time I start to judge myself or get down I think of Planning to Live and I realize that its time to stop planning to live its time to start living.

So thank you Heather! I know I’ve turned into a fan girl and I squeal a lot about you, I also know that I completely over shared but I wanted to tell everyone what this one book has done in my life and encourage them to try give it a try as well.

Alright on a happier note HEATHER will be here tomorrow on the blog answering questions so don’t forget to stop by and if you are interested in purchasing Planning To Live you can pick it up here:




Or if you leave a comment tomorrow you can enter a chance to win a copy on me.

Reveiw ~ Danann Falls From Grace by Joanne Valiukas

TITLE: Danann Frost Falls From Grace

AUTHOR: Joanne Valiukas

COPYRIGHT: 1/21/2010

TYPE: Paranormal Romance

PAGES: 402 (I read the E-book version)
SERIES:
Yes I believe there will be a second one.

REASON FOR READ: Offered on Book Lovin’ Bitches and thought it sounded interesting

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
Danann Frost is thousands of years old, yet young for her kind. She is a creature of the Light, an Angel, one of the Seraphim; a race of beings that live beyond our world. She has been cast out of paradise and Fallen from Grace, all for the love of a Dark One - a vampire. The only problem is, Seth did not want her and told her to go and not come back. Danann has made a life for herself amongst the vampires of this world and they protect her fragile nature. She and the vampire Asher live on the fringes of the human world; love and loyalty cannot separate them but trouble and vengeance are on their way. After two hundred years of enduring the crippling punishments of her Fall, Seth walks back into her life but he is bitter and angry and out for revenge. Thank God he is after someone else...or is he? Can Danann escape the dark intentions of her once-beloved for whom she Fell from Grace, or has she put all those that she holds dear in danger? Journey with Danann as she takes the path to taking back her Light and ascending to be Angel once more. Will the Archangel Uriel surrender her Light or will Danann be doomed to walk in darkness forever

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
First take a vampire (aka Dark one) throw in a an Angel who does have human modesty and you have the plot give or take. The fact that Seth (aka dark one) thinks that Danann (aka angel) is a goddess (hence the name) and that Danann is really an angel but doesn’t tell Seth makes a pretty good love problem. Also throw in that Danann cannot be with Seth unless she falls from grace which she does (hence the title) Danann gets a rude awakening because falling isn’t anything like she images.

This story takes us all over the place during lots of different times. Danann is cursed there is betrayal and hurt and well after all love but can it conquer is basically the whole plot. This is a character driven book so if you don’t like the characters you are going to be in trouble.

THINGS I LIKED:
- I did like the aspect of a vampire and angel love which is why I picked this book to begin with. I am obsessed with Angels and I love any story that has to do with them. I also liked the idea that someone from the light can fall in love with someone who is supposed to be dark.
- There is wonderful mix of mythology and own creation in this story that makes it unique besides the angel and vampire mix. The vampire lore is different and to me so was some of the angel lore that I’ve come to read. Making this a well-built fleshed out world building… well world.
- I did enjoy the fact that two men were introduced and the fact that character loved each one in her own way. I knew who I wanted her to end up with but I also appreciated the whole falling in love in different ways.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- OMG seriously a cliff hanger I could’ve done without I wanted my HEA I needed my HEA after reading this book. It has A LOT of details. Other than that little bit (but important) note I did enjoy the book.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? keeping

Would you recommend this book? Yes if you like sweeping romance novels and a unique background this is for you. However, if you want a HEA not for you.

Challenges:

E-book Challenge

Out do Yourself Challenge

Author Info:
http://joannevaliukas.com/

You can purchase this book here:



Reviewing Next:
Planning to Live by Heather Wardell

Review ~ Seven Exes are Eight too Many by Heather Wardell

TITLE: Seven exes are eight too many
AUTHOR: Heather Wardell
COPYRIGHT: 2010
TYPE: E-book Contemporary Romance
PAGES: 276
SERIES:
No not that I am aware of

REASON FOR READ: I absolutely adored Go Small or Go Home so I was thrilled to give this one a try

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
The fiercely private Madeleine-Cora Spencer is the last person who should be on a reality TV show, but when she's shunned by a friend's new wife because "you can't trust desperate single women" her pain and humiliation drive her straight to the "Find Your Prince" dating show's web site. Armed with date-appropriate clothes and a detailed game plan she arrives to meet her potential loves, only to be dumped... on a remote island with seven ex-boyfriends. Seven exes! Could this be any worse?

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Wow I was once again impressed with this book. It wasn't nearly as emotional as the first one I read by Heather but it was just as engaging. I loved the premises of the book and the question of what if you were trapped with 7 of your exes and everything you did or said was filmed. How would you feel? And what if one of the exes was the one that got away due to a stupid mistake? I thought Heather did a nice job juggling 9 plus personalities where you had enough to judge them and feel as if you got to know enough of them and the ones that you didn't care about you still got to know them. It was nice without being too much. I enjoyed both the H/H and the extras LOL if that makes sense (and it would if you read it)

THINGS I LIKED:
- Uh hello the whole freaking plot EXCELLENT who in the world would want to be trapped on an island with their exes? Could you? I think not. This had it all fighting, crying, laughing, bonding, growth *sigh* yeah a good plot.
- I enjoyed the men which is strange b/c at first I felt horrible for MC being trapped with them but, then I watched as they matured and as MC matured and wow I just liked them all. I am kind of sad none of my exes would be like that LOL they would actually try to kill me.
- I liked that the main character learned from her mistakes GOD it took a while but she was able to learn from past mistakes and to make things better.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I hated, hated that MC wouldn’t forgive KENT for the love of GOD woman give it up already LORD help me I get it. You have secrets, you’re a private person, he betrayed (in a very stupid way) GET OVER IT. Ok rant done.
-Side rant. Seriously how could she not know that Kent THREW the damn contest so she could talk to her dad? Serioiusly?!?!

Are you keeping it or passing it on? duh keeping!

Would you recommend this book? Actually I highly recommend pretty much whatever this author writes. I have only read 3 of her books but she is a must buy/read author for me!

Favorite Quotes:
The usual Las Vegas airport crowds bustled around us, and people kept eying me, the lone female in a group of men, then nudging their companions and whispering, no doubt trying to figure out who I was to have such an entourage. Someone who was pure evil in a past life, apparently, if I deserved all this. Pg 8

Plain rice with no seasoning except the odd little bug with a death wish. Fabulous. Pg. 21

Author Webpage: http://www.heatherwardell.com/

You can purchase the book here:


Challenges:E-book Challenge
Out do Yourself Challenge

Reviewing Next:Planning to Live by Heather Wardell


Anything else?
******EDITED******
Yes!!! Don't forget that Heather had a new book which came out on the 24th of last month (sorry about he confusion!) and I will for sure be picking this up!

"Stir Until Thoroughly Confused"

Mary's given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to
become a chef. But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy
but controlling new boss.

They're soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and
when it becomes clear they can't work together and be together Mary
faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man?

Review ~ Go small or Go Home by Heather Wardell

TITLE: Go Small or Go Home
AUTHOR: Heather Wardell
COPYRIGHT: March 2010
TYPE: Contemporary Romance
PAGES: 164 give or take on your e-reader
SERIES: Nope

REASON FOR READ: Heather contacted me to see if I would be interested in reading and of course I said yes!!

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
When massage therapist and aspiring artist Tess begins treating stressed but attractive hockey star Forrest, her art career soars due to his gallery-owning mother, but her creativity plummets under the weight of rules and deadlines. Soon, she's lost the freedom and joy she'd always found in art. Is having her dream career worth losing doing her art her way, or can she somehow have both at once?



THOUGHTS/OPINION:

First and foremost I am very honest about my reviews if something doesn't work for me I will let you know. This was not the case. I ADORED this book which is shocking considering that I usually don't like contemporary romance novels very well. Something about the summary hooked me and I couldn't say no. Then once I began to read HOLY MOLEY I was hooked. Tess is wonderful, Forrest is wonderful, Jen is wonderful, Pam becomes wonderful and well I think that was all the "Main" type characters although the secondary cast was great. This book did it all for me. I had the H/H meet and build their relationship (there was no I love you on the first sight) they started slowly. It had me crying with the sibling aspect (seriously bawling like a baby) it had me on the friend level with Jen, on the the job level and stress level with Tess. Needless to say everything worked for me with this book. NO COMPLAINTS... and well that's rare let's just say that.

It appears the older I get the more complaints I start to have with books. Any who that's neither here nor there so moving on.

THINGS I LIKED:

- Loved, loved, loved the hockey aspect. I'm not sure if Heather is a hockey fan or not but damn girl you make me want to be one. GEEZ I was getting into imaginary games... think about that for a second... yeah that's how in detail they were.

- Miniatures... not something one should care about but I found myself wanting to buy some of the ones that Tess made. Hell I want the one that she sent off to a person I won't mention to not give it away but HOLY MAN I want. And yeah normally not into them...

-Loved the team aspect of hockey players and how that worked with Tess and Forrest I absolutely loved the interactions as they became more comfortable with Tess. And can I just say that Guitar Hero was mentioned and yeah won me over with that... Oh and puck bunnies never heard of them before (I live in KS there is no hockey here although based on the weather this winter there should be.)
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:

- If I had to pick one thing I didn't like it would be the way that Tess handled the stress with the art dealer. Now that being said I understood why she did it I just wish she would've come to her decision a lot sooner instead of fighting it for so long. Enough said I just got to the point that Tess became my girl and well it drove me insane that she struggled with the issue for so long. Okay seriously I'm done now.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? KEEPING!!! Well it is an E-book but it is definately one I shall re-read later!

Would you recommend this book?  Yes and so far I have to 3 people plus all of you!!!

Challenges:
Ebook Challenge
Out Do Yourself Challenge

Reviewing Next:
Another Heather book! 7 exes are 8 too many!

Author's Website
http://www.heatherwardell.com/

You can purchase this book here:


Anything else?
Yes!!! Heather has a new book coming out on the 24th and I will for sure be picking this up!

"Stir Until Thoroughly Confused"

Mary's given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to
become a chef. But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy
but controlling new boss.

They're soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and
when it becomes clear they can't work together and be together Mary
faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man?

Review ~ Spiral X by JJ Westerndarp

TITLE: Spiral X
AUTHOR: J J Westerndarp
COPYRIGHT: 10/29/10
TYPE: Urban Fantasy
PAGES: 201
SERIES: yes book 2 in progress
REASON FOR READ:.

Book Lovin’ Bitches had it available for Ebook Tour

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
Cheryl Erikson is a Vampire Hunter with a problem. A dangerous new drug named Plast has found its way onto the streets of Dallas. She would prefer to let the DEA and local law enforcement handle everything, but since the dealers also happen to be vampires, she has no choice but to step in and put a stop to it.


With the help of her best friend Virgil and a fellow Hunter named Tank, Cheryl must work to eradicate Plast from the streets of Dallas. It's a task that becomes more difficult as she comes under the gun, quite literally, from a contract out on her head. Coupled with a nosy police detective looking to peg her for a triple homicide, and a sudden interest in her activities from a powerful vampire recently arrived in the area, it's enough to force her to accept help from the least likely of sources, a mysterious Hunter named Rev. Through him, everything she thinks she knows, and everything she stands for, is challenged in ways she never imagined


THOUGHTS/OPINION:

I am kind of mixed on this book. Half of me likes it while the other half didn’t. This book feels like a bag of contradictions. One moment Cheryl is all bad ass the next she isn’t. At the beginning there was no mention of her psychic abilities and yet they all the sudden appear in the middle of the book. There is also a lot of telling us what is going on what Cheryl is thinking instead of showing us different things. In fact a lot of the time it felt as if Cheryl was taking a step to the side to explain to us the reader what was happening then stepping back into the scene.

At other times she would break up with someone b/c she couldn’t trust them and yet she was a Hunter and wouldn’t tell anyone about that so again that walking contradiction and higher standards. I also didn’t like how everything was tied up too nicely, too neatly, too easy to explained. Cheryl is beaten within an inch of her life but yet manages to be healed in a way I don’t understand . It just didn’t work for me.

Now that being said I did still like the book. I liked the interactions between people. I enjoyed watching Cheryl be badass but throw up b/c she knew she had taken it too far. I liked the overall story and plot a drug has gotten out on the streets making people act like animals and its Cheryl’s job to figure out who is supplying it and how to make it stop. I do like Cheryl’s over all personality and she did say some funny things. Ex: It did creep me out a little bit, but my life was already a veritable smorgasbord of things which crept one out. Why not add one more. Pg. 89.

I also liked the way Vampires were explained and how they were made that was a nice twist on the story and how to kill a vamp was interesting. I did enjoy how they are formed and really liked it. And like I stated before there are a lot of multi-cultural backgrounds working in this story which is refreshing.

All in all not a bad book but not a winner for me.

Favorite Quotes:

It did creep me out a little bit, but my life was already a veritable smorgasbord of things which crept one out. Why not add one more. Pg. 89.

Challenges:
Outdo Yourself
Ebook Challenge

Author Info:
http://jjwestendarp.blogspot.com/

Where to purchase book:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004A14QAA/
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ean=9780615417400

Additional Links:
Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours

Disclaimer:
Disclosure of Material Connection: i am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Review ~ Mojo by Kris Sedersten

TITLE: Mojo
AUTHOR: Kris Sedersten
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: Urban Fantasy
PAGES: 268 give or take Ebook
SERIES: No

REASON FOR READ:
I signed up for it on BLB

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
When Scottie Brown, a New Orleans college student, is aggressively haunted by vivid nightmares and daytime apparitions, he begins a search for answers; unwittingly putting himself and those closest to him in a confrontation with evil. To defeat the energy that torments him, he recruits a team of paranormal investigators, friends from high school, and a psychic medium. Together, they pursue the ghosts of Scottie's ancestors in a haunted plantation deep in the Louisiana countryside. They uncover dark family secrets and the spiritual energy of a malevolent patriarch who projects an unholy prophecy that has deadly consequenes for all mankind. The power of an elusive mojo amulet becomes central to fighting Scottie's demons as the journey through the haunted mansion, filled with twists and turns, takes on a life of its own against time. Mojo is a fast-paced paranormal mystery-thriller. Edgy and fun, this book will show the reader how having faith in a power greater than ourselves will lift us through even the most unforseeable obstacles in life

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I thought the plot was excellent the story was interesting enough to hold my attention. I enjoyed learning the twists and turns the story was taking. Had the characters had more growth to them I might have really enjoyed it. I felt at times we were feed too much information. Almost too easily like when Scottie discovers who his real father was it was almost too easy to figure out. Not to mention that his mother knew all along what his father was involved with so there was no great mystery behind it. And just in case so did Scottie's best friend from simply reading the paper. I almost was annoyed that EVERYONE but him knew who his father was when it was that simple to figure out. I think that this was a good first novel and I can't wait to read the next.
THINGS I LIKED:
- I liked the culture that was brought in. Scottie had a mixed racial heritage and so did his girlfriend. Not to mention the story takes place in New Orleans which was a nice mix and brought in more heritage and culture. It was refreshing.
- I liked the magic, plot and world building. While I felt somethings were too easy and fit too nicely I did find other twists and turns to be exciting.
- I enjoyed the ghost hunting and Nebraska scenes (of course I'm from Kansas so I would've preferred they had been here but hey I'll take whatever shout out I can *wink*)

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- As mentioned above it felt at times that everything was too neatly explained or wrapped up.
- Not enough character growth I could never really connect with anyone character or even get to the point where I felt invested.
Would you recommend this book? Yes I think that this was a good book and while somethings didn't work for me it doesn't mean they wouldn't work for others.

Challenges:
Ebook Challenge
Out do Yourself Challenge

You can find the author's website here

You can purchase the book here: