Simple and chic

Today's card was easy to create but the results are elegant. I used an embossing folder on Bluestone Classic Linen from the Paper Temptress.  Next I used silver embossing powder on smaller pieces of the cardstock and edged them with distress ink for dimension. Lastly, for a touch of bling I added silver balls. Simple and chic! 

Monthly Wrap-Up: October

Wow! This month has been busy, busy, busy. The blog got a slight revamp (notice the pretty buttons with drop down menus under the header?), Man Candy Monday saw a rise in exposed man flesh, I went on a book review frenzy, a lot of wonderful books were released, I participated in a few blog tours and now there's 200+ of you wonderful followers.

So, let's start with the man flesh, shall we? I know you live for Mondays. This month the Adonis Line, Vintage Hotties and Anatomy of A Man (NSFW) brought some sexy pictures like these:

I reviewed 12 books:

• Every Scandalous Desire by Gayle Callen ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
• A Novel Seduction by Gwen Cready ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
• Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
• Then Came You by Vanessa Devereaux ♥
• Too Wicked to Wed by Cara Elliott ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
• The Making of a Duchess by Shana Galen ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
• The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
• Bound In Lingerie by Gina Gordon ♥ ♥
• Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
• Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
• All About Seduction by Katy Madison ♥ ♥ ♥
• A Vampire for Christmas by Laurie London, Michele Hauf, Caridad Pineiro & Alexis Morgan ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I hosted 4 authors on the blog:

• Gayle Callen: Blog Tour Interview
• Gina Gordon: Blog Tour Guest Post
• Gwyn Cready: Interview
• Vanessa Devereaux: Blog Tour Guest Post

I introduced a new feature called Stock Up Saturdays. I scour the endless pages of Amazon for free and discounted reads for your Kindle. It takes about 3 hours to put it all together but very gratifying in the end. I like finding great reads to share.

Pocket Books discounted some fun paranormal reads to $3.99 for e-readers. Sale ends 11/1.

I reached 200+ Followers. Y'all are the awesomesauce and so in appreciation, I'm asking you to get out your wishlists and giving 2 lucky winners their choice of book from The Book Depository. For every 50 new followers, I'll add another winner.

Click on picture to enter giveaway.

Jenn LeBlanc, author and photographer extraordinaire has been burning up the Amazon Time Travel charts and reached #31. In her honor, I'm giving away an e-book copy (Kindle or EPUB) of THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE: An Illustrated Romance. Yes, there are pictures inside. No, it's not pornographic. It's tastefully done. Not even a hint of peen.

Click on cover to enter giveaway.

So... discover any good reads this month? Or maybe you grabbed some discounted reads that you've been wanting to add to you library but you didn't want to pay full price for. Don't forget to enter the giveaways. Sharing is Caring.

Finally, its Halloween!

It's Monday, time for a new Squigglefly challenge and the challenge comes from Marlene to the Marvels to "tickle my fancy" and make me laugh! What better way to make Marlene laugh but to use one of her images so I used Pizza Chef Mitch available at Squigglefly in my effort to bring on a giggle. Hope you visit all of the Marvels to see what they've created to "tickle my fancy" and once you have, its your turn! 


In case you didn't know, Halloween has finally arrived and we can all help ourselves to the candy we've been hoarding but save some for the trick or treaters! Happy Halloween!

Monthly Mailbox: October Edition

Another month has flown by and the books keep piling up, threatening to topple over or bury me, Hoarders style. I blame my father for instilling the love of books at the tender age of 5. I've accumulated so many, I think I could open my own small bookstore or cover all four walls (floor to ceiling) of the soon to be spare bedroom in our next apartment.

This month has been good to me. Wonderful publishers have allowed me to join blog tours which in turn allow me at an early sneak peek at future releases. Fabulous authors have offered books for reviews of which I have been DYING to get my hands on. It's like Christmas has come early, which it sort of has with all the holiday themed books releasing within the next few months.

What I've added to my shelves since last month:

FOR REVIEW:

From Netgalley:

	Review	Review

From the Author:

Review

For Blog Tour:

Review

From Publisher:

Review

Review

Won/Sent By:

Kim @SOS Aloha

Dani

Dani

Sassy Book Lovers

BOUGHT FOR KINDLE (most were free reads):

BOUGHT IN PAPERBACK:

What about YOU? What did you haul in this month? What are you looking forward to next month? Any new or old reads I should add to The List?

Man Candy Monday: Sexy Monsters

I live for Mondays, do you? Of course you do. There's nothing like a bare chested man with a hint of peen to start you week. Since it's Halloween, I'll be showcasing some Sexy Monsters. Now, it took me a while to figure it out but I've got some vamps, werewolves and even an angel or two. What?! Angels can be monsters, helloooo Prince of Darkness!


Remember to join us on Twitter tonight (between running to the door and handing out candy) at 8PM CDT (6,7 and 9 for the rest of us). Look for the #ManCandyMonday hashtag and share your drool-worthy finds. Please for the love of coccyx, put a warning on the ones showing a little more than appropriate.

Now, less words, more pictures...

Angel and Spike

Vampire Eric and Beehl (trying out Sookie's accent)

Stefan and Damon Salvatore- The Vampire Diaries

Alcide!!!!

What?! He was Stephenie Meyer's first choice for Edward Cullen.

Lestat and Louis- Interview with A Vampire

Oh yeah, these two.

Okay, that's only a taste of what you'll be seeing tonight for Man Candy Monday. I'm sure I missed quite a few sexy monsters. Who did I miss? Sharing is Caring. 

2012 E-Book Reading Challenge

Here are the rules:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.  Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. 

2. There are four levels:
--The Mini E-Book Challenge – Read 5 E-Books. 
--The "Fun Size" E-Book Challenge – Read 10 E-Books.
--The Jumbo Size E-Book Challenge – Read 20 E-Books.
--The Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge - Read 25+ E-Books.

3. No Audio or Print books. 

4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2012 and goes until December 31, 2012.


Well, I'm going to go with Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge. Why not? There's 500+ books floating around in that Kindle of mine. I'm sure I can find at least 25 of them that I want to read.

1. 
   

New Author 2012 Reading Challenge

Here are the guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels.  Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors.  It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be. If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop.  Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky.  We all want to know about your new experience.
4. After reading your new author, write your review and then go to Literary Escapism and add your link to Mr. Linky.  Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome. You don’t have to have a site to participate. You can link up via Facebook, GoodReads or even Amazon if you’d like.

Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop.  Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list.  Introduce us all to whoever you find.  Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

Okay, and on that note, I think I'll shoot for 25. There's so many books I've won from giveaways and they're still sitting there on the shelf just waiting to be read. Plus, most of those are new to me authors. Well, not new, new because I've heard of them but I've never read them and that's the main rule of this challenge, right?

1. Sherill Bodine
2. Teresa Medeiros
3. Roni Loren
4. Rochelle Alers
5. 
   

2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Details:

• Runs January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (books read prior to 1/1/12 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2012 than you did in 2011. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you could track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Levels:

     Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
     Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
     Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
     I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books

Hmm... as of the publishing of this post, I have read 123 books and my goal for 2011 is 200. I'm sure I'll be able to reach it by the end of this year. So for the sake of the challenge, I'm going to shoot for I'm on fire! I'm thinking I'll be able to read at least 16 books next year. :)

1. The Rogue Pirate's Bride by Shana Galen
2. FOUND: The Rake and the Recluse by Jenn LeBlanc
3. Crash Into You by Roni Loren
4. Sanctuary Cove by Rochelle Alers
5. All I Want Is You by Sherill Bodine
6. The Pleasure of Your Kiss by Teresa Medeiros
7. 
   

2012 Men In Uniform Reading Challenge

Details:

• Runs January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (books read prior to 1/1/12 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read as many novels that feature men in uniform as you’d like. It can be a policeman, firefighter, paramedic, doctor, veterinarian,  Army, Navy, Marine Corp., etc. – As long as the leading man wears some sort of uniform, it counts. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you could track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Levels:

     Sergeant – Read 1–5 men in uniform novels
     Lieutenant – Read 6–10 men in uniform novels
     Captain – Read 11–15 men in uniform novels  
     Chief – Read 16+ men in uniform novels

Alrighty then... I think I'll take a big bite out of that man pie and go with Chief. It might be a little ambitious but I think I can find 16+ men in uniform novels (I think I can find some historicals on my shelf that feature men in uniform). And I think I shall start with Men Out of Uniform. You know which cover I'm talking about. Hey, they're still wearing them but when the going gets hot and heavy, the clothes fall off. I will 

1. 
   

ARC Review: Then Came You by Vanessa Devereaux

THEN CAME YOU by Vanessa Devereaux
FORMAT: PDF
GENRE: Contemporary
FILE SIZE: about 80 pages
PUBLISHER: Total*E*Bound (October 2011)

Good Things Are Worth Waiting For...

Connor O’Riordan had his heart set on Gillian Matthews the first day she stepped onto his ranch but the only problem was she had a boyfriend. He’d made her promise that if the two of them ever broke up she’d tell him.

Gillian is a woman of her word and when Connor finds out she’s now available he’ll do anything to woo and romance the lady of his dreams. The best way to start...invite her to spend Thanksgiving at his ranch. (source)

Where to Find Vanessa: Author Site | Twitter
Where to Buy: Total*E*Bound
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt 

It was readable.

REVIEW:

This story was sweet, the sex was boring and there was a lot of telling, not much showing. Don't get wrong, I liked parts of the story but I didn't want to go out and find me a cowboy.

Connor O'Riordan is a small town cowboy living in Wyoming, running the family ranch. Gillian Matthews is an animal pharmaceuticals sales rep and her region includes Wyoming. Connor has a crush on Gillian, two years running. Gillian has a boyfriend who conveniently breaks up with her so Connor can make his move. He invites her to spend Thanksgiving with him and his family because her family is going to be scattered around the country.

Gillian thinks Connor invited her for a booty call, which he sort of did but Connor finally wants to tell Gillian how he feels. Gillian, who is secretly attracted to Connor even though she had a boyfriend, jumps at the chance to spend Thanksgiving with Connor. Connor wants to romance Gillian before jumping into bed with her but, to hell with it! He's waited two stinkin' years for her and his horniness can't be contained. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am!

He picks her up from the airport, he shows her around the ranch, they do it, he gives her the new born foal as a gift, they do it some more, Gillian finds out he was married, they have more boring sex, she meets his family, his sister-in-laws tell her his secret (which after telling Connor she knows, I thought he would have been a little more upset that it came from his SIL), then more boring sex, she leaves to go back to her job, they're phasing out her job and she has a decision to make (move to the NYC office or get fired), and cue in Connor who helps make the decision for her.

Phew, did you get all that?

FAVORITE QUOTE: none

OVERALL: The story was cute and the characters interacted pretty well. It just didn't do much for me. The repeated mentions of "her juices were flowing" was a total turn-off. Seriously, is there an electric juicer in her vajayjay that's constantly on? There's other words to describe what happens to a woman's body during sex. Speaking of sex... it was boring. A lot of telling, not much showing. As in-- he put his cock inside her, then thrust, then thrust some more, oh! she came screaming his name, he came too. I don't think I will read another story/novella by this author.


***PDF provided by Goddess Fish for review in conjunction with Vanessa's blog tour***

Getting Ready for Halloween

I'm sure it will be no great surprise to you that witches do laundry, they might not take baths or showers, but their clothes must be clean otherwise, dirt and grime sticks to the fabric and inhibits airflow reducing their speed when flying. As witnessed by getting ready for Halloween from Just Some Lines, even the cat gets washed - - unhappily! 

Something to warm you up

So I don't know about you but here in Jersey it's snowing! In October! Before Halloween! Ridiculous if you ask me. So since I'd rather be warm I thought some hot man pics would do the trick!

Swimming anyone?

I would very much like to be on vaction with him!

And I can't leave out Henry!

So, just a little something to warm you up! I don't know about you but I am so looking forward to Immortals in a couple of weeks. 

eARC Review: Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden

AVENGER'S ANGEL by Heather Killough-Walden
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Paranormal
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 416 pages
PUBLISHER: Signet (November 1,2011)
ISBN: 9780451235220

When four female angels were created for the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Uriel and Azrael, a chaos spurned by jealousy erupted, and the archesses were secreted to Earth. The four favored archangels followed, prompting a search that has last millennia. But for Uriel, the former Archangel of vengeance, the search ends the moment he lays eyes on Eleanor Granger, his one true archess. Can he protect her from the danger lying in wait for her-and win her heart? (source)

Where To Find Heather: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog
Where To Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt from the prequel

I loved it.

REVIEW:
Gah! I grabbed this book off of Netgalley and boy howdy! I'm glad I did.

This is a new spin on a tale as old as time involving archangels and the fight for good. The 'Old Man's' four favorite archangels: Uriel, Michael, Gabriel and Azrael were given archesses, their soulmates. Something big and nasty went down and their soulmates were tossed to the winds, falling somewhere on earth. This series chronicles their journeys of finding the one woman in all the world, that was made for them. Until then, they must fight against the forces of darkness and other archangels on the same quest as them, trying to prevent them from finding 'The One'.

Uriel and his brothers have been wandering the earth for two thousand years trying to find their counterparts. Only then, can they go home (heaven). In present day, Uriel is Christopher Daniels, major movie star, Azriel is a rock star known as the Masked One, Michael is a cop and Gabriel is a firefighter. All my favorite types of yummy men. Oh, and Samael or the Dark Prince or whatever you want to call him, is a media mogul. How appropriate. Yeah, he's a wickedly sexy seductive big bad who looks like he might have a trace of humanity deep down inside.

Anywho, Uriel finds his archess in the bathroom of a bookstore in the middle of some podunk town in Texas, helping a sick little girl. He's drawn to her and immediately knows she's 'The One' and her healing the little girl with just the touch of her hand confirms it. Eleanor Granger can't believe THE Christopher Daniels is in the ladies room hiding from his adoring fans nor can she believe that he asked her to accompany him to an event in Dallas. She's just a bookseller, no one special if you don't count her super ability of healing, moving things with her mind and making the weather change.

Samael is also on the hunt for the archesses and wants them for himself. After Uriel finds Eleanor, Samael moves in and knows that with a snap of his fingers, she would be his. Uriel signs a contract with Samael to spend one week with Eleanor to counteract the affects Samael has on her. Well, when you make a deal with the devil, there are hidden clauses when signed in blood. Between keeping Eleanor away from Samael and a new danger closing in, also wanting a piece of the archess, Uriel must convince her that she was made for him.

The action is fast paced, the danger is heart pounding, the chemistry sizzles off the pages and there's a TARDIS-like mansion that the archangels live in. This book definitely surprised me, in a very good way. Richard Armitage gets a shout-out, which I spent a good full minute squealing about. And Rockdale, Texas? Really?

FAVORITE QUOTE: "This was more than vengeance, which, in and of itself, was deserved. This was more than jealousy, self-preservation, and love. This was hatred, at its finest, at its core, and it fueled his body beyond all sense of pain, sound, or vision." (***subject to change in finished copy***)

OVERALL: Wow, wow, wow! This is a series I am looking forward to reading. Between pop culture references, a new spin on the archangel mythology and cinematic worthy fight scenes (like on a Jerry Bruckheimer scale with lots of explosions) comes a story of love, loss and discovery. There's just so much going on in this book and it's totally understandable since it's the beginning of a series, a lot of world building but, it flows so well. A few times I was like 'Where the Sam Heck did this person come from?' or 'Where did this thread start?' but then I had that 'ohhhh' moment and my eyes sped faster down the page and my thumb kept pushing that > button on the side of the Kindle. Could these archangels be the answer to Larissa Ione's Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Maybe.

***requested off Netgalley***