Book review

Two Moon Princess

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Title: Two Moon Princess

Publisher: Tanglewood

Pub Date: 15 April 2010

ISBN: 9781933718279

Author: Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban

Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban is a must read if you’re looking for escapism. It’s one fiction that you would not want to miss if you’re looking not only for adventure, but romance as well.

Two Moon Princess is wonderfully written and the characters was very inspiring. This is one book that I wouldn’t mind reading over and over again. There’s much more to a fairy tale than just a happily ever after, and Two Moon Princess shows us just that.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received this ARC from Tanglewood Publisher via Netgalley. I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review.

Product description:

To Andrea, the life of a princess is not a dream; it’s tedious and stifling. But the certainties of her life, both good and bad, are thrown into chaos when she accidentally travels to an alternative world, from a cave on a forbidden beach in her family’s kingdom to the warm and carefree life of Southern California. Then a careless visit to the cave results in terrible consequences: a brewing war between kingdoms, her sister’s love for the wrong man, Andrea’s own conflicted feelings for an enemy leader, and dark family secrets exposed. Andrea needs to act to resolve problems which she helped to create, and she faces many difficult choices, torn between duty and desire on so many levels. Readers will enjoy the mix of traditional elements of the fantasy genre,with fresh ideas and a look at our culture through the eyes of a stranger.

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Book review

Between Two Ends

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Title: Between Two Ends

Publisher: Abrams Books

Imprint: Amulet Books

Pub Date: 1st May 2011

ISBN: 9780810997141

Author: David Ward

Between Two Ends by David Ward is one fantastic, satisfying read. It’s all I ever want in an adventure-fairy tale kind of fiction. You see, I’ve always adored the Arabian Nights… and the story of Scheherezade, the legendary Persian Queen who spin stories night after night for her beloved husband who only marries a virgin and sends them to the gallow the day after their wedding because of the betrayal of his first wife.

And now, reading Between Two Ends, I was hurled into the world of One Thousand Nights where her world became alive. I feel like a child again when I read this book. It has such a positive effect on me.

This is a very interesting and wonderful read, and I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves a good fairy tale adventure.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received this ARC in exchange of an honest review from Abrams Books via Netgalley. I was not compensated in any ways for writing this.

Book description:

When Yeats and his parents visit his grandmother’s creepy old house, Yeats reunites a pair of pirate bookends and uncovers the amazing truth: Years ago, Yeats’s father traveled into The Arabian Nights with a friend, and the friend, Shari, is still stuck in the tales. Assisted by the not-always-trustworthy pirates, Yeats must navigate the unfamiliar world of the story of Shaharazad–dodging guards and tigers and the dangerous things that lurk in the margins of the stories–in order to save Shari and bring peace to his family.

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Book review

Max On Life

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Max on Life by Max Lucado is a very inspiring and motivational read, just like many other books written by him. I find it interesting that after following his works for so long, he have yet to lost touch in motivating and inspiring people to lead a better and a much more fulfilling life. Max Lucado is getting better and better in writing, I give him that.

I highly recommend this book to those in need of motivation and inspiration…. and those who are doing some soul searching in life.

This book makes a perfect gift and would be a welcome addition to one’s permanent library. If I were to rate this book, I’d give it a 4 star.

I received a printed Advance Reader Copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publisher in exchange of an honest review. Iwas not compensated in any ways for writing this review.

Product description:

We have questions. Child-like inquiries. And deep, heavy ones.

In more than twenty-five years of writing and ministry, Max Lucado has been the receiving line for thousands of such questions. The questions come in letters, e-mails, even on Dunkin Donuts napkins. In Max on Life he offers thoughtful answers to more than 150 of the most pressing questions on topics ranging from hope to hurt, from home to the hereafter.

Max writes about the role of prayer, the purpose of pain, and the reason for our ultimate hope. He responds to the day-to-day questions—parenting quandaries, financial challenges, difficult relationships—as well as to the profound: Is God really listening?

A special addendum includes Max’s advice on writing and publishing.

Including topical and scriptural indexes and filled with classic Lucado encouragement and insight, Max on Life will quickly become a favorite resource for pastors and ministry leaders as well as new and mature believers.

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Book review

Starting a Micro Business and Books Giveaway

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With unemployment rates high, the teen population is finding it harder and harder to find work. Adults are competing for the same minimum wage jobs. But there’s an alternative—starting a micro business. What is a micro business? It is a very small, one-person business that you can start easily and quickly with what you already know or own. No money needed, low risk and no debt! Students can spend as much time running a micro business as they wish and can even close it down during busy times. The best advantage for teens to own a micro business is that it not only brings in extra cash (often more than imagined), but students end up learning a great deal about business, money and themselves. It may lead to an entrepreneurial life or at the very least, prepare students for higher learning opportunities.

I’ve read the book, Starting a Micro Business by Carol Topp, and I found that it’s full with innovative ideas and very helpful for teens who wants to earn more money but do not exactly know how.

Spring Cleaning: A Time For a Teenager to Make Money

Guest post by Carol Topp
Here are some ideas for a micro business a teenager can start this spring:
  • House cleaning: Offer to tackle large jobs like washing windows, moving furniture, etc. Many people are grateful for a young, strong teenager to help them with heavy lifting. What is easy for you might be very difficult for them, especially if they are an older person.
  • Routine house cleaning: Some customers need regular house cleaning and may hire you on a weekly or monthly basis. Don’t wait for them to ask: offer to come weekly or twice a month and see what they say.
  • Attic cleaning: Offer to help people do a job that they put off, such as cleaning an attic.
  • Garage cleaning: A big job that can earn you big bucks!
  • Yard cleanup: Offer to trim bushes, pull weeds, plant flowers and spread mulch to spruce up a yard.
  • Car and van cleaning: People spend a lot of time in their automobiles and their cars and vans need frequent cleaning. Melissa gladly paid to get her van cleaned inside and out every week because her four children could really make a mess in it. You can make some cash by offering to clean a van inside and out.
  • Organize. Organize a house, playroom or garage. Charge the customer for any bins, tubs and labels that you purchase for them and then add on the value of your time. Take before and after photos to use on your advertising fliers.
  • Declutter: Do you love HGTV shows on organization? You might be able to find someone to hire you to declutter their house like you see on TV.
  • Garage sales: Advertise, organize and run a garage sale for your neighbors. Get several neighbors to participate together and really earn the bucks!
  • eBay sales: Offer to sell your neighbors’ stuff on eBay and take a cut for yourself. Combine the decluttering, garage sale and eBay tasks into a full package to help your customers profit from their excess stuff.
Carol Topp, CPA advises teenage business owners though her Micro Business for Teens book series. Carol’s day job is accountant to business owners, and she enjoys teaching teenagers to succeed beyond their dreams. Students appreciate how she shares what they need to know in clear and helpful lessons. Her website is MicroBusinessForTeens.com

For a chance to go into the draw to win a complete set of Carol Topp’s Micro Business for Teens series please leave a comment with a way to contact you by Thursday 21. Giveaways is International and winner will be notified via email.
GRAND PRIZE!
The Complete Set of Carol Topp’s Micro Business for Teens Series
(Winner will receive the four books shown below)
Starting a Micro Business
ISBN: 978-0-09829245-0-1
Retail price: $9.95
Running a Micro Business
ISBN: 978-0-09829245-1-8
Retail price: $9.95
Money and Taxes in a Micro Business
ISBN: 978-0-09829245-3-2
Retail price: $9.95
The Micro Business for Teens Workbook
ISBN: 978-0-09829245-2-5
Retail price: $14.95
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I received an ARC of this book from Kathy Carlton Willis Communications. I was not compensated in any ways for hosting this book tour.

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Book review

The Harlot

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Title: The Harlot

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: SPICE

Pub Date: 31st May 2011

ISBN: 9780373605569

Author: Saskia Walker

The Harloy by Saskia Walker is a story about a whore. But that does not make this book distasteful. No. It was not distasteful. In fact, it was highly entertaining, intriguing and of course, rather explicit and arousing.

The Harlot brings the readers into a sexy adventure where a world of passion and fantasy awaits. There’s story of dark magic vs. white magic, betrayal, revenge, seduction, passion and true love inside this book. I enjoyed this book very much and I have to say that this is one book that’s hard to put down, despite the fact that the book is very sexually explicit.

If I were to rate this book. I’d give it4 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended to romance lovers.

This book will be published on 31st may 2011. For more information on this title, please : click here to go to the author’s website.

Book description:

It is a dark era, one when a lusty lass will do what she must to survive. Even if it means bartering flesh for a palmful of coins…

Forced to watch her mother burn at the stake, Jessie Taskill knows the danger of the gift she inherited—a powerful magic that must stay hidden. Until one night when she’s accused of witchcraft and Jessie finds herself behind prison walls, awaiting certain death with a roguish priest unlike any man of the cloth she has known.

In reality, Gregor Ramsay is as far from holy as the devil himself, but his promise of freedom in return for her services may be her salvation. Locked into a dubious agreement, Jessie resents his plan to have her seduce and ruin his lifelong enemy. But toying with Gregor’s own lust for her is enjoyable, and she agrees to be his pawn while secretly intending to use him just as he is using her…

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Book review

Wedding of the Century and Other Stories

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Title: Wedding of the Century and Other Stories

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: HQN Books

Pub Date:31st May 2011

ISBN: 9780373775507

Author: Mary Jo Putney, Kristin James & Charlotte Featherstone

Wedding of the Century and Other Stories is an anthology of stories written by Mary Jo Putney, Kristin James & Charlotte Featherstone. There’s 3 stories in this book, and I found all of the stories are irresistably heartwarming.

The first story, The Wedding of The Century by Mary Jo Putney stays true to the Harlequin tradition where sometimes, love comes after marriage. The story theme was based on marriage of convenience. The heroine married her husband because of social expectation of her, and had assumed that her marriage will be quite a bore. Little did she know that what’s waiting for her is not boredom, but a marriage full of love and passion. This story follows the real tradition of Harlequin stories, but it was enjoyable nevertheless.

My favourite was the second story, Jesse’s Wife by Kristin James. I find it sweet, innocent and endearing, and I would have read it over and over again and would not feel bored about it. I couldn’t get enough of it, and truthfully, I thought that the author could have added an epilogue to this story.

The last story in this book was Seduced by Starlight written by Charlotte Featherstone. This story is all about seduction. It is a little bit far-fetch, though, considering the social setting and whatnot. Not quite realistic in my opinion, but the story is enjoyable nevertheless.

I received an ARC of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review, and if I were to rate this book, I’d give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

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Book review

The Outlaw Bride

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Title: The Outlaw Bride

Publisher: Carina Press

Pub Date: 18th April 2011

ISBN: 9781426891489

Author: Kelly Boyce

I was expecting a Regency romance when I requested this book for review from Netgalley, but I was pleasantly surprised that this is no Regency romance book, but a Western romance book. I enjoyed the plot and the subplot of this book, and while the story starts did not catch my attention in the beginning, I began to grow to like it as I slip the pages.

Not a bad book to read on a lazy Sunday. Highly recommended to those who loves ‘incognito’, forbidden romance as well as dual identity kind of story.

If I were to rate this book, i’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Book description:

Katherine Slade has two goals: to escape her outlaw husband and to find the family of the man who died saving her life. Taking the place of a mail-order bride isn’t part of her plan-until she’s forced to continue the charade and become Sheriff Connor Langston’s housekeeper to stay out of jail. Pretending to be another woman is hard, but Katherine’s real challenge is resisting her growing attraction to the handsome lawman…

Falling in love is the last thing Connor needs, even if the rest of Fatal Bluff wants him to. His hands are full with a band of outlaws threatening the safety of his town, and a child to raise. But Kate has a way of getting under his skin and into little Jenny’s heart. Soon Connor can’t get the fiery beauty out of his head-along with his suspicion that Kate isn’t who she claims to be.

When Connor learns the truth about Kate, is there any way for this outlaw bride to become the sheriff’s wife?

The publication date for this book is 18th April 2011. For more information on this title, please click here to go to the author’s website.

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Book review

Journeyman’s Ride

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Title: Journeyman’s Ride

Publisher: Carina Press

Pub Date: 25th April 2011

ISBN: 9781426891519

Author: Marie Harte

Journeyman’s Ride by Marie Harte, is an erotica, and like most erotica, it’s filled with sexy, imaginative sex scenes, but what I like about this book is that it’s not entirely plotless and most of the scenes are tastefully done.The book is a novella length, short, but enough to keep you satisfied.

I enjoyed this book very much and I hope there’s more to come from Marie Harte.

Book description:

Miranda is duty-bound to journey across the Damned Plains to rescue the Princess of York from ruination. Her selfish cousin doesn’t deserve her help, but the mission offers an opportunity to escape the smothering confines of life as an indentured companion to a spoiled princess.

Danner is a journeyman, a traveler with an extraordinary gift: the ability to withstand the deadly lightning bolts sent by moody gods. Drawn by her lush beauty, he agrees to guide Miranda across the Plains if she’ll let him explore her body each night.

They face danger-blood ravens, cannibals, mechanical spyders-but Danner never anticipated that the bigger risk would be from Miranda and the things she makes him feel. A journeyman’s life doesn’t lend itself to commitment, but if they can rescue the princess and make it out of the Plains without getting zapped or eaten, Danner might have to make an exception for one amazing woman. If she’ll have him.

I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.  The release date of this book is 25th April 2011. For more information on this title, please click here to visit the publisher’s website, or click here to go to the author’s website.

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Book review

Tender Loving Care

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Title: Tender Loving Care

Publisher: Carina Press

Pub Date:18th April 2011

ISBN: 9781426891472

Author: Jennifer Greene

A yet another contemporary romance by Jennifer Greene, and as always, I enjoyed reading her book. This time, in Tender Loving Care, there’s load of surprises, plenty of sweet romance and a lot of hidden messages. One of the most obvious message that Ms. Green’s trying to send across this time is that learning to love wholeheartedly without fear.

You see, the heroine of this story fought against falling in love though she knew that her heart practically belongs to the main male character in this story. She’s afraid of getting hurt and emotionally involved with him, and I couldn’t help but smile when the hero, Rafe breaks through the walls that she build around her heart almost faster than she could build it.

Tender Loving Care is a sweet, romantic story that will guarantee you warmth even on the coldest day. I enjoyed it very much, and I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Book description:

When tragedy strikes, Zoe Anderson finds herself in the one role she never expected to have: mother. Sharing guardianship of four-year-old twins with sexy Rafe Kirkland is a responsibility she simply cannot accept. Rafe is just going to have to take care of the boys himself.

Rafe’s not prepared to be a single parent either, but deserting the children is not an option-and he’s never been as attracted to a woman as he is to their godmother. He proposes a solution: Zoe and the boys will move in with him, at least until other arrangements can be made. Or until he can convince her to make their temporary family permanent.

Zoe reluctantly agrees to the plan, but even after she loses her heart to the twins, she can’t possibly take that emotional risk with Rafe…

I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley. I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review.

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Book review

A Marriage of Inconvenience

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Title: A Marriage of Inconvenience

Publisher: Carina Press

Pub Date:11th April 2011

ISBN: 9781426891465

Author: Susanna Fraser

I was not quite sure how to feel about this book, A Marriage of Inconvenience by Susanna Fraser. Somehow, it is not your typical happily ever after Regency romance where everything actually turns out well in the end. (Okay, okay… I’m biased! The lady didn’t ended up with the guy that I liked in the story… so I’m sulking over here!)

While I enjoyed the sizzling hot romance (there’s mild bondage… and kinky stuff in this book) between the main character and her lover, I definitely do not enjoy the relationship that heroine had with her husband. Sounds confusing? Well, let’s just say that this book is somehow about a love triangle and an unfulfilled love. I absolutely detest the ending… I was hoping for a better ending for the main character, but I didn’t get that. My only consolation that this book is just a prequel, and that means, somehow, someway, the heroine WILL somehow find her happiness and be freed from the clutches of her bloody husband.

Honestly, I can’t say I hate this book. In fact, it was so wonderfully written that I could actually feel for the character, especially the main protagonist, Anna. I could feel the overwhelming emotion that she was feeling through this book, and I could feel her need to be free… it’s just that I was not happy with the ending, that’s all.

If I were to rate this book, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 star. I enjoyed the book though I detest the ending.

Book description:

Lucy Jones is a nobody. As an orphan she was reluctantly taken in by her wealthy relatives, the Arringtons, on the condition that she be silent and obedient, always. When her lifelong infatuation with her cousin Sebastian is rewarded by a proposal of marriage, she’s happy and grateful, even though the family finds excuses to keep the engagement a secret.

James Wright-Gordon has always had the benefits of money and a high station in society, but he is no snob. He’s very close to his sister, Anna, who quickly falls for the dashing Sebastian when the families are brought together at a wedding party. Meanwhile, James is struck by Lucy’s quiet intelligence, and drawn to her despite their different circumstances in life.

Lucy suspects that Sebastian has fallen for Anna, but before she can set him free, a terrible secret is revealed that shakes both families. Will James come to her rescue-or abandon her to poverty?

I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley, and I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review. For more information on this title, please click here to go to the author’s website.

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