One test kitchen. 40 slow cookers. 200 fresh recipes. SOLD. #bookreview #slowcooker via @TestKitchen

Try It Tuesday . . . Wherein I review things and stuff.

Ever bought a cookbook and only liked one, maybe two, recipes out of it? Yeah, me too. So for a while I stopped buying them, until my Hubs found this one. 

I've made about thirty recipes out of it so far, and I only disliked one of them. Crazy, right? I know.

Today's product: Healthy Slow Cooker Revolution Cookbook

Where to find: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Average cost: $9.00 to $17.00

Lasts: Until you break the spine or burn the pages--on accident, of course

Karen's rating: 

Why is this such a great cookbook?

1) It's healthy without compromising flavor--just be sure to add extra salt, cos the recipes tend to under-utilize the delicious food enhancer.

2) It's written by America's Test Kitchen. They're the boss, yo.

3) The recipes are easy to understand, and they use delicious ingredients.

4) Slow cookers (crock pots) are awesome. Throw in the ingredients and let 'em cook.

****

Wanna see more red balloons go by? Thought so. Check out my previous reviews*

*Reviews are my own opinions, I am not paid to promote any items.

Belvita Breakfast Biscuits

Klean Kanteen

KidKraft Bookshelf

Little Blue Truck

BareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara

Jojoba Oil

Freezing Herbs

Disposable Bibs

Toddler proofing cupboards

Snoozies (slippers)

Nongshim Shin Noodles

Nivea Lotion

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Powered by coffee and Snickers . . . karen

5 STAR Book Review for Shifting Pride by @diamondlb!! #werecats #YAPNR #Goodreads

Shifting Pride by Laura Diamond My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read the novelette prequel (New Pride by Laura Diamond) and absolutely loved it! Laura's gift for writing the young adult voice is amazing! So I couldn't wait to start Shifting Pride. This full-length young adult novel was a fun, fast-paced read with a mystery element weaved in. As much as I love plot, for me, I want to connect to the characters on a deep emotional level, and Laura definitely delivers!

The heroine, Nickie, is so sassy and kick-ass. Yet, she has this authentic, teen personality. Despite the loss of her dad and discovering that she's a werecat, she's able to grieve, learn and come through everything that's thrown at her as a stronger person.

Oh and the hero, Xavian, hot! A total bad-ass werecat with the sweetest sarcastic side ever! He matches Nickie so perfectly. Even if they don't realize it for a while!

This is a fantastic coming-of-age paranormal romance with a very real teen voice. Highly recommend!

Now, for some of my fave quotes from Shifting Pride:

**Like a magnet luring iron shavings, the book tempted me with its mysteries. 
**Ending up in an asylum didn't sound any more appealing than shifting species. 
**(This is my all time fave!) He brought it out of me. It being instant rage.
**Xavian drove like an expert stunt driver high on meth and Red Bull.
**Another honk from the horn enticed me to open my eyes. It was better to see death coming.
**The accusation shattered the air, and shards of it sliced into my soul.
**The audience ate conflict like it was a heaping bowl of Haagen Dazs's Dulce de Leche ice cream.
**As Xavian said, I'd developed the ability to be my own furnace, and for once I didn't mind the cold.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Book Trailer - Shifting Pride

   

Buy Shifting Pride!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Stalk Laura!

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View all my Goodreads reviews

Midweek Mayhem: Keep Calm and Imagine Dragons... #amblogging #CultOfSwedishFish #Giveaway

 Working it out…

• (NEW) Check out Author Laura Oliva on my blog! Guest post on the topic of research...excellent advice (here)!
• (NEW) Now through the end of the month, I'm participating in J.A. Belfield's Bookaroo-Ju Blogaversary Giveaway! Win a signed copy of Witch Way to Turn here!

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Random: In case you didn't know this, I am a huge ABBA fan! *has all their CDs and LPs--vinyl is better* Anni-Frid is my fave of the group ♥ Thus, one of the few vids she is the lead in Money, Money, Money. For your viewing pleasure...

 

Hearing voices…

Cover art by Danielle Fine

• My dark and gritty new adult urban fantasy with cursed dragon shifters, titled Becoming, is currently with my amazing editor!!! So excited to make this story sparkle and then pitch it at RT and RWA in a few months! Agents, you're gonna want this story...like super bad! Just sayin' ;D
• Check out my stunning cover inspiration (right side above this paragraph) designed by the talented Danielle Fine!!! 
• (Read last week's snippet, here) Since I've been in the editing cave for the past week, I'm gonna share a few sentences from the first chapter that my editor loved :D The sentences don't have anything to do with each other.

♥ (Opening line of chapter 1) Impatience gnawed at the edges of Zoe Moore’s sanity.
♥ Anchored to the ground by Taylor’s movement, she waited.
♥ She forced herself to turn away then stood under the canopy with her back to the window, watching the rain slowly turn to sleet while the only steadfast thing in her life melted inside her.
♥ (Closing of chapter 1) This was how it would end. Not the months and months of waiting to die in the hospital, but the few minutes it’d taken her to run away from living.

Dragon update... Round one of the first 150 pages of Becoming edits are back with my fabulous editor!

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Cover art by Danielle Fine

Waiting game...

• (Update) On week #3 of waiting to hear back from a lovely agent who is reading Running From Shadows.

Reading...

• Currently I am beta-reading for a fantastic friend and writer... Katheryn! Hooray for grim reapers!!
  
• What's on my Kindle? Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter!
• Looking for book recommendations and reviews for your 2013 TBR List? Check out The Perks of Being a Book Nerd! 
• 5 STAR Book Review for Shifting Pride by Laura Diamond will be posted on Friday! 

Check out the teaser book trailer...

 

Bonus material... 

*Writers, looking for a talented editor? I highly recommend Danielle Fine. She's edited three manuscripts of mine and has taught me so much! I'm a stronger writer because of her guidance. Also, she designed my beautiful inspiration cover art for Becoming and Running From Shadows! Annnnd she created the book trailer for Witch Way to Turn! 
*For more information on Dani's editing services, cover design, book trailer creation and website design stop by her site >>>> here!

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Random Alert! Alert. Alert. Alert...

This is a picture of a poster...yup, high tech stuff ;) So, this is the newest sculpture in the city. Personally, I think it's pretty cool looking, but apparently a lot of citizens don't. Anyway, one of said citizens decided to spray paint the letters WTH on the road with an arrow pointing to it...it's not cool to deface property, but I gotta say it kinda made me giggle :P Yes, I am odd.

I have no idea why I took this picture. BAM! Random.

Erm, me being skeptical of this so called Fish that is Swedish :P But it's yummy, squishy goodness did NOT disappoint...I am now a lifejacket-wearing member of the Cult of Swedish Fish! (Like how I totally made the cliche saying card-carrying member my own?? Bwahaha)

Yeah, Rusty pup was moving at near Banshee speeds, so it was hard to get this pic! I normally have a bagel for breakfast every morning--why, yes, I am a creature of habit--anywho, after the tub of cream cheese is empty...Rusty pup gets the remnants. This is him in attack mode ;)

5 STAR Review for Terms & Conditions Apply by Pippa Jay!! #bookreview #Goodreads

Cover art by Danielle Fine

Terms & Conditions Apply by Pippa Jay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Terms & Conditions Apply was a fun and sexy short story with an excellent twist ending! Marie, the heroine, is stranded on a pleasure planet after her boyfriend never shows up for their romantic weekend getaway. She’s beyond ticked off. Waiting for the next transport home, she’s approached by an android. Soren, the hero, might not be human but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have feelings, dreams and emotions. He approaches Marie—sees how alone and sad she is—and is determined to fulfill her dreams. She’s hesitant to take him up on his offer to stay on the planet, not only because of being dumped but he’s not a real man. Despite being beyond gorgeous, how can a robot make her feel loved and wanted?

In a world where any fantasy can be reality…sometimes love has a price.

If you’re looking for a quick sci-fi read with a romantic element, this is the book for you! Loved how the heroine grew and changed throughout the story. And the ending… Wow! Definitely took me by surprise. Having read several of Pippa’s works, I love the way she blends science fiction with romance to create memorable characters that keep you turning the pages. A fantastic story!

A few of my favorite lines…

What business was it of theirs what she did? Freedom of choice was supposed to be the station’s credo.

Hades forbid anyone should ask her what was wrong.

For Marie, it was like someone carving out her heart with a blunt instrument.

Oh, please, she told herself, it’s not as if it’s a real man. Just a copy of one!

Why did she keep treating him like a prostitute instead of the man she believed she could see?

For a moment she forgot what he was. He felt human and alive. 

****

Buy links! Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Add Terms & Conditions Apply to your to be read list here! 

Edited by: Danielle Fine

Cover art by: Danielle Fine

View all my reviews

My Midweek Mayhem, News, Book Reviews and Random Picture Goodness!! #YAPNR #werecats #scifi #contemporary

Working it out…   

•  (NEW) Looky! Pretty :) Witch Way To Turn is featured on Night Owl Reviews' homepage! (here)
• Witch Way To Turn is up for Sizzling Read of the Year! THE YEAR!! Squee!! Breena and I need your help...vote here! Monday is the LAST day! Hugs and smooches!! ;)
• (NEW) What do Christmas and Witch Way To Turn have in common?? (Find out here!)
• (NEW) Ohhhhh, Witch Way To Turn is only $1.25! Better grab your eBook today cos it ends on December 31st! (here) 

Hearing voices…

• Currently working on my dark and gritty work-in-progress (a new adult urban fantasy with cursed dragon shifters and is unlike anything I've ever written)! Am a little over 55k!!
• Read last week's snippet here :)   
• This is an unedited teaser for you (one of the two heroine's POV--Taylor, the "blonde goddess," is kind of like a female Dexter). This snippet is right after Taylor has read a text from her love interest..

Warmth spread inside of her. The thought of seeing her love made her smile. Those were hard to come by. All too soon her joy shattered as the beast inside of her began to whisper tauntingly. Always with the still small voice to begin with. Then suddenly the murmur would turn into a roar. Not stopping until appeased.

She squeezed her eyes shut, gripped the steering wheel and tried to concentrate on the flood of warmth coming from the vents. Even with her eyes closed, the beast’s need grew more urgent. Couldn’t she have just this one happiness? A moment to enjoy and remember without it being corrupted by murderous temptation.

For the past six months the hunger had intensified. Her father’s list of acceptable victims dwindled from the rate at which the beast forced her to kill.

The crescendo of her anxiety peaked as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony began to play. She peeled open her eyes and answered her phone.

Waiting game…

Cover Art by Danielle Fine

• On week #29 of waiting to hear back from a lovely agent who is reading Running From Shadows.*continues to keep fingers and toes crossed and keeps querying*
• On week #21 of waiting to hear back from the editor I pitched to at the RWA conference in July. *also continues to keep all possible body parts crossed*

Reading...

• Currently I am beta-reading for an awesome friend and writer... Katheryn!
• 75% into New Pride by Laura Diamond!! A young adult short story with werecats! 
• 5 Star Review for Terms & Conditions Apply by Pippa Jay! (here)
• 5 Star Review for Winter Fairy by Lola Karns (here) 

Bonus material...
*Tune back in for SSS on Sunday for more steamy goodness with Pax and Greta from Running From Shadows!

*Watch the awesome Witch Way to Turn book trailer here!!

*Let me know you've Liked my Facebook Author Page and I'll gladly Like you back! :) Click here!

*Beautiful cover art for Running From Shadows and Witch Way to Turn book trailer by the awesome Danielle Fine... Check her website for more cover art, editing and book trailer services.

Random Alert! Alert. Alert. Alert...

This is picture hanging on the wall in the hallway upstairs drives me insane!! It constantly tilts to the right, so I'm always adjusting it EVERY time I walk by it. Rawr :P

This is the Clean/Dirty magnet for the dishwasher. Yup, those are zombies! I so LOVE it! It has changed the way I do dishes. Now, I never have to wonder... Are these dishes clean?? It's a Christmas miracle!

My Charlie Brown Christmas tree at work :) And my blue jay paperweight. I am obsessed with paperweights!

My lovely friend, Jenna Jaxon, signed a copy of her novel Only Scandal Will Do for my mother-in-law! Isn't it beautiful! It was the first one of that book she's ever signed!!! Next I'm gonna have her sign my Kindle cover! Fangirl moment!! It was a super hawt historical read!

Book Review -- Creatures of the Moon by Kristine Overbrook!!! (5 STARS) #goodreads @krisoverbrook

Creatures of the Moon by Kristine Overbrook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Normally cop/detective books are not my go-to read, but a friend highly recommended Creatures. So I checked it out. I'm so glad I did! The characters were intriguing and I looked forward to finding out more about them and the case they were solving. One of my favorite things about this book was the way the author made the werewolves so realistic.

 
I will definitely be reading more by this author!

Couple of my fave lines:
Ryan: "Getting neater at eating, too."
Lydia: Pleasure coursed through her like sunlight invading shadow.

Stalk--uh, follow--Kristine here:

~ eBook ~ Facebook ~ Paperback ~ Twitter ~ Website ~  

Creatures of the Moon - Book Trailer!

Book Review -- Keir by Pippa Jay!!! (5 STARS) @pippajaygreen #bookreview #Goodreads

Keir by Pippa Jay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book! Keir was a fantastic read. The hero (Keir) and the heroine (Quin) had so much rich character development. Both of them were riddled with emotional--and physical--scarring; however, it was beautifully woven into the storyline to make them stronger people. Together they were able to overcome their insecurities.

Keir is packed with action, adventure, intrigue and spicy love scenes...but one of my favorite things was the role reversal. Keir was the inexperienced one, and I loved that Quin taught him--not just how to make love, because that was hot--but how to experience life and to open himself up to forgiveness. Keir suffered a great many things, but Quin was there to support, encourage and bring him back to life.

A few of my favorite lines from the book:

“I am not friendly. I am dangerous.”

He felt her presence in his mind still, like cool hands soothing his fevered thoughts. It both disturbed and comforted him. Was she an angel in human guise? Or some demon sent to torment him before delivering him to his final hell?

His words filled her with a sadness so sharp she had to fight down tears.

He screamed for help as they took him through shadowy streets to an unknown place, but no one came.

Why am I such a sucker for tortured souls?

“We weren’t meant to have these powers, Keir, but it’s how we use them that defines who and what we are.”

“Friends may easily become enemies. Prosperity attracts envy. We must always be wary of complacency and misplaced trust.”

Would learning the truth justify the risk?

For the first time in remembrance, he wanted to touch and be touched in return. To hold her and have her return his embrace freely, with more than a friend’s affection. To feel her white skin under his fingertips. To brush the hair from her face as the breeze did now, and run his fingers through it.

He leaned close to her, and the darkness of his eyes seemed to swallow her soul. “Your fears will come to pass.”

I have more, but pretty soon I'll be quoting the entire book! So go buy it! :) Keir is a must read!

Special features!!!

The author was kind enough to share the song that was her inspiration for Keir's character... Justify by The Rasmus! Check the vid here!

Watch the Keir book trailer here! 

Buy Keir!! Amazon ~ B&N ~ Lyrical Press

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View all my reviews