Stuff You Should Know About Stuff by Tripp Crosby, Tyler Stanton

Stuff You Should Know About Stuff  How to Properly Behave in Certain Situations  Tripp Crosby, Tyler Stanton

Do you know how to properly conduct yourself in a public restroom? What about while in the midst of a profoundly awkward silence? Have you perfected how to get out of helping your friend move?

If you answered no to those questions, then you need Stuff You Should Know About Stuff, the book that future anthropologists will no doubt call "the Rosetta Stone of handling trivial life situations."

From the guys who created the viral videos “Sh*t Nobody Says” and “Things You Can't Do When You’re Not in a Pool," Tripp and Tyler bring you the written word in Stuff You Should Know About Stuff, a guide instructing you how to navigate the treacherous waters of life’s extremely trivial situations.

There are even photos and illustrations for people who enjoy photos and illustrations and stuff like that. You can read it from cover to cover or you can choose to educate yourself only in conjunction with your bowel movements. Totally your call there.

Stuff You Should Know About Stuff places the priority on the trivial experiences of life, because that's where we spend most of our time; trying to recover from going for the fist bump when a casual acquaintance wanted a high five.

This book definitely had some hilarious pages! I laughed my way through almost all of it. There is a good bit of information on levels of greeting intimacy that I found especially funny. There are some great things about email and twitter and so on that I enjoyed as well. This book is written in a way that makes it seem like you are in the room with these guys and I love that. This was definitely a fun read!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

It Happened at Christmas by Debbie Mason

It Happened at Christmas  by Debbie Mason

Free-spirited activist Skylar Davis is out of money and out of options. After using up her trust fund trying to save the world, she hides out in Christmas, hoping the kindness of friends will help her forget the reckless actions of her past. All goes well . . . until she comes face-to-face with one of her mistakes: the town's gorgeous young mayor.

Ethan O'Connor likes his life drama-free and predictable now that he's about to make the move from small-town politics to the Colorado State Senate. Then Skye blows back into town, as impulsive and passionate as he remembers. If word ever got out about their night together-the night he's never been able to forget-the scandal could cripple his career. Yet as he starts his campaign, Ethan finds that, like the town of Christmas itself, he can't get Skye out of his head . . . or his heart.

This book was great! I did not want to put it down! Skylar is absolutely hilarious and Ethan......well, he grows on you. Hahahaha. The obstacles that they go through in this book, the way the obstacles were written, kept me wanting to keep reading to see what was going to be next. This was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Just His Taste Candice Gilmer

Just His Taste Candice Gilmer

Avalynn Fay is not a typical Fairy Godmother. She wears leather body suits, rides motorcycles, and prefers bourbon to anything fru-fru. Probably why she is assigned new charge, Jason Gregorian—a PI who drinks bourbon and loves to cook barbecue.Jason’s a good guy. Generally decent. Even willing to pretend to be his ex-girlfriends date for a wedding, so she won’t be alone while her ex struts around with his latest squeeze on his arm.Should be easy, right?All Ava has to do is talk to him, feel him out a bit, and she’ll know exactly how to get the wheels in gear. Except when she meets Jason, suddenly no one is good enough for him.Not even Tessa, his intended Happily Ever After.It’s enough to make a fairy godmother want a healthy shot of bourbon—right before she breaks all the rules.

Ok, so I stepped way out of my comfort zone on this book but I read the description and thought I would give it a try. Though I did find it to be a strange concept (a fairy and a human falling in love), I did enjoy it alot. I liked the characters throughout the whole book and the story line was definitely different. I would like to read the other books in this series now!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Just One Spark Jenna Bayley-Burke

Just One Spark Jenna Bayley-Burke

Description
Once the flame is ignited, there’s no escaping the heat.Just One, Book 1 Hannah Daniels reads steamy romance novels so she can forget her lack of a personal life—and the fact that the one time in her life she took a risk on love, her heart was left in pieces. Her busy schedule means she reads whenever she can make time. Like at thelaundromat while sitting on top of a washing machine.Mason McNally has waited his whole life for a woman who stirs his soul. When hefinds her, she’s nose-deep in a racy paperback, perched atop a vibrating washing machine.Her beauty, boldness and raw sensuality definitely stir something in Mason. But there’s aproblem. He’s forgotten he’s wearing a wedding ring.No amount of hasty explanations that it’s for his brother’s psychology experiment keepsher from disappearing. Now he’s consumed with finding her again and convincing her that her first impression was wrong, and their spark of attraction is oh so right.

This book was great! I loved the comedy mixed throughout. The relationship between Mason and Hannah is perfect in m opinion. I know, I know, that is strange but lets look at it shall we. They bicker and fight but it is not serious. They have a strong connection and strong feelings for each other. They will be together forever!

I loved that their first meeting was not this perfect, love at first sight, meeting. There was drama and I loved it! Him wearing a ring (don't worry, he was not married) and her reading a romance book while sitting on a washer. That is awesome!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Terms of Surrender by Sheila Seabrook

Terms of Surrender by Sheila Seabrook

Description from the publisher:

ER nurse Harley Jane Davis has dedicated her life to helping others. Now she’s the one in trouble, and the only person she can rely on is Gage Toryn—the man she’s secretly been in love with for years.

A man on the edge…

Gage would do anything for Harley, except give in to the hungry passion that sparks between them. He’s hiding a terrible secret, one guaranteed to destroy any chance at a relationship. And even though Harley haunts his dreams and makes him want to be a better man, he knows she could never love him if she learned about his ugly past.

Family, future, forever…

When a situation with Gage’s brother endangers Harley and his nieces, Gage offers them refuge in his home—and the battered pieces of his heart. But can he overcome his fear of commitment and open up about the past? Or will his secret destroy his last chance to have a relationship—and a real family—with the only woman he’s ever loved?

This book was great! I loved the secrets, twists and drama. I felt like the big drama at the end should have been a little bigger. I was looking for more, but all in all, it was a fun read!

I enjoyed the characters. Some of them I love, some I hate but I still enjoyed them all and they came together to make a well rounded story.

***This book was given to me by the publisher  in exchange for an open and honest review***

Before He Was Gone by Becky Wicks

Before He Was Gone by Becky Wicks

Description from the publisher:

When her rock star boyfriend breaks things off out of the blue, Alyssa applies to hit reality TV show Deserted and to her shock she gets through. Abandoned on a remote island with a bunch of strangers and none of the luxuries she’s become accustomed to, it’s not long before an undeniable attraction to the mysterious Joshua starts complicating things even further.

Joshua's different to everyone she's ever known - a traveler, a man with no plan, a world away from the celebrity life she's left behind. As a series of challenges test their wits and weaknesses, things start heating up in paradise, but in a game designed to break people down, it soon becomes clear that Joshua is hiding a painful secret - one he won’t risk anyone finding out.

Struggling to know where she belongs, Alyssa will have to choose - a life she once loved that wants her back, or a brand new reality that heart breakingly may just have its limits.

This book was different. I did not like the way it was written. It bounced back and forth between Alyssa and Joshua. It took about four chapters for me to finally figure out what the heck was going on! That being said, about halfway through it got interesting and I enjoyed it. About 3/4 of the way through I could not put it down. I was glad that I pushed through the first half because I really did enjoy the second half of this book.

I really liked the story line. The characters were great and some of the lines were hysterical. I just was not personally fond of the writing style.

If you have read  this book, please let me know your thoughts!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Five Minutes Late Rich Amooi

Five Minutes Late  Rich Amooi

Description from the publisher:

The world needs garlic and somebody’s got to sell that garlic. Cedric Johnson is that man. But even though he’s got just about everything he can wish for, Cedric is still missing one thing in his life: someone special. Fate may be on his side, but he encounters a few distractions along the way—like almost being killed by a UPS truck. Oh, and a little case of blackmail.

Ellie Fontaine is a walking Wikipedia with clear professional goals, but when it comes to landing Mr. Right, she doesn’t know jack squat. She gives online dating a shot, but ends up with an unappetizing buffet of unibrows and losers. What’s a girl to do?

After Ellie saves Cedric’s life, serendipity takes over as they continue to run into each other. Their connection grows stronger with each meeting, even though he embodies her number one pet peeve: he’s always late. But even if they can get past their issues and misunderstandings, Ellie’s ex-boyfriend, an unscrupulous cop, will do anything to keep them apart.

This book was really really sappy and I loved it! All of the characters are amazing and very well written. The story line is great, I mean, come on, online dating, blackmail, crazy exs, and fate........ an amazing mix! There were several times that I caught myself laughing (people kept looking at me funny when I laughed while looking at my phone!)

Overall this was a great book and I am sure I will read it again. I really did enjoy it!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Gentlemen Prefer Curves by Sugar Jamison

Gentlemen Prefer Curves by Sugar Jamison

Description from the publisher:

Belinda Gordon thought she had it all—a great job, wonderful friends, a home of her own. She’s even come to love her voluptuous body. But she still can’t shake the feeling that something is missing. And then Carter Lancaster, aka Her Biggest Mistake, shows up in town, as irresistible as ever, and shakes up her entire world.

Carter never expected to find Belinda in town, looking as delicious as the day he married her five years ago—before she walked out on him after six weeks and a painful misunderstanding that included his baby daughter, Ruby. A quick divorce is the sensible option—but Carter can’t let Belinda go now, not when he can see the family they could be. Love may be a curveball, but this time he’s going to prove to Belinda that he can hit it out of the park… Gentlemen Prefer Curves is the third book in the Perfect Fit series

I am a big fan of Sugar Jamison so I was very excited when I saw this book available for review! It was so fun to see Belinda finding her perfect match! This book did not disappoint! There was drama, fun, romance and kids! Perfect combo!

The cover is catchy, the book is a perfect size, and I recommend this book to everyone. I am tired of reading books about skinny, perfect people so I have really appreciated this series of bigger women! Thank you Sugar Jamison for bringing REAL to your books!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Accidentally Married by Victorine E. Lieske

Accidentally Married by Victorine E. Lieske

Description from the publisher:

Madison Nichols, aspiring actress, is floundering. Her rent is due and she needs a job. Desperately. After getting a tip about an open position, she rushes to Jameson Technologies and meets CEO Jared Jameson. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, she is put in the awkward position of pretending to be his girlfriend. Not the job she was applying for. And when she finds out Jared lied to her to get what he wanted, she decides to get back at him. In front of his family. 

Jared is stunned when Madison announces they are getting married. She pushed her revenge too far. How can he tell them it’s all a lie? And when his sick aunt asks them to be married before she dies, Madison comes up with a hair-brained plan to hire an actor and stage a fake wedding. 

What they both don’t know is Jared’s father has found out about the fake wedding. And he’s got his own hair-brained plan. 


This book had me laughing all the way through. The things that Madison said were hilarious and the holes she got herself in were even funnier! Jared made me laugh as he got madder and madder! The web of lies that these two got wrapped up in was amazing and seemed to never end. I LOVE Jared's father!

This book was so catchy that I started it at night and stayed up for hours reading it. I was exhausted at work the next day but it was worth it! Excellent book!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

No Weddings by Kat Bastion and Stone Bastion

No Weddings by Kat Bastion and Stone Bastion

Description from the publisher:

I think I have my act together as a successful bar owner, my master’s degree within reach, and a list of no-strings-attached women warming my bed. Turns out, I don’t.

Hannah believes she has safeguarded her wounded heart by shunning men and focusing on her new baking business. The thing is, she hasn’t.

When my three sisters and I start a new event-planning business with Hannah as our baker, I have no idea how my life is about to change. As Hannah and I work closely together, the attraction between us becomes irresistible. And complicated. I’ve promised my sisters I wouldn’t mix business with pleasure. But I’ve never been one to follow the rules.

This book was amazing. I did not want to put it down! The characters were well written and exciting. There was never a dull moment! Hannah is sweet and sarcastic and hilarious. Cade is a full blooded male who tries desperately NOT to get attached.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance books. Perfect book to read on a lazy day! Grab a coffee, this book and stretch out on the couch! You will enjoy it!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

The Magic of Maxwell and His Tail by Maureen Stolar Kanefield

The Magic of Maxwell and His Tail by Maureen Stolar Kanefield

Description from the publisher:
Maxwell is a young adorable, intelligent mouse. He has a curiosity that draws him into every subject under the rainbow and an imagination that just won t quit. That is, until the day he discovers his tail is growing much too long. Soon he is the target of jeers and snickers from his classmates. Even his best friend, Mason, is unaccepting. Maxwell, can t you keep track of your tail? I m always tripping over it. 

This book is absolutely adorable! The story line is amazing, the pictures are phenomenal! I am not generally a mouse person but Maxwell is so adorable!

This book can be expanded on for each child's different "situations". Everyone has SOMETHING about them that they do not like. This book can really help them understand that they are amazing and perfect the way they are. I really like that he saw his tail as magic instead of a problem! That is so fun and unique!

Review from my 7 year old son, Max :"I like it! It is so funny and Maxwell is a really cute mouse!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Draw-A-Saurus: Everything You Need to Know to Draw Your Favorite Dinosaur by James Silvani

Draw-A-Saurus: Everything You Need to Know to Draw Your Favorite Dinosaur by James Silvani

Description from the publisher:

This in-depth yet accessible dinosaur drawing guide combines humor, creativity, and the latest dino research to show artists young and old how to breathe life into drawings of their prehistoric favorites. 
Prehistoric Pencil Power!
Even though they lived some 65 million years ago, dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles continue to rule today. From movies to comics and cartoons, these ancient, giant beasts are everywhere you turn. Of course, who wants to just read about or watch these dinos when you can learn how to use pencils, pens, markers, and more to draw your very own? 

Cartoonist James Silvani combines easy-to-follow art exercises with the latest, greatest dino-facts to help you create fun and cool dinosaur doodles all by yourself. With lessons on old favorites like T-rex and stegosaurus, as well as lesser-known (but still awesome) creatures like the massive argentinosaurus, Draw-a-Saurus has everything the dinosaur fan could ever ask for (outside of their very own pet dino!).

When I saw this book up for review I thought it would be perfect for my dinosaur loving son. When it came in the mail, he was beyond excited, we sat down and looked through it and wow!! This book is WAY more than drawing a dinosaur! It  has some facts about dinosaurs, it teaches you beginning drawings such as drawing stick figure dinosaurs that are running, walking, stalking and more. There is a chapter that shows you what kind of materials to use and different techniques. Once you get all of that figured out,  you can pick a dinosaur from pages and pages to draw. It shows step by step instructions. They ARE a little complicated. My son is able to do the basics but gets frustrated with the actual dinosaurs. The great news is that he has plenty of room to grow!

At the end of the book it then shows you different ways to draw an environment so your dinosaur can be active and in an actual scene. There is also a chapter that teaches textures and how to make your dinosaur to be more cartoon-like.

All in all, I love this book and all the variety that it teaches!

Review from my 7 year old son, Max- "This book is so awesome cuz I love dinosaurs and now I can learn to draw them! Awesome!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

The Berenstain Bears, Blessed are the Peacemakers by Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears, Blessed are the Peacemakers by Mike Berenstain

Description from the publisher:

In this new Berenstain Bears 8x8 book, Blessed are the Peacemakers, Brother and Sister have a wide circle of friends at Bear Country School and they get along with pretty much everyone. But not all their friends get along with each other. Too Tall and his bullying gang, for instance, are often in conflict with Cousin Fred, Ferdy Factual, and their friends. So what happens when the cubs all need to work together on the annual school play? Brother and Sister have to decide whether they should “mind their own business” or get involved as peacemakers and try to calm the troubled waters.

This book was excellent. The lesson it taught was easy to understand and very relevant for kids in the world today. It is very easy to expand on this book to make the situation relevant for your child's life. There are a few quotes from the Bible that added to the lessons of this book. The last page has some discussion questions that helped my son understand even more. 

Review from my 7 year old son, Max- "This book is so awesome! I love the Berenstain Bears! The pictures were so cool too!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review.***

I Ate a Cicada Today by Jeff Crossan

I Ate a Cicada Today by Jeff Crossan

Based on a song of outrageous rhymes, I Ate a Cicada Today is a humorous children's picture book illustrated in ink and watercolor with an accompanying CD.  Each two-page spread features a verse about a different animal or insect including such fanciful scenarios as "I peppered a leopard today" and "I hid a giant squid today."  The CD is a guitar/vocal performance of the song by author/illustrator Jeff Crossan, who interjects each verse with a short spoken aside to provide added comic punch to the zany lyrics.

We did  not get the CD with this book so were unable to review that half of this book. The story itself was silly. If you do not like silly books, you would not like this book. The rhymes are cute and funny. This was not the best book I have read but it was cute and fun!

The pictures are colorful and amazing! They are really eye catching and fun!

Review from my 7 year old son, Max, "This book is so funny! I like the squid the most!"

Q&A with Jeff Crossan

Did your kids help come up with any of the rhymes?
 My kids are both very creative. My daughter is an artist and my son is a songwriter. But they 
were just little kids when I started coming up with ideas for the song in the restaurant. I was sitting 
across from them in a booth and every now and then I’d blurt out “I peppered a leopard” or “I thrilled a 
gorilla” or “I hid a giant squid,” any animal rhyme I could think of. They were just sort of amused by 
what I doing as I recall. I don’t remember them trying to come up with ideas of their own. If they had,
my son’s ideas would probably have all been dinosaur rhymes and my daughter’s would have been 

about horses.

Where did you get the idea to turn “I Ate a Cicada Today” from a song into a children’s book?
The song sat around gathering dust for several years. I had no idea what to do with it. I was 
writing country songs and, let’s face it, there aren’t many country acts out there looking for songs with 
a zillion verses about animals and insects. Then I started drawing cartoons for the Presbyterian Voice 
and one evening while I was working on a cartoon the thought just popped into my head, “Hey, I could 
take that crazy cicada song and turn it into a picture book.” I had more than enough verses to choose 

from – 30 or 40, I think. I picked 16 of my favorites and drew the cicada and leopard first.

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

The Berenstain Bears God Shows the Way By Stan and Jan Berenstain, with Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears God Shows the Way By Stan and Jan Berenstain, with Mike Berenstain

Description from the publisher:

Now in a convenient 3 stories in one collection, young readers will learn from the Berenstain Bears just how important it is to serve and love one another. Written in level one of the I Can Read standards, this bind-up of stories from the Berenstain Bears Living Lights I Can Read series is sure to please young, emergent readers as well as parents and grandparents looking for good quality reading that will help practice early reading skills as well as teach lessons about serving and caring for others. Included in this collection are the following titles: Faith Gets Us Through, Have No Fear, God Is Near  and Piggy Bank Blessings

This book is amazing! First of all, three books in one is a great choice. My son was able to take this one book in the car to run errands and had three books to chose from. It takes up less space and is easy to carry. 

The three stories are  great! There are so many lessons in each one of these books. I was able to expand on these lessons as well to make them fit my son's life a little more. This book would be great for teachers to use in church schools and Sunday school. Any parent that wants to help their child understand God's love a little more would benefit well from this book!

My seven year old son was able to read this book by himself. Together we enjoyed the pictures and stories and lessons. Max told me what he thought the books meant and why the lessons were important so that tells me that he really understood and it was written well. 

Review from my seven year old son, Max- "This book is so awesome! I love the Berenstain Bears!!! I will read this book lots of times!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Ready To Wed by Cindi Madsen

Ready To Wed by Cindi Madsen

Description from the publisher:

Dakota Halifax loves to be in love. In fact, as one of Las Vegas’s premier wedding planners, she’s built a whole career around romance. Which is why her own wedding has to be nothing short of perfect. And then her fiancé jilts her. While she’s waiting in her wedding dress. On a cruise ship already out at sea.

Once back on dry land, Dakota tries to pour her heart into her business and weekly wedding advice column, Get Ready to Wed. But how can the heartbroken celebrate others’ true love? When she reconnects with her childhood best friend, surprisingly sexy and all-grown-up casino bouncer Brendan West, Dakota wonders if maybe she can fall back in love with being in love.

But then her ex reappears, begging for another chance and suddenly Dakota questions if she’ll ever understand love. Can someone once-burned and twice-shy ever find her way down the aisle again?

This book was fantastic! I have always wanted to be a wedding planner and would still love to so I was excited to get to read this book. The idea of a wedding planner getting jilted on her wedding day was exciting.....heartbreaking, but exciting to read about. I LOVE all of the characters, especially Brendan.

To me, the reason this book was so good was because the author was really able to make the reader feel the characters emotions. Dakota went through very real emotions. They were not sugar coated or fake. Amazing!

***This book was given to me in exchange  for an open and honest review***

A Hot Time In Texas by Ann Defee

A Hot Time In Texas by Ann Defee

Description from the publisher:

Etta Morrison had vowed never to get involved with another man in law enforcement, but she broke that vow when she fell for Texas Ranger Rafe Claiborne. Her reward? He left town without even a goodbye. But now Rafe's back—and he wants to pick up where they left off.

Two years after Rafe skipped out on her, Etta's over the moon with her new job as manager of the exclusive Sparkle Plenty costume jewelry store. In the world of synthetic diamonds, Sparkle Plenty is king—and this year, they're providing the crowns for the San Antonio Fiesta Coronation. Except the crowns have gone missing. Next thing you know, people start dropping dead and a couple of jerks shoot up her store.

When Rafe hears that Etta may be a target, he decides she needs a bodyguard. Him. In addition to keeping Etta safe in the middle of murders and a diamond-smuggling conspiracy, Rafe has to convince her to forgive him. Not an easy task, but Rangers are tough and Rafe is tenacious.

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about this book. It was VERY slow to start. I found it dragging and boring but a few chapters in, it got interesting and I could not put it down. I was intrigued and could not wait to see what was coming on the next page! Then I got to the end of the book and was very disappointed. I felt like the author was rushing the ending and ran out of space. There was no big drama. Rafe never faced any real fear. I expected the bad guys to come after him and they didn't. I expected Rafe to have to save Etta and he never had to.

I loved the characters. Rafe was rugged and tried to act like a tough guy, but you can see that he has a big heart. Etta has been hurt and tries hard to protect her heart but of course, Rafe wiggles his way in!

The middle was fantastic. If you can get through the beginning, I think you will really like this book. I would like to know what you thought about this book, so please let me know!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson

The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson

Description from the publisher:

"Jonathan and Rosie have been together so long they finish each other’s sentences—so when he (finally) proposes and asks her to move across the country with him, everyone is happily surprised.
 But when things suddenly unravel, Rosie sends Jonathan packing and moves back home with Soapie, the irascible, opinionated grandmother who raised her. Only now she has to figure out how to fire Soapie’s very unsuitable caregiver, a gardener named Tony who lets her drink martinis, smoke, and cheat at Scrabble.
It’s a temporary break, of course—until Rosie realizes she’s accidentally pregnant at 44, completely unequipped for motherhood, and worse, may be falling in love with the sentimental, troubled Tony, whose life is even more muddled than hers. It’s not until Rosie learns the truth about her mother’s tragic story that she wonders if sometimes you have to let go of your fears, trusting that the big-hearted, messy life that awaits you may just be the one you were meant to live."

This book was VERY slow to start. To be honest, I almost stopped reading it but I like to push through the slow parts and see how the book ends. For this book, it really did take a while to get going but once I got into it, it did get better. About half way through, I had a hard time putting it down. I did enjoy the characters and I loved how the relationship built up between Rosie and Tony.

This book was a good read on a rainy day but it is not something I would read again. But, as I always say, don't take my word for it, read this book for yourself and let me know what you thought about it!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Bring on the Heat by Katie Rose

Bring on the Heat by Katie Rose

Description from the publisher:
House-sitting for a rich and famous friend has its perks, and Darcy Hamel isn’t shy about enjoying them. Especially when it means scoring a ticket to an exclusive fashion show hosted by the New Jersey Sonics. An avid baseball fan, Darcy has always dreamed of meeting the team—especially the starting pitcher whose body is as hot as his fastball. But there’s a catch. The gala is by invitation only. To get behind the velvet rope, mild-mannered Darcy will have to pose as party girl Lydia Logan.
 
Schmoozing is one of the downsides of fame, but Chase Westbrook knows how to liven up even the dullest event. And nothing spices a night up more than a beautiful socialite with a naughty reputation. What Chase doesn’t expect is a hint of sweetness beneath her sultry façade. Flirtation turns to seduction and leaves him aching for more. Chase just doesn’t know who the real Lydia is: the spoiled tease crying foul over some missing diamonds or the alluring woman making a play for his heart.

What can I say about this book.......It is amazing! I LOVED it. There was romance, drama, anger, love, and I was always on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Chase was about to find out the truth! I did NOT want to put this book down.

The cover is definitely eye catching and the title stirs curiosity. I can really sympathize with Darcy. If I had the opportunity to spend the night with  a man I have been crushing on................ Yeah. You know what I was gonna say! So all in all, I thought this was an excellent read that I was really able to get into.

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Down Outback Roads by Alissa Callen

Down Outback Roads by Alissa Callen

Description from the publisher:

An enthralling rural love story. Sometimes you need to give yourself permission to fall in love.Kree Garrett's younger brother Seth is all the family she has left, so when he goes missing in the Australian outback, she doesn't think twice about leaving her American home to find him. When Seth is rescued Kree vows to find a way to thank the small town of Glenalla. It isn't long before she falls in love with the tight-knit rural community. But is it really the town she's falling for?Ewan Mackenzie has given up everything for his brother's family, but he can never give enough to assuage his guilt at what happened one dark night, years ago . . . Ewan knows he doesn't deserve a second chance at happiness, but when beautiful, open-hearted Kree stays to fight to save his home town, he finds it hard to keep his distance. Can Kree and Ewan leave their pasts behind for long enough to find a future together?

Kree went through so many emotions with the scare of losing her brother and  I could really feel every one of them. The author did an excellent job getting those emotions through to the reader. Ewan was not my favorite person at the beginning but I really liked him by the end. As I was reading this book, I forgot that I was reading, I felt like I was there with them  watching them go through the struggles that they each faced. All of us have skeletons in our closet, whether we admit it or not, and they were no different. As they shared their stories, they got closer.

I personally loved that Kree felt like she had to do something to thank the town for finding her brother. I also love that she fell in love with the town. I am actually a little jealous because I want to move there!!!

This was a great and fun read and was hard to put down. I recommend this book to you all!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Minnie & Moo Hooves of Fire by Denys Cazet

Minnie & Moo Hooves of Fire by Denys Cazet

Description from the publisher:
It's a perfect day for the First Annual Hoot, Holler, and Moo Talent Festival. The sun is shining in a warm autumn sky and the stage is set. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer are away on vacation, Minnie and Moo are dressed in their togas, Elvis has his bagpipe, the hyenas their jokes, the fox his magic tricks, the sheep a protest poem, and the cash box is stuffed with money from ticket sales. A perfect day. Wait a minute . . . Where is the cash box? Why are those coyotes on motorcycles? And who pushed those Porta Potties down the hill?

I thought this book was really cute and enjoyable. Max however, did not. It seemed to  take us a long time to read because he could not seem to get into it. He did like parts of it but overall, he was not thrilled.  

We did read this book at bedtime but it was too comical and not a relaxing, calm down type of book so I suggest you  read it earlier in the day. We both liked the pictures throughout the book and the cover is really cute.

I personally think the size of the book itself is what bothered Max. He just turned seven and can read very well but this is a rather thick book and he seemed scared of it. That is just my thoughts. 

Overall, I liked this book and really think it would be an excellent read for a classroom of children! They will laugh and laugh as you read it!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Bobbs and the Little Boy Meet Agnes by Diane Page

Bobbs and the Little Boy Meet Agnes by Diane Page

Have you ever had to move to a new city? Did your child have a hard time adjusting? What about having a new family move in next door, do the kids get together and become friends? In this book, Agnes moves in across the street from the little boy.  It is difficult because he does not know what girls like and she misses her old friends, but they work out the details and they learn how to become friends.

This book is sweet and I enjoyed watching them bond. I personally did not like the kiss at the end as my son gets in trouble at school if he kisses a girl (or boy) on the check, so we had to turn that into a lesson and talk about how much trouble they got into even though it did not say they did. If it did not have that last page, it would have been great. The lessons about friendship were wonderful and I can see this book helping kids that move or have new neighbors.

Review by my six year old son, Max- "This book was good but not as good as the first one (Bobbs and The Little Boy), that one was way better, but this one was good. I did not like it as much because Bobbs did not talk as much or seem to have much fun."

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Bobbs and the Little Boy by Diane Page

Bobbs and the Little Boy by Diane Page

The little boy went on a trip with his family and found a stuffed creature at a souvenir shop that looked lonely. The little boy named him Bobbs and took him home. As time passed, Bobbs started talking to the little boy at night and they became the best of friends. The little boy answered all of Bobbs' questions about fears that other children had, including a fear of clowns and dogs.

My son  has a stuffed dog that he has had since the day he was born. Over the years, his name has changed from Puppy to Ruff Ruff. This little dog is so worn but he is a member of this family. We all talk to him like he is alive. We give the stuffed dog hugs and kisses at bedtime and we take him on family vacations with us. As I read this book to my son, it was very touching. At one point in the book, Bobbs talked to the little boy and my son said, "That's just like Ruff Ruff!" He really seemed to enjoy this book.

The last page says "For Mothers of little boys everywhere" and this page made me cry. I can imagine my son getting married one day and  I can see Ruff Ruff still being in his life. He won't be as big in his life as he is now, but he will be on a shelf watching over Max, that I am sure about.

I thought the pictures were great, the cover is simple but fun. The story line was great. This book touched on several different fears that kids may have and left room for you as a parent or teacher to expand on them. I really appreciated that.

Review from my six year old son, Max- "This book was great! The little cat was cute and reminds me of my stuffed animal, Ruff Ruff!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Find My Way Home by Michele Summers

Find My Way Home by Michele Summers

Description from the publisher:

Interior decorator Bertie Anderson is almost ready to say goodbye to small-town life in Harmony, North Carolina. She's excited about living her dream life at her new job in Atlanta, the design capital of the South. She just has one last job to do...

Keith Morgan is ready to leave Life in the fast lane (a.k.a., Miami) for a quiet life where he can raise his ten-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, his new lifestyle is threatened the moment he lays eyes on the decorator his aunt hired to help him create his dream home-the curvaceous temptation that is Bertie Anderson. As Bertie begins to turn his house into a home, will he find his way into her heart before it's too late?

This book was excellent! I loved how each of them fought their attraction. Neither one of them knew what was going on between them. I found that refreshing as most books have one character madly in love with the other from the beginning. I enjoyed the banter between Bertie and Keith. And Aunt Franny is absolutely hilarious and is by far, my favorite character in this book! The way she goes about bringing these two people together is great!

I would love to read this book again and encourage you all to read it as well!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Curious Creatures Made by God by Mary Hassinger

Curious Creatures made by God by Mary Hassinger

Description from Goodreads:

Children will learn the wonders of God's creation through photos and facts about creation as well as added bonus material. All facts align with Common Core Standards for informational reading for young readers. 

Featuring favorite animals from all over the world, Curious Creatures makes reading and learning fun. This non-fiction collection includes four complete level 2 I Can Read!™ titles with photos and facts showing children the wonder of God's creation. All facts align with the Common Core Standards for informational reading, helping children grow in both reading and comprehension skills. Loved by parents, educators, and children alike, this

Made By God bind-up also features bonus fun facts about these amazing animals.

Titles include:
Rainforest Friends
Jungle Beasts
Polar Pals
Curious Creatures Down Under

This book is great! It is full of facts about lots and lots of amazing animals. There is a wide range of animals, some are common and some are not animals you see every day! We really enjoyed going through and learning about them all!

Review from my six year old son: "This book is so cool! There are so many really awesome animals! I like the panther the best though because my school is the panthers!"

***This book was given to me in exchange for an open and honest review***

Blackmailed by the Billionaire Brewer Rachel Lyndhurst

Blackmailed by the Billionaire Brewer Rachel Lyndhurst

Description from the publisher:

Piper Reilly is in trouble. She needs a cash infusion, and she’s just left a scorching hot man in Florida to get her life in Colorado back on track. Then her surfside one-night-stand turns out to be her new boss, billionaire Matt DeLeo, with an offer she can’t refuse – agree to be the face of his brewery’s newest concoction or lose her job. A few weeks modeling for the billionaire playboy and her money worries are over, and she can definitely resist Matt’s gorgeous smile and muscular, tattooed arms. It’s strictly business. Right?

Matt DeLeo is in trouble. He’s found the perfect woman to sell Passion Creek Brewery’s newest brew, but if he wants her on his posters, he’ll have to keep his hands to himself. His problem? All he wants to do is drink in Piper. It will take more than blackmail for Matt to get his way.

I loved this book. I thought it was entertaining and fun. Matt sounds HOT and well, lets just say that he would not have to bribe me very much to do anything he wanted! LOL! 

The characters are fun and realistic to me, the storyline is fun, the title is catchy and the cover stands out! This book held my attention all the way through and I could not stand to put it down! 

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Bet On it by Cheryl Adnams

Bet On it by Cheryl Adnams

"A sizzling rural romance set in the McLaren Vale, with a girl who's ready for a change and the three brothers who are determined to win her over.Gabrielle didn't believe men like this existed in real life - the three Muller brothers are ridiculously good-looking, and they're officially her new bosses. She's in need of a change of scenery, and the Muller's winery might just be the right place.Seth Muller isn't sure it's a good idea to bet on who can seduce Gabby first, but the new girl working at the winery is too gorgeous to give up to his brothers without a fight. But what happens if he starts to fall for her? Will he lose everything if she finds out what he's done?"

This book was an excellent book. I enjoyed the entire thing. The brothers all have a different personality and I loved watching them pursue her in their own ways. The description of the land makes me want to go there immediately! The author did a great job setting the scene and reeling me in!

I thought the book flowed nicely. The end was as I expected it to be, with no real surprises but I thought it wrapped up nicely. I can not wait to find out how the other brothers all find love!!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems

The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems

The pigeon is very dirty and really needs a bath, but of course he does not want to take one! He is scared and worried and well, quite honestly, he had a bath last month! Will he be able to get past his fear and take a bath?

Those of you who know me, know how much I absolutely adore the Pigeon series by Mo Willems and this one did not disappoint, in fact, I think it may be my new favorite!!! The pigeon is sneaky and hilarious as he stresses his fears of the bath tub. This is a  great book to read to a  class of children, a child who is scared of water or even just every day story time at home. I prefer to act it out a bit which of course makes my son laugh even harder and now he loves the pigeon books too! Yay!!!

Review from my six year old son, Max- "This book is so funny! I laughed and laughed. The pigeon had LOTS of excuses not to take a bath and they were so so so funny! I want to read it again and again!"

I can not wait to add this book to our bookshelf with the others! I hope there are many many more books coming for this series!!!!

Cop a Feel by Robyn Peterman,

Cop a Feel by  Robyn Peterman

Life undercover isn't exactly one big party--not when you're a DEA agent--but it sure beats a desk job. Except when you screw up big and someone has to go in and clean up after you. In that case, even paper-pushing sounds better than babysitting an erotic romance writer with as many enemies as there are euphemisms for "throbbing manhood."

I've been taking down drug dealers for so long, playing bodyguard to a woman named Shoshanna Lehump sounds like nothing more than a giant pain in my ass-- and being partnered with the gorgeous egotistical jerk I never should have slept with in the first place just makes a bad situation even harder--especially when he pursues me as diligently as we're supposed to be chasing the bad guys...What's a girl have to do to get a happy ending anyway?

This book is absolutely hilarious! The characters REALLY come together to make this book entertaining. The writer does an amazing job with the comedy throughout this entire book. I laughed so hard all the way through. I will never be able to see people raise their hands again without thinking about Shoshanna!

There is a great story line with great characters and fun situations. There are some serious conversations and situations of course but to me, I thought  the whole book was fantastic.

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert

A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert

Description from the publisher:

"Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four-year-old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she's learned a sacred truth -- appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows -- so when it starts to unravel, she'll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother's bridal wear line -- an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white."

This book was amazing. The story.....Wow. It is deep and there are parts that are hard to read as the characters struggle with some serious issues but it is amazing. There are multiple struggles that each character goes through together but they each see it very differently. For me, it was really neat to see how each one coped with these struggles.

There is a little romance in this book, but not a lot. There are a few curve balls thrown in there that I did not see coming.but they make the book even better. I like this book  because you can see each character at different places in their walk with God. You have a character that is strong in her faith, a character that went through a rough patch but came back to God, a character who is still struggling with God and a character that did not know God at all. To watch them all grow and develop was......well,  it was written very well.

This was a great book that I will definitely read again. Parts made me laugh and parts made me cry. I found answers to some of my questions and also feel more inspired now that I have read it. I like the title and feel that it fits the book well. The only thing that I would change is the cover. It is nice, don't get me wrong, but it is not very eye catching. If I saw this book in the store, I probably would not pick it up. In fact, the only reason it caught my attention is because I have read some of her other books and her name caught my eye.

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***