Year: 2013

Book Spotlight/ Hopefully Ever After

Book Spotlight/ Hopefully Ever After

Posted on by Cindy

Title: Hopefully Ever After
Genre: Breast Cancer Memoir
Author: Linda Barrett
Publisher: Linda Barrett

Linda Barrett could be any one of us. She’s an ordinary woman living a wonderfully ordinary life – husband, kids, teaching, writing – totally unprepared for Murphy’s Law on steroids. In February 2001, everything goes wrong. She discovers her breast cancer exactly when she starts a brand new teaching job which is exactly the same time as the release of her very first published novel. Secrets must be kept to protect her fledging career as a writer. No secrets in the classroom however. Her adult students, preparing for the GED exam, out her in five minutes when they spot her wig!
Nine years later, Linda is fully recovered from her lumpectomy, chemo and radiation when breast cancer hits a second time. She is no longer a random one-in-eight woman who develops this disease. Blood tests show she’s a target of faulty genes, a carrier of the BRCA 1 gene mutation. Without drastic measures, she’d be susceptible to a third or fourth cancer hit. Murphy’s Law once again comes into play. This second time around coincides with a thousand mile relocation from Houston to Tampa. Putting a house on the market while handling a double mastectomy, implant prep, and six rounds of chemo is not for the faint of heart. Linda’s heart is not faint as she implores: “Do house hunters think we’re part of HGTV? Real homes aren’t perfect!”
At the heart of this memoir, however, is a love story. Cancer is merely the vehicle that exposes a mature marriage in full bloom. With her Knight-in-Shining-Tinfoil at her side, Linda and Michael Barrett meet the challenge of two enemies: cancer and fear. Their fight is hard won, but with cancer now in their rearview mirror, they are relaxed and laughing again. As Linda says, “Life is good. After all the turmoil, we’ve landed in a soft place. Friends and family are all around, and I expect to live out a natural lifespan however long that may be.”
Everyone deserves a Hopfully Ever After, and that’s what you’ll find here.
 
About the Author:
Linda Barrett is the author of 13 novels of contemporary romance. She’s earned many industry awards through Romance Writers of America, including the Holt Medallion, The Award of Excellence and the Write Touch Reader’s award. Family Interrupted is her first women’s fiction story. A graduate of Hunter College, Linda now lives in the Tampa area with her husband. They have three grown sons and the most adorable, intelligent, super-duper grandchildren ever!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Her latest book is Hopefully Ever After.
 
Visit her website at www.linda-barrett.com.
 
Connect & Socialize with Linda!
 
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Hopefully Ever After you can do so by CLICKING HERE
 
To see other stops on the tour be sure to CLICK HERE
copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Product Review/ Colors For Your Every Mood Campaign

Posted on by Cindy

If you know me, you know one of my other obessions next to books is make up. I love make up. I love seeing all the pretty colors but I honestly have to say that no matter how pretty the colors are I always stick to my basic nude colors. Am I the only one?

I am very lucky and I have never broken out from make up in all my years of wearing make up. Its just skin care items that break me out.

As a make up lover I love trying new brands from high end to low end but budget wise its mostly low end I purchase enless I have gift cards or redeem points.

So imagine my surprise when I was contacted by Mia Mariu to review their mineral based cosmetic line. The cosmetics are made with all natural healthy ingredients. You can only purchase their cosmetics online or through an independant consultant.

I was sent the Uniquely You Deluxe Touch Up Kit, 3 Hydrating Stick Gloss and three skin care samples along with a brush a Petite Detail/Accent Eye Shadow Brush TBP18.

Sorry in advance for this post being loaded down with pictures.

The first thing I noticed when I took everything out of the packaging was how nice the compact looked. I love the top of the palette and its got a magnetic closer which is really nice and would make it perfect for traveling with as its small. Isn’t the compatc really nice?
 

The palette which retails for $46 consists of a Magic Satin Mineral Powder, Mineral Blushing Blush and three Mineral Shadows in the shades Sexy, Flirty and Savvy.
Here are the swatches of the eye shadows. Sorry for the poor lightening but it was an over cast day I took them. The swatches are the far left is without primer and the swatches closest to the shadows are with primer. You can see the difference already.
 
I loved the shadows and thought there were really pretty and pigmented as you can see. I have yet to wear them all together but have been wearing them daily alone.

Now for the swatches of the Magic Satin Mineral Powder and Mineral Blushing Brush. As you can see the Magic Satin Mineral Powder is really sheer and its a great finishing powder. The Mineral Blushing Blush is very buildable in my opinion and during the day I would just use a little bit to give me a rosy glow and when we would do something in the evening I would retouch with a little more.
 
One of my absolute favorites is the Hydrating Stick Glosses. This retails for $15 and I think its a really good price. There is 12 colors in this line.
 
 
I was so surprised when I put these on. They were very hydrating on the lips. It didn’t dry out at all and the wear was a few hours after eating and drinking. I loved the consistency of them as they went on smoothly and nice. I didn’t find there to be any bleeding.

 The colors are Capricho, Mia and Beso. They smell really nice.  I wish I had swatches of them on my lips but I am currently fighting back a cold sore and well that just ain’t pretty to see. The above photo is with natural lighting.

 This photos was taken away from the window. The colors are very pretty and I wear them all the time. They have a creamy texture to them.

I love the packaging of the Hydrating Stick Glosses very simple which I love. Don’t you?
 
I also got three sample pouches of the RestauraCel-C Mircodermabrasion Refinisher Cream, the Thermal Activator and Proteccion Hydrating Moisturizer with SPF 30. I have to say I was a little nervous in trying the samples out because I have sensitive skin that breaks out at the drop of a hat. I was truly impressed with the items. I had no reaction to them at all and I think this is somthing that would interest me. I honestly felt like it was working with my skin and not against it.
 
The Refinisher Cream (2 ounces) and Thermal Activator (1.9  oz) are sold together for $55. I’m not sure how much the Proteccion Hydrating Moisturizer is because I couldn’t find in in the catalog.
 
I almost forgot but I also got the Petite Detail/Accent Eye Shadow Brush TBP18 and it sells for $18. It was a cute little brush that worked perfectly to add a little bit of an accent color to your eye. I used it for the lower lash line.
 
I have to say that I have been using these for the past month and I love it. The colors of the eye shadows are very pigmented and with trial and error I discovered that using a primer made the colors pop more and last longer. I could actually go the whole day (8 hours +) without a touch up. I love that you can get many looks from them which makes this a fantastic little palette.
 
The stick glosses have to be my favorite. I love the colors I picked out. They are very me colors.
 
 
So, you my lucky readers I have something special to tell you. Mia Mariu is letting me give away one the Colors For Your Every Mood set. So what I got to review you will get to win. How generous is that?
 
Please note that Mia Mariu will be sending you the prize. The prize is valued at $109 and its valid only to Canadian and US mailing addresses.
 
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Book Spotlight/ Echoes of Angels: Sins of Angels Book 1

Posted on by Cindy

More than three thousand years ago Angels saved humanity from destruction, but Earth was lost. The Angels spread humanity across the stars and ruled the universe for twenty-five hundred years. Then they vanished.

Angelolist Rachel Jordan has come to the hellish world of Gehenna in search of a lost relic said to hold all the knowledge of the angels. But other factions seek it for themselves, and religious zealots will stop at nothing to keep it safe.

cover-echoes-of-angels

Echoes of Angels
Sins of Angels Book One
By Matt Larkin

Genre:
SciFi Fantasy

Publication Date:
September 14, 2013

272 Pages

Echoes of Angels on Goodreads

PURCHASE LINK
Amazon – $3.99 on Kindle

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matt LarkinMatt was born and raised in Virginia, and graduated from the College of William and Mary there. His lifelong love of fantasy began with The Hobbit. This led him to start writing his own stories at a young age. His primary influences are mythology and history. He now lives in Florida with his wife.

AUTHOR LINKS
Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Book Spotlight/ Captivate

Posted on by Cindy

Ashlyn Doyle doesn’t trust the world.

Assistant to the famous romance author, Tamsin Archer, it falls to Ashlyn to find the perfect eye candy to grace the cover of Ender’s Betrayal, but when she bumps into Slade Collins on the streets of London, she gets far more than she bargained for.

Determined to make his mark in the world, Slade leaps at the opportunity to bring Ender James to life during a five city book tour. His sly smile and dashing British accent easily capture the attention of the fiery Tamsin Archer, and her assistant. The faster Slade moves into the spotlight, the more he begins to realize that fame isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

18485869

Captivate
By Amy Miles

Genre:
Contemporary Romance

Publisher:
Amy Miles Books

Release Date:
September 26,2013

Captivate on Goodreads

PURCHASE LINK
Amazon Only $3.99

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

5152709

Amy Miles is the author of Forbidden, Reckoning and Defiance Rising. When she’s not writing, Amy can be found traveling, cuddled up with a good book or beating her husband at Scrabble.

Amy is currently working to release five more books in 2013.

Redemption (Book III of the Arotas Trilogy)
Immortal Rose (Prequel to the Arotas Trilogy)
Relinquish (Book II of the Rising Trilogy)
Netherworld (Book I of the Hallowed Realms Trilogy)
And an NA contemporary romance that is still to be named

AUTHOR LINKS
Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Cover Reveal/ Romancing The Million $$$ Ghost

Posted on by Cindy

Today I am honored to be one of the last few stops on the Romancing The Million $$$ Ghost cover reveal tour.

About the Book:

Eccentric tobacco tycoon Rodger Hawthorne III can have anything his heart desires except his dead wife, Sarah. Feeling responsible for the car crash that killed her twenty years earlier, he offers one million dollars to anyone who can find her spirit and bring it to him within one week or the money is forfeited. Six spiritually-challenged—but highly intuitive—women find his ad over the Internet and accept his challenge only to embark on a journey they didn’t quite expect that covers astral traveling, past life regressions and spiritual encounters of the unworldly kind. While this book is lightly based on a true story of a real man who is offering one million dollars to anyone who can prove that spirits exist, this story is purely fictional. Or is it?

Coming October 2013!

About the Authors:

Heide AW Kaminski, Pam Ryan and Dorothy Thompson make up the writing team of the new paranormal romance, Romancing the Million $$$ Ghost. All three ladies have a passion for the paranormal and were part of an online spiritual group to discuss ghosties and bumps in the night when one of them discovered there was a man on the Internet looking for proof of the existence of ghosts and anyone who could prove they exist would win a million dollars. Unfortunately, no one has been able to accomplish this task and fortunately for the women, it gave them an exciting idea for a new book. Visit their official book blog at www.MillionDollarGhost.blogspot.com or join them at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RomancingTheMillionDollarGhost
copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Book Spotlight/ The Enchanted

Posted on by Cindy
 
About The Book:
 
Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected. Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either. When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all of their people.
 
Purchase your copy at AMAZON
 
 

About the Author
Elaine Cantrell was born and raised in South Carolina where she obtained a master’s degree in personnel services from Clemson University. She is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary society for women educators, Romance Writers of America, and EPIC authors. Her first novel, A New Leaf, was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest. When she’s not writing or teaching, she enjoys movies, quilting, reading, and collecting vintage Christmas ornaments.

Her latest book is the fantasy romance, The Enchanted.

Visit her website at www.elainecantrell.com.

Socialize with Elaine!
 
 
 
 

Book Excerpt:

The sound of a trumpet interrupted Alan. Meryn entered the room behind the trumpeters and called in a ringing voice, “His majesty, King Maccus, and his daughter, the Princess Morgane, wife of Prince Alan, heir to the throne of his father, King Bowdyn.”

Everyone at the table rose to their feet and bowed as Maccus and Morgane paused at the door. Alan could not stop staring at the princess. He had not expected her to be so beautiful. Her red‑gold hair cascaded across her shoulders in swirling waves he ached to touch. Even from this distance he could see that her eyes were the color of the sea on a cloudy, stormy day. Her white, beribboned gown made their unique color stand out. She had a willowy, lithe figure.

Every inch the king, Bowdyn crossed the room and took Princess Morgane’s hand. “Come. I will introduce you to your husband, Prince Alan.”

She did not limp, but she stepped very quickly as if she did not want her feet to touch the floor any longer than necessary. Still, she held her head up high as she made her way across the hall, her heavy, stiff skirts rustling on the stone floor.

ʺMy son, this is your wife, Princess Morgane. Morgane, this is your husband, Prince Alan.”

Bowdyn placed Morgane’s hand into Alan’s. Her fingers were icy cold. He bowed to her and kissed her hand. “It is my honor to meet you. Will you be seated beside me?”

Morgane seated herself beside him as he held out her chair. Her skin looked as smooth as satin and as creamy as the finest milk, but no one could miss the horrible red scar that marred her face. She turned her head and caught him staring. Her face flushed red, causing the scar to look that much worse. Turning away from him, she fastened her eyes on the wall in front of her.

Pump Up Your Book and Elaine Cantrell are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!

$100 Amazon Gift Card

Terms & Conditions:

  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $100 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins August 5 and ends September 28 2013.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, September 30, 2013.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

CLICK ON THIS TO SEE THE TOUR STOPS ON THE TOUR

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Bath and Body Works Fall Preview

Posted on by Cindy

 
One of my favorite season’s is autumn. The leaves are changing, apple picking, warm sweaters, the Starbucks drinks (Pumpkin Spice Latte, Mocha Salted Carmel) and the fall scents.
 
Which leads me right into this post. I was lucky enough to be able to snag a Fall 2013 Sneak Peek V.I.P tote bag. The bag became available in late July and I was super excited that I was able to get this. I missed out on it last year.
 
 
This is what was inside the tote bag. 
 
Hand Sanitizer in Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. A mouthwatering blend of fresh pumpkin, brown sugar and ground cinnamon. This retails for $5.50 (US) and its got 225ml. Its got a nice scent and its something I would use.
 
Shower Gel Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. A cozy blend of New England pumpkin, crisp apple and ginger kissed with spiced vanilla and a hint of rum. This retails for $11.00 (US) for 295ml. This was something I bought last year and I did like it.
 
Body Lotion Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. A cozy blend of New England pumpkin, crisp apple and ginger kissed with spiced vanilla and a hint of rum. This retails for $11.00 (US) for 236ml. I normally don’t buy alot of lotion just because I have so much so this is a new to me item. Its got a nice smell and goes into the skin really nice with no greasy feeling.
 
Anti-Bacterial deep cleansing hand soap in Creamy Pumpkin. A comforting blend of gingered pumpkin, honey blossom, whipped vanilla and brown sugar. This retails for $5.50 (US) for 236ml. I love the smell of this and I would actually consider buying it in a foam soap. When I think of fall smells this is one of the scents I think of.
 
Candle in the scent Leaves. A  rich blend of golden nectar, red apple and spiced berries. Retails for $10.00 (US) for 4 oz. I don’t think this would have been a candle I would have bought myself but after burning it this afternoon I actually grew to like the smell. Not sure if I would repurchase it since I love the pumpkin and apple candles in the fall.
 
Finally the last full size item that was in the bag was this sponge. It sales for $3.50. Its a nice sponge. fluffy and soft and you can never have too many sponges hanging around in the shower.
 
Included was two small sized items. The first one is Forever Red perfume in 7ml. A passionate blend of pomegranate & red osmanthus with a sexy surprise of vanilla rum. A full size is $22.00 (US) for 236ml. This is another scent that I was surprised I liked. I think this is the perfect fall scent.
 
The second sample size is the True Blue Mini Shea Cashmere hand cream. An addictive blend of sweet Tahitian vanilla, whipped shea and golden amber. I have never tried this line but the hand cream is really nice. I love the smell and texture. It blends into the skin really well with no greasy feeling. I got a sample of 28g. The full size is 70g for $12.50 (US). I would eventually repurchase this when I am currently out of my hand creams.
 
Over all I am impressed with my first VIP tote bag and I would consider buying it again. The only thing that I didn’t really like was that it had products that were available last year. I guess I was under the impression when I first heard about the bag that it would be new items.
 
Did you purchase this? What is your favorite thing about the fall? Are you a fan of Bath and Body Works?
 
 
copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.