It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join them!

I finished up both books last week that I mentioned so I had to find something new so I picked up:
I have been hearing a lot about this book and I have never read anything by Colleen Hoover before so I thought I would pick this up and well needless to say I zip through this book in a day or two so I had to look for another read.
My next read is SEAL Wold in too Deep and I am pretty sure I am going to zip through this one this week but I will hold off and picking another book because I really want to enjoy this one.

Have a good Monday. What are you reading this week?

If We Were Having Tea…. #15

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If we were having tea… I would I wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day and offer you some yummy chocolates.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I am actually writing this late Saturday night because we have to get up really early tomorrow morning to be at the arena  because we finally have a full ice time slot so we plan on doing a parents vs kids game.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that right after the fun game we are going to go to MacDonalds for breakfast with the kids.

If we were having tea... I would ask you if you have any plans for today? We plan on going out for lunch to celebrate instead of tonight when I am sure it will be a little busier.

 

If we were having tea… I would tell you that Michael got his report card and he made academic honor roll again. Super proud of him.

 

If we were having tea… I would tell you that its going to be a busy week again this week. We have a Faith First meeting as Michael will be doing his confirmation this May and we have two hockey games this week. Regular season is almost over.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that it was great seeing you again this week and that I can’t wait until next week. I hope you have a good week.

Fortune Cookie Soap The Soap Box Spring 2016 Edition

 

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All subscription boxes will include 8 exclusive FCS products in adorable mini-sizes. You will also receive a $10 FCS gift code with each Soap Box, that can be redeemed online or in our retail store. Price includes shipping. 

Cost for the Soap Box is:

  • United States $19.99 and its billed every 3 months
  • Canada $28.00 and its billed every 3 months
  • International $34.00 and its billed every 3 months

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I probably begin each and every Fortune Cookie Soap unboxing post by saying that this is my favorite quarterly subscription box and honestly it is my absolute favorite subscription box out there. Please note that I am not sponsored by them and these boxes are purchased by me so this is my honest and sincere opinion.

I know the price is a little high (especially with the exchange rate) but its a quarterly box and for me this is the only subscription box I have and its one box I know I use all the products from.

The theme this month is Let it Grow. This box smelled so good when I opened it as it always does each time I get the box. This month there was a little something extra, there was so confetti like flowers that we can sprinkle on the ground and it will grow. Unfortunately I can’t do that right now because we have snow on the ground but I will make sure to do it this spring.

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This box came at the perfect time because its currently -7 but feels like -13 and all weekend its suppose to be below -25 so its cold and it feels like spring is so far away but with this box I can pretend spring is here.

The first item I always pull from the box is:

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This is Guardian of the Forest Fortune Cookie Soap. This just smells like spring to me. This smells like spring flowers with some lemon in it. Perfect for this cold winter weekend. The picture doesn’t do it justice when you look at it for color. Its sort of a yellow greenish color.

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Next up is the This Thing? OCD Hand Sanitizer. The OCD Hand Sanitizers are really the only hand sanitizer I carry with me because I love the scents as they aren’t strong and over powering. It has scents of orange, vanilla, a bit of a floral scent and citrus lemon. You would think it was strong and wouldn’t work well together but it does.

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Another item I love in the box is the Disco Tree Whipped Cream. The whipped creams are light and moisturizing and they smell so good. They aren’t greasy on the hands and it blends in really nice. This is blended with fresh picked berries, lily of the valley and sandalwood. I personally think that FCS makes the best whipped cream lotions.

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This is something new I think as I don’t recall ever trying this type of product before. Its a Pedi Bomb and its called Unless.  As you can see it broke a little in transit but its all good and it works just the same. With spring just around the corner its time to prep your feet for it. All you have to do is drop this in a foot bath and soak your feet. This smells so good and I was trying to figure out the scents and I couldn’t. If I could bottle spring up this would be the scent I would use. The card says its fresh spring water with a hint of algae flowing through hyacinths and water lilies, grounded by dirt and oakmoss, earthy woods & resins.

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This is the Oh Hair Shampoo bar and I have to say I have never used a shampoo bar before. I know I have a few from previous boxes that I never used and I think I need to try it because I have been hearing a lot of things about the bars. When I opened the packaging to smell I was hit with a scent I recall but can’t quite place it. Its got fresh peach nectar, shaved grapefruit garnished with a sprig of thyme.

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Something I have discovered this winter and I try to use more often is cuticle oil and this time FCS sent One C. I am excited to try this one out. This is another item that is perfect this time of the year with dry cuticles. I am really impressed with this and how my cuticles look after using it.  I like the scent of it. They describe it as warms woods swirled with patchouli and topped with a dollop of creamy vanilla.

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When i opened up the box and spotted this I had no idea what it was. Its Paradise Found. Its a petal perfume. I love it. Its a perfect light every day scent that isn’t strong and its perfect to drop in your purse to have on hand when you need to refresh up. Its got freesia, rose petals, fresh mangos & strawberries and its darkened by tonka bean and amber.

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Finally the last item is the In-Organic shower steamers. I love the shower steamers. Its like having a spa in your own house. These never disappoint. I have already used it and its got the scent of fresh squeezed lemons with a parsley scent.

This was another great box that I really loved. This is a box and subscription that I always use. Another great thing about the box is with each box you get a $10 gift card that you can use toward your next purchase online.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the above items the big launch is February 19th at 6pm PST.

Review/ The Sweet Spot

The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich
Published by William Morrow on July 8th 2014
Pages: 225

A sizzling story of everyone’s favorite couple from amazing Stephanie Evanovich’s New York Times bestseller Big Girl Panties: hunky professional baseball player Chase Walker and his sassy wife Amanda.

When pro baseball player Chase Walker first meets Amanda at her restaurant, it’s love at first sight. While Amanda can’t help noticing the superstar with the Greek-god-build, he doesn’t have a chance of getting to first—or any other—base with her. A successful entrepreneur who’s built her business from scratch, Amanda doesn’t need a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet. And a curvy girl who likes to cook and eat isn’t interested in being around the catty, stick-thin herd of females chasing Chase and his teammates.

But Chase isn’t about to strike out. A man who isn’t interested in playing the field, he’s a monogamist who wants an independent woman like Amanda. His hopes rally when she discovers that squeaky-clean Chase has a few sexy and very secret pre-game rituals that turn the smart, headstrong businesswoman on—and into his number one fan.Then a tabloid discovers the truth and turns their spanking good fun into a late- night punchline. Is Amanda ready to let loose and swing for the fences? Or will the pressure of Chase’s stardom force them to call it quits?

Back in May of 2013,  I got to meet Stephanie Evanovich at a BEA event I went to and she was one of the sweetest funniest authors. She was promoting her debut novel Big Girl Panties and I read it and loved it so I was excited when she released her second book The Sweet Spot.

I should mention quickly that you don’t have to read the books in order. Chase & Amanda were briefly mentioned in the previous book. So it was nice to see her bring Chase & Amanda’s story out because I really liked them and they seemed like the it couple. We get to know more about how Chase & Amanda came to be and everything they have struggled with. Lets just say its a roller coaster ride.

The Sweet Spot is Chase & Amanda’s story before they were married. So this is the prequel to Big Girl Panties.

Amanda is a successful restaurant owner who has built her business from the bottom up on her own. She has no interest in finding someone to be with and life is just the way she wants it. Enter Chase a famous, handsome baseball player who has become smitten with Amanda. There is something special and intriguing about her that has captivated his attention.

From their first meeting you can see the sparks flying between the, but Amanda has no interest in Chase and she knows all about him and what he wants and she wants no part of that. Amanda is a private person and she wants nothing to do with the spotlight and being with Chase will thrust her there.

Amanda is the kind of girl that Chase wants and needs in his life. He stops at nothing to get her attention and informs her that he will continue to do so even if that means daily visits to her restaurant. Finally Amanda gives in and goes out with him.

For Amanda she keeps waiting for the other shoe to fall. This is too good to be true and she knows something is bound to happen. Can Chase be honest and true or is he hiding something?

At first I thought okay he is a baseball player and Amanda turning him down all the time fueled him to pursue her even more. She was the one thing he wanted that he couldn’t  get. I thought he was too good to be true as well.

Then Amanda discovers that Mr all American clean cut baseball player has kinky side to him. If you read Big Girl Panties you will recall this little tim bit of information about him. Chase has managed to keep this secret from everyone until an over zealous security guard has other plans.

When their realationship is thrust into the spotlight will Amanda be able to handle it or will it be too much for her to handle?

I really enjoy reading Stephanie’s book because they grab you in right from the get go. Her next book The Total Package is coming out in March and I am super excited and I can’t wait to read it. Its not part of a series, its a stand alone.

Meme/Waiting on Wednesday #44

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“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine and its spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly waiting for. I plan on including upcoming releases and books that are already released.

This week I am featuring:

Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi (April 26,2016)

Cursed with a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, sixteen-year-old Maya has only earned the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her world is upheaved when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. But when her wedding takes a fatal turn, Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Yet neither roles are what she expected. As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds friendship and warmth.

But Akaran has its own secrets – thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Beneath Akaran’s magic, Maya begins to suspect her life is in danger. When she ignores Amar’s plea for patience, her discoveries put more than new love at risk – it threatens the balance of all realms, human and Otherworldly.

Now, Maya must confront a secret that spans reincarnated lives and fight her way through the dangerous underbelly of the Otherworld if she wants to protect the people she loves.

THE STAR TOUCHED QUEEN is a lush, beautifully written and vividly imagined fantasy inspired by Indian mythology.

Book Spotlight/ The Look Book

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As a book lover and blogger I am always happy when I see publishers putting out the season’s upcoming titles in a sampler form. What a perfect way to discover a new book or perhaps books this spring.

Today I am excited to share with you #TheLookBook that Simon & Schuster Canada is giving you the chance to read. This is a few of the Spring 2016 titles that are releasing.

Complete with new beginnings and the promise of satisfying endings, The Look Book sampler offers the best in fiction from across the Simon & Schuster Canada Spring 2016 list. This array of debut authors and perennial favourites will allow you to step back in time with our historical fiction, time travel with our fantasy writers, fall in love with our inspirational romance, marvel at our literary stylists, and be enthralled by our dark thrillers.

With chapter excerpts from the following Spring 2016 new releases:

Dark Territory, by Susan Philpott
He Will Be My Ruin, by K.A. Tucker
Owl and the City of Angels, by Kristi Charish
Black Apple, by Joan Crate
Still Mine, by Amy Stuart
Glory Over Everything, by Kathleen Grissom
The Rivals of Versailles, by Sally Christie
Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety, by Ann Y.K. Choi
Nightfall, by Richard B. Wright
Mannheim Rex, by Rob Pobi
I’m Thinking of Ending Things, by Iain Reid
Umbrella Man, by Peggy Blair

You can download your copy by clicking one of these retailers links:
AMAZON
KOBO
iBooks
GOOGLE PLAY

I think this spring is going to be an amazing spring with all these fantastic titles to read.

Do any of these titles sound good to you?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join them!

I hope everyone had a good weekend and that you managed to get some reading done.

So last week you might recall that I mentioned that I was going to start reading this book:
I did start to read it and I admit I was struggling with the book. I pushed myself to read my 100 page limit and I just couldn’t do it any longer. This has been the first time I have ever done this and given up on a book.

Has this ever happened to you? What is your page limit? Should I have toughed it out?

With having to put that book down I decided to go through my book case and pick one of my own books to read so I grabbed:

I enjoy reading Stephanie’s books and this was a super fast read for me.

With finishing this almost mid week I had to pick up another book so I dipped into my BEA pile so the first one on the shelf was Those Girls so I am currently reading this and really enjoying it.
How was your reading week?