Favorite Photo of the Week

My daughter brought some little friends home. lol These are Cicada skins from after the nymph cicada has shed its skin to turn into an adult Cicada. 

She found them on one of the trees. You can see here that there were quite a few of them on the tree. 

They were all over the trunk of the tree.

This is how my daughter came back from walking the dog. She was wearing the skins like jewelry on her shirt. lol 

Review: Daily Goodie Box- September

The Daily Goodie Box has been around since about July of 2016. I signed up for an account right after I heard about them. They are 100% free, you don't even have to pay for shipping. And for a free box it's a nice sampler box of products.

What was in the box? 

Rickaroons - Mint Chocolate Organic Coconut Bars- This bar had a really nice mint flavor but hubby liked it more than I did. 

Que Bella - Illuminating Glitter Peel off Mask- The mask was refreshing and made my skin feel really soft after I used it. 

RawRev - Glo Crunchy Peanut Butter & Sea Salt- This was actually not bad. I like crunchy peanut butter but I didn't like the added sea salt. 

Kopi Luwak - Ground Coffee- Yes, this is *that* coffee. it's very strong coffee. My daughter liked it more than I did but I don't drink much coffee these days. 

KÖE - Organic Kombucha-  This was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. it tasted like a mango juice drink. It wasn't bad at all. 

Trilogía - Hand Cleanse Terpenes+™ Spray-  This might work well but it stinks. The scent is way too strong and smells bad. It made my hands feel like other kinds of antibacterial sprays made them feel so it probably works well but the small is off putting. 

Essential Oxygen - Organic Wintergreen Mouthwash- This taste so bad. Not sure what the taste was but it wasn't good. I think if it had more mint to it, it wouldn't have been so bad. But I couldn't use it. 

EyePromise - Screen Shield Teen-  These chewable eye vitamins are supposed to help teens if they feel eye strain from too much screen time. My daughter tried this and the last bottle I got and she said she really didn't see any different when taking it. 

All they ask you to do is try the products and leave reviews for the products you got in order to be eligible for more Free Goodie Boxes. As you guys already know, I'm a fan of all these types of boxes. I love all the different subscription boxes and it's really nice to be able to try new to me products for free. This is a great box to try for.

Oh and one more thing, if you visit their FB Page, they give away Goodie Boxes to people who interact with their posts. So if you've tried before and weren't able to get a Goodie Box, there's even more ways to get one now.

Daily Goodie Box. It's more than just Free Samples!

Have you signed up? Have you received one of these boxes?

I'm a fan of subscription boxes and love trying new products for free so this was a huge hit with me. New products+free box = Fabulous!

Disclosure: I was given and free box in exchange for a review but all opinions are my own.

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

Apartment Life #219

This is a new weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell  Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that go on in and around my apartment complex in the past 21 years that we've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 21 years here in a weekly blog post.

Last week early Sunday morning my daughter was sitting outside in the chair we have right outside our apartment door. It was around 1am and she said a guy walked up to the drug apartment a few doors down from us and started knocking on the door. When he got no answer, he kicked the door in. Within seconds she heard 2 gunshots and the guy came out and walked away. She didn't hear any screaming and within a few minutes people were coming and going from that apartment apparently to get their drugs so she didn't feel the need to call the police. I didn't hear about it until later that morning which is why it didn't get posted on last Sunday's post. 

There have been a lot of homeless people around my apartment complex for the last few weeks. They leave big piles of trash all over the sidewalks everyday. That grocery cart on the left side is filled with trash from them. That chain link fence in the middle is the only thing that separates my apartment complex from the sidewalk on the other side but there's a huge hole in the fence down by our trash can that people use to walk through to get from our complex to the sidewalk on the other side.

----

Friday night was insane. (And yes, the drug apartment that I talked about above is the same one I am talking about below Just on different days. And they live in apartment 7 and I'm in #3)

8:00 PM- We heard 2 gunshots that sounded very close. 

8:02 PM- Our daughter goes outside to see if anyone is screaming or to see if anyone is outside. She watches the people who live in #7 (The drug apartment) leave their apartment really fast and get in their car and leave. 

8:10 PM The police show up and are all over my courtyard and on the street. They stood around #7's apartment with their guns drawn for about 15 minutes. 

8:30 PM- A police car parks in the bike path next to my building, opens their doors, shines a light on #7's door and starts shouting on their loudspeaker for the occupants in #7 to come out with their hands up. This goes on for about 30 minutes. Then they get the K9 out and threaten to send in the K9. My daughter went on FB live and recorded some of it which you can watch here. 

9:00 PM- My daughter calls 911 to give them information about seeing the people in that apartment leave.  The police must have got other info that no one was in the apartment because they started leaving. 

9:15 PM- Three police officers knock on my door and ask to speak to my daughter. She tells them what she saw and I tell them that we all heard two gunshots. The police leave and say they'll be back if they have more questions. 

11:00 PM- The police knock on my door and a detective asks my daughter if she'll do a recorded interview of what she saw, so she goes out to the police car and does that. While she's there another officer comes over to talk with the officer who is interviewing her and says, "The victim is ready to go home." My daughter sees one of the druggies that is usually at the drug apartment but can't tell if he is hurt and they escort him away. 

I don't think anyone actually got shot because there was no crime tape outside the door and The CSI's never showed up to collect evidence. They never even went inside the apartment and the people who live there haven't been back since. I don't know if they will come back. I'll let you know next week if they did. 

So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell  Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.

Review: Spark by Michelle M. Pillow

 

Book Description

Mining ash on a remote planet where temperatures reach hellish degrees doesn't leave Kal (aka Spark) much room for dating. Lucky for this hard-working man, a new corporation Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides is ready to help him find the girl of his dreams.

Does it really matter that he lied on his application and really isn't looking for long term, but rather some fast action? Earth women better watch out. Things are about to heat up.

My Review

Spark and his cousins come to Earth for a vacation even though they are using the Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides to get here and that company thinks they are going to find brides but they aren't. They have been informed that Earthlings don't know about aliens from other planets so they need to do everything they can to blend in which isn't easy since they have a strange way of talking. Spark tries to entice a few women to come back to his hotel suite but the way he does it just scares most of them away until he meets Carrie. 

Carrie watches the way he interacts with others and thinks he's just really innocent and doesn't understand what he's doing. He's such a big, sexy guy but he's also really fun and sweet so how was Carrie going to stop from falling for him when he has such a great personality. 

Carrie is in Las Vegas as a bridesmaid in her cousins wedding. Because she's single she is paired with a groomsman to spend time with but Carrie doesn't like him. So when she meets Spark and spends time with him instead, it makes the bride a bit irritated. There's a bit of a mystery right as Carrie and Spark are getting to know one another and I wondered what was going on because it was a little strange but I liked how it ended. 

I had a fun time with this story and am looking forward to reading more. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a "Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received:

A free Kindle book from a Goodreads contest. 

Did you receive any freebies this week?

Review: Ice by Michelle M. Pillow

Book Description

She's hot. She's sexy. She's everything a lonely alien could want... except for the part where she captures him and puts him in a cage.

Alpha male alien Izotz (aka Ice Storm Chaos) isn't one for space exploration. He finds enough action fighting for survival on his frozen tundra of a home world. When the promises of Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides tempt his brothers into signing up for a trip to Earth, he's hard-pressed to say no to the fantasy. Not many remain on the planet of Sintaz, and this may be his only chance to find a mate to warm the freezing nights. What he hadn't planned on was the fact the woman of his dreams would want to capture him and put him in a cage.

When Elle took the mercenary job hunting UFOs, she thought it would be an easy paycheck from an eccentric, crazy man. Little did she know extraterrestrials were real and freaking sexy to boot. If she can ignore the blue skin, surely this hunky alien can overlook the fact she's the reason he's now her boss' science experiment. 

My Review

The three brothers live alone on an ice covered planet, so when they get the chance to come to Earth to find brides, they jump at the chance. But Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides aren't completely upfront about how not all Earth people know about aliens. The translator about the brides and people of Earth isn't exactly translated correctly which makes things a little funny and confusing for them once they get here. 

Once here though, a group of people kidnap Ice and want to keep him and do experiments on him but Elle finds him sexy and helps him escape before the evil doctor can do much to hurt him. She doesn't know right away that Ice can understand her and speak her language but once he trusts her enough to let her know it, they seems to get along really well. They are very attracted to one another and because of a miscommunication, he thinks she has chosen him as her boyfriend and then mate before she actually has. 

Once he escapes with Elle, he has to find his brothers and get back to their ship so they can get off Earth and go back to their planet but he doesn't want to leave Elle. I really liked how this book ended because I wasn't sure what Elle was going to do and I wasn't sure Elle would be happy on a cold ice planet. I really liked Ice and his brothers and hope to read their stories at some point as well. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Review: Forbidden Need by Lee Colgin

Book Description

As Rudy adapts to life in a new town, he lays eyes on a man whose very presence steals his heart. The man is bewitching. Bewitching…and grumpy.

Samuel has no interest in the coyote shifter who’s been following him around like a lovesick pup, even if he is adorable. Adorable…and persistent.

Born a vampire before the Great Wars, Samuel’s had plenty of time to make enemies. If he can’t discover and kill the one who’s been stalking him, it could be Rudy who pays the price. Samuel doesn’t do relationships, and he won’t bend the rules for Rudy, but that doesn’t mean he wants the coyote hurt. Stuck together as Samuel plots revenge, Rudy finally has his chance to win over his mate.

Can they harness the power of their fated bond, or will Samuel’s dark past overcome the future they’ve yet to claim?

My Review

This is the third book in the They Bite series and since I read the first two books and liked them, I figured I would read this one as well and I'm glad I did. 

In the last book Samuel really had me intrigued because he's a lethal vampire. He's called on when uncomfortable things need to be done. He's a loner but has a couple of long time friends that he's close with but even they don't know all of his secrets.

Rudy is new to town but soon spots Samuel in a bar he tries to ask him out but is flatly turned down. But that doesn't stop Rudy for long because he's persistent. But Samuel doesn't date and when we see into his past, it's all too obvious why he never gave dating a second chance. 

Rudy knows that Samuel is his mate but Samuel refuses to accept it or even acknowledge Rudy most of the time. But Rudy isn't about to give up that easy and goes about being in the same places that Samuel frequents. Rudy even gets some help from one of Samuel's friends. Samuel is a very closed off vampire and he has every right to be but when Rudy runs into some trouble, Samuel can't stop the alpha male in him from coming out and coming to his rescue. 

Just when these two are finding each other, a terrible vampire from Samuel's past finds him and puts both their lives in danger. Now they have to find a way to stay safe and stop the villain from winning. 

This was such a good story but I really liked the first two stories in this series as well so I'm not surprised. I will gladly keep reading this series since the books are so good. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Review: Don't Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross

Book Description

Notoriously bad at peopling, Isadora Savoie spends most of her time in the greenhouse or at the local animal shelter, using her Conduit powers of growth and healing. Content to remain in the background of the Savoie sister shenanigans, she’s reluctantly roped into the mystery of missing neighborhood girls. Now, she’s partnered with a flashy, flirty vampire to find them before it’s too late.

Devraj Kumar has seen and done it all. Three hundred years roaming the earth as a Stygorn—a legendary vampire warrior who operates in the shadows—has its perks. But ennui has set in. That is, until he has a run-in—literally—with an intriguing witch while on a new assignment in New Orleans. Fascinated by her resistance to his charms, Devraj can’t help but push her buttons in an effort to get to know the shy witch. Fortunately for him, she’s been recruited by the Lord of Vampires to assist Devraj on the case.

Between a Bollywood marathon, supernatural dating app, secret package, and sexy driving instruction, Isadora is in over her head. And Devraj? After just one taste, he’s playing for keeps.

My Review

Devraj is a special kind of vampire so he gets called in to help on cases involving vampires from time to time. He's in Isadora's town for one such case and because Isadora is a witch she is also pulled in to help. 

Isadora and her sisters are witches, each with their own gifts. Isadora is shy and doesn't date much. But she has a huge heart and is a really likable person. 

When Isadora is riding her bike back home and gets hit by a car, it's Devraj that hits her and feels really bad about it. He tries to help her since she injured her foot but she isn't having any of it until he calls someone she knows and he tells her that Devraj is a good guy and she can trust him to get her home safely. Not exactly the best first impression he could have made but is sure was an interesting one. 

Devraj is a Bollywood dancer/actor as well a special kind of vampire. He's sexy, gorgeous and wealthy. But Isadora also thinks he's full of himself and stuck up because of his fancy suits, expensive car and lavish lifestyle, while she would rather be planting flowers, herbs and tending to her garden. The fact she's immune to his vampire charm makes her even more desirable and interesting to Devraj since he doesn't usually have to work so hard to get a woman to like him. 

As these two are thrown together time and time again because of a case involving missing girls, they get to know each other more and they can't deny they are attracted to one another. When they finally do give into their attraction, these two light up the pages. I loved Devraj, he can be fun, loving, and tender but he can be a lethal monster when he has to be. I loved the romance but the missing girls storyline really had me on the edge of my seat as it unfolded. I loved the first book in this series and think that this second book was just as great. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Happy Raturday!

 

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

Apartment Life #218

 

This is a new weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell  Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that go on in and around my apartment complex in the past 21 years that we've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 21 years here in a weekly blog post.

This week an ambulance and fire truck showed up at the same time for someone across the street.

They got all gowned up and went inside one of the apartments across the street. They were there for about 30 minutes and then they left. It was pretty uneventful and no one was taken out in a stretcher so I am guessing it was no big deal. 

There's a guy that moved in with his mother across from my apartment and he's started selling a lot of marijuana. I know this because he's telling everyone he runs into that he's selling and to come to him if they need any. He asked Ken if he knew where he could get some white (cocaine) and Ken told him he didn't know. So now there's another drug dealer in my courtyard. Just great. 

So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell  Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.

Freebie Friday!

 

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a "Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received: 

2 samples of Snuggle fabric softener and scent beads. 

I cashed in some points on e-Rewards and got a $25 Target Gift Card. 

I won a Kindle e-book from Goodreads. 

I've always used Snuggle so I already know I like this. I haven't read the book yet but I'll post a review when I do.

Today I'm a guest reviewer at I Smell Sheep

 

Today I'm a guest reviewer at I Smell Sheep. I reviewed Dark Song by Christine. I'd love for you to let me know if this sounds good to you. 

Blurb

Two Carpathians find hope in the bond that ties their souls in this passionate novel in Christine Feehan’s #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Stolen from her home at a young age and tormented for centuries, Elisabeta Trigovise is scared to show herself to anyone. Even though she has been rescued and is now safe within the Carpathian compound, she has lived in fear for so long she has no idea how to survive without it. She wants to answer the siren call of her lifemate—but the very thought terrifies her.

Before he found Elisabeta, Ferro Arany was an ancient warrior without emotion. Now that his senses have come alive, he knows it will take more than kind words and soft touches to convince the fractured woman that they are partners, not master and prisoner. For now, he will give her his strength until she finds hers, allowing the steady rhythm of his heart to soothe Elisabeta's fragile soul.

But even as she learns to stand on her own, the vampire who kept her captive is desperate to claim her again, threatening the song Elisabeta and Ferro are writing together.

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

Apartment Life #217

 

This is a new weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell  Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that go on in and around my apartment complex in the past 21 years that we've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 21 years here in a weekly blog post.

This week was fairly quiet in my neighborhood but while I was outside with Falcor on one of his walks I spotted this used needle. I picked it up and put it in the trash so the kids around here wouldn't get it. My 7 year old grandson is at my apartment most of the week and I wouldn't want him to find something like this outside. 

Other than finding this needle that I suspect one of the many drug addicts around here left behind and hearing gunshots down the street late at night on Tuesday, it was a quiet week. 

So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell  Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.

Review: Ancient Enemy by Katie Reus

Book Description

She should be his mortal enemy.

Ancient dragon shifter Rhys awoke from his slumber hungry for revenge against the witch who killed his sister. When his hunt takes him to the rebuilding city of New Orleans, he finds a woman he can’t keep his eyes off—but she’s a witch. While Rhys wants to despise all of Dallas’s kind, even he can’t deny that she's beautiful, kind and…adorable. And her pet baby dragon only increases his fascination with the sexy woman. Protective instincts he never knew he had take over him as they hunt powerful monsters. He’s forced to confront everything he thought he knew about witches as his life is turned upside down.

But he wants her anyway.

Dallas Kinley is used to being hated because of what she is. Witches have always been the pariahs of the supernatural community. Until now, when the world needs rebuilding. Even though she wants to keep her distance from Rhys, vampires and humans are dying in New Orleans, so she vows to help him hunt down those responsible. But finding the enemy comes at a heavy price, because Dallas is hiding a terrible secret. As they race against the clock to find the murderers, she can only hope his need for revenge won’t rip them apart. Especially when he finds out what she’s been hiding from him.

My Review

Ever since The Fall when a bunch of evil dragon shifters tried to take over and ended up killing and destroying a lot of people and property, the supernatural territories had taken over and human governments weren't really a thing anymore. Humans knew about supernaturals and now the good guys were trying to make things better and make up for the destruction their people had caused and were taking out the dragons that had caused all the problems to begin with. 

Rhys had been asleep for a long time but when he woke, he wanted to get revenge on the witch that had killed his sister. But he comes across Dallas and can't help but feel a connection to her even though she's a witch and he should hate her. The fact that she has a pet baby dragon just intrigues him more. Willow the baby dragon is the cutest thing ever and I absolutely loved how she was a huge part of this story. 

The King asks Dallas to go to different places in the city and see if she can start food gardens with her magic. After the city was practically destroyed he doesn't want there to be a food shortage while he's trying to rebuild the city. The King also sends Rhys to be her bodyguard while she is scouting the different areas. But Rhys is there because he can feel that Catta the witch that killed his sister is near and he wants Dallas's help tracking her down. 

They get a big break when they come across a house that Dallas knows has something awful inside it hidden by witchcraft. She is hoping to rescue the kidnapped people but when she uses too much power to get in the house, Rhys protective instincts kick in when she passes out from exhaustion. I knew that these two would end up together when he went a little crazy seeing her so vulnerable. 

Dallas and Rhys were so sexy together and make such a great couple. She's a witch and he's a dragon shifter which makes for some really fun times together. But Dallas has a huge secret and I didn't know if it was going to blow up in her face once Rhys found out about it. I really loved the ending to this book, it made me smile. I'm loving this series so far so I'll definitely be reading the next book. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Review: Season of the Wolf by Maria Vale

Book Description

In a world of danger and uncertainty, the Alpha has enough to worry about without him...

For Alpha Evie Kitwanasdottir, things are never easy. The Great North Pack has just survived a deadly attack. Evie is determined to do whatever is necessary to keep her Pack safe, especially from the four Shifters who are their prisoners.

Constantine lost his parents and his humanity on the same devastating day. He has been a thoughtless killer ever since. When Constantine is moved to live under Evie's watchful eye, he discovers that taking directions and having a purpose are not the same thing.

Each moment spent together brings new revelations to Constantine, who begins to understand the loneliness of being Alpha. He finds strength and direction in helping Evie, but there is no room for a small love in the Pack, so Constantine must work harder than ever to prove to Evie he is capable of a love big enough for the Great North Pack itself.

My Review

Constantine and three other shifters find themselves under the watchful eye of Evie and her pack. Constantine especially doesn't know what to think about his situation right from the very beginning and there are some of the pack that really don't want them there. 

Evie is the pack alpha and she already had her hands full before Constantine and the other shifters showed up. But now she has a whole other set of problems because the more time she spends with Constantine, the more she likes him. 

This was not exactly what I was expecting because Evie and her pack are more animal than human. They think like animals and act like animals and she really doesn't understand Constantine even though he's a shifter. But I liked how different it was, how primal they were and how Evie acted around Constantine. At first she didn't even want others knowing that they were being intimate but with a good sense of smell, I guess it was hard to really keep that a secret. So when one male takes offense that their alpha is spending time with and might even think about having pups with this outsider, things go very wrong. It causes a lot of problems and I was liking how things were going but then it ended without a real ending...a cliffhanger and I really didn't care for that ending. I really wanted more. 

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Review: Enchant The Night by Amanda Ashley

Book Description

In the arms of a centuries-old vampire, a woman awakens to newfound passion—and magical powers of her own.

 

Hungarian vampires are born, not made—and can breed with mortal females. Being one of the oldest of his kind, Quill Falconer has honed his skills at hunting just the right kind of prey, which is why his latest victim confounds him. She shouldn’t remember his drinking her blood. And he shouldn’t still be craving more . . .

 

Callie Hathaway’s life is as normal as it can be after the death of the beloved grandmother who raised her. Until one night, feeling foggy and fatigued, she realizes that a strangely sensual encounter with a dark, handsome man didn’t occur only in her imagination.

 

As Callie and Quill’s unique connection draws them together, an ancient order of knights seeks Quill’s destruction. Being together puts Callie in mortal danger—until she uncovers a magical family legacy. Side by side they’ll fight for survival, and for each other, as the brotherhood of vampire hunters gather for one final showdown.

My Review

After Quill feed's from Callie and later remembers what happened even though he erased her memory of the event. Quill thinks he has to take drastic measures to make sure she doesn't remember him. Because humans aren't supposed to know about vampires. 

Callie shouldn't have been able to remember the vampire feeding from her after he erased her memory but she does and she doesn't realize that she's now in mortal danger because of it.

There are vampire hunter's called Knights after Quill and when they find him and almost kill him, he has no choice but to ask Callie for help so he can heal. Callie isn't sure if he's using some sort of vampire magic on her to make her feel things so intensely for him but he's not. They are great together, Quill might have thought to kill her but as soon as he gets to know her he knows he could never hurt her. They want to have some kind of life together but it's dangerous because of the Knights that are always after his kind of vampire. Because his kind can father children with human females, the Knights see him as an abomination and want to wipe them all out. 

Callie hadn't known she was a witch because her grandmother, Ava had never told her. Ava was also a witch and had raised Callie after her parents had died but Ava died some time ago and Callie found out all sorts of things about her grandmother when she started going through some of her belongings. When Callie started doing some of the spells and incantations that she found in her grandmother's things, she found it easier and easier to do more spells. Those spells did help her and Quill when the Knights came back around hunting for Quill. 

When they find themselves kidnapped and in real danger, a huge twist is thrown into the story which really changes everything. I loved the twist and how it helped Callie and Quill get themselves out of danger in the long run. This was such a good story. I've read this author's books in the past and I've always liked them and I still do. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure: I was given and ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Apartment Life #216

 

This is a new weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell  Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that go on in and around my apartment complex in the past 21 years that we've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 21 years here in a weekly blog post.

This week it was quiet but my hot water heater sprung a leak and had to be replaced. 

Thankfully the maintenance guys came out about an hour after I sent in my maintenance request. The wall in the back separates my kitchen from my bedroom. So when the hot water tank started leaking, a part of the carpet on the other side of the wall in my bedroom got wet. But I was able to get that dry pretty quickly. The maintenance people lifted my entire counter top up in order to replace the hot water heater.

But at least they came out and fixed it quickly because that could have lead to a real mess in the bedroom. In the last 3 months I've had my AC replaced, the bathroom sink unclogged and now the hot water heater break down. The maintenance guy said I need a new apartment. lol Hey, at least it was quiet in my neighborhood this week.

So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell  Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.

Review: The Blood King by Abigail Owen

Book Description

Ruthless dragon king Ladon Ormarr must keep his throne—and his people—safe from the cruel High King at all costs. With war on the horizon, he’ll need a miracle to protect his clan. Luckily, the fates have dropped the irresistible Skylar Amon right into his lap.

Or so he thought. Because the last thing this phoenix wants is him.

A phoenix mate is the ticket to securing his throne, but this fiery Amon sister detests Ladon, doesn’t stick to protocols, and regularly offends his warriors and advisers.

Skylar also has no intention of sticking around, nor does she believe in the whole destined-mates thing. But if it means taking out the High King who murdered her parents, she'll put up with the too-sexy-for-her-sanity Ladon...temporarily.

Their mating bond may make them want to tear off their clothes, but outside the bedroom...well, Ladon is positive the fates hate him. Just as he starts to win over the mercurial phoenix, everything goes to hell when the High King makes his final move. And Ladon will burn down the world to keep the mate he is unwilling to live without.

My Review

Skylar thinks she is going to rescue her sister from the dragons and her supposed mate but she finds out very quickly that her sister doesn't need rescuing. 

Ladon only wants to mate Skylar so that he has more power to take out the High King. But they have a lot of chemistry that neither of them were expecting. 

Ladon is the leader of the Blue Dragons and he needs a strong show of power in order to get some of the other clans to side with him against the High King who is looking for Skylar and her sisters because they are phoenix's. So when Skylar agree's to accept Ladon as her mate so they can take down the High King, she isn't even sure the mating will work but it does obviously and when the other clans see what she is and that Ladon now has a phoenix as a mate, they side with him to take down the High King. 

Only problem is the High King seems to have spies everywhere and he knows that Ladon and his friends now have 2 phoenix's as mates, it really makes him crazy. So much so that in order to get more power from his mate who is a powerful witch, they come up with a plan to take power from others and transfer to the High King. Now if they could get one of the Phoenix's to drain, he would get more power.  But things don't go as planned and the High King has to resort to drastic measures when things go really wrong with his plans. 

I love Skylar, she's sarcastic, quick witted and she really kept Ladon on his toes. I like that even when things get really dangerous for her, she just keeps looking for a solution. This had all the action, romance and great storyline that it really kept me reading on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for the next book in this series. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Freebie Friday!

 

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a "Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received: 

A postcard with wildflower seeds in it. You plant the card and get flowers. 

A sample of Degree dry spray deodorant. 

3 samples of Phazix gel. 

The Phazix gel makes it easier to swallow pills if you're having a problem. Ken was so I got the samples for him to try. 

I like the deodorant and will plant the wild flower card next Spring. 

Did you receive any freebies this week?

Apartment Life #215

 

This is a new weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell  Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that go on in and around my apartment complex in the past 21 years that we've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 21 years here in a weekly blog post.

This week I saw a police car near the sound wall and when I stepped outside I saw that white car behind it pull up and it was a guy wearing a vest with LVPD logo on the back and a police shield hanging from his neck on a chair. So I'm thinking he might have been a detective. Right directly across from the police car is the alley for the apartment complex across the street from me and there were at least 7 police cars over there for hours. I have no clue what happened. It wouldn't surprise me if it were drug related though because there's a lot of activity that goes on over there. People actually pull up in their cars, honk their horn and someone will run out and take money from them, run back in an apartment and run back out and give the person in the car something and then they drive off. All day long. 

-----

We heard a gunshot at 5:30am Thursday morning. There had been a party going on at 2am across the street when I took the dog for a walk so it was probably from them. I'm jut glad I wasn't outside when it happened.

----

Ken completed his last radiation treatment on Monday. They gave him a certificate and let him keep the plastic mask that fit over his head and kept his head still. When he went in to see his Oncologist on Thursday the doctor admitted him into the hospital because he's lost another 20lbs in the last month and he's not steady on his feet so she wanted to give him some supplements through the IV. He got out on Friday and met with his doctors and an in home hospice team. Ken has decided not to continue with anymore chemo or radiation because the cancer has spread to his pancreas and spine and there's nothing more they can do. So we met with the in home hospice nurse who came out and set everything up for us. It's not the news I was hoping for but we're going to be able to be there for him right here at home for as long as he has left. 

So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell  Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.

Freebie Friday!

 

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a "Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received: 

Degree dry spray for men. 

Garnier Sleek Shot sample. 

Oxi Clean detergent sample. 

Ken loves the dry deodorant sprays for using in his shoes. lol 

I love that Sleek Shot. I've used it before and you mix it with shampoo and it leaves your hair so silky and shiny. 

I don't usually use powdered clothes soap but they usually work well so we'll see. 

I also cashed out on a game and got a $2 Amazon gift card from Lucky Pusher. My daughter gave me her old cell phone and told me to download some games so we were playing the same one. We played Lucky Pusher and when you racked up enough points, you can cash out for a $2 gift card. It's not much but at least no you know they really will send out the gift card. lol 

Did you receive any freebies this week?

Review: Daily Goodie Box- August

 

The Daily Goodie Box has been around since about July of 2016. I signed up for an account right after I heard about them. They are 100% free, you don't even have to pay for shipping. And for a free box it's a nice sampler box of products.

What was in the box?

Coco Luxe - Hydration-  I love coconut water and I've had this before and it's so good. If you've ever cracked open a fresh coconut and drank the coconut water inside, then you know what this will taste like. This tastes like it just came out of a fresh coconut. 

Jada Spices - Vegan Chicken Salt-  I've used this spice blend on chicken, vegetables and on pork chops and I really like it. It might say chicken salt but it goes well with all kinds of meats and vegetables. 

Nature Nut - Shampoo- The first thing I noticed about this shampoo was the strong scent. The scent smells like a really strong men's cologne and when I used it on my hair, my hair smelled really strongly of that scent for hours. I think this would be great for men but it's not a scent that I like even though the shampoo does clean my hair really well. 

Wholeberry - Passion Fruit Snack Rounds- These were so good! I love passion fruit and dried passion fruit snacks have such a great taste to them. 

Rowdy Bar - Chocolate Coconut Cashew- My husband ate this because I don't like protein bars but he liked it and said it had a really good taste to it. 

We Are Rugged Beauty - Long Lasting Nail Polish- I received a color called french Beige and it's  very light pink. I like the color and it wears really nicely. I've had it on for 3 days and it hasn't even chipped yet. 

Rejuva Minerals - Sheer Tinted Moisturizer- I love a nice tinted moisturizer and this one has a slight tint to it. Which is nice to wear all by itself. The moisturizer is nice and blends into my skin well. 

NEATsheets - 4-Count Sample Pack- Now these are interesting. They're like large shirt sized napkins with adhesive tabs that you can stick to your shirt. That way if you're eating something messy, you can make sure to keep your shirt clean. 

All they ask you to do is try the products and leave reviews for the products you got in order to be eligible for more Free Goodie Boxes. As you guys already know, I'm a fan of all these types of boxes. I love all the different subscription boxes and it's really nice to be able to try new to me products for free. This is a great box to try for.

Oh and one more thing, if you visit their FB Page, they give away Goodie Boxes to people who interact with their posts. So if you've tried before and weren't able to get a Goodie Box, there's even more ways to get one now.

Daily Goodie Box. It's more than just Free Samples!

Have you signed up? Have you received one of these boxes?

I'm a fan of subscription boxes and love trying new products for free so this was a huge hit with me. New products+free box = Fabulous!

Disclosure: I was given and free box in exchange for a review but all opinions are my own.