Favorite Picture of the Week

Ken and I heard the ice cream truck outside so we looked out the window and this is what we saw. I thought it was funny and weird so I snapped a picture of it. That's a first. I haven't seen this one around before. At first I thought it was a police truck until I read it. It says, Las Vegas Ice Cream Patrol. 

Review: Tempted By the Vampire Guardian by Rachel S. William

Book Description

Will she risk everything, including love to find her family? Download this Steamy Vampire Romance to find out!!!

Mariska Wasi was young average college student. She had just finished up a challenging five years at California's top legal college. Next stop, back home to Egypt to help her parents law firm. They specialized in help people of a certain kind escape repression, people of the supernatural world that is.

When a vampire, whom she assumes was sent by the vicious and murderous Naqi family shows up at her school, Mariska must decide if she should leave school and return home or stay and fight. When her parents go missing, the decision is made for her about what to do. She will stop at nothing to find her parents and protect them. Even the charming prince Daemon can't stop her from finding the people she loves most in the world. 

His charm and the secrets he’s hiding intrigue her though. She wants to stay with him in his castle and be with him intimately, but her family will always come first. Will Mariska risk everything, including love to find her family or will she be too late to save any of them from the brutal Naqi Family

Please be aware that this short romance story. Shorter fiction is a fun and quick read.

My Review

I was looking for books on Amazon and saw this as a free one. So I took a chance since it sounded good. 

Prince Daemon helped people and people thought of him as a savior while the Naqi family were murderers and the baddest of the bad kind of family. The Naqi family had tried to over throw Prince Daemon several times but always failed. Mariska didn't know what Prince Daemon looked like so when a vampire showed up and tried to talk to her, she just thought he was sent there by the Naqi family to kill her. It's not until her parents tell her who he is that she realizes her mistake. 

Her parents have tried to help supernaturals which angers the Naqi family and puts them in danger. Prince Daemon offers to keep them all safe from the Naqi family but her parents go missing almost right away and then Mariska is kidnapped and then sent free to deliver a message to Prince Daemon. 

The keepers were a legendary group of undead that knew all the secrets of the world and there was also a guardian but they were almost a myth because not many people knew about them. I was enjoying this story and then it ended abruptly and another book popped up after I turned the pages. This was called, The Bad Boy Meeting and I figured what the hell, I'll read a little and see if I'll like it. I read about 30 pages and just couldn't get into it at all. 

I really don't like to start reading a book and end up having it end abruptly and then find another book when nothing about another book is in the description. The cover for this book made it seem like it would be a scary vampire type story but it wasn't scary or dark and needed more story before it ended. It was a bit of a let down since I was mostly enjoying the first story. I know there's a warning that this is a short story but the author could have at least made it a complete story. At least it was free and I didn't lose any money on this. 

I give the first story a 2 out of 5 stars. 

That second story was a DNF for me.

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of me. This was Flower*

"My new hammock is pink, just like me!"

Apartment Life #77

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 20 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 20 years here in a weekly blog post.

2 days ago at 7am I heard loud beeping. I look out the bedroom window and see this big tow truck outside backing up. 

I saw the police car across the street and this cop talking to the tow truck driver and looking inside the car in this picture. The car had been sitting there a few days and the front left tire was up on a cinder block. People had been going in and out of this car and taking things off it so we were pretty sure it was stolen. 

You can see the car here and how one tire is missing.

The police left and the tow truck driver got it on the truck and left. There sure seem to be a lot of stolen cars on my street lately. 

The people in #5 across from us had their hot water heater burst yesterday. I know this because she was outside on her phone trying to call the emergency number for the apartment manager and wasn't happy that she couldn't get a hold of anyone. She must have gotten a hold of someone because I saw the manager and the maintenance man going to her apartment with a wet/dry vac and towels. I have to say I'm impressed that she showed up on a Saturday. A few years when mine burst we waited all weekend and then 2 more days before we got a new hot water heater and all the cleanup was on us. The managers NEVER work on the weekends and this one did and even stayed to help clean up the water. 

And now for some bad news... the apartment manager has been telling everyone that our apartment complex is being sold and the new owners don't want her or the maintenance man to stay on. So once again we'll have a new apartment manager and maintenance man. No idea when this new move is taking place. 

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

Review: The Rookie by Abigail Owen

Book Description

To escape exile, Aidan Paytah has had to prove himself worthy. Every second of every damn day. He fought with everything he had to earn his precarious place on the Huracán team of dragon shifter enforcers. He can’t fail or afford distractions, no matter how temptingly sweet. Total loyalty to the clans and dedication to his team is the only way.

Sera Morrison lost her parents and her husband in short order, leaving her a single mother running her family winery alone. Nothing could ever have prepared her for the discovery that she’s a destined dragon mate. But once she finds out, there’s only one man she wants—the one who walks away.

However, the Alliance Council has its own agenda. They want to use her as a political pawn and force a mating that could ultimately kill her in order to save the High King. Aidan has no choice but to kidnap her, even if it means their close proximity reinforces their own mating bond. And mating with him could end up being a far worse fate for Sera….

My Review

Aidan is a dragon shifter and a firefighter. Who better to fight fires than a dragon shifter? He's on a team of the firefighter enforcers who are kind of like police for dragons in their territory.

The Mating Council helped women who were destined to be dragon mates. But not all dragons thought they were a good idea or were doing the right thing for the women. The Enforcers reported to the Alliance Council who governed the dragons. 

Sera is a single mother with a young son. She also ran a winery and Aidan was very much attracted to her. He thought about her all the time. Sera and Aidan had dreams about each other all the time but they didn't realize that they were having the same dreams, almost like they were in each others dreams. They're both battling their feelings for one another until Aidan realizes she's a dragon mate. 

But because she could possibly be the High King's mate, the Alliance tries to force a mating between Sera and the High King in order to save his life even though mating with the wrong dragon will kill her, literally. But someone surprising steps in and offers her his help if she wants it. 

I cannot believe it took so long for these two to see what was right in front of their faces. But Aidan thinks there's no way that Sera can be his mate because he's an orphan and there's no way he would be given such a gift above some of these other dragons. 

I really loved this book so much. The dragon shifters are really great and I really loved getting to know Aidan and Sera. These two really were made for each other even though it took them way too long to figure it out. There are a couple of outstanding twists towards the end of the book that made me tear up and also made me smile. I've now read 2 books in this series so far and I plan on reading more for sure because I'm loving these books so damn much. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book 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 free bag of dog food from She Speaks.
I also won a book and was sent an ARC (Advanced reader copy) of another.
A sample of chewable vitamins.

Falcor is a little picky and he has a sensitive stomach so we never know if he'll like or be able to eat the free dog food I get until he tries it. He liked this and it didn't make him sick so win win for both of us.

Did you receive any freebies this week?

Review: Indecent Werewolf Exposure by Eve Langlais

Book Description

It’s TGIF, which means in a few hours I’ll be tossing back a few martinis with my best friend, Brenda. First, though, I need to deal with my crazy new client, a werewolf who thinks it’s okay to pee on his neighbor’s flowers because she’s a witch. What a shame he’s obviously got a few screws loose because bad boy Pete is seriously HOT.

His insanity must be contagious because I did the craziest thing later that night. I let my nemesis in the courtroom, assistant DA Anthony Vanderson, seduce me. In my defense, he’s got mesmerizing blue eyes–and a seriously sexy bod. Still, a woman should have some standards.

With my sexual itch scratched, I should be able to go back to my awesome life as a single gal.

Nope.

My bad boy werewolf is determined to chase me, but he’s got competition because Anthony is also determined to make me his. What’s a poor girl to do? According to my best friend, both of them. But I’m not ready to settle down in a threesome even if the tax breaks are awesome. Just like I don’t want to get involved in the investigation surrounding the gory murder of some supposed witches.

I guess a girl can’t always get what she wants–but boy, do my two suitors know how to give me what I need.

Paranormal Erotic and Romantic Comedy

Warning: This story has received a new look and title. Formerly known as Two's a Couple, Three's the Law. This story contains adult subject matter, menage situations and language that is not suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised.

My Review

I love this author because her writing style is great. I love how I'm pulled in from page 1 and I'm kept entertained throughout her books. Most of her books make me laugh and this was no different. These characters are funny and the fact that a werewolf finds himself in need of legal help because he urinates on his neighbors flowers just made me laugh. That completely sounded like something a werewolf would do. So that's where Pete (the werewolf) runs into Chloe but once the legal advice is given that's not the end of these two because Pete likes Chloe and even asks her out but is turned down.

Anthony is the assistant DA and runs into Chloe at a bar. They find themselves attracted to one another and end up at her place. When she wakes up alone, she figures that's the end of it but boy is she wrong. Soon Anthony and Pete are both pursuing her and she's dating both of them. How did she get so lucky? Both of these guys are tall, muscular and better than average in bed (wolf whistles). 

Anthony has a secret but I kinda saw it coming. There are clues given about his secret so it's not a big twist but did make for a fun storyline. Pete finds himself in legal trouble again so it's a good thing she is so smart and can help him with this mess he finds himself in. But this also adds a bad guy to the mix that made the second half of this book really interesting. The paranormals have come out of hiding in this world and humans know about most of them but there are still some that prefer to stay a myth or hidden. I really liked this aspect of the book and thought it had a good ending. 

This was a fun book and had me smiling several times. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Favorite Picture of the Week

My grandson's aunt sent this picture to my daughter for me. It's a huge lizard statue in the middle of McCarran airport. I thought it was a strange place to put such a big statue but it's kinda cool too. 

Review: Tamsin's Conquest by Mary Auclair

Book Description

In a far future, where Earth is nothing but a vast desert and what’s left of humanity lives in a world where the strong prey on the weak, headstrong Tamsin is in deep trouble for stealing water rations. Hunted down, she has no choice but to seek refuge inside the Agency, Earth’s interspecies marital organization. 

What the Agency doesn’t know is Tamsin has no intention of going through with the match-making—she’ll flee first chance she gets. 

Tamsin’s plans are foiled when she’s brought to planet Havlan, home of the Tellurian warriors, where she’s Claimed by a tall, golden warrior determined to make her his lifelong mate. Tamsin fights hard first to escape, then harder still to resist the powerful attraction she feels to the alien King Jareth. And yet the hardest battle of all is not against the ruthless traitors set on seizing Jareth’s kingdom, but against losing herself to an all-consuming love.

Reader Advisory: This story has graphic sexual language and scenes—no closed bedroom doors (or other rooms) here, as well as some mild spanking. 

My Review

Tamsin was on the run from a family that she stole from. So she did the only thing that occurred to her, she went to the agency that set up human females with alien males looking for females to mate with and produce children so their race don't die out. Tamsin thinks this might be her way out of trouble but before she can really make up her mind the choice is taken out of her hands because once you sign up, you aren't given a choice of backing out. 

She finds herself face to face with a huge, intimidating alien warrior who claims her as his. She tried to fight him even though she finds herself attracted to him. After a while she can see that he isn't going to treat her badly and they start to get to know one another and get along really well. There's a lot of sex in this book but since he's hoping to start producing children right away, I thought it went well with the story. 

There's always something in a story like this where things are going well, to make things more dramatic and trying to stop a war between the different alien races and stop someone from killing you would be that drama in this book. Havlan claimed Tamsin who was supposed to be someone else's woman, so this other guy is pretty irritated but is he the one sending people to attack them? Guess you'll have to read the book to find out.

This was a fun, quick read and I enjoyed it. 

I give this 4 out of 5 stars. 

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*