Review: Walmart Beauty Box

The Walmart Beauty box is a subscription box that comes out 4 times a year. You sign up for it and it comes automatically every 3 months. These boxes are free and you just pay $5 for shipping.

What was in this box?

Hello charcoal toothbrush. 

Hello toothpaste. 

Calm drink mix. 

Head and Shoulders conditioner. 

NYX lip oil. 

Biore facial cleanser. 

I've received the Calm drink powder before and I didn't like it plus it did nothing, so in the trash it went. I can always use a new toothbrush and this one has activated charcoal built right in the bristles which is interesting. It had no taste so why not. The toothpaste is one that I've tried before and liked so that's a plus. 

My favorite things though are the lip oil which is more like a slightly tinted lip gloss, the conditioner which makes my hair really soft and the Biore cleanser which works great and smells really good. These boxes have either been a hit or miss for me most times but this one was a good one. They said they won't be sending a Summer box because they are re-doing the boxes to make them better and will have it out after that. But for $5 this was a good box. 

Did you receive this box?

Review: Alpha Turned by KB Alan

Book Description

Not all men are bad…

Strong, independent, and happy on her own, Hillary has grown from the naïve person she was four years ago after a brutal rape turned her into a werewolf. The normal life she’s made for herself is only upset once a month when the moon calls to her and she has an uncontrollable urge to turn furry and chase small creatures. And she doesn’t need a man for that. Until she finally meets another werewolf, this one a gorgeous, sexy guy who is determined to change her mind about one furry man in particular–him.

No, some men are very, very good…

The minute Zach scents Hillary he knows she’s the mate he’s been searching for. Though both the wolf and the man are itching to claim her, first he has to convince her that he’s one of the good guys, and that there are certain benefits to being an alpha werewolf. And there’s no better way of making Hillary see that, than giving her himself—body, mind, and soul.

My Review

Hillary had thought her boyfriend was just taking her home to meet his family but once there things took a violent turn. She was assaulted by not just her boyfriend but some of his family members as well. She was bitten and turned into a werewolf against her will and when she didn't shift, she was left outside to die. But she did shift after everyone had left and now years later she's making furniture in a small town and holding her own. 

Aaron Jenner orders a custom table from Hillary for his brother and when he comes to her shop to take a look at it, she can smell right away that he's a werewolf and is instantly angry and fearful. He can smell what she is as well but is confused by her reaction. They agree to meet somewhere else to talk but when they meet they are both ready to change forms and run...or fight if necessary. It doesn't take long for Aaron to figure out what happened to her and figure out why she's so wary and isn't part of a pack. 

Aaron goes back to his alpha who is also his brother and tells him about her. But as soon as Zach smells her scent on his brother, he knows that Hillary is his mate and that changes the entire situation. Aaron and his mate are so nice and try to answer all of her questions and make her feel safe with them before meeting other pack members. Zach is sweet, gentle and takes things slow with her even though Hillary can feel the pull of the mate bond right away. It takes only a couple of days of getting to know Zach to know that he's nothing like the monster that turned her. Because he's her mate and she feels it and feels somewhat safe with him they fall into bed pretty quickly. Meeting the pack and starting a life as an alpha packmate is all new territory for Hillary but she does great. 

Then they have to contact the werewolves in charge and let them know what happened to Hillary and how she had been turned. Those in charge make sure to find out what's going on in that pack and make sure the member's of that pack are brought to justice. 

This book was so good. Yes, right from the beginning there's a terrible assault and if that bothers you, then don't read this but the book is really about Hillary and Zach finding each other and making a life together and dealing with the other pack. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

Apartment Life #211

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.

More police cars on my street but it looked like they were just there talking to each other. I didn't see them get out and go anywhere. They were there for about 20 minutes and then they left. The police seem to like to stop in this area to sit and talk. Other than this, it was quiet in my neighborhood. 

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Life Update: 

Ken went to the Radiologists office and got fitted for the head mask and they did the CT mapping of his brain so they can start radiation treatments. They told us that it would be everyday for 10 days and then he'd be done with the Radiation on his brain. In a few weeks he does another round of chemo and he'll probably have to stay in the hospital for a few days for that again. On Monday he going to the hospital to have surgery on his right eye. He's blind in that eye because he hit his head when he fell down and blood coagulated in his eye blocking his vision, but the eye doctor is confident that he can clean that out and restore his vision. 

*This is Ken with the mesh mask over his face getting the CT mapping of his brain for radiation.*

I just want to thank all the people who donated to our fundraiser for funds to get him back and forth to all these doctor appointments. We don't have a car so he's taking a taxi or the Paratransit bus back and forth to all of the appointments and we really appreciate the help with paying for all of these rides back and forth. 

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

Review: Alexandra's Legacy by N.J. Walters

Book Description

Alexandra Riley’s predictable world is turned upside down when she discovers she’s the half-breed daughter of a legendary alpha werewolf—a sought-after prize to some, an abomination to others. The tall, dark stranger who bursts into her father’s garage shatters any illusion that she can continue with her normal life.

From the second Joshua Striker, enforcer for the Wolf Creek pack, sees Alex, she becomes a distraction he can’t afford. He’s come to the city to bring Alex to the safety of the pack. That’s it. But who is going to keep her safe from him? Because the wolf inside him is demanding he claim her—now.

From city streets to the mountains of North Carolina, the pair must evade bounty hunters out to kill any werewolf they can, wolves who want to claim Alex, and purists bent on eradicating half breeds. And with all this going on, Alex still has learn what it means to be a wolf and deal with the overbearing male determined to keep her safe.

Each book in the Legacy series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.

My Review

Alexandra (Alex) thinks she's just a normal girl until her father tells her he has something important to tell her and her world is blown to bits. 

Joshua comes to Alex and her father to make sure that she safely makes it back to their pack so she can pick a mate from the eligible males there. 

James (Alex's father) had been the leader of his pack many years ago but when his mate died in childbirth, he took it really bad and left. Years later he met a human woman and had Alex with her. James in a wolf shifter and had hoped that his daughter would be more human than wolf but he's known for a while that she was about to go into heat and the male wolves would be coming after her to claim her. But before he can tell his daughter what's going on, the wolves come busting into his home and Joshua shows up to keep her safe.

Alex and Joshua try making their way back to his pack's home but with rogue wolves and hunter's on their backs every step of the way, it's no easy task. I thought Alex took things really well, a little too well in my opinion. I was glad that she wasn't a hide in the corner while the men do all the work type of girl but I expected her to not just take everything in and be alright with it all like she was. 

I really don't like the world that the females have in this pack society because as soon as a female goes into heat, the unmated males come to fight for her and she has no choice but to go with the winner. Uhm, what? Thankfully she ends up with the male she wanted but I don't like that males either didn't like that she was a half breed and wanted to kill her or were ready to fight each other in order to claim her and she had no choice. It's a little barbaric and with her being half human I am hoping that she brings a little new kind of influence into their society. Her father has lived around the humans long enough to pick up some new habits and I hope he brings something new to the pack now that he's back. 

There was a lot of action, a lot of fighting, and I felt bad for Alex because she went through a lot, too much in my opinion. The fact that she hardly broke down after everything she went through in order to get to safety was a little unbelievable but I really liked her for it. I am hoping that their society comes out of the middle ages with their beliefs at least a little, as time goes on. But either way I liked the overall story and plan on reading more of this series. 

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.

I received a sample of Tom Ford foundation. A small bottle of Micellar water. And 2 samples of face cream. 

I already like the Micellar water for cleaning makeup off my face. The foundation samples are good but I've heard that brand is really expensive. I haven't tried the face creams yet. 

Did you receive any samples this week?

Review: Virgin On Vacation by Emily Vincent

Book Description

Shelly

He was the sexiest man I’d ever seen. We met by accident. I was in such a hurry, but I wasn’t in such a hurry that I didn’t see how his eyes stared into mine. I lost my breath for just a second. I wondered if I would ever meet a man like that again. It was by chance and chance alone and I had a flight to catch.

Jackson

She had the bluest eyes and I think I got lost in them. Though she was a mess and had dropped her passport, when I handed it to her there was something in the way she looked at me, something in the way she carried herself that told me I would see her again. I am not a man who can be surprised easily but there were many things that would soon change everything.

My Review

Shelly saved her money so she could go on a vacation with her friends to Hawaii. Once at the hotel she runs into a man she saw at the airport and finds out he owns the hotel. Jackson asks her out and they spend time together but she doesn't understand why he's bothering with her when he could have any woman he wanted. 

Jackson finds Shelly interesting so he upgrades her hotel room and asks her out. He finds her attractive and wants to get to know her better. Shelly feels like she's falling for him and feels depressed in the days before they have to leave. So when she decides not to see him again before they go back home because saying good bye will be too hard for her, she thinks he'll just move on to the next girl. But his feelings for her go deeper than she could ever imagine so what he does next shocks her. 

This was a great, quick romance. Both of these characters are really sweet so it was nice seeing them get a happy ending. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Review: Daily Goodie Box - July

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? 

Rise Brewing Co  - Rise Nitro Cold Brew Coffee-  I really liked this coffee drink. I thought it was tasty and great for a cold coffee. 

Paleo Powder - Seasoned Coating Mix- I tried this coating on some chicken tenders and fried it and I didn't like the taste of this at all. When I fried it, it burned and when I baked the chicken with this coating on, it just wasn't a good coating. 

Pretzel Pete - Salted Caramel Mini Twists- I love caramel and I love pretzels but these were very disappointing. I thought they would have actual caramel on them but it was a thin caramel powder that really didn't have much of a caramel flavor. 

EyePromise® - Screen Shield™ Pro- I've been taking the pills for about a week and haven't seen a difference in my vision. I wear reading glasses in order to read small print but otherwise my vision is good. I'll update this if anything changes. 

Natrapel®  - Picaridin Insect Repellent-  We get mosquitoes around here and there are ticks up in the mountains. I really don't have a use for this at this time but if we go up to the mountains or the mosquitoes get worst, I'll try this out. 

Just The Cheese® - Aged Cheddar Bars- I didn't like these at all and neither did Ken. They have a horrible burnt cheese flavor that neither of us liked. I couldn't eat this at all. 

Blake’s Seed Based - Raspberry Snack Bar- There were so many seeds in this bar, it made it hard to eat and I don't like flax seeds. The raspberry part of the bar was good there were just too many seeds. 

Balm of Gilead - All Natural Handcrafted Lip Balm- This was pretty much the only thing in the box that I liked. I can always use anther lip balm and these 2 that I received seem to work well. I like the scent of them too. 

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.

Review: Billionaire's Mate by Dawn Wilder

Book Description

An assignment that could change everything...

When Jordan is assigned a story on Curt Beckett, she's not sure she wants the hassle. She can already see how much she'll be hounded when people find out she's spending time with the gorgeous bad boy Alpha's son turned billionaire.

He's just having a good time...

Curt isn't looking for anything serious, content to date around, keep things casual and focus on his company.

He doesn't expect that the interview he reluctantly agrees to could change his mind. But Jordan catches his eye and his thoughts in a way he couldn't have predicted...

My Review

Jordan is assigned to do an article on Curt who is a billionaire businessman. When they meet, he knows she's also a wolf shifter like himself. She stays with him from morning until quitting time so she can see what his days are like. But the more time they spend together, the more Curt ends up liking her. Jordan likes him but is not going to fall for him and she's doing well until he asks her to be his date for an event. While they're dancing, Curt kisses her and all bets are off. They go back to his place and things are going well, after a few days it looks like they might get their happy ending after all and then someone leaks info about his company and he questions Jordan about it. 

A lot happens in this quick novella and I liked that there was so much story in such a quick read. I'm not sure I would have given him a second chance after the way he treated her but she did and the rest of the story was great. For a novella this packed quite the punch. I really enjoyed it. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

Apartment Life #210

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.

Three police cars pulled up at the end of my apartment building and they talked for a minute and were looking in the back of their cars and then stood around for a while. 

We all thought that they were staging for something or were waiting for backup but then they all suddenly got back in their cars and left. 

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Life Update: 

Ken was told by his Oncologist that what he has is metastatic stage 4 adenocarcinoma non small cell. So at least we know what we're working with. His doctor admitted him into the hospital on the 9th to start his first round of chemo and he's still there today. He should get to come home soon after a few more tests.

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

Review: Claiming Mia by Alisa Woods

Book Description

LUCAS

I’m a mess. Broken. Lost my mate and almost myself. In no shape to help anyone.

Then the sexy girl serving me drinks stumbles into trouble with a bunch of wolves who are bad business—I should know. They’re the competition. And they’re as dirty at dot-com investing as they are predatory on young things like her. So I save her. Because I may be broken, but I’m not an ass.

Only she shows up the next day at my office. As my intern.

And now the Red pack is after her, putting us square in a pack war—one she doesn’t even understand. I’m in no shape to claim a mate—not happening—but if I don’t, the Red’s jackass of an alpha will.

MIA

I’m just trying to earn my degree and dig my way out of poverty.

I was born a shifter—more of my bad luck—but I’ve kept that a secret, so it doesn’t ruin my life. Shifters are monsters. Criminals. And I’m trying to make something of myself. This internship at the hottest internet business development firm in Seattle is my ticket out… only the boss is a wolf. And insanely hot. And he saved my life.

I’d break all the rules for this guy—except he wants nothing to do with me.

The wolves who do are the Big Bad Wolf kind. The kind I’ve always heard about.

I’ve got nowhere to turn… but to the one guy who doesn’t want me at all.

Claiming Mia (Dot Com Wolves 1) is a super-hot complete story with HEA.

My Review

Lucas was a mess ever since his mate died, he'd even left his father's pack but still helped out with the business. But when he saw Mia in trouble he had to help her. But doing so made the wolves from the red pack think that they could hurt him by hurting Mia. 

Mia lived in a dorm with her roommate and worked at a bar. All that changed when three wolves from the red pack had come at her and tried attacking her. The only reason she got out unscathed was because Lucas had stepped in. 

Lucas couldn't stop thinking about Mia after he saved her and was very surprised when she showed up at his business as the new intern. But now that she was here he knew that he had to keep her safe. She didn't take the danger seriously until the wolves came after her a second time. Lucas took her to his home to keep her safe and when they couldn't keep their hands off of each other it looked like things would change for the better for both of them until Lucas learned her secret...she was also a shifter and kept it a secret from everyone because she didn't have a pack. 

Once he knows what she is, he let's her know that they have to keep their hands off each other because he doesn't want another mate since he blames himself for his mates death. But when an alpha from a rival pack kidnaps Mia, all bets are off because now Lucas wants her and nothing is going to stop him. 

Holy shifters, Batman! This was one hot read with some really great characters. So much more happens and it had me on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next. 

I give this book 5 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.

It was a slow week. No freebies this week.

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Since there were no freebies this week I thought I would share something else with you. This week I was a guest reviewer at I Smell Sheep. I reviewed this book. If it sounds like a good book to you, I'd love for you to come over and read my review. 

Take the ride of your life with the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club in this thrilling romance novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

Torpedo Ink is Aleksei “Absinthe” Solokov’s whole life. They’re his brothers, his family—his everything. But that doesn't stop him from wanting something that only belongs to him. That’s why the tough biker has spent the last six weeks at the library, reading every book he can get his hands on and watching the prim and proper librarian who makes his blood rush.

For the past six weeks, Scarlet Foley has been fantasizing about the handsome, tattooed man whose eyes follow her every move. She senses he's dangerous. She wants him to get close enough to touch. She wishes she could let him know the real woman, not the one she pretends to be. But Scarlet has a plan to carry out, and she can’t afford any distractions.

Absinthe is well aware that Scarlet is hiding something. She’s a puzzle he intends to solve, piece by intoxicating piece….

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I'll be over at I Smell Sheep if you would like to read my review and let me know what you think. 

Review: Bond by Tasha Black

Book Description

When aliens arrive, they expect a warm welcome...

Posey Quinn has always believed there was more to the world than what she can see. So when she arrives in Stargazer with her head full of conspiracies and high-end hairspray, she isn’t entirely surprised to learn that instead of donating eggs for tuition money, she is being asked to make an alien fall in love with her, and become an ambassador for humankind. What she doesn’t expect is how irresistible Bond is, and how hard it will be not to lose her own heart to the man who plays her body like a violin.

Bond learned about human culture from the collection of ‘80s movies his planet received in an interstellar time capsule. Now he is is on Earth to fill one human female with as much pleasure as she can bear, a mission he’s finding very agreeable. But he’s not just here to fall in love. Tasked with using his powers of human seduction to glean what he can about Earth and its inhabitants, Bond knows that if the planet’s resources are worthy and its residents aren’t, his days of pleasing Posey will soon be at an end.

If you like strong women, sexy aliens, wild adventures, steamy sensual scenes, and happily-ever-afters, then you’ll love the world of Stargazer:

Stargazer Alien Mail Order Brides: Funny, sexy, alien romance with an '80s twist.

My Review

Posey decided to donate her eggs and meets two girls who are now her best friends. Now a year later, they all get a call that it's time for the egg donation process. But when they get there they're told that they're going to become alien mates if they agree to this. Posey isn't sure if this is something that she wants to do, I mean they're aliens. 

Bond is one of the aliens that Posey and her friends meet and he has his eyes on Posey as a mate but she hasn't agreed to this since she thought she would just be donating eggs. 

The aliens had contacted Earth years before and had to grow human like bodies before they came here because their natural state is a gas one. Some of the town's people don't like the Dr. or the people that are at the building Posey, her friends and the aliens are staying in and they let the guys know it. Right from the beginning there seems to be some danger from some of the guys in the town. There are a couple of run-ins and confrontations so when one of the aliens challenges some of the town's people to the Fall Festivities Games, the bet is set to staying in town or leaving town and never coming back. 

As the aliens and humans get to know one another it made me laugh at times because the aliens really were trying. 

What follows is a fun and romantic tale of aliens getting to know the humans they've chosen and the humans getting to know the aliens but this is mostly about Bond and Posey and not her friends. They have their own books. 

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. 

Review: Barbarian Prince by Michelle M. Pillow

Book Description

Breaking up is hard to do...

Going undercover at a mass wedding as a bartered bride, Morrigan Blake has every intention of getting off the barbaric alien planet just as soon as the ceremony over. Or, more correctly, just as soon as she captures footage of the mysterious princes rumored to be in attendance.

After a euphoric night, Morrigan discovers her ride left without her and an alien dragon shifter is claiming she's his wife. It's not exactly the story this reporter had in mind. And to make matters worse, the all-to-seductive alpha male refuses to take no for an answer.

Being cursed by the gods was never so frustrating...

Prince Ualan is prepared to follow dragon shifter tradition and marry the woman revealed to him during the marriage festival. When the stubborn, yet achingly sexy, Morrigan refuses to accept their shared fate, it is all he can do to keep from acting like the barbarian she accuses him of being.

My Review

Morrigan decided to make a name for herself and uncover the Galaxy Brides Corporation scheme that they were restoring female virginity so the women could then be traded to the aliens as brides. Because if she were able to prove this and break the story she would make a name for herself in the reporter field. 

Prince Ualan just wants a bride and he thinks he's found his mate at the marriage festival. But Morrigan refuses to believe what is happening to her after her ride leaves her stranded. 

Morrigan goes undercover at the marriage festival to get the story she thinks will make a name for herself. But for Ualan this is very real and he's very confused by her actions when he picks her to come to his tent and be his wife. The men think the women read up on their customs and have come there ready to be picked as brides so Ualan is very confused when she doesn't understand what to do in the tent and then the next day doesn't realize that he now thinks of her as his bride. 

Once back at his home, she does everything she can think of to make him not like her so he'll send her back to Earth. But it backfires in a big way and she finds herself in a pickle of a predicament. I found some of the things she did really funny and the fact that Ualan found some of the things she did funny, made it funnier. There are so many times that they just needed to communicate better in order to clear up the miscommunication between them and that was a little irritating to watch. But they really cared for each other and while I loved the fact that he's a dragon shifter, I thought that didn't play as big a part in this story as I would have liked. I really wanted to see more dragon action, more dragons flying around or something more to do with the dragons but it just wasn't there. 

I loved the Queen and how she came to the new brides to give them advice and how helpful and caring she was. She seemed to know exactly what to say to them to help them with their new husband's. 

At times I thought they were going to work thinks out only for some other problem that they didn't talk out to come between them again and they would have to start all over again. Both Morrigan and Ualan felt hurt and betrayed at times because they refused to talk about what was bothering them. If she is such a good reporter she should have done more research on their customs before she got there so she would know what she was getting herself into. But overall I really enjoyed this book and plan on reading more of this series. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Review: Alien Warrior by Sadie Carter

Book Description

Stuck on a military outpost in the middle of nowhere, Zoey had been praying for something to relieve her boredom.

She never dreamed that relief would come in the form of a seven-foot tall, sexy alien. One who claimed she belonged to him.

Delusional.

Except, there was something pulling her to him… a deep, hot attraction she couldn’t deny.

Dexanon Xa’a always thought his mate would be a sweet, obedient female. Instead, the Gods landed him with a maddening, outspoken, outrageous female who didn’t comprehend the honor that had been bestowed on her.

Dex might have a rockin’ body, but his ideas about women needed a total overhaul.

And she was just the woman to do it.

My Review

Zoey lived on the planet Solim on a Military outpost. When she received a communication from a Zerconian warship asking to land because they were in need of repairs to their ship, they let them land. She went out to greet them and that's when The Crown Prince Dex first spotted her and knew instantly that she was his mate. Dex was really mad that her commander had allowed her to come out and greet him and his people alone. His people kept their women safe at all times and never would have let her greet aliens they didn't know much about by herself.

Poor Zoey doesn't know how to react to Dex because he's very much the alpha male and just assumes that she will follow his orders. But she's no pushover and doesn't like the turn of events that's happened between them. But he won't let her go and let's her commander and friends know that before he and his ship takes off with her. Dex and his people are a warrior race and their weapons are far superior to that of Earth's. So the humans really have no choice but to let her go. Once aboard the ship, she and Dex don't have the best of times at first because something was wrong with her and Dex is so mad because of the way she is acting. Dex is used to females being submissive and doing what they're told and Zoey isn't like that at all. 

Once they start talking and getting to know each other more, Dex becomes a little more reasonable and so does Zoey. They want their relationship to work so there's going to have to be some compromises on both their parts and I really liked seeing that. This was a fun story and I liked seeing them change a little as they got to know one another. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

Apartment Life #209

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 was parked across the street from my bedroom on the street and then I saw that one of the firemen was talking to someone in a blue car around the corner. They stood there talking for a few minutes and then everyone left. I have no idea what that was about. 

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For those of you that have an electric stove you probably knew exactly what this was when you looked at it. For those that have a gas stove, this is the heating element on one of my burners. It's supposed to be smooth like the top and bottom but that one side of that ring in the middle decided to get super white hot, start throwing out sparks like the 4th of July and partially melt that part of my heating element on the burner. I will tell you it scared the holy jeebus outta me. When I saw it sparking like molten metal and that small part was white hot while the rest of it glowed red, I quickly turned that burner off, ran into the living room, grabbed my daughter and grandson and hid in the hallway just in case it exploded. LOL Yes, we did. But it cooled down and I was able to turn in a work order to get a replacement. 

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Life Update: 

Ken still hasn't seen the Oncologist for the test results, we still have to wait a few days for that. There's a lot of hurry up and wait it seems. 

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

Review: Dreaming of the Dragon Shifter by Rinelle Grey

Book Description

Together they can end a three hundred year war. But only if they don’t fall in love first…

Jayrian is a dragon shifter with a plan. It’s a plan that will defy the council elders and put his life at risk—but if it works, it’ll save his clan and help end a war that’s raged for centuries. The key to making it all come together? The sweet, shy, and all-kinds-of-adorable small town librarian he’s starting to like way more than he should.

Gretchen isn’t looking for adventure. She’s perfectly happy getting her thrills from books, thank you very much. But when she invites the handsome mystery man she’s been crushing on at work to dinner, she might just end up with a bigger adventure than she knows what to do with …

It’s not long before Jayrian learns there’s more to Gretchen than meets the eye. She’s everything he ever wanted … and nothing he can have if he wants his plan to succeed. He’s ready to give up his life for his people, but can he give up Gretchen when the time comes?

Dreaming of the Dragon Shifter is a delightful paranormal romance, with a little bit of action. If you like hot dragon heroes, the strong women who mate them, and a heartwarming HEA, then you'll love joining Rinelle Grey's growing clan of satisfied readers.

Download Dreaming of the Dragon Shifter to visit the Australian outback and find your hot dragon shifter today.

My Review

Jayrian wanted to send Gretchen into the cave to wake up their prince who had been sleeping for over 300 years. The humans were going to start mining where the Prince slept and they would discover him which would be bad. But every time he brought it up with the elders they wouldn't hear of it. 

A rival dragon shifter clan guarded the cave where the Prince slept but they couldn't go in because the cave was warded against all dragons except its own clan and his clan couldn't get near him but they wouldn't be able to detect a human which is why Jayrian wanted to send in one to wake him. 

As Jayrian gets closer to Gretchen and let's her know what he is and what she would have to do to wake the Prince, he finds it harder and harder to let Gretchen be the one who has to go in the cave to the Prince even though it's his idea. The woman who wakes the Prince will also have to mate (have sex) with him to replenish his magic. The longer Jayrian is around Gretchen the more he knows that she is his mate and he can't let her go. Jayrian knows that having a relationship with a human is not something the elders will ever approve of but it's time for his people to try and get along with the humans. Gretchen has a plan and it's a good one. I don't want to say much more because that would give too much away but her plan is a really good one. I like how this ended. 

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.

I was sent this book from the publisher and was surprised to find it in my mailbox since I didn't even request it. #SurpriseBookMail

Macy's was giving away some samples of perfume on FB and so when I saw it, I signed up for it and they sent out a good bit of samples. 

I also received a couple of peel off face masks from Influenster. 

I love getting perfume samples. I have a bunch of them that I've been trying out. I read the book and liked it.

Did you receive any samples or freebies this week?

Review: Ancient Protector by Katie Reus

Book Description

Even as he fights for their future…

With the world still rebuilding after massive dragon attacks, famous singer Star isn’t willing to rely on a stranger to protect her family—though dragon shifter Lachlan is difficult to resist. Something about him is strangely familiar, but she doesn’t understand why. He’s already helped Star rescue her sister from a recent abduction, but trust doesn’t come easy when his kind has nearly hunted her race to extinction. When her sister’s kidnapper launches another violent attack, Star has no choice but to accept Lachlan’s aid. But no matter that he’s stepped up to protect her, she’ll never allow the ancient Scottish dragon into her heart.

They’re bound by the past.

Lachlan lost the woman he was meant to mate a millennia ago. Unable to live in a world without her, his pain drove him to hibernation. He never thought he would move on—until Star. He’s well aware the feisty shifter is his new destiny, so if tailing her to New Orleans is what he has to do to be near her, then so be it. When Star is attacked, Lachlan resolves to protect her at all costs. And he won’t have to do it alone. It will take Lachlan, his clansmen, and Star’s misfit band of friends to rain fiery vengeance down upon their enemy if she and her sister are to ever be truly free. Only then can he claim her and discover the shocking truth that lies buried in their past.

My Review

Star is a singer and makes plans to put on a show so she can get closer to Oscar's home. Because she's sure her sister is being held against her will somewhere in Oscar's home and she and her friends are there to help her escape. 

Lachlan is at Oscar's estate to watch Star sing and decides to bid on her celebrity auction to have a date with her. But after he wins a date and listens to her sing, all hell breaks loose. 

After rescuing her sister Aurora, things get a little dangerous for Star and her friends when a bunch of dragon shifters come after her. But they get help from another dragon shifter who Star is sure was Lachlan because of his coloring. She's not sure why he helped her but she's thankful but when he finds her while they're in hiding and says he wants his date now, she doesn't trust him. I can understand why she doesn't trust him after hearing what all she and her sister have been through especially with dragon shifters. But he more than proves that he can be trusted and she let's him into her circle where he worms his way into her heart little by little. 

When Oscar comes after her sister again, it's Lachlan and the another alpha named King that help them. This story had me on the edge of my seat. The action was great, the romance was so sweet and heartbreaking at times that it really made me feel for them. They had been through so much over the years. 

Star and Aurora have spent their whole lives protecting and hiding what type of shifter they are and while I tried to figure it out, I couldn't find out until it was revealed to me. It was a really fun twist that had me smiling. I really liked the interaction between King and Aurora and hope they get their own book in the future. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series now. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

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