Review: Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole

Book Description

A seductive beauty he can

never have, yet can't resist... 

Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past. 

A tormented warrior she

should fear, but can't deny... 

Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon's wicked touch. 

Surrender to dark desires... 

Yet just when he earns Holly's trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs -- and claim his heart?

My Review

Holly is smart and on the verge of writing a code that could do away with computer viruses and more. She thinks she's a human that just has some quirks but she soon finds out that she's much more when demons kidnap her and because she's "The Vessel" and they want to use her to create an evil child. I loved how she finds out what she really is and how she uses her new power to do what needs to be done at the time.

That's where Cade comes in and saves her from more bad guys that are on the way and then they are off on the road together. It's his job to keep her safe until she can be handed over to someone in exchange for something he needs. But as I've said before, the best laid plans and all that. Things don't always go the way you think they will and that happens quite a bit in this book. 

Cade has some faults but he does things for the right reasons for the most part. Plus, he's hot with a capital "H". Yes, he's a demon complete with horns and when he gets really upset...or excited he changes form to look even more like a demon...complete with fangs and a large physique but did I mention he's hot?

These two don't start off great but she has a lot to deal with but they start getting along the longer they are together. The sex scenes as well as the adventure and fights scenes just add to the story. This book kept me completely enthralled. I started reading it after dinner and ended up staying up longer than I had wanted because I just couldn't this one down until the end. *Note to self: Don't start reading at night if you want to get any sleep*

I really enjoyed seeing Holly find herself and give as good as she got. She really took it much better than some might and it showed how strong she was and I do love a kick ass heroine who can take care of herself when everything is looking bleak. 

I might be reading this series out of order but I don't even care because I know as time goes on and the books get read, everything will make more sense. And make no mistake, I will read this series even though there are currently 19 books in this series and I've only read a few of them. I can't recommend this series hard enough. If you like Paranormal Romance, just read it.

Hands down this gets 5 out of 5 stars. 

Target Beauty Boxes Available Right Now

*Photo Credit: Target Beauty Box*

Hey guys, I thought I would let you know that the Target Beauty Box is available right now. But hurry because these things go fast. This months box is just $7. 

Target Beauty Box

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of MrRat395*

"I see you have foods, I too like foods"

*Picture courtesy of Martymousehouse.com*

"I'd like to thank the makers of Yogies, my human and the sunflower seed pickers. Because without you, I wouldn't have this award."

*Picture courtesy of Rat Logic*

Favorite Video of the Week

Since it's April Fool's Day, I thought it would be appropriate to share this living statue prank. Because scaring the hell out of people is funny. lol

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 sample of Salonpas pain relieving patch
Nivea Men Moisturizing Creme
A $5 Amazon gift card from Crowdtap

Did you receive any freebies this week?

New This Week

Today I thought I'd share some of the new things I bought and tried. First thing is a new printer. My old one decided to stop working last month so I finally decided on this one, an Epson XP-330. Ken made a shelf for it but it's unfinished wood that he plans to sand and paint so I just put down a piece of paper for it to sit on so the wood doesn't scratch my new printer. lol I set it up within a few minutes and it's working fine. 

It came with some ink but those cartridges that come with it always run out fast so I went ahead and bought a multi pack of ink so I don't run out. 

Ken loves to have biscuits and gravy and I'm just not good at making homemade gravy so he's been trying out the powdered packs and then he found this one which was pretty good. 

And even though I'm diabetic, I like to have a treat now and then so when we saw this new Ice Cream flavor we snagged it. It has pieces of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in it. It was so good.

Did you try anything new this week? Any new purchases?

Favorite Picture of the Week

A couple of weeks ago I posted this picture of FB when I found a spider in my apartment. Falcor was looking at something on the floor. I picked this tiny spider up, saved him from the dog and took him outside. I don't even know what kind it is. *Edited: One of my FB friends said her husband said it was a jumping spider.* 1st spider I've found in my apartment so far this year. Expect more pictures this summer, we always get spiders and I always save them. lol

Ken saw me getting my camera as I was holding it and said, "You're not really gonna take a picture of it are you?" Heck yes I am. He's kinda cute. lol 

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of *MrRat395*

"I always make this face when I get a massage"

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

"Who put the holes in my swiss cheese?"

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

Review: Blood Red Kiss by Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, Gena Showalter

Book Description

Good things always come in threes--and this paranormal romance anthology featuring steamy stories from New York Times bestselling authors Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, and Gena Showalter is no exception!

Get ready for a collection chock full of vamps, demons, aliens, and plenty of sizzle!

In Kresley Cole's remastered story "The Warlord Wants Forever," the first in her scorching Immortals After Dark series, vampire warlord Nikolai Wroth will stop at nothing to claim his Bride, the one woman who can make his heart beat again. But can beautiful Myst the Coveted accept an enemy vampire as her own?

Tehya has spent the last twelve years as an accidental wolf, but is truly a vampire at heart. When she gets injured, Lobo sneaks her inside MoonBound's headquarters and nurses her back to health...with potentially deadly consequences. Desire collides with danger in "Forsaken by Night," a MoonBound Clan novella from Larissa Ione!

In Gena Showalter's Otherworld Assassins novella, Dark Swan, Lilica Swan isn't quite human or otherworlder; she is the best--and worst--of both. She is willing to do whatever proves necessary to save her sister from the seductive and deadly Alien Investigation and Removal agent, Dallas Gutierrez, even bond her life to his...effectively wedding him. But without consummation, the bond will fade. Can Dallas resist his insatiable desire for the powerful beauty? Or will she lead to his ultimate downfall?

My Review

My brother and sister in law got this book for me last month as part of a birthday present. It has 3 of my favorite authors all in the same book and that's always a great thing. 

The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole- This is the first book in the Immortals After Dark series and since I hadn't read this series yet I was glad to read the first book. Myst is a Valkyrie and has been captured and is found by Nikolai Wroth as she's being held in a dungeon. He has no idea what she is but when his heart starts beating and blood rushes to places that haven't had blood in them for many years, he knows he's found his bride. He's a vampire, his kind know they have found their mate when they are 'blooded' and their blood starts pumping again. The only problem is that Myst is much, much older than he is and she isn't looking to settle down anytime soon, especially to a vampire. So she arouses him and leaves. Leaving him to stay that way until he can find her and they mate. They finally do meet back up and the sparks fly, seriously. This was a great story and the misunderstandings just make this more fun to read. 

Forsaken By Night by Larissa Ione- Lobo was pretty much enslaved by a clan of vampires when he was a kid. They never trusted him, in fact were scared of him because he's a skinwalker and can take on the look of anyone he wants. He is exiled from his clan, the only family he's ever know when he's accused of breaking clan law. But then he finds a wolf that is in really bad shape. He helps nurse her back to health and for years they live together, helping each other live again. What Lobo doesn't know is Tehya has been stuck in her wolf form for years and it's only when she is hurt and he risks everything to save her that she reverts back to her human/vampire form. Things get very interesting after that and some secrets even come out and get a resolution. 

Dark Swan by Gena Showalter- Lilica, Jade and Tiffany are sisters who were created in a lab. Their DNA is part human and part alien. They grew up being experimented on, tortured and degraded until one day they escape. But not before one sister becomes infected with a disease that she passes along to others and that makes her hunted and feared. Lilica has powers but she doesn't know how to control all of them. She's never been shown love by anyone but what little bit her sisters were able to show her. So when one sister is in trouble she tries whatever she has to in order to keep her safe even if that means being captured again. This time though things are going to be different she just doesn't realize how different things will be. Dallas Guttierez is hunting the sister who is infecting people with a horrible disease and wants to kill her. So when he meets Lilica, he thinks he has a way to bring the diseased sister out in the open but things don't always work out the way we want them to and he finds that out quickly. This was a lot of fun to read and if I had to pick a favorite of the three stories it would be this one. 

I loved this entire book. All three stories ere great. Each one was written well, had a great story and ended in a way that didn't feel rushed. Often times in anthologies the stories will feel rushed or unfinished but all three of these stories felt like solid stories. The book was 545 pages long, which isn't a quick read but well worth time time it takes to read especially if you like these authors which I do. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Favorite Video of the Week

I laughed a little too loud at this. Turn the sound up to listen.

Freebie Friday!

I had enough points saved to cash out from Inbox Dollars.

And two days later they sent the Amazon gift card. 

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 sample bag of Rachel Ray Nutrish Dish Dog Food.

A $27.21 Amazon Gift card from Inbox Dollars. When you have enough points you can cash out for a gift card. Once you reach the $30 cash out threshold, you can cash out but they keep $3.00 as a processing fee...but they apply $3 to your account as a bonus when you cash out so you get it back. You take surveys, click on emails, play cash games and more in order to get the money.

And I received a FREE box of snacks from Spoon University which I reviewed yesterday so if you didn't see what was in the box, look at yesterdays post.

Did you get any freebies this week?

Review: Spoon University Care Package Powdered by Chef'd

A couple of months ago I saw this freebie was available to the first 25,000 people that signed up for it. So I signed up and got this box completely free. They sent me a coupon code so that I would get this snack box for free, it's a $75.00 value if you paid them for it. 

Here's what was in the box. 

Skinny Pop Popcorn

Sun-Maid Sour Strawberry Flavored Golden Raisins

Zico Coconut Water

Smart Water

Sparkling Smart Water

Coca Cola Life Sweetened Cane Sugar and Stevia

Quaker Medleys Apple Walnut Oatmeal

Purely Elizabeth Cranberry and Pecan Granola plus Puffs Cereal 

Chia Crunch Coconut Crackers

Quest Beyond Cereal Protein Bar Waffle Flavored

That's It Zesty One Apple One Pear Bar

Quest Beyond Cereal Protein Bar Cinnamon Roll Flavor

Quest Beyond Cereal Protein Bar Chocolate Flavor

Cliff Bar Sierra Trail Mix Peanuts Chocolate and Raisins

RXBAR Protein Bar Chocolate Mint Flavor

Coffee Thins Espresso thins

Harry and David Moose Munch Popcorn

The only thing from this box that I've ever had before is the Skinny Pop Popcorn and it's not bad. I've tried a bite of a few of the protein bars but Ken usually gets those since I really don't care for them. For me the best thing in the box was the Oatmeal and Espresso thins. Those were pretty good. I would recommend this box to those who like these types of snacks but the $75 price tag for this is really steep in my opinion. 

Favorite Picture of the Week

When my grandson, Logan was a year old his parents to him to Walmart and took this picture of him in one of those electric cars. They didn't get the car for him but he liked it so I had a feeling they would at some point. 

Fast forward to the past Christmas and you guessed it, Logan got an electric car. He loves it. That's his dad standing in front of him. And now you know why I think Logan is going to be a tall kid, his dad is 6'7". 

Review: Golden Cannoli- Cannoli Chips

A couple of weeks ago I saw a friend on FB talking about these Cannoli Chips that she found in the grocery store. I love trying new products so I knew I wanted to try these. We looked for them in the grocery store we go to and of course they didn't carry them. So I did what anyone these days does when they can't find something...I Googled it and saw that Walmart was selling them online on their website for just $2.95 for a 5,1 oz bag. So I ordered a bag of the Powdered Sugar and a bag of the Cinnamon Sugar Cannoli Chips. 

I've never had a Cannoli and don't know what they taste like but because they were called 'chips' I thought they would have the consistency of a crispy potato chip. Turns out it's more like a soft buttery cracker with cinnamon sugar on it. Not that I'm complaining because I'm not, these are really good. The Powdered Sugar Cannoli Chips are really good and have a nice powdered sugar flavor to them. 

I love all things cinnamon sugar flavored. Ken even bought me a cinnamon sugar flavored butter spread for when I have cinnamon sugar toast, so I was looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint. It has a really nice cinnamon sugar flavor to it and the cracker like texture is great. When I opened the bag, the smell of cinnamon sugar was really powerful but if you like that scent as I do, you'll be sniffing the bag. If Cannoli taste anything like this I've really been missing out because both of these 'chips' were great! I have nothing bad to say about these. 

Have you ever had a Cannoli? Would you try these chips?

Happy Raturday!

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

"You distract her and I'll grab the cheese."

*Picture courtesy of martymousehouse.com*

*Picture courtesy of @MrRat395*

"I can't hold this smile for long, just take the picture already."

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

I've shared some of the antics that my neighbors have pulled recently but I don't think I've shared this story with you. Back in 1995 we lived at Mark Twain Apartments and Ken was the maintenance man for the apartment complex. We lived there for a few years but when Ken had to have his ankle operated on, the manager brought in a replacement maintenance man until Ken was able to work again. That's where the story gets crazy. The manager, Lori hired Gregory Leonard and he came over to our apartment all the time to get tips from Ken about the apartment complex and where things were kept in the maintenance shop, we even had him over for dinner a few times.

So it was a real shock when he was arrested for murder. The police found a body hidden under his bed.

You can read the whole story here.

So you see, I've always had crazy neighbors no matter where I've lived.

Favorite Video of the Week

These are funny animal voice overs. So you have to turn the sound up and listen. These are funny.

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 full size bottle of Clarispray Nasal Allergy spray from BzzAgent
Coupon for a free Powerbar
2 samples of Zing sweetener
A $5 gift card from Crowdtap

You can click on both the BzzAgent and Crowdtap links an sign up for accounts if you haven't already done so and start getting free samples and products from them if that's something you're interested in.

Did you receive any free samples this week?

Review: Target Beauty Box - March

What was in this month's box? 

 This box is valued at $25. There were 7 products in this box. 

MISSHA Time Revolution First Treatment Essence

Made with 80% fermented yeast extract to hydrate, restore and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

SoapBox Bamboo Shampoo & Conditioner

Bamboo strengthens and fortifies hair while helping retain moisture for ultra-lush, healthy looking locks.

Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer

Instantly locks in moisture and gradually builds natural-looking color with each use. Apply to damp skin.

Dove Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo

Add oomph to day-two ’dos. Weightless formula instantly absorbs oil to clean, revive and volumize hair.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Lip Shine

Hydration-infused lip gloss moisturizes and plumps with hyaluronic acid for healthy, young-looking lips.

Skinfix Foaming Oil Cleanser 

Mild coconut-based cleanser nourishes skin and replenishes depleted lipids to restore skin’s delicate barrier.

So far I've liked all the products. I like trying dry shampoo because I've heard that some of them leave a weird white residue in your hair but this one didn't. 

I usually Tweet out and post on my FB when I see the boxes are available. I love new Twitter followers if you are on there, I'm @scarymary66

The Box used to be black so it looks like they changed up the color. I don't know if it's a one time thing or if all the boxes will now be white.

Have you signed up for one of the Target Beauty Boxes yet? 

Favorite Picture of the Week

When our daughter was little her favorite thing to do was to go to the Park that's just a couple of blocks away and feed the ducks and geese. In the picture is Ken and our daughter and a couple of geese. There are tons of geese and ducks at this park. There's a lake and in the middle of the lake is a little island with tree's that the ducks and geese live on. They fly or swim over to the park to chase people and get fed by the people who aren't afraid of them.