CSN Stores

CSN Stores has 200+ stores with just about any product you can think of, including dining chairs. I really like the dining chair pictured above, it is from Paula Deen's line. The prices are great and a lot of their items actually have free shipping. The customer service is excellent and the shipping is prompt.
I am fortunate enough to be a CSN Stores Preferred Blogger, so be on the lookout soon for a giveaway.

Book Review: Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter

Ecstasy in Darkness (Alien Huntress, Book 5) by Gena Showalter

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star; Original edition (October 26, 2010)

Goodreads Description:

New York Times bestselling sensation Gena Showalter enthralls with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, powers beyond imagining, and a seductive vampire undone by his insatiable hunger for one woman. . . .Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigatio ...more

New York Times bestselling sensation Gena Showalter enthralls with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, powers beyond imagining, and a seductive vampire undone by his insatiable hunger for one woman. . . .Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the ability to manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal. Against his better judgment, McKell craves that loyalty, and much more. When the chase leads to seduction, McKell and Ava will race to discover the truth about his past. But the answers will come at a price, even for a woman who thought she had nothing left to lose. .

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First I must say that this book has one smokin hot cover. Besides that, as I expected this book was amazing. Gena Showalter knows how to deliver a story packed with conflict and sex appeal. The love scenes were written to perfection with just the right amount of heat without going overboard. Another thing I loved about this book is the humor, especially Ava and Noelle's banter. They have a unique friendship where they can basically verbally bash each other and not get mad...it is pretty hilarious at times. McKell played a pretty big part in a previous book in the series and I thought it was pretty interesting that he became a main character. He is an Alpha male with a huge ego and an interesting power and background. Initially I thought I would have a hard time liking him but it turned out it was a lot easier than I thought. If you have not read the previous books in the series I don't think it would be a problem to just pick this one up and read it but I always recommend a series should be read in order so you don't miss out on some of the background info that rounds out the story. The gist of the story is an alien queen is infecting people (through sex) and it turns them into raging cannibals. The New Chicago Police Department's Alien Investigation and Removal Agency is fighting to save the infected and get rid of the alien queen and her minions. Ava and Noelle are trainees and are sent to bring McKell in. After that is when the book starts to get really good (and that is really early on).

5/5

I received this book from the publisher for review. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love

Blood Trinity (Belador, Book1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love

• Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Pocket; Original edition (October 19, 2010)

Amazon Description:

Supernatural warriors bound by an extraordinary code of honor face an ultimate test of loyalty in the exciting new paranormal thriller from New York Times bestselling authors Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love.Atlanta has become the battlefield between human and demon. All her life, Evalle Kincaid has walked the line between the two. Her origins unknown, she’s on a quest to learn more about her past . . . and her future.When a demon claims a young woman in a terrifying attack and there’s no one else to blame, Evalle comes under suspicion. Now she’s on a deadly quest for her own survival. Through the sordid underground of an alternate Atlanta where nothing is as it seems to the front lines of the city, where her former allies have joined forces to hunt her, Evalle must prove her innocence or pay the ultimate price.But saving herself is the least of her problems if she doesn’t stop the coming apocalypse. The clock is ticking and Atlanta is about to catch fire. . . .
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Blood Trinity is the first book in a great new urban fantasy series by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love. This is such an amazing read. The main character, Evalle, is an Alterant and a member of the Belador race. Alterants are considered dangerous and no better than wild animals so Evalle faces a lot of hostility and disrespect from others. Despite that she stands by her race and does everything she can to protect her people. The conflict in the book is very interesting but what I most liked about it is that it was a way to introduce the different races and creatures and pique my interest into looking forward to the next book in hopes that I get to learn more about them. I think that anyone who enjoys urban fantasy will love this book...I certainly did.

5/5

Waiting on Wednesday #16

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Vesper: A Deviants Novel by Jeff Sampson

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Balzer + Bray (January 25, 2011)

Goodreads Description:

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely—something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

I am back!

Sorry for the lack of posting these past couple of week...my computer was messed up and I had very limited internet access. Thankfully I have an awesome friend (Thanks Stew!) who fixed my computer so now I am back! I will have some reviews and other stuff posted tomorrow.

Every Day's A Holiday: Year-Round Crafting with Kids by Heidi Kenney

Every Day's A Holiday: Year-Round Crafting with Kids by Heidi Kenney

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (September 8, 2010)

Kids love making crafts, and no one knows that better than Heidi Kenney, creator of the popular blog My Paper Crane. In this festive how-to book, Heidi shares a year’s worth of classic and not-so-classic projects that the whole family will enjoy, from the National Bird Day embroidered handmade book to the St. Patrick’s Day mini leprechaun pin. Fifty fully photographed projects are geared to all age levels and abilities. Some—like the New Year’s Day newspaper hats—are simple enough for small kids to make themselves with minimum assistance, while more complicated projects require a little extra help from mom or dad. With so many fun projects to bring the family together, Every Day’s a Holiday proves that every day really is a holiday.

Heidi Kenney created her blog (www.mypapercrane.com) as a venue to showcase her handmade art projects. Her work has been featured in many galleries and she sells her creations to a number of select shops. She lives with her family in Pennsylvania.

France Ruffenach is a San Francisco-based photographer specializing in food and crafting.

Purchase from Amazon HERE

I have not gotten this book yet but I know I will love all the crafts inside. I have been reading Heidi's blog for about 2 years now. She is such an amazing person and she creates the cutest things imaginable.

Check out her site HERE
and her shop HERE

Book Trailer: His Darkest Embrace by Juliana Stone

Releases Oct. 26