To find out why I began Self Portrait Sunday, see my first post here.
This is a picture of Goddess and I from 2007 and it is a favorite of mine. At the time
I was playing a lot with Photoshop but I am sorry to say, if someone asked me to do
another like this, I would have no idea where to start.
Title: Chosen by Desire
Author: Kate Perry
ISBN-10: 044654101X
ISBN-13: 9780446541015
ARC: 350 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2009
Synopsis
It's down to the wire and Carrie Woods is leaving China without the proof she needs for her thesis: Wei Lin's journal. While on a final tour of the monastery, Carrie finally locates the scrolls and attempts to photograph the documents. Caught in a sticky situation, Carrie takes the scrolls, only to notice a mysterious monk watching her--the same monk that she's seen each time she's taken a tour. Unable to return the scrolls, she travels back to California and isn't too thrilled when she notices the monk at the airport.
Maximillian Prescott first came to the monastery as an orphaned teenager when he inherited the Book of Metal from a distant uncle he hardly knew. After spotting a woman stealing from the monastery, he follows her to get back the documents he knows she's stolen. Max is further intrigued when he finds out that the chatty woman is friends with his archrival, Rhys Llewellyn, and he will stop at nothing to get back everything he's lost.
In A Nutshell: I have been cooped up on the couch for the past 24 hours and had time to read two of my review books. Chosen By Desire was the first on the pile. The cover is super hot. What? Doesn't a hot cover make you want to read the book? This being the second in the series, and me not reading the first I was a tad behind the story. Kate Perry does a good job of filling in the blanks. I didn't feel that I was missing a lot but would have loved to read the first book ahead of this. Carrie is a strong character and I loved her dialogue. She doesn't take crap. I enjoyed reading about Max his desire and agony for Kate. He doesn't have time for a thief.
The book is fast and full of thrills. Kate Perry is a great writer with a mix of intrigue, romance and fantasy. Now I need to put the first and the third book on my Christmas list.
Except for her bowed lips. Her lips were pure sin.
But the innocence was a ruse. He stilled, feeling waves of elemental energy emanating from her. The way she clutched her bag to her side like it contained precious treasure confirmed what he already felt.
She'd taken The Book of Water.
He took a step toward her before he stopped himself. This wasn't his concern—he wouldn't get involved. Let someone else deal with her. Max looked around for another monk but found no one.Anger flooded him, cold and steely. It was like fate taunted him. He'd be damned if he had to deal with another less-than-angelic woman with light fingers. No way in hell.
Sounds like something you want to read right!?
Disclaimer: I received no payment to write this review. The words are all mine and I was not forced or asked to write anything you read here. In my opinion, a blogger review is the equivalent of me talking to my friends and family in my daily life, about a product I either love or don’t. All the opinions throughout my posts are strictly my own.
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“Over 100 years ago, the business now known as Progresso Foods started. A young Sicilian, Vincent Taormina, first imported foods from Italy to meet the need for high-quality ingredients familiar to Italian-Americans. As more family members became involved and importing grew both in volume and locations, the business merged in 1927 to become the Progresso Italian Food Corporation and the Progresso label was born. It is now part of General Mills and continues to adhere to the original premise of providing high quality food ingredients at a reasonable price for the discerning home cook.”
Growing up in an Italian-American household, Progresso was a household name. You could have called literally called us the "Progresso's."
Progresso has changed a lot in the past 100 years and I am sure this will not be their last product. Sign of the times perhaps but Progresso soup is no making a high fiber soup. I was excited with their low sodium soups and now knowing that a cup or bowl of soup will increase my fiber intake by 7 grams (a full 28% of your daily fiber intake) is another reason I will always stick with Progresso.
This review couldn't come at a better time either. This past week while I was sick with an upper respiratory infection and a sinus infection I received my box from Progresso and My Blog Spark.
The box contained two oversized soup mugs, 2 Progresso spoons and a can of Chicken Tuscany
Soup is just what the doctor ordered and the Chicken Tuscany was awesome. Over the past week I have eaten about 4 meals this being one of them. It was hearty, taste amazing and my 4 year old ate 50% of the can. The next one I want to try is Creamy Tomato Basil. Love tomato soup!!!
A winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified within 2 days. You will have 3 days to claim your prize or another winner will be chosen.
Disclaimer: I received no payment to write this review. Progresso provided me with the free product, information, and prize pack through MyBlogSpark™ The words are all mine and I was not forced or asked to write anything you read here. In my opinion, a blogger review is the equivalent of me talking to my friends and family in my daily life, about a product I either love or don’t. All the opinions throughout my posts are strictly my own.
Thanks to my connection at Hachette Book Group I was given a copy of One Hundred Butterflies to review. This was a book I was anxious to receive. My little Goddess has such a fashionation with so many things and one of them like most little girls is Butterflies. It is still amazing to me how excited children get over butterflies and how years later as adults we are still entralled by the natural beauty of this visiually stunning creature.
In One Hundred Butterflies, photographer Harold Feinstein showcases butterfly varieties from around the world, turning exquisite details into mesmerizing works of art. Feinstein's breathtaking photographs capture the color, vibrancy, and infinite variety of patterns that occur on the wings of these ornate insects. One hundred impeccably reproduced, oversized photographs allow viewers to appreciate the Blue Morpho of Central America, the African Birdwing, and the Asian Swallowtail at a scale and depth impossible to experience in nature. An elegantly printed deluxe gift book, it is a treasure for butterfly enthusiasts and art lovers alike.
When the book arrived, both my kids were excited. The big pages, the colorful photos, the minimalist designed pages. Each page had a beautiful, colorful, full-bodied, detailed photo of a butterfly. The coffee table sized book was perfect for the kids to look at together. They have sat together to discuss the book over 3 times this week. Unfortunately being sick I wasn't able to get a picture yet but I will so watch for my amended post.
I have started my list of favorite reviews and online finds that hopefully will make your holiday shopping easier and more manageable. Since sick leave took a week of my time, I will add to this list over the next few days.
Book Lovers:
Sherri Shepherd Permission Slips - Really funny book. Check out my review here.
Cozy Moments- This is my go to place for moisturizers. I wear one of her creams every single day. Love all of them. You will not be disappointed with her body butters.
JEWELRY LOVERS
Shining Stones - Beautiful pieces by artist Ellie Schoenberger
In March we reviewed a Friends Forever Girls Doll. Here is my review of the doll with pictures. The dolls are awesome and don't cost anywhere near some other dolls cost. They are the same size as American Girl Dolls which we also own but you get more buck for your dollar. Each doll comes with a book.
Educational and Fun books for children 6-12, check out the Miss Trimble Series by Lori Jordan-Rice. Here is my review.
Little Passports is a wonderful, fun way to teach your child about georgraphy. Plus, they receive a gift every month when you go with the Monthly Adventure Kits. Here is my review.
Zhu Zhu Pets are awesome! Cute, furry and no clean up. What more could you ask for in a pet? Here is my review.
DIFFERENT
Life on Record - A great gift! Record your thoughts on a CD for a loved one. Here is my review.
I love the idea of Wear Your Music.org. These one-size-fits-all, unisex guitar string bracelets come in all different colors! Made from real guitar strings, they really rock! Wear just one or stack on a ton! Great gifts for music lovers of all ages! Rock’n’Roll jewelry is here to stay! A percentage of the profits from these bracelets are donated to charities that support music. Looking to really wow them? How about a guitar string bracelet from their favorite singer, or guitar player? They have everyone from Adam Fink to Ziggy Marley and everyone in between.
Reynaud St. Aubyn has spent the last seven years in hellish captivity. Now half mad with fever he bursts into his ancestral home and demands his due. Can this wild-looking man truly be the last earl's heir, thought murdered by Indians years ago?
Beatrice Corning, the niece of the present earl, is a proper English miss. But she has a secret: No real man has ever excited her more than the handsome youth in the portrait in her uncle's home. Suddenly, that very man is here, in the flesh-and luring her into his bed.
Only Beatrice can see past Reynaud's savagery to the noble man inside. For his part, Reynaud is drawn to this lovely lady, even as he is suspicious of her loyalty to her uncle. But can Beatrice's love tame a man who will stop at nothing to regain his title-even if it means sacrificing her innocence?
In A Nutshell:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, sometimes the book summary just doesn't cut it. The reason I wanted to read this was because I reviewed To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt and loved it. Here is my review of that book.
Beatrice is a heroine we can all admire, her femininity, her class, her kindness, her honesty. She is the women we would all love to be. She has admired Reynaud's picture for years and now he has come back to reclaim his title and his property. However he is changed. His hair is longer, he has been tattooed on his face and he wears an earring. His exterior is nothing like the young man in the photo long presumed dead. Is he insane? Where was he? What happened to him? Can she save him from his demons? All these questions and more are answered in this sexy, romance from Elizabeth Hoyt.
She caught her breath.
The man had been tattooed. Three stylized birds of prey flew about his right eye, savage and wild. His commanding black eyes were closed, but his brows were heavy and slightly knit as if he disapproved of her even when unconscious. His beard was untrimmed and at least two inches long, but she made out the mouth beneath, incongruously elegant. The lips were firm, the upper one a wide, sensuous bow.
"My dear, please move away from that . . . that thing," Uncle Reggie said. He had his hand on her arm, urging her to get up. "The footmen can't remove him from the house until you move."
"They can't take him," Beatrice said, still staring at the impossible face.
"My dear girl . . ."
She looked up. Uncle Reggie was such a darling, even when red-faced with impatience. This might very well kill him. And her—what did this mean for her? "It's Viscount Hope."
Uncle Reggie blinked. "What?"
"Viscount Hope."
And they both turned to look at the portrait near the door. It was of a young, handsome man, the former heir to the earldom. The man whose death had made it possible for Uncle Reggie to become the Earl of Blanchard.
Black, heavy-lidded eyes stared from the portrait.
She looked back down at the living man. Though his eyes were closed, she remembered them well. Black, angry, and glittering, they were identical to the eyes in the portrait.
Beatrice's heart froze in wonder.
Reynaud St. Aubyn, Viscount Hope, the true Earl of Blanchard, was alive.
Hachette Book Group has bestowed on me the honor of giving five of my readers the chance to check out To Desire A Devil.
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* Blog about this contest and link back to me (provide the link in the comment) for two extra entries
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And they both turned to look at the portrait near the door. It was of a young, handsome man, the former heir to the earldom. The man whose death had made it possible for Uncle Reggie to become the Earl of Blanchard. 
