"I BELIEVE IN PINK! I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles."— Audrey Hepburn

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every night, friends. You have done what you could. Let it go.

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson


Monday, April 29, 2013

Cover Reveal! First, I love You...

Wow, So there it is! I promised I would wait until April 29, 2013. I did...Was it worth the wait!?! 

Here is the Blurb...


About the Book:

If Mario Puzo and Jane Austen crossed the time-space continuum and mated, FIRST, I LOVE YOU would be their literary baby.

Imagine being a detective with a mobster for a father, or a mobster with a straight arrow, good cop for a son. This is a relationship that is tricky on its best day. Add in some well-meaning meddling from a mob princess sister, an arrogant DEA agent, and gangsters running a human trafficking ring and you have a recipe for a book that refuses to follow the rules. Told from the perspective and point of view of each the six main characters this is the first novel in a trilogy about love, loyalty, revenge and redemption.

Omaha Detective Tommy Gates has kept his gangster father at arm’s length his whole life. Mickey Downey has spent the better part of the last two decades trying to find ways to get back the son he lost through Witness Protection. Now Tommy has taken an opportunity to work on a Federal Human Trafficking Joint Task Force in Chicago where his father lives. Tommy’s sister Kiki and his mother Mary see this as an opportunity to build a relationship between the two. Tommy’s new DEA partner James Hoffman sees it as an opportunity to gain leverage over Mickey Downey. Tommy’s other partner, FBI Agent Ginny Sommers wants to keep Tommy’s family as far from the case as possible. When Kiki and James join forces, sparks fly and it sets fire to a maelstrom of unexpected consequences for everyone involved.
One part Godfather, two parts Emma and a dash of Casablanca mixed together, FIRST, I LOVE YOU isn’t a detective novel, a gangster novel, a mystery, a romance or a family saga. It’s a little of all of the above.

FIRST, I LOVE YOU is available in print and digital format at all major eBook retailers.


I don't know about you, but it sounds like a great read to me:) I
can't wait...
Now a little info. on the author...
Author Bio:

Genevieve Dewey is the author of The Downey Trilogy (First, I Love You & Second of All) and the short stories Bird Day Battalion & V-Day Aversion. She is a wife, mother, sister, friend and Anthropologist. She was raised mostly in Nebraska, partly in Arizona. She has a Master’s in Anthropology and worked as an Applied Anthropologist for years (even ran her own research company for a while) before deciding to be a stay at home mom. She loves passionate (rational) debates, reading, and libraries… oh, and Chicago and high-heels and chocolate and target practice and gangster flicks and anything with the FBI in it and run-on sentences. She lives in Nebraska with her three brilliantly diabolical children and one incredibly funny husband.
You can find Gen online at: http://www.genevievedewey.com/
Goodreads                                                                           

So there you have it...I was provided with a couple of excerpts also...but this post is kind of long:) perhaps if I am invited to a blog tour I will share those also...I will just say that they were a lot of fun...I will be buying this one!!
So as always...


Sunday, April 28, 2013

Dioptics Solar Shield Sunglasses...

Kind of a strange subject for a blog, you think? Well, not so much...It is spring and the sun is shining...well, some of the time...lol...and if you are like me you need sunglasses even if the sun is not shining...sigh...Anyway, those aren't just any pair of sunglasses over there:) those are fit-overs  And just as the name suggests they are made to fit over your prescription glasses! So, when Vibrant nation's Vibrant Influencer Network offered to send me a free pair of Dioptics Solar Shield Sunglasses to use and review...well of course, I agreed... I have to admit, I was not convinced that they were going to work for me. I am very light sensitive and I have to have serious sunglasses!  I was a bit worried about that...I mean, here was this nice company sending me these nice glasses and I needed to do an honest review! What if I didn't like them!?! I needn't have worried:) First of all look at them...These are not your Grandparents Fit-Overs:) And they had a Pink pair! The are polarized! A must for me in the shades category...Now first, the color...I might have been a bit disappointed there...not really the fushia of the picture, but that's OK...
Next: coverage...they did a good job of fitting over my glasses and they are comfortable, not too heavy...They look great...Note: If you have large frames, these might not work, but just pay attention to the measurements when ordering yours...Speaking of ordering...mine were free but the list price for these is: 24.99 (very reasonable, I think, especially as they are polarized)
So to recap so far: They look great, feel great, and the cost is reasonable...
So, on to function...I believe that they function well. I was skeptical...they are not dark, but they still filter out the glare very well. I have been able to forgo my regular prescription sun lenses on a number of occasions without getting a migraine (this is stellar praise, indeed) I rarely had to squint behind them...another plus...squinting usually leads to migraines for me...On a midday at a ballgame or at the beach I would probably have to use my regular prescription lenses with the mirrored surface but under all other circumstances these work well! The convenience is wonderful, not switching glasses as you go in and out of doors:)
So overall, my conclusion is positive and I give these Dioptics Solar Shields Sunglasses a


That would be out of 5!
So that's it...I want to thank Vibrant Nation and Solar Shield for giving me this opportunity to review this product:) 



Monday, April 15, 2013

Blog Tour: The Practice Proposal! Giveaway!

THE PRACTICE PROPOSAL: Liza Sutherland isn't looking for love. Not from a charity-auction date she didn't even bid on and especially not with Nationals first baseman Cole Collins, the guy she obsessed over as an awkward teenager. She won’t get involved with a notorious player, no matter how attractive Cole is.
Cole Collins is up for contract renegotiation, but after too many late-night parties, he’ll need some positive publicity before he can make the roster. His agent, Frank, pitches Liza as the perfect prop…only Cole didn’t account for Liza no longer being just a teenager with a crush. She’s gorgeous and smart and he’s instantly hooked.
When Frank makes Liza a deal she can’t refuse—a bet she will fall in love with Cole or a cool half mil goes to charity—the game is on. But neither bet on the real feelings that surface. Could a fake fling turn into an official forever?

Buyer Links:)






WOW, so OK, I just had a blast with this book:) I loved it and had a lot of fun with it:) I just love baseball...It is my all time favorite sport! Not only that but the two teams involved in this book are my two home teams! I could not believe it! What fun! This was all a surprise to me when I picked up my ARC that I was sent for review...So, fun story, believable characters, fun characters that while not perfect, are very likable....I was really pulling for both of them. The only thing that would have made the story better? If the other team had won the series...No, I am not going to say which one! No spoilers here! Lol! 
But what fun! A battle of the Beltway World Series! Don't get me wrong, the main event here is the romance but baseball is a big part of all of the people in the book...Great fun as the backdrop...You do not need to know a lot about the game...Just sit back and enjoy this fun read...

I gave it...


Bet you could not have guessed that from my review...lol

So go back up to my links and pick it up! You won't regret it:)


Kindle Paperwhite Giveaway!

Monday, April 8, 2013

Blog Tour: Just for the Summer...

About JUST FOR THE SUMMER: His temptation. Her secret. Their summer. Dani Sullivan has come to Lake Bliss to write her latest cookbook…and to see if the baby she gave up for adoption eight years ago is happy. When she’s done with her reconnaissance, she plans to return to Detroit without any doubts about past decisions. But when she sees her little boy—indeed happy despite living with his single dad—she finds she can’t keep her promise to stay away…from her son or from his flirtatious father, who has no idea of her true identity. Recently divorced sheriff Matt Reagan is ready for a new relationship, but he doesn't want short-term—his son needs permanence, and so does Matt’s heart. Unfortunately, it’s the smart-mouthed and sinfully sexy Ms. Sullivan who catches his eye. But when Matt learns Dani’s secrets, will he still want her to stay? Or will her chance for love last just for the summer?
 Information: Title: Just for the Summer (Lake Bliss, #1) Author: Jenna Rutland Genre: Contemporary Length: 131 pages Release Date: March 2013 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62266-878-6 Imprint:
 Bliss Buy Links: 
            AMAZON
 B&N
                   IBOOKSTORE
                             BOOKS ON BOARD
     KOBO

So, that is the scoop according to the publicist...Now...as far as I am concerned...I loved this book! First of all, it is a quick read...which is fine...there is a little strife, OK a lot, when the truth comes out...but...well...I can't give away the ending, but I was happy with it:) The characters and the way they interact with each other are fun and believable. I really enjoyed getting to know each of them and I can see where there might even be room for a follow up involving a couple of the friends...I took this to the  gym with me and read it while on the treadmill...I read it again when I laid down for bed...  All in all I really enjoyed this book. I received this as an ARC to read for this tour and I am glad that I did. Don't pass this up! Go ahead and click on the links and pick it up! You won't regret it:) 

I give this little gem a:





Sunday, April 7, 2013

SO She's Gone...What do we do now!?!

May of us are asking ourselves this question even as we mourn this lovely young woman who passed away last Thursday at the age of 29 from Breast Cancer. Oh we know the answer to the question...we will keep doing what we are doing...even if it seems at times as though the work we do...the work that she did... is painstakingly slow...we will keep going. Why? Well, it did give our Bridget 8 more years of her life...and by all accounts they were good ones...ones worth living...for her and her family...Diagnosed at 21 as she graduated from College and just began to date the man that would some day become her husband...she also began the fight of her life. The one that finally ended last Thursday...Her family, and her "Big Man" as we all came to know him, and the rest of us also, came to realize that this was no ordinary woman. I know, none of us are...But this was no more evident than in the case of Bridget. I met her back in 2010 when I spoke at a Kome 3day event near DC...I had thought I might meet her and I had hoped to meet a couple of other people too...I did...and I blogged about it...of course I did...That post, remains to this day, probably my favorite post...Here it is...Why We Walk ...I happen to think it is one of the best I have ever written. I think it will remain that. It would mean a lot to me if you are taking the time to read this if you might find it in your heart to read that one too. (Thanks)

Bridget was always very upbeat and full of energy and also full of thank-fullness for all that we and Susan G Komen and the others were doing to help her and others like her...
The last time I was able to speak to Bridget was at the SGK Leadership Conference in 2012. She spoke to us all with such candor and such a smile and humor. We all know what a rough year that was for all of us with Komen...Both staff and volunteers...we had a lot to overcome...some could not understand why she stuck it out...well that is simple, she said, and I must paraphrase...she said basically that without Komen she would not be standing before us...she would not have been able to marry...nor have a puppy...nor a house...She teased Nancy Brinker, as no one else can, about the fact that she had not been born yet when certain things had been accomplished within Komen:) We all laughed with her...and Nancy...and the rest of us...gave her a standing ovation...later I was able to help Bridget look for jacket...lol...I. Know. Bridget. lol
Such an honor.
...
!And now this angel is gone!


Her "Big Man" in his darkest hour, thought to post on her blog to let the rest of us know... Thank you for that...Thank you also for sharing your Bridget with so many of us when I am sure that you would have liked to keep her to yourself:)
Bridget loved her pearls...she wore her 3day shirt and her pearls at the finish of the 3day walks and so we have had a project called "Pearls for Bridget"
We all feel as though we have failed our guiding light...
But we also know that we will not let her down now.
We will continue to...


So I will 

And I will be wearing my pearls in honor of our Bridget...