Month: December 2017

December 4, 2017

Throwing The Ultimate Family Music Night

Music is a powerful tool – it lifts up your spirits, brings people together and can inspire an individual. As a family we love listening to music and throwing impromptu music parties at home. It helps us to relax, unwind and bond – not to mention just giving us a chance to laugh and be silly together, which is something we are not always able to do with our busy work and sports schedules.

So how do you throw the ultimate fun family music night? Here are my top three tips!

MUSIC! Simple right but you need to make sure you have a great selection of fun, family friendly tunes that you can all dance and be silly to. For young kids, you need something that is exciting, educational, witty but age appropriate. We love listening to Will’s Jams – it is fun to dance to, easy to sing along to and great for all age groups.

Here is a clip from one of our favourite songs:

Snacks are also an important part of any family music night – hey you need to be hydrated and fuel up in order to have lots of energy, right? Make sure to have lots of healthy options for drinks and easy to eat snacks that won’t make a mess. We love popcorn, apples and juice, although the popcorn sometimes will end up all over the place. Having easy to eat, finger snacks makes set up and clean up that much easier.

Let go and be silly. Kids are amazing at just letting it all go, moving wildly and truly enjoy themselves. Parents need to learn to do this too!

Let go of embarrassment and show off all of your craziest dance moves – trust me your child will LOVE it! Our kids think our moves are the silliest (although we think they are the best moves ever) and it always leaves us all giggling and battling for the title of the Best Dancer of our Family Music Night. Make up the lyrics and dance moves as you go – try out your kids dance moves – anything goes on Family Music night!

It is so important for families to take time out of their busy schedules to focus on the most important thing in their lives – their relationships. Music is that amazing common ground that we all have that helps us to relax, get silly, have fun and bond over. Your child will love seeing this new side of you especially if you are not one to unwind as easily.

Looking for more family friendly music? Head over to Will’s Jams for more great music choices and make sure to connect on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the newest music and more.

Disclosure: I am a Will’s Jams ambassador and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.

December 4, 2017

The Rogue is Back in Town Book Review

In Book 3 of The Wayward Wallflower series, The Rogue is Back in Town, Lord Samuel Travis is back and let the games begin!

About The Rogue is Back in Town

Equal parts scoundrel and seducer, he’s returned to London determined to mend the rift with his older brother. All Sam must do is take possession of a tumbledown town house. A seemingly simple task, except the house is occupied―by an infuriating, whip-smart beauty who refuses to do his bidding.

Miss Juliette Lacey’s wallflower days are over. She has a plan to turn her eccentric family into the toast of the ton―but the devilishly handsome rake trying to oust them from their home thwarts her at every turn. How can one man be so vexing and make her simmer with desire?

As her attraction to Sam deepens, Julie’s problems grow―she may have, once upon a time, secretly shared a kiss with his honorable older brother. Suddenly, Julie’s caught between a rogue and a marquess, between passion and respectability. Torn between two brothers, what’s a girl to do?

My Thoughts

I have truly enjoyed the Wayward Wallflower series, these ladies are not your damsel in distress nor are they your typical proper London young lady. They are brave, bold, unique and not afraid to speak their minds. They know what they want and are determined in their convictions. They are also fully supported by their family and close friends in these convictions which is what makes them an outsider by society standards but amazing in any one else’s eyes.

In this story we have Juliette as our main character. She runs the home of her eccentric Uncle who took her and her sisters in when they were left alone in the world. While she is definitely young by any standards, she has given up on the thoughts of marriage especially after having her heart-broken by a man whom she thought was quite honourable.

Enter in Sam, who has one huge reputation with some of it earned and some of it not. His brother has given him one last task to redeem himself – evict the residents of a town home he has inherited. This home is Juliette’s Uncles, which they believe was gifted to them on their marriage. What he fails to tell Sam, is that he has an infatuation with Juliette and kissed her the season before and left no promises.

As the plot develops, we see a new side of Sam and realize that things are not always as they seem. Those who seem honourable are actually out for blood and are hiding dark secrets. They would do anything to ruin anyone that steps in their way. Juliette begins a race against time to find the deed to the town house and prevent her Uncle’s and her own life from crumbling apart. Sam has a huge decision to make – side with family or discover and honour the truth.

This was a well written and developed romance novel – the plot was very unique and fit the characters perfectly. This is one suspenseful romance you wont want to miss!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Anna Bennett started swiping romances from her mom’s bookshelf as a teenager and decided that books with balls, dukes, and gowns were the best. So, when she had the chance to spend a semester in London she packed her bags―and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance,but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.

Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anna found her way back to writing the stories she loves and won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart®. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children,who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. She is the author of My Brown-Eyed Earl.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

December 4, 2017

Twofer Murder Book Review

Twofer murder? What’s a twofer murder?

About Twofer Murder

Twofer Murder is a treat for fans of best-selling author Lauren Carr’s fast-paced mysteries! Lauren’s latest novel contains the main characters from her three successful series: Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose mysteries. The guys go away for a fishing weekend only to get caught up in the murder of a journalist investigating fraud at a timber company. Meanwhile, the ladies are spending the weekend in the presidential suite at a posh resort where Jessica Faraday is to accept a lifetime achievement award for her late grandmother at a murder mystery writers conference. But before they have time to get their facials, they get wrapped up in their own real mystery when an up and coming author ends up dead!

Lauren Carr’s Twofer Murder is a 2-for-1—making it a must-read for any mystery fan!

My Thoughts

Lauren Carr is by far one of my favourite authors to read. Her books are always fantastic with a great plot, full of suspense and completely different than anything I have read before. This book is all that plus more with a double murder and mystery! You get two for one in this novel and it is worth every moment.

In this novel, our favourite characters are all back but this time they are on a girls and guys trip away from home. The boys have gone on a fishing adventure (which in itself is quite hilarious as several of them are not your typical outdoorsmen and get up to quite a bit of trouble just fishing!) and find themselves caught up in a murder, fraud and an old fling. I personally liked their murder mystery the most in this novel. It has so many different layers that I never really saw the ending coming, which is my favourite part of the way that Lauren writes. Their murder mystery involves fraud in a timber company that has seen thousands of dollars being stolen from residents along with an affair that could destroy several people.

The girls have gone to a super posh hotel for a very exclusive writers conference where Jessica is set to accept a lifetime achievement on behalf of her late grandmother. When they arrive, they are greeted not very kindly by the man who was accused of murder and who was humiliated on television by her late grandmother. He is out for revenge! While there an up and coming author (whose story is very similar to the murder that he was accused for), turns up dead.

This was an amazing story that was rapidly evolving. I could not put this one down, I had to know what was going to happen and I was reading long into the night! This is a definite must read.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Book Trailer

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

December 4, 2017

Cathadeus Book Spotlight

In Cathadeus, it has been six hundred years since the Alchemists fused together men and beasts to form strong, mindless slaves.

About Cathadeus

It has been six hundred years since the Alchemists fused together men and beasts to form strong, mindless slaves. Now, their most vicious creations have attacked the mystical Walking Gates, slaughtering their Keepers and isolating their cities. Wounded in the brutal attack, Braxton Prinn’s mother is on the verge of death and he makes a desperate journey to find the reclusive elven master who can save her. But when he discovers an ancient magic, Brax is caught up in an even greater struggle and soon finds himself hunted for his power. Drawn into the chaos of an impending war and pursued by enemies on all sides, Brax must fight to save his mother and her race from slipping into darkness. Though his untamed magic may be the greatest threat of all.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Indiebound and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author

JEFF J. PETERS was born in South Africa and immigrated to the United States as a teenager, where he fell in love with all things fantasy. He obtained degrees in digital electronics and computer science and worked as an IT professional for more than twenty years. In 2014, he left his corporate position to focus full-time on writing. Cathadeus is his debut novel. He is currently working on the sequel.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I received no compensation for this post.

December 1, 2017

Rondi Bauer Olson’s ‘All Things Now Living’ Blog Tour and Giveaway

While on a scavenging trip with her father, Amy is accidentally trapped in New Lithisle in Rondi Bauer Olson’s All Things Now Living. At first her only goal is to escape, but when she meets Daniel, a New Lithisle boy, she begins to question how less-than-human the people of New Lithisle are. Amy’s feelings grow even more conflicted when she learns she didn’t end up in New Lithisle by mistake. Her father is secretly a sympathizer. Time is running short and Amy has to decide if she will bring the computer program her father wrote to his contact or save herself. Installing the program could prevent the dome’s collapse, but if Amy doesn’t find her father’s contact in time, she’ll die, along with everyone else.

Stay up all night reading this thrilling new book from Rondi and enter to win a Kindle Fire!

One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of All Things Now Living
A Kindle Fire

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on December 14. The winner will be announced December 15 on the Litfuse blog.