November 8, 2014
The Woman who Stole my Life by Marian Keyes #review
It is finally here! The new novel, The Woman who Stole my Life, by incredible author Marian Keyes hit stores November 6th, 2014!
About The Woman Who Stole My Life
Stella Sweeney is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life with her husband Ryan and their two teenage children in Dublin. She works with (or really for) her ambitious sister, Karen, in a beauty salon. None of this makes her unhappy but none of it really makes her happy. But then things start to change.
One day, Stella, attempting to do a good deed causes a car accident and faces down a bad tempered, handsome stranger. She hardly thinks twice on this incident. But karma is hovering over her and ready to change Stella’s life forever. She becomes ill and the stranger she hit enters into her life again. Stella’s world is thrown upside down – for better or worse, Stella has a new life. A thrilling, glamorous life – a life that others may covet.
My Thoughts
I fell in love with this novel within the first two chapters. Marian Keyes has the most fantastic writing style where each sentence feels like a conversation with the character – as if you are right there beside her experiencing each and every moment. Marian’s characters become a best friend – one that you can find yourself laughing with as well as crying with as you relate to the personal experiences that Stella is going through.
The story is told in the beginning in glimpses of present and past giving a very unique perspective into Stella’s life and how her mind works. Stella is just an ordinary mother and wife. She wants her children to exceed and puts the needs of her family before her own. She loves her snacks, her humour and the comfort of it all. She just does not realize how much happier she could be. When she realizes this and acts on her decision (an extremely brave act!) her whole world changes – the once selfless mother realizes in order to be happy she needs to follow her own heart. Without giving too much away, it is her own act of moving away from the wife role to follow her own dreams that we see the title of the book come in to play.
I loved this novel from start to finish. It was a novel that I lost myself in (literally – I did not put it down until 3am and I was suffering for it the next day at work!). At so many times I felt like I could relate to Stella and wanted to reach out and hug her (maybe have that glass of wine or two with her!).
Marian Keyes went above and beyond in her new novel, The Woman who Stole my Life, is one of her best pieces of work that you will fall in love and will want to read over and over again.
Rating: 5/5
If you are not following yet, make sure to check Penguin Canada on Twitter as well as Marian Keyes!!
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 5, 2014
Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey #review
A Grandmother’s last wish is to communicate God’s love through an Irish chain quilt in Quilted by Christmas.
About Quilted by Christmas
Taryn McKenna believes that she is easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows never to love again and throws herself in to her love of the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree – something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle school students that she teaches.
When Taryn’s Grandmother, Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project – an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?
My Thoughts
Jodie Bailey shares a heart warming tale in Quilted by Christmas. Young Taryn has been hurt so much in the past that she finds it hard to trust and love anyone. The only person to really know her is her Grandmother. When the love of her life returns to their hometown, Jemma knows she has her work cut out for her to help her Granddaughter learn to love again.
I loved the familial connection through the Irish chain quilt. It really helped to tie in Taryn’s past and present as well as the connection she has to her Grandmother. We are able to watch Taryn grow and open up her heart again but this is not met without it’s own hardships. Quilted by Christmas is a great read start to finish.
You can find more reviews on the Litfuse Blog tour here.
Rating: 4/5
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 5, 2014
RSVP to #EczemaAndMe Twitter Party #shop
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— Carla (@cvegnad) November 5, 2014
How To Participate In A Twitter Party on SoFabChats!
November 4, 2014
PAW Patrol:Winter Rescues is Coming to Canada! Review & Giveaway
Six heroic puppies have come to the rescue with their team leader, Ryder, in PAW Patrol: Winter Rescues!
On November 4th, the #1 show on Nick JR US is coming to Canada for the first time on DVD. PAW Patrol combines fun adventure with awesome cuteness.
The adorable puppies – Chase, Marshall, Rocky, Rubble, Zuma and Skye are back. Led by a super tech savvy ten year old named Ryder. They work together to protect the Adventure Bay community with the belief that “No job is too big, no pup is too small”. Which is the best lesson we can teach our children – that their actions and words count. If they try hard our children can succeed at almost anything.
In this snowy adventure, the pups and Ryder make a trip to Jake’s Mountain to save Alex and look for a snow monster!! The pups will have your little one problem solving and laughing right along with the shows.
The show also places a strong focus on citizenship, social skills and problem-solving, teaching kids that working together helps get any job done – the perfect movie for your little one to not only enjoy but also learn from.
PAW Patrol: Winter Rescues will be the perfect addition under your Christmas tree this year. Our youngest son was literally screaming and jumping up and down when his copy was delivered to the door. He could not wait to pop the copy in the player to watch.
Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) can now enter to win their own copy of PAW Patrol: Winter Rescue AND PAW Patrol swag. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below – good luck!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 4, 2014
Our Christmas Traditions with Kinder Surprise #KinderMom #giveaway
Wow – just like that Halloween is over and it has actually started snowing. Yes – snowing! We had little snowflakes coming down over the weekend. It is now time to start looking forward to the holiday season – yay!
The holiday season is a fantastic time for families to focus on quality family time and the love between each of us. We are able to shower our families with love and show them how much they mean to us. Homemade gifts are always a huge hit under the tree for us.
One of my favourite family traditions is our stockings! I loved waking up to find my stocking by my bedroom door full of special goodies picked out just for me – including chocolate goodies (yup – my chocolate love goes way back!). Now every year we include delicious chocolate Kinder eggs in the boy’s stockings. I love the Kinder eggs that come in Christmas tree shapes – they fit perfectly in the stockings.
Our family tradition of Advent calendars will continue this year with the Kinder Advent Calendars. Not familiar with Advent calendars? This is one tradition that you will love. The Advent calendars are used to help countdown to Christmas Eve and behind each day’s door is a chocolate surprise. Our boys have always loved their calendars and the bonus is all month long the boys get to work on recognizing numbers.
The Giveaway!
This month we want to spoil you with a Kinder Surprise Pack. One Working Mommy Journal fan will win a prize pack that includes:
One KINDER® Advent Calendar
One KINDER® Hollow Santa with SURPRISE®
One KINDER® SURPRISE® 100g Christmas egg
One KINDER® SURPRISE® MAXI 150g egg
Sounds awesome, right?! So hurry up and enter now for a chance to win! Don’t forget – you can enter as many Kinder Surprise giveaways during the month of November from the Kinder Family but you can only win once 🙂 Good luck!
Disclosure: I am a #KinderMom/Maman/Dad who is part of the KINDER® Canada influencer team; as part of my affiliation with KINDER® Canada, I am provided with special perks and products. All thoughts and opinions are my own.