ENTER THE LUCK OF THE IRISH- $250 CASH GIVEAWAY

Luck of the Irish – $250 Cash Giveaway

An Amazing Group of Authors & Bloggers have joined up to bring you 1 fabulous prize!!

Need a little extra luck this year?  Here is your chance to win some cash!

1 lucky winner will receive $250 in Paypal Cash!

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Sponsor List

I Am A Reader
Laurie Here - Cont Fiction and MORE
Read Now Sleep Later
Leisure Reads
TMBA Corbett Tries to Write
Lori's Reading Corner
Simple Wyrdings
J.L. Weil
Here We Go Again...Ready?
{A Leisure Moment} A Casual Conversation About Our Love For Literature
Author Deb Atwood
YA Author Fabio Bueno
Stacy Claflin, Author
Kim's Cozy Book Nook
Aubrey Wynne: Romantasy Through The Ages
Taylor Dean Books
MK McClintock
Melissa M. Frye
Unshelfish
Amiabooklover
The Discerning Reader
My Book Self
A Tattered Copy
Craves the Angst Book Blog
Joyce DiPastena
MyLadyWeb: Women Authors, Women's History
Lise McClendon - Author
Danielle Thorne
Author Ednah Walters
Raven Haired Girl
Dianne Venetta ~ Romantic Adventure
Kary Rader
Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Helena @ Book Nerd Addict
Ann Swann - Suspense
Books R Us
Bella Street Time Travel Romance
More Than A Review
Danielle Annett
Pauline Creeden, Author
Diana's Book Reviews
Krysten Lindsay Hager author
InspiredBooksGuide
Author Georgina Young-Ellis



Giveaway Details

$250 Paypal Cash

Ends 3/31/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF DIAL MRACLE OIL BODY WASH

I am a Purex Insider and get to try new products. I was given the Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash to try and I was impressed how well it smelled and worked.  It is infused with Marula oil and has a scent that will appeal to both men and women. I have used other body washes that left my skin feeling greasy but this product was different. It lathers well and rinses clean. This moisturizing soap left my skin soft and smooth. It also worked great as a shave cream so I do not have to buy a separate shave cream.

Follow Dial on:
Facebook 
Twitter

Would you like to try this great family body wash? Enter my contest!



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The Dial Brand provided me with a sample of Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash in exchange for a product review. However, all the opinions expressed here are my own
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REVIEW OF SPAS PREMIUM DEAD SEA MUD MASK

I have always known that Dead Sea Mud was beneficial to your skin but I never had the opportunity to try the product. Thanks to Spa's Premium, I had the opportunity to try the product. Let me tell you a little bit about the product (As per Amazon).

• Dead Sea Mud Mask with Six Organic All-Natural Extracts to not only make your skin look great, but reduce signs of aging and help heal your skin - Shea Butter, Aloe Vera Juice, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba Oil, Hickory Bark Extract and Calendula Oil.
• Not just for your face - this Dead Sea Mud Mask can be used wherever you have skin that needs treatment such as for back acne, dry ankles and cracked elbows!
• Helps relieve symptoms of mild to severe eczema and helps soothe symptoms of itching, burning and unwanted discomfort from dry skin.
• Keeps your pores clean to help you fight acne and oily skin and keep your skin looking youthful and vibrant!
• Comes in a convenient, easy to pack container, so you can take your Dead Sea Mud Mask with you everywhere - like camping, traveling or on vacation, and it's easily washed off so that you can use it anywhere!

 My Thoughts:

The product was very easy to apply and felt very cool. The texture reminded me of pudding. It was a bit runny until stirred. A little goes a long way. At first it it felt wet and slimy but it dried very quickly. I could feel the pulling on my skin as it dried. I even tried it on my elbows and ankles with good results. It rinsed off easily after I kept it on for 15 minutes. The tight feeling remained for a while but my skin was soft and refreshed. I had used it several times and still have plenty in the jar.
The Spa's Premium Dead Sea Mud Mask. retails on Amazon for $19.95 for an 8 ounce job.


Disclaimer:
I was sent a sample of the product for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.
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REVIEW OF PUREX POWERSHOT DETERGENT (CONTEST)

Tired of measuring and spilling your laundry detergent then give Purex's Power Shot Detergent a try. This is a new concentrated detergent that does the measuring for you. This is the only bottle that automatically dispenses the right amount of detergent for you so you do not waste detergent. 

All you have to do is open the cap, flip the bottle to deliver the detergent, flip the bottle back over and you are ready to pour the next dose. Now that is easy!! It also comes in 2 fragrances that you will love: Mountain Breeze, and Natural Elements Linens & Lilies.

This was very easy to use. Just follow the directions and you will not be over measuring and wasting detergent.It was a little weird at first because I did not know if if got the right amount of the detergent out of the bottle but I figured it out quickly. I was provided with the detergent in Mountain Breeze my favorite scent. I have always been a fan of Purex Detergent and this product has not let me down.  All of my clothes were clean and fresh. Still confused Check out the video below.



Purex is hosting a fantastic sweepstakes and you could win a Washer and Dryer.

• Three grand prize winners will receive a Whirlpool® Washer & Dryer set
• 300 runner-up winners will get a free bottle of NEW Purex® PowerShot™ Detergent
• We’ll also email you a $1.00 off coupon when Purex® PowerShot™ Detergent is available at your favorite retailer.

 Enter here to win a coupon to try the product for yourself. Open to USA only. Contest ends 2/7/15 @11:59 PM EST. Good Luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclaimer: I was provided a free bottle of the Power Shot Detergent by Purex for my honest review. All of my opinions are my own.
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REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF SMILE BRILLIANT TEETH WHITENING SYSTEM

 Because I love coffee and tea, I am prone to stained teeth. I have tried whitening toothpaste, and dental strips but they did not work very well for me. Let me introduce you to the Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening System.

Complete set with one impression made.

Smile Brilliant provides lab direct, custom-fitted teeth whitening trays and whitening gel from the comforts of home. There is no need to visit a dentist and spend $600+ on the same professional teeth whitening service.

 Everything I needed came in the Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening kit. The teeth molding process was easy. I rubbed together two putties that were sent to me in the whitening kit. They were two different colors, and when mixed together, they activated and began to harden.  

IMPRESSIONS

BEFORE

I put the putty into blue trays and carefully bit down on the material to make impressions. The instructions were easy to follow and if you made a mistake there was additional putty to make another impression. I let the impressions harden overnight, and then mailed them back to Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening in the envelope provided.

A week later I received 2 custom fitted trays that fit my teeth perfectly. After reading the instructions, I filled the trays with the whitening gel and placed them in my mouth. You cannot even see that the trays are in my mouth unless you look closely but boy did I talk funny! 

TRAYS IN PLACE

 At first, I could not keep the trays in for more than 30 minutes due to some gum sensitivity. Included in the kit were some desensitizing gel that did help with the sensitivity. After discussing the problem with the representative from the company, I decided to use the product every other day and I was able to keep the trays on longer. It is recommended to keep the trays on for 20 minutes to 3 hours. Using the desensitizing gel was very beneficial and had a great taste. I used the system every other day for approx 2 weeks and I was impressed with the results. I still have some gel for touch ups in the future.I keep the gels in the refrigerator as recommended by the manufacturer and both gels feel better on my teeth and my gums.

AFTER 2 WEEKS

Prize = $139.95 store credit which is equal to our Teeth Whitening Trays + 3 whitening gel syringes and 3 desensitizing gel syringes or the Teeth whitening Trays + 6 whitening gel syringes.  The winner will be given a code to use at checkout and they can change the selection but they will have to pay the difference.

Contest ends on 2/17/15-

 

Disclaimer:

I was given a teeth whitening kit for my honest review and I was not compensated in any way.

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BOOK BLITZ FOR UNREMEMBERED THINGS BY RACHEL TSOUMBAKOS (CONTEST OPEN INTERNATIONALLY)

Unremembered Things by Rachel Tsoumbakos

Unremembered Things (Wood Nymph Chronicles #1) by Rachel Tsoumbakos
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Blurb

One woman, two worlds and nothing but UNREMEMBERED THINGS separating them.

Indiana Shamira has a dark secret that could shatter her version of reality and get her killed in the process. Now if only she could remember what it is…

When Indiana wakes with no memory of her past life and a vampire called Sam hanging from the rafters in her cellar, she knows things are about to get nasty. Not only does Sam know all about her previous life, but he seems intent on seducing her as well. Of course her boyfriend, Kurt, has different ideas – like making her open the portal to hell!

And then there is the nagging suspicion that Indiana is not entirely human, now she can see ghostly images from the Otherworld. Or could it be from the life she can no longer remember? They include the flickering effigy of Kurt and a redwood forest that conjures up deeply repressed magic.

Not only will Indiana have to risk everything to keep the door to another dimension closed, she will have to decide whether she is ready to lose her heart to someone who has more secrets than herself.

Set in the lush Australian bush, UNREMEMBERED THINGS is a fusion of fantasy, paranormal and forbidden romance.

Add to GoodReads

Purchase (Pre-order)

AMAZON

Excerpt

“It is time.” Her voice purred like a kitten, but Indiana suspected she was really a feral animal on the inside.

“For what?” Her voice was raspy, hesitant and unsure if she really wanted to know the answer. Somewhere, deep inside, she suspected she already knew.

“Just remember I’m doing this for us,” Sam whispered into her ear. “So we can be together forever.”

Before Indiana could question him further, she felt a flurry of hands over her body. Indiana tried to open her eyes, but a warm hand reached up and carefully covered them.

Indiana was bitten – hard, and she groaned in pleasure. Shocked by her unexpected display, she clutched her hands outwards. Feeling the writhe of skin on skin, she tried to pull herself free. The tickle of fingers across her neck and down her spine calmed her with their warm familiarity.

“It’s okay, Indiana.”

The feathery words danced across her skin, warm like a summer breeze. She stilled and let Sam’s fingers intertwine with her own, relieved by his simple touch.

Time seemed to move forward and Indiana was presented with brief snippets of fleeting images; Camilla biting Sam, biting her. Indiana enjoying the pain of Camilla’s sharp teeth as they gnashed at her neck, her thighs and her wrist. The flurry of skin and hands and teeth as they writhed together in the height of passion. Pale hands slithered over her own luminescent skin, then Sam’s darker skin brushed against her own, warming her and protecting her but against what she was unsure.

Then Camilla poised over Sam, a knife in her hand. A flash of blood as it splayed out from a gaping neck wound. Indiana’s involuntary gasp and then choking sob at the sight of the cavernous hole. Hungry sucking as Camilla drank her fill. A warm hand, its fingers still laced through hers, slowing turning ice cold.

Giveaway

PRIZE (international):

• 1 x eCopy of Unremembered Things
• 1 x eCopy of Metanoia
• 1 x eCopy of The Ring of Lost Souls
• 1 x $10 Amazon gift card

About the Author

Rachel Tsoumbakos is a stay home mother of two.

Her main passions are writing, reading and organic gardening. Rachel lives with her husband, two kids, three cats and eight chickens in the hills surrounding Melbourne, Australia.

While she has had several articles published through mainstream magazines, she has also written extensively for True Blood Net and the now defunct Suite 101.

When she is not tending to her organic veggie garden, she is working on her cardio as she trains for the zombie apocalypse.

Author Links

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | GOOGLE + | PINTEREST

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ENTER THE PUREX POWERSHOT DETERGENT SWEEPSTAKES (WIN A WHIRLPOOL WASHER AND DRYER)

NEW Purex® PowerShot™ Detergent does the measuring for you!

Enter the sweepstakes & sign-up to receive a $1 off coupon

• Three grand prize winners will receive a Whirlpool® Washer & Dryer set
• 300 runner-up winners will get a free bottle of NEW Purex® PowerShot™ Detergent
• We’ll also email you a $1.00 off coupon when Purex® PowerShot™ Detergent is available at your favorite retailer

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ENTER TO WIN A GIFT CARD OR A BOOK FROM THE BOOK DEPOSITORY IN THE MIDWINTER'S EVE GIVEAWAY HOP (INT)

Welcome to the Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop hosted by Bookhounds and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer!

There are so many blogs participating in the Giveaway Hop . You will find some nice book related items being given away. There is a linky at the end of this post.  After you've entered here, hop on over to the next blog on the list and keep going as long as you'd like!  The more you enter, the more likely you are to win.Good luck and have fun!

 
I am giving away to TWO lucky readers your choice of either A-

 

$15 gift certificate to buy books. (Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com or any other online retailer of your choice that sells books and has a way for me to send you a $15 online gift certificate USA ONLY).

OR

 
 


If you live Internationally and can't use a US gift certificate. You can purchase a book up to $15.00 at The Book Depository


IF YOU CAN NOT SEE THE LIST OF BLOGS BELOW PLEASE CLICK HERE.



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SAVE 25% ON PUREX DETERGENT AT TARGET STORES #CARTWHEEL #COUPON

 

It's the season of giving, and your we're sure your family and friends would love this fantastic coupon offer!

Now through the December 27th, get 25% off any Purex detergent at Target stores with a #Cartwheel coupon! Click link below!

 COUPON

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ENTER TO WIN $250 IN THE JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME CASH GIVEAWAY

An Amazing Group of Authors & Bloggers have joined with me to bring you 1 fabulous prize!!

1 lucky winner will receive $250 Cash!

Christmas Cash Sponsor List

I Am A Reader
Feed Your Reader
eBooksforReview
The Discerning Reader
Unshelfish
A Tattered Copy
Helen Smith (author)
BoookBunnyPR
The Lovely Books
J. Thorn
Pauline Creeden, Author
Alex Siegel
Jennifer Faye, Romance Author
BabsBookBistro
Hope to Read
Caroline Clemmons
Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Laurie Here - Cont Fiction and MORE
Literary Winner
Author Ednah Walters
Julia E. Antoine
Melissa Haag YA Author
Author Inger Iversen
Krysten Lindsay Hager author
MoreThanaReview
Glistering Bs Blog
ScrapBlog!
MyLadyWeb: Women Authors, Women's History
Aubrey Wynne: Historical Romance
Books R Us
Once Upon a Twilight
KellysLuckyYou.com
Author Wendi Sotis
Claudia Burgoa Author
Author Cindy C Bennett
LeahSay's Views
Chris Eboch
Lise McClendon - Author



Giveaway Details

$250 Paypal Cash

Ends 12/22/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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ENTER TO WIN $ 250 IN THE THANKFUL FOR CASH GIVEAWAY

An Amazing Group of Authors & Bloggers have joined together to bring you 1 fabulous prize

1 lucky winner will receive $250 Cash!

Sponsor List

I Am A Reader
eBooksforReview
Librarian Lavender
Unshelfish
The Discerning Reader
Camelia Miron Skiba
Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Ask Away
Barefoot by the Sea
Addicted Readers
Sarah Ballance
MoreThanaReview
Aubrey Wynne: Historical Romance
D.E. Haggerty author
Laurie Treacy, Author
Sydney Strand
AuggieTalk
A Fortress of Books
Laurie Here - Cont Fiction and MORE
Monique Bucheger
Kelsey Ketch
KellysLuckyYou
Books R Us
Lori Reading Corner
Kelvin O'Ralph
Author Barbara Silkstone



Giveaway Details

$250 Paypal Cash

Ends 12/15/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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--




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INTERVIEW OF ALLEN WYLER AUTHOR OF DEADLY ODDS- A THRILLER

I want to welcome Allen Wyler to Books R Us. Allen is the author of Deadly Odds
a new thriller that features a young hacker in a cyber-terrorism plot. Check back soon for my review and a giveaway.



                            Interview by Allen Wyler

 
Q: How did you come up with the idea of the story?

     A: The first novel I ever wrote was based on this story’s kernel: a geek who develops a strategy to successfully gamble draws unwanted attention to himself. But that novel turned out to be disaster and was rejected by every agent I queried. However, the idea of being able to beat the odds remained intriguing yet elusive. Then one day I read about Nate Silver and his uncannily ability to accurately predict various phenomenon based on statistics. After all, this was what the 2011 Brad Pitt movie Moneyball was based on. Once I read about Silver, I knew the plot was much more believable.

 Q: What influenced you to create a computer hacker protagonist than the usual medical professional?

A: There are several reasons. First, I don’t like being pigeonholed into the sub-genre of “medical thriller.” In addition, it’s unbelievable to believe that a healthcare professional would have the computer expertise—or time—to pull off something like Arnold Gold does. More importantly, in doing my research for this story, I became fascinated with the Darknet and Internet security. I really wanted a way to weave this interesting information into a compelling story. So... a likeable computer hacker seemed to be a much more interesting character to develop than another neurosurgeons. I love Arnold Gold’s character and am really glad I settled on him.

Q: Why Vegas? Have you always wanted to write a book with Sin City as the setting?

A: When first developing the story I didn’t have any city in mind other than I knew Arnold lived in Seattle. (I love the city as a backdrop to stories.) Arnold was so uneasy about seeing an “escort” that it made sense for him to go someplace far from home where he’d be unlikely to run into anyone he knew. Given the reputation of Sin City, it just felt right to send him there.

Q: Do you plan on writing more thriller books outside of the medical thriller genre?

A: You bet. I like exploring topics dealing with computers and the Internet. I’m
especially intrigued with hacking and the Darknet. My next book, Cutter’s Trial,
however, is not a thriller and lands me right back in the medical arena because it
explores the issue of physician assisted suicide. Having been involved in a couple start-up companies, I’m also toying with using that subject as a basis for a book, but I have nothing in development along these lines at the present time. We’ll see what happens.

Q: Would you ever consider a sequel to this book?

A: Glad you asked the question. Both Arnold Gold and Palmer Davidson are such
wonderfully rich characters that Robert Astle (my agent) and I agree they are well-suited for a sequel. At the moment I’m busy writing Deadly Odds 2.0.

Q: Do you think this book could be a movie? Who could you picture playing Arnold?

A: Of all my prior thrillers, I think this one has the most cinematic potential. I’m lousy at casting, so if it were ever made into a movie (my wildest dream), I’d leave that choice to the producers.

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REVIEW OF PUREX CRYSTALS AROMATHERAPHY IN WASH LAUNDRY ENHANCER

.

Purex Crystals Aromatherapy is available in 3 magnificent scents, which will eliminate laundry odors and boost your mood.


You can get them in Energy, Well Being, and Serenity

Well Being brightens any mood with the happy fragrance of fresh blossoms.
Energy helps you tackle any day with the stimulating power of citrus.
Serenity keeps you calm all day long with the gentle scent of water-lilies.

Add Purex Crystals Aromatherapy into your washer’s tub (top, front-loading, or HE) at the start of the wash and it works with your laundry detergent. This allows the crystals to infuse your clothing with a scent that lasts for weeks, not days.

 I have been using the crystals (Well Being Scent) for a few weeks now and I am impressed in how it works. My clothes smell fresh and clean even after sitting in the closet for over a week. The product worked great even if I added less to each load. I was afraid that the crystals may damage some clothing but that was not the case.

Disclosure: 

The Purex corporation provided me with a free sample of the product for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.
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GET WICKED WITH ENTANGLED BLOG HOP- ENTER TO WIN A $10 AMAZON GC (USA ONLY)

Welcome to the Get Wicked With Entangled Blog Hop! You’ll want to check out all the participating blogs listed below so that you don’t miss out on the fun and treats.

I am giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card to ONE lucky reader so you can buy a special treat for your self.

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WIN AN GIFT CARD OR A BOOK FROM THE BOOK DEPOSITORY IN THE SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAY HOP (INTERNATIONAL)

THE WINNERS ARE ANITA Y AND JACKIE

There are so many blogs participating in the Giveaway Hop . You will find some nice book related items being given away. There is a linky at the end of this post.  After you've entered here, hop on over to the next blog on the list and keep going as long as you'd like!  The more you enter, the more likely you are to win. I want to thank the host of the hop I am A Reader Not a Writer. Good luck and have fun!

I am giving away to TWO lucky readers your choice of either A-

 

$15 gift certificate to buy books. (Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com or any other online retailer of your choice that sells books and has a way for me to send you a $15 online gift certificate USA ONLY).

OR

 
 


If you live Internationally and can't use a US gift certificate. You can purchase a book up to $15.00 at The Book Depository.

IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE SEEING THE LINKY BELOW CLICK HERE.
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REVIEW OF CHANCES CHOICES CHANGES DEATH BY CONNIE KNIGHT

I want to welcome Connie Knight to Books R Us. Connie is the author of Cemetery Whites and her newest book Chances Choice Changes Death. Thanks for stopping by  


About the Book:

Myra Cade is a single mother, living with her father, Doug, and raising her son, Scott. She mostly keeps to herself and really has no time for anyone else. But shortly after serving paternity papers to Danny, the suspected father of Scott, she’s found dead at the side of the road in the country. Caroline
and her cousin Janet, who are taking Western riding lessons at the nearby Robinson Ranch, find themselves drawn into the murder investigation and looking for the missing boy and the murderer.

About the Author:

Connie Knight grew up in San Antonio, Texas, with many childhood visits to her family in DeWitt County. Cemetery Whites is based on memories and stories shared, but all characters in this mystery novel are fictional, and so are the events.
Ms. Knight began writing in junior high, studied English and journalism in college, and worked for newspapers, magazines, and public relations departments. Cemetery Whites is her first Caroline Hargrove Hamilton Mystery novel, followed recently by Chances Choices Changes Death.

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Ms Knight wrote a crafty and fantastic mystery. The main character Caroline tells the story in first person and adds numerous clues along the way. I was never bored and the flow did not lag even when the storyline changes to Danny. I have always been a fan of mysteries and the story was well written and kept me engaged. The way the author incorporated horses and the ranch theme into the storyline added to the story. I recommend this book.   

 Connect with Connie:

Authors site.
Facebook.
Twitter.
Amazon Site.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review
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OCTOBER IS SENSORY AWARENESS MONTH- (LIFE IS NOT TYPICAL- BY SINGER JENNIFER SHAW)

               Life Not Typical: Dealing with Sensory Processing Disorder

by Jennifer Shaw

 October is Sensory Awareness Month. The following is an editorial from Jennifer Shaw whose son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. Jennifer is a Telly Award winning performer, Billboard Top 40 singer/songwriter, and author of the book Life Not Typical: How Special Needs Parenting Changed My Faith and My Song , an official resource of Autism Speaks. Visit her online at www.jennifershaw.com. 

Last month my son Toby turned 10.  He had a party with pizza and cake and ice cream, and a sleepover afterwards with all his friends.  Sounds pretty typical, but it was actually a miracle.  There was a time when Toby could not dream of eating any of those things, a time when we never thought he would be able to leave our home to attend school, let alone have a party and friends who loved playing flashlight tag with him in our backyard.  In fact, there was a time I didn’t think Toby would ever walk on grass. 
Ten years ago, I was the mother of two beautiful girls and was thrilled to add a son to our family. When Toby was born after a difficult and dangerous pregnancy we were especially thankful that he was healthy. He seemed to be a very unhappy baby compared to our girls, but we hoped he would grow out of it.

The first indication that something was out of the ordinary was when we could not get him to eat any food. I had nursed him without any problems, but when we introduced baby foods, it was a daily struggle that we lost. We also noticed that he never babbled or made any sounds and he rarely smiled. Eventually it was clear that he was very speech-delayed, but because he had suffered from repeat ear infections which caused clinical deafness during his first year, we attributed a lot of his irritability to pain and hoped that when his hearing improved, his speech would come along. After surgery on his ears, his hearing did get better and the infections went away, but he still did not make any sounds.

During Toby's second year, my father was dying of ALS and that took much of our emotional energy so we did not react as quickly to the signs we were seeing in Toby as we might have otherwise. Still, Toby's behavior was getting more and more extreme. He wouldn't touch anything or play. He did not want to be touched. He was terrified of being messy or being anywhere near things like grass or sand. A drop of water on his clothing would make him scream. It became really frightening and we did not know how to help him.

When Toby turned two, we started him at a therapy school for speech delay. There was an occupational therapist on staff and she was the first to diagnose him with Sensory Processing Disorder (previously known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction). Toby's brain was not interpreting sensory input correctly. People with this disorder can suffer in a variety of ways, but in Toby's case, he was extremely hyper-sensitive to touch of any kind. Food in his mouth, clothes on his skin, crumbs on his hands were all completely intolerable to him –his brain told him they were “hurting” him. He was completely terrified of his world and shutting down.

Toby began play-based occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy (because he didn't touch things or play and had poor balance his muscles were very weak), and food therapy. Within two months my son who had no sounds said, “I love you, mom,” and within a year, Toby's progress was nothing short of miraculous. He spent years in therapy, but by age six, he had been discharged from all of it, and attended kindergarten as a typical kid. At the time, he still had some minor issues that we continued to work on at home, and now at age 10, there is nothing left of his SPD.  It is literally a miracle in our lives.

I am a speaker and musician, not a doctor or therapist, but we learned a lot of things along the way that I share with people who suspect this condition in their own children. There is so much hope if you know where to look, and although Toby's outcome is not typical, there is help for every child with this diagnosis. So here’s my advice:

Be attentive. Do not ignore the signs, even if you don't know what they mean. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but some of the symptoms of SPD are speech delay, poor coordination, poor balance, avoiding touch or seeking touch in extreme ways (running into walls or falling down on purpose, running into people), extremely picky eating or extremely messy eating, irritability or a “difficult” personality. SPD is often misdiagnosed, especially in older children or less severe cases, as ADD or ADHD. 
Be diligent. Do not wait, even when your pediatrician tells you to. After everything we went through with Toby, my pediatrician (whom I love and really respect) told me that she gave me the wrong advice by advising me to wait for Toby to catch up. This may be good advice for many problems, but SPD is not one of them. Early intervention is critical, and treatment is so much more effective before the age of three that you cannot afford to waste time. If you suspect something, get tested by an occupational therapist – if they say there's nothing to worry about, fine, but if not, you have not wasted valuable time for therapy.

Be willing to ask for help. There is a federal program for ages 0-3 developmentally-different children available in every state. It goes by many different names; ours in Ohio was “Help Me Grow.” They will do testing and help get your child into therapy programs, many of which are free if you qualify. You can call the special needs department at your local school district and they are usually able to tell you who operates the program in your area. If your child is over the age of three, help is available through your local school district's special needs department. Also, take advantage of any therapy coverage on your insurance plan. We were very surprised by what was and was not covered. 
Be an expert. Find out all you can, and do everything you can to support your child's progress. Talk to your therapists about what you can do at home, watch the therapy whenever possibly, and ask a lot of questions. We were able to overcome a lot of Toby's issues only because we worked on it every day with techniques we had learned from our therapists.

Be patient. This is not a quick fix. For example, Toby was literally afraid of food. Since we were not usually able to get him to stay in the same room with us while we ate, sitting down and eating a meal was out of the question. So first, we worked on getting him to be with us in the room at meals, then getting him to sit at the table, then allowing us to put food on the plate, then touching the food with a fork, then touching it to his tongue before finally tasting it. It took many months of frustrating moments, but eventually, my son ate a healthy diet and enjoyed mealtimes with our family. Today, our family meals remain extraordinarily important to us because we know not to ever take it for granted.

Be hopeful. Dealing with special needs can be very lonely and frightening. Our faith in God and our church community truly held us together at times. The other parents of special needs children at Toby's school were also a wonderful source of support. Realizing we were all dealing with similar challenges and emotions helped us see that we weren't alone. They were also a wonderful resource for practical ideas as we all talked about what was working or not working for our children.

Be courageous. Don't give up. SPD can be overwhelming and confusing. It can be hard to navigate the therapy system. Every therapy will not work for every child and you will need to be careful and wise about your choices. Take comfort in knowing that there is help and things can improve. You are your child's best advocate, and your child needs you. 
This past summer I was a speaker at a Joni and Friends camp which ministers to families dealing with disabilities.  I shared my story with the mothers and afterwards, a woman came up to me.  She said, “I have a four year old who has severe SPD and high functioning autism.  Three months ago, I gave up.  Your story has helped me know that I shouldn't.”  I pray that our experience will help other parents to know that there is hope for children with SPD. 



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REVIEW OF THE NEWEST ALBUM BY TRAIN- BULLETPROOF PICASSO (#BulletproofPicasso and #O2O)

                                  

I have always been a fan of the group Train. Thanks to Sony and the One2One network, I had the opportunity to review their newest album Bulletproof Picasso. All of their albums are so uplifting and inspirational and their newest album is no different. My favorite track is Bulletproof Picasso but they are all quite good. Check out the video of the song. You will not be disappointed.

                    


The album goes on sale September 16th but you can preorder the album on Amazon and Itunes. 


Train will be on QVC on September 5th at 5pm EST for a live performance  You do not want to miss this.

Tracklisting for Bulletproof Picasso:
 
1. Cadillac, Cadillac
2. Bulletproof Picasso
3. Angel In Blue Jeans
4. Give It All
5. Wonder What You're Doing For The Rest Of Your Life
6. Son Of A Prison Guard
7. Just A Memory
8. I'm Drinkin' Tonight
9. I Will Remember
10. The Bridge
11. Baby, Happy Birthday
12. Don't Grow Up So Fast

Record Release Shows:

9/5 5pm ET Live 1-hour performance on QVC
9/17 Los Angeles, CA Pantages Theatre
9/18 Los Angeles, CA Pantages Theatre
9/21 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
9/22 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
9/25 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall



Disclosure:
I participated in the Train Bulletproof Picasso album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own. 
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