Claimed by Him by Red Garnier

Claimed by Him (A Billionaire's Club #1) 

by Red Garnier

Graves Buchanan has had to climb farther and higher than any of his friends, single handedly becoming a billionaire in less than two decades, even with a rotten poor childhood in the streets. He likes sex the way he learned it; animal, raw and without any strings attached. But even as messed-up as he is, he cares deeply for his best friend’s baby sister, Chloe Lexington. But Chloe is an heiress, a ‘princess’, and no matter how much he wants her, Graves doesn't think he has it in him to handle a girl like her.

But Chloe has other plans for him, and she’s not taking no for an answer. She’s been warned against Graves by her brother, Daniel, and against all of his eccentric billionaire friends, but Chloe has merely been biding her time. Now that she’s almost twenty-five, she’s determined to have the man she’s always wanted, and she’ll use anything as incentive to be claimed by him, at last.

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N

My Thoughts:

This book was amazing! It's a short read, only about 100 pages, but it feels like so much more. There is so much anticipation and sexual tension when reading this book! It's hot and steamy and I just couldn't wait to get through it. The main characters were great. Since it was so short there wasn't too much back story, but the characters were developed. There's also 4 more books to this series, so there's plenty of time for lots to happen. I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads, so I'd recommend it to anyone who likes romance or erotica. 

Is this on your TBR?

It should be!

The Poets Korner: Maya Angelou

Maya 

Poems And books 

Lectures and looks
Freedom you took

Unthinkable for a woman, and a black one at that
The world glared at you at you stared right back
Unafraid to succeed

And as a young girl I read
I absorbed and you fed
My curiosity

And as I grew older my head on good shoulders I decided to soldier in your army of words
I decided to write
Because you taught me that dreams might
be chased like high flying kites

That I should put down my thoughts
For others to ponder
That I can no longer wonder
Why the caged bird sings

You epic epitome of all that I want for me
May you rest in peace
May the world never cease to read the words of wisdom you graciously surrendered

Maya

Love, Nika

Summer TV Shows!

Top TV shows I can't wait for!

Orange Is the New Black - Season 2 - June 6, 2014

Engaged Brooklynite Piper Chapman's decade-old relationship with a drug-runner results in her arrest and year-long detention in a federal penitentiary. To pay her debt to society, Piper must trade her comfortable New York life with fiance Larry for an orange prison jumpsuit and a baffling prison culture where she is forced to question everything she believes and form unexpected new alliances with a group of eccentric & outspoken inmates.

Duck Dynasty - Season 6 - June 11, 2014

Series introduces the Robertsons, a Louisiana bayou family living the American dream as they operate a thriving business while staying true to their family values and lifestyle.

True Blood - Season 7 - June 22, 2014

Local waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), however, knows how it feels to be an outcast. "Cursed" with the ability to listen in on people's thoughts, she's also open-minded about the integration of vampires - particularly when it comes to Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a handsome 173-year-old living up the road. But as Sookie is drawn into a series of mysteries surrounding Bill's arrival in Bon Temps, that tolerance will be put to the test.

Under The Dome - Season 2 - June 30, 2014

"Under the Dome," is based on Stephen King's bestselling novel about a small town that is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by a massive transparent dome. The trapped townsfolk must discover the secrets and purpose of the "dome" and its origins, while coming to learn more than they ever knew about each other.

Masters of Sex - Season 2 - July 13, 2014

"Masters of Sex" is a one-hour drama starring Emmy and BAFTA Award nominee Michael Sheen and acclaimed actress Lizzy Caplan, who will portray the real-life pioneers of the science of human sexuality, William Masters and Virginia Johnson. The series chronicles the unusual lives, romance, and pop culture trajectory of Masters and Johnson. Their research touched off the sexual revolution and took them from a midwestern teaching hospital in St. Louis to the cover of Time magazine and nearly a dozen appearances on Johnny Carson's couch.

What shows are you looking

forward to this summer?

Thanks for stopping by! :)

*Clicking on pictures links to IMDB*

Review: Maybelline Fit Me

Today I will be talking about the Maybelline Fit Me line. I had heard so many amazing things about the foundation and that it was great for oily skin, which I have, so I decided to go ahead and buy it and see for myself. So I bought the concealer, foundation and powder. I believe they also have blushes, but I decided I have plenty, so I didn't get any of them. So, onto the review... The Concealer:








The concealer is amazing, I've repurchased this again and again. It is really pigmented and smooth and creamy. You can apply it with anything and it looks flawless. I use it to clean up my brows, as an under eye highlight and even to highlight my face.  The Foundation: It did not work for me... at all. I looked greasy from the get go. Even after setting and trying to mattify it with powder. And let me tell you, it only got worse. This would probably be fabulous if you have dry skin, but sadly, I don't. The price is also really good if you're looking to pick this up, it's always on sale at my Walmart for around $5! The Powder: This powder was so-so... I used it with the foundation, and it couldn't mattify my face for me, which I really need in a setting powder. I haven't tried this with any other foundation yet. It looked matte in the packaging, but when I got home I opened it and noticed that there is actually a little bit of shimmer in it. That might be okay for other people, but it just looks weird on me, and with me having oily skin, it makes me feel like my face looks nasty.  So overall, I would definitely recommend getting the concealer! I'd say try the foundation if you have dry skin, if you don't just beware. Either way all 3 of these products are around $5 each! So you really can afford to just give it a try.  Hope I helped someone out there! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Book Blitz: The Crescent Chronicles

Cover Reveal: Faster We Burn

Book Blitz: The Voice

Cover Reveal: Accession

Cover Reveal: Trust In Me

Blog Tour: A Cast of Stones: Release Day Blast!

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills.

Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins.
Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that
could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr
Paperback, 400 pages
Expected Publication: February 1st 2013 by Bethany House Publishers

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

The Book Depository - Christian Book Distributors

Available Today!

Book Blitz: Fighting to Survive

Fighting to Survive by Rhiannon Frater

Available Now!

Waiting On Wednesday: Unravel Me

Waiting On Wednesday #21!  "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Cover Reveal: The Only Exception

Cover Reveal: Crimson Flames

Blog Tour: A Cast of Stones (+Giveaway!)

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills.

Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins.
Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that
could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr
Paperback, 400 pages
Expected Publication: February 1st 2013 by Bethany House Publishers

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

The Book Depository - Christian Book Distributors

Available 2/1/2013!

------------------------------------------------------

Patrick Carr on the creation of The Watchmen:

When I set about creating my fantasy world, the idea of a king’s personal guard appealed to me. It seemed reasonable that a monarch would have his own guards made up of the elite swordsmen in the kingdom. The idea’s not uncommon. After all you can find similar concepts in Jordan’s work where warders are assigned to Aes Sedai, and in Stephen R. Donaldson’s work (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant) where you have the bloodguard to watch over the lords of Revelstone.

But I just didn't want to have a bunch of guys hanging out with swords, I wanted them to have a story. A hint of that history comes through early in the book when one of my favorite characters, Cruk, confronts a fellow watchman. Typically, watchmen don’t leave the king, yet we find that there are three of them in this little backwater and two of them are trying to kill my hero, Errol. What gives? Cruk doesn't know; he’s been gone for five years.

In the meantime, we get all these other questions. Why do the men of the watch wear black? How come none of them have last names? All of these kind of simmer through the story as Errol tries to stay alive. Then we get to one of my favorite chapters in “A Cast of Stones” called “Conger’s Tale.” It’s about halfway through the book when Conger, a defrocked priest, sets Errol straight on the history of the kingdom, but within that he fills him in on the background of the watch. It’s a really fun read.

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On tour now with Prism Book Tours!

1/23 – LAUNCH-DAY BLAST! – Backing Books – Herbwomen
1/24 – Christian Novels – Review – World
1/25 – I Am a Reader, Not a Writer – Readers
1/27 – Reads to Reels – Watchmen
1/28 – LDS & Lovin’ It – Clergy
1/29 – Proud Book Nerd – World
1/30 – Open the Page – Herbwomen
1/31 – Wonderings of One Person –Review – Readers
2/1 – RELEASE-DAY BLAST!
2/3 – Simple Wyrdings – Watchmen
2/4 – Bookworm Lisa – Review – Clergy
2/5 – Passion & Life – Readers
2/6 – Kari’s Crowded Bookshelf – Review – Herbwomen
2/7 – Coffee, Books & Me – Readers
2/8 – Backing Books – Review – World
2/10 – Letters to the Cosmos – Watchmen
2/11 – Jill Williamson – Review – Clergy
2/12 – ADD Librarian – Herbwomen
2/13 – Worthy 2 Read – Review – Watchmen
2/14 – Hey, Tara! – World
2/15 – Pieces of Whimsy – Review – Readers
2/17 – CTF Devourer – Review – Clergy
2/18 – Pause Time – Readers
2/19 – A Backwards Story – Review – World
2/19 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Herbwomen
2/20 – Min Reads & Reviews – Review – Watchmen
2/21 – FINALE BLAST – Winner will be Announced!!

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About the Author:

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.

Awards: ACFW Genesis Competition 2010 Finalist for “A Cast of Stones” in Speculative Fiction.

Find & Follow:
Website
Blog
Goodreads
Facebook
Music

------------------------------------------------------

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

Grand Prize (USA & Canada):  Print copy of entire series of three books (#2 & #3 as they are published) + A Cast of Stones Mug + Lend your name to a character in book #3!!

2nd Prize (USA & Canada): Print copy of A Cast of Stones

International: eCopy of A Cast of Stones

Open only to those who can legally enter. 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 the winner 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 Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and sponsored by Bethany House & the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Movie Review: Mini's First Time

"Sex. Murder. Blackmail. There's a first time for everything."

IMDB - Rotten Tomatoes - Amazon

Release Date: July 14, 2006

DVD Release Date: October 24, 2006

Cast:

-Alec Baldwin

-Nikki Reed

-Carrie-Anne Moss

-Jeff Goldblum

-Luke Wilson

Plot Summary:

Nick Guthe's darkly comic Mini's First Time stars Nikki Reed as the title character, a manipulative, highly sexualized teenager with parents who fail to offer much structure or guidance. Her stepfather (Alec Baldwin) is rich and dim, and her mother (Carrie-Anne Moss) leads a hard-partying lifestyle. As the relationship between Mini and her stepfather grows more twisted, criminal activity occurs. Luke Wilson appears as a detective investigating the situation, and Jeff Goldblum plays their wealthy neighbor.

My Thoughts:

This movie is a must see for everyone! I had never even heard of it until my sister had me watch it, and I am so glad I did. The first time I saw Nikki Reed in a movie was when she was in Thirteen with Evan Rachel Wood, and she was really good in that one. She did just as good in this one. She plays a really good crazy slut, I know that's not nice to say, but she is a really good actress. 

Reasons To Watch It:

-Alec Baldwin is hot, not matter how old he's getting.

-Nikki Reed is hot too, and she plays a good psycho.

-It's a really interesting movie.

Screenshots :)

Have you seen this?

You really should watch it?

Did you see her in Thirteen?

Have a great day!

Book Review: They're Coming by Timothy Young

They're Coming by Timothy Young

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N

They're Coming! is a humorously creepy picture book from author/illustrator Timothy Young. It shows monsters and ghouls and various creatures from all over. Why are they coming? You'll have to read the book to find out.

My Thoughts:

This book has the perfect amount of creepy-ness, and suspense for a children's book. It keeps you going and going and wondering what's going on. But of course at the end you find out what they're actually coming for. And us, as adults, know that it's nothing truly scary, but it was great for my son. He loved the ending and was smiling and laughing. He's always loved scary stuff and Halloween. And he's practically obsessed with zombies.

I recommend this book to everybody, but especially moms who have children that love scary stuff :)

About the Author:

Timothy Young has worked as an animator, toy designer, graphic designer, art director and illustrator. He is proud to add author to that list with his first book, I'M LOOKING FOR A MONSTER! He is currently finishing his second book for Random House and has many more in various stages of completion. 

I'M LOOKING FOR A MONSTER! won a merit award for design from the New York Bookbinders Guild.

Website

*I received this book via Netgalley for review*

Blog Tour: A Cast of Stones: Launch Day Blast! (Giveaway)

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills.

Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins.
Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that
could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr
Paperback, 400 pages
Expected Publication: February 1st 2013 by Bethany House Publishers

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

The Book Depository - Christian Book Distributors

Available February 1, 2013!

------------------------------------------------------

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Only on this tour will the author:

-Share the creation

-Share his goals.

-Share visuals & excerpts

on each of these mini-themes:

The Herbwomen of secret lore

The World of The Staff & the Sword

The Readers of the cast lots

The Watchmen, elite warriors

The Clergy of power

See the Tour below to catch all the great Guest Posts and Reviews!!

1/23 – LAUNCH-DAY BLAST! – Backing Books – Herbwomen
1/24 – Christian Novels – Review – World
1/25 – I Am a Reader, Not a Writer – Readers
1/27 – Reads to Reels – Watchmen
1/28 – LDS & Lovin’ It – Clergy
1/29 – Proud Book Nerd – World
1/30 – Open the Page – Herbwomen
1/31 – Wonderings of One Person –Review – Readers
2/1 – RELEASE-DAY BLAST!
2/3 – Simple Wyrdings – Watchmen
2/4 – Bookworm Lisa – Review – Clergy
2/5 – Passion & Life – Readers
2/6 – Kari’s Crowded Bookshelf – Review – Herbwomen
2/7 – Coffee, Books & Me – Readers
2/8 – Backing Books – Review – World
2/10 – Letters to the Cosmos – Watchmen
2/11 – Jill Williamson – Review – Clergy
2/12 – ADD Librarian – Herbwomen
2/13 – Worthy 2 Read – Review – Watchmen
2/14 – Hey, Tara! – World
2/15 – Pieces of Whimsy – Review – Readers
2/17 – CTF Devourer – Review – Clergy
2/18 – Pause Time – Readers
2/19 – A Backwards Story – Review – World
2/19 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Herbwomen
2/20 – Min Reads & Reviews – Review – Watchmen
2/21 – FINALE BLAST – Winner will be Announced!!

------------------------------------------------------
About the Author:

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.

Awards: ACFW Genesis Competition 2010 Finalist for “A Cast of Stones” in Speculative Fiction.

Find & Follow:
Website
Blog
Goodreads
Facebook
Music

------------------------------------------------------

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

Grand Prize (USA & Canada):  Print copy of entire series of three books (#2 & #3 as they are published) + A Cast of Stones Mug + Lend your name to a character in book #3!!

2nd Prize (USA & Canada): Print copy of A Cast of Stones

International: eCopy of A Cast of Stones

Open only to those who can legally enter. 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 the winner 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 Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and sponsored by Bethany House & the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Up Cat + Up Dog by Hazel Hutchins

Up Dog by Hazel Hutchins (writer), Fanny (illustrator)

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N

Uh-oh! Look out, house! This little dog is very busy cheerfully digging up and chewing up everything in sight. It’s a sad little dog who’s locked up in the pen while the house and garden are tidied up. But all is not lost, as he’s cautiously welcomed back up the steps and into the house at the end of the day.

Readers will have fun both watching the antics of this little dog and interpreting the animated facial expressions that range from determination and dejection to joy. While readers follow the dog from bad to good in rhythmic two- or three-word panels, they’ll also learn how to use “up” phrases.

Together with UP CAT, this engaging board book will expand toddlers’ vocabulary while delighting them with everyday scenes in the lives of two adorable animals.

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Up Cat by Hazel Hutchins (writer), Fanny (illustrator)

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N

"You'd be surprised at what a cat gets up to all day!"

A cat can get tangled up in all kinds of fun and mischief between wake-up time and nap time. Follow along with the playful text as Cat laps up milk, messes up the house, gets up to no good, stands up to a visiting dog, and finally curls up for a nap in the sun.

The expressive, energetic illustrations against simple backgrounds mirror the spare but rhythmic text that teaches about "up" actions while leading the reader through a day in the life of a cat.

Hazel Hutchins has written over 30 books for children and young adults and has received numerous awards for her work.

My Thoughts:
Just a little background info -my son is 7 and in 1st grade. And he's been in accelerated reading since Kindergarten. With that said, he loved these books. I think these would be great books to be read to your kids when they're babies as well as older kids. I would say up to 8 or 9. There are only a few words per page, but he didn't seem to care, he was laughing and loving the pictures as if it was his reading level. I suppose that's the beauty of reading :)

I also thought they were cute, I loved both stories, I was trying to pick a favorite, but couldn't. I loved the part where the cat gets tied up in the yarn, it was so adorable. Another thing is that even though there are only a few per page, they still had some challenging ones, like on the page with the yarn, it says "all snarled up." Well my son didn't know what that meant, so I was glad he was still learning something. And it is very educational, it talks about cats personality traits.

I definitely recommend this to all mommies! And everybody really! You can never go wrong with children's books.

What's your favorite children's book?

**Both books were provided by the publisher via Netgalley**