Great Possibilities with a Minor Glitch (for me)

Being a BzzAgent, I recently had the opportunity to try Trend Micro's Online Guardian for Families for free.  

I found that it is a great tool for families that are active online. I liked that I could tailor the program for the different ages of my children for their different needs. I have a 9 year old and a 15 year old, so there is a huge variation of topics that I allow. I also liked the ease of getting the reports for what my kids are visiting.While I wasn't all that impressed by the access to their (my kids) social networking sites or email, because it is a rule in our household that any email, facebook or other account is not allowed UNLESS I have their user name and password,  I could see where it would be a great tool in other households. 

My only problem with the program is that I use Mozilla's Firefox as my internet browser I had a few issues with Trend Micro allowing the monitored sites to be opened. I'm not a computer idiot, but neither am I a computer genius. I was very frustrated with that aspect of the program, that I finally just reverted the monitored sites to Internet Explorer. There is probably an easy fix for this...but I just don't have the time to screw around with it. 

Scrappin' Saturday

I know I have 2 pictures of the yellow card.  I was having a hard time making the shimmery elements show.

Review: SECRETS by Brenda Joyce

2011 Cover

Bragg #7 / Delanza #1

Historical / Western (1899)

Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins

406 Pages

Jumping from a train to save herself from a terrible fate, Regina Bragg Shelton suffers a head injury, causing her to lose her memory. When Slade Delanza finds the gorgeous, unconscious woman, he assumes she is his recently deceased brother's fiancee, Elizabeth Sinclair who was also supposed to be on the train. 

 

While they get to know each other, they find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other, Regina is falling in love, but Slade cannot overcome his guilt for falling for his brothers betrothed. They agree to marry to save Slade's family ranch. Can they forge a future with so much standing between them?

*****

Brenda Joyce has a knack of spinning an enthralling tale that completely hooks me from the beginning, not releasing me until I turn the last page. SECRETS kept me up late at night, as I couldn't bring myself to put it down, finishing it it one long sitting. I laughed, I cried, I got angry and I completely fell in love with Slade and Regina. 

 

Slade was hot hot hot, and very Alpha. His one major flaw was that he was stubborn beyond belief, but Regina did what she needed to bring him around. There were a few times I wanted to tape Regina's mouth shut, but I admired her own brand of stubbornness to bring Slade around. The chemistry between them was positively combustible, not only in bed, but their personalities were polar opposites, yet I could see them as the balance for each other.

Original Cover

I loved revisiting with the Bragg and Shelton family. Slade's brother Edward was also a great side character. I loved his sense of humor, though he had a few flaws that needed to be dealt with, and some guilt he needed to overcome. Now I'm going to have to dig his book (AFTER INNOCENCE) out, just so I can drool over him some more.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Author's Website 

Scrappin' Saturday: Happy Mother's Day!

This is what I sent my mom....

Review: THE BLUE VIKING by Sandra Hill

2011 cover

Viking I,  #5

Historical (Viking)

Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins

349Pages

Five years ago, Rurik left Maire without any thought or consideration, heck the jerk outright laughed at her when she asked him to take her with. But Maire had the last laugh, when she cursed him with a bold blue bolt streaking down his face. 

 

Rurik has searched for the elusive witch since then, finally stumbling upon her. Having her right were he wanted, he was determined to make Maire remove the bolt, no matter how long it took him to convince her. As a matter of fact, he figured he could enjoy the benefits of having her in his seductive hands again.

*****

One thing I can always count on when reading any of Sandra Hill's books is a good laugh. Ms. Hill's hero's are characteristically arrogant, Alpha males and Rurik was no exception. While Maire was portrayed as a strong independent woman in the beginning of the story, her wants were quickly diminished under Rurik's will, which weakened her as a character. I could find the humor of her being the worst witch ever, with her spells continuously going awry, but her mistakes were so over-the-top, which after a while made her appear silly. It upset me that she was demeaned so. I was also a little put off by everyone's sexual freedom in this book, I'm not an expert on historical morals and I'm no prude, but it seemed odd to me, and it took me out of the story. 
 
While this wasn't my favorite Sandra Hill tale, it still was a decent read, and I will continue to read and reread her books. She is my go to author when I'm looking for a funny historical...and I love her Vikings. I wish there were more Viking tales being published.

Original cover

Rating: 3.5/ 5

Author's Website 

Scrappin' Saturday

 

I bought a few new stamp sets, a friend had some blank cards w/envelopes, and this is what I ended up with.

Review: SUMMER AT SEASIDE COVE by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Contemporary

Penguin Group (USA)
368 pages

After a viscous betrayal by her own sister, Jamie Newman has had enough. She decides that a seaside get away is just the thing. But when she arrives at the cottage she's rented for the summer she finds that Paradise Found is not really an appropriate name, more like Paradise Lost. The landlord of the dilapidated bungalow is no where to be found, but Jamie is ready to pounce. 
Nick Trent isn't sure what hit him when his firecracker of a tenant finds him, though he must concede that the cottage has seen better days.

When Jamie's family drama follows her to Seaside Cove she isn't sure if she can take it anymore. Will her family finally drive her off an emotional cliff or can Nick help keep her grounded? Is it possible for summer love transition into happily ever after?

*****

Jacquie D'Alessandro's first contemporary is a definite WIN! Ms. D'Alessandro successfully combined drama, humor and an plethora of emotions in between into a spectacular storyline. She created realistic characters that seemed to spring from the pages, as I could feel their rolling emotions and picture the panorama of events and characters while I devoured this book in one sitting. SUMMER AT SEASIDE COVE will definitely be put on my “keeper” shelves, as I can easily envision rereading this again and again.


In Jamie and Nick I have found two new characters to add to my favorite couples list. Neither are perfect, but they both compliment each other so well. They have fantastic chemistry, that positively sizzled. I loved Nick's laid back attitude, but I could see why it was a bit nerve racking for Jamie, until she got to know and understand him better. I also loved Jamie's neighbors, they were a hoot!


It was great watching Jamie learn to live a more relaxed lifestyle, though her family still wanted to lean heavily on her. Jamie's mom was a basket case, but I liked the twist Ms. D'Alessandro added to her storyline, it was a very uncommon issue for a romance heroine have to deal with when it comes to their mother. I really liked how all things were resolved between Jamie's family and her and Nick, it was a tiny bit over-the-top, but I really liked it!


I look forward to reading more of Jacquie D'Alessandro's books whether they are historical or contemporary. She is absolutely staying on my auto-buy list, SUMMER AT SEASIDE COVE just confirmed why I love her writing so much.
 

Rating 5/5

 

Author's Website

When I'm not reading or reviewing, there's a good chance I'll be...

Playing with scissors! My other passion, uhm, I mean hobby is making big paper into little paper a/k/a card making and other papercrafts. I really don't have the patience for scrapbooking. I'm a panster, I don't plan, I tend to fly by the seat of my pants. To be a scrapbooker, I've found that it's much easier if your a plotter- you have to get all the right pieces before you can put those photos together, with card making I can just grab whats at hand and see what I come up with.

A good friend (and some Stampin' Up bloggers) gave me the idea to try and make this stationary box:

Of course I had to make some cards to go inside of it...