Feature & Follow #48 ~ Got Pets?

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read where two blogs are featured. Click the links above to follow the hosting bloggers and featured bloggers. Enter your own post's link in the linky, then hop around to as many blogs as you can - find new blogs to follow and gain new followers as well. Mingle and make some new bloggy friends! :D

Following me any way you'd like is fine with me! 
I do like bloglovin' :D

Q: Have any pets? Tell us or show us.  

A: Get ready for a picture parade, lol!

First came Charlie...

 

then came Charlotte...

next was Beau...

and last but not least, Billy arrived on the scene. 

A lot of Billy/Beau snuggling goes on around here. <3

Beau loves to try to walk himself!

This is the least blurry pic I could get of him. 

Nothing is more unsettling than seeing a cat paw suddenly appear under your bedroom door!

Charlie especially tries to get into our room at night, but we have to keep the door shut for the heater in the winter/air conditioner in the summer. 

Since we're talking about pets today, I have to share this sign I saw last Halloween! 

My husband and I were out with the kids trick-or-treating when I saw this sign in front of the pet grooming place. We looked at each other with WTF expressions, then we just burst out laughing! 

Seriously, though, can someone explain this to me? WTF?

Sadly, our cat Charlotte ran away back in October. She used to go in and out of our window where the air conditioner didn't cover the extra space. When it started getting cold, my husband took out the air conditioner, and Charlotte didn't come back. She would never go in and out the door, so I know that she didn't think she could get back in unless it was through the window. 

I miss her so much! I took the kids, and we'd go out looking for her all over the neighborhood. As cute as she is, I know someone probably took her in. :(

One of my fave things is seeing cute photos of other people's pets, so I'm excited to see yours if you have them! :)

Life of a Blogger #1 ~ Favorite Music Albums

Life of a Blogger is a weekly feature where Jessi from Novel Heartbeat chooses a non-bookish topic and gives us a chance to get to know each other better on a more personal level. She posts every Thursday, but you can post another day as long as it's not before 12AM EST on a Thursday.  

Rules from Jessi: Please stick to the topic order on the list. If you want to catch up on old topics, that's fine, but the point is to link up to the same topic all around the blogosphere, so please do not move ahead or change it to your own topic. 

~ This Week's Topic ~

Favorite Music Albums

I'm going to try SO hard not to list every single favorite album of mine because then, we'd be here all day. These albums are ones I love at least 90% if not 110%. That should narrow it down to like fifty. If you're lucky. ;) 

Alanis Morissette

Jagged Little Pill

I remember the first time I saw the music video for "You Oughta Know." It was summer, and my freshman year of high school was about to start. I was watching MTV, you know, back when they actually played MUSIC VIDEOS. 

This album has always meant so much to me - it's gotten me through high school heartbreak, depression, the feelings of failure, teenage angst, and even now when I listen to it, I'm transported back to when things should have been easy but were complicated for a myriad of reasons. 

God, it is not easy being an adult, but it's sure as hell not easy being a teenager either. Alanis helped get me through the good times and the bad. I even had long hair just like hers. 

The Smashing Pumpkins

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

When the Smashing Pumpkins were touring this album, I was a sophomore in high school, and this was the first "real" concert I ever went to. Fountains of Wayne opened for them (before their song "Stacy's Mom" came along, heh heh). 

I remember the lights were turned off when it was time for the Smashing Pumpkins to come out. We were sitting in the dark, listening to a recording of the very first song of the first CD (it's a two-disc album), and my heart was about to jump out of my chest! Everyone had their lighters out 'cause it was '96 and we had no cell phones yet. ;) 

The moment they came out on stage, the lights turned on, and the music became live is a moment I'll never forget, not in a million years. It was magical, almost a religious experience. Hearing the songs I had listened to over and over again in person is something that will never get old with me.  

Green Day

American Idiot

The release of this album back in 2004 came at a time when I felt disillusioned with the political environment but felt powerless to do anything about it. This album gave me something to focus my energy on. I began to have hope for humanity again and felt empowered. 

The first Green Day album I listened to was Dookie back in '94. I was in junior high at the time, and Green Day along with Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden transformed me into an alternative/grunge fan forever. I was never the same afterward! :D

U2

Best of 1980 - 1990

I couldn't pick just one U2 album. Honestly I love them all! So I picked the best of but their albums that came after with songs that aren't included here are ones I love, too. Their songs are filled with passion about embracing others and the world as a whole community, and they give me hope that one day we can get there. 

Janis Joplin

Greatest Hits

Every song on here is one I love. "Cry Baby" is one I listen to a lot currently. I can't get over the sheer power of her voice! It's a tragedy she didn't make it to my age. The raw talent is almost too much to bear at times. 

As you can see, I'm a 90's & 60's kind of girl. I love a lot of music from the 70's, 80's, and 2000 & beyond as well, but the 90's and the 60's to me are where it's at. 

What albums would you choose? 

RecruitZ (Afterworld #1) by Karice Bolton ~ Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!

Hey guys! Welcome to my stop on the RecruitZ Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. Click here to follow along with the tour schedule. 

RecruitZ

Afterworld #1

by Karice Bolton

Publication date: December 27th 2013

Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic

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Synopsis

Scientists are the new rock stars. The infection has been contained for nearly three months, and the world is celebrating. But humans are still dying. Rebekah Taylor has seen it firsthand. Her husband was killed right in front of her by the very creatures that humans were told they no longer had to fear. 

Rebekah is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her husband and the obvious cover-up. Fueled with revenge, she begins to find answers that lead to one frightening conclusion. The apocalypse might be over, but the battles are just beginning.

I've been excited to read RecruitZ for quite a while - the minute I first heard about it last December as a matter of fact. From the cover alone, I knew Rebekah would be a bad ass character, and while she didn't start out that way, she grew into the role. Right away I liked her and related with her feelings of loss. RecruitZ isn't a typical zombie novel - it's so much more than that with a conspiracy that's as disturbing as it is compelling. 

In a post-apocalyptic world where zombies are supposed to no longer be a threat according to the government, Rebekah helplessly watches zombies tear her husband apart and believes his death was planned and covered up. Her friends don't believe her when she tells them what she saw, and I don't think they wanted to either. 

Not only is she reeling from her husband's violent death, but she also must be careful not to reveal too much to the wrong person. She could be turned in and never heard from again, but she can't rest until she knows the truth and sets out to search for it. On the surface is denial and a glowing positivism about life after the outbreak while underneath, the dark and seedy side of humanity thrives. It's this dark, seedy side that Rebekah must explore to find out what's really going on and to avenge her husband's death. 

RecruitZ is full of twists and turns I never expected, and I love it when a book keeps me in suspense. Rebekah is a character I love because she's strong yet also has her vulnerable side. She decides to take her grief and do something proactive with it, and I admire that about her. I'm looking forward to what comes her way in the next book.    

My Rating:

About the Author

Karice Bolton lives in the Pacific Northwest and is a writer of Young Adult and New Adult books. She loves to read anything and everything. She also enjoys baking, skiing, and spending time with her wonderful husband and two English bulldogs.

Books currently available:

*Beyond Love Series 

• Beyond Control (#1)
• Beyond Doubt (#2)
• Beyond Reason (#3) - Feb 28th

*Afterworld Series

• RecruitZ (#1)

*The Witch Avenue Series

• Lonely Souls (#1)
• Altered Souls (#2)
• Released Souls (#3)
• Shattered Souls (#4)

*The Watchers Trilogy

• Awakening (#1)
• Legions (#2)
• Cataclysm (#3)
• Taken Novella (Watchers Prequel)

*The Camp

Karice would love if you stopped by her blog or FB page to find out the latest news on giveaways and upcoming releases, or you can just send her an email. She loves hearing from her readers and responds as soon as she can. 

Author Links

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter 

Giveaway

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Blog Tour organized by:

Book Trailer Reveal! ~ Aqua by M.A. George

Aqua has me intrigued for sure! I recently took part in it's release blast, and now I'm happy to share with you the awesome trailer for it. Lately I've been getting more and more into book trailers and especially want to share this one with you because I'm darn excited for this book! Let me know what you think in the comments! :D 

Aqua

By- M.A. George

Genre- YA Paranormal

Publication Date- April 16th, 2014 

Meet Layla McKelland:  

Novelist (unpublished, but cut her some slack…seventeen is a bit early to despair),

Slightly neurotic introvert (Alright, let’s be honest…there’s no “slightly” about it),

International Woman of Mystery, and…

Okay, just scratch the bio. 

The only real “mystery” in Layla’s life is why her father has never been on the scene.  Or why her mother drags Layla to a new coastal home every year.  

Nothing about the latest hometown seems too newsworthy…until a routine day at the beach leaves Layla questioning whether she’s read one too many paranormal fantasy novels.  The plot thickens when a random guy claims to know things about her father—a bizarre claim he backs up with an equally impossible stunt.  And Layla soon finds herself on the wrong side of a mysterious attempted drowning…on her own kitchen floor.

When all is done, Layla will attest that fact is far stranger than fiction.  And nothing in real life is ever as transparent as it seems…Not even water. 

Especially not water.

          

ProtoStar by Braxton A. Cosby ~ Blog Tour

Hey guys! Welcome to my stop on the ProtoStar Blog Tour hosted by Booksniffer Review Tours. I didn't get a chance to finish the book in time but still wanted to tell you about it and will have my review posted here on my blog as soon as possible. Click here to follow along with the blog tour schedule! 

Title: ProtoStar

Series: Star-Crossed Saga #1

Author: Braxton A. Cosby

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance,Young Adult

Publisher: Winter Goose Publishing

Release Date: April 16, 2014

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Synopsis

What Would You Choose, Love or Duty?

On the brink of civil war, the Torrian Alliance continues with it mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his council, King Gregorio Derry reluctantly agrees to send his only son William on a mission to restore honor to his family name.

William seeks to complete his assignment, the elimination of a Star-child named Sydney on planet Earth, but when the assassination is delayed he begins to realize an emotional connection with his target. 

With conspiracy threatening his home planet, and a hidden menace on Earth seeking to secure a vested interest, William finds himself torn between irrevocable duty and sacrificing everything he stands for to defend Sydney.

As William and Sydney struggle to overcome their impossible circumstances, they start to wonder if the connection of two Star-Crossed lovers will be enough to save them from certain doom.

About the Author

Braxton A. Cosby is a dreamer with a vision of continuously evolving and maximizing the untapped potential of the human spirit. Braxton received a lot of his inspiration from watching the accomplishments and exploits of his famous uncle, comedic legend Bill Cosby. Braxton lives in Georgia with his wife and three children. He writes stories aimed at both entertaining and encouraging people to think and act.

Author Links

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook   

Blog Tour organized by:

   

Book Trailer Reveal ~ Running on Empty by Colette Ballard

Running on Empty 

by Colette Ballard

Publisher: Tulip Teen/Spencer Hill Press

Expected Release Date: May 6th 2014

Genres: YA Contemporary/Thriller

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Purchase: Amazon | B&N  

Synopsis

What does it feel like when you die - in those final moments? Do you feel the physical pain, or just the pain of your regrets? What does it feel like when you realize you can't answer these questions because you're not the victim? 

You're the killer.

River Daniels lives an ordinary life as a high school junior growing up in the confines of rural Texas until her boyfriend's brutal attack leaves her both a murderer and a fugitive. When River's closest girlfriends come to her aid, they make a hasty decision to not only help her, but leave their own troubled lives behind and join in her escape.

The girls manage to elude police for months, but with every near-miss, River's life spirals further out of control, until she finally hits rock bottom. Realizing she must stop endangering her friends and find evidence proving she acted in self-defense, the girls decide to make a risky move. River must face her ugly past and the one person she was protecting the night her world caved in, the guy she has loved for as long as she can remember. 

Running On Empty Book Trailer

About the Author

Colette grew up on a dairy farm in rural Kentucky. She survived the high school experience back in the day when Aqua Net was bought in bulk and mullets were cool. That's also when she realized that her constant daydreaming wasn't a curse, but a useful skill - one she used like a lethal weapon to combat her frustration over the haunting question: What does the alphabet have to do with math anyway? Unfortunately, her ninja daydreaming skills only increased her desire to write - not her algebra grade. 

After surviving the hairstyles and torturous math classes of her high school years, she wandered a bit - even moving to the farthest northwestern corner of the United States, then to the farthest southeastern corner. She finally settled in the one red-light town she started in, where she continues to live today with her husband and three children.

Author Links

  Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter 

Tulip Romance | YA Fusion    

Book Trailer Reveal organized by:
  

Running in the Dark by Inger Iversen ~ Book Release Blast with a Giveaway!

Running in the Dark

Series- Book # 1

By Inger Iversen

Publication Date- April 19th, 2014

Published By- Crushing Hearts Black Butterfly 

Trace’s job has always revolved around death. Trace is a Watcher, a position created assist to the undead to their final resting place without alerting humans of the vampire race. Whether his job is to witness the death of a fellow vampire or deal it, Trace has learned that being a Grim Reaper isn’t what he thought it would be. 

After years of killing, he’s ready for a new job, a new life, or to just disappear. When Bessina becomes his new target after she witnesses the death of fellow vampires Sam and Hope, Trace is ready to eliminate her—until a strange course of events turns the tables and has Trace protecting Bessina from his boss and running for his life.

  

Buy on Amazon

ARC Review & Giveaway ~ Undeniable by Ashley Simone Writing With Alicia Roberts

Undeniable 

by Ashley Simone

Writing with Alicia Roberts 

Release Date: April 17th 2014

Genre: New Adult Romance

Recommended for Readers 18+ due to sexual content

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Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis

What If One Night Could Change Your Life?

Working in a diner by day and desperately applying for accounting jobs by night, Allie Nobokov fears that her future will be one of a single, virginal, cat lady. A chance encounter with a gorgeous stranger, Zac, awakens her desires and she feels an undeniable connection.

When fate pushes them together once again, Allie's desires run wild - until, just when things start getting hot and heavy, Zac disappears into the night...

How can you deny a connection so strong?

All that is pushed to the back of Allie's mind when her younger brother shows up on her doorstep, desperately in need of more money than she can provide... Until she sees a classified ad.

"I met a girl and I can't get over her," says the ad, and goes on to describe Allie. "If you look like her, I'll pay handsomely for one night with you." 

Can Allie summon the courage to answer the mysterious ad and go through with what it entails? And can she convince the enigmatic Zac to push aside his demons and give their love a chance?   

Undeniable is super steamy and super hot. The first part of a trilogy, it's a quick read at around seventy pages (on the Kindle), and it ends with a cliff hanger. If you don't like cliff hangers, then you might want to wait until all three parts have been released. 

Everyone who is a part of Allie's life treats her like dirt, except MAYBE her roommate. Her roommate seemed like an okay friend, although I have to wonder about her selection in a blind date for Allie. That was a total disaster! If I were Allie, I would have been insulted that my friend chose such a skeeze to be my date. 

Allie and her brother lost their father when they were very young and were raised in a single parent home by their mother. Then their mother died from cancer a year before the start of Undeniable. Allie's brother drops out of college and turns to drugs to cope, and while she blames herself for the way his life is turning out, it obviously isn't her fault. 

She can't stop him from doing drugs if that's how he wants to cope. I think as the older sibling, since both of their parents are now deceased, she feels responsible for him on some level. She mentioned she promised their mother she'd look after him, but he's a grown man. I think it's unfair for Allie to put this burden on herself, especially since her brother treats her about the same as an enemy would.      

I wasn't sure how to feel about the possible romance blooming between Allie and Zac - Allie is a weak female lead while Zac is a jerk to be honest. I like alpha males, but since there isn't much background given on him, it was hard to root for him. Strangely I still found their scenes hot! 

Overall, with the way Undeniable ended, I definitely want to read the next installment and am hoping for the lowdown on Zac. I need to know what's happened to him in the past because he's obviously been hurt - and badly. I also want Allie to toughen up and stop letting everyone in her life run over her.    

My Rating:

Connect with the Author

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