This one had a few twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and it was more believable. The background of the leading characters unfolds throughout the book, and some of it you don’t find out until mid-point.
Samantha van Bergen is in a disastrous marriage, mothering a step-daughter that she dearly loves. This [...]

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• Review: Taken by the Highest Bidder by Jane Porter (no spoilers) This one had a few twists and turns I didn't see coming, and it was more believable. The background of the leading characters unfolds throughout the book, and some of it you don't find out until mid-point. Samantha van Bergen is in a disastrous marriage, mothering a step-daughter that she......

Continue reading → Review: Taken by the Highest Bidder by Jane Porter (no spoilers)

Some families have wonderful traditions that go back centuries, others start a tradition as soon as their child is born. My family is no different - we do some of the same sentimental (other wacky) things year after year. When…

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Beauty and the Beast by Hannah Howell is not a spectacular read. It is however a pretty solid read. I found several segments to be unnecessary and jumpy and predictable in others. This Highlander romance contains all the elements of the sub-genre including bride stealing, thwarted love, revenge plotting, and battle.
Thayer Saiturn is known as [...]

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• Review: Beauty and the Beast by Hannah Howell Beauty and the Beast by Hannah Howell is not a spectacular read. It is however a pretty solid read. I found several segments to be unnecessary and jumpy and predictable in others. This Highlander romance contains all the elements of the sub-genre including bride stealing, thwarted love, revenge plotting, and......
• Review: Highland Barbarian by Hannah Howell Highland Barbarian by Hannah Howell is an exceptional romance novel. The love story is both captivating and highly amusing. A tale of a Lowlander (with Highlander blood in her veins) and a Highlander (whose warrior skills include brains), this is sure to be on your favorite shelf. With his Laird......

Continue reading → Review: Beauty and the Beast by Hannah Howell

Let Sleeping Rogues Lie is as scintillating as the title sounds rolling off the lips. Sabrina Jeffries weaves a tale of deception, half-truths, and omission. Sordid pasts litter throughout the story, many alongside the main characters, and a few directly related to the main characters. The only thing to watch out for is the mention [...]

• Review: Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries Let Sleeping Rogues Lie is as scintillating as the title sounds rolling off the lips. Sabrina Jeffries weaves a tale of deception, half-truths, and omission. Sordid pasts litter throughout the story, many alongside the main characters, and a few directly related to the main characters. The only thing to watch......

Continue reading → Review: Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries

I was very excited to get my Breaking Dawn in the mail from Amazon. They managed to get it to me one day before they told me that it would arrive on my doorstep and I devoured the novel, all 700+ pages, in two days, which is consistent with how I’ve read the other three [...]

• Review: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (with spoilers) I was very excited to get my Breaking Dawn in the mail from Amazon. They managed to get it to me one day before they told me that it would arrive on my doorstep and I devoured the novel, all 700+ pages, in two days, which is consistent with how......
• Breaking Dawn, Midnight Release Parties Friday night of last week, fans of the teenage vampire romance by Stephenie Meyer gathered at bookstores for the release of Breaking Dawn, the fourth installment of the Twilight Saga. They were dressed as characters in the books, as vampires in general and in particular as Edward and Bella. Several......

Continue reading → Review: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (with spoilers)

Book three of the Pleasures Trilogy staring plump little Gabrielle from India and Erskine (Quill) Dewland soon to be Viscount Dewland. Right off the bat, this was my kind of book and I loved reading every word. I’ll tell you why:
First, the alpha male is one of those wounded and brooding alphas. Quill was [...]

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• Review: Enchanting Pleasures by Eloisa James Book three of the Pleasures Trilogy staring plump little Gabrielle from India and Erskine (Quill) Dewland soon to be Viscount Dewland. Right off the bat, this was my kind of book and I loved reading every word. I’ll tell you why: First, the alpha male is one of those wounded......

Continue reading → Review: Enchanting Pleasures by Eloisa James

The Perfect Wife by Victoria Alexander follows not one but three couples on their journey to love. Luckily two are more peripheral and have overall less air time in the novel. The main couple is Sabrina Winfield and Nicholas, Earl of Wyldewood. The other couples are Sabrina and Nicholas’ offspring from their first marriage, and [...]

• Review: The Perfect Wife by Victoria Alexander The Perfect Wife by Victoria Alexander follows not one but three couples on their journey to love. Luckily two are more peripheral and have overall less air time in the novel. The main couple is Sabrina Winfield and Nicholas, Earl of Wyldewood. The other couples are Sabrina and Nicholas’ offspring......

Continue reading → Review: The Perfect Wife by Victoria Alexander

This love story is one of the most endearing I have ever read. Lisa Kleypas spins a tale worthy of mystical magical world of fairy tales. Based on Russian superstition, a prince who is like the Beast in Beauty and the Beast meets the woman of his dreams and learns to love. The bedroom scenes [...]

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• Review: Prince of Dreams by Lisa Kleypas This love story is one of the most endearing I have ever read. Lisa Kleypas spins a tale worthy of mystical magical world of fairy tales. Based on Russian superstition, a prince who is like the Beast in Beauty and the Beast meets the woman of his dreams and learns......

Continue reading → Review: Prince of Dreams by Lisa Kleypas

Have you ever wanted to switch bodies or lives with someone else? Even if it was only for a day? How about a month? Could you survive a month as another person? Switchcraft is just such a tale. Switchcraft is a fun book, sort of like the movie Freaky Friday. But it does make [...]

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• Review: Switchcraft by Mary Castillo Have you ever wanted to switch bodies or lives with someone else? Even if it was only for a day? How about a month? Could you survive a month as another person? Switchcraft is just such a tale. Switchcraft is a fun book, sort of like the movie Freaky Friday.......

Continue reading → Review: Switchcraft by Mary Castillo

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn was a fairly decent story. There were times in the story when I wondered if the main characters would ever fall in love before the pages ran out. The sex scenes were scrumptious and more than counter balanced the long wait to get to them. Also the [...]

• Review: To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn was a fairly decent story. There were times in the story when I wondered if the main characters would ever fall in love before the pages ran out. The sex scenes were scrumptious and more than counter balanced the long wait to......

Continue reading → Review: To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

Desperate Duchesses is not one of Eloisa James’ best. I could barely focus in the beginning on all the name dropping and afterwards I was more inclined to think poorly despite all the book’s promising potential. The writing style was overly choppy and scenes jumped very helter-skelter throughout making the book a chore instead of [...]

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• Review: Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James Desperate Duchesses is not one of Eloisa James’ best. I could barely focus in the beginning on all the name dropping and afterwards I was more inclined to think poorly despite all the book’s promising potential. The writing style was overly choppy and scenes jumped very helter-skelter throughout making the......

Continue reading → Review: Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

One of the first romance novels that I ever read was the Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer. I snuck it out of my mother’s collection because I was curious about all the fuss. I am glad I did, because it rates as one of my dearest favorites, set during the Temperance movement.
Scott Gandy dresses smartly, [...]

• Romance Novels

• Review: Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer One of the first romance novels that I ever read was the Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer. I snuck it out of my mother’s collection because I was curious about all the fuss. I am glad I did, because it rates as one of my dearest favorites, set during the......

Continue reading → Review: Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer

Let’s start this blog with my all time favorite romance novel, Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros. The surprising aspect of this story is that I like it despite the myriad of children presented. I am not a fan of them in most cases because I feel they’re not handled properly or serve a [...]

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• Review: Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros Let’s start this blog with my all time favorite romance novel, Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros. The surprising aspect of this story is that I like it despite the myriad of children presented. I am not a fan of them in most cases because I feel they’re not......

Continue reading → Review: Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros

For the more modern readers Impossible Dreams by Patricia Rice shouldn’t be passed up. The writing is witting and captivating, sure to leave smiles whenever one closes the book. Impossible Dreams is another rare find that includes children; Constance and Matty.
Set in North Carolina, Maya Alyssum is a fun-loving hippie who runs her sister’s New [...]

• Review: Impossible Dreams by Patricia Rice For the more modern readers Impossible Dreams by Patricia Rice shouldn’t be passed up. The writing is witting and captivating, sure to leave smiles whenever one closes the book. Impossible Dreams is another rare find that includes children; Constance and Matty. Set in North Carolina, Maya Alyssum is a fun-loving......

Continue reading → Review: Impossible Dreams by Patricia Rice

That’s right cash! You could win $100 Amazon prize money and one of 10 copies of Flat Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy. The loot as they say is up for grabs. This contest is sponsored by Sarah from Smart Bitches, Jane from Dear Author, Berkeley, and Erin McCarthy.
So how do you enter?
Sarah and Jane have [...]

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• Buy Contemporary - Win Some Cash That's right cash! You could win $100 Amazon prize money and one of 10 copies of Flat Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy. The loot as they say is up for grabs. This contest is sponsored by Sarah from Smart Bitches, Jane from Dear Author, Berkeley, and Erin McCarthy. So......

Continue reading → Buy Contemporary - Win Some Cash

The Diamond King has got it all: Highlanders, pirates, lost souls, and love.
Alex Leslie used to be a noble in a world that seems to have existed long ago before the war between Scotland and England. Now he is wanted, without honor or hope for a life that had once been held so promisingly before [...]

• Book Review: The Diamond King by Patricia Potter The Diamond King has got it all: Highlanders, pirates, lost souls, and love. Alex Leslie used to be a noble in a world that seems to have existed long ago before the war between Scotland and England. Now he is wanted, without honor or hope for a life that had......

Continue reading → Book Review: The Diamond King by Patricia Potter

The Diamond King has got it all: Highlanders, pirates, lost souls, and love.
Alex Leslie used to be a noble in a world that seems to have existed long ago before the war between Scotland and England. Now he is wanted, without honor or hope for a life that had once been held so promisingly before [...]

• Book Review: The Diamond King by Patricia Potter The Diamond King has got it all: Highlanders, pirates, lost souls, and love. Alex Leslie used to be a noble in a world that seems to have existed long ago before the war between Scotland and England. Now he is wanted, without honor or hope for a life that had......

Continue reading → Book Review: The Diamond King by Patricia Potter

Wallie’s most recent doctor visit sure was a doozy. Not only was the end-result glasses she has to wear every day, but we confirmed something we already know: she’s a…

Continue reading → The Allergic Child: Questions for parents of children with allergies

It’s no secret that for about a year, I—along with about 22 other progressive moms—have been trying in our own little corner of the internet to influence the outcome of…

Continue reading → Talking about the election with young kids [three simple tips]

Last year Willow Glen held their annual downtown parade and celebration. It’s a fantastic way to spend the day (and evening). The downtown street is closed off from traffic and the shops and restaurants are all open for business, in…

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Continue reading → I’m Scared for My Children

During the month of October the Youth Services Department of the library will be having a writing contest for kids. In preparation for this, I thought it might be helpful to make everyone aware of different resources available to help children in their…

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Continue reading → Creative Writing For Kids

About a month ago, a reporter interviewed me about healthy school lunches for kids.  The article came out yesterday in the Contra Costa Times.
Filling the lunchbox can be fun — and that’s no bologna
By Jackie Burrell, Contra Costa Times (09/02/2008)
Filling a lunch box has never been so fraught. Back when we were kids, we may [...]

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Continue reading → Filling the Lunchbox is a Snap with a Wrap

As good parents, we try to teach our children about the golden rule:  do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Or, more simply: treat others how you want to be treated.
The same should be true for our food system.  I am hard pressed to believe that the parents who encourage their [...]

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• July 4th Weekend Roundup Sunday Money Madness is your guide to the rest of the blogosphere on personal finance. The Other America - Commentary on Food Stamps and the Economy by Patrick at Cash Money Life talks about the food stamp predicament. With food being more expensive it looks like the money allotting through......
• Tips For Picking the Right Foods If you are focusing on losing weight and making lifestyle changes, the first two weeks are undoubtedly the hardest. Your body and your mind need time to adjust to your diet, and this initial period requires a lot of motivation and a desire to stick to your new plan. Anytime......

Continue reading → The Golden Rule: Introducing Slow Food to Our Children

Like a lot of girls, my daughter has been playing soccer since she was five. She’s good at it. She’s now sixteen (about the same age as Miley Cyrus) and a leader on a competitive club team that consistently wins…

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Continue reading → Will Ref For Gas