Reading is not always the only good thing for the soul. And since I read tons, I should know.

So here is what my weekend consisted off with high-lights only.

I started with this;

and this;

The above container is one of a set.  The set and the dove have some sentimental value to me so I decided it is time to do something about them and my CURB value.

So I asked on Facebook.  Easiest and cheapest way to strip rust etc from iron.

The answer  

Yes as easy as pie.  Coca-Cola and steel wool.  Let me tell you, it works like a charm.  Lots less labour intensive.  

So soon I went from the above to the in between stage where hope is born.

And not long after that I was left with this  ---

And what does this mean apart from new nice colour in my garden.
It means I tried something for the first time in a long time and did it without pain or injury. Thus I got a boost for my ego.

It also means I now am looking forward to pushing more boundaries, totally self imposed in the near future.

It also means that I was out in the sun shine sweating like a pig, playing with the dogs and getting a physical and a mental detox.

Which all adds up to this.

A happier Wanda.

So here is my challenge to you.

When was the last time YOU did something for the FIRST TIME?

Audio Book Review of Creatura by Nely Cab

Book Title: Creatura

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Pages: 290
Audio Run Time: 9 Hrs 59 Mins

Author: Helen Cricco

Date Published: January 2014 (E-Book)

26 March 2014 (Audio Book)

Synopsis:

Isis can control her dreams. Or she could-until recently. The creature in her nightmares has been haunting her for months. As if being dumped wasn't bad enough, now she dreads going to sleep. She decides to confront the creature and win back some of her peace; only, she finds that he's not a monster and he's not a dream.
A sacrifice for love, a shocking discovery and a jealous ex-boyfriend blur the lines between reality and dreams, making it hard to tell who the real monsters are.
Who would've known…that sometimes love is lethal?

Review:

Creatura by Nely Cab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I originally read and reviewed this book in 2011. However, since then, it has been re-edited and also turned into an audio book. Since I loved the original story, I wanted to see what the audio book sounded like.

Helen Cricco's narration was excellent. She managed to bring the characters to life. Her interpretation of Isis's voice was spot on. Her speaking voice was pleasant to listen to and the cadence smooth.

Isis Martin is a wonderful character, though her angst did get on my nerves at times. She is a typical teen, who is having nightmares and is unable to sleep properly due to the fear created by a growling beast. She decides to confront her fear and finds herself facing a human-like creature. He assures her he is real and she challenges him to prove it; he does. When Isis meets David, sparks fly!

I LOVED this book! From the first line I was hooked, all over again! This story has an originality to it that most Young Adult authors try to bring to their books, but fail to. I couldn't stop listening to it. I felt for Isis as she tried to cope with the lack of sleep due to the nightmares. Then she meets David. Oh, David! I just love this character! He's a bit of an enigma at first, but he has a romantic side which made me swoon! However, he also has a jealous streak, which made him seem quite controlling at times. Listening to the story instead of reading it, let me follow my imagination a bit more. I loved meeting the Chios family again. The twins were just as likable and David's mom just as lovable as the first time I met them. The story swept me through various emotions and left me an emotional wreck. The ending has a magnificent twist, which I originally didn't see coming, but even knowing now that it was coming still didn't stop the impact of it; it was that powerful. The first time I read the book, my first original thought was "WOW!!!!" and I had to read it again to make sure I had read it correctly. My reaction this time was still the same. The surprise and shock of that last scene has stayed with me since the first time. Now I can't wait to find out what's going to happen in this trilogy!

This is Nely Cab's debut novel and I am amazed and in awe of her talent. I fell in love with her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting. The flow is also wonderful. I am a firm fan of this author and will read any books that she writes.

I highly recommend this YA paranormal romance to teens aged 16 upwards, and to adults who love to read Young Adult novels. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Taken by a Dragon (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 7) by Felicity Heaton

Book Title: Taken by a Dragon (Eternal Mates #7)

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Pages: 200

Author: Felicity Heaton

Date Published: 10 March 2015

Synopsis:

Possessed by a need to save a beautiful Amazon warrior from the vision he witnessed, Loke snatched her from the midst of the battle between the Third and Fifth realm of the demons, and carried her to his home deep in the black mountains of Hell to protect her. But as the fierce little female awakens, he finds she’s anything but grateful, and his dragon instincts roar to life to warn she might be more to him than an enemy—she might be his fated female.

Anais remembers meeting a handsome warrior in the heat of battle, a man who was her enemy but who looked at her with eyes that held dark heat and wicked promises. When she wakes to find that same dragon shifter has taken her captive, desire is the last thing on her mind, but escaping him to return to Archangel, the hunter organisation she works for, sounds less than appealing when he reveals the reason he took her—to stop her from dying.

Can Loke protect Anais from the dangers of his realm and how far will he go to save her from the future he keeps witnessing? Can Anais resist the fierce attraction that burns between them as hot as fire and stay true to Archangel or will her heart be taken by the dragon?

Review:

Taken by a Dragon by Felicity Heaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the seventh book in the Eternal Mates series. I loved it!

Anais is a wonderful character. She is a human warrior, working along side Sable at Archangel, a type of paranormal police/research agency in the mortal realm. I liked her feisty attitude, though felt that she took chances that were extremely dangerous. I was first introduced to her on the battlefield in the second book in the series, Claimed by a Demon King. However, she was only a secondary character at the time. I am glad to now to have the opportunity to get to know her better.

Loke is a dragon shifter. I loved this sexy man! He has all the traits of an alpha male - protective, loving and possessive. However, I also found him to be incredibly sweet. He may be a dragon, but he has a sensitivity which made me melt!

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book. The story is told through the view points of Anais and Loke. Their story hooked me from the first page, and didn't let me go until I had finished it. The heat factor between these two characters is just as steamy as the other characters in this series. I love their stubborn butting of heads, which I found quite entertaining. I was also quite amused by Loke's disdain of a female dragon and her attempts at seduction; it made me giggle, though the situation was anything but funny.
There are no battle scenes as such, but there is a fight scene between Loke and two other dragons which is just as intense; and another one in Underworld which I found quite funny, as I could picture the fracas quite easily. This is one of the things I love about the author - her ability to build believable paranormal worlds, and her descriptive ability to bring a reader into it. I felt like I was there, amongst the action, smelling the dust and sweat, and hearing the clash of weapons and fists.
We get to meet the other characters in the series again - Prince Loren, King Thorne, Sable, Kyter and Cavanaugh, just to name a few. We are also introduced to new characters. An angel who has no name, but is of the Echelon (whatever that means!). I am now wondering what his story will be? I can hardly wait to find out! And Cavanaugh's brother, Harbin, makes an appearance! All this testosterone is enough to get any red blooded female's hormones racing!
*Minor spoiler*
The end of the book has a bit of kink in it, but it's not full out BDSM, only bondage. However, this is in keeping with the story and makes for an unforgettable ending. I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

Felicity Heaton has written another fast paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed! I love her writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is number one on my favourite authors list!

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of vampires, elves, werewolves, cat shifters, succubi, incubi, angels, dragons and demons. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Bishop Street by Rene D. Schultz

Book Title: Bishop Street

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 332

Author: Rene D. Schultz

Date Published: 28 February 2014

Synopsis:

“Bishop Street” is a heartwarming and redemptive novel that captures the complex relationships between four orphans and their lifetime of challenges. It’s uplifting and with each turn of the page you fall more in love with the characters.

Margaret Gray for the past twenty years has hidden behind a facade of normalcy. She wasn't always rich and famous. At the age of seven her mother abandons her on the steps of the Bishop Street Orphanage with a note pinned to her coat. Here, under the cruel tutelage of Sister Theresa, Maggie develops a powerful bond with her roommates, Elizabeth, Lucy and Randolph. Their close friendship fortifies them against the years of physical abuse, emotional torment, and manipulation that follow.

Now, Maggie is thirty-nine and her nightmares are coming back. Despite a successful writing career and a flawless reputation, she is unable to keep all that she has built from crumbling around her. It’s been twenty years since she’s heard from her friends. Why didn't they answer her letters? Had they survived? Had Sister Theresa been right, or had she manipulated them all with lies, aiming to destroy their friendship, forever?

Sister Theresa is dead and with nothing left to fear, Maggie hires Damon Depre, a private investigator to find her friends, and seek the truth. This starts her down a twisted path that will once again, test her strength of character. Will she find more than just her friends...

Review:

Bishop Street by Rene D. Schultz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is a very emotional read. The book is in a genre that I don't normally read, but the synopsis intrigued me. I am glad that I did read this book, because I LOVED it!

Margaret (Maggie) Gray is a wonderful character. I really liked this lady. She has grit and determination to succeed. She has not had an easy life, but she has worked hard to become a renown and successful author. However, she is haunted by her past and in an attempt to vanquish the demons, she sets on a journey of discovery to find out what happened to her best friends, Elizabeth, Lucy and Randolph by hiring a private investigator, Damon Depre.

I realised from the start that this book would be an extremely emotional read. However, what I didn't expect was what Maggie's journey would stir up in me. I found myself so proud of all of the characters, as their struggles have shaped them into wonderful people.

Elizabeth has a big heart and a loving family, which made me feel very envious of her. Her life has also not been easy, but it has been filled with love and laughter. I love her children, Randall, Meg, James, Sarah and Katie, not to mention her loving husband, William.
Randolph is another wonderful character. He too has worked hard and has become a successful businessman. He has a wicked sense of humour, but he still seems lonely to me. His success isolates him, which made me feel sad. I am glad that Margaret manages to find him, and this allows him to feel relaxed and part of a family again.
Lucy is one of the not so lucky ones. She has had an even tougher life out of all of them, and her story is not an easy thing to read. She is the one that I am most proud of though, as she has had to climb hand over fist to overcome a lot of bad events and an addiction to alcohol.

I was, however, a little disappointed that there was not more in the way of romance between Maggie and Damon in the story. There was a definite spark there, but I suppose mixing business with pleasure wouldn't have been a good idea. I did, however, love Denise, Maggie's secretary and assistant; she keeps Maggie alive and organised. She is very down to earth, but she also has a warmth about her which instantly made me like her.

This story is full of heartache and regret, but it is also full of love, happiness and hope. I really loved getting to know these former orphans of Bishop Street. I have no idea what living in an orphanage is like, but these four people created their own family within an institution when they were abandoned by their own families. They have not had an easy life, but they have survived, and are a lot stronger for it. They may have been ill-treated and damaged by their experiences, but it is their ability to love that remains one of the true miracles of their upbringing. I found myself in tears quite often as their stories were told, but by the time I reached the end of the book, my tears became tears of joy.

Rene D. Schultz has written an extremely touching and emotional story that will stay with me for some time to come. Her writing style is not especially fast paced, but her descriptive ability brought the places and characters to life. The flow is absolutely wonderful. Each scene flows into another with seamless precision. I would definitely consider adding this author to my favourite author's list.

I highly recommend this book as a MUST READ if you love heartwarming contemporary fiction. - Lynn Worton

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Steve Vernon presents --- Tatterdemon omnibus

Meet the author Steve Vernon.  

In my opinion a somewhat disturbed man, if you disagree then you apparently have not read his books

The Tatterdemon Omnibus: All three books of the Tatterdemon Trilogy in one whole collection

Omnibus

This book is not for the faint of heart. Explicit language, overly descriptive murder scenes etc is rife.

That said. The premise of the nook is not unique what is unique is the authors voice.

This, although a horror is also a satire on the human condition and the authors voice in how he brings some very unlikely dead and alive characters to life is absolutely amazing. Not a long book but I own the omnibus so I am delighted to get straight on to reading book two.

If you are at all squeamish then I say - stay away. If not this man has talent. Explore it.

Honestly this book needs a few pause breaks. I left the omnibus to read books in-between since the book itself got to be a bit too much.

The graphic nature. Small but consistent editing issues and some character names getting confused were still not enough to change my mind....this man can write but I honestly would advise the author to work in lighter, less satirical common every day scenes since this pace got too be too much for me and I am thinking the same would be true for other readers as well.

WaAr

Book Description

Publication Date: December 27, 2014

All three volumes of the spine-chilling TATTERDEMON trilogy available in one single volume. 

In 1691 the town of Crossfall taught the witch Thessaly how to die. They beat her, they shot her, they hung her - but nothing worked. When they finally tried to bury her alive Thessaly set the field against them. The first man died as a gust of wind harrowed the meat from his bones. A root,flung like a dirty javelin, cut a second man down. Many more deaths followed. The Preacher Fell impaled the witch upon her very own broom but she dragged him down into the field to wait for three more centuries. 

Three hundred years later Maddy Harker will murder her bullying husband Vic. She will bury him in the field as she buried her abusive father years before that. The very same field where the revenant spirit of Thessaly Cross lies waiting. 

In three days Vic will rise again - a thing of dirt, bone and hatred. 

Men will call him the Tatterdemon. 

And hell - and Thessaly - will follow 

"The genre needs new blood and Steve Vernon is quite a transfusion." –Edward Lee, author of FLESH GOTHIC and CITY INFERNAL

Click on the pic to get your copy from Amazon!

Book Review of The A-Lister by Joe Mott

Book Title: The A-Lister

Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Pages: 244

Author: Joe Mott

Date Published: 13 July 2012

Synopsis:

Womanising Showbiz reporter Jack Stamp embarks on a mission to save a beautiful pop star from the clutches of a criminal mastermind selling celebrities to billionaires for sex.
Along the way, Jack must fight for his job, his life and his love whilst trying to land the biggest scoop of his career.
Inspired by author Joe Mott's years as a tabloid columnist, all the characters in this rip-roaring adventure are based on the people he met in almost a decade in newspapers and showbusiness.
Watch out for salacious hidden anecdotes about REAL celebs in every chapter.

Review:

The A-Lister by Joe Mott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a most intriguing, thrilling and suspenseful journey into shady world of the celebrity. I really enjoyed it! However, if I saw this book in my local book store, I'm not sure I would have picked it up. The cover just didn't grab me as it should have. Keep it simple is my motto, but this cover is perhaps too simple in my opinion. It needs more "bling" to catch a reader's eye. This story, after all, is about celebrities and should have a bit more "flash" to it.

Jack Stamp is a character I found to be rather arrogant and a bit of a jerk. He's a notorious womaniser, who's sexual innuendo and "playfulness" would have seen him in an employment tribunal for sexual harassment in any other job. I didn't really care for him that much. Although, he has some likable qualities too, such as loyalty and determination, and he has a nose for a good story. But, he has been riding on his reputation as an ace showbiz reporter for quite some time and has become lazy, and he knows it. When a desperate pop star enlists his help in exposing a sex slave ring, he jumps at the chance of salvaging his career with the biggest scoop of his life.

I am not one who actively follows celebrity gossip, as I feel a person's private life should remain that - private. Therefore, when I started to read this book, I had an open mind and had no preconceived idea what I would find within the pages of this book. What I found was an exciting, thrilling and shocking roller coaster ride that kept me hooked from beginning to end!

The story is written from the point of view of Jack Stamp, who's jaded and cynical view of the celebrities he writes about to be quite insightful and frightening at the same time. The story takes the reader through the shadier side of the celebrity life which, although it saddens me, doesn't completely shock me. Drugs, blackmail, prostitution and sex seem to go hand in hand with greed. Greed (or should I say lust?) for power is just as dangerous as greed for money. Both of these deadly sins run rampant throughout the story. The mastermind behind the sex slavery business is shrouded in mystery for most of the story, and it kept me guessing for quite some time. However, my own "spidey" sense, honed by reading dozens of mysteries over the years, tingled, and my suspicions were proved correct as to who the culprit was when they were revealed.

What struck me most about this story is how complicit the pop star was in all of this. Her motivation in contacting Jack, and then diving straight back into the seedy underbelly, confused me. I don't want to sound harsh, but if someone is asking for help, they usually want to get out of the mess they are in, not go jumping back in without a backward glance! But, I suppose, that's the only life she knows and is too scared to change. Unfortunately, the abused don't always seek safety - better the devil and all that.

As I have said previously, I am not one for reading celebrity gossip magazines or articles in the newspaper, so most of the "real" celebrities supposedly sprinkled throughout the story made no difference to me with regards to the tale. However, to say that this book is Joe Mott's debut novel, you can tell he has been in the writing trade for many years. His characters are very lifelike and his descriptions of places and scenes were extremely vivid; I had no problem in picturing them in my mind's eye. Though the story is fast paced, I did find some scenes slowed the flow down a bit; especially those with the mysterious mastermind and his henchmen in. Nevertheless, I would definitely consider reading more of this author's books in the future.

I recommend this book if you love mysteries, thrillers or suspense novels. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Destiny by Jennifer Gibson

Book Title: Destiny

Genre: YA Romance/Coming of Age

Pages: 300

Author: Jennifer Gibson

Date Published: 13 July 2013

Synopsis:

Jessie is determined not to let her hearing loss hold her back. She aims her sights even higher as she ventures in a new direction. With a Black Belt on the horizon, and so close to achieving it, she is unaware of the danger closing in on her.

Until one day, everything suddenly changes and she finds herself standing on the precipice of life. Will she be strong enough to hold on or will she succumb to the darkness that surrounds her?

Review:

Destiny by Jennifer Gibson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in a series that follows Jessie, a teen with a hearing impediment. I really enjoyed this story!

Jessie McIntyre is a character I could relate to easily. She has faced many difficult challenges over the last couple of years, what with being bullied at school and competing at Karate tournaments. Now heading towards her eighteenth birthday, Jessie is finding life even more complicated. Will she overcome the obstacles placed in her way? And can she find out what her destiny has in store?

After finishing Compass, I was eager to start reading Destiny and started reading it as soon as I could. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Jessie overcome more than her fair share of problems over the series. She is a very determined young woman, but I found her insecurity caused by her hearing is one issue that seems to hold her back at times.

This story sees Jessie trying her hand at working, first at a art class as an assistant, and then as a volunteer candy-striper at the hospital. I can remember my first attempts at the job market; I remember how nervous I was, worried I would make a complete idiot of myself. Therefore, I could certainly understand and sympathize with Jessie as she tries to figure out the intricacies of those jobs and the people she interacts with.

She also is determined to get her black belt in Karate, which I admire her for. It takes a lot of dedication to attain a black belt, and Jessie seems to have that in spades.

However, as I was reading this story, I couldn't help but feel that Jessie is actually suffering with depression. I don't know if I am reading too much between the lines into the story by saying this, but I had been reading a presentation my sister had asked me to look at on her behalf about depression. It got me to thinking about Jessie (as I was reading this story at the time) - the bullying, her hearing issues and her attitude at times, and it all seemed to fit. However, as I am not meant to be psychoanalyzing her, but reviewing the book, I will leave that for another day.

The story is again well written, and the scenes are very easy to picture. I did, however, feel that the scene with the stalker was wrapped up a bit too quickly. I think I would have liked to see a bit of a tussle between the guy and Jessie, where she did Karate to protect herself. But, as this promotes violence, even in self defense, I suppose it was best to leave it out. The character development is fantastic and I could see each character, whether already known or new, in my minds eye with clarity. I certainly didn't think much of Bob, another volunteer at the hospital, but I really liked Nicole and Sarah. They seemed nice enough and likable.

I have enjoyed watching Jessie and Ethan's relationship grow closer over the series. They have had their ups and downs, as most couples do, but I love the way they interact; you can almost feel their love for each other, it's that palpable. There is a twist that I didn't see coming in this tale, and it made me feel rather sad. I will not say what it was, as I feel that would be a spoiler and will leave it to you to decide if you would like to find out what the twist is. I reached the end of the story and felt sad that it had ended. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find there is a bonus short story called "Happy Holidays... Or Is It?" to read. I really enjoyed that story, as it gave Jessie a chance to do something on her own, away from her family and even Ethan. I think it gave Jessie the opportunity to explore her environment more, and become more confident and "grown up" as she did things for herself.

Jennifer Gibson has written an intriguing and interesting YA story based in truth. I found the story a quick read. I love the way the story flows from scene to scene; it's extremely fluid and the descriptions were described in such a way that I could picture them with ease. This is an author I am looking forward to adding to my favourite authors list.

I highly recommend this book to young readers aged 12 to 16, and to adults who love reading younger YA romance or coming of age novels. - Lynn Worton

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