Getting back on top of things!

It's been quite sometime since I have blogged about books let alone anything that has been going on in my life. Books are books they are my constant and I'm still reading almost everyday. Right now I'm reading all of Nina Bangs books again. I love her so much! But let me start at the beginning of when my life got so hectic.

I decided on a whim to call our local community action agency and see if they had any available grant money for stay at home mom's to go back to school...Guess what....They did....So I went from staying home everyday with nothing to do until the kids got home to going to see to get my degree in Paralegal Studies three days a week. I have 2 instructors and my legal class only has 3 people in it so can we say one on one teaching!! Everything is going great..I'm getting A's in my computer classes and A's in my legal classes and I'm loving every minute of it. I have met some amazing women who have become wonderful friends and I really enjoy being in class with them and getting to eat lunch with them 3 times a week. My kids tell me they are proud of me all of the time and have even hung my A+ test scores on the fridge with theirs!

I have a spectacularly wonderful friend who makes sure she gets my kids to and from practices and school while I'm at my long school day on Wednesdays. Thankfully football and soccer are just about done but Tyler is wrestling this year so practice for that starts in November. She makes my life so much easier and I just don't know what I would do without her...Thank you Karin!

The kids have gotten their midterm grades and all I can say is 3 out 5 isn't bad right? Jacob is almost getting a perfect 100% in kindergarten. Gabby has all A's and one B+ in reading and Ashley is getting straight A's in her first year of middle school. They are doing a spectacular job and I'm so very proud of them. The boys on the other hand....We'll that is a different story all together. Tyler has totally lost his mind this year and he completely flunking school...Thank god we caught it at midterm and he has time to get his grades up. I was a horrible mother and pulled him out of football until all of his missing assignments were caught up. He didn't complain though. I'm pretty sure he knew better. I just can't fathom how this came from my honor roll student..I just don't understand and probably never will.Cody's wasn't to terribly bad..his problem was he hid them from us. So I'm hoping he has learned his lesson about that. He got wonderful comments from all of his teachers. He tries hard, pleasure to have in class, needs to ask for help more but tries. That tells me that he is giving his all so I can't really fault him for that.

Cold and Flu season is upon us and I already have sick people living in my house. Jake is home from school today because he has to go and have his kindergarten boosters. I thought he was all caught up but I guess I was wrong. He is putting on a brave face but I HATE taking them to get shots period. Gabby and Ashley are both home from school until Thursday. Gabby has strep and bronchitis and Ashley just has bronchitis. So they are on Amoxicillian and cough medicine. And pushing the Tylenol and ibuprofen to keep the fevers down. Karin is going to keep them tomorrow because they will have a full 24 hours of antibiotics that way I don't miss school.

So I am going to try and keep up with this a little better again. I love having a way to tell about the ends and outs of my life. So until next time!

Win Destiny Kills and The Accidental Vampire

Win Destiny Kills and The Accidental Vampire!

As promised I'm going to start doing some random contests and this is the very first one! One very special person will win brand new copies of Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur and The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands! Here's how you can win(it's very easy!): Each of these will get your name in the drawing once, so if you do all three your name will be in the drawing three times!

Win a ARC Copy of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Contest Monday: Win a Copy of Catching Fire
As I start off a new Contest Monday, I first want to thank everyone who entered the contest to win Shiver. Not only did that post become an instant hit, but it was my first post to reach over 100 comments! I really wish I had more than one copy to give away. However, someone lucky will get picked, and that announcement will be tomorrow. So stay tuned! Now, what could we give away that might actually have a chance competing with Shiver? How about a brand new ARC of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins?

About the Book (From Back Cover): "Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge."

How to Enter: To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post. Or, if you can't leave a comment, send an email to shadyglade (AT) mail (DOT) com with the subject line "Catching Fire Contest" and include your name, your email address, and the correct subject line.

How to earn Extra Entries:

1. Post about the contest on your blog or website. +1 for a sidebar post, +2 for a regular post. Post a link in your comment.
2. Become a follower of this Blog (post a comment to let me know).
3. Come up with and post your own Contest Monday (post a comment with the link).


Rules: The contest is open until Monday, June 29th, 2009. You have two weeks to enter this one! Open to US and Canada residents, even if you've won a contest in the past. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator. One free entry per person allowed. See above for instructions to earn extra contest entries. Rules about claiming prizes can be found here. Questions? Post a comment or email and ask.

Good luck to everyone! I'll announce the contest winner of this book on Tuesday, June 30th.

Of course, you can always buy your own copy of Catching Fire too. But you'll have to wait until Septemember 1st to read it:

*The amazing Contest Monday banner was designed by Liyana.


http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/06/contest-monday-win-copy-of-catching.html Here is the Link to The shady glad blog!!

Rick and Bobo by Nick and James Ventrillo

Rick and Bobo
by Nick and James Ventrillo
Published by: Vanir Books
ISBN: 978-0615288659
Reviewed by: Tyler Clement age 12 for reviewyourbook.com
Rating: 5/5

Rick and Ray are two brothers who get rich off from one of Ray's invention. Ray wants his genius brother to make him into a superhero. But remember you can't be a superhero without a super villain.

I read Rick and Bobo and really liked it. I think my brother and I can really relate to this book. I am very much like Rick. I am very smart and have a really short temper. My brother is a lot like Ray. He has trouble with school but it takes a lot to set him off. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to read the next 3 in the quadrilogy.

Dark Hunger by Rita Herron

Dark Hunger
by Rita Herron
978-0-446-19948-3
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Reviewed by: Stacy Clement for reviewyourbook.com
Rating: 4/5


Quintin Valtrez spends his entire life living in solitude, honing his abilities and fighting his demonic powers. Until he meets Reporter Annabelle Armstrong. It's then that his difficult life becomes even more difficult. His Demonic father sends his minions to make sure that Quinton turns to his dark side and comes to reign the underworld with him.

I really enjoyed this book. It had everything that I look for..Action packed, sexual frustration, folklore, and hot steamy sexy half demon MEN! The Author did a very good job of creating her character and making the reader fall for them..HARD! Quinton Valtrez, is hard, a born killer but Herron does an exceptional job bringing out the soft side in him. I can't wait to read the next book in this series...And I might have to pick up the first one as well!!

The reviewer give Dark Hunger by Rita Herron a 4 out of 5 stars!

Have you been Royally Screwed? How to Get What you deserve by Making People and Companies.... By Myron Z. Bernstein

Have Your Been Royally Screwed? How to Get What You Deserve by Making People and Companies Deliver on Their Promises, Products, Goods and Services…

Myron Z. Bernstein

Kambs Publishing

9780982206904

5

How to Get What You Deserve by Making People and Companies Deliver on Their Promises, Products, Goods and Services…

Myron Z. Bernstein is a consumer advocate. Despite the term Customer Service, few companies care about you. Their goal is to make money even if that means cheating you. Bernstein exposes the abuses and the schemes behind warranties, insurance, contractors, rebates, and a number of other consumer “services.”

The difference between most consumers and Myron is –HE FIGHTS BACK—and he WINS

“Have You Been Royally Screwed: How to Get What You Deserve by Making People and Companies Deliver on Their Promises, Products, Goods, and Service” written by Myron Z. Bernstein

Reviewed by Debra for www.ReviewYourBook.com

http://reviewyourbook.com/component/simple_review/?review=1836-Have-Your-Been-Royally-Screwed

How to Train a Rock by Paul Steven Stone

How To Train A Rock

Paul Steven Stone

5 stars

9781442117211

For approximately twenty-five years, Paul Steven Stone wrote a syndicated column, “A Stone’s Throw.” In his own words, the column was quirky. How To Train A Rock is a compilation of those columns.

My favorite entry was 1-800-Stones-Throw, where he addresses the annoying trend toward automated answering services. I become so frustrated with the list of Press 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. What button do I push to talk to a real person?

“How To Train a Rock” written by Paul Steven Stone _

Reviewed by Debra for www.ReviewYourBook.com

http://reviewyourbook.com/component/simple_review/?review=1832-How-To-Train-A-Rock