#FitReaders ~ Weeks 2 & 3 Check In

The #FitReaders Challenge is hosted by Felicia the Geeky Blogger and That's What I'm Talking About. For all the details on this challenge, click on the button above.

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I apologize for not getting my check in done for week 2 last week. I was out of town doing college tours with my daughter. But I wanted to do an update for that week as well as this past week.

I will try to figure out how to do graphics or something to make these posts a little more fun to look at. I'm still trying to figure out everything I can do with my Flash. My daily goal is 1000 points or ~ 9000 steps.

**Week 2**

On Monday, I did an hour on the elliptical. I hit 1196 points or 9376 steps.

On Tuesday, I went to yoga class - it's still just as awesome. I'm really loving this class.  I only hit 254 (2506) points though.

On Wednesday, I went to my first Zumba class. My yoga teacher teaches it and asked me to come. I'm terrible as it, y'all. But it's so much fun! I smiled and laughed almost the entire hour. I didn't set my Flash properly so it said I only hit 707 points (6970 steps).

On Thursday, I spent a lot of time in the car driving. My daughter and I left on Wednesday afternoon headed to Seattle. Once there, we drove to Portland. We toured a college in Portland. Then walked around the city a little, in the rain, and got lunch. After that, we drove to see Multnomah Falls. And then we made the ~4.5 hour drive to Bellingham, WA which ended up taking closer to 7 hours because of rain and traffic. I hit 716 points (6818 steps). 

On Friday, we toured another college and then walked around campus a bit. After that, we went into downtown Bellingham, and walked around before having lunch. This is the only day where my Flash said I got in enough activity to meet my goals. :) We left Bellingham in the afternoon, headed to Olympia. I hit 1026 points (9324 steps) today.

On Saturday, we toured another college campus, also in the rain. We also did a little sightseeing in downtown Olympia. We then drove over to Tacoma where we visited Owen Beach on Puget Sound and got a private tour of the University of Puget Sound from my pal Robyn Jones. :) I hit 860 points (7980 steps).

Sunday was spent walking in airports and driving. I only hit 641 points (6078 steps).

**Week 3**

This past Monday,  didn't get any extra exercise in. I was busy doing laundry and grocery shopping since I'd been gone over the weekend. Plus, my kids were out of school for the day and I wanted to spend some extra time with my two younger kiddos since I'd been gone. I only hit 212 points! Gah! Only 2096 steps.

On Tuesday, I went to my yoga class. Then I also did an hour on my elliptical. I hit 916 points or 8422 steps today.

On Wednesday, I went to Zumba once again. I hit 993 points or 9260 steps today. 

On Thursday, I did an hour on my elliptical. I hit 910 points or 9260 steps.

On Friday, I worked but still got close to my goal. I hit 704 points in only 6860 steps. 

Yesterday, I did an hour on the elliptical. I hit 1101 points or 9092 steps.

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I'm still doing well with my eating habits as well. I didn't go too crazy while my daughter and I were away. And I got right back to eating normally/healthily this week.

#COYER Review ~ Spend the Night Episode 1 ~ Elizabeth Lee

Spend the Night Episode 1
The Hotel Collection
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Welcome to The Wellesley-Crawford...

Hannah Wellesley has spent her entire life running the halls of her family-owned hotel, the infamous and opulent Wellesley-Crawford. Notes as one of the city's richest, most luxurious hotels in Chicago, the WC is what Hanna has devoted her life and career to.

The hotel's Annual Masquerade Gala is the event of the year, but this year Hannah's evening involves more than just handing out masks. After a mysterious rendezvous in a secluded stairwell with an irresistible and unidentifiable man, Hannah becomes consumed with discovering the identity of her masked lover. Just as she's about to give up the search, two men blow back into her life with drastically different intentions. They both have secrets and uncovering them will lead Hannah down a darkly dangerous path.

Drawn to both of the intriguing bachelors, she'll have to determine which one is after her heart and which one plans to do her deadly harm before it's too late.

Wow - I'm captivated and confused. And since this is suspense, I think confusion is the point! :)

Spend the Night is told through two or possibly three POVs - Hannah Wellesley's and 'HIM'. There are two possible prospects for the male POV - but then again, it could be both. I'm however, am clueless. And that just adds to the suspense.

The setup - Hannah is heir to a posh hotel in Chicago. She's lived her whole life preparing to run the WC. She's very organized - a planner - and is rarely spontaneous. One night, though, she steps outside her comfort zone. It's an experience she'll never forget. Problem is, he was masked and fled afterwards. Eight months later, she's still pining.

The mystery is well played and I admit, a little creepy. I'm just not sure where this story is going. Hanna is a strong, confident young woman. Both men vying for her attention are handsome, successful, and gentlemanly. Trenton Crawford - yep, heir to the Crawford half of the WC - has the benefit of having history with Hannah. I don't like his hot and cold manner with Hannah but I assume this plays into the mystery. Carter Delevan, the new chef at the hotel seems sweet - yet if he's the mystery 'HIM', he's a bit scary.

I'm intrigued with this story. I am still trying to unravel the mystery with the little I know so far. I need to know who the creepy 'HIM' is and I also need to know what both these men want from Hannah. I'm very anxious for Episode 2, which promises to turn up the tension.

Release Day Blitz & TWO Giveaways ~ Strange Magic ~ Michelle Mankin

New Release Blitz &

Two Awesome Giveaways!

Strange Magic by Michelle Mankin

Part One Now Available

*Read My Review*

YOU ARE INVITED

STRANGE MAGIC Release Party

January 15 to February 17th

Join us for a Mardi Gras/New Orleans themed party with games & prizes every day plus weekly video responses from Ask the Author. Party kicked off with a video interview of how Strange Magic came into being and will end shortly after an Anything-Goes-Embarrass-The-Author-Grand-Challenge for Author Michelle Mankin to undertake while in NOLA for the start of Mardi Gras.

Billy Blade is a hardworking, hard living, razor sharp musical force. Mysterious behind his dark shades, the rough around the edges Texan mesmerizes with his haunting harmonica and tantalizes with his dangerous looks and smooth country charm. His latest album is topping the charts. He’s the newly crowned King of the Bacchus Krewe. He’s definitely living the rock star dream.

Exotic Creole beauty Thyme Bellerose couldn’t be more content. She has it all. An adoring grandmother. A handsome Tulane medical student beau. A satisfying job in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Her life is as rich as the ice cream she creates. She’s got everything under control.

But control is an illusion. Dreams can turn into nightmares. And now during Mardi Gras, otherworldly powers stand ready to shape their destinies in ways they could never imagine.

Shadow and light. Magic and mystery. Reality and myth. All come together in a place where rules bend and lines blur. Even those between life and death.

STRANGE MAGIC is a novel in two parts. Part Two, the finale of STRANGE MAGIC will be released on February 5th!

Want a preview of Part One? - check it out here!

http://www.michellemankin.com/strange-magic.php

Pre-Order for Part Two Now Available:

STRANGE MAGIC: Part One & Part Two

DREAM MAGIC: October 2015

TWISTED MAGIC: Coming soon

Love Evolution is a rock star romance based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

http://amzn.to/KZoJS4

After the death of her twin brother, nineteen year old guitar prodigy Avery Jones finds herself desperate, alone, and out of options. Hope arrives in the form of a job opening with Brutal Strength, one of the biggest rock bands out there. Only problem is temperamental lead singer Marcus Anthony doesn't want a woman in the group. So Avery and her manager Trevor come up with a plan involving a Bieber haircut and men's clothing. No one seems to be onto their little con. But what happens when Avery starts falling for Marcus? Will she be able to continue with the farce or will the whole thing come crashing down around her like a house of cards?

(Revised and an additional 10,000 words of content, including 2 new chapters and an epilogue)

Love Revolution is a rock star romance inspired by Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

http://amzn.to/1aeXf43

The wheels of love are always turning at Black Cat Records. Things are just starting to settle down when two Texas sisters start to stir things up at the Vancouver record label. CEO Mary Timmons sets spirited country superstar Sara Daniels on a collision course with cocky rocker Chris Alex. Meanwhile, Brutal Strength's suave drummer, JR, has his head turned by pretty young intern, Samantha Daniels. Do all their highways lead to happiness or will the wheels fly off when the sisters' tragic past comes back to haunt them?

Love Resolution is a rock star romance inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest.

http://amzn.to/1whIVAp

To forgive or not to forgive...There's a storm brewing at Black Cat Records and lead singer Marcus Anthony and guitarist Avery Jones are at the center of it. Brutal Strength is leaving Vancouver and heading out on a big stadium tour with the reprobate rockers from Tempest as their opening act. Avery is forced to deal with a troubling figure from her past while being pursued by Tempest's tatted bad boy, Bryan 'Bullet' Jackson. Meanwhile, Marcus must battle his own internal demons as well as this rival for Avery's affection. Can Avery and Marcus keep their fairy tale happily ever after together when the prevailing winds of the real world are against them?

Three full-length rock star novels in one limited edition set

Tempest series (spin-off of The Brutal Strength Series)

Irresistible Refrain: http://amzn.to/SFJ96J & Audible: http://bit.ly/1vOTPPm

Enticing Interlude: http://amzn.to/1gelLT3

Captivating Bridge: http://amzn.to/RT7AMV

Relentless Rhythm: http://amzn.to/1xQpof7

Unforgettable: Tempest #5. A Tempest/ Brutal Strength mashup. Coming soon!

Michelle Mankin is the Amazon bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels. Romance with subtext. Reimagining classic stories with sexy rock stars and thought provoking issues.

For many years she worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter. Somehow, the boredom didn't kill her but the hours and hours of looking at facts and figures provided ample time for her mind to wander.

Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a Brutal Strength centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.

Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the Tempest series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.

Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the Magic series.

When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back.

Connect with Michelle Mankin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Michelle-Mankin/233503403414065

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleMankin

On tsu: https://www.tsu.co/AuthorMichelleMankin

On her website: http://www.michellemankin.com/

Receive the Black Cat Records newsletter: http://eepurl.com/Lvgzf

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#COYER Release Day Review ~ Strange Magic ~ Michelle Mankin

Strange Magic ~ Part One
Strange Magic #1
Release Date: January 22, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal 
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis

Billy Blade is a hardworking, hard living, razor sharp musical force. Mysterious behind his dark shades, the rough around the edges Texan mesmerizes with his haunting harmonica and tantalizes with his dangerous looks and smooth country charm. His latest album is topping the charts. He's the newly crowned King of the Bacchus Krewe. He's definitely living the rock star dream.

Exotic Creole beauty Thyme Bellerose couldn't be more content. She has it all. An adoring grandmother. A handsome Tulane medical student beau. A satisfying job in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter. Her life is as rich as the ice cream she creates. She's got everything under control.

But control is an illusion. Dreams can turn into nightmares. And now during Mardi Gras, otherworldly powers stand ready to shape their destinies in ways they could never imaging.

Shadow and light. Magic and mystery. Reality and myth. All come together in a place where rules bend and lines blur. Even those between life and death.

Please note: This is Part One of a Two part novel. It does NOT stand alone. Part Two is available for pre-sale exclusively on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RU3NNX6

Recommended for mature readers. 17 and older.

I'm a huge fan of Mankin. This lady rocks at classics with a rock-n-roll spin and just straight-up rock-n-roll stories. Strange Magic is a bit different. It's paranormal, and that's just for starters. Mankin though, proves she just plain rocks at storytelling.

Strange Magic is set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras with Katrina barreling towards the coast. Then it weaves in some Roman mythology, a little voodoo, and a few characters who are perfectly at home in NOLA. Yeah, Mankin's created quite a unique world within the confines of NOLA. And she inhabited it with captivating characters. The result is fabulous.

In this first volume, we meet our MCs, Billy Blade and Thyme Bellerose, but this part of the story mainly involves Thyme. She's a sweetheart, genuine and compassionate. What she ends up enduring is unthinkable -- the why behind it is fascinating.

I can't think of a better setting than NOLA for a story like this one. That Katrina is about to strike added to the ominous feel. Mankin did an incredible job of creating a mythology and an atmosphere that feed into one another so well.

I honestly have no inkling as to where this story will end up. But I'm dying to unravel the mystery. 

Travel by the Book #1 ~ Savannah

Welcome to my first Travel by the Book post. I mentioned on a Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged post one time that many, many of my vacations with Hubs have been inspired by a book. Hubs is kind enough to humor me and take me to said places. So I got the idea to share those books and vacations with y'all. This will be a monthly feature and I hope y'all enjoy it!

***The Book***

Way back in 1998 (maybe) I read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it. It's non-fiction that reads like fiction. I mean, ghosts of bulldogs, voodoo, drag queens, and murder in Savannah? It's good stuff. Not to mention the description of the layout of the city - the squares - and the lovely old oaks dripping in Spanish moss. I loved reading about the more recent history of such an historic city. And the characters that inhabit such a place were quite...colorful. I just knew it was a place that I'd like to visit.

***The Travel***

In 2008, we finally made the trip. We went in June trying to avoid the higher temperatures of late summer. But Savannah is a city where the heat stays rather mild. The humidity on the other hand...well, coming from Colorado, it was thick. 

We very much enjoyed walking about the town squares...the trees are beautiful draped in Spanish moss.

Savannah is designed in a grid-design...open squares around which residential and civic blocks reside. Each of the squares is named after someone and in the center of the square, there is typically some type of memorial to that person...statue, fountain, etc. This is the fountain at the center of Columbia Square.

The city is filled with gorgeous Victorian and Georgian architecture. It was fun to check out all the homes and speculate as to who lived there. Below is the Mercer House, built by Johnny Mercer's great-grandfather in 1860, and is the house in which the murder at the center of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil took place. Jim Williams, who was accused in the shooting death of his assistant Danny Hansford, is the only person to have been tried 4 times for the same crime in the state of Georgia.  

There are tons of ghost tours offered in Savannah but we didn't go on any. I did get Hubs to take me sightseeing/treasure hunting in the local cemetery, however. (that's true love, folks!) Important events occur in the cemetery in the book - events involving voodoo. But I was looking for The Bird Girl, which is the statue on the cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. We never did find it. We later found out that was because it'd been removed from the cemetery and put in a museum. *ha* The cemetery was beautiful though.

And totally on a whim, we stopped in at The Lady & Sons - Paula Deen's restaurant. While perusing the shop there was a ruckus...here's the reason for that ruckus...

Uh-huh. I got to meet, touch, and converse with Bobby Deen. Yeah, Hubs asked if I wanted him in the picture too. I said "Uh, nope!"


Okay, so there you have it. The highlights of my trip to Savannah, Georgia, inspired by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. 

Teaser Tuesday ~ #53

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

Dance for Me
Fenbrook Academy #1

Synopsis

Natasha is one of the most promising ballet dancers at the prestigious Fenbrook Academy of Performing Arts and she's just landed a life-changing audition. But no one knows the guilt she carries...or the damage it makes her inflict on herself when she's alone.

Darrell is a multi-millionaire designer at 25. But past traumas have pushed him into isolation and the intense pressure of his work has brought him to the edge of burnout. Seeking inspiration, he sees Natasha dance and hires her as his muse.

As she dances for him, the two become entwined in a passionate but troubled relationship. He starts to see the pain inside her and helps her gradually lower her defenses...but Darrell has demons of his own. Can two broken people save each other? Or will the darkness they're hiding consume them both?

This New Adult Romance is recommended for 17+ due to mature themes, sexual situations and language.

***Teaser***

"I didn't respond. I was staring straight ahead, trying to fight my way up out of the memories, but it was like being sucked down into thick, dark treacle."

#COYER Review ~ Lord Wastel ~ Donna Cummings

Lord Wastel
The Curse of True Love #2
Release Date: November 2, 2014
Genre: Historical Romance
Source: $0.99 Purchase on Amazon
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
When Aprhodite, the Goddess of Love, plays matchmaker, true love can seem like a curse...

Lord Wastrel -- the most notorious rake in London -- has a child? Clearly he knows how to sire one, but he has no idea how to actually raise one. He has to learn quickly, since he is the little girl's only surviving parent, and he's determined to find a wife who can be a suitable mother. All he needs is someone demure, and biddable, and most importantly, scandal-free.

Lady Felicia Selby is no stranger to scandal, thanks to her numerous failed elopements and Society's insatiable curiosity about her misadventures. She has devoted many years to finding her one true love, desperate to escape the consequences of the family curse if she fails. But she has begun to give up hope.

Then, one evening, a chance encounter with Aphrodite changes everything.

Aphrodite and Ares are at it again!

Lord Wastel was even more delightful than Lord Rakehell's Love! Longer in length, the added character development really enhanced the story. And the addition of a strong-willed, cherubic 4-year old was a treat!

We met Felicia and Hugh in book 1, as they are best friends to Georgiana and Simon, respectively. Felicia, known as Flighty Felicia to the ton, has been endeavoring to find her one true love, by eloping every two weeks, to escape a family curse. She is very dismayed to realize Lord Wastel -- Hugh -- is her fated match. Not only because she's known him most of her life, but also because he's engaged to another woman!

Hugh, Lord Weyson, has recently discovered he's a father. In an attempt to provide his daughter a loving home and a strong family unit, he's sought out a staid woman to take as his wife. Things don't go exactly as he'd planned when Felicia begins her undaunted pursuit of him.

Felicia and Hugh are both prone to scandal and are both very strong-willed. This made for an entertaining courtship. The repartee between the two was witty and humorous -- Felicia is not a shrinking violet and never shied away from giving Hugh her opinion or a well-deserved pinch. She knew she loved Hugh but it took awhile for Hugh to realize his feelings.

Seeing both Felicia and Hugh with Lucinda, Hugh's daughter, was an absolute joy. Lucinda is equally as head-strong as her Papa and new Mama. She melted everyone's heart including mine. I could easily envision her using her bright eyes and adorable smiles to win whatever she desired of her parents. 

This is a series I adore. I enjoy watching Aphrodite and Are playing at matchmaking -- and the love matches they make are charming, amusing, and a pleasure to watch unfold. I'm eager to see what Aphrodite has in store for Julian, Felicia's brother, and Tony, her cousin. Oh, and Aunt Aurore, too! It's sure to be uproarious fun!

Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged ~ #50

Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged is a weekly meme, hosted by TalkSupe, where I share with you the books I have bought, borrowed, or bagged (gifted or won) plus a recap of the previous week's reviews, upcoming reviews, and any other bookishness I want to share. :)

I had another good week - where I refrained (mostly) from doing any one-clicking. Of course, this was made easier for the fact that I've been traveling in the Pacific Northwest doing a college tour with my daughter. :) It's been a whirlwind tour - 3 colleges in 3 days (in Oregon and Washington) so lots of driving and not much reading. Also, I've been too tired to even think of getting on my computer at night. So I'll catch up with y'all next week!

Here's what was added to my ereader and/or my physical library this week:

BOUGHT
*Freebies*

Bagged

I received All Fired Up, and Fading Out (not pictured), for review. 



Last Week's Reviews

Soul Avenged by Keri Lake
Claimed by a Demon King by Felicity Heaton

Upcoming Reviews

Lord Wastrel by Donna Cummings
A Gentleman's Promise by Tamara Gill
Strange Magic by Michelle Mankin
Spend the Night by Elizabeth Lee