I am currently a stay at home mother of two toddlers, who keep me very busy. I also have a wonderful, supportive husband without whom my blog would not be possible. I am a recent transplant to the rainy, region of Portland, Oregon; thus the reason for Rainy Day Ramblings. The many rainy days here provide me ample time to snuggle up under a comfy blanket with a cat and read while the rain drips down my window.

I also, when I find time, enjoy baking, candle and jewelry making, cross stitching and spending ample time with family.

Thanks

Website: http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
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• rnydayramblings: Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2) by Jennifer Estep http://t.co/6hpnShF3
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Blog: http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/

• Christmas Lites on Dec. 16, 2011
  
  Five Big Stars! Go buy this book! What happens when a group of authors end up spending time on Goodreads chatting about books, writing, publishing and a potpourri of other topics? Well, aside from not getting as much writing done as they could or should, a wonderful community was born. What is this gathering of the writing minds and where can I find it? Why, I am glad you asked my friend. This meeting of the minds can be found on Goodreads in the group Creative Reviews. Wait, you are a reader not a writer, no worries they accept all wayward souls, readers, reviewers, bloggers and anyone else who stops by their little forum. At last check their membership was over a thousand and counting. Ok, you are shaking your head and wondering what all this has to do with my review of Creative Lites. Well, everything, you see these talented people got together one day and decided to donate their time, effort and words to create an anthology of Christmas stories. I realize not everyone out there is a fan of anthologies but this one is exceptional. First, it is an eclectic bunch of short stories. This book has it all, sentimental messages, Christmas memories, funnies, elves, Santa, ghosts and aliens, zombies, witches vampires and werewolves and even a turkey avenger. Yes, you read that correctly. So, you see this little collection stands alone. Yes, a little something for everyone, let me show you what you will find. Want heart felt stories with touching messages and reminders of the true meaning of Christmas then read:'Tis the Holiday Spirit by Ottilie Weber or Sweet Child by Mark Koning or Memories of the Splendid Splinter by Richard Phelan or The Carpenter’s Wife by Misty Baker and the one that stabbed me right in the heart, Whimper by C.S. Splitter. Sentiment isn't your thing then how about a couple of stories with stark reminders of what should be important: family, friends, helping others etc, for this I recommend: All I Want for Christmas by Angel Armstead or Christmas Story by Phil Cantrill and Only That Day Dawns by Angela Yuriko-Smith. Not into heavy messages but instead you prefer something funny and light try: The Perfect Ornament by Cambria Hebert or Christmas Disco by Paige Kellerman and The Hunt by Amy Eye and The Turkey Avenger by E.C. Stilson How about a little romance? For the lovers there is How I Found My Soul Mate by E.C. Stilson ( a funny and clever story about being stuck in the waiting room of the Hereafter) how about Accidentally Gift Wrapped by Tricia Kristufek or A Sprig of Holly by JA Clement or Santa’s Ninja Elf by Lizzie Ford. Perhaps you are a fan of stories with a little supernatural spice I would recommend for you: Last Year’s Eggnog by Brett Talley or The Christmas Ghost by Vered Ehsani and Star of Christmas by L.A. Wright or The Mirror by Cassie McCown. If you are die hard paranormal fan this book has something for you. Yes, that's right there are zombies, aliens, sexy werewolfs and more in these offerings : An Amy Harkstone Christmas by Mark Mackey and The Road to Comfort by S. Patrick Pothier and Broken Glass by Nicolette Alexandr and Blank by Cambria Hebert and Higher Ground by Shane Stilson. There is a fantasy offering with The Gateway Incident by Catherine Forbes and Paul Woods. Finally, the one that had me scratching my head that falls into the Horror category is The Face by Mark R Faulkner. So you see this book certainly has variety. Perfect if you need a short read or you are suffering from attention deficit! Have I convinced you yet to buy this book? What if I told you that it could be purchased for the bargain price of $3.99 @Smashwords and Barnes and Noble (Amazon offers a paperback copy). No!? You are a hard sell if that tantalizing price doesn't convince you to purchase a copy or two. How about this, the reason you should get this book is because the authors are donating every penny of the sales to help the NCADV (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). You heard it right. All money will go to help the many victims of abuse. That my friends and fellow readers is why you should procure a copy or copies of this work. I can't promise that you will completely love every single story but that isn't the point. Your small contribution will make a difference in someone's life and in exchange you get a bunch of fun little stories (pretty sweet deal if you ask me). Many I am sure you will read and share during the holiday season. I commend these wonderful authors and the others behind the scenes who helped put it together, Amy Eye, Jennifer Pringle, Vered Ehsani, Tricia Kristufek, Cassie McCown, Alan Zendell, Dafeena Jameel and the illustrious C.S. Splitter, who can be found at Creative Reviews trying to get The Willing to read The Reluctant or is it The Reluctant to read The Willing? Either way hats off to this great group of people. Here is to many more collaborations. So quit sitting there! Go get your copy now, read and enjoy. Then head over to Goodreads and meet the gang at Creative Reviews! Tell them I sent you! Happy Holidays! Favorite Quotations: "You know what they say about Christmas? They say it's the most stressful time of the year." "A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet," "although I'm dead, I am still a woman and I do enjoy sending mixed messages." "I think Jesus would appreciate it if you helped do the dishes." To which we responded by scattering like roaches; the baby, shoving turkey in her mouth, was left as a decoy." "How can life possibly suck when such a beautiful smile can light up even the darkest sky?" "I told you that it almost scarred me for life, but when you grow up, you realize some things aren’t really as scary as they used to be." "Value is also in the eyes of the beholder. " "After all, there are two important things in marriage—legs and the ability to avenge." "She will forever remain your diamond and you will forever be her broken glass." "Life bears down and some of us are destined to be ground into the pavement," "Then I heard a whisper on the breeze. "Life is a gift. Take your gift and use it." "His father lounged in a lawn chair, naked except for an ill-fitting speedo, an overweight white lizard basking in the sun. " "Like a bulldozer, she rolled right over my attempts at speech to make her point." "The pain left and Whimper’s tail thumped the blanket one last time in joy and pride for the man he had helped Tommy become." "His little fingers adjust me and the pine needles tickle my cinnamon butt. But I don’t mind."
  
• Before on Dec. 17, 2011
  (no rating)
  Two lives one light, one dark; One hiding in shadows, haunted by horror and the monster. The other, alive, happy and hopeful. Sam is desperate to escape the evil clutches of the monster, even if it means rescinding his chance to be near Heven. He is a dark moth drawn by an unrelenting desire to seek Heven's glow one last time. Heven, his beckoning ray, is a beautiful girl standing on the brink of teenage bliss; a cheer captain crowning, a handsome boyfriend prospect, friends and popularity, a life brimming bright with possibility. The only thing marring a spectacular, euphoric day is an essay; three pages looming over her head. Ignoring the temptation to cheat, she journeys to the library. A fateful decision that will forever change her world. As she heads home she is unaware of the beast lurking in the blackness, hunting the trail inadvertently left by Sam. It closes in lapping up her footsteps in the dark. A shrill scream shatters the night, piercing Sam's ears. He knows that his moment of weakness has led the monster straight to Heven. Will her glittering light be snuffed out by the blackness? Before is the prequel to the upcoming novel Masquerade by Cambria Hebert. In this short story she tantalizes and teases with her gripping splice featuring Sam and Heven. This promising gem shows that Cambria is a talented new voice in the Young Adult genre. She offers a tempting taste in her small prequel, that will have you salivating for the rest of the story, to be continued in her debut novel Masquerade, December 16, 2011. Favorite Quotations: " It's like her shiny blond hair and smile were a beacon to my lost ship. " "Things were going so good. They couldn't get any better. I had no idea how quickly things could change."
  
• The Sword of Senack on April 22, 2012
  
  Four Stars: An engaging and thrilling fantasy adventure. Aliya and her family move from Earth to a distant alien planet to escape the pollution and overcrowding. They take up residence in a strange castle next to the sea. The children are forbidden from going near the water or talking to strangers. There is definitely something amiss with their new home. Then one day, Indy tells Aliya that a witch has been haunting her. Aliya is incredulous. A knocking on the door emanates through the castle, interrupting their conversation. The door opens upon a beautiful woman with green eyes. This enchantress beckons to Indy and Aliya is powerless to stop her sister from following the witch into the ocean. Five years later, the family, especially Aliya, is haunted by the disappearance of Indy. Their mother is mindstruck, a shell of her former self, spending her days rocking in the rocking chair, only pausing to cook meals. Aliya wracked with guilt decides to come clean to her father about everything she knows regarding the disappearance of her younger sister. When her father disappears into his study, she decides to follow regardless of his strict rule to never go into his private room. Aliya enters into her father's private chambers and discovers her father has vanished. She finds her brother Jack and tells him about the strange occurrence, but he brushes her aside, intent on leaving with some girl he has been secretly courting. The girl appears at the door, and Aliya immediately recognizes her green eyes. She is the witch, coming to steal her brother. Jack refuses to listen and leaves with the witch. Now Aliya is left with her brother, Vander and her sister, Skye. The three of them endeavor to go on a dangerous journey to save their family. Can they find the sword of Senack and recover their father, brother and sister? What I Liked: Picking up this book, I had no idea what I was getting into. This book caught me completely off guard. It was like nothing I expected. This is a creative and thrilling read fraught with danger, brimming with fantastical scenery, imaginative characters and a story line that keeps the action coming. If you are looking for an exciting fantasy adventure that takes place in the ocean, give this one try. I loved that the main focus of this story was on familial bonds. This book follows the three siblings, Aliya, Skye and Vander, as they embark on their quest to recover their family. Along the way, their trust and loyalty are tested and their bonds grow even stronger as a result. I especially liked the growth in the relationship between Aliya and Skye. I found this to be a refreshing departure in the YA arena where you are constantly bombarded with romance. This book has only the slightest inkling of a budding romance. I loved the creativity and ingenuity in the world building and the characters. Ms. Stilson presents an undersea world with many unique inhabitants. The attention to detail is stunning. This book is action packed. From the moment the trio embarks on their quest there is constant activity that doesn't let up. Each turn of the page brings more thrilling encounters and new dangers. I was surprised time and time again by the direction of the story, not to mention the many exciting developments and unexpected twists. This book definitely keeps you on your toes. I loved the complexity of the story line and that the author followed through and brought most of the story lines to a resolution, while carefully laying out new plot lines for her next book. There is no giant cliffhanger and the reader satisfactorily uncovers the answers to the majority of the questions. The book even has a few illustrations. A big bonus for me. I love pictures and these didn't disappoint. And The Not So Much: As I discussed, this book is brimming with unique characters. There is a lot to keep track of and at times it is a bit much. Thankfully, Ms. Stilson does provide a glossary at the end to help you keep everything straight. I loved that the focus of this book was all about family, yet I wished there was just a tiny bit more development on the romance. The hints are there, and the reader can sense the building of a romantic interest between two of the main characters, but it doesn't completely unfurl. I wanted that kiss...Alas, maybe in the next book. One of my favorite story lines was the metamorphosis of the relationship between the two sisters, Aliya and Skye. I found myself wishing that there was a more thorough presentation of what their relationship was like before their quest. There is just a brief mention that the two didn't exactly get along. I am one of those readers that likes to plot the change and the growth along the way. It was still satisfactory to see the sisters grow closer, though. The Sword of Senack is a creative, unique and exciting read that takes you to the depths of the ocean, where you will encounter pirates, giant green hands, ice beasts, witches, merfolk, dragons and more. This book has great world building and unique characters on top of a whirlwind adventure. Be prepared for anything and everything. This was a surprisingly fun read, especially for a book that can be purchased for $.99. If you want something different give this one a try. Ms. Stilson is definitely a talented voice, one to watch. Favorite Quotations: "I fantasized about a balmy ocean where nothing could overcome the boat. Fish swim past. Birds flew above me. The salty air danced around my skin as I sailed." "Everything would happen the way it was supposed to. After all, chaos can be beautiful." "The war continued until many had died for the whims of a few." "It only took finding my heritage, to find what I always had back home," I said, "a sister...a friend."