Twelve Bells by Bridget B Leslie - [Book Review] #NaBloPoMo #day9

Book Details:

Title: Twelve Bells

Author: Bridget B Leslie

Genre: Romance, Chicklit

Source: A free e-review copy from the author

No. of pages: 48



Blurb:

In her struggle to heal the emotional torment caused by her ex-fiancé, Lynette Frank attends a speed-dating event to give herself a psychological edge in her quest to find the right man. Each man she meets challenges her to fully resurrect her dating life. But is it all too much too soon?

My Review:

I picked this up for review as this is a short and sweet book. The story is about the speed dating event and how the conversation of Lynette with 12 men changes her life. 

When we meet different people in our lives, everyone impacts us in one way or the other. A few inspire, encourage and compliment, whereas a few judge from our looks, discourage or de-motivate us. The protagonist Lynette meets 12 different men from different socio, cultural and economic backgrounds and each one of them impress her with their unique personality.  When we meet people with an open mind without any restrictions or fear for the commitment,we observe a lot and appreciate their good qualities. Since we judge people very early and form impressions, we lose to find such good people. So,this story is all about this. 

What I liked?
This story made me introspect about how we judge people and form first impressions. I loved the characterization and the way each character is revealed in less than 50 pages. The writing style is simple and easy to follow with a tinge of humor.

I would recommend this to someone who wants to have a quick and fun read on relationships and analyzing personalities.

My Rating:
4/5

PS: I have received this free review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion on the book.

Purchase Link:
Amazon


About the Author:

Bridgett Leslie is the winner of the 2014 British-Australian Community Literary Award and also the 2015 joint winner for the SAMPAD International Writing competition. Currently, she contributes to media for the United Nations Association of Australia, an official entity of the United Nations. Bridgett is a qualified finance professional and currently based in Australia.






Until next time,




This is my Day 9 post for #NaBloPoMo. 

A Walk by the lake - Photo Walk #NaBloPoMo #day8

This is the first weekend after I started the NaBloPoMo challenge. Usually, I don't write on weekends, that's the reason for the delay in my day 8 post. 

We went to visit Prospect lake in Memorial park, Colorado Springs this Sunday and it is one of the best walks around the lake that I had after a long time. 

Here are some pictures..

Bright sunshine on the lake

Ducks and shadows

Birds flying off

Isn't it unique?

All lined up, waiting for whom?








Until next time,
 

Deceiving Bella by Cate Beauman - A guest post

Ethan Cooke Security and their bodyguard team return to action in Deceiving Bella – book eleven in Cate Beauman’sBodyguards of L.A. County series.

With over 7700 reviews and a 4.4 rating for the entire series, see why the Bodyguards of L.A. County is a multi-award winning series.

Buy It Now!

Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBooks

New to the series? No problem! Each book in the “Bodyguards” series is a stand-alone title. Although reading the books in order is preferred, it is not necessary.  Each title features brand new primary characters and limited overlapping secondary characters.  Don’t hesitate to jump right in!

Isabella Colby has always yearned for normalcy. Now that she’s settled in LA, she finally has it. Good friends, a pretty home, and her thriving career as the Palisades’ top skincare specialist are a dream come true. Bella is content until she meets her hunky new neighbor, but her attraction to the blue-eyed cutie is the least of her worries when contacting her long-lost father threatens to destroy her happy life.

Reed McKinley is more than ready to forget the past. His seven-year stint as an NYPD detective nearly got him killed. His wounds have healed and he’s starting over as Ethan Cooke Security’s latest recruit. With sixty-hour workweeks and little time to himself, the last thing on his mind is a relationship. Then he bumps into the gorgeous woman next door.

Reed and Bella become fast friends. Before long, Reed discovers that Bella is keeping dangerous secrets. Bella may have the answers to decades-old questions he’s been searching for. Reed will risk it all to uncover the truth, but he soon realizes that the deeper he digs, the direr the consequences.

The Inspiration BehindDeceiving Bella:

It’s no secret that I’m a crime television junky. I love watching anything that might bring about an idea for another story. Several months ago, I found a series on Netflix about La Cosa Nostra—or the five mafia families of New York. I was immediately drawn to the information I was observing. Within minutes, I knew I wanted to weave together an adventure that would bring Isabella Colby and Reed McKinley face to face with organized crime. I hope you’ll enjoy reading Deceiving Bella as much as I loved writing it.

Read an excerpt from Deceiving Bella:

They kept a slow pace, strolling in silence as the breeze plastered their clothes to their bodies and the constant sound of waves hypnotized, lulling Reed into relaxing by degrees.

“Thanks for coming with me tonight. It’s nice having company.”

He looked at Bella, staring at the fading light playing off her eyes. “The water smells better than a bunch of sweaty guys.”

“Your gym.” Her brow creased ever so slightly as she held his gaze. “What do you do for fun?”

“Work and box.”

“Sounds…like a good time.”

“I like it.”

“Do you smile?”

He frowned. “Huh?”

“I was wondering if you ever smile—or laugh. I haven’t seen you do either since we met.”

He sent her an exaggerated grin.

She laughed.

He smiled for real this time, finding her laughter infectious.

“You do smile. I wasn’t sure if you had some sort of facial paralysis we hadn’t discussed yet.”

He grinned.

“You should do that more often.” She hooked her arm through his.

He almost missed a step as the warmth of her skin met his, surprised by her casual gesture. He wasn’t used to people being so touchy-feely. “I do it plenty.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it.”

How was it possible she smelled even better now that they stood so close? It had to be her hair. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

She stopped abruptly. “Are you seeing anyone?”

He studied her, not sure that he liked where this was going. “No. You interested?”

She shook her head. “You’re not really my type.”

He tried to ignore the direct hit to his ego. “You’re not mine either.”

Another smile warmed her face. “I think we could be great friends, and I like projects—love them, actually.”

His frown returned. “And that means…”

“It means I like you. And I love that you don’t seem to have any interest in getting into my pants.”

Years of concealing any and all facial expressions kept his eyes from popping wide. “Wow.” He ran his hand through his hair, speechless once again. “Okay.”

She laughed. “I’m a big fan of honesty—putting it right out there.”

He chuckled as he settled his sunglasses on top of his head. “Clearly.”

They started walking again.

“There’s something about you that feels…safe.”

He raised his brow, taken aback. He’d been called many things, but this was a first. “Safe?”

She nodded. “Safe. It’s a good thing, but you’re pretty serious. We need to lighten you up. You need to play more.”

“I play plenty. I box.”

She scoffed, “Beating someone’s face in can’t lead you down the road to happiness.”

Her side brushed his with every step. He imagined he should ease away, break their connection, but he liked the way she felt, that she trusted him. “There’s more to boxing than beating someone’s face in.”

She looked at him as if she wasn’t so sure.

“I’ll have to show you—” He glanced over his shoulder when he realized they hadn’t seen Lucy for a while and laughed as the dog lay on her back in the sand with her front paws in the air. “What is she doing?”

“Sunbathing.”

He laughed again, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen anything like that.” His eyes met Bella’s as she stared at him. “What?”

“You have a great laugh.”

To his surprise, he was having a great time. It shocked him further that he liked Bella as much as she seemed to like him. Being here with her was exactly what he’d needed. “How long do you want to stay?”

“The sun sets soon. It’s the best part.”

The sand wasn’t bothering him much, and he couldn’t remember the last time his shoulders felt so loose. “I don’t have a blanket.”

“We can sit on our shoes.” She tossed hers down. “We can plunk ourselves right here.”

Lucy rolled to her side, stood, and ran their way.

He shrugged, dropping his flip-flops to the ground. “I guess this is as good a place as any.”

“It’ll be spectacular.” She took his hand, pulling him down next to her. “You won’t regret it.”

“We’ll have to remember a blanket next time.”

She smiled. “You want to come back?”

He stared ahead, petting Lucy when she curled up next to him, breathing in Bella with each inhalation. “I could see myself doing this again.”

She gave his shoulder a bump. “Good. You can be my beach buddy.”

He nodded, liking the idea. “Yeah, sure.”

“Great.”

“Great.” He crossed his ankles in the sand, his foot brushing Bella’s as they settled in to enjoy the show. It had been too damn long since he watched a sunset.

Did you enjoy the excerpt?  You can read the first chapter on my website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book with the links below!

Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBooks

The Unofficial Deceiving Bella Soundtrack

I love music! I can’t imagine a world without catchy tunes playing, especially when I’m writing. Music is inspiration. Melodies, beats, and the mood of each song help me portray emotions and feelings as I tell a story. It’s a rare day when I don’t have my headphones in place, bopping my head, while my fingers race across the keyboard.You can listen to the “soundtrack” for each book on my website www.catebeauman.com.

The soundtrack, of sorts, for Deceiving Bella:

·         Favorite Song by Ben Rector

·         Lay It All On Me by Rudimental w/Ed Sheeran

·         Into You by Ariana Grande

·         Cake by the Ocean by DNCE

·         Truth by Steve Moakler

·         Any Other Name by Thomas Newman

·         Rock Bottom by Hailee Steinfeld

·         All I Want by Kodaline

·         Crash by Usher

·         Stand By You by Rachel Platten

About the author:

International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers' Favorite Awards.

Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on her twelfth full length romantic suspense novel.

DO YOU LIKE FREE EBOOKS?

SIGN UP FOR CATE’S NEWSLETTER TO BE NOTIFIED OF OFFERS

AND NEW RELEASE INFORMATION

http://www.catebeauman.com/getmyfreebooks

For a limited time: new subscribers will receive a free copy of Morgan’s Hunter and Falling For Sarah, books one and two in the Bodyguards of L.A. County Series!

Follow Cate

Amazon Author Page

http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/

BookBub

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cate-beauman

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/catebeauman

Social links:

Twitter: @CateBeauman

www.catebeauman.com

www.facebook.com/CateBeauman

www.instagram.com/cate_beauman_author

Until next time,

5 more tips to manage a fussy eating kid #NaBloPoMo #day7

I have written about the basic tips to manage fussy eating kids here.

Here are some more tips that worked for me:

1. Involving kids in cooking and shopping for vegetables
This is the best tip that I can give to any parent. Kids have to know each vegetable, how it is cooked, their color, their taste etc., This improves their interest to eat. When we prepare chapattis, we can encourage kids to knead the flour to any shape they want and then prepare a chappati from that. They will be happy to eat the chappati they prepared themselves.  While preparing a vegetable rice, if we make them sit nearer to us in kitchen and show the vegetables, teach colors and show the way they are cooked, they might show more interest in eating. This tip worked for my kids.

2. The whole Family eating together
This tradition was there in India from a long time. We usually eat dinner together as a family. This helps kids to get used to the routine of eating something before everyone completes their dinner. Kids always learn by observation. So, they will pickup eating by themselves easily and they also feel happy to be able to eat like their parents. I understand about the mess they make, but we might have to bear with it for some time.

3.  Setting  specific time frame to complete meals
Now a days, children watch videos on youtube while eating and no one knows how long they will take to complete a meal while they are immersed in the cartoons. Even I am unable to completely stop this habit until 4 years old but setting a time frame brings in the discipline. You might ask, the fussy eating kid will never put anything in his mouth. If that is the case, the parent feeding them should set a time like 20 mins and they should see that they sit at one place to eat without distraction for that complete timeframe. If they eat very less, its better to give a gap and set another 20 mins after sometime.  It's waste to spend 1 hr with a fussy eating kid and force them to eat.

4. Letting them eat by themselves
By letting children to eat by themselves, they feel like an adult and they feel happy. My 2 year old also likes to eat with spoon by himself. There will be a lot of mess initally, but if we can make them sit for some specific time and allow them to eat by themselves, how much ever less they eat, this becomes a good practice.Sometimes, I give my 2 year old 10 mins of time to eat by himself, then clean him up and I feed him later. This practice helps in future.

5. Preparing/ decorating meal in an interesting way
This is the famous tip that many parents are aware of. If your kid loves a McQueen or Thomas Engine, buy a plate and spoon with those characters. If you are feeding dosa, try to make dosa in a car/ train shape. I know, it need not be a perfect shape,  just enough for your kid to recognize the character. My mother used to grate carrot over dosa so that it looks colorful. Many parents draw a smiley on the sandwich with ketchup. There are many innovative ideas that we can get from Pinterest boards.

Does any of these tips work for you? Please let me know your opinion.

Until next time,

Ps: All images from www.pixabay.com 

Being ourselves is not easy #NaBloPoMo #day6

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

This quote made me think about being ourselves. Is it easy to be ourselves in all circumstances? I don't think so. 

Google image labeled with non-commercial reuse

Let me tell you my experience..

I don't like hypocrites. From childhood, I always respected honesty and genuineness. I don't usually lie or exaggerate when i talk  to people, even to strangers. of course, I shouldn't expect the same with others. But, a few people become an expert in hypocrisy. They show too much affection and sugar coat words when they talk even though they don't mean a single word.

There is a problem when we deal with these people. Can we be ourselves before them and show honesty when we already know about their behaviour ? we change. We will be more cautious not to get cheated and the friendship becomes meaningless. 

Our attitude depends on the other people's. We have to change sometimes for good if we don't want others to take advantage of  us. 

I was sensitive and soft-spoken for a long time till my graduation. Later, I realised that this behaviour may not work in all situations. I changed myself to be hard and harsh when dealing with tough people. 

Do you also believe this quote is true  and that it's tough to be ourselves in this world? Obviously, being ourselves will be a great achievement.
Please do share your opinion in comments.

Until next time,

Linking this post to #FridayReflections hosted by Corinne at Write Tribe. 

New skills acquired from parenting #NaBloPoMo #Day5

Parenting is a hard job. Many people agree that parenting changes their lives in different ways. 

Source: www.pixabay.com

Here are a few skills I learned from Parenting:

1. Patience
The biggest skill that I learnt from parenting is Patience. From childhood, my friends always used to say that I have a lot of patience when dealing with problems. I believed it to be true. But, after giving birth to my kids, I understood it is completely wrong. My patience levels were never enough to manage kids. I used to get frustrated when I am unable to stop them cribbing for every small thing and when they prefer playing over eating. By God's grace, I honed this skill of patience and I think, every parent of a toddler might have improved their patience in their parenting journey.

2. Learning things on the go
This is a unique skill that you learn from parenting. There is no parenting book in the world which can provide solutions to all your parenting problems. Every child is unique and no parenting principle works the same for all. I have talked to people, elders, experienced parents, read a lot on Google, experimented, failed, corrected the solutions, customized them and learned all on the Go. It became easier with the second kid.

3. Communication and networking
I improved a lot on my communication skills. You might ask, Why? I was an introvert and always loved to find my own answers independently without asking anyone. But, once my friend told me, I will change this behavior after I give birth to a child. I do things independently even now, but I understood the importance of taking advice from my parents, elders, friends and other parents. It always helped. Of course, we get a lot of suggestions and advises, but it's better to choose which advice works for us than doing something wrong.

There many other skills too that I learned from Parenting, but that story is for another time. So, what do you think about learning from Parenting? Do you also feel that Parenting teaches us something in our life?

Let me know your opinion in comments.

Until next time,

Therapeutic Nature #NaBloPoMo #Day4

I have watched in old movies that a doctor suggests a patient to go to a cool place for a few days and nature heals and rejuvenates them. I never thought about it in childhood, but now, I feel, that's 100% true. Nature works wonders on us. It refreshes us and makes us peaceful within.
Have you ever experienced this?

I have experienced this many times. Whenever I go to a mountain area/ beach/ cool place/ some place with more trees, lakes and greenery, I feel calm and relaxed. I think, we human beings have a connection with nature. It might be because we are part of that environment. But, we don't realize this connection until we venture out ourselves and try to feel it. 

Source:www.pixabay.com

Why Nature is therapeutic?

Some reasons I could think of are:

1. Relaxation to mind
We wake up and immediately enter the digital world by checking mails, facebook updates and following the news. And from then, the connection to the busy world starts. We have many things to take care of - family, work, food, money etc., We don't get time to listen to the chirping birds and experience a water fall/ a lake.That's the reason, whenever we go to a place close to the nature, we feel relaxed (only if we stay away from internet of course :-))

2. Inner energy
When we are close to nature, there is some inner energy that fills up. It's like the same impact that we get on meditating. Our concentration levels increase and stress decreases. It's no wonder that nature impresses many poets to write great verses. I think, nature boosts creativity too.

Source:www.pixabay.com

3. A treat to our senses
Since we are habituated to live in confined spaces, whenever we go to a new place and go for a walk/ try hiking, we are more observant than ever and there is a thrill of exploring the unknown. I personally observe a lot during nature hikes and the first hand experience with nature can never compete with a resort stay. I like to watch sky, clouds and different colors of the nature.  

Do you also believe that nature is therapeutic? Why do you think we connect to the nature?
Do let me know your opinion in comments.

Happy to publish my Day 4 post for #NaBloPoMo hosted by blogher.

Until next time,

My Top 3 apps for easy cash #NaBloPoMo #Day 3

There is nothing better than hard earned money. But, If we get cash just by installing and performing simple tasks, that can be great, right? Who doesn't want free cash, anyways?

I have tried and tested a lot of apps which give cash back and rebates for grocery purchases, which provide revenue for completing a few surveys and user testing, which give money for showing ads on lock screen, which collect usage habits and give money. Many  apps pay through paypal or in the form of gift cards of famous outlets or prepaid visa cards. Paypal seems to be secured when it comes to receiving payments, but gift cards are best when we regularly shop. Some apps steal so much storage and always use location based services which drain the battery pretty quick, which are not my favorites. 

So, considering all the above factors, I liked the following apps which are convenient for me. 

1. Slidejoy

Slidejoy is an app which shows ads on lock screen of the phone. You can either click on them/ ignore, it doesn't matter when it comes to earnings. This app has a great algorithm which analyzes our interests and shows ads based on it. We can earn cash by using our phone normally as we do. This app works both in India and US. I tested this on android and I think, it doesn't work on Iphone (haven't verified).

You can download app with this link and signup here(affiliate link): getslidejoy.com/r/Jxem?id=1

Slidejoy has following payment options: Paypal, gift cards, square cash and even donation to charity

We can earn around $10 in 6 months. This is the minimum amount and it varies as per the individual phone usage. I know, this is very less amount, but getting something for not doing anything is the only bonus. The minimum cash out is $5.

2. Ibotta

Ibotta is an app which pays cash through rebates for specific grocery products. This is compatible to both IOS and android, but app is only valid in US, not in India. After installing the app, we can verify rebates on the products that we plan to buy that week. Ex: one gallon milk of any brand might have a rebate of $0.25. After purchasing the product in the store mentioned in the app, we can scan the product and submit the receipt. Cash back will be credited to our account in 2 days. It's as simple as that.

I tested this app and one thing that I like is it has all popular stores where we usually purchase groceries like Walmart, Costco etc., Sometimes, there are rebates on regular items like Onions, capsicum, tomatoes, bread, milk, eggs etc., There is a joining bonus of $10 for signing up, Isn't that great?

You can download the app with this link and signup(affiliate link): https://ibotta.com/r/qqbajeh

We can earn around $30 in 6 months.This amount will vary depending on the spending habits.The minimum amount needed to cashout is $20. We can redeem cash in terms of gift cards (even amazon gift card). 

3. Receipt Hog

This is a fun way to turn our receipts to cash. Unlike Ibotta, any receipt will count for credit. This takes more time to earn, but it is very simple and quick to submit receipts through this app. This app is available only in US and it is compatible to both IOS and Android.

We can earn coins by just taking a picture of the receipt and submitting it. Grocery/ clothing/ fuel/ any other receipt doesn't matter. The coins earned can be redeemed to paypal or amazon gift cards. There is no other payment option available. 

We can earn around $15 in 6 months. This varies depending on the level we are in and the number of receipts that we are submitting per week. Minimum coins need to cash out are 1000 coins which is equal to $5. 

Install the app and Signup for Receipt Hog here: http://receipthog.com/

So, try these apps and let me know if you like any of these.

Ps:There are affiliate links in this post and I will get some commission if you use them to signup / install.

Until next time,

All signs lead back to you by Aniesha Bhrahma - Cover Reveal

~~~ Cover Reveal ~~~

All Signs Lead Back to You by Aniesha Brahma

2013.

As the final bell for the day rang on their last day in school, Diya Rai, had a chill run down her spine. The chill of not knowing what the future holds for her and her high school sweetheart, Ashwin Chowdhury.

So she does a preemptive strike.

She dumps him before he can hurt her.

2015.

Two years later, Ashwin and Diya, cross paths. Each holds grudges, feelings and only one half of the story that completes them.

Told from alternating points of view, through a non-linear timeline, this is the story about 

first love, second chances and ALL the SIGNS THAT LEAD BACK TO YOU.

About the Author

Aniesha Brahma is an author who realized her passion for writing at the tender age of six. She also happens to be the social media manager for BEE Books. Her debut novel, The Secret Proposal (2012) was published by General Press and was followed by When Our Worlds Collide (2015) by the same. She blogs at: www.anieshabrahma.com and runs an online magazine, BUZZ Magazine (www.buzzmagazine.in). She can be contacted at: aniesha.brahma@gmail.com. She lives in Kolkata with her family and her five super adorable cats! 

Twitter * Instagram * Facebook

Until next time,

Gratitude list Oct 2016 #NaBloPoMo #day2

There is nothing better than starting #NaBloPoMo challenge with a gratitude list.
I always enjoy making a gratitude list as feeling grateful brings happiness and peace. October has been a great month in 2016 for me, as many of my wishes came true :-)

Google image labeled with non-commercial reuse

1. Goodreads reading challenge

Source:www.pixabay.com

I have set a target of completing 25 books this year and I have reached my target 2 months ahead. I know, my target is not that hard to achieve but it is unpredictable managing 2 kids and I don't want to hurry reading my books but I want to read slowly and enjoy the process. From next year on, I will try to set a high target and achieve it.

2. Smooth transition to a new life
This year October month mark a major detour in my life. Yes, I quit the work force after 10 long years and I am taking a short break. I miss the last minute work pressure, meeting deadlines , my spirit of testing a software only to break  it, coffee and tea breaks, my close colleagues, office gossip and a lot and lot. But, I am happy that the transition to stay at home mom is smooth without any emotion burden.

3. New place and new surroundings
I love mountains and cool places from childhood. At last, moved to a place which is exactly like that. I am in the process of making new friends, researching on making a small home garden, enjoying lovely evening walks and setting up our new home. I am very grateful to God for blessing us with beautiful nature which is therapeutic.

4. Festivals
October is the month of festivals. I enjoyed celebrating Dasara, Diwali and Halloween. While I tried new recipes to offer to God for Dasara, I prepared some crafts for Diwali and Halloween with kids. A flower rangoli and the decoration of diyas obviously lifted up our moods though away from home land.

5. More blogging fun
I had the opportunity of blogging more on travel, parenting, and books this October and I am very grateful for that. A few sponsored posts happened too after a break. I am looking forward to #NaBloPoMo challenge this month.

So, that was the month which was great for me in this year. What are you grateful for in October? please do share your thoughts in comments or join gratitude circle by Vidya Sury.

Until next time,

Everyday Writing Challenge in November #NaBloPomo

November is the National Blog posting Month. Thus came the acronym 'NaBloPomo'. There is an  everyday writing  challenge hosted by blogher writing lab. It's of course not an easy task for me to even attempt this challenge, but I believe it's better to try before giving it up. 

Actually, I have many ideas or topics to write about in my queue but the free time is what matters a lot to complete this challenge. Posting on weekends too is a bit scary. I might have to do a lot of scheduling. 

So, wish me luck! Wish me that I get at least 30 mins of time every day to focus on my blog without getting pulled out by my kids :-)

source: pixabay.com

Until next time,