The Terracotta Army

So I finally took 2 days off to enjoy the Spring Break holidays with my lovely kids......not! They were driving me crazy at home so I had to get out. On Thursday we went to see the Terracotta Army which are the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang the First Emperor of China. I stood in awe amidst the various pieces that were on display at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta............amazing I thought to myself. This once great man decided that he wants to have soldiers to protect him in the afterlife so he built a Terracotta army. In so doing, Qin Shi Huang (Emperor) was able to introduce the "assembly line". The workers formed a line and worked on different parts of the body before finally putting the pieces together to make warriors and horses. He held the higher ranking workers accountable for the final products by "stamping" each product with their initials; introducing what we know today as foreman/supervisor.......you catch my drift. It was amazing and I will put pictures up as soon as I get a chance.

Sisterhood Award

As a new blogger, I was so excited and honored to receive this award from my friend Yvonne over at socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/. Thanks so much!

The name of the award says it all...... I can't tell you how much I appreciate getting it! Here are the rules to spread the sisterhood spirit:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

My lovely sisters that I nominate for this award are....

Pabast at http://readingmama.blogspot.com/
Myza at http://booksandsomanymorebooks.blogspot.com/

Kara at http://karabookchallenges.blogspot.com/
Danielle at http://gatadelafuentelibros.blogspot.com/
Lezlie at booksnbordercollies.blogspot.com/
Book and Musings from Down under at sally906.blogspot.com/
Carrie at booksandmovies.today.com/
J. Kaye at http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/
Lindsay at bookfan0684-forloveofreading.blogspot.com/
Lilly at http://lilly-readingextravaganza.blogspot.com/

Forced Wife, Royal Love-Child by Trish Morey

Sienna Wainwright has one passionate night with international financier Rafe Lombardi before he unceremoniously casts her out of his bed. Sienna hopes never to see his seductively arrogant face again, but six weeks later their world changes -- forever. Rafe is no longer just a billionaire but is revealed as the prince of Montvelatte. What's more, Sienna is pregnant-with his twins! What choice does she have now? Rafe is determined to claim his heirs and take Sienna as he royal wife!

I read this book in a matter of hours, not because of the mind-blowing sex (no pun intended) but because it was refreshing to see a heroine that was a pilot. A first for me. Recently, we had a discussion going at at one of my yahoo groups about the careers (or lack of) that most of the heroines in the HPs had. They were usually waitresses, store clerks....you get the drift. The book was so different and well worth the read.

A bit of a spoiler.......I thought Rafe was an ass because he slept with Sienna and just left her.....no phone calls, emails.....nothing. The other thing I really couldn't stand was when he was looking for a Bride, he didn't even consider Sienna. I know she didn't have royal blood or the right grooming but the sex was awesome. I could empathize with Sienna and understood her frustration over the fact that Rafe did not want a relationship based on love. Wall banger moment: Sienna spent the entire book refusing to Marry Rafe and the minute she crashed, she changed her mind. It took a crash for Rafe to realized he loved her.

For my more serious side

Please visit my other blog for my more serious side:

http://evysbooks.blogspot.com/

I started my own challenge and hope I can read all those books by the end of the year!

Once upon a Valentine by Holly Jacobs

So, here is Holly's final book in the Trilogy (though I hope she finds a mate for Judge Bradley). Could Heidi be that person?

Ok, lets get down to business. Carly is newly divorced from her husband since she caught him cheating with his secretary on their couch.......a couch she bought. We won the infamous couch in the divorce settlement and decided to torch it. Well, that didn't go too well as she ended up burning up her shed and the neighbor's shed and got arrested for arson. She was ordered to do community service by Judge Bradley (Alan) who as it turns out, is the brother-in-law of Chuck, the officer that Carly has to work with.

Chuck is oh so nice but has a rule that he won't date a woman after 6 weeks. He did want to go out with Carly (though she has a wild side). Carly is also a bit wary of men after the drama with her ex.

I liked Carly and found her to be strong, witty, compassionate. She spent all her life jumping through hoops for her husband and I liked that Holly "allowed" her some time to find herself or her "color" as she mentioned in the novel. With kids around my kids age, I know it had to be tough and the ex (whom I won't even mention his name) is such a hard as.. for not wanting to spend time with his kids.

Here is where Chuck steps in. Clever Chuck. He totally wins Carly over as he is patient and kind and totally likes spending time with her kids. I love a man who will take the kids to a game so mom can study for her boards.

Friendship: Carly, Michelle and Samantha formed a strong bond of friendship which I totally enjoyed. Being married with kids is a sure recipe for being frazzled and sometimes missing out on friendships with other women. We need that to stay sane.......kudos to Holly for penning this lovely trilogy and I do hope I get to read about Andy and Heidi real soon.

Once upon a Christmas by Holly Jacobs

Book 2 in the Holly Jacobs Trilogy.

Are three people about to get their Christmas wish?

When her nephew announces he's going to find his father, Michelle Hamilton never dreams the man's actually going to show up at her door! Only a paternity test will determine whether Daniel McLean has a legitimate claim. But that doesn't stop the much-too-appealing potential dad from throwing Michelle's well-ordered world into upheaval.............

My thoughts are that Michelle is so very uptight! Well, I guess I would be too if some guy suddenly appears in my nephew's life and saying he will play the role of "Dad". First order of the day would be a background check then I would do my own snooping around. In any case, Daniel is a courageous human being for taking on Michelle and Brandon without knowing whether or not he is Brandon's dad. I liked him immediately.

Brandon is more than a typical teen --- I like that he respects his Aunt enough to do what she asks but makes his own decision on a very important topic. I was happy that Michelle found the love that was seemingly lacking from her life at such a young age and hopes that she will have children with Daniele.....that would be a whole 'nother story.

I enjoyed this book as the characters are warm and inviting and shows the ever growing friendship between Michelle, Samantha and Carly.

Once upon a Thanksgiving by Holly Jacobs

Three women from Erie Elementary were thrown together on the social committee because they missed the first PTA Meeting. As it turns out, there worked well together and would become great friends.

This book centers around Samantha. Divorced with 4 kids, three of whom are boys, missing the attention of their dad. Dad.....well he had to go find himself and after he found girlfriend Lois, she helps him rekindle the relationship with his kids. Typical of some guys to be able to take time out to find themselves when times re tough.

In any case, they got in trouble at school and had to go to the principal's office. Mom (Samantha) was called in to discuss her boys behavior and found she was attracted to Principal Remington. Turns out they both went to Erie Elementary school (Sami as she was called) was about 2 years behind Harry.

Theirs was a relationship seemingly doomed from the start as Harry vowed not to get involved with a woman with kids yet he cannot stay away from Samantha. Sami on ther other hand knew that Harry was just the interim Principal and would be returning to Columbus after the Thanksgiving Holidays.

Without re-writing the entire book, Stan (Samantha's older son) got over himself and even their dad is doing much better thanks to his new love Lois. Samantha and Harry got their happy ending with Harry staying on as the new principal at Erie Elementary and Samantha finally accepting herself, extra weight and all.

Its a heart warming book deserving 3.5 stars.