Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

Saving Grace is a home for 13 homeless girls, who age 18 and above. They cannot go to shelter because they are considered as adult at age of 18, but they are not capable to live by themselves yet. They still need to attend school before they can get a job, and become financially independent to live by themselves. Saving Grace is Lucy Wiltshire's everything.

However, Saving Grace's main contributor Sinclair Hotels has decided to cut off the donation. This has caused big financial problem to Saving Grace. Lucy is in desperate need of donations.

Alex Sinclair used to be a famous playboy football superstar. However due to injury he quits the game and decided to run for the First Congressional District of South Carolina. Although he has changed, but people still think he's a playboy and that does not make him looking good for the congress. To change his image in order to secure his vote, Alex has asked Lucy to be his fake fiancé. In return, she will get paid a lump sum of money after the election is over.

Lucy does not like Alex. But she needs the money desperately to keep Saving Grace. That made her very little choice but to agree with Alex to become his fake fiancé.

Save the Date is a heart warming and touching story. Lucy sacrifices her happiness to marry the man that she thought she loves, to the fake relationship with Alex for the money. She feels guilty lying to the people around her. At the same time, she found out who is her real dad. And she struggles to forgive her grandmother of what the old lady has done to her mom and her. Alex also has his own problems that he could not share. He does not run for the congress for himself. To win the congress, he deserted himself from his family members. Even though he does not like Lucy, but he does not hesitate to help Lucy whenever she needs a helping hand on the issues with the girls in Saving Grace.

There are quite a number of spiritual content in the book. And again, it always made me ponder a lot and reflect myself.

I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Note: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Silken Thread

Title:         A Silken Thread Publisher:     Harlequin Imprint:     Kimani Press Pub Date:     02/22/2011 ISBN:         9780373534265 Erica Sanders and Brian Lawson are getting married soon. They are deeply in love with each other. However Erica's mother, Karen, prefers her daughter marry another man, Griffin. Erica's father, Wilson on the other hand, welcomes Brian into their family. Erica and Griffin are very good friend. Since long time ago, they already know that they do not love each other, but just very good friend. Griffin has fallen in love with April, Erica's best friend. Karen hires a private investigator to investigate Brian, hoping to find something to call off the wedding. But the truth he uncovers is something out of her expectation. Nonetheless, it is good enough to rip both families apart. At the very least, she manages to use it to manipulate Erica. The more I read, the more I hate this Karen. She thinks the children are selfish because Erica refuses to follow her advice to marry Griffin. But I think getting a private investigator, and go to the extend of making all sorts of lies and things to break the couple apart, this is just too much. Karen does not only break up Erica and Brian, she also tries to break up Griffin and April too. So that Erica and Griffin these two heart broken hearts can get together. I cannot imagine such selfish mother who would like to sacrifice her daughter's happiness for herself. On the other hand, Brian's mom, Rita is the opposite. Brian's father passed away when Brian was 15 years old. So Rita and Brian have very close relationship. After Brian has finished studying, Rita thinks now Brian has grown up, has his own life, and thus she moves on to do things that she would like to do - get a master degree and go back to working life. To me, this should be the way.  This is a story about the powerful of love and friendship. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars.

Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher Harlequin through Net Gallery

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Blood is more thick?

Ever since I found out the girl eats the food behind us, I have been very cold to her. I made her pack her own bag to school. I said No to all the requests that she asked. I did not hug her. I did not talk to her. I scolded her for small little thing. Sigh, I just can't help it. Besides getting mad at her, I also feel heart broken at the same time as she did not feel sorry about what she has done. As if she has done nothing wrong. She still plays with the boy as usual. She still asks for this and that.

Last night, I read a book, about this man who is 40 years of age, consider successful in his life. He loves rodeo and has been winning a lots and thus become famous. However that is not what his parents want. His parents work in the military and his father always wanted him to be in the military as well. But military is just not in his blood. Thus he did not have a very good relationship with his parent. At 40 years old, suddenly he found out that he is not his parents' biological child. His mother took him from the hospital when she found out her newborn son has died. He is shock at the truth and he does not know how to cope and does not know how to face his biological parents. The biological parents have 4 children, 3 sons and 1 daughter. The other 2 sons have died so only left this son. They are hoping to see him. One side is someone who actually has no relationship with him but has raised him up and with him for the past 40 years. Another side is his actual parents but know nothing about him for the past 40 years.

I turned to look at the gal who was sleeping soundly next to my bed. For a moment, I feel like want to hug her and kiss her. She looks so beautiful when sleeping. Sometimes she's like an angel to me; help me taking care of the boy so well. But when she becomes an evil, she made me so mad that I just feel like want to strangulate her and throw her out. Sigh I wish I can be more patient with her. This morning when I woke up, when I saw her face I back to the bad mommy mood again. Sometimes I feel defeated, don't know how to deal with her. We have tried different ways, but seems like all are not working. Sigh. It is so difficult to be a good parent.

2 big rats at home

I was mad to my 4yo during last weekend. I have been telling her same thing again and again, but after a while, she reverts back to the bad habit.

During weekend when the kids are at home, they will keep on asking me for food, non-stop, like every half an hour. Usually I will allow them to take the food, but sometimes I do say no. Or sometimes I feel they have been eaten too much, I will say no too, but will tell them they can have it later, or the next day. Last weekend as usual, the gal asked me for yogurt. And I said yes to her. But the next day I found out that, both of them finished 4 yogurts. Normally I will just allow one at a time. They can have the other one the next day. In addition, I found that all those chocolate that we brought back from wedding reception, are all gone. And she never seek permission before eating those chocolate. I always discourage them to eat chocolate (except chocolate milk and chocolate flavour ice cream). The most I only give them maximum once a week. Past experiences have shown that each time after they take the chocolate, they will have constipation. Guarantee. Thus I avoid let them eat chocolate. Then right after they have their bread with butter and half boil egg, hubby found that they were eating cheese slice, again without asking for permission first! And later in the afternoon, hubby told me, one pack of the cheese slice have finished. It was just opened a week before. This is not the first time such things happen, that both of them have eaten lots of snacks without asking us.

I feel so upset. Not only she set a wrong example to her brother there, she is also making her brother eating so much junk food in between meals. They are not hungry. They just like to eat those snacks. She shares the food with her brother and leaves nothing for us! They have finished the yogurt; they also have finished the chocolate. However each time when we are eating, especially me, they will sure come to me asking me for food! I was very mad at her actually. And I feel so disappointed. It's not that I don't let her eat, but just want her to eat moderately. I did not talk to her for the rest of the day. I told hubby, maybe we should consider getting a lock for the fridge.

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Queen

SubTitle: Book III in the Iron Fey series

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: Harlequin TEEN

Pub Date: 01/25/2011

ISBN: 9780373210183 

The story continues from The Iron Daughter. Meghan, Ash and Puck all are being banished from going back to Nevernever now. Meghan thought it was over, that she thought she can finally go home, back to school, back to her human life. But an army of Iron fey is approaching the faery world, with the intention to destroy both Summer and Winter Court. Someone claims he's the new Iron King.  

The Summer and Winter Court has united to defend the iron fey army but nothing much can be done. They realise that Only Meghan, the half faery princess and half human can save them. Meghan, Ash and PUck are being summoned back to Nevernever. Once again, Meghan, Robbie, Ash and Grimalkin get together and begin their journey to the iron realm.  

At the same time, the false Iron King is hunting Meghan Chase too; which make her in a much more dangerous position. To save the faery world, Meghan must win the battle against the false Iron King. 

I enjoy reading the whole Iron fey series and so far this book is my favorite. Meghan Chase is smart, brave and has strong leadership quality. And she always put others before her. I like the part about her and her human father. I also like Ash - mature, and always good at handling things. It's a good ending but some how I feel very bitter. There are always things that out of our control, and we always have to choose the right thing to do and what we would like to do. It's like you have a choice, but you have no choice. I can't wait for the next book - The Iron Knight. Wonder when it will be available. 

Note: I receive the ARC of the ebook from the publisher Harlequin Teen through Net Gallery