Dressed in White by Jessica Gibson ~ Book Review

 

Book Summary:

Lorelei Peters had everything she had ever dreamed of. Amazing friends, a sexy boyfriend, and a job that she absolutely loved. Dillon Brockwell was all she had ever wanted. Handsome, successful, and he loved her as much as she loved him. Life was going along the way it was supposed to, until someone from Dillon’s past shows up and shatters everything to pieces. Can Lorelei and Dillon get through all the craziness and make it down the aisle? Or will lies of omission be enough to derail them forever.

Purchase on Amazon - Kindle / Paperback

Follow on Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Literary Addicts  

About the Author:

Jessica Gibson is a recovering bookaholic, she's down from four books a week to a more reasonable one. It was that love of words and creativity that made her dream about writing her first book. That dream was hidden for years, always put on the back burner, filed away in the "someday" section, until her husband Matt gave her the kick in the pants she needed to actually get off her butt and write. Jessica and Matt live in Southern California and have a serious addiction to reality tv shows like Pawn Stars and American Restoration. They have one son and hope to add to the family in the near future.

My Review:

First off I fell in love with the cover from the first time I saw it pop up on my screen. I didn't even read the summary of the book before I wanted to read it. But don't judge a book by its cover, this book wasn't everything, white, flowery and happy, there were real life relationship struggles, things that really put a bump into the life that is trying to be made. This was a great book about the trials of a relationship and when you know you love someone you will work through anything to be with them, even nasty people from the past. For the most part the characters in Dressed in White were very likeable except one mean ex from the past. I wont tell you much about her but be prepared to be on the edge when she is around. I look forward to seeing where this series goes and learning more about Lorelei and Dillon. There was also a great budding relationship happening between Lorelei's sister and Dillon's brother. They have their own struggles that they deal with during this book and I look forward to seeing what happens next. I did find at times I felt like Lorelei was telling me the story after it happened but I also found the story flowed well and wasn't too fast paced but not slow to lose the reader.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

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~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Get Fit: Week 3 of C25K

This past week I have learned a lot about my body and running. I now know that running isn't as easy as putting on some workout clothes and running shoes and running down the street. Running really does have a form and as I read everything I can about running I am learning that I am a heel striker and this had lead my to my first running injury.

After completing week 1 of the C25K challenge I was feeling really good. I was super energized and less stressed. I even looked forward to my week 2 runs. I did feel a bit of pain in my shins but had a number of people say that is how the body gets used to running and you need to run through the pain. I ran through the pain and for the most part felt great. Last Friday I set out after working an overnight to do my week 2 day 3 run and had to turn around after making it half way. The pain in my right shin was too much to run through especially as I was almost 2.5 k from home and with Miss Molly. I was able to walk home still at a decent pace but no more running that day.

I took the whole weekend off to rest my shins and on Monday morning I headed out for a brisk walk. I was able to complete 4.5K. I decided I would take Tuesday off as I worked overnights. I feel horrible as I took Wednesday off as I needed to get ready for my daughters birthday dinner that night and I was super tired after working overnights I napped for just over an hour so I missed out on my walk.

Thursday morning I headed out right after the kids got on the bus and decided to work 1km and then attempt week 1 of the C25K routine again but I promised I wouldn't push it too much. I was super happy that I was able to complete the whole workout with little pain! Yay! I did however work on toe running vs my heel striking. When I got home I decided I would see if I could make an appointment with my Dr to make sure my shins were not injured and see what he thought of my new runners.

My Dr is a runner and he has been at me for a few years now to do yoga and/or running and I saw the smile on his face when I told him I decided to take up running. He actually said "I am happy to hear this". So to make a long story short, I do have shin splints and my Dr has recommended that I do not run until the pain goes away. I should continue to walk and when my pain does go away I should stick with week one maybe for 2 or 3 weeks just to build up strength and be more ready for week two. He also recommended a local store to go to and get better shoes for my foot strike.

I will be working on my walks and will let you know how the fitting goes and the pain. 

Have you ever had a running injury? If so what happened and how did you fix it? What are your favorite kind runners? I would love to hear from you please leave a comment below. 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Cover Reveal & Book Release for Irreplaceable by Angela Graham

Genre: Contemporary Romance/New Adult

Synopsis:

It wasn’t his fault she lay broken and battered. He wasn’t responsible for the injuries covering her bruised body.

Her heart, however, told a different story. She endured the pain of its jagged edges as it shattered against her chest, ripping through the hope she once held. Her spirit was broken, and only one man was to blame for that.
 
Cassandra Clarke had known better than to trust her all to a man like Logan West. She’d thought he was different—a better man than he’d portrayed to others. A man worth risking it all for.
 
But she was wrong, and would never make that mistake again.
 
What happens when you question everything you longed to believe—deny all emotions you still hold for a man unworthy of them?

Faced with Logan’s persistence, Cassandra must find the strength to keep her guard up or risk falling again for the one man her body feels…is irreplaceable.

Purchase a copy on Barnes & Noble, Amazon and don't forget to add it to your Goodreads shelf!

Excerpt:

The walls surrounding my heart began to shudder and shake, and it took everything I had to keep it hidden.

"Mm-hmm," I replied, my lips clamped together tightly.

His pained eyes searched mine. "You have to give me something to hold onto, sweetheart…a reason to keep fighting when you repeatedly push me away."

I’m here! I wanted to shout out to the world. Wait for me, please, but I stood silent, terrified. How had I become so weak? Seeing him with that woman had pushed me over the edge. He’d want more than I could ever give him, so it was for the best if he walked away. Better to get out now before it was too late.

He nodded after a long, silent pause.

I hated him for bringing me so low, for creating a storm of brewing rage deep in my soul. I hated myself for wanting to take him in my arms and kiss him until I forgot. I had to fight through it to find a way to get him off my porch.

Finally, I opened my mouth and swallowed the rough lump that had formed, speaking in a soft voice. "I was about to take a shower, and though you seem to think that’s our new thing, I prefer to do it alone. Goodbye."

Meet the Author...

I am happily married to my husband of five years, have three wonderful children and a beautiful feline companion that keeps me company during late night writing binges.

My love of reading has been life long but it was in early 2012 when I was inspired to finally put pen to paper and write my first story. Since then I haven't been able to stop, fueled purely by my passion to write a story and create characters that readers will enjoy.

New Adult romances are my go to books to read as well as to write. They are young, fresh and full of hope. What's not to love!

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."
- Ella Fitzgerald

Author Links:
Facebook
Twitter

Review to come soon.....

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Grace Under Pressure: A Girl with Asperger's & Her Marathon Mom ~ Book Review

Book Summary:  

By the time her daughter Grace was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, Sophie Walker’s life had unraveled. Her career was in disarray. She couldn’t sleep. She felt hopeless and useless in her role as a mother. Sophie began to seek the things Grace needed — everything from advocacy for her educational rights and protection from bullying to help with homework and making friends. When Sophie realized she was neglecting her own health and well-being, she decided to train for the London Marathon to raise awareness of Asperger’s and to build the mental and physical resilience she needed to support her daughter. Through running, Sophie ultimately found the strength to battle for Grace’s education, happiness, and future, as well as the inner fortitude to overcome her own frustration and depression. In this book, she documents her and her daughter’s trials and triumphs, offering real-world inspiration for parents and athletes alike.

Purchase a copy through New World Library or on Amazon. Add Grace Under Pressure to your Goodreads shelf today.  

About the Author:
Sophie Walker has worked as a journalist for Reuters news agency for fifteen years, reporting news around the globe. She has written about oil, trade, and politics in Washington, and has been foreign correspondent in the UK, traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. 

Connect with Sophie on her blog or Twitter @SophieRunning

My Review:

If you are looking for a book with inspiration you will love this book. Sophie shares with us her everyday struggles with her daughter Grace, the ups and downs of Asperger's and the challenges that can go along with it in the school system. After working many years with people with disabilities and also having a son with many of the signs or  "quirks" as I am told by his teachers, I found myself sucked right into this book. I found myself nodding and shaking my head as I have been there with my son. I can't even imagine the challenges that it can be after being diagnosed with autism, we are not there as I have been told there is no way my son is autism (one reason I hate is "he is too smart/sharp to be autistic").

Sophie gets consumed with these challenges and regular life where she forgets to take care of her own well being. Sophie starts running and signs up for Marathons. The whole thought of running and being able to run to clear your mind or de-stress from the day is so helpful. This is a wonderful book of one women's journey to helping take care of herself while helping her daughter and raising my to help other people with Autism. Be prepared for an emotional ride, I found myself in tears by the end. I really want to Thank Sophie for sharing her story with the world. You have really been an inspiration. 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of new world library. I received a copy of the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Six Times A Charm Boxed Set Release & Giveaway!

Six Fantastic Books All In One!

Haunted on Bourbon Street-

Jade loves her new apartment-until a ghost joins her in the shower. When empath Jade Calhoun moves into an apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street, she expects life to get interesting. What she doesn't count on is making friends with an exotic dancer, attracting a powerful spirit, and developing feelings for Kane, her sexy landlord. Being an empath has never been easy on Jade's relationships. It's no wonder she keeps her gift a secret. But when the ghost moves from spooking Jade, to terrorizing Pyper, the dancer, it's up to Jade to use her unique ability to save her. Except she'll need Kane's help-and he's betrayed her with a secret of his own-to do it. Can she find a way to trust him and herself before Pyper is lost?

The Accidental Demon Slayer-

New York Times bestselling series! It's never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet bowl. For Lizzie Brown, that's just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she's seen it all, Lizzie learns she's a demon slayer-and all hell is after her. Of course that's not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin, needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you've never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn't work how dangerous could a little seduction be...?

Carpe Demon-

Retired demon hunter Kate Connor must go back to work when she spots a demon lurking in the local Wal-Mart. But she'd better not arouse suspicion. This kind of thing could really hurt her husband's political career.

Girls Guide to Witchcraft-

Which is more unlikely? Meeting a single, straight, reasonably attractive, willing-to-commit man? Or discovering a secret cache of magic books? For good-girl Jane Madison, neither has a shot in hell of coming true -- until the day she finds a hidden room . . . Now she's done a bit of experimenting and found a spell that makes her irresistible to men -- even those who have previously ignored her. And another that turns a cat into her witch's familiar (a snarky, critical, self-absorbed man -- pretty much a typical male). Though her impulsive acts of magic have brought a warder (sexy, grouchy, elusive and determined to stop her from using magic) down on her, Jane's not willing to let go of this fantastic new life. Though she wonders about having things that aren't "real," she's having too much fun to stop. After all, no one ever said being a witch was easy.

How to Date a Werewolf-

Romance can be a hairy business--especially when you're a werewolf. As the owner of Get a Mate Dating Service, Rylie is more than happy to step in and lend a hand to lonely lycanthropic hearts all over town. No matter how hopeless Rylie might be in finding her own soul mate, she has a knack for helping others find theirs. Convinced that she is stuck with a family curse, Rylie is positive she will never find her true love. But when drool-worthy Jack Chandler shows up at her door, Rylie wonders if maybe the curse is finally broken. But Rylie's life is about to become complicated courtesy of the after-dark crowd. When she begins receiving strange notes and harassment from a jilted client, events careen out of control. Jack knows she's more hassle than he can handle. What he doesn't know is whether she's seriously in trouble . . . or simply delusional.

Easy Bake Coven-

For Selene Warren being a witch is no big deal. She dabbles in harmless magic with her friends and never thinks much about it. However, when a stranger who seems to know her shows up at her studio and her grandmother is brutally attacked, her simple life becomes complicated. A world of elves, half-elves, fae—and one peculiar Sekhmet named Femi open up to her. She will discover that fairy tales are real, politics are ugly in any world, and there is a lot more to her life than she ever dreamed possible. This new reality threatens swallow Selene whole, but with a forgotten past beating down her door, she will have to dive in to save her future.

Buy on Amazon | B&N | Kobo.

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Filling my K-Cup Addiction

I found a K-Cup store in Kingston Ontario over the weekend and decided hubby and I needed to try out some different kinds. I have already found a few new favorites!

Are any of your favorites in there?

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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How to Turn Your Cats & Dogs Relationship from "Ruff" to "Purrfect" by IAMS

Today I have a fabulous guest post from our friends at IAMS. Do you have cats and dogs that sometimes or all the time don't get along? Then keep reading for some great tips to help them improve their relationship and make peace in the house.

The term fighting like cats and dogs can be taken quite literally when you have several four-legged friends at home. While some people identify themselves as a cat or dog person, at Iams, we are both cat and dog people. We understand the importance of maintaining relationships between furry friends and want to provide pet owners alike with resources to help cats and dogs get along. With these five tips, you can kiss the term cats rule and dogs drool goodbye.

1. Looking to play matchmaker?

If you have a cat and are planning to adopt a dog, try to find a breed with a known history of being accepting of cats. Traditionally, herding dogs, terriers, sight hounds and huskies get along best with cats, so keep an open mind and work together with your local shelter, pet store or independent breeder to find the perfect fit.

If you have a dog and are planning to adopt a cat, help teach your dog to behave appropriately around cats ahead of time. If your dog does not respond well to sit, down, stay or come, work on improving those actions to avoid havoc down the road.

2. Make the introductions

When bringing a new pet into the home, animals need time to get to know each other. They are more likely to fight or be unhappy if you try to force them together, so be sure to make proper introductions. Pick a spacious room, have a helper with you and keep tasty treats on-hand to reward pets for good behaviour. If your pets tend to be on the feisty side, make sure your cat’s claws are trimmed and dog’s are kept on a tight leash. Depending on your pet’s prior experiences, genetics and personalities, the introduction may take a few days to a few weeks – so be patient and ensure you have a safe place for your new pet where they can go and take a break and relax.

3. Dining alone is key

To create a positive atmosphere for your pets, feed cats and dogs their meals at the same time but remember to put them in separate rooms or parts of a room as they tend to eat at a different pace. As cats and dogs have different nutritional needs, keeping them separate during meals is important to their health. And since many dogs like to snack on cat food, having separate feeding spaces keeps your cat from losing meals to the dog. Dogs are omnivores, and cats are carnivores and they therefore have distinct dietary needs that are unique to each species. It is not appropriate to feed dog food to cats or cat food to dogs as their primary source of food. A nibble here or there doesn’t count. Dogs generally find cat food more palatable as it often has a higher content of protein and fat, especially the canned variety. Cats are probably just curious and will eat out of the dog bowl to just show everyone that they make all the rules and can do what they please. If you need help, visit iams.ca or ask a fellow pet owner for advice. 

4.  Set the management mood 

To help your cat or dog feel safe while adapting to the sounds and smells of other pets, make sure to keep them company. Don’t leave them alone together for long periods of time and supervise any activities that may have caused problems in the past. Remember to have special bonding time with each pet individually and be sure they all know whose boss.      

5. When it doesn’t work out...

Remember, not all pets are meant to be best friends from day one. Don’t worry if yours are polite acquaintances - friendship takes time to build.

For more pet care tips for your cat and dog, visit the OSPCA, www.iams.ca or IAMS on Facebook.

~*Disclaimer: This post is a sponsored post by IAMS. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Forbidden Series by Karpov Kinrade Cover Reveal + Giveaway! (US/Int)

Best selling award winning authors Karpov Kinrade are sharing their newly designed covers for the Forbidden Trilogy and revealing the cover for their newest addition FORBIDDEN MEMORY (Prequel).

 

ABOUT Forbidden Trilogy From the award-winning, bestselling author Karpov Kinrade (the new pen name for Kimberly Kinrade.) Those inside are special, gifted with unique abilities, abilities that make them dangerous to the outside world. Since childhood, they're trained to control their powers, to show restraint, and to defend themselves. For years they practice, honing their gifts for one purpose: to be rented out to the highest bidder as a spy, to be used as a weapon against others. Sam never questions her role at the secret organization dubbed Rent-A-Kid. Until she meets Drake. She reads minds. He controls minds. Together, they might get out alive.

Purchase on Amazon. Visit KarpoveKinrade.com and add the books to your Goodreads shelf.

 

ABOUT KARPOV KINRADE

 

Award-winning, bestselling husband/wife writing duo of Kiss Me in Paris, the Seduced Saga & more. For fans of fantasy, contemporary, romance & mystery.

Biography: Dmytry and Kimberly are the husband and wife writing team behind the Kiss Me Series, Seduced Saga, Eye of Newt, Sunrise & Nightfall, Wanderlust, and The Fallen Series. Kimberly is the award-winning, bestselling author of the New Adult paranormal romance series The Seduced Saga, the YA paranormal thriller/romance The Forbidden Trilogy, and children’s fantasy series The Three Lost Kids. Dmytry writes fantasy—be it urban, dark or epic—is a musical composer, pianist, and designs books covers (exclusively for his wife’s and their co-authored books). They live with three little girls who think they’re ninja princesses with super powers and who are also showing a propensity for telling tall tales and using the written word to weave stories of wonder and magic

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My Journey from Couch to 5K ~ Get Fit

source

I have tried many times to "get fit" or start a workout plan and I never seem to stick to it. Usually what happens is that I work out super hard, putting everything I have into it and waking up the next morning hurting. Once that happens well I am sure you can guess what I do. Did you say nothing? or stop working out? You would be absolutely right.

I also find since I work shift work and now I work overnights it is really hard to figure out when to workout. Throw two kids, a dog, too many cats and a hubby in the mix and I don't know where to find enough time for everyone and everything that needs to get done.

I recently read Grace, Under Pressure (review coming soon) a super inspirational book from a women who is a mother to a daughter with Aspergers autism. Sophie Walker takes to running to stay healthy and sane. She even runs a marathon! This book had me really thinking about my own son and how much I love to get out and walk especially with our dog Molly and clear my head. It really helps with the day to day stress and over things that come up.

Since I am a person who needs tons of information I also decided to jump on my computer and look up running, remembering that I have heard of something called Couch to 5K. I posted on my Facebook as I know a few runners and was looking for tips. One blogger friend I met last year at Blissdom Canada also runs and has a child with Autism, Kirsten (RunningforAutism) gave me some great times on how to get started with running. She told me to remember to start slow, do reps of run/walk with a warm up and cool down. One thing people do is do too much too fast and get hurt or sore. Another friend (Tabitha) mentioned that she did the Couch to 5K and now runs all the time. She was never a runner before this.

I went in search for information on Couch to 5k and found that there are a few different free apps for the iPhone and lots of information online. I put the C25K app on my phone and started the program last Wednesday. It starts you off with a 5 minute warm up (brisk walking) moving to 60 seconds of jogging/running and then 90 seconds walking. Continue this until the cool down which is another 5 minutes of walking. Molly our beagle is also training with me and we are happy to say we have survived week one, moved along to week two and will be finishing week two today or tomorrow. Week two involves a warm up (5mins) then run 90 seconds, walk 2 minutes for 20 minutes then a 5 minute cool down.

This program is 8 weeks long and I am to run 3 times a week for a 30 minute workout. Each week I will post how the runs are going and if I feel I can more on to the next week. I will post challenges I have facing, or any changes I am feeling. After running almost two weeks I already feel more energized and have only had one day were I have felt like not running because I was tired. I decided it didn't matter if I was tired or not I still need to stick with it and more forward to achieve my goal of running 5K someday very soon. 

Are you a runner? What tips do you have for a beginner?


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Trojan Expands Bedroom Fun ~ Giveaway! (US Only)

In late April of this year Trojan announced a new line of products - lubricates. Along with the announcement comes new data from Indiana University’s Center for Sexual Health Promotion, which reveals lubricant is a bedroom mainstay, as more than two-thirds of Americans have used lubricant in their lifetime. With 82 percent of users believing lubricant enhances sexual pleasure. 

“Attitudes have shifted, and lubricants are no longer seen solely as a solution to a problem, but rather an enhancement to pleasure,” said Bruce Weiss, Vice President of Marketing for Trojan™. “Knowing Americans are turning to lubricant to raise the pleasure index in the bedroom, we’re pleased to offer consumers high-quality products that up the intimacy and fun for couples.”

The new line includes three high-quality varieties, each specially designed to offer an intensified sexual experience that increases intimacy and pleasure in the bedroom. After using them, I can say that each have been a nice addition to our bedtime fun but keep in mind a little goes a long way.  

Arouses & Intensifies Lubricant is perfect for foreplay massage or clitoral stimulation to help enhance sensations during intercourse and take passion to new heights.  

Continuous Silkiness Lubricant is deeply sensual and wonderfully silky, offering a thrilling, natural feeling. This smooth, silky pleasure will take couple’s intimacy to a new level.  

Tingly Warmth Lubricant offers an irresistible combination of tantalizing tingle & pleasurable warmth leading to sensual stimulation that provide waves of satisfying pleasure.

Want to learn more about Trojan Lubricants and other Trojan products? Visit TrojanLubricants.com, TrojanCondoms.com and TrojanVibrations.com 

"Like" Trojan on Facebook and join in the conversation with hashtag #TrojanLubes

Win it! Our friends at Trojan would like to offer Genuine Jenn readers a chance to win one of 2 prize packs including all three lubricants! This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on October 5th at 11:59pm EST. 
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~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Trojan. I received some product while at BlogHer '13 in exchange for this post. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Wordless Wednesday - Lost My Reading Spot To.....

My favorite spot to sit and read now that the kids are back to school has been this awesome bean bag chair from the Beanbag Boss (by the way they are a Canadian company!). Guess who will whine and push at me until I move off it so she can have it...... Miss Molly of course.

 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Zenbev ~ A Natural Organic Sleep Aid ~ Review

Do you have trouble sleeping? Do you feel tired and have no energy during the day? Do you have trouble with anxiety? If you are like me you likely answered Yes, Yes, and Yes to all the questions. I recently found a website that offers a natural organic sleep aid that helps with all those.

For the last couple years I have been using a vitamin Melatonin to help restore natural sleep and it works sometimes and other times it doesn't. I have even taken two 3 mg pills to help aide in my sleep on weekends after my overnight shift.

I have always had sleeping problems. Since highschool I have found it hard to make it through the whole night without waking a couple times and this in return makes me really tired come the morning. I didn't want to get "hooked" on a sleeping aid so I have just dealt with it until recently when someone suggested Melatonin. Then I began a search for other natural ways to help promote sleep and found Zenbev, a small Canadian company. 

Zenbev was kind enough to send me their starter kit which includes a jar of their powder drink mix, a sleep aid book, sleep mask and ear plugs (mask/ear plugs come in a nice little bag). I have been using a sleep mask since I sleep during the day after work and I really want to say the mask that comes in this kit is sooo much better and actually keeps more light out. I find myself using it at night sometimes als especially if I go to sleep before my husband.

"Zenbev Drink mix is an organic sleep aid made from pumpkin seeds. The organic pumpkin seeds are cold pressed to remove the oil and blended in a powder formulation which promotes sleep naturally. Zenbev is clinically proven to promote a natural and healthy sleep.

Zenbev can be taken during the day to provide a powerful source of tryptophan, a precursor for serotonin. Serotonin regulates mood, emotion and appetite, and is well-known to alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. Other purported benefits of ingesting a natural source of tryptophan include easing chronic pain symptoms, weight loss and increased libido.

Tryptophan is light sensitive, meaning it metabolizes differently in light vs. dark conditions. When taken during daylight hours Zenbev's tryptophan becomes serotonin providing the afore mentioned benefits. If taken at night, Zenbev's tryptophan turns into serotonin, which then metabolizes into melatonin, thus activating the brain's own sleep mechanism. As the brain produces the exact amount of melatonin that it requires, the body is primed for a natural, restful sleep." (From the Zenbev website)

Zenbev offers two types of products to help aid in sleep and anxiety - the powder drink mix and Restbites bedtime snack bars. I have only tried the drink mix and really enjoy it. I am sure the bars would be great also if you are looking for more of a snack before bed.

When you order a jar of Zenbev drink mix from their website they also offer great recipes to use. I find one of my favorite and the easiest is to warm a glass of milk and add the chocolate powder to it. It is like having a creamy hot chocolate. I know that it tells you to do something that is calming that is not mentally simulating but I like to lay down and read in bed. I find that I drift off faster and it really does help calm my mind. After taking Zenbev regularly I did a huge decrease in waking at night and I feel much more rested when I wake in the morning. I also find when I take it in the mornings I feel less anxious. The lemon is great in a smoothie for breakfast with a bit of yogurt, milk and fruit. Since I am running I like to add bananas. It is really easy to use and enjoy. Add to your favorite non caffeinated beverage at night and then relax.

Check out this great CTV news clip on Zenbev. 


Follow Zenbev on Facebook where they share inspirational posts, recipes and information about their products.

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Zenbev. I received the above products for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Why Should Readers Write Book Reviews - Guest Post by Ruth J. Hartman

Today I have a guest post by one of my author friends Ruth J. Hartman. I recently asked the question to the authors I know Why should people write reviews on books they have read? Ruth has written a blog post that I am excited to share with you. Thank you Ruth!

Do you write book reviews?

Authors love them. That’s not to say we always jump up and down with glee if it’s a negative one. But even those can grab someone’s attention enough to take a second look at your book on Amazon or Goodreads. If nothing else, it tugs at the reader’s curiosity. And we always appreciate feedback.

Readers are sometimes reluctant to leave reviews. If they didn’t like the book at all, I can understand why they wouldn’t want to. I’ve felt the same way before about something I’ve read. But if they liked it, what better way to thank an author for an enjoyable few hours of entertainment? Authors put days, weeks, months, sometimes, years into researching, writing, editing and promoting their work. See what all you get from their efforts? Especially if the book is only 99 cents. You can’t beat that deal!

Aside from benefiting the author, your review can also help another reader who is trying to decide whether or not to purchase the book. This is especially true if it’s an author they’ve never tried before. It can be a little intimidating to press the Buy Now button if you have no idea whether or not the story might interest you.

The fact is, a review doesn’t have to be elaborate or flowery or in depth. It doesn’t even have to be very long. Even saying you liked it, you identified with the characters, laughed along with the author’s humor or whatever, it doesn’t matter. If something spoke to you, grabbed your attention and left you with a good feeling when you read The End, that’s what the author loves to hear.

That makes writing the book worthwhile.

Because without readers, our stories wouldn’t get past our own imaginations. And believe me, our minds can get really crowded with all those story ideas if we don’t get them written down and out the door to a publisher.

So, thank you for your reviews!

Ruth J. Hartman spends her days herding cats, and her nights spinning sweet romantic tales that make you smile, giggle or laugh out loud. She, her husband, and their three cats, love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats, Maxwell, Roxy and Remmie, sit in the people's recliners. Not that the cats couldn't get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else's. You know how selfish those little furry creatures can be.

Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, Jeep driving, farmhouse-dwelling romance writer uses her goofy sense of humor as she writes tales of lovable, klutzy women and the men who adore them. Ruth's husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her in spite of her penchant for insisting all of her books have at least one cat in them. Or twelve. But hey, who's counting?

Check out Ruth J. Hartman's books on Amazon and pick up her newest one Love Birds at Regent's Park.

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Getting Organized for 2014 with a new Calendar + Giveaway (CAN)

Now that kids are back to school and we have been cracking down with the routines I am turning to my new Mom's Family Calendar to keep myself and the whole family on track. School homework, chores, after school activities, work and everything else we have going on can really get lost if it isn't wrote down.

My kids also find it easier to know when I work if I have it down on a calendar. As I work shift work on overnights the kids like to know when Mommy will be here or when they will be waking up to Nanny.

Now that the kids are both out of Kindergarten they have a steady amount of homework each night - spelling, reading, and assignments this is where the Mom's Family Calendar is going to be really helpful.

The calendar is set up different than most calendars as it goes down with the dates and you have your "boxes" across the page. Like this:

We have a row for Mom, Dad, A and P with an extra row for other things that may be needed to jot down to keep as reminders for each day. The kids can check their names when they get home from school and find out what they need to do that day - what homework assignments are due? are they suppose read tonight? Is is Boys & Girls club? etc.

The calendar starts in August 2013 and ends December 2014. The calendar also includes a full set of stickers, and a handy pocket at the bottom to hold notes or coupons etc.

You can purchase a Mom's Family Calendar on Thomas Allen & Son ltd. website for $16.99

Want to Win a Mom's Family Calendar? Our friends at Thomas Allen & Son Ltd. would like to offer 5 calendars to five Genuine Jenn readers. Please fill in the form below to win! This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only. It will run until September 27th at 11:59pm est.
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~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Thomas Allen & Son ltd. I received the above product for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Yiva Naturals ~ Guest Post

Today I have a guest post about Yiva Naturals products. I met Rich and his team at BlogHer this past July where Rich told me his story and we chatted about the products Yiva Naturals has to offer. Watch for my review on the allergy products in the coming months.

You may know someone who has struggled for years trying to start a family. 
After spending several years trying to have a baby, Yiva Naturals cofounder Rich D., reached out to some friends, who were also struggling to have children, but had recently had a baby, to find out what treatment they had used.  To his surprise, his friend’s wife had started taking an all-natural drops taken from the root and leaf of the raspberry plant.  Desperate to try something new, Rich’s wife started taking the drops and 45 days later, she was pregnant! Their success launched the start of Yiva Naturals, a company focused on all-natural health products.

Yiva Naturals is enjoying terrific success with a lot more than just their fertility drops.  They now have Women’s Daily Balance, a formula which helps alleviate symptoms related to PMS and menopause (hot flashes, irregular cycles, bloating, cramping, and migraines, to just a name a few).    And people are reporting fantastic results from our all-natural allergy relief drops and other products. Their approach is to teach the body to cope with allergens versus over-reacting to them. 

Knowing the history and the passion that the Yiva Naturals team has about their products, you will see why their motto is  “Born out of necessity, shared because we care.”   

There is a new coupon code available for you to try out these products at a 10% discount. When you are in the shopping cart use CODE: AFTRY10

 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Yiva Naturals. This is a sponsored post. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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