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Book Description
With her pale hair and slim figure, Olivia Donovan looks as fragile as fine china, and has been treated as such by her sisters ever since a childhood bout with malaria. But beneath her delicate facade, Olivia guards a bold, independent spirit and the kind of passionate desires proper young ladies must never confess...

It was a reckless wager, and one Max couldn't resist: seduce the alluring Olivia or forfeit part of his fortune. Yet the wild, soon-to-be Duke never imagined he'd fall in love with this innocent beauty. Nor could he have guessed that a dangerously unpredictable rival would set out to destroy them both. Now, Max must beat a Madman at his own twisted game - or forever lose the only woman to have ever won his heart.

My Thoughts
Secrets of An Accidental Duchess got my attention from the first page and held it until the last. This fun historical romance combines an interesting plot and well-drawn characters with sizzle, danger, and adventure. The wager and the good girl - bad boy combo are hardly new and yet Ms. Haymore's writing makes the story exciting. There's a wicked villain out to get the duo, of course, and their love must overcome many obstacles that are not just of their own making.

Read an excerpt from Secrets of an Accidental Duchess and check out the previous book from the Donovan Sisters series, Confessions of an Improper Bride.


The Giveaway
Three (3) lucky U.S. readers will win Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

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I had no idea how fast kids grow - until I became a mom. When we brought my daughter home from the hospital, she was tiny. Her weight was average, and her length on the high end but none of the newborn clothes fit. I had tons of baby clothes, and everything was too big. My husband had to run to the nearest store and get a few preemie outfits that she would not swim in.

Since then, I've learned that kids grow quickly but not in ways I expected. My children are tall and slim, so pants and skirts get too short while they still fit around the waist. That makes shopping for clothes a bit tricky. Tops and dresses are a tad easier but I still find myself with clothes that don't fit right. Usually, I buy quality clothes for kids online. When I find a good sale, I stock up. I get the next couple of sizes up, then check the fit every few months until my kids have grown into the clothes.

Right now, I have a huge box full of pants, skirts, and shirts sitting in the closet. Another box holds shoes. The trick is to remember to check them every now and then so that my kids don't outgrow the clothes and shoes without wearing them.

Where do you find quality clothes for your kids? Do you hit the seasonal sales? Do you shop online or in stores? Do you have go-to brands that never disappoint?

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our friendly advertisers. The opinions are all mine. Photo courtesy of TeaCollection.com.

Today, I have two exciting titles for the fans of paranormal romance. Midnight Reckoning by Kendra Leigh Castle and Firelight by Kristen Callihan are new releases of Forever, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.

Book Description: Midnight Reckoning
Two separate worlds . . . 
One passion that binds them
Wild and passionate by nature, Lyra Black is not just any werewolf. She's the future leader of the powerful pack of the Thorn - f she can stay alive long enough to inherit the title.

One of the Cait Sith bloodline of vampire cat-shifters, Jaden Harrison has no interest in the wars plaguing the world of night. But when he rescues Lyra from a violent attack, they're both captured by an insatiable desire that threatens to overwhelm them and bind them together for eternity... just as ancient enemies prepare to strike. And when they do, the Thorn and the Cait Sith - and Lyra and Jaden's love - may never recover from the deadly blow...

Book Description: Firelight
London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . . 
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . . 
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

The Giveaway
Three (3) lucky U.S. readers will win copies of both books, Midnight Reckoning and Firelight, courtesy of Hachette Book Group!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

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I like to prepare some of our weeknight meals in advance, so my family can enjoy a homemade dinner even on busy days. Sometimes, life happens - school, work, dance classes, sports, appointments... It's great to have something on hand that helps put a meal on the table in minutes.

This week, Bertolli challenged me to make weeknight dinner special with their new Meal Soups - and I only had an hour to put everything together. The Bertolli Meal Soups are available in four varieties: Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken and Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine and Tortellini with Chicken, and Tuscan-Style Beef and Vegetables. I found them in the freezer aisle of our neighborhood Kroger and grabbed the Roasted Chicken and Rotini Pasta.

Normally, I would pair a pasta or soup meal with a green salad and homemade bread. This time, my kids had put in a request for roasted Brussels sprouts: an easy side dish that needs less than 40 minutes to prepare. I started dinner by cleaning and slicing the Brussels sprouts, then tossing them with olive oil and bacon salt. I placed them on a baking sheet and roasted in a preheated 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.

While the Brussels sprouts were roasting, I placed the Bertolli meal soup in a sauce pan and added 2 cups of water. The instructions call for just 1 cup but we like our soups with extra liquid, so I doubled up. The Roasted Chicken and Rotini Pasta looked great: large chunks of vegetables, chicken, and frozen sauce, sprinkled with deliciously smelling green spices. The meal soup can be prepared in the microwave in less than 20 minutes. Cooking it on the stove top took even less time: all I had to do is wait until it starts boiling, then cover, turn down the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. How easy is that?!

Next, I set the table. I took out a clean tablecloth, some cute reusable napkins, pretty glasses and silverware. A nice looking table helps make any meal feel festive. For me, what makes a meal special is sharing good food in good company - and my favorite people in the world are my family. We turn off the TV, ignore the phone, sit down together and talk about our day.

For dessert, I decided to serve some cheesecake left over from my daughter's birthday a couple of days ago. Everything was ready in much less than an hour. The soup smelled and tasted delicious. All these zucchini, yellow squash, carrots and celery, chicken and pasta were something I would have used to prepare a homemade dish. My kids and husband gave thumbs up to the Bertolli meal soup. It was as good as something you get at a nice restaurant. My daughter even asked if we could have it tomorrow, too!

I am looking forward to trying the other three varieties of Bertolli Meal Soup. I found them at Kroger and Publix at about $6 each. Connect with Bertolli and learn more about their products on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge.

I have a dear friend who believes everything's better with bacon. Whether you agree or not, there's no need to add all these calories and grams of fat to your food (unless you really want to). You can just sprinkle some Bacon Salt!

Bacon Salt is a low sodium, zero calorie, zero fat, vegetarian and kosher seasoning that makes everything taste like bacon. It's available on AlwaysFits.com in two flavors: original and hickory. I tried the original - it does smell like bacon! I sprinkled a teaspoon on some Brussels sprouts and roasted them. I usually use black pepper and salt, plus olive oil. I did not taste bacon when I tried them but they were pretty good. Next time, I'll double the amount of Bacon Salt to see if I can get Brussels sprouts to taste like bacon.

The Bacon Salt would be a great seasoning for homemade popcorn and whatever other dishes you want to flavor with bacon - without actually using any. Want to have your bacon and eat it with no guilt? Try J&D's Bacon Salt. You can get a 2 oz bottle for $4.99 on AlwaysFits.com.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Have you ever tried vegan chocolate? I had not - until I tasted the Vegan Valentine's Collection Box by Chocolatier Oliver Kita. Mmmmm, delicious!

The chocolates came in a pretty white carton box, wrapped in pink tissue paper. The box is decorated with a beautiful green heart and the word "Love" written inside it. Just the packaging makes it a great gift idea for Valentine's Day. And once I opened the box... Imagine 16 of the cutest chocolates you've ever seen: round, square, and of course heart-shaped. They taste amazing! This vegan organic chocolate is handmade and absolutely scrumptious. The artisan bon bons are dairy free, made with organic chocolate and vegan sugar.

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or just love excellent chocolate - I do! - you must try these goodies. The Vegan Valentine's Collection Box by Chocolatier Oliver Kita is perfect for Valentine's Day, or for any other special day. The price ($50) is a bit steep for me but other than that, these chocolates are pure perfection.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Did you know that people living in the tropics have used coconut oil to clean their teeth long before modern toothpastes were developed? Tropical Traditions, my favorite place for everything coconut, has a line of teeth cleaners made with their wonderful organic virgin coconut oil.

These 100% natural cleaners contains no fluoride and no foaming agents. That means - no foam when I brush my teeth. It takes a little time getting used to it but I am very happy with my new "toothpaste". The teeth cleaners come in three flavors: classic, mint, and cinnamon. They contain organic essential oils and stevia - no sugar, no weird chemicals, just natural ingredients. The teeth cleaners come in a 4 oz squeeze bottle. They clean my teeth very well, leaving behind a pleasant scent. I don't have a favorite among the three scents -I just love them all.

This week, the teeth cleaners are on sale for just $5.50 each. In addition, you can get free shipping with promo code 123001! Hurry, the code expires at midnight EST on Monday, January 30.

And speaking of oral hygiene, Tropical Traditions offers an organic herbal breath spray to freshen up for those special moments.

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a set of natural teeth cleaners from Tropical Traditions!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

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Disclaimer / Disclosure: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. The opinions are my own.

My daughter loves Valentine's Day. She gets very excited when mommy gets a dozen red roses. She thinks chocolates in a heart-shaped box are the neatest treat. And of course she must give valentine cards to all her friends.

Tiny Prints carries the cutest Valentine's Day greeting cards. They have classroom valentines for kids, party invites, and photo cards. I love the Drifting Hearts design, it's perfect for my girl - she loves pink, and we must have hearts for Valentine's Day! I know she would be ecstatic to present a card with her photo to all her pals at school. That would surely make one of her favorite holidays extra special.

If I were to send family photo cards for Valentine's Day, I would pick the Game of Love card. It showcases three family shots, and I would include one of everyone and two of just the kids. I love the style and the choice of three colors - plus, I can have the corners rounded.

Tiny Prints have many other great designs to choose from, and the quality of their cards is excellent. You can connect with the company via Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

The place of honor on our mantel belongs to a picture of my kids. It's not just any old picture - it's one of my favorite shots of them, gloriously showcased on a 16"x20" canvas that I've framed. Across the room, there's a canvas print of my husband and I as newlyweds. I love canvas prints! They transform a cherished family photograph into our personal piece of art.

Thanks to UPrinting, one lucky U.S. reader will win a 16" x 20" rolled canvas print!

* The prize comes with 2-inch border or no border, 1 business day turnaround, and free shipping.

To enter, please comment below and share how you would use the rolled canvas print if you won - then follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

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Disclaimer / Disclosure: You should assume that the owner of this blog will receive free print product in exchange for the post. Any and all reviews posted are based solely on my own experience and may be atypical. Please practice due diligence in making any related purchase decisions.

Got giveaways? Please do share! You can link any family-friendly giveaway here weekly to promote it. My Saturday linky is below. Please include prize and ending date, and link directly to the giveaway page.

Looking for more blogs hosting Saturday giveaway fun? Visit Aleks at Busy Working Mama and Kristi at Mom's Own Words. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

* Signed Celtic Woman Believe CD and DVD 2/10