Driving, Rapid City, and Mount Rushmore. DAY ONE.

Phew!

What an incredibly amazing vacation we had. Matt and I said on our way home on Saturday that it felt like we had been gone for weeks but in reality, it was only four days. But it was four really great days.

The plan was to leave at 4:30 a.m.

The plan was tossed out the window around 5:00 a.m. when I realized all kind of things I forgot to pack and I frantically ran around doing that and packing coolers. But we got on the road around 5:30.

Jackson fell asleep again by 9. He was clearly sick of the car ride. 

Olivia followed suite a few minutes later.

The next 2 hours were glorious.

Then it was time to stop. We designated our picnic spot to be Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD because I had seen it in pictures online and decided that's a sight to see. And it really was.

 This is when I realized that I forgot to pack cheese. And I packed the lunch meat I didn't care for. I also forgot mayo for Matt. The kids ate their lunchables and then we went exploring.

 Fashionista Olivia posed on rocks while Matt took Jackson to the bathroom. He hates public bathrooms so it's always a nightmare.

 So we posed some more because dang, 15 minutes is a long time for a pee break.

 But then Action Jackson arrived and wanted to show me his "cool guy" pose.

 After that, we walked to the falls. They were pretty great.

 And then this cute couple posed for a picture.

 I realized I don't have many pictures of Matt and the kids so my goal this trip was to fix that.

 But then we saw this statue. One of Olivia's favorite things is to be goofy with Grandpa Jay (my dad) and do statue poses. So we decided to copy the statue and send it to my dad. He thought it was great. AND the park ranger thought we were nuts. Hilarious, but nuts.

I mean, how can you not love this view?

We climbed the observation tower and you can't tell, but I was totally winded.

After our one hour stop, we got back in the car on our way to Rapid City, SD. That's where we were staying the first night, in a hotel. It turned out to be an amazingly boring drive until you get a little past the Badlands, then it's just gorgeous.

I absolutely loved the Black Hills. It's everything a tourist area should be, but it's so amazingly beautiful you don't even care about the billboards everywhere.

Once we checked into our hotel, we went and got some dinner at a weird restaurant nearby. Then the plan was to go see Mount Rushmore. I've had a few people tell me that the night ceremony is worth it, so we planned it just right to see it a bit in the day and then stay for the night. So we arrived around 8 p.m., about an hour before the ceremony started.

Olivia was so excited to see this. They both brought notebooks, though Jackson was doodling in his. Olivia took notes about what she saw and liked.

And honestly, it's pretty damn spectacular in person. Super lovely memorial area, the whole park was really nicely done.

Truly, the night ceremony was amazing. The night we were there, there was this group made of children and teens who have family members who have or are currently serving in the US Military. They each made up their own call, and they were on a leadership retreat. Pretty cool opportunity for those kids.

But truly, even if you don't consider yourself a real patriotic person, it's hard not to feel a little American spirit here. We saw a video on why the monument was created, why they chose those Presidents, and kind of how they did it. Which I enjoyed because to be honest, I knew very little about the memorial.

What kills me though, is that towards the end, they invite all currently serving military personnel and veterans to the stage. They all line up and they say their name and which branch they serve. Which, I don't know why, but I always tear up a little bit because you just think, they've probably served over seas and seen some really horrific things, but here they are. And some of them sounded choked up and it's just really moving all on it's own.

But there was a family in front of us who declared, "ugh, who even cares??". They were getting up to leave during this, which is just... it's so rude. It's like a slap in the face. And I know Matt would prefer I say nothing at all, but I was really pretty offended. So I replied with, "Well, as an American citizen who enjoys their freedom, I do.". Those people gave me an eye roll, but the people behind me patted my back and shook my hand. Don't even get me started on the people talking or texting on their cell phones during the national anthem. Or men who didn't remove their hats.

I guess the main thing I took away was that, even if you don't like the policies of a President, the fact remains they are the President. A certain level of respect needs to be given because that's what a good American does. You support the democracy. It doesn't always work, and it's not always the best at getting things done, but that's what this country was based on. So now when I see people who make offhand remarks about "taking the President out", it just feels more offensive to me now. Because I hope I'm teaching my kids to respect people in positions of power. It's not always the best people in there, but it's really not a job I'd want either. There is never a right answer for anything and I think when you're President you make the best out of terrible situations. It's hard to not respect a person for having the balls to try.

So that was day one. Day two was more action packed, believe it or not!

So I Married a Werewolf

HA! Just kidding, I didn't really. I am back from vacation, so be prepared to have your blog feed overwhelmed with pictures and stories this week. Just as soon as I can find my camera, I'll get on it.

So I Married a Werewolf - Kristin Miller

Carter Griffin, enforcing officer for the Seattle Wolf Pack, has a problem. He's been offered the promotion of his dreams…if he can find a wife to prove he's over his playboy ways. But Carter's already walked the matrimonial road and bought the stinkin' T-shirt. Besides, a werewolf only gets one fated mate. Been there, done that.

All werewolf dog trainer Faith Hamilton wants to do is earn enough green stuff to put her younger brother through college. Okay, okay, so she also totally wants Carter, her sexy next-door neighbor, to look at her as more than a friend. It's too bad size 12 and plain isn't his type. At all.

The two friends strike a deal to help one another out. They must face a variety of challenges from a psycho ex-girlfriend to a Yorkie with a shoe fetish...and that pesky problem of only having one-fated mate in a lifetime. Will a relationship ruin their friendship…or spark a love neither anticipated?

Although this is part of a series (it's #3, in fact), you wouldn't know it because it's a stand alone read. It's also surprisingly fast. I was able to finish this in one night while I was sweating like a pig in heat in our camping cabin. I certainly couldn't sleep so I read until my Nook died, which was shortly after I finished this book. 

I'm going to be upfront- this book felt rushed. Well, the ending is what felt rushed. I was completely invested. Neither lead character got on my nerves like other books and I was completely rooting for them. Then things go to hell a little and it's like bam, things are resolved and the end. Completely rushed. Like when you get ushered out the door immediately following a holiday dinner. You're done, get out now. I wish the author had spent a little more time with the ending. I wish things between Paisley and Faith weren't so unfinished. Granted, maybe this comes up in a future book, but for the sake of this book when the tension between those two characters is a key thing, having no resolution at all left me feeling unsatisfied. Enough to not read any more of this series? Of course not, it's a solid paranormal romance and you know I'm all over that. The ending between Carter and Faith is everything you want in a romance and honestly, if you aren't rooting for them, there's something really wrong with you. I'm going to give this a 3/5 stars because I liked it. I didn't totally love it, but I certainly didn't hate it and if you are looking for a paranormal romance that doesn't have the sex scenes to make you rush to church, this is your book. 

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Flyover Lives

I honestly cannot remember how I got this book (is that terrible???) but I know it was for review and I received it awhile ago. In my defense, it had gotten buried with end of the year school projects and I've unearthed it and here it is.

Flyover Lives - Diane Johnson

Growing up in the small river town of Moline, Illinois, Diane Johnson always dreamed of floating down the Mississippi and off to see the world. Years later, at home in France, a French friend teases her: Indifference to history—that’s why you Americans seem so naïve and don’t really know where you’re from.”

The j’accuse stayed with Johnson. Were Americans indifferent to history? Her own family seemed always to have been in the Midwest. Surely they had got there from somewhere? In digging around, she discovers letters and memoirs written by generations of stalwart pioneer ancestors that testify to more complex times than the derisive nickname "The Flyover" gives the region credit for.

With the acuity and sympathy that her novels are known for, she captures the magnetic pull of home against our lust for escape and self-invention. This spellbinding memoir will appeal to fans of Bill Bryson, Patricia Hampl, and Annie Dillard.

I'm going to say right off the bat, I didn't love it. I had a really hard time finishing it because to me, it's not anything that I thought it was going to be. Which usually is fine, but in this case I had been hoping more for a historic account of her ancestors growing up in the Midwest way back when. In actuality, it's a memoir (which is my own fault for not paying attention) so it's not really what I thought it was. Then the prologue is about her time in France with several military generals and the like who all come off really snobbish and that just set the tone for me. I don't know if it was the fact I can't relate to them at all that turned me off or what but from then on I couldn't get into the book. 

It's not all about her though, we do read a little bit about her childhood growing up in Moline, Illinois. We also read a little bit about her great-great-great grandmother, but it's not even a very large section so while I  understand it's supposed to be the historical part of this book, it feels weird being in the author's memoir? But we go from that to the author talking about her career in Hollywood and the whole thing felt like a weird transition that doesn't fit with the rest of the book. You know what it feels like? It feels like that girlfriend we all have that one up's you on everything. You say you did this, she did it better AND with so and so. 

Overall? I didn't love it. I have friends who absolutely adored this book and have told me within the last week I am an idiot if I didn't love this book. And maybe I am, but meh- I'll pass next time. 

S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared

So it's been awhile since I reviewed the first book in this series, but because I was asked to review book three, that prompted me to push book two to the top of my to-read pile, so here we go.

S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared - L. Marie Adeline

"I, Cassie Robichaud, solemnly swear to serve S.E.C.R.E.T. to the best of my abilities. I will do what is necessary, what is right and what is within my power to assist in the execution of sexual fantasies for our participant(s)..."

And so begins S.E.C.R.E.T. II, which opens with Cassie's initiation into this mysterious organization, one that helps women experience their most potent sexual fantasies. Cassie spends the next year as a "S.E.C.R.E.T. member-at-large," not quite a guide, she'll assist Committee members (including two new ones, Kit DeMarco and Angela Rejean) in recruiting men and helping to execute a new inductee's fantasies. 

After a false start with the first potential inductee, Cassie makes the acquaintance of Dauphine Gray, a 31-year old who works at the Funky Monkey vintage clothing store on Magazine Street in New Orleans. Geeky, gawky and easily distracted, Dauphine has no idea how attractive she really is because her face is forever in a book. Reading is her passion, music is her pleasure, and Dauphine's all but given up on sex, especially after a painful rejection that still haunts her. Then Cassie and the women from S.E.C.R.E.T. show her it's possible to reignite that flame.

Meanwhile, Cassie must work through her resentment over losing Will to Tracina and their future baby. But when paternity questions surface, Tracina threatens to expose Cassie's S.E.C.R.E.T. membership to the one man both women love. Will Tracina expose Cassie to Will, and if she does, what will he make of his secret love's S.E.C.R.E.T. life?

Just like I mentioned in the first book, the premise of these books is kind of amazing. Not just that, but the thought that there would an organization there to basically show women the way towards their own personal sexual revolution is kind of mind blowing and I would totally, eagerly sign myself up. I'd probably even beg. Because although I consider myself to not be a total prude, there are definitely areas that I could use a little help in. 

I absolutely flew through this book in one afternoon because it keeps you on your toes. We switch between the point of views of Cassie, who is Dauphine's guide through her S.E.C.R.E.T. journey but she's also still learning about herself. Just because she made it through all ten fantasies doesn't mean she's some kind of goddess. But she at least has the tools to take her life to another level. She's pining for Will, who has a baby on the way with Tracina. He doesn't love or want Tracina the way he does Cassie, but he thinks he's doing the right thing. This leaves Cassie to explore herself with other guys and she is finding it difficult to find what she feels for Will in anyone else. 

But then we also have Dauphine, who after a fairly terrible breakup and a really brutal blow to her self esteem, is struggling to move her life in a positive direction. She's pining for Mark, a singer in a local band, but she's certain that not only does he not notice her, but that he wouldn't give her the time of day anyways. And she struggles through some of the fantasies but she's trying so hard to reclaim a piece of herself her ex took with him when he left with her best friend. 

Overall? I really liked this book. I enjoyed the erotic scenes, I felt jealous I couldn't be in this club, and I loved the personal stories of love. We have a bit of a major cliff hanger at the end of this one which is great because I have book three lined up and ready to go. I'll keep you all posted! 

Dream Man

One of my goals this year was to complete my book reviews of all of the books I've read that are currently on my book shelf at home. This might take quite a while.

Dream Man - Linda Howard

Detective Dane Hollister of the Orlando police department has never met anyone quite like Marlie Keen. While he has doubts about her supposed clairvoyant powers, she sees crimes as they're being committed, there is no doubt about how much he desires her. To Marlie, Dane is all heat and hard muscle, and he makes her body come alive as it never has before. But not even she can foresee that their passion will lead them on a dangerous journey into the twisted mind of a madman who will threaten their happiness and their lives.

I loved Dane. I'm just going to say it. I will say that though this is penned as a romantic thriller, it didn't have a whole lot of romance? I mean, we have sex scenes but you don't have this intense development of feelings and honestly? That was OK. It really worked here and it still had me frantically reading to figure out what was going to happen while simultaneously wishing it wasn't going so fast. 

Marlie is a psychic essentially and Dane is skeptical. Marlie is used to people not believing in her abilities but what she is not used to is the physical attraction she feels towards Dane. After a serial killer has been out and about, Marlie goes to the police department to offer her abilities and Dane, at a loss for leads, is basically told to entertain this option. He does more than entertain it, though and thank the lord for it. 

The murderer is a total nut job who meticulously studies his victims, all of which are in need of being "taught a lesson". Which, creepy. There are passages in this book where we are in the killer's point of view and while disturbing, it's fairly well written and it brings something to the book. But easily the most disturbing part of this book, which is also incredibly fascinating, is that while the killer is stalking and murdering his victim, Marlie is in his head at that moment. Which freaks Alpha Male Dane out who tries to balance the fine line between police officer and lover and it's just so good. 

If you are looking for a solid romance with an interesting story line that keeps you going to the end, this is your pick. You are welcome. 

Killing Time

While I'm out on my fabulous South Dakota road trip vacation, I'm not leaving you totally empty handed! I'll have book reviews to keep you going. Of course I would! I'm such a giver.

Killing Time - Linda Howard

Returning to the entrancing supernatural territory of her popular novels Dream Man and Son of the Morning, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard has written a sizzling new novel that is her most daring, exciting, and original yet. 

In 1985, with much fanfare, a time capsule was buried under the front lawn of a small-town county courthouse, to be reopened in 2085. But just twenty years later, in the dead of night, the capsule is dug up, its contents stolen. That same night, one of the contributors to the capsule is brutally slain in his home–with no sign of forced entry or indication of a struggle. One by one, others who had placed items in the time capsule are murdered.

Besides his suspicions about the sudden, mysterious appearance of Nikita Stover, the chief investigator, Knox Davis, has absolutely no leads. And while Nikita’s no murderer, she seems to be hiding plenty of secrets. With more at stake than anyone else realizes, the smart-talking Nikita is determined to catch this cunning killer–while at the same time battling her own deepening feelings for a man and for a world in which she doesn’t belong. 

When readers crave a seductive novel of unrelenting suspense with a paranormal twist, Linda Howard delivers time and again . . . make that Killing Time–a captivating, character-rich story that races along on a breathless plot full of action and intimacy, romance and danger, thrills and intrigue.

I am such a fan of Linda Howard and I keep saying it and it just will never get old. What I love about her books is that she perfectly mixes some romance in with some thriller and it's just enough to keep you going and you'll be left looking for her next book and sad that it ended. 

In this book we have Nikita who is really from the future coming back into the past to stop a killer. We have Knox who is a present time investigator trying to figure out the murders as well and he comes into contact with Nikita, having no idea who she is or that she's from the future. Then they start developing feelings and we have a couple of really steamy scenes. The only issue I had was that there were some holes in the story where clues could have been put into the story to keep the reader guessing. At the end of this I almost felt like there was a part two that could have been written because I didn't fully understand the motive of the bad guys. I mean, I do... but there could have been a lot more explained. What you will get out of this is a fast read, a decent story line compared to other books like it, and the ending isn't totally what I expected. I guess I didn't expect Nikita to pick the time period that she did and Knox not put up a fight? But maybe I would have felt the same way had the tables been turned? I'm not sure. 

Is it the best book in Linda Howard's arsenal? No, not even close. I wouldn't start your Linda Howard addiction with this book unless you know you'll continue reading. She has done so much better but honestly, I didn't dislike this book as much as others have. I'm always entertained by Linda. 

Help for the Haunted

While I'm gone on my trip, I've got a few book reviews lined up for you so you won't totally be without your Sara fix. It's OK, I'll be back. AND, Matt assures me we can bring my laptop because it has the camera card reader thingie so if the hotel in Mitchell isn't a total piece of shit, I'll be able to give you some kind of an update.

I know, you're just as excited as I am!

But to kick it off, let's start with a review.

Help for the Haunted - John Searles

It begins with a call in the middle of snowy February evening. Lying in her bed, young Sylvie Mason overhears her parents on the phone across the hall. This is not the first late-night call they have received, since her mother and father have an uncommon occupation, helping "haunted souls" find peace. And yet, something in Sylvie senses that this call is different than the rest, especially when they are lured to the old church on the outskirts of town. Once there, her parents disappear, one after the other, behind the church's red door, leaving Sylvie alone in the car. Not long after, she drifts off to sleep only to wake to the sound of gunfire.

Nearly a year later, we meet Sylvie again struggling with the loss of her parents, and living in the care of her older sister, who may be to blame for what happened the previous winter.

As the story moves back and forth in time, through the years leading up to the crime and the months following, the ever inquisitive and tender-hearted Sylvie pursues the mystery, moving closer to the knowledge of what occurred that night, as she comes to terms with her family's past and uncovers secrets that have haunted them for years.

I'll be straight up- this would be kind of a fascinating book for book clubs. This wasn't a book I rushed through, it wasn't one that I could not put down. In fact, it took me well over a week to read it because it didn't pull me in enough to pull an all-nighter. The only thing that really kept me going was every time I thought ugh, I've had it, the author would drop another clue. Something really weird that made you think that maybe it's not at all what it seems. 

I feel terrible for Sylvie. It's clear her sister has some serious angst issues. Her sister is the classic rebellious teenager who has issues with what her parents due for a living. That happens to be helping people rid themselves of ghosts, demons, haunted things that linger in this realm that really need to go wherever dead things go. They do conferences and drag their girls around. Sylvie wants to believe that her parents are just really devout Christian's doing the Lord's work. Until Sylvie is with her parents when they are killed in the middle of the night and she sees their bodies. She's hounded by detectives to provide information and though she's named someone, she isn't actually sure. She also doesn't believe her sister and with good reason. 

Overall? Decent book. It isn't gripping. I don't know if I'd even call it a thriller because I didn't feel that, "I can't wait to find out who did it" feeling you get with a good thriller. It was a mystery and when we find out what transpired in the church in the middle of the night, I wasn't really shocked? No, I shouldn't say that. I was a little shocked because it came out of the blue. So much so that honestly, it felt like a zinger thrown in for the sake of having this momentous ending but it doesn't work because you never saw it coming because it's a character introduced at the end. Which, I don't know. It just felt like the author wasn't totally sure where he was going to go, but he had to go somewhere and let's give them a jolt at the end for added measure. 

I will say this would make an interesting book club read because there can be a lot of discussion on not just the parent's profession, but how they parented their children. The really cool thing is that the author, John Searles, has a goal to chat with a book club in EVERY state about Help for the Haunted. If your book club signs up to do this, could win a tote bag of books for every member in the group. If you are interested in that, sign your book club up HERE.