Mondays are Happening at Reviewed by Mom!

Happy Monday All!  We are just back from a little mini vacation to Vermont and I have LOTS to catch up on!  First of all, be sure you have all your entries in for my current giveaways.  A full list can be found at the right hand side of this page but here a few which are ENDING SOON....

Gravemind by Melissa Marr
Maggies Direct Salad Bowl & Servers ($55 value)
All the Flowers in Shaghai

Also be sure to head over to Maggies Direct (one of my favorite, favorite sites)  by clicking HERE.  They are giving away monthly shopping sprees of $500 as well as a grand prize, $5000 shopping spree in June!  Don't miss out on that great giveaway!

Don't forget to check out Mom's Giveaway Monday's here to find more great giveaways on the web and link up your own if you have them. 

As always, I am looking for ways to improve the site.  I am hoping to add some more regular features like craft ideas and recipes so stay tuned for those.  If you have anything you would like to see more of please e-mail me at reviewedbymom@hotmail.com. 

I have a new Media Package which can be found here so if you have a product or site you would like to promote here on Reviewed by Mom please check that out.  There are lots of advertising options and I would love to work with you!

Stay tuned for some great giveaways coming this week from Bob the Builder, Harper Collins, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Warner Bros and MORE!  It is going to be a busy week here at Reviewed by Mom.

Have a great week all and remember to check back often because this mom is busy, busy, busy!!

The Legacy of Eden Blog Tour & Giveaway...

Earlier this month I filled you in on a fun book tour scavenger hunt I was chosen to be a part of. The Legacy of Eden by Nelle Davy was a book I enjoyed immensely and I was so excited to be chosen as one of the stops on the scavenger hunt!  In case you have some catching up to do on reading the excerpts, click HERE to find a full day by day listing.  Here is the scoop on the book that I nabbed me from start to finish and that I have been chomping at the bit to tell you about...

For generations, Aurelia was the crowning glory of more than three thousand acres of Iowa farmland and golden cornfields. The estate was a monument to matriarch Lavinia Hathaway’s dream to elevate the family name – no matter what relative or stranger she had to destroy in the process. It was a desperation that wrought the downfall of the Hathaways – and the once prosperous farm.

Now the last inhabitant of the decaying old home has died – alone. None of the surviving members of the Hathaway family want anything to do with the farm, the land, or the memories.

Especially Meredith Pincetti. Now living in New York City, for seventeen years Lavinia’s youngest grandchild has tried to forget everything about her family and her past. But with the receipt of a pleading letter, Meredith is again thrust into conflict with the legacy that destroyed her family’s once-great name. Back at Aurelia, Meredith must confront the rise and fall of the Hathaway family… and her own part in their mottled history.

And now for the excerpt I am lucky enough to be able to share with you...

And I shuddered so violently, I had to clamp a hand over my mouth to stop myself from crying out.

“We’ll leave you to think about it. But please—” his voice retracted back into smooth professionalism “—don’t take too long.”

It took me three hours to find it. There was a lot of swearing, I tore a button off of my shirt and scratched my arm, but eventually I sat cross-legged on the carpet and smoothed the crackled plastic of the front before I opened the album.

Ava had packed it in my suitcase the night before I left for college, the night I found her in the rose garden. I had opened my trunk in my new dorm to find it slotted between my jeans and cut-off shorts.

I couldn’t bear to look at it for a long time. I had left it in the bottom of the trunk and when I had to repack for Mom’s funeral, I had tipped it out on the floor, daring only to look at it from the corner of my eye.

Be sure to click >>>> http://www.bluearchipelagoreviews.com/ to read more tomorrow!

This book was such an intense and well written read.  The Hathaway family is the filled with dysfunction and the book chronicles this but it also chronicles the deep love felt for the family land.  There were twist and turns in this book that took my by surprise and kept me frantically turning pages.  I simply could not get enough of the rise and the fall of the Hathaways.  Nelle Davy is a wonderfully descriptive writer and extremely adept at making her characters jump off the page. This is an excellent read and would make a terrific book club pick!  Pick up your copy today on Amazon.... 

I am so pleased to tell you that TWO lucky RBM readers (this on is open to US & Canadian entrants) will win a copy of The Legacy of Eden!  Thanks so much to the sponsor and here is how to enter...

Bond Girl by Erin Duffy...R&G!

I just wrapped up another great read and am so excited to share the book Bond Girl by Erin Duffy with you!  Here is the scoop...

When other little girls were dreaming about becoming doctors or lawyers, Alex Garrett set her sights on conquering the high-powered world of Wall Street. And though she's prepared to fight her way into an elitist boys' club, or duck the occasional errant football, she quickly realizes she's in over her head when she's relegated to a kiddie-size folding chair with her new moniker—Girlie—inscribed in Wite-Out across the back.

No matter. She's determined to make it in bond sales at Cromwell Pierce, one of the Street's most esteemed brokerage firms. Keeping her eyes on the prize, the low Girlie on the totem pole will endure whatever comes her way—whether trekking to the Bronx for a $1,000 wheel of Parmesan cheese; discovering a secretary's secret Friday night slumber/dance party in the conference room; fielding a constant barrage of "friendly" practical jokes; learning the ropes from Chick, her unpredictable, slightly scary, loyalty-demanding boss; babysitting a colleague while he consumes the contents of a vending machine on a $28,000 bet; or eluding the advances of a corporate stalker who's also one of the firm's biggest clients.

Ignoring her friends' pleas to quit, Alex excels (while learning how to roll with the punches and laugh at herself) and soon advances from lowly analyst to slightly-less-lowly associate. Suddenly, she's addressed by her real name, and the impenetrable boys' club has transformed into forty older brothers and one possible boyfriend. Then the apocalypse hits, and Alex is forced to choose between sticking with Cromwell Pierce as it teeters on the brink of disaster or kicking off her Jimmy Choos and running for higher ground.

Fast-paced, funny, and thoroughly addictive, Bond Girl will leave you cheering for Alex: a feisty, ambitious woman with the spirit to stand up to the best (and worst) of the boys on the Street—and ultimately rise above them all.

I had heard this book was reminisicnet of The Devil Wears Prada (which I loved!) and it definitely does.  Bond Girl is witty, fast paced and takes a peek into a world many of us are very unfamiliar with.  Alex works in world most would not last a second in (I want even tell you the silly and ridiculous  things her boss forces her to do as part of the learning process or hazing!) and it is exciting, overwhelming and filled with excess.  I enjoyed taggging along for the ride but was glad it was not me!  Alex is definitely a character you will find yourself rooting for and the author, Erin Duff, has made her easily relatable and likeable.  I was laughing alound on several occasions and groaning at her embarassment in others.  Bond Girl is an exciting, funny and witty novel and I highly recommend it!  Pick up your copy today on Amazon....

Morphology Game...R&G!

I love games...particularly  board games.  I grew up having long game marathons with my parents and the joy I felt in gathering together to play has never left me!  I will whip out a board game any chance I get which is why I was delighted to have the opportunity to review Morphology!  Morphology is a game that sounded fun, challenging and completely unique from anything I had ever played before.  Here's how to play...

1. DIVIDE INTO TEAMS.
2. DRAW A WORD FROM THE DECK.
3. USE THE SHAPES AND PIECES TO BUILD THE WORD.
4. GET YOUR TEAMMATES TO GUESS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME.
5. IF YOU GUESS CORRECTLY, MOVE YOUR TEAM FROG FORWARD ONE LILY PAD. THE FIRST TEAM TO REACH FINISH WINS

Curious about what I mean about the shapes and pieces?  Well, how about wooden sticks, cubes and a piece of string??  Here is what you have to work with....

As you can imagine, it is hilarious to see what people come up with when trying to create their assigned tasks!  Some are harder than others but most are quite challenging!  Each time we have played this we have ending up laughing and marveling at one another's creativity.   There are twists to the game like creating with your eyes shut (yikes!) that keep the game ever fresh and exciting.  Morphology is recommended for ages 13 and up but I would say a younger child could participate with help.  This is a wonderful family game night game and is sure to become a classic favorite in your home...it already is in mine!  You can purchase this game today on Amazon...

Be on the lookout for Morphology Junior coming this June (can't wait!!).

I am so pleased to tell you that one lucky RBM reader will win the Morphology Game. Thanks so much to the sponsor and let the games begin!!

My Fear Zapper Contest....Ending Soon!

Last week I told you all about a great site for children....MyFearZapper.Com (you can read my full review HERE).  Here is a little experpt in case you need a refresher...

MyFear Zapper™ is a fun, fast way to help children actually overcome their normal childhood fears and build long-term self-confidence.
A website-based "game", MyFear Zapper™ works after just a few uses, empowering your child to understand his mind is more powerful than his fear.

MyFear Zapper™ uses the same approach professional counselors use – it's just translated into fun, interactive, engaging technology your child will love.

Ninety percent of children see a significant reduction in their fear after just a couple uses* – your child can, too!

MyFear Zapper™ is recommended for children aged 3 and up.

MyFear Zapper™ is U.S. patent-pending. Money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied in the first 30 days.

I think this is such a unique and powerful tool for helping children overcome feaars.  The games are fun and the technique is empowering.  What a wonderful program!  Check it out by visiting www.myfearzapper.com!  Remember to get your entries in for my contest which is ending Friday at midnight!  Three monthly subscriptions are up for grabs!  Good luck!

The Snow Child...R&G!

I just finished reading one a most beautifully written book...The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.  Here is the scoop on this book that even Oprah herself has on her reading list for this month...


Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for a couple who have never been able to conceive. Jack and Mabel are drifting apart—he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone, but they catch sight of an elusive, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.
This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and leaves blizzards in her wake. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who seems to have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in the Alaska wilderness, life and death are inextricable, and what they eventually learn about Faina changes their lives forever.

Wow....this book was breathtaking.  First of all, Ivey paints a vivid and realistic portrait of what it must have been like living in the harsh, unforgiving, Alaskan wilderness.  She was so descriptive that I literally felt myself transported by her words.  The story itself is beautiful....the characters are rich and I was immediately drawn to Jack and Mabel.  I wanted hapiness for them!  The story is lovely and you will NOT want to put this book down.  This is a book I wanted to reread the moment I was through wih it.  Eowyn Ivey is a true talent and an author you will want to follow.  The Snow Child is a story that will stay with you long after the last page is finsihed.  Pick up your copy today on Amazon....

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I am so pleased to tell you that the publisher is giving THREE lucky RBM readers a copy of the Snow Child!  Thanks so much to the sponsor and here is how to enter...

The Hunger Games....Coming March 23rd!

I am SO EXCITED to see The Hunger Games when it hits theaters on March 23rd!  I have heard absolute raves about the book (which I MUST read before I catch the flick) and I have heard the movie is going to be just amazing.  In case you are unfamiliar here is a synopsis and a clip of what you have to look forward to next month...

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which Tributes? must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobsons Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 16 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following.

Sounds great, right??  I am definitely going to pick this book up to read before it hits the theaters.  Let's read it together.  Order your copy today from Amazon....

Click HERE to check out a great, free discussion guide about the book!  Have you read the book yet or are you planning on seeing the movie?  I want to know what you think!