14 Days of Romance -Day 13 and 14-

Today’s idea is to clean your loved ones space. If you two have a room together then make it clean and shiny.  If they live on their own then clean up around the area.  Where ever their space is clean it.  Nothing screams special day than having a clean area.  Also change the sheets on the bed.  It is just a really nice feeling to wake up in clean sheets.  This is set them up for tomorrow. 

14 Days of Romance -Day 12-

Take the day off and let your Valentine do what they want to do! If they want to play video games, or relax on the couch, if they want to read a book it is up to them.  Let them have the time and give them the space.  Enjoy your day off too. 

14 Days of Romance -Day 11-

Sorry for the late post, I spent all day in the ER.  

Today is simple and easy.  You are simply going to cuddle with your loved one and tell them 5 things that you love about them.  Telling them that you love them may be a day to day thing for you.  However, how often do you tell them why you love them?  What about them makes them so special to you?  In this challenge you only need to tell them five things, pick the five most important.

14 Days of Romance -Day 10-

It is my Birthday Today!  So in honor of you all not really caring we are going to go on to today’s 14 days of romance challenge.  Today the key word is massage.  

14 Days of Romance -Day 9-

Days nine challenge is to put away the phone, turn off the TV, turn off the Tablet and any other electronic device.  You are going to spend at least three hours with your loved one with no distractions.  Go for a drive, play a game, Spend time relaxing and just talking, Cuddle and drink a hot beverage.

14 Days of Romance -Day 8-

Today is another day where the challenge should cost you nothing. 

Today is to write down one of your fondest memories of your loved one.  For example one of mine is being at Flathead Lake with him.

14 Days of Romance -Day 7 -

Public Domain

Tonight it is your turn to cook (even if you normally do) you are going to make one of your loved ones favorite meals.  For instance my husband adores homemade pizza so that is what we are going to be eating tomorrow night.  It is not only that you took the time to cook but also that you thought about them.

14 Days of Romance -Day 6-

For Day 6 we are going back to something that costs you nothing but time and energy.  Today's challenge is to do your loved ones chores.  For example if she does the laundry and the dishes then you will do it.  If he clears the table and takes out the trash then that is what you need to be doing.  Let them relax while you do the chores for them.

14 Days of Romance -Day 5-

For Day 5 we are going to be spending some money.  However, it should be under $5.00.  Today is flowers and candy.  However, we are not going for a large bouquet of 24 long stemmed red roses.  We are going for a single flower as well as a single candy bar.

14 Days of Romance -Day 4-

Yesterday many of us spent time with family and friends.  Today make the night about your loved one.  Let them choose a movie to rent or get off of Netflix.  You should pop the popcorn, supply a drink and cuddle with them through the entire movie.  Also you are not allowed to roll your eyes.  It doesn't matter if they pick "Loves Lovely Lover" or "Bang Boom Bam I'll get you." (Not real movies but you get what they would be about.) You will spend the time with them and watching the movie all the way through.  Since it is Monday you might have to put the kids to bed first.

14 Days of Romance -Day 3-

I made it an easy day since most people in America are going to be watching the Superbowl and eating gluten free snacks.  Well at least that I what I will be doing.

The way to fill out today’s idea depends on each person.  If you have a printer then this will be easy, there are templates available for free online. If not than this might take more time since it will have to be crafted by hand.  However, it might mean more that way.

14 Days of Romance -Day 2-

Today’s idea is bubble baths (or showers if you don't have a bath.) Set the mood in the bathroom with some romantic music, a few candles and a warm bath filled with bubbles.  You might even include some wine if you have it handy. 

Not sure if you have a gluten free bubble bath?  Try using baby products like California baby, Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo, 7th generation or baby genetics.  All of these are gluten free.  Some you can even pick up at the dollar store.  If you can't find one you like then use body wash into the water.  The bubbles don't last as long but you get the same effect. 

To Dream or not to Dream

This picture is Public Domain to the best of my knowledge

The NaBloPoMo question today “If you could be given the option to never sleep and also never be tired, would you take it if it meant you'd also never dream again?”

Lord Stillwell's Excellent Engaements-Book Review

With it still being Book Review Wednesday for me, I figured I would post this review now instead instead of waiting for next week.  Two book reviews in one day!

I was allowed to review Vitoria Alexander's Lord Stillwell's Excellent Engagements.  The book is short only about 60 or so pages on my Nook.  The book covers Lord Stillwell and his engagements to three different women and how it they work out for him.  Each section is short and it starts within a week or so of the wedding.  While I would not put this under romance since there is almost no romantic scenes in the book.  I did find it very funny.

The Good:

This book is funny, and I really start to feel for Viscount Winfield Elliott and his inability to find the perfect bride.  He tries three different types of women, the amazingly beautiful, fun and fancy free sort, the lovely, smart but completely reserved type and then someone in the middle.  The description lists them as thus
"Miss Felicia Whitingdon, for instance, has youth, beauty, style, grace—and a handsome fortune. Lady Lucille Eustice is a widow of impeccable social standing, and a balm to my soul. Then there is Miss Caroline Hibbitt, sweet and charming in every way." While there is a happy ending I won't tell you for whom. 

The indifferent:

The first part of the book left me confused.  It starts with a letter to Viscount Elliott’s cousin and you have no idea what is going on.  There is no slow introduction into the story it starts immediately. 
Also each story is very short and there is almost no background on the Viscount or the ladies who he plans to marry. 

The Bad:

If you are looking for a good romance than this is not your book, While it is listed as romance it is more humor and a set up book for a future book to come.  I see some of these characters being used in future books.  The book being short does not allow a reader to feel satisfied, it is more like a “to be continued” episode. 

I look forward to seeing what Author Victoria Alexander has for us in the future. 

The Scent of Rain- Book Review

The Scent of Rain By Kristin Billerbeck

This book is about a woman Daphne Sweeten who loses everything including her most prized sense, her sense of smell. This can be problematic for someone who makes perfumes.  After her disastrous wedding day that never happened, she moves to a small town to start over.  This time, she has a job making scents for household products such as laundry detergent and hand soap, an interesting job choice for someone who can’t smell.

The good:

This book has a good overall arc for a romance.  You can feel the tension build and it leaves off without any of the over used sex scenes.  There is good character development from the main caricature as she sets to rebuild her life and get back her most treasured gift.  There is a lot of possible development from the secondary and tertiary characters.

The indifferent: 

There may be a good overall story arc, but if you have any issue with the Christian church or faith than this book is not for you.  There are many places where the author makes unnecessary points to show the characters faith; it would have great if it had furthered the story.  Since most of it didn’t it was just wasted book space.  I have no issue with faith being used in a book; it can be used to make some amazing points.   However, The Scent of Rain seemed to hammer it home in an almost unconformable way.  It even shows what happens to sinners who do not act in a Christian way and how to save those people from themselves.  

The bad:

The end of the book seems rushed.  Daphne is working towards her goals she has gotten her life figured out and then the ending hits you like a freight train.  With so much build up and work done in the first part of the book the ending is a letdown.  In the end everything just falls into place without any real preamble.  Weeks went by with no note by the author.  The main characters decide that they are in love and that is the end.  I really feel that there should have been more to the ending.  Everything magically works out.  The evil ex fiancée has now gotten his just desserts and the amazing man she met loves her and is giving her everything.  Her life is back on track and she has everything she wants or needs.  the lack of realism hurt.

 Another downside to this book is that Daphne can’t figure out why she lost her sense of smell; the answer should have been available to her everywhere via internet or any professional.  She had a case of hysterical sensory loss or the loss of a sense following traumatic or life altering events.  It really took her too long to be able to figure something like this out.  Her best friend who works in the mental health field was unable to help her?

My last complaint is that the ending of the book is given to you less than half way through.  I can tell when the author decided how this was going to end.  The ending is handed to you in a dream sequence that was wholly unnecessary.  Leave me a little mystery.  If I wanted to know the end I would just skip ahead and read the last few pages of the book.  

I suggest this to read if you can’t find something else or you are looking for an easy read. 

For more information on this book check out

The Scent of Rain