Rach
Shadows To Light by Regan Black
Published May 19, 2012 | 
Title: Shadows of Light
Author: Regan Black
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Star Rating: 4 Stars – Loved It
Synopsis:
A supernatural healer, Mira escapes a trial of her peers only to be sent on an impossible mission: Rescue her scientist father from a madman who’s using him to create bio-weapons. But she’s no spy. On her own, with no real clues, she isn’t sure where to turn.
Part of a covert task force searching for a missing government scientist, Jameson is tasked with staring at a laboratory building day in and day out. The boredom is overwhelming until Mira, a woman he cannot forget, shows up in a place she should never be.
Forced together by circumstance, Mira and Jameson enter an adventure that will push them to their limits – and quite possibly beyond.
Review:
When I started to read Shadows To Light I felt that is was very slow in getting started. I don’t usually go for books with war, the forces and weapons in it, however the blurb seems to catch me as I do like the supernatural. It did take me a while to get into it, but when I did I really did start enjoying the book.
I loved Mira and Jameson’s characters and how things panned out for them. They were both loveable characters. Mira was a strong woman and very determined, and Jameson fell head over heels for her and vowed to protect her.
The book is full of adventure , with the supernatural and futuristic elements too. It really did turn into a great book.
The ending was a little shocking as the ‘madman’ was not who I expected to be but the element of surprise kept it all flowing well.
Now that I have read this book I will be getting the other 4 books in the Shadows of Justice series.
I had not read the other books in the series but that did not seem to pose a problem as it seems that the book can stand alone.
Buy now from
Posted in Books/E-Books | 
Book Review, Paranormal Romance, Regan Black, Shadows to Light | 
Leave a commentLittle Charley Bear Fun Sounds Plush Toy
Published May 18, 2012 | 
Have you seen the cbeebies programme Little Charley Bear? My daughter loves this programme and will sit contently and watch it, “You Gotta Love That Bear!” We sing the theme tune quite a bit in our house.
Charley Bear is an adventurous little bear which is why I think the programme appeals to children, plus he’s a cute cuddly little bear.
We received a Little Charley Bear Fun Sounds plush toy to review. My daughter fell in love with him immediately and he had to be removed from the packaging very quickly as she was so eager to play with him.
She thought he was just a cuddly toy which she was more than happy with. So when I told her to press his tummy and he said “ Hello Charley Bear, How are you today?” a big smile beamed.
She pressed it again and there was a magical noise, pressed again and he said “ Are you there, Charley Bear?” and the last sound was a tune. She was over the moon with this and we have been hearing the 4 sounds and sayings frequently. I am surprised he hasn’t lost his voice!
Charley Bear being a little bear that loves adventures has been taken to families houses, for drives in the car and for walks in the woods even to school for show and tell, which all the children loved.
One thing my daughter checks on all of her new toys are the labels up against her nose as she sucks her thumb and rubs the labels on her nose when she’s tired. Charley Bear got the thumbs up for this so he could even go to bed with her.
Get chatting with Little Charley Bear – Fun Sounds Charley Bear . This cuddly cub from hit TV series Little Charley Bear makes lots of fun sounds when you squeeze his tummy . Collect the whole gang with Fun Sounds Rivet and Fun Sounds Bella. Fun Sounds Charley requires three LR44 batteries (included). Ages 2 years and over.
Little Charley Bear Fun Sounds Plush Toy is available to buy from Amazon, Asda and Tesco with an RRP £17.99. I have seen that they are £12.99 at Amazon and Tesco at the moment.
Little Charley Bear has his own Website http://www.littlecharleybear.com/
and why not visit the Facebook page too Facebook.com/littlecharleybear
*This was reviewed for Mummy News
Posted in Reviews, Toys | Children, Fun, Little Charley Bear, Little Charley Bear Fun Sound Plush Toy, Soft Toy, Teddy | 1 CommentDrop It Like It’s HOT hop 5/18
Published May 18, 2012 | 
ReTrak Retractable 1080p HDMI Cable Multi Pack
Published May 17, 2012 | 
The ReTrak retractable 1080p HDMI Cable pack is fantastic for us.
We have used it to connect our laptop to our HDTV so we can watch films that we have purchased online on the television instead of on the small laptop screen.
It is really easy to set up, We plugged it in and just programmed it into HDMI 3 and away we went, We could all watch the film together on comfortable seats.
My children have used this on their television upstairs too with the laptop so they can watch something different at bedtime.
On the top of the unit is a button that you press to retract the cable, this retracts super fast so be careful!
The Retrak Retractable 1080p HDMI Cable Multi Pack includes Type A Male to A Male (standard)
Type C Male (mini), Type D Male (micro) and DVI adapters.
Superior 10.2 GB bandwidth
Digital Audio
High-definition game play and three years warranty.
It is for HDTV, Blue-ray, PS3, Xbox, Mobile Phones, Tablets, Receivers, Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Netbooks and other portable devices.
The cable is retractable and fully extended its length is 1.5m
It is a handy little device to have with just the retractable cable and 3 extra adapters. It’s a great space saver too, with no bulky wires to store.
I would recommend this.
You can purchase the Retrak Retractable 1080p HDMI Cable pack fromhttp://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/retrak-eucablehdm-retractable-hdmi-adaptor-cable-1-5m-11083911-pdt.html priced at £19.99
*This was reviewed for Mummy News
Posted in Home, Reviews | Cable, HDMI, Retractable Cable, Retrak, ReTrak Retractable 1080p HDMI Cable Multi Pack, Review | 1 CommentRetrak Retractable USB 2.0 Cable Multi-Adapter
Published May 17, 2012 | 
This little cable is fantastic for a multitude of things. The Adapter has 4 different plugs on it, USB B, Mini 5-pin, USB mini 4-pin, USB micro 5-pin as well as the standard USB fitting on both ends.
The first thing I tried the cable on was my Elonex eReader, I didn’t know if it would even fit but I thought I would give it ago. I looked for the pin that looked similar to the hole for the Elonex, it was the USB mini 5-pin. I was not expecting it to charge as I know even if it fits the chances of it charging or working would be low as I have tried before when I lost my original USB charging cable.
I was shocked to see that the Elonex turned on and was in fact charging so now I can use this instead of the short cable that is standard with the eReader meaning I can keep it on the table and charge it instead of balancing it on books.
Another use we have found for this is charging my daughter’s Blackberry mobile phone and for when she wants to connect it to her laptop. We used the USB Micro 5-pin adapter for this.
I think this is a great thing to have especially as it can be used on a lot of different devices using the different adapters on it. Which saves on plug and cable space.
You can use it on Printers, Scanners, Hubs, Blackberry’s Palm, Razor, PDA’s Cameras, Camcorders,MP3 Players and bluetooth.
I would definitely recommend this.
You can buy the Retrak Retractable USB 2.0 Cable Multi-Adapter fromhttp://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/retrak-usb-2-0-retractable-adaptor-cable-1m-11083912-pdt.html for £9.99
*This was reviewed for Mummy News
Posted in Home, Reviews | Blackberry, EReader, Multi-Adapter, Printer, Retractable Cable, Retractable USB 2.0 Cable Multi-Adapter, Retrak, Scanner, USB | Leave a commentRetrak Retractable Universal 70W Notebook Wall Charger
Published May 17, 2012 | 
The ReTrak retractable Universal Notebook Charger is a great replacement or upgrade for almost any notebook computer. The retractable cable is great for people on the move or those with limited space as there is no extra power brick. The unique and ultra portable design is great for travel yet easily expands to the desired length without the clutter of unwanted cable.
The ReTrak retractable universal notebook wall charger has been a god send for myself and my family.
We have 3 laptops, and my daughter is forever misplacing her charger. So first job was to charge her laptop while we searched for her one.
With all of the different attachments included with the wall charger we found one that worked for her Acer laptop.
The retractable lead is fantastic, all you have to do is pull both ends to get the wire out and pull again for it all to retract.
This is perfect for when we go on holiday as it’s not as big and bulky as a normal charger. It all fits into a small bag that comes with it too.
My sister has been staying over recently she has a Samsung laptop and I asked her if I could test the adapter on her laptop. We found the attachment and it worked.
Finally my husbands laptop is a Toshiba, we like a bit of variety in our house. Again I found the attachment for the Toshiba laptop and it fitted and worked too.
We are very impressed with the wall charger as now when we do go on holiday and if we decide to take our laptops with us, or anywhere for that matter we do not have to take all of the chargers with us, Just this one.
Here are some details about the wall charger.
The ReTrak Retractable Universal 70W Notebook Wall Charger is compatible with over 7000 models, Acer, Asus, Compaq, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and more.
There are 9 adapter tips which will fit almost any notebook computer, it has an LED indicator light.
It is reliable and versatile. It has a new ThinPlug design and the total expanded width of the cable is 1.83m.
It is compact and convenient, is rapid to charge, a carry bag is included for cables tips and charger.
We love it and it has proven itself to us with all 3 laptops. We would definitely recommend it.
You can purchase the Retractable Universal 70W Notebook Wall Charger fromhttp://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/retrak-155-commercial.html costing £49.99
*This was reviewed for Mummy News
Interview With Ransom Riggs
Published May 16, 2012 | Here is my interview with Ransom Riggs author of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children which is on sale at all good book stores.
1. Where are you from?
I grew up from Florida, where part of my book is set. Actually, in the very town where part of my book is set. It was quite warm and rather filled with old people and a bit boring for a teenager, which is why my friends and I got in lots of trouble and made silly videos all the time. To keep from going insane.
2. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or was there something else you wanted to do as a career?
From age 5 to age 13 I wanted to be a writer. Then I saw the shining and decided I wanted to be a movie director. I eventually went to film school in los angeles for exactly this reason. Then, after film school, while I was trying to become a movie director (which is hard; no one told me this), I accidentally wrote a book that became a bestseller in America. This was good, but very distracting. I still want to be a movie director, but maybe later. Now I am going to write more books.
3. What inspired you to write your first book?
My publisher said: we like this idea for a book that you have. We will pay you to write it. Will you write it? And I said: Yes! It was a very easy decision, really, because I didn’t have to go through the whole writing a book and not knowing if it would ever be published thing. I knew when I started writing that my book would be published, and this was very motivating for me. “This had better be good,” I told myself constantly, “or people will read this and think you are an idiot.”
4. In you opinion what is the best movie adaptation of a book that you’ve read?
I have never read a movie adaptation. (By this I assume you mean a novelization of a movie?) Usually it’s movies that are adapted from books, not the other way around. Are novelizations of movies any good? It seems like they would not be good.
5. What is the first book that you remember reading?
FROG AND TOAD ARE FRIENDS, by Arnold Lobel. Which makes sense, because it came out six months after I was born. I can’t imagine reading anything any earlier than that.
6. If your book was being made into a movie do you already have actors in mind for each role? What bands/singers would you put on thesoundtrack?
My book is being made into a movie, but I have little say in who will be cast. Alas! But really, even if they asked me, I probably wouldn’t know what to tell them, because nearly all the important characters in my book are under the age of 20, and I know very few actors who are under the age of 20. Except: Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee, and that younger Fanning sister, all of whom are very talented.
If it were up to me I don’t think I would have any bands on the soundtrack. I’d want a really great composer to compose original music. I feel like having popular bands on soundtracks is just an excuse to sell movie soundtracks.
I feel like I am answering your questions in a very curmudgeonly, and I apologize. It may be that I just have strong opinions about all the ways people make movies badly, and I really, really don’t want my movie to be made badly! I promise I am not this curmudgeonly in real life.
7. When you’re creating characters do you incorporate traits from people you know?
Always! I wouldn’t know how to write a character trait that I had never encountered in life, in someone I knew. If I tried it would probably end up seeming fake and weird.
8. If you had the chance to have a sit down with any author alive or deceased who would it be and why?
Once I actually did sit down with a rather famous deceased author. His name is Jeremy Bentham and he wrote several excellent books on philosophy and politics. His mummified corpse is permanently ensconced in the hallway of University College London, so technically speaking, anyone can sit down with him. I recommend it!
9.What book are you reading now?
I am reading this year’s Newberry award winner, Dead End in Norvelt, by a fabulous guy who I was just on an author panel with, Jack Gantos. It is freaking hilarious.
10. What are your current projects?
I’m moving houses this weekend, so my most current project is building a series of shelves in my new closet and replacing a bunch of blown-out lightbulbs. Um, writing-wise, though, I have a book of found photography coming out in October called Talking Pictures. This video I made helps explain what it’s about and why I did it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M49Dw7dXx7U&list=UUQRQ9X4Y_lFbDrSftP_vNDw&index=4&feature=plcp
I also have a screenplay that’s being made into a movie. It’s a supernatural thriller about a freshman in college who’s haunted by a dead girl, and it’s called Black River. I’m also writing the sequel to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and after that I’m writing a novel about teenagers who find a cache of magical objects, called Arcanum. Sheezis, I better go and get to work already!
Be sure to check out Ransom’s website http://www.ransomriggs.com/
Read my review to Ransom Riggs book Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children http://stressedrach.co.uk/2012/05/16/miss-peregrines-home-for-peculiar-children-by-ransom-riggs/
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Published May 16, 2012 | 
Title: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Genre: YA
Star Rating: 5 Stars A Must Read!!!
Synopsis:
A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here – one of whom was his own grandfather – were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow – impossible though it seems – they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
Review:
What can I say about Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children? WOW. I absolutely loved it!!!
From the very beginning I was drawn into it and could not put it down.
Jacob tragically lost his grandfather who used to tell him about the peculiar children and Miss Peregrine when Jacob was small but as Jacob grew he thought these were just tall tales. He was so distressed with the loss of his grandfather that Jacob and his dad take a trip to Wales to try and sort his head out.
This is where the adventure began. I do not want to say anymore as it would spoil the story, but it is fantastic.
The way the story is written was fantastic, the old photographs throughout the book were amazing and really helped with the imagination. The descriptions of the different people down to the small things were brilliant. It was as if I were there too.
It was left open for the next adventure which I am eagerly waiting for it to be released.
While I was reading this my husband kept stopping asking me what was happening, he was very interested in the book although he does not read himself. He said to me this would make a fantastic movie.
Little did we know at the time of reading it, that is was in fact being made into a movie, and we cannot wait to watch that either!
You can purchase Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is available to buy at Amazon and all good book stores.
Posted in Books/E-Books | Adventure, Book, Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs, story, YA | Leave a commentMethod Cleaning Products
Published May 16, 2012 | 
I was sent two Method cleaning products, Multi-Surface Cleaner and Kitchen Cleaner.
The Multi-Surface Cleaner is non-toxic in pink grapefruit fragrance. The bottle is quite large at 828ml.
I really liked the smell of the pink grapefruit around on my worktops and table, it smells so much nicer than some of the sprays I have previously purchased.
My youngest daughter can be a messy eater at dinner time and I will find at least one mark on the table that has a bit of food on it, Like gravy, bean juice or ketchup and she can sit up at the table a long time before she has finished.
This sometimes means that whatever has ended up on the table starts to dry out which makes it harder to get off.
I sprayed the table with Method’s multi-surface cleaner and then wiped off with kitchen roll. It came off with complete ease. No residue left behind and a nice smell too.
It cleans fabulously and I cannot fault it on anything. Everytime I have used it, It has cleaned the surface without struggle.
Here is what it says on the side of the bottle:
We help you put the hurt on the dirt.
Grease + grime don’t stand a chance against powergreen technology. Each squirt, in all it’s lovely non-toxic glory, packs a powerful punch. Naturally derived, biodegradable cleaners made from corn + coconut break down dirt, so when you’re finished, the only thing left is a sparkling sense of satisfaction.
Easy to use: Spray on surface. Wipe immediately, stand back and admire. For use on most sealed surfaces.
I am so impressed with Method’s Multi-Surface Cleaner that I have replaced my old one with this one now.
I like the fact that it’s non-toxic too and there is no chemical smell to it.
The Method Daily Kitchen is also a non-toxic surface cleaner in a clementine fragrance. The bottle is the sample size as the Multi-Surface Cleaner at 828ml
I used this cleaner on caped on grease that was on my cooker, I know the shame of it, My husband usually does the cooking, and so it is his job to clean it too. But being a man he never does a proper job of cleaning it. I have been bugging him for ages to do it properly to no avail.
I decided I would try the Kitchen Clean on the cooker, being silver I did worry about if it may damage it but if it did it would have given me an excuse to buy a new cooker.
I sprayed the top of the cooker and wiped with a sponge, a lot of the caped on grease came off straight away and with a few scrubs here and there I eventually has a shiny cooker once again. I looks almost new now.
I am a bit of a freak when it comes to my worktops as they are black you cannot see all of the dirt that on them so I am constantly cleaning them so no nasty bugs can be picked up. To date I cannot complain about the product at all, it does the job nicely and also makes the kitchen smell nice too.
Here is what it says on the side of the bottle:
You cook, We’ll clean.
When you’re whipping up a taste treat, you want your kitchen really clean and that means free of chemicals, too. So we’ve developed a non-toxic kitchen cleaner with plant-based powergreen technology. It packs a mighty cleaning punch to knock out grease and fool spills, without leaving any residue behind – easy as pie, and nearly as satisfying.
I again have ditched my old kitchen cleaner that smelt of chemicals to Method’s Kitchen Cleaner as I loved it that much.
You can by Method products at major supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. At a RRP of £3.06
For more information visit www.methodproducts.co.uk
or visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/methoduk
* These products were reviews for Mummy News
Social Media Hop 5/16
Published May 16, 2012 | Welcome to the Social Media Party Hop brought to you by Charisma Media Network!
Are you ready to party?! This party doesn’t require an invitation because everyone is invited! Are you looking to improve your social media reach? Looking to make new friends and fans? Why not link up to our 4 way social media hop!
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