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New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
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Friday, January 4, 2013
Review: Make Believe Anthology
Make Believe
Authors: J.A. Belfield, Terri Rochenski, J. Keller Ford, Lynda R. Young, Kelly Said, Jennifer M. Eaton
Release Date: Nov. 23, 2012
Publisher: J. Taylor Publishing
Genre: Fantasy/ Science-Fiction/ Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher/Author
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Sacrificial Oath by Terri Rochenski
Summary: An impetuous act unwittingly makes Alesuela the fulfillment of the Sovereign’s Blood Oath to their Goddess. In five days, she’ll be forced to make the greatest choice of her life: become the virginal sacrifice already promised, or force the man she loves most to die in her place.
With an impossible choice in front of her, she searches for ways to undo the oath, and in her quest, finds not everything in her life is as she expects.
VampBard's Take: I completely fell in love with Alesuela, our main character. This fantasy story, while well-devloped and properly resolved, was entirely too short. Ms. Rochenski created characters, settings and a world that were crafted in a manner that allowed the reader to make significant connections. We had Man v. Man, Man v. Nature, and Man v. Self conflict, all in this whirlwind of a short story that leaves me, as a reader, begging for more.
5 stars: Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
The Amulet of Ormisez, J. Keller Ford
Summary: There is only one way to save Elton Fletcher’s brother from an insanity-ridden death.
After years away from home, fighting for his people, Elton returns to discover his only sibling, Cayden, possessed by greed and malice, and responsible for malicious, unthinkable deeds. Cayden, though, isn’t the only one afflicted by the Amulet of Ormisez, and Elton finds himself in yet another battle, where the price of failure could be his own life.
VampBard's Take: Again, LOVED this story! At the conclusion, I was left wanting more of the adventures that Felicity and Elton would take in the future. I adored the magic, and the use of the selkies. Shh. If a story mentions anything about lore in which I'm familiar or obsessive, it'll get and retain my attention, no matter what. Elton was the classic hero in this fantasy tale. Although it was evident from the beginning that Cayden was evil at present, I was unsure as to whether Elton would be the true hero or not! Felicity, bravely looking after her mistress, became the ultimate heroine at the end of the story. EXCELLENT story, with room in the plot for something MUCH longer!
5 stars: Personal favorite – a must read (A+)
Birthright, Lynda R. Young
Summary: Christa can mask the pain and hide the scars, but running from a birthright is impossible.
She’s tried to escape her grief by fleeing to a small town in Florida. Much to her frustration, the locals think they recognize her even though she's never been there before. To make things worse, a man named Jack spouts outrageous theories about her.
Both spur Christa to bolt, to start fresh yet again, but there’s something about Jack that intrigues her enough to stay. The only problem? Someone else wants her to leave, and they won’t stop until she’s dead.
VampBard's Take: Um. How did all of these fabulous stories make it into one anthology? Birthright sucked me into the awesome paranormal-tale-with-romantic-elements world created by the author. I'm still not sure exactly **what** Christa is. Witch? Some other paranormal being that draws on the power of the Earth? All the discussion of destiny and the 'returning home to spawn' kinda creeped me out in a fabulously indulgent way. Over-all, this story really wasn't predictable, and I – once again – was left wanting more More MORE!
5 stars: Personal favorite – a must read (A+)
Petrified, Kelly Said
Summary: A mysterious storm has replaced summer with winter, devastating crops and smothering Castle lands in snow. Prince Sterling August stands alone as a leader, lost in personal grief as well as a desire to help his people but with an inability to do either.
The answers he needs await him, but without Lochlyn, a woman who’s just as isolated as Sterling, he’ll never see what stands before him, cloaked in illusion.
VampBard's Take: Petrified was a nice story. I liked it, but it didn't have that pull the other stories (thus far) have had for me. I did really like Lochlyn, the Wiccae... but I have a thing for nature-lovers. I'm a hippie at heart. Sterling was a good hero, but I didn't feel the connection to him like I've felt with others. I couldn't FEEL his pain, and the torture he was enduring because of his father's condition. In all actuality, when there was a secret revealed near the end of this paranormal story, I was 'meh' about it.
The writing was wonderfully executed, with a great vocabulary and usage that was completely up my alley, but I just wasn't feeling it.
3.5 stars: Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Last Winter Red, Jennifer M. Eaton
Summary: Emily is a Red, a woman whose sole purpose in life is to produce offspring. When her husband dies and leaves her childless, she risks her life and forsakes the safety of Terra—a disease-free city born after the nuclear holocaust. Beyond its boundaries, she knows, survives a man with whom she can be properly paired.
The Outside, though, holds secrets the government struggles to keep, and what Emily discovers on her quest for a mate will change her life forever.
VampBard's Take: I must say, this was a quaint little sci-fi story! The complexity of the many layers of the plot – starting with the settings – brought a sense of camaraderie to Emily. I really, really liked her. I want to SEE her have a HEA. There were aspects of the story that were uncomfortable for me, and that's OK. I do want to read more, and I hope that someday I find out that Emily and Paul had a HEA, and Sara grew up to find a Prince of her own.
4 stars: Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Escort to Insanity, J.A. Belfield
Summary: From a charity auction, to a stroll in the park, to the craziest night of her life. Nicole Harrington can’t help but wonder how a simple event went so drastically wrong.
Of course, the male escort she booked is wholly to blame. Not only charming but shrewdly intelligent, Benjamin Gold drags Nicole into a platoon of unimaginable problems—ones from which she’ll have to find the courage just to survive.
VampBard's Take: Cute little beginnings of a PNR. I was pretty drawn-in by this title, as well. I particularly enjoyed the British language conventions. Things like that hook me on a story. If you like shifter stories, this is a great read. I think I may have also found a new author to read, as I liked Belfield's style. The heroine, Nicole, a.k.a. Cole, seems like a no-nonsense, not-to-be-bossed-around-by-a-dude type. I like strong heroines; she ended up saving the day, too! Benjamin, our hero, is hot, sexy, and has an awesome little secret! Rawr!
4.5 stars: Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Overall Thoughts: Make Believe is a stellar anthology of short stories, touching the sci-fi, paranormal, and fantasy genres.
I enjoyed the red cape through each story, the common thread interweaving all the shorts.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
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Author Interview: Terri Rochenski
Today we have author Terri Rochenski here on the blog. Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.
Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her two young daughters allow. When not playing with toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.
Terri is here today talking with us about Sacrificial Oath, part of the Make Believe Anthology, one of two titles she’s had published in the last quarter of 2012. Please help Vampbard welcome Terri toThat’s What I’m Talking About.
Vampbard: Sacrificial Oath is merely a way to whet the readers' appetite for the world of Vecina, right? We'll see more of Alsuela and Pedre **pleasesayyes**?
Terri: I’m sorry to say that Sacrificial Oath was finished when I hit the ‘send’ button for submission. I didn’t even think about expanding / adding to Alesuela’s story. But now that you mention it …
Share how Alesuela finally finds true love? How her father almost loses the throne to a neighboring country? Perhaps the Goddess should call them both back to Craesor Mountain. Hmmmmm.
Thanks a lot. Like I don’t have enough on my plate. Hehe.
Vampbard: Um. This could have been a castle in the MUD we played eons ago... and I sense at least one epic quest!
So. I'm a voracious reader. Obviously. :-) While being an author is time-consuming, do you feel the need to feed your reader?
Terri: I LOVE to read – fantasy, romance, YA—just about any (fiction) genre as long as the story & writing is good, transporting me to another time & place.
I started out a fan of Laura Ingles Wilder and Chronicles of Narnia. I went through a major fantasy phase, then romance, then I picked one or the other depending on the mood. My newest is YA, but I wouldn’t consider myself a HUGE fan. I get tired of the whole high school bs I was happy to leave behind & the ‘love’ the characters feel they’ll perish without.
Vampbard: How has writing affected your reading?
Terri: Writing and honing my craft has made a huge impact on how I read. It’s hard to turn off my inner editor and just read for enjoyment. Hey … grammatical errors happen, but if a story is poorly written I’ll put it down before finishing the first chapter. That’s not always fair, but let’s be honest. If a story doesn’t draw the reader in & make us HAVE to finish, it hasn’t done its job.
Vampbard: How did you connect with J. Taylor Publishing, and J.A. Belfield to make 'Make Believe' a reality?
Terri: I met JAB over at Scribophile, a critique site she used to be involved in. We were in a private circle together, and I don’t remember who, but someone there posted a link to the announcement that J. Taylor Publishing released an antho call based on a picture prompt. I saw the pic, fell in love, and just had to write something for it—without even knowing that JAB was the headliner. Needless to say, when I found out I was THRILLED because I adore her writing.
Vampbard: Any significant WIP or expected publications?
Terri: I’m excited to announce that I signed a 2-book contract with J. Taylor Publishing in mid-December for my fantasy Pool of Souls series.
On December 4, 2012, I had another short story released in a Christmas anthology, Christmas Magic. You can find the blurb on Goodreads HERE.
Other than that, I just finished up a short historical romance that I’ll be submitting before the end of the year to another publisher. Then it’s time to finish up book #2 of Pool of Souls.
Vampbard: One whimsical question: If my life were a movie/song lyric/TV show (pick one), it would be _____________ because ...
Terri: Wow that’s a tough question!!! Hmmm
Is there any show about a stay-at-home mom who doesn’t have enough hours in the day, but at the same time wishes bed time happened sooner rather than later? Or perhaps a song about living in a construction zone with 2 little kids & 2 cats?
Vampbard: Hrm. I'm not sure about that show...but I'll bet you could get in on the ground-floor, writing the pilot!
Terri, thanks so much for stopping by, and congratulations on your contract! May the publishing gods smile upon you in your current and new endeavors!
You can find Terri Rochenski on line at
For more about Terri’s latest release, Sacrificial Oath, come back later today for Vampbard’s review of the Make Believe Anthology.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Review: The Cat's Meow by Stacey Kennedy
The Cat’s Meow
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Release Date: Dec. 13, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Witch’s Brew Series Book 1
ISBN: #978-1622668571
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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A good witch always has a kick-ass back-up plan.
Libby is an Enchantress—a witch gifted by the Goddess to conjure spells. When a magical presence is detected around a recent string of feline slayings, Libby takes the case to uncover the reasons behind the odd deaths. Much to her displeasure, the coven also sends a sexy warlock, Kale, to assist her.
While having the muscle around proves to be useful, fighting the attraction between them is worse than a hex, especially considering Kale is keeping secrets. But soon, Libby has bigger problems than the elusive warlock when her spells turn up clues that point to something far more sinister than slaughtered cats.
Now Libby has landed herself in the midst of an uprising. She trusts no one and isn’t safe—not from the warlocks stirring up trouble. Not from the worrisome rebellion she can’t escape. And certainly not from Kale, who is weaving a very dangerous spell over her heart.
What B is talking about:
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Libby Jenkins has never been one to play nice with others, the leaders of her coven and warlocks, in particular, frequently being the subjects of her ire. So, when an unknown warlock shows up at the scene she’s currently investigating, unannounced and trying to take control, Libby braces herself for a fight. But, when a war far bigger than any she could have ever anticipated lands on her doorstep, Libby must learn to adapt if she wants to survive.
Though she is the most accomplished Enchantress in Charleston, Libby has never realized just how capable she is of doing even more with her gifts until now. In the face of a brewing rebellion against the witches’ ruling body, the Alchemy, Libby is both tested and entrusted with tremendous power, and the survival of the world as she knows it is dependent on what she chooses to do with it. It’s an enormous responsibility for a young witch with an aversion to authority, a characteristic that, naturally, makes her perfect for the job.
Libby is referred to as a “smart-ass,” as well, launching quips and barbs at her target, which is most often the warlock, Kale, without any observable hesitation or forethought. It’s a trait that’s entertaining most of the time, and very likely all that keeps Libby from going insane while she is dragged along by Kale on their mutual quest, whatever that may be. Although his silence is later attributed to an oath he’s made to the Alchemy, Kale is clearly testing Libby, and he makes her scratch and fight so hard for every tiny piece of information that her fury towards him is quite understandable.
On the romantic front, Libby and Kale are a good pairing, even though the strain his secrecy places on their potential relationship goes too far on occasion. While all of the mysteries surrounding their purpose are eventually explained, the frequency of his evasions sometimes disrupts the otherwise enjoyable building of tension between the two characters. Aside from that distraction, the desire they share is palpable, alternating between defensive snarkiness, affectionate concern, and pure, sexual heat.
As the first book in a new series, The Cat’s Meow is a fine beginning and Ms. Kennedy has created a good foundation for the books to follow. There were a few instances where phrasing distanced me from the action of the story, but overall, the dialog remained witty and the pacing kept me guessing. Libby is a headstrong, capable heroine, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she’ll do as she accepts her destiny and faces the battles still to come.
B’s Rating:
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Review: By Private Invitation by Stephanie Julian
By Private Invitation
Author: Stephanie Julian
Release Date: Dec. 31, 2012
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Salon Games #1
ISBN: #978-0425262870
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Antiques dealer Annabelle Elder’s life is nowhere near as passionate as the erotic art she collects. A cheating ex-boyfriend and her business have seen to that. So when she attends a New Year’s Eve party at Haven Hotel, she sees a chance to blow off some steam. But she never expected to meet anyone like Jared—or to experience such passion in his arms…
Handsome, rich, and charming as hell, Jared Golden brought his Midas touch to Haven Hotel—and created an anything-goes pleasure palace on one floor to cater to his special friends and their very special desires. After falling in lust with Annabelle at first sight, seducing her was easier than he expected. What he didn’t expect was to be seduced in turn…
But unrestrained passion in the bedroom is not the only spark between Annabelle and Jared. Their mutual attraction is confounded by their separate pasts. Caught in an ever-growing web of painful secrets and sensual fantasy, will they be able to face the truth about themselves and trust in true love?
What I’m talking about:
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I have been a big fan of Stephanie Julian’s paranormal stories for several years, so I was excited to have the opportunity to review her latest release, By Private Invitation. Starting this book I had no idea what it was about, but knowing Ms. Julian, it would be sexy!
The first chapter not only sets the stage for the reader, but it grabs ahold and doesn’t let the reader go. Right up front, we learn that our hero, Jared, is a pleasure seeker and part owner of a hedonistic pleasure hotel. He clearly enjoys sexual exploits outside of the norm. He has a private room known as the Salon, where friends can experience their inner most sexual fantasies, by invitation only. In addition, we learn that his family has been "cursed in love" when a ring and pin were stolen. And... hmmmm... Is that the missing pin that our heroine Annabelle is wearing?! Annabelle is ready for a night of pleasure after having a lousy year in the romance department.
There is just something special about By Private Invitation that captured my imagination and warmed my heart. The book is first and foremost a delightful romance. It’s a refreshing change to enjoy an erotic contemporary romance where the main characters are generally both mentally and emotionally healthy! Both Jared and Annabelle have a robust sexual appetite and make no excuses for wanting a “no strings attached” relationship. However, once they spend time with each other, they realize that there is more between them than just hot sex (and *fans self* it is HOT!)
Although they come from different backgrounds, Annabelle and Jared have much in common. I love that Jared wanted Annabelle to talk about her work and art just as much as he wanted her sexually. As the couple get to know one another, we learn that Annabelle has a pretty big secret... and I admit it took me by surprise! However, all of the clues were there, and I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t piece it together before the reveal. All I can say is that I was so wrapped up in what was happening between Jared and Annabelle, I just didn’t see anything else. The reveal happens fairly early on, and the twist adds an additional layer of complexity to an already interesting tale. The balance of Annabelle’s perceived need to keep her secret and her desire to be accepted by Jared creates tension between the two that was realistic and didn't come across contrived. I enjoyed watching them help each other grow--they made the other a better, more complete individual.
Despite the fact that Annabelle’s secret plays a fairly significant roll in the story, much of the interactions between the different characters is fairly open and honest. Once of my favorite scenes is a frank discussion between Jared and his parents. In addition, both main characters are sincere with themselves as they evaluate their own feelings and the situation.
I don’t have really anything negative to say about By Private Invitation. However, I felt that the continual self-introspection grew to be tiresome near the end of the book -- both characters were constantly reminding themselves it's only for sex, etc. In addition, although the sex was off the charts hot, other than a fairly vanilla ménage and voyeurism, it wasn't overly kinky or naughty. And my only real criticism is that after the nth time, it started to feel a little repetitive, but not in a way that turns the reader off.
In the end, I was totally choked up during the climatic scene between Jared and Annabelle. The display of raw emotion was touching and just plain awesome. Overall, By Private Invitation is a hot, sensual story, full of great heart and a pleasure to read. I cannot wait to read the next book!
My Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
and has also earned the title of one of...
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Review: Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep
Crimson Frost
Author: Jennifer Estep
Release Date: Dec. 24, 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Mythos Academy #4
ISBN: #978-0758281463
Genre: Young Adult (urban fantasy)
Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes—the most hideous face I’d ever seen. No matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw him everywhere I went. It was Loki—the evil god that I’d helped set free against my will.
I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming.
I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself…
What G & U are talking about:
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Crimson Frost is the fourth release in the Mythos Academy series. Gwen is finally at the center of attention, but for all the wrong reasons. Gikany and Una recommend reading this series from the beginning as many references are made in this novel to previous events. Plus, this is a very well written series, and you should just start from the beginning.
We begin right where Dark Frost ended, with Logan and Gwen on their first date at the coffee shop. However, it is rudely interrupted when the Protectorate, the police of their society, arrive to take Gwen into custody for several charges. The most notable of these charges is the willful release of Loki from his prison. In Crimson Frost, we follow the trial of Gwen as she tries to clear her name and find out the Reapers’ plan for strengthening Loki.
Although the shocking arrival of the Protectorate is completely out of the blue, Crimson Frost starts a little slowly. This is partly because the charges against Gwen seem so ridiculous, but also because you don’t out who is responsible for these charges until you are almost halfway through the story. Despite these issues, it is still a fast and gripping read. Gikany and Una nearly inhaled it. The camaraderie between Gwen and her friends continues to provide Gwen with the steadfast foundation she needs. We enjoyed their interactions and especially the infiltration of Gwen's grandmother into their world.
Crimson Frost is a nail biting and suspenseful fourth edition on the Mythos Academy series. The mythology is fresh, the character engaging and the plot twists and turns nicely. All of this with Ms. Estep's enchanting writing style makes it a very enjoyable read overall. We eagerly look forward to the next novel, Midnight Frost, due out August 2013.
Their Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Review: Blood of Dawn by Tami Dane
Blood of Dawn
Author: Tami Dane
Release Date: Dec. 4, 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Sloan Skye #3
ISBN: #978-0758267115
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Being a skeptic is somehow making Sloan Skye one of the best profilers in the FBI's new Paranormal Behavioural Analysis Unit. True, her so-called love life isn't any less tangled, but she's beginning to believe she's found a place where her uber-geek smarts and her more out-there methods fit perfectly. Unfortunately, all the incredible things she's seen can't prepare Sloan for the ultimate horror show ...returning to her old high school. Someone - or some thing - is draining blood out of local teenage girls while they sleep. And the only way Sloan can solve the case is to push past her training and surrender to powers beyond her formidable logic to root out one very elusive killer...
What G & U are talking about:
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Blood of Dawn is the third book in the Sloan Skye series. Gikany started from the beginning of the series while Una jumped in on Blood of Dawn. Considering the references to previous events in the preceding novels, and that all three novels take place with in a three week period, we strongly recommend that you start the Sloan Skye series from the beginning.
Blood of Dawn is a quick read. Gikany and Una both unsuccessfully tried to slow down the pace of our reading so we would be better able to retain the story and its nuances for our review. We found it impossible to do so due to the nature of the writing. The novel flows very well, and it is easy to get completely caught up in both the FBI investigation and Sloan’s personal life.
Sloan is working as a summer intern for the FBI in their new Paranormal Behavioral Analysis Unit, and the Sloan Skye series chronicles her professional and personal development as she learns more about the unseen world. For an extremely intelligent woman, she is easily blindsided by interpersonal interactions. However it is these interactions that humanize Sloan. The witty banter and remarks that are littered through the novel help to lighten what is a fairly dark career path. To be a profiler seems to be a hard emotional road to traverse.
Although the overall plot and identity of the culprit was fairly easy to surmise, Blood of Dawn was still an enjoyable read. Considering the resolution of the case and how Sloan was left, Gikany and Una would like to read about Sloan's next case.
Their Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Before and After… A Year’s Journey by Una
Since I was a kid, I thought I was fat. It wasn’t until sixth grade that I realized or accepted that I was chunky. I was not an inactive kid, mind you, I took horseback riding lessons, I danced – ballet, tap, character, etc. However, when puberty hit, I got curves… generous ones, even with all the activities I was in. It would be a long time before I would learn that I wasn’t fat, at least not then.
As I entered into high school, I stopped dancing and horseback riding and threw myself into sports. I played volleyball, soccer and swimming. Most of my girlfriends did not play sports and were, for the most part, twigs. They all wore single digit sizes in clothes. I did not. I was the double digit girl. Much to my chagrin, my best friend played three sports and was a single digit size. I figured, I was going to be “thick” and that was just the way I was. I was not meant to be thin or skinny. I was meant to be average… curvy, athletic. As with most kids graduating high school, I went on to college. Exercised less, did not really know to alter eating habits (since I wasn’t as active), although I ate fairly healthy. My parents raised me well. I had three meals a day – all food groups were correctly represented and consumed. I love to cook so it was easy to watch what I ate.
Fast forward to a few years ago – my hubby and I decided to try for kids. I was a little heavy, but not far off from what I thought was my “normal”. Being curvy, I accepted I wore women’s sizes, double digit because that is just what I am. I figured I should get in a better shape if I was to get pregnant. Well, got pregnant faster than I expected. I don’t know if this is common, but I thought…I won’t have to gain much weight…I could just try to maintain and end up losing weight while I was pregnant. Ha! That was just me being completely unrealistic. I gained…I gained more than I wanted, about what average pregnancy gain is, but it put me at 250 pounds. Mind you, I am five-foot-three-inches tall.
Then, my life had some trials. My son was born early and I was released from the hospital the day of my great-aunt’s funeral. Two months later, I lost my gramma – my father’s mother. As some of you faithful blog followers may know, my mom’s cancer returned with a vengeance during this year. The next year, my son turned one, my step-grandfather died, my mother died, my husband’s aunt died, my last surviving grandparent: my Barbar died. Suffice to say, I started to lose the weight at the beginning of the year and then gained it all back. By the time I surfaced from my comfort eating, I was back at 250 pounds only this time I wouldn’t be gaining a child from that weight. 
The “before” picture you see…that is me from July 2011. Seeing that picture, having no energy to play with my two-and-a-half year old son, I was done, seriously done with being big. But I was so far gone, I couldn’t do the exercise routine I was used to…I was too heavy. My blood pressure was a mess, I was having dizzy spells, couldn’t sleep, I was snoring. I was done feeling ugly, being depressed, and I was done not being the mother to my son, that my mother was to me. I went to my doctor and told her, I was done. That I didn’t want pills to get skinny or surgery or anything like that; what I wanted was to learn how be healthy. Something that would help me lose the weight safely but at the same time, teach me to live healthy. Like I said, I ate pretty healthily; I knew I needed to exercise, but what is the right balance. Plus – was I really eating healthy?
My doctor prescribed a program and it was the blessing I needed. It is a medically supervised weight loss program – a balance of diet and exercise and my insurance covered it. They call it lifestyle modification – I would learn to live a healthy life with a proper diet for my body and exercise. I started the program October 2011. A year later, I have lost 92 pounds. I am almost to my goal weight of 150 pounds. I am not wearing women’s sizes. I am not in double digits. I run or swim five days a week and do weight training and other exercises. I get 30 minutes minimum exercise a day. I eat almost all the same foods I did before – but at much better portion sizes. I have two snacks and three meals a day. They say, “Never say Never”. “They” are right. I never thought I would wear a medium. I NEVER thought I would be a runner (even though I played soccer in high school…I hated running). I never thought I would be “skinny” and still have curves. Yet, here I am…
Through this program, I learned that my body “type” if you will, puts on bulk muscle, if I am not careful. I’m not a lean muscle person, or at least growing up, I did not muscle up that way. I was really strong. I’m not as strong as I was… but I’m working on being strong enough. I’m toning up. I know what balance of foods in my diet to eat to avoid the bulking up and keep my muscle leaner. I do not feel as if I have sacrificed my love of food. I feel like I found a happier and healthier me…who was inside me waiting to be found. I found my balance and through this discovery – I have found other areas in my life that needed work. I had truly fallen down the rabbit hole of depression – much in my life had gone awry. Now…things are different…better.
I now play with my son until HE is tired. We go on adventures in the mountains and around the neighborhood to get “exercise”. He knows that just as much as our bodies need fuel, we need to be active. I am as active with him as my mother was with me, if not more. My mother along with other women in my family struggled with their weight. I know my mother is beyond proud of me.
It is astonishing to me to see the transformation. I have put together a little picture timeline to show my journey. I hope in baring this to you all that it gives you the courage and determination to make a change to that one thing in your life that you feel you cannot. We are amazing creatures and we can do amazing things when we believe in ourselves. It is amazing what we can accomplish when we have the courage to take that first step. I would not be here without the overwhelming support of my family, my friends and especially my GG’s. Love you guys!
Happy New Year to all of you! And remember... a lot can be accomplished in just one year!
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