Book Review: Key of Kilenya

Key of Kilenya by Andrea Pearson

Book Review by DeDe Smith

eBook Purchase on Smashwords
Please visit the author's website

When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark down a path from our world into another, his life is forever changed. He has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon—evil, immortal beings who are jealous of powers he doesn’t know he possesses—powers they desire to control.

The inhabitants of the new world desperately need Jacob's help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkon and is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, his life will be at risk. But if he chooses not to help them, both our world and theirs will be in danger. The Lorkon will stop at nothing to unleash the power of the key—and Jacob's special abilities.


First of all I just have to point out that this ebook is FREE right now from Smashwords. You can download it for all types of eReaders - so go get it now! You won't regret it.

This was written as a Young Adult Fantasy novel, but here I am a 32-year-old mom/wife and I enjoyed it immensely, so I think there's something in it for everyone. My kiddos are just a bit young for this one - but I can't wait to read it to them when they are a little older.

The book starts out fast and keeps you going right up to the end. This is not a slow-mover. It puts you right in the action quickly and keeps you there. There is lots of danger and adventure and wonderful characters. I love the descriptions and the world that Andrea has created. It feels very fresh and it is exciting to have a new world to delve into. I enjoyed the kind of 2 sides to the story - as you read journal entries at the beginning of each chapter that hint at things that are revealed as you go along. It was a very fun way to interweave all the backstory! It's left open to what I think will be a few sequels and I am excited to see where it will take me! Just a very fun, creative, exciting adventure!


Disclosure: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher for review, but this did not influence my opinion.

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High/Low: October 28, 2011 + Freebie

My LOW this Week is that I'm just feeling a little blah. You know that feeling right? Just kind of burned out with everything.

My HIGH for this Week is that its Friday. That is all. Yep, nothing too thrilling this week.



I have a freebie for you today - a stacked paper that coordinates with my GOOGLEY EYEZ. The Freebie was created by my TearZ Crew Member, GreenfieldOriginal. Make sure you let her know how much you enjoy it by commenting!


Have a great weekend!



DOWNLOAD LINK

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Recipe Thursday - Lasagna Roll-ups

Each Thursday, I am going to be sharing a recipe with you! I will pick a recipe from my collection and I will be sharing where I got the recipe and everything. But I am going to include my own photo of the finished food, the original recipe, and try and share the things I changed when I made it!

I would love your help too! If you have a great recipe, especially week-night dinner recipes (but I would love all kinds of recipes) - please share it with me, by emailing me at dedesmith32@gmail.com. I will try it out and feature it on my blog! If you have cooking tips or anything else in regards to cooking and food - please email me!


This week's Recipe:
This is a great way to make Lasagna in a lot less amount of time! I unfortunately didn't realize that I only had the no-boil noodles and so I couldn't make it work for roll-ups so I used the recipe and just layered the noodles. So you can do it either way!
Lasagna Roll-ups
by DeDe Smith


12 lasagna noodles
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 egg
parsley
2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
8 oz Italian sausage
1 jar marinara sauce, divided
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain noodles and rinse with cold water.

Mix ricotta, egg, parsley, and 1 cup mozzarella in a bowl; set aside.

Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain fat.

Spread 1/2 cup sauce in a 9x13 baking dish. Spread 3 tbsp ricotta mixture on each noodle; top with some sausage. Roll up each noodle. Arrange seam sides down in baking dish.

Top roll-ups with remaining sauce and mozzarella. Bake, loosely covered for 15 minutes. Remove cover and bake 10 minutes longer or until bubbly.

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Wednesday Sayings - 10/26/11

Each Wednesday, I am going to be sharing a quote/saying with you!
I am a collector of quotes/sayings/scrapbook titles, etc. and I love to hear new ones! So, each week, I will share a quote/saying with you that I hope will inspire you and make your day a little better! If you have any great quotes/sayings - feel free to send them in to me at dedesmith32@gmail.com - I would love to use them!


This week's quote:

When life gets to be more than you can stand....KNEEL.
- Author Unknown

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October Speed Crop - CANCELED

Hey everyone - due to the flu hitting my family and other responsibilities, I'm going to have to cancel this month's speed crop. It was going to be on Wednesday. Everyone have a good little break and then I'll see you back on the 2nd Wednesday of November!

Thanks!

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Family History TuesdayZ | Fall Food

Here is this week's journal prompt :

Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.

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New Release Monday/Creative Inspiration + Show-OffZ Challenge | Halloween ExtraZ

I am so excited to release some new HALLOWEEN EXTRAS, along with releasing my past Halloween kits to all my stores!
I created some new Clusterz, Stackz, & Scatterz and some new QuickpageZ that are perfect for all of your Halloween Memories!

And of course they coordinate with my past Halloween kits!I'm excited to add all my old Halloween products to all my stores, so make sure you check them out below and see if you have them! They will now be available in all my stores!
There are just a couple of exceptions: Not So Scary - it is only available on my blog. The BOO Word Album is not available at iScrapbook or MyMemories

So look below for all the previews to my Halloween collection and go check out all the products in my stores here:

My Blog - Halloween Collection, Boo-Bear TearZ, Googley EyeZ, MonsterZ, Not So Scary

iScrapbook
MyMemories

Also don't miss the wonderful Halloween kit that I did with my Sister-by-Heart, Georgia - EERIE-SISTABLE!

by Dannethia

by GreenfieldOriginal

by Janeal

by Kay

Here's how it works:

Each Monday with the New Releases, I will be posting a Show-OffZ Challenge. You will have until Friday to do the challenge and if you get your layout sent in, you will receive either a coupon to my store or a specific product (each posting will tell you what you are getting)! I will share all the Show-OffZ of the Week on Saturdays!


THIS WEEK'S SHOW-OFFZ CHALLENGE:
I want you to scrap a layout about your best costume ever! You must use MY PRODUCTS ONLY to create your layout! (You can use ANY product by me!)


Email me (dedesmith32@gmail.com) a copy of your 600x600, 72dpi Layout by 10pm EST on Friday, October 28th and your layout will be shared on October 29th on my blog (it could be later depending on my time)! Please include the name that you want listed with your layout.

This week (if you participate), you will receive the GOOGLEY EYEZ: ALPHA!

Thanks and I hope you will join in the challenge and come back every other Monday for new releases and a new challenge!

Join me on Mondays for my new releases! Also on New Release Mondays I will be posting a Show-OffZ Call for your layouts - so please don't miss that at the bottom of this posting!

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High/Low: October 21, 2011 + Freebie

My LOW this Week is that I have a mouth sore on the roof of my mouth and it is KILLING me. Seriously, haven't slept the last couple of nights because it hurts so much. Apparently I have a really low pain tolerance. Hopefully it will go away soon.

My HIGH for this Week is - well, actually I have 2 of them. First, I got to go and watch my nephew Colby win @ State Cross Country. It was awesome! I still can't believe he is almost 17. I think he will always be a little boy to me. I'm proud of the man he is becoming though. It was good to visit with my sister and her family.

My other high is that I got to go spend a few hours with my friend, Brianne. She lives in Massachusetts, so I don't get to see her often, but I love it when she comes out here to visit her parents and I can see her too.



I have a freebie for you today - a quickpage that coordinates with my GOOGLEY EYEZ. The Freebie was created by my TearZ Crew Member, GreenfieldOriginal. Make sure you let her know how much you enjoy it by commenting!


Have a great weekend!



DOWNLOAD LINK

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Recipe Thursday - Chicken Cordon Bleu

Each Thursday, I am going to be sharing a recipe with you!
I will pick a recipe from my collection and I will be sharing where I got the recipe and everything. But I am going to include my own photo of the finished food, the original recipe, and try and share the things I changed when I made it!

I would love your help too! If you have a great recipe, especially week-night dinner recipes (but I would love all kinds of recipes) - please share it with me, by emailing me at dedesmith32@gmail.com. I will try it out and feature it on my blog! If you have cooking tips or anything else in regards to cooking and food - please email me!


This week's Recipe:
Is there anything more yummy than chicken, ham and cheese? Serve this up with some rice pilaf and its the perfect homecooked meal!


Chicken Cordon Bleu
by DeDe Smith

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt & pepper
ham, thin slices
swiss cheese
3 tbsp butter
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pound chicken between heavy duty plastic wrap to 1/4 inch thickness with a meat mallet.

Sprinkle both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Place ham slices on each chicken piece, add swiss cheese and roll up. Tuck in sides and secure with toothpicks.

Melt butter in a baking dish in the oven. Dip chicken rolls in butter and roll in bread crumbs to coat.

Arrange chicken in baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes-1 hour until chicken is cooked through.

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Wednesday Sayings - 10/19/11

Each Wednesday, I am going to be sharing a quote/saying with you!
I am a collector of quotes/sayings/scrapbook titles, etc. and I love to hear new ones! So, each week, I will share a quote/saying with you that I hope will inspire you and make your day a little better! If you have any great quotes/sayings - feel free to send them in to me at dedesmith32@gmail.com - I would love to use them!


This week's quote:

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.
- From a headstone in Ireland

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Family History TuesdayZ | Typical Day

Here is this week's journal prompt :

Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.

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New Release Monday + Show-OffZ Challenge 10/17/11

Join me on Mondays for my new releases! Also on New Release Mondays I will be posting a Show-OffZ Call for your layouts - so please don't miss that at the bottom of this posting!


I am happy to release DAWN OF HOPEZ!
I created this kit for my Book ScrapZ Club. This month we read "A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard. A tragic story and yet Jaycee leaves you with such a feeling of inspiration and hope for life. This kit is great for all of life's experiences! I hope you enjoy it!


So look below for all the previews to this collection and go check out all the products in my stores here:

My Blog
3Scrapateers
Digitals
iScrapbook - Should be available soon!
MyMemories - I have submitted these products, along with a great template that are compatible with the MyMemories Software. Hopefully they will be available soon!
ScrapDelicious
ScrapWow














Here's how it works:

Each Monday with the New Releases, I will be posting a Show-OffZ Challenge. You will have until Friday to do the challenge and if you get your layout sent in, you will receive either a coupon to my store or a specific product (each posting will tell you what you are getting)! I will share all the Show-OffZ of the Week on Saturdays!


THIS WEEK'S SHOW-OFFZ CHALLENGE:
I want you to scrap about a special HAPPY MOMENT in your life! You must use MY PRODUCTS ONLY to create your layout! (You can use ANY product by me!)


Email me (dedesmith32@gmail.com) a copy of your 600x600, 72dpi Layout by 10pm EST on Friday, October 21st and your layout will be shared on October 22nd on my blog (it could be later depending on my time)! Please include the name that you want listed with your layout.


This week (if you participate), you will receive the Dawn of HopeZ: Alpha!



Thanks and I hope you will join in the challenge and come back every other Monday for new releases and a new challenge!

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Life 2011: Week 42

Monday, October 10, 2011


We got to go to Hee Haw Farms with Beth's Girl Scout Troop today. The kids played on the slides and fun swings. They got to see some farm animals and go on a little animal ride. Then they got to go on 2 hay rides. One was a trick or treat ride and they got to see Spiderman, Tigger, Pooh, Darth Vader, and some other characters who gave them candy. Then the 2nd ride was to the pumpkin patch, where the kids picked out some great pumpkins to take home. It was fun to be with the kids!


Tuesday, October 11, 2011


We finally got JJ's haircut today - he has really needed it for awhile.



Wednesday, October 12, 2011


We have really gone on a lot of outings lately and the kids have really had fun. Today we went with JJ's scout troop to the Fire Station. The firefighters had all kinds of demonstrations and fun for the kids. Smokey the Bear turned up too! We even got to see the Fire Fighters put out a real big fire (all controlled of course) - it was great. I ran into my cousin Jenny and her kids and it was fun to visit with her for a few moments.


Thursday, October 13, 2011


JJ wanted to be Agent P (His very favorite character right now) from Phineas and Ferb for Halloween this year. When I looked around, I didn't find much in costumes to purchase for this, so we decided to make our own. I couldn't find the exact color of sweats/hooded sweatshrits, so we went with a Dark Green. I found a great hat for him and a foam beak. But I knew that I would actually have to make the tail. I don't sew and I didn't even own a sewing machine. So I looked around and found a good deal on a Sew Mini Machine and purchased it and then I took some felt and sewed it together for his Platypus tail. It's definitely not perfect, but I was kind of excited that I actually sewed something! And JJ loved it. He makes a cute Agent P!


Friday, October 14, 2011


There's nothing better than snuggling down and reading books in bed. I still love seeing Beth enjoying reading so much!


Saturday, October 15, 2011


We had our annual Family Photo Shoot today and I was so excited to have Maria do our pictures. We went to a great location - the Provo Orchard/Castle on the Utah State Hospital grounds. We arrived a bit early - since I'm a little OCD about times - and it was so fun to see all the deer hanging around the orchard. I can't wait to see how our pictures turned out! Joey got to go see the Courageous movie with a friend. I can tell that it really had a huge impact on him and I'm glad he got to go. He's been having such a hard time lately with some computer problems, gout, and work issues. I'm a bit worried about him and I hope things turn around for him.


Sunday, October 16, 2011


My brother went to Orderville this weekend and so he stopped on his way back to Logan and brought me more meat! We were running way low, so it was awesome to have him bring us more. Thank goodness for my parents and their willingness to provide this for us. I love the way its prepared by Ray's family and its just a blessing!


And here is my weekly layout:

Coming Soon!

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