Saturday, December 31, 2011

Snippets From The Trenches

Snippets From The Trenches by Freda Wagman

About The Book:
The really extraordinary thing about this book is that it tells the story of how one mother embarked on her feverish course of involvement in the AIDS community, in large part to help herself come to terms with the possibility of her son's death. But all that work really doesn't prepare her. She becomes incredibly intimate with a series of strangers, yet she and her son have more and more trouble talking about HIS illness, which is the reason she is doing all this in the first place. She becomes indispensable at the bedsides of countless other people, but when Gary is dying, she still feels helpless, disconnected and as if she'd never set foot in an AIDS hospital room. What is moving about this book is the fact that all this preparation doesn't prepare, because NOTHING can prepare her." Susan Choi, Pulitzer Prize finalist, American Woman

My Thoughts:
This book will run through all the emotions. You will laugh, you will cry, you will get angry, you will find hope. You will find this one lady quite incredible. An incredible mother, and an incredible activist. I also learned some things in this book that I was not aware of (I was very young during the epidemic in the 80's). This book is not a book about homosexuals. This book is about a disease that effects many people from all walks of life. This book is about a mother and her son.

About The Author:
Born in Toledo, Ohio, the author, the eighth of nine children, moved to Detroit with her family at the age of three, and then, at 17, she moved alone to Houston, Texas. Her career as secretary to the Chairman of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Houston, three years as a legal secretary, and many more years as Vice President of Administration for a store planning firm, gave her many opportunities to hone her writing skills. Other than a few award winning works of poetry as a child, her book, Snippets from the Trenches, a mother's AIDS memoir, is her only published work, for which she was awarded a silver medallion by ForeWord Magazine at Book of the Year Expo in Los Angeles, in May 2008. To learn more please visit the website.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Stay At Home Mom

Stay At Home Mom by Ali Bierman

About The Book:
The decision to be a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) must not be taken lightly. It is the toughest job in the world and runs 24/7/365. This book is my story of adventure, exhaustion, creativity, demands and love. Any woman contemplating becoming a SAHM will get a look at what she is getting into by reading this personal account.

My Thoughts:
This is a great little book. It is a great account of what really happens when staying at home. You will laugh out loud of some of the stories, because you have been there too, and you will get new ideas and inspiration. A great book!

You can buy this book at Stay At Home Mom on Amazon.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Friday, December 30, 2011

A Year With Jesus

A Year With Jesus by R.P. Nettelhorst

About The Book:
Too many times the impact and grandness of the actual words Jesus spoke, as recorded in the Bible, are lost in the telling of the story. In A Year with Jesus, the primary focus is to allow the scriptures that contain Jesus' dialogue to uniquely speak to the reader. The author follows each reading with insights and applications to help explain the context and nuances of the text. The unique titling of each meditation and the nontraditional themes and organization help bring Jesus to our daily lives. Topics include: *Love and Hate *Truths and Lies *Arrogance and Humility *Friends and Enemies *Belief and Disbelief *Patience and Impatience *Deserved and Undeserved *Good and Evil *Fidelity and Treachery *Life and Death

My Thoughts:
This is a lovely daily devotional book. As I have said before, since Mason's passing, I have been more and more interested in the Bible, and Jesus, and understanding things. And this book is a big help. It puts things in layman's terms so it is better to grasp the lessons and the words. I really am enjoying this book!

About The Author:
R.P. Nettlehorst is a writer of biblically and theologically related works, among other things. He does a weekly newspaper column for a small Northern California newspaper called The Ridge Rider News. He gets to write about anything he likes, as long as he keeps it to 800 words. He was a volunteer with the X-Prize Foundation at the winning launches of SpaceShipOne. He's the founder and Academic Vice President of Quartz Hill School of Theology where he also serves as Professor of Bible and Biblical Languages. While an undergraduate, he spent two summers working on a kibbutz in Israel. He went on to complete his graduate work at UCLA in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, majoring in Semitic languages. Before founding Quartz Hill School of Theology, he taught at Christian Heritage College and Los Angeles Baptist College (now the Master's College). He is married, with three daughters. A cat and a dog also live with them in their house in southern California.

Buy this book at A Year With Jesus on Amazon.

I recieved a complimentary review copy of this book from Booksneeze. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Green Stone Healing Series *Giveaway*

The Vision Book One by C.L. Talmadge

About The Book:
On occasion, fiction emerges that can transform the way we think about ourselves and our universe. These ground-breaking novels interweave timeless, compelling tales of romantic love, action and adventure, and just a dash of mysticism with an unblinking take on equally enduring issues of race, gender, religion, power, and even reality itself. Such is the Green Stone of Healing epic fantasy series. Set in a mythical island nation called Azgard, this saga chronicles what happens when politics and piety collide. Unlike most works of its genre, this series features four generations of strong female characters. The triumphs and tragedies, hopes and heartbreaks of these fictional women play out on a male-dominated stage, where a theocratic oligarchy bent on total world domination instead serves up its own self-destruction. The series' protagonists own or inherit a mysterious green gem that mends broken bones and broken hearts, shields against missiles, and can render its wearer invisible. All of them try to offer a healing, inclusive alternative to the priests who discriminate against anyone who does not look like or share the religious views of Azgard's ruling elites. Readers who become fond of the characters will be delighted that many of them reincarnate and their stories continue, affirming that not even death can forever divide loved ones - or enemies. Book one: Lieutenant Helen Andros, a military physician, is caught in theocratic machinations that almost cost her life. Illegitimate, presumed orphaned, she learns her father's identity as one of Azgard's powerful Toltec lords and remains a target for the Temple of Kronos.

You can buy this book at The Vision on Amazon.

The Fallout Book Two by C.L. Talmadge

About The Book:
Unaware of her gem's potentials, Lieutenant Helen Andros clashes with her powerful newfound parent, while both of them face growing danger from the state-sanctioned Temple of Kronos. An otherworldly being shows Helen the past-life origins of her anger and fears.

Buy this book at The Fallout on Amazon.

The Scorpions Strike Book Three by C.L. Talmadge

About The Book:
Helen Andros and her newly reconciled father endure proscription and savage punishment by the Temple of Kronos. Helen learns basic energy manipulation from the Mist-Weaver and first uses her green stone for healing. A treacherous ally plots her father's assassination.


My Thoughts On The Series:
I love it. I was hooked from the first paragraph of book one. It took me awhile to read the first three books, not because they were long, but because I read slowly, making sure I did not miss anything, and I wanted to understand the story well. Really great series. I am anxious to read book four!

About The Author:
Author C.L. Talmadge writes political columns under the byline Candace Talmadge for The North Star National. She is also now writing about the link between the paranormal and spirituality for Unexplained-Mysteries.com. While still a teenager, Talmadge met Helen, the first-generation heroine of her speculative fiction, the Green Stone of Healing series. Helen marched into Talmadge's thoughts and daydreams and took over as the most outspoken of the many characters that the future novelist dreamed of bringing to life between the covers. Talmadge's career as a professional writer began in 1976 as associate editor of The Suffolk County News. She has been a fulltime staff writer at or freelanced for numerous media that include Adweek, Business Week, the Dallas Times Herald, Forbes, the International Herald Tribune, The New York Times, and Reuters America. Talmadge also is familiar with the intimate link between spirituality, energy, and healing. In 1999, she published non-fiction about emotional and spiritual healing resolution based on the Sunan method of working in the energy of human consciousness. This book, Hope is in the Garden: Healing Resolution Through Unconditional Love, provides an expanded definition of energy that demonstrates the connection between matter, spirit, heart, and mind. To write her multigenerational novel, Talmadge delved into her own past lives and those of her family, friends, clients, and acquaintances. The fictionalized result is the Green Stone of Healing saga. Talmadge resides in Texas with her partner and editor, Jana L. Simons.

Book Four: Outcast, is also available.

One lucky reader will win an eBook copy of all four book in the series! Here's how:

1. Follow this blog via GFC, the newsletter, or Networked Blogs.
4. Promote this giveaway.

Giveaway ends January 13th. Good luck!

I received complimentary review copies of these book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Nostalgia Electrics Cupcake Kit!

Nostalgia Electrics is the world's leading company blending family fun and home entertaining at an affordable cost. Popcorn makers, cotton candy makers, hot dog makers, ice shavers, margarita blenders, kegerators and more!

We got to test out the Cupcake Party Kit! "The Mini Cupcake Maker Kit from Nostalgia Electrics allows you to cook delicious cupcakes and other pastries at home without even turning on an oven. The kit includes a handy tray for serving and displaying your cupcakes as well as a frosting injector with a variety of tips for decorating. It’s great for snack time, party time or anytime! Delectable desserts and h’ordeuvres are ready in minutes. Features Include: - Makes 7 mini cupcakes at one time - Nonstick coating - Convenient cord storage - Power and preheat indicator lights - 5-7 minutes cooking time - Includes food storage tin, decorating kit and cupcake tray" It was so easy and so much fun doing this with Callan!





Get in on your own fun and visit Nostalgia Electrics! Check out Nostalgia Electrics on Facebook, as well as Nostalgia Electrics on Twitter.

I recieved a product from Nostalgia Products Group in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Many Adventures Of Pengey Penquin *Giveaway*

The Many Adventures Of Pengey Penquin by John Burns

About The Book:
Pengey doesn't have many breaks as a baby; he's orphaned soon after he hatches. Shunned by the other penguins, without food, he has no chance to survive in an Antarctic winter. A fierce storm leaves him stranded on a tiny iceberg, but he stays calm and relies on the lessons his parents taught him. When he's lonely, or hungry, or angry, or just plain stuck, you see, he always, "ponders his options." Pengey is a very smart penguin. Days later, Pengey stumbles upon some humans. He is always inquisitive, polite, and a quick study, but he is near death from starvation when he meets Wendy. Still, he impresses her with his good manners and ability to speak small, but important, human words. His reward is a full tummy, but his friendship is short-lived when Wendy leaves to go back to her home in New York City. She pleads with Pengey to go with her, but he is terrified of the noisy airplane. Feeling abandoned, Pengey vows to find Wendy again, and it is then that he begins a new adventure. One mishap leads Pengey to Brazil and to his happy reunion with her, but the next separates them and lands Pengey in animal jail. When the jailer notices his ability to talk, Pengey looks like money in the bank. The greedy jailer knows many evil-doers who would pay handsomely for a talking penguin. That they would enslave Pengey to the circus or the cloning laboratory is of no matter to him. It's in animal jail that Pengey meets his most trusted allies, Rufus Puffin - quiet, smart with knowledge of the sea, and Lionel Macaw - street-wise, grew up on the lower East-Side. The three unlikely friends must overcome obstacles that test their skills at every turn - not the least of which is how to escape from animal jail. Then, the recaptured Pengey must escape from the Mad Scientist, Circus Master, and Animal Trainer. If Lionel and Rufus can snatch him back from their clutches, the only way out will be through the rainforests of Brazil and Venezuela, with their constant danger of wild animals. Pengey's only option is to learn to fly. Luckily, Lionel is a huge bird, and the tiny penguin finds that he can fly fearlessly on Lionel's back. Clear of one obstacle and then another, the valiant threesome is faced with their greatest challenge, the flight across the mighty Caribbean, which is prone to terrible sea squalls. Pengey and Rufus can easily survive them, but Lionel cannot swim, and the little islands that dot the great water are few and far between. Spurred on by a little luck, Rufus and Lionel's strengths, and Pengey's cheerful, spirited ways - the unlikely friends make the dangerous 5,000-mile journey to New York. There they go their separate ways, for that is the way things are - each rewarded by the friendship they found on their amazing adventure. But in the end, it is Pengey's reunion with the human who saved him from starvation that is a triumph of the spirit, because without Wendy, Pengey would have had no journey at all.

My Thoughts:
The is an enjoyable story and is jam-packed with a lot of culture and life lessons. The most powerful lessons are about friendship and teamwork. The author is an amazing storyteller. Along with the adventures in the book, he has put in lessons about life and about penguins and geography in a way which you don't even notice that you're learning as you read! This book is of course a good book for kids, but anyone, of any age will read it and enjoy it as well.

One lucky winner will receive a copy of this book! Here's how:

1. Follow this blog via GFC, the newsletter, or Networked Blogs.
2. "Like" Pengey on Facebook.
3. Follow Pengey on Twitter.
4. Promote this giveaway.

Giveaway ends January 12th. Good luck!

I recieved a complimentary review copy of this book from PR By The Book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Til’ Text do Us Part: Social Media Introduces the New Revolution of Proposing 2.0

A marriage proposal used to be so simple and intimate - romantic even. You’d come home to candles and roses. Your eyes would meet your special someone taking one knee. You’d glide toward him in a state of surprised bliss, the moment you’ve dreamt of your entire life finally coming true. After many years together, you’d look back on this time and smile. A precious moment shared between just the two of you.

Well, it’s no longer just the two of you. The world has changed and so has proposing. Now, nervous husband-to-be’s are turning to the world of social media to get the job done. You can call it Proposing 2.0.

All-intrusive technology has welcomed itself into every stage of romantic relationships. Virtual dating offers tantalizing emails and IM-ing for hours on end. Twittering and text messaging are sure to be guests at the candlelit dinner table.

Then after some time, your romance is at an all-time high - you feel the that pivotal proposal moment approaching. And there to share in your joy are thousands of online strangers who can’t wait to share their comments of congratulations.

Technology is wonderful, but has it gone too far?

Considering our rich history of romantic gestures, the sharp rise in internet proposals does suggest that some are trading intimacy for online prowess. As a society, we have produced some of the most romantic proposal moments ever recorded - yet most of them lie between the couple and their families. Now, we seem to have forgotten the value of keeping our innermost feelings of love and commitment sacred.

While nothing scares most of us more than being proposed to in front of an audience, recent outlandish public proposals are proving otherwise. In gallant efforts to impress (the girlfriend or public we’re not sure), men have begun using social networking sites like Facebook to proclaim their love atop the virtual balcony.

Matt Van Horn, business developer for Digg, stayed true to his social media roots by recently flooding Twitter, Foursquare, Qik, and Facebook with juicy details of his proposal.

The first Groupon marriage proposal scored a “yes”, after a man contacted the site asking to feature a deal page titled “A Surprise for a Dana from a Greg.” Wanting to surprise his future fiance utilizing her favorite site, the page featured a proposal and editorial packed with facts about the couple. Luckily for Greg, Dana scored the deal before another woman could buy his heart.

More and more, men are combining old school tactics and new social media platforms to ask for their loved one’s hand in marriage. Flash mobs, viral videos, even the Old Spice guy is getting in on the action (proposing on behalf of a Twitter fan).

For the more non-traditional, proposing publicly via a social site could be the perfect way to celebrate one’s engagement. Others might find the new wave too tech-minded for their taste, preferring to keep the emotional experience private. Either way fellas, it’s a good idea to make sure she’s going to say yes before taking the plunge - especially if you’re going live.

Frank Anderson is a social media enthusiast and blogger for all things Internet and technology. Frank also works with mail exchange hosting to keep the company’s emails up and running.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The Cape Cod Witch Series

The Cape Cod Witch And The Pirate's Treasure by J Bean Palmer

About The Book:
The Cape Cod Witch and the Pirate's Treasure is the story of the youngest witch on Cape Cod, Elsbeth Amelia Thistle. She is involved in all the normal aspects of growing up. Of course, she's a little different, too. And when Halloween approaches in a sleepy Cape Cod town, she finds a pirate's legend has never quite been forgotten. ElsBeth's adventures are shared with her non-magical but memorable friends, including the local Wampanoag Indians, who are called upon to help resolve an ill-fated and climactic adventure with the notorious pirate, Billy Bowlegs. Some magical friends involved in the action include a mischievous cat, an Indian prince who has been turned into a bullfrog (but sometimes reappears as a prince), some troublesome fairies from the old country, as well as Elsbeth's grandmother, the venerable Hannah Goodspell. This enchanting adventure, with twenty whimsical full-color illustrations by juried fine artist Melanie Therrien, is the first in a series of the chronicles of Cape Cod's youngest witch. 125 pages; recommended for boys and girls ages 8-13. Children ages 5-7 love the story read to them - and adults like it, too!
The Cape Cod Witch And The Legend Of The Pirate by J Bean Palmer

About The Book:
While on an innocent field trip to Boston's historic Freedom Trail, Elsbeth Amelia Thistle, the littlest witch on Cape Cod, becomes entangled in a fateful kidnapping - and the action soon moves to the treacherous waters of Massachusetts Bay and finally to the old whaling port of Nantucket. With the help of a pirate captain ghost and several magical animal friends, Elsbeth and her classmates attempt to rescue a young Arabian prince in this daring sea adventure. And along the way they discover the most important lesson of all - the true meaning of the Legend of the Pirate.

About The Author:
J Bean Palmer has an abiding appreciation of the natural beauty and treasures of New England. And with a degree in Environmental Science, she weaves a message of care for the environment in her high spirited Elsbeth, the Little Cape Cod Witch stories. Her own adventures flying small planes, canoeing and hiking in the rugged western mountains of Maine and along the stunning seascapes and quaint villages of Cape Cod serve as ample inspiration for her Elsbeth series. The author also calls upon her family's long history in New England, including that of a Revolutionary "Green Mountain Boy", Cape Cod cranberry farmers and artists, and an oft-told family legend that as her grandmother's ancestors stepped off the Mayflower, her grandfather's relatives were there to greet them.

My Thoughts:
These two books are great. I read them to Callan, and as much as he enjoyed them, I did as well. The stories are fun and exciting, and great chapter books for kids! I would love to continue reading this series with Callan, so we hope there is more to come! Great books!

To learn more, visit The Cape Cod Witch.

I received a complimentary review copy of these books from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Say Anything Game *Giveaway*

"Say Anything is a game about what you and your loved ones think. It gives you the chance to settle questions that have been hotly debated for centuries. For instance, “What magical power would be the coolest to have?” or “What would be the most fun thing to throw off a tall building?” So dig deep into your heart or just come up with something witty - this is your chance to Say Anything!"

We played this game over Christmas and it was so much fun, especially with some family members who we have not seen in awhile. And the good thing is that it is kid friendly as well so the kids could join in on the fun. We played for hours, and laughed, and "argued", and ate and drank and were merry! It was a really fun game, and an amazing time to spend with family!

One lucky reader will get a chance to win this game and play it with their family! Here's how:

1. Follow this blog via GFC, the newsletter, or Networked Blogs.
4. Promote this giveaway.

Giveaway ends January 11th. Good luck!


I received a product from North Star Games in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

New Year's Resolutions: They Are Not a Waste of Time

Some people believe that New Year's resolutions are stupid, a complete waste of energy because no one seems to live up to them. Besides, people seem to always set unrealistic goals for the new year. What makes any goal unrealistic? Can anyone meet a New Year's resolution in the new year?
Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. There is no unrealistic goals. With the right amount of work and effort, you can accomplish anything unless that goal is genuinely beyond your capability. 

I personally don't think New Year's resolutions are a waste of time and effort, rather they have inspired me to work harder to accomplish more in the new year. However, I never took the idea of making a New Year's resolution seriously until three years ago.

On New Years Eve of 2008, I made a pledge to myself and to all of my family that I was going to complete my first novel, Day of Revenge by the end of February in 2009. Day of Revenge is a historical fiction book set in 1793 France at the height of the Reign of Terror. At the time, I had been working on this novel for three and a half years. I was determined to complete this project because I wanted to feel like I had genuinely accomplished something. That is the first New Year's resolution that I fulfilled, although it took me the entirety of 2009 to complete the editing.

I didn't make any New Year's resolutions for 2010, but my hope for that year was to get representation from a reputable literary agent, then land a good contract with one of the large, New York based publishers. That didn't happen the way I had imagined it would, but the editor at Inkwater Press expressed interest in Day of Revenge and offered me a contract. That happened in June of 2010.

The year 2010 was good in general, probably the best year in my young life. I got involved in Story Theatre as an actor and made new friends through that adventure. I also started the writing of my second novel, To be Maria, a contemporary YA book, something I actually hadn't anticipated writing after I completed Day of Revenge. 

At the start of 2011, I wrote down everything that I planned to accomplish, then published it on my blog. While I didn't meet all of the New Year's resolutions I made for this year, I did accomplish one thing: the completion of To be Maria. That was at the top of my to-do list for 2011. My goal was to complete the final draft by the end of June. I missed that deadline by three months. I had completed the second draft at the end of May, but it took me until August to complete the editing and revisions.
For 2012, I have many things in mind that I want/hope to accomplish. A home for To be Maria is one of them, the completion of this book's sequel another. Yet, I also plan to get my big toe into the door of the magazine biz as a freelance writer. I've already recorded these resolutions for 2012 and with much prayer, hard work and perseverance, I believe that I can make these resolutions a reality.

I'm not the only person with big New Year's resolutions. There are millions of people who want to make 2012 their breakthrough year. We just have to believe that New Year's resolutions are not stupid. We can achieve goals if we put our minds to it and enough work into it.

When Deanna is not writing novels, she is writing for discounts.ca, a website that deals with promotional coupon codes.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Never The Same

Never The Same by B.C. Fleming

About The Book:
On one calm morning in late July 2006, a ten vehicle convoy departed its Forward Operating Base in southeastern Afghanistan. Destination: KANDAHAR. Less than five hours later one soldier awoke, burned and bloody, in a ditch on the side of the road. This is the story of Sergeant B.C. Fleming. A Team Leader in a Reconnaissance Platoon with the US Army's 10th Mountain Division, Fleming recounts his grueling experience of waging war in the high-desert mountains of Afghanistan. From being shot at to getting blown up TWICE to delivering humanitarian aid to impoverished children, he candidly describes "the real story" of the war in Afghanistan as he experienced it. His story is one of truth, pain, sacrifice, soul-searching, and the unthinkable adversity American troops overcome daily in order to protect and defend the American people.

My Thoughts:
This is an amazing story. This story of just one soldier really makes you proud of our troops - the ones who came home, and those that did not. I think a lot of people take advantage of their freedoms and don't realize what American soldiers really go through for their country and the people in it. This book is so good, I finished it in one day. I could not put it down. The author writes like he is talking directly to you, sharing his story. I also love that his wife, Jamie, shares her side of the story as well. An excellent read!

About The Author:
A leading authority on the power of positive attitudes, overcoming challenges, and prospering through adversity. A real-life example of his life-changing message of hope, B.C. Fleming is an itinerant speaker for business conventions, churches, on military bases, and more - teaching people how to take their tragic pasts and successfully invest them into their futures. After getting blown up twice and being severely injured by a suicide bomber who exploded 3 feet away from him in Kandahar, Afghanistan - Fleming unconditionally refused to be held back by his circumstances. To learn more, visit The Blown Up Guy.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from The B&B Media Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

GelThotics Insole Review & *Giveaway*



"The Kendall GelThotics orthotic is a removable insole which radically differs from other insoles available on the market. Differences noted between the GelThotics orthotic and other insoles include:

1. The silicon gel formulation of the GelThotic allows the orthotic to provide the perfect amount of support and relief without radically altering the shoe fit. The silicon nature creates shock absorbency for various types of activity where feet are in constant motion. Hard orthotics irritate the damaged foot and end up encouraging inflammation. Due to the GelThotic's soft composition and forgiving nature, it works with the foot by supporting and correcting damage caused by years of poor arch support and inferior shoe design.

2. The shape and design is truly innovative in terms of what has been attempted in the footcare world. With the open nature of the design, the shoe completes the orthotic, and is able to provide superior support while improving lateral stability. Most orthotics and conventional insoles either use materials that compact and shift geometries or have contours that are not therapeutic. GelThotics eliminate this problem by providing contours that help the foot.

The GelThotic is essentially a template created to complete the rest of the foot. Feet have arches that are forced flat by weight and pressure of the body. GelThotics are put in place to help the foot sit how it naturally should; it is the yin to the yang if you will."

My husband used these, and after just one day, he could not believe the difference in comfort he noticed. He said they were super easy to put in and out of his shoes. He loves them!

One lucky reader will win a pair of GelThotics! Here's how:

1. Follow this blog via GFC, the newsletter, or Networked Blogs.
4. Promote this giveaway.

Giveaway ends January 10th. Good luck!

I received a product from Kendall Research Systems, Inc. in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Zumba Fitness 2


"Three million players and counting have already discovered the exhilarating Zumba Fitness interactive video game work out. Following the worldwide best-selling original, Zumba Fitness 2 builds on that phenomenal success while elevating the exer-game category to a new high of fun, effective fitness. This cutting-edge experience layers in loads of new features and improvements, amps up the dance-fitness party and gives you even more ways to sculpt your body and party yourself into shape. Get ready for the sleek, sexy physique you've always dreamed of!"

Get a total body workout with 32 electrifying new routines and music tracks, including hits from today's hottest artists including Pitbull, Nicole Scherzinger and Yolanda Be Cool & DCup. Follow along as celebrity Zumba instructors Tanya Beardsley, Gina Grant and Beto guide you through each routine. New 3D models of each instructor make playing the game feel like taking a real class with Zumba's elite celebrity trio! Learn 20 different dance styles across routines, from fan favorites like Merengue, Samba and Cumbia to new additions like Axe, Indian, Latin Pop, Bellydance and Pasodoble. Get in shape with 5 different game modes: *Single Song: Dance a single routine of your choice. The new song preview feature gives you a feel for a track before you dive in and lose yourself in the music. *Zumba Class: A work-out block of routines in 20, 45, or 60 minute formats. You can now create your own custom routines by saving a playlist of your favorite songs. *Zumba Party: Up to 4 players can join the party in your living room with cooperative game play. *Learn the Steps: Revamped tutorial mode lets you learn at your own pace by breaking down the core dance styles into the basics.

Get your party on in 5 stunning, dynamic environments, from a Miami Yacht to a LA nightclub. Watch the party grow as you match moves throughout each area! Choose each instructor's outfit and personalize clothing with the new Zumba apparel customization feature. New video cueing system makes the choreography easier to follow for new players. New Progress Tracker lets you follow every stat relating to your gameplay, including: calories burned, trophies earned, overall rank, technique score based on how many moves matched overall, and more. Approachable gameplay offers a full tutorial mode with Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced routines tiered for all skill levels. Affix the exclusive Zumba Fitness belt (included free in the game box) to your waist and slide the Wii Remote into the holster to dance hands-free. 

 To learn more, go to Zumba Fitness. Check out Zumba Fitness on Facebook, as well as Zumba Fitness on Twitter.

I received a product from Reverb Inc. in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy Spring Equinox

~Hayley