The Windfall App - A Fun Summer Mystery

Winning the lottery would be an amazing good thing, right?   For Marina all of her problems seem like they will be solved when she wins the mega jackpot in the new popular lotto, she never could have predicted how completely it will change her life.

I was given a copy of The Windfall App by Teresa Richards in exchange for a honest review.

The Book
Marina Berghman is a classical piano prodigy with parents who’ve had her life mapped out since she was in diapers. But their plan leaves no room for her secret love of alternative rock, or Sean, the edgy guitarist who recently moved to town. 


When Marina buys a lottery ticket on her eighteenth birthday via the new Windfall app, she expects it to be nothing more than a rite of passage. But she wins—the grand prize of five thousand dollars a day, for life. Suddenly given the means to break free from a life she never felt in control of, she’s quick to cut her family ties and turn her back on everything she knows.

But her lottery win was no lucky break. Her prize comes with strings attached, and Marina soon finds herself at the center of someone else’s life or death game. When she discovers evidence linking her dad to the intrigue, she turns to Sean for help. But he’s harboring secrets of his own.

Now Marina must sort out who to trust and who’s pulling the strings, before her prize turns into a noose.


My Review
  I really enjoyed this book.  If it was a movie, it feels like one where a lot of suspenseful music would be playing in the background.   Things appeared good, but you as the reader just feel this sense of foreboding that the main character seems to not fully realize.  It was fun trying to guess and piece together what was going to really happen along the way, and I was not able to figure it all out!   I love the unique background of the main character and the way the author described the book's setting in San Francisco, it made me really want to visit the city and I felt like I was getting a VIP guided tour of the great spots to hit while reading.
  This is a perfect summer read that will keep you turning the pages wondering how it is all going to turn out.  This is also a clean book free from graphic language or imagery.


** The Author is hosting a great giveaway for a YA Book Bundle!  Click the link to enter for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway The Author  --Find the Author Teresa Richards at the following Website// Facebook//Twitter//Instagram

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10 Things to Smile About This Month

It is the last Tuesday of the month which means it is time for 10 Things to Smile about.  This is when I look back and find 10 things that made me smile during the month.  I love doing this, especially on the hard months as it helps me keep an eternal perspective.

10 Things to Smile About in May

1. Being invited to a Cinco De Mayo party with friends

2. Watching Alex perform in her class play

3.  The Hope of America Performance

4. Mother's Day and how much my family spoiled me

5. Ryder turned 8!

6. Watching Ryder in karate

7. Utilizing the Movie Pass and going to lots of movies with Eric

8. Finally doing a photoshoot again.

9. A good spring season, and it ending and us having a couple week of break

10. May flowers (and thunderstorms!)

Friday Five: Cub Scouts, Screen Time and the Summer

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you have some fun plans for Memorial Day weekend.  Here is my week recapped in 5 thoughts and 5 pictures.

5 Thoughts

1. One week!  My kids have one week of school left, well technically not even a full week since Monday is a holiday.  I cannot believe this school year is almost over.  Yesterday would have been their last day if we were still in California.  I have felt a little sad looking at all of the end of the year parties and 5th grade graduation pictures, I have felt sad for what Alex is missing out on.

2. This week Ryder had his first Pack Meeting for Cub Scouts.  I got the badges off of Lucas old uniform just in time, though it might still have this troop number from California.  He is actually really excited about Scouts.

3. This week I have been editing a lot of pictures, I almost have the newborn session finished that I took last week.  I definitely plan on finishing it today.   Then just to update my website and all of that fun stuff.

4. Alex had her last soccer game of the spring season last Saturday.  They lost, but she played amazing the last little bit when she was put in at keeper.  After we had at team party, it was fun and I think we will be good sticking with this team this fall.

5. We are going to be starting a new screen time policy this summer, otherwise I know some of my kids could waste away the entire summer if I let them.  They can have screen time in the morning while I am sleeping in, I love having older kids, and then after that there will be a checklist of things they have to do before having any more screen time for the day.  My SIL does this, and definitely taking some inspiration from her.


5 Pictures

Friday Five: Birthday's A Musical, Home

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you have a fun weekend planned.


5 Thoughts

1.  Ryder managed to survive waiting one more day to celebrate his birthday (Mother's Day was hard for him).  He had a great birthday and we were able to open presents early, since Eric got home early, and then went out to dinner at Culvers.  I cannot believe he is 8 years old.

2. All this week Alex has been participating in her class play.  She did an awesome job and actually had three roles, including singing a solo.  She didn't want me to see her solo before, but I was at a dress rehearsal and so then was able to give her some tips on her movements while singing.  I don't think I would have been brave enough to do a solo at her age.

3. Alex also had a soccer game on Saturday, they ended up tying.   She had an amazing save at the end to persevere the tie.  She played a great game despite the rain for the second half.

4. This week has been a bit hard for me... for the first time since moving I have just really missed my friends back in California.  Alex's old class is doing a lot of end of the year stuff and getting ready for their 5th grade graduation.  She is doing great in her school year, but I am sad for her missing out on that with the kids she had gone to school with since kindergarten.

5. Lucas said he wants to get his Eagle Scout before the program ends next year.  I hope when it comes down to the work and things he needs to do he remembers he is the one that said he wants to do it.

5 Pictures

A Special Birthday

There were tears yesterday, lots of genuinely sad tears.  "Why can't I open my presents today?"   Last year, for the first time, Ryder and I shared Mother's Day and his birthday.  This year my day came first, and his excitement and anticipation was more than he could bare.

Today- today finally my son is your special day, your 8th birthday.

Ryder had a spectacular entrance into the world, coming 8 weeks early when we were over 600 miles from home.

When we finally arrived home a month later, the adventures continued, troubled feedings, horrific reflux and low iron levels; but we loved him.

When he finally was able to sit up the reflux seemed to magically go away, though still to this day if he laughs a lot he will get the hiccups-every single time.

Time seemed to fly.

Life was filled with joy and the cleverest sense of humor.  He could stack a tower of thin blocks perfectly at 1, could hit a ball with a bat at two, he just continue to grow and amaze us.

I have always said he seems to be a combination of his brother and sister.  First approaching things a little tentatively, a little unsure, a little shy even- but once in jumping in fully and succeeding at the things he does.

He is one who knows what he wants once he knows it, but sometimes has a hard time figuring out what that is.

He is still my cuddle bug to this day, and as my children are growing older and taller than me, I truly love having one who still wants to cuddle.

Now he is eight, I can hardly believe it.  Next month he will get baptized and I know it all just seems to go so fast from there.

Too my youngest, my baby.  I love you and hope you have a truly wonderful birthday.