Vampire Lumberjack or Werewolf Bootlegger-You decide.

This post is a part of Moira Rogers’ Creature Feature Kindle Throwdown Contest. By leaving a (meaningful) comment, you will be entered to win a Kindle from Amazon.com, or an alternate grand prize of $275 to spend at an online book retailer. For a full list of rules and more ways to win, visit the contest page.


Sorry to all of my vampire loving friends but this time I have to go with the werewolves. I know a vampire lumberjack is pure hotness but seriously would he take me out on the town, woo me or even pay me just a little attention??? Come on, I need a well dressed man who can do all of those things and more. A well dressed Alpha male has my heart any day of the week.

Rewiew of CSN product-CHH Deluxe Victoria Style Chess Set - 2118FS

I put this picture first because I love the way it turned out.Who knew I could take a decent picture?

First of all, Thanks go to Jess of CSN stores for allowing me to review this product.

This is the picture located on their site.

Features:

•Includes medieval themed chess pieces made from faux soapstone
•Black and multi-colored art squares
•Folds for easy storage
•Handles for easy transport
•Drawers to store chess pieces
•Medieval themed chess pieces made from imitation soapstone
•King height is 2.25"

List Price:$94.21
You Save:$42.22 (45%)
Sale Price:$51.99
Shipping:Free
Total Price:(1 item)$51.99

The pictures below are what it looked like directly out of the small box it was sent in. As you can see the bottom of the chess set( 2nd picture) looks like it is a small piece of plywood ( not very sturdy). The sides of the chess board feel like real wood and was really what I was expecting for the entire chess set to be made of.

This picture is of the handles. The only issue I had with the handles is that the screws that attached them to the chess board weren't completely screwed in.

I like the way the chess board looks laid out like this. With the chessboard sitting on a flat surface we noticed that the 2 halves of the board itself are not flush. One side bows a little when open and doesn't completely touch when you close the board.

I do like the designs that are carved on the sides of the board. 2 corners appear to be phoenixes and the other 2 sides are dragons. They are very nicely done. You can also see what the board itself looks like. The tiles are very nicely carved in an Asian theme. The tiles themselves make it hard to move the pieces over the board. The carving in the white tiles as well as the edges of many of the tiles make it very hard to play without picking each piece up completely from the board.

This picture shows how nicely packaged the drawers were. The pieces were set in styrofoam and then wrapped in celophane before being placed in the drawers. I am not sure if you can see it but the red part in the 2nd picture. When I placed all of the pieces in it at the first piece on the second row it tore.

I do so love the way the board looks all set up this way, although not being a chess player, I am not entirely sure that I set it up correctly.

Close-up pictures of the pieces are below.

The pictures below are some more of the pieces. Looking at the pieces side by side I must say that my husband and I prefer the dark wood pieces. They were heavier and I could see the details better in them. The green pieces were very light and almost had a plastic feel to them. I really wish that all of the pieces had been the dark wood.

I am not totally sure that you can see it clearly in the picture below but a couple of the pieces has something dark smeared on them, almost as if the stain used from the wood pieces had gotten on them. Not sure what it is but I am sure that it takes away from the beauty that could have been with these pieces. I even tried to clean it off, but had no luck. Some of the faux soapstone pieces also appear to be glued together. Now this wouldn't normally bother me but if you're going to glue pieces together that should at least look whole, to the naked eye.

One thing I did notice as I was taking the pieces out of the packaging is the darker pieces appear to have been put into the styrofoam not completely dry. The styrofoam as well as the celophane covering it was stained.

Is it bad to say that with all of the above considered, we both wish that this had been the set we picked to review.?

On the whole I hate to give the product this rating but since I wanted it to be something nice my husband and I could share, I have to be honest to a fault. My ratings are out of 5 stars and here is the breakdown:

+1 star awesome customer service/ shipping is tracked so I know where it is most of the time

+1 star because I love the designs etched into the side as well as the heavy dark wood that half of the pieces were made of.

-1 because the different parts of it were not flush and would make it hard when you were playing

-1 because the soapstone pieces seemed to be glued together in half of the pieces

-1 because the whole board was not made of good wood. If you're going to make a wood chess

board you should use a decent kind of wood for the ENTIRE board. For the cost of this board, I think the quality should have been better.

Overall although from a picture it looks like a nice chess set, in reality it looks like a chess set put together in a hurry.

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I am sorry to say that this is the first time that I have been disappointed in what I received from CSN stores. While this won't stop me from purchasing something from them it will make me look more closely at what I am purchasing in the future.

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2 of 5 stars

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-Breia-

This product was given to me strictly for review by CSN stores. That did not obligate me to give a good review, only an honest one.

Blogmania Countdown-Sept. 15 & 16 - A Queen's Ransom

As many of you may have heard, there is another awesome Blogmania event going on this year. It will take place on Sept. 15 and 16. I have decided to change my theme so as to not confuse anyone since I found out that there is another blog with the theme Books Are a Treasure.
So to highlight Blogmania 2010 as well as my individual sponsors, I will be doing a post for each of my sponsors.

My first sponsor is Ivy of Book Reader Times.

www.twitter.com/bookreadertimes
http://www.bookreadertimes.proboards.com/

Book Reader Times- Facebook page

Ivy has been a great blogger friend of mine, almost since I started blogging. She helps out many bloggers, without asking anything in return. Her forum offers forum contests, twitter contests, games, reviews, bookswapping and even book club type discussions/activities. I invite you to friend her on twitter, facebook and to join her forum ( you won't regret it).

Edited to add: I took the pic away because I was mistaken about what she's sending, will add it when I get clarification.

If you think your shop/ blog etc. fits with my blog/theme and you'd like to be a sponsor of my blog leave a message or email me at bbricke AT yahoo DOT com.

Breia

Winners from my TBR Mayhem

I know its been a while since I posted this Q&A / contest, I didn't forget about you guys. I need
Sara of YA Vampire Books, MJMBecky, The Bumbles and Joye to send me an email to bbricke AT yahoo DOT com . I was going to do 2 winners for a book each for $10 but since I really thank you guys for taking the time to share with me, I am now doing a $5 gc to an online bookseller of your choice. I know its not much but its all I can spare right now. I just really wanted you guys to know that your time and thought was greatly appreciated.

Thanks you guys so much.


Breia

CSN Stores

I was recently contacted by CSN associate Jessica about doing another review for one of their products. CSN stores have lots of products available for purchase. You could buy a bathroom vanity, beds, plates, patio furniture or even luggage. Picking the product was a really hard choice. I really wanted to look for a decorative box. After I looked through the site I was at a loss of what to pick from which store.
I have narrowed down my choices to their Luggage store or their Accent Furniture Direct store. There were several things that intrigued me to the point where I now have a CSN folder under my favorites tab.

So tell me which would you choose. After I receive the item(s) I pick, I will be doing a review here and on the CSN store site. My review will be on at least one of these and maybe something else if I can't choose. There is just so much variety and with over 200 stores there will definitely be something for everyone.

Blogmania 2010

I am going to be participating in Blogmania 2010, going on September 15 and 16. My theme is: A Queen's Ransom

I am going to order at least 1 of these chests( the one in the middle). I am going to be adding many things to the chest as I go along. I already have a copy of Shade by Jeri Smith Ready that is my very first prize that will be added to the chest.




So what exactly is Blogmania 2010? Taken directly from our host's website-Between The Pages




Who - What - Where - When

1. Would you like to have access to hundreds of prizes?
2. Would you like to discover new and exciting blogs?
3. Would you like to experience the Thrill of the hunt and the Ecstasy of winning?
4. Would you like to do all of this in just TWO DAYS?

If you can click on the links we'll provide, you can get all this and MORE!

SAVE THE DATES: September 15th and 16th.


We just love VISITORS AND FOLLOWERS

Want to join in the fun?
BLOG AND SPONSOR INFORMATION REQUESTS
~BLOGS interested in hosting a Blogmania Giveaway on their blog can request more information at ~ btlblog@lyndacoker.com ~

Blog registration deadline for September's Event is June 30th at 10:00 AM EST
(Submit your blog for registration early because available spots are filling up fast.)