Walk Strong, look up

Looking for a way to get you motivated to get moving?  Walk Strong, Look up by Chantel Hobbs may just be the book for you.    I have tried in the past to get moving and walk every night... but many times I have failed at my efforts.  In this book, Chantel gives you step by step instructions on those little things that can help get you motivated.  At the end of each chapter, she has what I would call a heart to  heart section... with questions for you to answer and think about.   One thing she states in her book, is "don't walk along...bring HIM with you". Bring Jesus with you on your walk... make it not only a time of exercise but a time to pray and meditate on the Lord.    She also give great advice on buying the right type of walking shoes.  She has great recipes for shakes and meals in the book as well.  


This book has great practical way to help you get moving... one thing I really liked was the walking routine she mentions... a week by week routine to get you started and not burned out!  


Walk Strong, Look up is 


Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.




This book was given to me by Baker Publishing Group to read and review.

Deeply Devoted Review

Within the pages of Deeply Devoted, you will find a story about people adjusting to a different way of life.  You have Peter and Catharine, newlyweds, in a house with Catharine's sisters... all of them who know nothing about how to keep a house, or even cook for that matter (all except Peter that is).  Peter has to put his frustration aside and learn to deal with the other people in the house besides his wife.  Peter is also having to deal with his mother, who does not like the idea of him sending off to find a bride when she had the perfect girl already picked out for him!    And then, you have Catharine, who is still hiding an important fact about herself from Peter.  


This book has a great story line. Catherine's secret added a twist to the book.  Oh, and you can't forget about the beloved china that Catherine brought along with her.... read and find out what happens when Peter brakes one!  Deeply Devoted is the first in The Blue Willow Brides series.  Deeply Devoted is a  very enjoyable book to read.  I can't wait for the next one to come out.    






Deeply Devoted is:
Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


This book was given to my by Baker Publishing group to read and review as part of their book blog tour.

A Heart Revealed Review

Her heart is tied to a youthful vow . . . but can true love set it free?
Ten years ago, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston, running for her life. Her emotional wounds have finally faded, and her life is now full of purpose and free from the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity's handsome and charming brother, Sean O'Connor, fear and shame threaten to destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love she's ever known?
Filled with intense passion and longing, deception and revelation, A Heart Revealed will hold you in its grip until the very last page



This story takes place during the 1930s, where speakeasies and Prohibition were in full spring. The O'Connors  is what I would say a typical Irish family.  They take and befriend Emma.  They make her feel as one of the family.   In the beginning of the book you just get a glimpse of Emma's story.  I had no idea of what to expect, but as the story unfolded... I began to understand her character more.   Wow, What a great  story!  I do not want to spoil it for you... but lets just say  that you will become so captivated by it, that you will not want to put it down.   


Great Story!  




A Heart Revealed is available now at your local bookstore, go check it out!

Organization in the "School" Room

I know that I am not the only one who deals with the problem of organization.  Every year, I wonder just how I am going to corral all those teacher manuals, answer keys, and test waiting to be taken.    Try as I might, I have not been able to come up with anything to help with my problem.  That is until I went to good old Walmart with my husband.    He saw these plastic crates... you know those cheap things we forget about.... well I forget about!
I bought one... for less than 4 bucks I might add... came home and did this:

I filed and organized all my "teacher" stuff and wallah.... all my organization problems solved!    Oh, How I wished I would have thought of this sooner!


What are some of the ways that you keep your school room organized?  I would love to hear from you....


Until then.... Happy Homeschooling!

Deadly Pursuit... book review

I was on pins and needles waiting for this book!  I loved Irene Hannon's last  book in the Guardians of Justice series.  I knew this one would be great too.  The story takes place around Alison Taylor, Jack and Cole's sister(who we meet in book one... Fatal Judgement).  Cole's tries his match making skill on her... both brothers are very protective of her, and Alison has an admirer... are two.  

This book had the suspense mixed with the romance that I just love.  What can I say... I love a good mystery with a little romance in the mix.  It was a great story line.  I do believe this book will be reread....  I also like the fact that my teenager can read it!  It is a good entertaining "G" rated story!

Social worker Alison Taylor has a passion for protecting children. But now it seems she needs protecting. When her tormentor's attentions take a violent turn, she calls in reinforcements--her police-detective brother, Cole, and his new partner, ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Morgan. As her relentless stalker turns up the heat and the danger intensifies, Mitch takes a personal interest in the case. Because protecting Alison has become more than a job; his future depends on keeping her safe.

Filled with nail-biting suspense and heart-melting romance, Deadly Pursuit is Irene Hannon's storytelling at its very best.

Reviews

Praise for the books of Irene Hannon
"Hannon captures your attention at page one and doesn't let it go until long after you've finished the book!"--Suspense Magazine

"Fast-paced crime drama with an aside of romance . . . [and] an ever-climactic mystery."--Publishers Weekly

"Hannon is a master at character development."--Library Journal

"Extraordinary writing . . . a not-to-be-missed reading experience."--RT Book Reviews

"There is no rest for the weary when it comes to [Hannon's] ever-accelerating storyline."--TitleTrakk.com

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

A Lancaster County Christmas Review

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my package, inside was a beautiful hard cover book...  A Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fisher.    Written in the pages is a story about lost, love, and choices.  Two families are brought together during a snow storm two days before Christmas. 
Meet:
The Riehls-- Sol, Mattie, and son Danny (a spirited, adventurous little boy)
Jamie and C.J. with their fun loving dog named Tucker
Zach- cousin to Mattie
Now you mix all this characters (each with their own problems... ) and you get one great novel!


Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband, Sol, the Christmas gift they have both longed for--news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big Amish family isn't likely to become a reality. Will those empty chairs at the table ever be filled?
Then a winter storm raging outside blows an impatient young woman and her husband into the Riehl home on Christmas Eve--and into a much slower pace of life.
Both couples are about to find out if they can weather the storm--and if miracles still happen at Christmastime.

I found this book to be an easy read.  Which can be easily finished in one afternoon. 

Another Great Book by Susanne Woods Fisher! 

“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Happy Reading everyone!


Great Recipe for the whole family!

I came across this great recipe for the crockpot!  ( I am in love with my Crockpot! )  It is called ...get this... Crock pot style Ham and Potatoes..... (that says it all for me..I just had to try it!)

All you need is the following:
6 C. peeled potatoes  that are cut into 1 inch cubes
1 1/2 cups of cubed, diced ham
1 can of whole kernel corn
1/4 cup of green pepper (bell peppers or any other you desire)
2 tbsp. minced onion ( I just chopped a half of an onion small)
1 can of condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 cup of milk
2 tsp of flour

Throw the potatoes, corn, ham, onion, and bell pepper in the crockpot.   In a small bowel, combine soup, milk,  and flour and whisk together til is is smooth.  Pour over the potato mix.  ( add salt and pepper to your taste!) cook on low for high.... until done...   (on low for 7 to 9 hours.. high for 3 to 5)

How yummy does this look!

Serve this with Cheddar Cheese Biscuits and you have a meal for the whole family!

The Queen

Are you ready for another great thriller from Steven James?  Well your wait is over.  Steven James has out did himself again.  The Queen is another great thriller in the Patrick Bowers Thriller series.  The Queen pretty much starts (give a few months or so) form where  The Bishop ended.    Patrick is on the case of another major crime.  Tessa is trying to deal and cope with the all the stuff that took place in the previous book. Add in a few new characters mixed with the old and you get another great story!  One thing about this book is... it's not as gory as the last one.(if you are the faint at heart you will appreciate this)  So what's the story line.  Well here it is:


 While investigating a mysterious double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that ties together long-buried Cold War secrets with present-day tensions in the Middle East.

In his most explosive thriller yet, bestselling author Steven James delivers a pulse-pounding, multilayered storytelling tour de force that will keep you guessing.
The Queen is the latest Patrick Bowers thriller from the author Publishers Weekly calls a "master storyteller at the peak of his game."




If you are a mystery lover, than you are going to love this book.  It has the thrill of the hunt action that will keep you guessing!   If I gave out stars on how I liked a book than I would give it 5 stars..... it was that good!  


click here to read an expert!


“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”




Happy reading everyone!

It’s Christmas in September!

To celebrate the release of her first Christmas book, Suzanne Woods Fisher has teamed up with her publisher, Revell, to bring you the "Christmas in September" iPad Giveaway! The winner will be announced on 9/27 at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party! Details below. Tell your friends and join in the fun (9/7-9/27).


Oh and be sure to follow the blog tour here - many of the bloggers have copies of the book to giveaway! 

Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

• A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to iTunes
• A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click one of the icons below. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.

But, wait! There's more! The winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne's author page. During the party she'll be revealing something *BIG* - you won't want to miss it. She'll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! Hope to see you there.



Enter 9/7-9/26!

 

Blue skies Tomorrow

I just received an email from my publisher asking if I had posted this review.  I knew I read and love the book, so I went searching my post.... Come to find out I completely  forgot to write a review!  I am So So sorry!

So without further adue:

MY Review!



Blue Skies Tomorrow is the third book in the Wings of Glory Series written by Sarah Sundin.  Helen Carlisle is a widow with a young boy.  She throws herself into volunteering for the war efforts to cover up her feelings.  She is a prisoner of sorts to her husbands family.    She is keeping secrets that no one knows about and it is all she can do to not tell.  Ray enters her life and boom... she starts to think she has a way out..... only if she was braver...

For the life of me, I kept trying to find out what kind of secret Helen was carrying.... I never saw it coming!

This is a great story about love, trials, friendships......  You will not want to put it down, believe me! 

Get it at your favorite book store today!

Grace for the good Girl Review

Are you a good girl but inside question your life, wishing you were perfect?  Than this book is for you!  This is another must read for us woman!   Are you  people pleasers, are you a lady that hides when things are not fine but you say they are fine anyway?   As woman, we have high expectations of ourselves. Emily shows us that we don't have to.  After each chapter there are questions that make you think and ponder on.  What a great book for a ladies devotional. 


You're strong. You're responsible. You're good. But . . .

. . . as day fades to dusk, you begin to feel the familiar fog of anxiety, the weight and pressure of holding it together and of longing left unmet. Good girls sometimes feel that the Christian life means doing hard work with a sweet disposition. We tend to focus only on the things we can handle, our disciplined lives, and our unshakable good moods.
But what would happen if we let grace pour out boundless acceptance into our worn-out hearts and undo us? If we dared to talk about the ways we hide, our longing to be known, and the fear in the knowing?

In Grace for the Good Girl, Emily Freeman invites you to release your tight hold on that familiar, try-hard life and lean your weight heavy into the love of Jesus. With an open hand, a whimsical style, and a heart bent brave toward adventure, Emily encourages you to move from your own impossible expectations toward the God who has graciously, miraculously, and lovingly found you.

Endorsements

"If you struggle with trying so hard, being so good, and hoping so much for joy and grace in the mundane, savor Grace for the Good Girl. Emily Freeman writes from experience. She tells the truth on herself and invites you to the feast of God's available and life-changing grace."--Mary DeMuth, author of Thin Places: A Memoir

"It is such a joy for me to recommend Emily Freeman's book to you. I applaud her vulnerability, truth and beautiful application of God's grace to us. She has profoundly ministered to this recovering good girl."--Angela Thomas, bestselling author and speaker

"When you read certain writers, you know it's a calling, because on every page, it's there: the echo of God's voice. Emily Freeman's one of those rare writers: profoundly biblical, lyrical, transparent--memorable. Her emancipating words on these pages offer the needed keys to all the good girls longing to take wing--and soar home to his heart."--Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author of One Thousand Gifts


Grace for the Good Girl is available at your local Book store! 
 

Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life

wordless post

A Confident Heart

About the Book:
Step out of the shadows of self-doubt to live with a confident heart



Ever feel like you're not good enough, smart enough, or valuable enough? Renee Swope understands. Even with a great family, a successful career, and a thriving ministry, she still struggled with self-doubt. Sharing her own personal story, Renee shows you how to rely on the power of God's promises to find the security you need and the confidence you long for!


Exchange fear-filled thinking with faith-filled believing


Fail forward when life or sin sets you back


Embrace your God-given purpose, passion, and personality


See beyond who you are to who you are becoming in Christ


Powerful Scripture-based prayers are at the end of each chapter, along with Bible study questions and a chart with thirty-one promises to replace our most common self-doubts.




If there was ever a book that every lady needs to read... It is this one!  You may tell yourself that you are confident in every area of your life.  But if you are like me, you have times where you doubt, worry, and question your decisions.  
I am a worrier!  I worry about everything.  In "A Confident Heart" Renee Swope has a chapter that deals with worrying... (Boy did it speak to me!)  Here is a  quote from that chapter:

Worry robs us physically, leaving us exhausted

worry robs us emotionally, leaving us anxious

worry robs us mentally, leaving us scattered

worry robs us spiritually, leaving us depleted.

Worry  also robs us of our confidence that God notices and cares about the details of our lives.

After reading this chapter in particular, I have made it a point to leave it all in the hands of the Almighty!  I will put my Confidence in the one who made it all. 

As I stated earlier, every lady needs to read this book, you will not be disappointed!  "Step out of the shadows of self-doubt to live with a confident heart."

“Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”