30 Days to Joy

30 Days to Joy

A One-Month Creative Journal

from WaterBrook Multnomah

Thank you to WaterBrook Multnomah for allowing be to be on the launch team for the Creatives books!  (This one and the 5-year journal that I'll review next time)

I'm loving this little journal - so if you're attracted to journals, doodling, writing, pondering, and being inspired - this book is for you!

The book is beautifully made - a hardcover book, the cover is so pretty and pleasant just to look at!  Inside it's just as good - filled with prompts, quotes, scripture, and room for you to ponder, write, doodle, and consider - What is Joy? 

The book has printed pages, pretty quote pages, and all on nice, thick, quality paper to add to the beauty!

I'm impressed - this book is also very moderately priced -- perfect for gift giving this time of year!  And it even has a pretty rusty-red bookmark to keep your place and add to the pleasing qualities of this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Creatives Launch Team from WaterBrook Multnomah!  Thank you so much!

Here is my review as posted on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and ChristianBook.com

I am a big book fan and love doodling and writing in journals so this book was right up my alley!  This book 30 Days to Joy is meant to inspire you and assist you ponder and think about joy.  What is joy?  What is happiness?  What is the difference?  The pages are sprinkled with prompts, scripture, and room for you to respond, doodle, draw, or write.  The fun of this book is that it can be whatever you want it to be.  It's designed to be used for 30 days but I find myself using this a few days per week, pondering previous entries, adding to them, or just for the sake of time.  The book is so pretty I don't want to rush through it.  This book is well made and would be perfect for a gift.  It's a hardcover, approx. 8x5, bound really nicely, the paper is smooth, thick stock, and it comes with a pretty rusty red colored ribbon.  

I received a complimentary book from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of the Waterbrook Creatives Launch Team, however my opinions above are strictly my own.

The Legacy (Secrets of the Shetlands) Book 3

The Legacy

(Secrets of the Shetlands)

Book 3

by Michael Phillips

Thank you to Bethany House and Baker Publishing Group for the chance to read the third and final installment of Michael Phillips' Secrets of the Shetlands series!

I loved the first two books and can happily say the same for the final book!

I was able to receive a free copy of the book through their Blogger Review program!

So that being said - a final installment is always an exciting and sad time for me - Love wrapping up the story

- Hate that the story is wrapped up

I loved the characters in this series - how they developed and changed from their first introduction to the end.  The main characters Loni Ford and David Tulloch are so likable, so fresh, so honest!  Real life problems, discoveries about their past, how all is connected, such a satisfying story!

For each book in the series I had to go to the "family tree" provided and refresh and remember all the connections and the order.

I love how this book goes back and forth - from great-grandmother's journal to present day Whales Reef.

I feel like I'm skipping around in this post - but there is so much to love.

Please do yourself a favor and check out the entire serices

Secrets of the Shetlands

The Inheritance - Book One

The Cottage - Book Two

The Legacy - Book Three

So you can tell that I loved this book as well as the first two!

Here is my review as posted on Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and ChristianBook.com - this book is available on all of these sites!

My 5-star review!

The Legacy

I'm a huge fan of Michael Phillips and an even bigger fan of this series!  I loved the first two books in his Secrets of the Shetlands series (The Inheritance and The Cottage) and have been waiting to read the final book three!  Now that it's out one can read all three in succession - no need to refresh the family tree and history as you read the next one!  

I thank him for providing the family tree and the map as I referred to them often to refresh my memory and assure myself I was on track!  

What I love about this series is the generational span - and how the characters are connected to each other and the land!  Such a great historical fiction piece - and enjoy the flipping back from past to present as we discover Loni's great-grandmother's journal!  

This being the third book I was wondering what could happen next - it seems in the first two we introduced the characters, discovered much about them, learned about the island of Whales Reef, and met it's people.  After a sketch start in the eyes of the residents it seems that Loni was on track to earning their trust and their friendship!  David, the chief of Whales Reef and Loni have now formed a friendship and a bond, after a rocky start!  

So what drama could befall book three!  

I loved how the story flipped back and forth and told the story and explained the connection to the island for Loni.  Her story is finally clear, her history finally discovered, and how she became the one to inherit Whales Reef!  I also appreciate and love the Christian Fiction genre and love how this book includes God, his purpose and how we are all connected through him!

Not all easy, not without drama - but enjoy the ride - it's a great series and one of which you don't want to be interrupted!

Thank you to Bethany House and Baker Publishing for the free copy to read and review through their Blogger program!  The opinions and thoughts here are 100% my own!

Thank you again to Bethany House, Baker Publishing Group

for the complimentary copy of this book!

Fresh Ideas from the Freezer

Fresh Ideas from the Freezer

My Magazine Sharing Network

Mission

The purpose of this mission from My Magazine Sharing Network is to point out and highlight all the offerings in the freezer section at your Kroger store!  

I was sent coupons for several products all from the freezer, a great mix of old favorites and new ideas!

So I'll first highlight the products that I was able to get for free to sample, share about and bring to your attention!

The are offering products for all tastes!

Above is the Smart Made brand offering single meals with simple ingredients.

You'll also see new options from Lean Cuisine and Stouffer's.

Lean Cuisine Marketplace

Stouffer's Fit Kitchen

Delicious meals with plenty of variety!

Something for the adventurous eater, or something new and different to try!

Frontera has some offerings like shown above - the Taco Bowl!

Or Wicked Kitchen's Mac & Cheese - with a zing!

Or how about an old faithful Freschetta Pizza

all delicious!

Morning Star Farms offers a huge array of healthy and non-meat meat dishes!
Amazing choices there - this is non-meat beef crumble - perfect for tacos and other dishes!

And the Eggo Waffles - these are a staple from childhood on up!

One of our favorites - Mozzarella Cheese Sticks- yum!

There are from Farm Rich - one of their many appetizers!

All these products were free to me and we enjoyed each and every one!

Stop by your Kroger store and see what you can find!

Thank you to My Magazine Sharing Network for the coupons to redeem for free products as part of this promotion!

Please swing by the freezer section at your Kroger Store and see what new (and old) favorites you can find to share with your family!

#FreshIdeasFromTheFreezer

#MyMagazineSharingNetwork

#FreeSamples

Clean Zyme Cleanser & Skin Zyme Mask by Jan Marini

Clean Zyme Face Cleanser

Skin Zyme Face Mask

by Jan Marini Skin Research 

Gentle Cleansing & Gentle Exfoliation are what these products are all about!

I have been using these two products for about two weeks and my skin feels fantastic!  I use the mask every couple three days and use the cleanser daily.

Both products are silky, soft, and lush!  When using the cleanser I apply small amounts in circular motion on my face, once covered I allow it to sit about 2 minutes (as per the directions on the bottle).  I rinse with warm water and a washcloth.  

Once the cleanser is removed your face feels fresh, clean, and very smooth.  There is nothing drying about this cleanser.  Your face is left bright!

 

The Skin Zyme Mask is in a pot, I just dab and rub softly in to my skin and should be left on for about 20 minutes.  To remove simply use a bit of the Clean Zyme cleanser and massage gently to achieve emulsification, then remove with warm water and washcloth.

My skin is left feeling plump and soft and free!  

Both of these products are gentle exfoliators and achieve their results using "proteolytic enzymes to gently resurface to reveal healthy, smooth, and polished skin."  According to the Jan Marini website the proteolytic enzymes come from Papain from Green Unripened Papaya!  

Speaking of the papaya - both of these products have an amazing, lightly fruity scent!

All I can tell you is my skin feels pretty amazing after using either or both of these products!  These products are good for all skin types - normal, dry, oily, sensitive, and acne prone.  Achieve gentle exfoliation that won't harm sensitive or irritated tissue!

Do your skin a big favor - treat yourself on a night in - this is an amazing duo!

My skin feels softer, looks brighter, polished, and we all know how amazing you feel after exfoliating!  

I was given complimentary products through BrandBacker to use these products and share my honest opinion!  Awesome products from Jan Marini Skin Research!

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"High as the Heavens" by Kate Breslin

"High as the Heavens"

by Kate Breslin

I'm a big fan of this genre - I love Historical Fiction and I love Christian Fiction so this book was right up my alley!

I enjoyed reading about WWI, the insights and tidbits that were the norm for people living in this time in history.  

This is a story about Eve, who is a British Nurse, she is relocated to Brussels during the war, she lives with her Aunt and Uncle and works in their cafe in the evenings.  During the day she is a nurse, working in the hospital, under the watchful eyes of the German soldiers.

Here is where the excitement comes in - she is also a spy for a British resistance group!  So imaging being watched by German soldiers as you do the work for the enemy! 

A few twists, turns, and God-like things make this book an great read!

Here is my review as listed on Amazon, B&N, and Goodreads:

I completely loved this book, I'm an avid historical fiction fan loved the journey of Eve in this story.  I'm also a big fan of Christian Fiction, so this was both of my favorites wrapped in one!  The book was full of excitement and the dangers of living in Brussels during the German occupation of World War !.  I've read many, many WWII books and love the variation of the WWI.  

Eve is a British nurse who lives in Brussels during the war with her Aunt and Uncle and works in their restaurant, she is also a nurse.  She works in the hospital under the scrutiny of the German soldiers.  She is also a spy, working for a resistance group, thus the danger!

The characters are interesting, the story feels real, and it keeps you turning the pages!  It's hard to write much more about this book without giving away any of the action. So I'll just recommend it highly and say it didn't disappoint me!  

I was given a copy of this book from Bethany House through their blogger program, but my review and opinions are my own.

Grab your copy and enjoy!

Available anywhere - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book!

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through their blogger program, all opinions are 100% my own!

"Convicted" by Jameel McGee and Andrew Collins

"Convicted"

A Crooked Cop, An Innocent Man, and an Unlikely Journey of Forgiveness and Friendship

By Jameel McGee & Andrew Collins

with Mark Tabb

I was privileged to be a part of the launch team for this book through Waterbrook Multnomah and received a free uncorrected proof copy!  Thank you to them - this book was pretty amazing.  Reading the cold hard truth, to see how something like this can happen is quite scary.  Reading how God takes this story and makes it his own is quite incredible!  This book is a testimony on the power of forgiveness!

Below is my review, as posted on Goodreads!  If you happen to read this post, consider grabbing a copy of this book!  I know in my life I will never have to live through the things that Jameel has, nor will most people.  But everyone has been hurt or used or come across the need to forgive someone for some wrong done to you, this book calls you to forgive, for yourself, it frees you.  

Only God could write a story like this one!  

This title goes on sale on September 19, 2017

Convicted

by Jameel McGee & Andrew Collins

What a great testimony on what God can do! Convicted tells the story of Andrew and Jameel in their own words simultaneously. The story of how a crooked cop can alter the life of an innocent man, and how that innocent man is sentenced to live. It's interesting to see the progression of Andrew, in his mind he is doing the right thing, cleaning up the streets of Benton Harbor, so what if he has to cut a few corners, he is getting the drug dealers off the streets. How that power and righteousness can start off with good intentions and snowball out of control. Then to read what Jameel had to endure, being an innocent man imprisoned, how does that not eat him up inside? Reading his story was heartbreaking, a truly innocent man who could find no way out of his circumstances. He was simply going to the store for milk! 

Over the course of many years their stories are chronicled until the two cross paths again and with the power of forgiveness actually become good friends. 

The way this story twists and turns it can only be woven by God. Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah for the privilege to be part of the launch team for this book!

Lipton Mango flavored Iced Tea!

Lipton Mango flavored

Iced Tea!

There's a new tea in town!

Lipton has come out with a new flavored iced tea that is simply delicious!

Can't get to the tropics this summer?  You can always fake it with this refreshing and flavorful Mango iced tea!

I am a big flavored iced tea drinker - not so much plain tea, and I love this one! Take a most refreshing and flavorful thirst quencher with you everywhere you go!  Such a summer staple - comes in nice plastic bottles with a lid that actually stays put - not leaks making it a go-with-you-everywhere, truly portable, thirst-quenching drink!

I received a coupon for a free 12 pack through MyMagazineSharing and I found my tea at Kroger!

This post and my opinions of Lipton Iced Tea Mango are my own!

The 12-pack didn't last very long at my house, so I'm obviously not the only big fan!

Lipton blends a delicious beverage with just the right amount of real tea and sweet mango essence giving your tastebuds pleasure and refreshing your body!

Grab some for yourself!  I purchased mine at Kroger!

I received free product to share and talk about - all opinions are honest and my own!

#mymagazinesharing #sponsored

C-ESTA Serum from Jan Marini Skin Research

C-ESTA Serum

from Jan Marini Skin Research

If you're like me, you are on the lookout for better or new products to help you fight the signs of aging and allow you to take good care of you skin.

If that's the case, then you know that Vitamin C is an important antioxidant for your skin.

I was given the opportunity to use Jan Marini Skin Research's C-ESTA Serum for free and see what I think.  C-ESTA Serum has a powerful antioxidant mixture of Vitamin C and DMAE  (abbreviation for dimethylaminoethanol) to lift, firm and tighten  your skin.

My C-ESTA Serum arrived beautifully packaged (see photo above) Great presentation, and now you know you have received something special!

The product is contained in a pretty silver bottle and dispenses via a pump!  Easy to use!  Give it a shake or two before dispensing!  One pump should do the trick. 

C-ESTA Face Serum is thin and absorbs quickly into your skin, not sticky or heavy,  just apply apply after cleansing before moisturizing.

You can check out Jan Marini Skin Research's C-ESTER Face Serum here!
A respected, professional skin care brand!
They work with leading physicians and research scientists to find solutions!

https://www.janmarini.com/skin-care-products/vitamin-c/c-esta-serum

Anyway - beautiful product presentation, great dispenser, easy to use, absorbs well, and doesn't leave a filmy or oily feeling on your face!

And...the scent is wonderful!  Sweet, light citrus scent.

Antioxidant's provide many benefits--lift, firm, tighten skin.  They also reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture.  C-ESTA Serum provides a powerful antioxidant product to assist you in your anti-aging fight!

I have been using the product for a little more than a week and I love the way it makes my skin feel the moment it is applied.  I feel conditioned and feel it sinking in to my skin right where I need it.

My skin feels pampered and looks and feels much smoother!

I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to try C-ESTA Serum for free through Brand Baker and from Jan Marini and share my thoughts.

The opinions here are all my own.

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Simple Solutions by Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Community

Simple Solutions by

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

Community

I am a member of the Simple Solutions by Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Community and I'm going to share a little about it.

Perhaps you'd like to join too!

The first great thing about this community is the forum, there they have posted lots of topics to show you how Arm & Hammer Baking Soda can help you!  It's a Simple Solution to many household needs!  You can use baking soda for baking, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and beauty!  And not just one idea in each topic but many.

Another benefit to this community is accepting missions and sharing about your experience using Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, possible free product and useful ways to make your jobs at home easier and safer.

The tagline for this community is #BakingSodaDoesThat and it is surprising all the things baking soda can do!

Check it out here:

https://simplesolutions.socialmedialink.com/

It's free to join and who knows what you will learn!

I'm very impressed and find myself using baking soda here and baking soda there.

We've all used it to freshen the drains and the refrigerator, but it does so much more!

It cleans and deodorizes safely and naturally.  Freshen your trash can, wash your car tires and rims, throw in laundry for freshening, whitening, and brightening.  Use as a beauty cleaner and teeth cleaner, among many other uses!  

I've used it to clean my bathroom sinks, tubs, and shower doors.

I'm not afraid to use it as there are no harsh chemicals, baking soda is a natural product and completely safe for your family!

Yep, Baking Soda Does That!

When I joined I received free information on all the many uses of baking soda, and a recent mission I received a free Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Shaker and a booklet for summer outdoor cleaning ideas!  #freesample #ad #sponsored 

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

Emma in the Night

by Wendy Walker

Wow, this book left me speechless.  I mean, in a good, twisted, crazy sort of way.  I received an advanced readers copy via BookShout from St. Martins Press through She Speaks.  I wasn't sure how I felt about reading this genre, but man, what a ride.  I read this in a day, off and on, couldn't stop as I had to know!

The story is told through the eyes of Cass, missing for three years, and Dr. Abigail Winter, Forensic Psychologist, FBI.  

One night, three years ago, Emma and her younger sister Cass went missing.  Investigations, FBI questioning, and working the case, led to dead ends.

Three years later Cass shows up on her mother's doorstep, but not with Emma.  Where is Emma?

The old FBI team of Dr. Winter and Special Agent Leo Strauss are together again.  This unsolved case has been eating at Abby.  

Enter the story of a twisted family, narcissistic mother, step father, step brothers, complete dysfunction, secrets, and evil.  

As Cass tells her story, you learn of the kidnapping, that took them to a remote island where they were trapped for 3 years - hear about life there, what was endured, and you hear it in bits and pieces.  The bits and pieces is the reason you had to get to the next chapter, the reason you can't stop reading!

  Alternating from Cass to Abby helped you process and sort out all of the facts and people in this fast-paced, unbelievable story.

As her story is put together piece by piece, Abby tries to make sense of it all.  Enter her own demons and memories with a narcissistic mother.  Will this first hand experience, and the fact that this was the topic of her final project for college, help her make sense of Cass' story,  Cass' family, what really happened, and where is Emma?

Totally gripping tale that had me hooked from the first chapter!

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

The Breakdown

by B. A. Paris

Man, what a great book!  When I started reading this book I 

was done for - meaning I couldn't put it down, and when I had to, let's say to, um, make dinner, it was just calling out to me.  What a fantastic story, awesome characters, and a surprise twist that I never saw coming!  What a crazy, creepy, psychological thriller!  Even the tag line is a bit scary - "If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?" 

The main character, Cass is headed home.  It's the last day of the school year, she has been out with colleagues and a terrible storm is approaching.  She phones her husband, Matthew, to let him know she is on her way home.  Be careful Cass - it's dark and it's storming, and it's late at night.  She mentions the shortcut - and he says - No, make sure you don't take the shortcut.  A split second decision finds Cass turning - taking the shortcut through the wood, a winding, hilly, dark, and wooded road.  

She is almost to the end and she sees tail lights, relieved she isn't alone she nearly hits it as the car is actually parked, on the side of the road, lights still on,  rain teeming down the windows.  As she passes she notices it's a woman in the car.  Should she go, should she stop, is it a trap, what should she do?  

She stops, backs up, and waits - why isn't the woman getting out of the car, she backs up waits...

Cass lost her mother at a fairly young age due to Early Onset Dementia, her father is already deceased.  

The woman in the car was found dead, suspicious circumstances - and now Cass is feeling very guilty.  Slowly she starts to forget things, is riddled with guilt, forgets more things, the phone keeps ringing, but no one is there. 

What is happening to Cass, is she getting EOD?  Is the murderer after her?

Why can't she remember conversations, appointments?  Why is the phone ringing and why is no one there?

Enthralling, frightening, you just can't put it down - who is the murderer? 

What will become of Cass - within a matter of weeks her life is completely unraveling.

This is a must-read!  Thank you to St. Martins Press and She Speaks for this amazing read!

This was an advanced copy - The Breakdown is on sale on July 18th - follow this link and get your copy!
http://smarturl.it/TBDSS
Why didn't you stop?  If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?

#whocanyoutrust
#TheBreakdown

I received a free copy of "The Breakdown" by B. A. Paris from St. Martins Press through She Speaks by the opinions and comments here are strictly my own.

"True to You" by Becky Wade

"True to You"

A Bradford Sisters Romance

by Becky Wade

I just finished this story, just this minute (OK, a couple of minutes ago) and I have that feeling, that mixed up feeling - I loved this book, what a great book, and then the realization that it's over, you've finished, done.

I loved this book that much, I tried to go slowly and relish in the words, the descriptions, the feelings, but I was compelled to keep reading, maybe even when I was supposed to be making dinner! It was that good, that satisfying, to me.

I received a complimentary copy of "True to You" by Becky Wade from Bethany House/Baker Publishing as part of their blogger program.  The review and post are completely honest, and my own opinion.

Here I sit, on my porch, reading this delightful story!

Nora Bradford-librarian, historian, and genealogist, and owner of the historical village.

One broken engagement and she has decided to accept her single-hood and devotes her time to her work, her village, books, and a fascination for her favorite TV show and character.

John Lawson-owner of Lawson Training Inc., former Navy SEAL, adopted.

Runs a security training company, has a girlfriend, strong, chiseled, has received a medical diagnosis.

Nora and her sister, Brit are volunteering to be hostages at a training exercise at Lawson Training, Nora's inability to recover once the exercise is over leads to the chance meeting of Nora and John!

John needs to locate his birth parents, Nora is a genealogist - this is how the story begins.

Take this fun, heartwarming, heart-wrenching, funny, silly, delightful ride with them!

I honestly just loved this book, the characters were so well written you knew they really existed, somewhere.  The same goes for the secondary characters-sisters Willow and Brit, grandmother, housekeeper Valentina, co-workers, and library regulars.  

The scenes are written the same way, detailed and picturesque.  

The story wraps itself around you, and demands you keep reading!

All this fun and I haven't even mentioned the lessons in the book, the underlying Christian theme.  They come as part of the story, they are not forced or obvious!  More amazing writing by this author!

The ending theme to me was - Trust Him.  Trust God, he's got this!

The quote above was at the end of the book - it really spoke to me!

Here is my review as posted on Amazon.com, ChristianBook.com, and Barnes and Noble

I have also left it on Goodreads.com

True to You

by Becky Wade

What an amazing ride!  This story was delightful, charming, heartwarming and heartbreaking, and even funny!  So much depth in this story!  I can't wait to read about the other Bradford sisters!  The writing is unbelievable in this book, it moves you, makes you cry, makes you giggle.  The lessons are there and woven into the story so well, and the ending theme that God has got this!  You just need to trust him.

The two main characters were amazing.  Nora and John.  The book was told from both perspectives.  I loved reading Nora's take, and then hearing John's thoughts.  It made the story so incredible.  You are vested in both characters and understand them so well.  The storytelling is so easy to read yet so much detail, you can visualize the characters and all the settings.  

Nora is a librarian, genealogist, and historian.  John Lawson is an ex-Navy SEAL, was adopted, and has a need to seek out his birth parents.  A chance meeting, Nora offers her services, and the story begins.  As the secondary characters were introduced - sisters, Willow and Brit, her grandmother, co-workers, to name a few, you really got to know them all too!  The conversations, events, and moments of dialogue were so well-written, what a joy.  What's next for Nora and John,  will they find his birth parents, are they just business associates, what about his girlfriend, and Nora’s obsession with books and her favorite TV show!  

At the end of each chapter the author inserted little messages from one character to another and these were total fun.  Facebook messages, texts, notes back and forth, which were satisfying and shed more light, or were just funny.  

I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this book for all the reasons mentioned, it's just a great story, and writing is so compelling I just couldn't put it down!  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House/Baker Publishing to read and review.  The review is honest and completely my own.

Happy Reading!!