Book Review: In the Field of Grace

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing In The Field of Grace River North; New Edition edition (July 1, 2014) by Tessa Afshar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Destitute, grief-stricken, and unwanted by the people of God, Ruth arrives in Israel with nothing to recommend her but Naomi's, love. Her loftiest hope is to provide enough food to save Naomi and herself from starvation.

But God has other plans for her life. While everyone considers Ruth an outcast, she is astounded to find one of the most honored men of Judah showing her favor. Long since a widower and determined to stay that way, Boaz is irresistibly drawn to the foreign woman with the haunted eyes. He tells himself he is only being kind to his Cousin Naomi's chosen daughter when he goes out of his way to protect her from harm, but his heart knows better.

Based on the biblical account of Ruth, In the Field of Grace is the story of a love that ultimately changes the course of Israel's destiny and the future of the whole world.


If you would like to read the first chapter of In The Field of Grace, go HERE.

My Thoughts:
Last year I reviewed Harvest of Gold by Tessa Afshar and loved it.  This book is no different.  The author has a way of bringing the people of the bible to life.  The story of Ruth has always been one of my favorites, and I loved having Ruth come to life in this story.  This book is a must read! 

Book Review: Firewall

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Firewall Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 1, 2014) by DiAnn Mills

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.

DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills


ABOUT THE BOOK

After a whirlwind romance, Taryn Young is preparing to board a plane at Houston International Airport, bound for a dream honeymoon, when a bomb decimates the terminal. Injured but still alive, she awakens to discover her husband is missing and they’re both considered prime suspects in the attack. Further, the FBI is convinced her husband isn’t who he appears to be.

Agent Grayson Hall’s number-one priority is to catch those responsible for the day’s act of terror. All evidence is pointing to Taryn and her new husband. But his instinct tells him her pleas of innocence are genuine. Is her naiveté just for show, or could she truly be another victim of a master scheme, possibly linked to the software she recently developed for her company?

With both their lives and reputations on the line, and the media outcry for justice increasing with each passing minute, Taryn and Grayson have no choice but to trust one another . . . and pray they can uncover the truth before they become two more casualties.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Firewall, go HERE.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book!  It was an adventure that kept me on my toes.  It is not the type of book I normally read, but it was a nice change of pace!

Product Review- Carcinia Cambogia Supreme

When I saw an opportunity to review Garcinia Cambogia I was interested.  I had heard all the hupla about it, and seen tons of ads online.  The brand I am reviewing is from Life and Food.  It is called Garcinia Cambogia Supreme.  My biggest concern with taking #Garcinia was the safety of taking it.  I did not want to get started taking something that would be recalled down the road like so many diet supplements.  So I did some research I was glad to find it come from a plant that made me feel much better about trying it.

Product Discription: 
180 Capsules. 80% HCA and 1400 Mg servings, compared to 1000 Mg servings of the leading brand.
This is our highest HCA concentration Garcinia Cambogia product. Completely THIRD PARTY tested, and verified for HCA standardization

Using only premium quality extracts containing hydroxycitric acid (HCA) produced from choice Indian and Asian Garcinia Cambogia fruit rind of the highest quality possible. Studies show HCA in Garcinia can help inhibit glucose absorption as well as promote a balanced, lighter mood by boosting Serotonin levels without the jitters.

NO SOY, NO ADDITIVES, NO STIMULANTS, PURE QUALITY
Our products are sourced and tested to make sure they are of the HIGHEST quality and bio-availability in the market. Absolutely NO fillers, NO soy, WHEAT, eggs, fish, stimulants or any additives.

This product is stimulant free and also promote a balanced, lighter mood by boosting Serotonin levels without giving you the jitters as some weight loss supplements do. Allergen-free, our product uses a vegetable capsule with no fillers or binders, mixing Garcinia Cambogia fruit rind with calcium and potassium for added absorption your body needs.

Made and manufactured in world class GMP certified facilities in the USA. This product is free of contaminants, fillers, binders, or toxins. Quality and safety are a primary focus for all Life & Food branded products.

HOW DOES IT BURN FAT?
HCA is the key component reduces glucose absorption there by leading to fat reduction for those with high glucose levels. We've formulated to optimal dosage helps suppress the appetite while burning fat. It has also shown to improve blood lipid leves, help reduce fate production, curb emotional eating and help improve mood by raising the "feel good" hormone serotonin. It is clinically proven to block the stress hormone cortisol, too. . 

My Thoughts: 
I have not been taking to Garcinia Cambogia Supreme long enough to have seen extreme results, but I am hopeful that as I continue to take it and improve my diet and exercising habits that I will see big results.  I have noticed a decrease in appetite and energy level on the days I have taken it.  Honestly at this point I am not sure if those are a result of the #Garcinia or a placebo effect from knowing it is suppose to have those results.  I think only time will tell.  I do give the product 5 stars and am excited to see what the future results will be.

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book Review- Shenandoah Dreams

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Shenandoah Dreams OakTara Publishers (July 1, 2014) by Lisa Belcastro

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Belcastro lives with her family on Martha’s Vineyard. She loves chocolate, gardening, outdoor activities, cooking, laughing, reading, traveling, a healthy dose of adventure, and her cat Ben, who keeps her company while she spends hours working at the computer.

She was inspired to write Shenandoah Nights, the first book in the Winds of Change trilogy, while chaperoning two Tisbury School summer sails with her daughter, Kayla, aboard the schooner Shenandoah. The weeklong adventure, sans electricity, Game Boys, iPods and modern conveniences, kindled her imagination to dream of an altogether different voyage.

In addition to writing romance novels, Lisa currently pens the cuisine column for Vineyard Style magazine. She has worked as a staff and freelance reporter and photographer for The Chronicle of the Horse and as assistant editor at The Blue Ridge Leader. She has written articles for USA Today, Dressage (London), USA WEEKEND Magazine, The Blue Ridge Leader and Sidelines.

When she’s not at her desk, Lisa is living in paradise, volunteering at her daughter’s school, serving in her church community, planting and weeding her numerous gardens, trying to run a marathon a month, or walking the beach looking for sea glass.

ABOUT THE BOOK

What if she met the man of her dreams...in another century? Tisbury, Massachusetts, Martha s Vineyard. It s just a dream, Melissa Smith whispers as she stares into the intense eyes of a man dressed in Colonial clothes, as though stepping out of an American Revolution movie set. A school chaperone with Holmes Hole Elementary, she d boarded the old schooner Shenandoah for a weeklong educational sail. But they are not visiting Plimoth Plantation, the Boston Tea Party Museum, or the Concord Bridge reenactment. They re sailing the waters around the island of Martha s Vineyard. Yet, when she awakes in Cabin 8, the captain claims to be Isaiah Reed, who sailed the original Shenandoah in the eighteenth century. He cannot possibly be real, Melissa thinks. And traveling back in time is impossible. But days pass, and she s still in 1770. What if Isaiah, who is simply too handsome to be real, is real? What if the fire he ignites in her from barely a touch isn t in her imagination? Can a dream last for weeks on end? If so, how will she find her way home...to the twenty-first century? And can she bear to leave the one man who has captured her heart, when everything in her longs to stay? A Vineyard Romance Romance, history, adventure. Get swept into the exciting Winds of Change series.

If you liked to read the first chapter of Shenandoah Dreams, go HERE.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book.  With the fantasy twist of going back in time it was not like the Christian fiction books I normally read. 

How to find giveaways and linkys

Lately I have been looking for new giveaways to enter as well as linkys to add my blog posts to.  The other night I was searching using swagbucks to try and find some lists of blogs with giveaway linkys on them. (That is my swagbucks referral link if you are not already earning those gift cards it is time to get on the band wagon!!)   I found this Linky Tools Directory. This has been very helpful to me in finding different type of linkys that are current.  Anyways happy linky hunting!  Does anyone else have some good tips on where to find blog linkys and giveaways?

2 Ingredient Play Dough

I found a great play dough recipe at Simply Moms and Friends. 

The original recipeI found calls for 1 cup corn starch to 1/2 cup cheap hair conditioner with a few drops of food coloring.  

I used a pomegranate and grapeseed VO5 conditioner.  It smelled so good.  Since my conditioner was pink it gave my dough a pink hint of color, so I skipped the food coloring to make the whole project a little simpler. 

As we measured out our corn starch and conditioners I took the opportunity to discuss a whole and a half.  When I first started mixed I got scared I had a gooey mess.  So added some extra corn starch till I got a consistency we liked.  I think if I had just kept mixing it at first I would have eventually gotten a nice fluffy consistency.  I kept it a little on the dry crumbly side, DD was using the dough with some cars to drive through.  I think our measurements were closer to 1 cup corn starch to 1/4 cup conditioner.  DD had a ball playing with her cars in it.  She loved making tire tracks through it and squeeze it in her hands.  She got  some great fine motor time in with it.