Tuesday's Book Nook

From the Author:

Ethan and Sophie long to share a future together. But the secrets they’re not sharing could tear them apart.
Sophie Caldwell has returned to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee after years away. Despite the heartaches of her childhood, Sophie is determined to make a home, and a name, for herself in the growing town. A gifted writer, she plans to resurrect the local newspaper that so enchanted her as a girl.
Ethan Heyward’s idyllic childhood was shattered by a tragedy he has spent years trying to forget. An accomplished businessman and architect, he has built a majestic resort in the mountains above Hickory Ridge, drawing wealthy tourists from all over the country.
When Sophie interviews Ethan for the paper, he is impressed with her intelligence and astounded by her beauty. She's equally intrigued with him but fears he will reject her if he learns about her shadowed past. Just as she summons the courage to tell him, Ethan’s own past unexpectedly and violently catches up with him, threatening not only his life but their budding romance.

My Review:

This has been the first book that I have been able to review written by Dorothy Love.  Let me tell you, it was well worth the wait!  Upon starting the first chapter I became aware that this was in fact book 3 (the final) of Hickory Ridge Series.  However, Dorothy did such a fantastic job with her descriptions of all the characters that I immediately felt drawn into the town of Hickory Ridge and the people who lived there.
I fell in love with Sophie immediately.  She came back to a town that she felt judged her while she was a child growing up in an orphanage to restore the towns newspaper.  She faces many challenges while trying to get her life & career back in order, none of which slows her down.  It was during one of her first journalistic interviews that she meets Ethan.
I liked the fact that each character makes assumptions about different situations around them & each assumption is proven wrong.  It even had me, the reader, starting assume situations to not be what they were.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good simple romance.

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

#MamavationMonday~Here's to Finally Seeing Results

Up until today I have never heard of Roni Noone but thanks to today's subject on Mamavation I was able to see how wonderful & insightful Roni is.  Like Roni I like to come up with lite recipes, but its hard to do with the picky eaters that I have in my home.  I was so excited when told that she has two picky eaters (and a picky husband) like I do, that I couldn't click over to her web site fast enough Greenbites Roni has come up with so many fun & exciting recipes that I can not wait to try.  The first on my list is her Mexican Pizza!  It looks just as yummy as it sounds & I think it will please all the picky eaters in my home.  My husband loves all things Mexican & both my daughters love pizza & the fact that its thin crust it definitely has my interest.

I really truly hope that I make it home in time to tune into the Mamavation T.V show today.  I am sure that Roni has a few tricks up her sleeve as to how she was able to lose the 70#s and change her families food lifestyle.

ON TO HOW MY PAST WEEK WENT....

If you follow the Mamavation on Facebook  than you will recall that last Tuesday I was involved in a vehicle accident.  As a result my vehicle was totaled & my back was strained/sprain.  My children didn't get hurt and as all moms know that was the most important factor.  

Needless to say I couldn't workout or get any exercise at all for the rest of the week.  Or so I thought.... I reached out to my fellow Mamavation Sistas (you can find out more information about the sistahood here) who all gave me the pick up that I needed with positive words of encouragement and prayers for quick healing.  However I would like to personally thank Kia Ru.  Kia was kind enough to email me some instructions on a few different Yoga stretches that I could try to help stretch out my back.  I can not thank Kia enough for taking time out of her day to help me out.  (You can follow Kia at Bodhi Bear ; or via face book at Bodhi-Bear) This is just one of the many reasons why I LOVE this group of ladies.  Even though we have never met in person we are all always there to help each other out & lift each other up virtually. 

I also had received guidance from my other friends that I have made with AdvoCare.  They reminded me that if I wasn't moving as much I needed to focus on my water intake and that more vegetables should be eaten.  I think that with all this guidance that I received I was able to achieve a milestone this week.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

 

That's right, your seeing that right.  I lost 5 pounds this week & I am ready to jump out of my skin with excitement.  I listened to all the advice.  Drank 10+ glasses of water a day (believe I felt like I was floating & living in the bathroom most days) and made sure that if I wanted a snack that I chose a vegetable like green beans when I had the chance.  I really wasn't able to do more than the Yoga moves that Kia suggested.  I also got the 8 hours of sleep that is recommended. It helped that my husband stepped up last week & took care of more things around the house so that I could heal.


Start weight 208#
Current weight 198.3#

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools

THIS WEEKS GOAL

1) not gain weight

2) continue with the yoga & strengthen my back

3) continue with the water intake

  

“This post is sponsored by Roni Noone and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway”

MAMAVATION MONDAY~GARDENING

Growing up on a farm I can honestly say that I have gardened all my life.  I was happy to see this this Momavation Monday Topic was all about Home Gardening.  Even though I have gardened for so long I feel like I have a lot to learn.  This weeks special guest  Angela England is full of insight as to how to garden with little space to do so.
With spring in the air this week I started looking through the mountain of seed catalogs to decided exactly what vegetables I want to plant.  I know for sure that I want my tomatoes, green peppers, and cucumbers.  But I also want to try my hand this year to some more fruits.  I am fortunate enough that I do have a large yard.  So I have been thinking of making a raised strawberry patch and maybe even plant a few raspberry bushes this year.  My one issue with gardening & if you know me personally, you know this is true...I do great right in Spring.  All my plants will be in, I'll water & turn the soil.  But as soon as the weeds start to take over I slack....a lot on the gardens.  But by Fall I am again out in full force harvesting all my produce.  I than will make all my jams & can all the produce I can into the sauces that I will use throughout the year.  What I can not can, I freeze.  I just wish I could find more Jam or Jelly recipes that are canned that do not call for as much sugar. Which is my goal before next Fall.

As far as health goes, I am doing really well.  I am so proud that I can now officially again run a full mile non stop.  My current time for that is 11 min 10 seconds.  I am also incorporating weights back into my routine.  The extra workouts as well as eating more of a clean diet has really helped as well. 
 I have a goal this week to workout at LEAST 4 times.  It is so much easier said than done as all of us moms know, but I have the best cheerleaders in the world next to me.  My kids remind me that its time to get up & get moving and that I need to work out again.  So with their encouragement as well as yours I know that I will be seeing better numbers on the scale. 
  “This post is sponsored Dole and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway”

#Mamvation~Spice Up Your Love Life

Every once in awhile, Leah hits a topic out of the ball park by making all of us Mamavation Sistas talk about somewhat uncomfortable subjects. 

This week is no different as we will be discussing our love lives.  We have a special guest who will be talking about ways to spice things up in the bedroom.  

I am looking forward to this.  I like sex, don't get me wrong, but there are other ways to show your partner that you love them & the physical act just seals the deal.  And, honestly since the kids, the stress of my brother, and the fact that my hormones are all out of whack thanks to the cysts that I have on my ovaries; as well as the birth control that I have been on, my sex drive has been null.  Maybe she'll even share a few "50 Shades of Grey" ideas.  Don't judge me, kinky things can be fun :)

Please be sure to join me & my fellow sistas as we watch Coach Nicole tonight on  Mingle Media 10 PM ET/ 7 PM PST. 

As far as my health, I will be blogging my weight loss tomorrow morning, but I feel GREAT.  I have a lot more energy, my kids & husband are on board with the changes and I can only see positive results in my future.

 This post is sponsored by Touch Within Coaching and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway”

The Waiting Game

As some of you know one of the reasons this blog has been silent for a few days is because of my brother.  My brother is currently in the hospital with a Subdural hematoma as well as a fractured skull.  We may never know what exactly caused his injuries, and that is one of the hardest things for us to live with.   My brother & I were always close growing up.  He was & is the typical older brother who loves to tease me to no end.  

 According to the neurologist there has not been any improvement in the amount of fluid
or however after two days the hemorrhage has stopped.   He is very restless & the nurses, doctors and rest of the family are just trying to keep him calm.   They had to induce a medically induced comma to help keep him calm.    The other issue happening is that he is having a very irregular heart rhythm. Keep in mind that this could be occurring do to the paid medicine he is on as well as because the heart is not sure if it should be pumping more blood to the brain or less.  Also, when they intubated him, my brother suffered a collapsed lung, that than needed to be re inflated. From what the nurses and doctors have said this is normal, but still needs to be monitored closely. 

It's been 1 week since my brother was put into the hospital. On Saturday the medical staff introduced my brother to a "sedation vacation"  He was able to last for 30 minutes with that on Saturday before his heart rate & blood pressure began to spike.  Then on Sunday he lasted for 60 minutes & was able to open his eyes on command but it only was for a brief second. Every day were told that he is taking baby steps in the right direction.  Its so hard watching him lay on a bed with the machines to help him breath.  I am starting to feel like I am being sucked down into this deep dark hole & there is nothing I can do to help my brother. 

It also doesn't help with the knowledge that this is a frontal lobe injury.  We won't know what type of a person my brother will be when he wakes up.  He may become a risk taker, he may have permanent memory loss, he may be more aggressive.  Only time will tell. 

Its because of this, that I have not been able to write my Mamavation Monday Post or keep up with the Facebook feed.   I feel so out of the loop that I can hardly focus.  But, here is how I have been doing.  I am still trying to make healthier food choices.  I try to take the steps at the hospital vs the elevator.  I also weighed myself today & found that I haven't loss anymore weight.   I'm trying to look at it like the 'glass is half full'  telling myself that I didn't gain weight either & no matter how I look at it I am still down 3#s from the start of the year.  Let me tell you that its not easy.

This week I am asking everyone who stops by to read this post that they pray for my brother.  

Thank you for reading.

Whispers in the Wind

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (August 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764204165
• ISBN-13: 978-0764204166
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches 

From the Author:

After fleeing North Dakota and the now defunt Wild West Show, Cassie Lockwood and her companions have finally found the hidden valley in South Dakota where her father had dreamed of putting down roots.  But to dismay, she discovers a ranch already built on her land.

Cassie's arrival surprises Mavis Engstorm and forces her to reveal secrets she's kept hidden for years.  Her son Rasnsom is suspicious of Cassie and   questions the validity of her claim to the valley. But younger son Lucas decides from the start that he is in love with her and wants to marry her.

Will Casie be able to build a home on the Bar E Ranch and fulfill her father's dream of raising horses, or will she be forced to return to the itinerant life of her past?

My Thoughts:

I loved the first book in the Wild West Wind Series and was thrilled to be able to review the second book from Bethany House.  The tale starts out with Casie finding out that her father co-owned the ranch with Mavis Engstorms late husband.  I was surprised to find out that not only did Mavis welcome Cassie into her home with open arms she took Casie under her wing & showed her how to keep a home.  Cassie however knows a lot about ranching and wants to be able to do her fair share.  She knows how to shoot and she has learned how to hunt so, she goes on a quest to join shooting contest so that she may earn money to help provide for her & her "family"  However, tragedy strikes just as she is about to compete in a big match.  I won't ruin the outcome for you, so you need to read the book!

Suspense, Faith & Love with "Submerged"

Product Detailshttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7198939323480366782#editor/target=post;postID=7594969521963798936

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; Original edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764209825
• ISBN-13: 978-0764209826

From the Author:
Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a town that doesn't forget. She's returned only to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash, but then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives. He can face the fear a murderer may be threatening his town. But facing the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart...but doesn't seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago. And he's not the same guy she left behind.

Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally surfaces.

My Thoughts:
This was an absolute page turner from the first to the last paragraph.  This was Dani Pettrey's first novel for the Alaskan Courage series.  I was sucked into the life of Cole and Bailey as they fought to over come the emotions of the past as they found clues as to what really caused the plane crash that killed her aunt. I loved that their faith in God helped them to move on from the past and to heal the old wounds they each held in their hearts for one another.  

I also liked that we were introduced to the entire McKenna family and the struggles that they face. My only complaint is that the author leaves us with a cliff hanger that we can't read until her next book comes out!


I received this complementary copy from Bethany House Publishers exchange for my honest opinion*