Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Great Start From Susan May Warren!! #Review

Wild Montana Skies
By Susan May Warren



And Susan May Warren does it again! She has penned a novel that had my attention at the first chapter and continually pulled me further into the story. Wild Montana Skies introduces a new series, Montana Rescue, and it definitely starts off with a bang. We get to meet so many intriguing characters, see two people find their way, as well as the start of a mystery.

Kacey Fairing has come home, but for how long she isn't sure. Her days of flying choppers in the military have taught her a lot, but it didn't prepare her for running into Ben King, her ex-boyfriend. It doesn't help that he is country music star extraordinaire, or that she never told him about his daughter, 13 year old Audrey. And while he is only planning on being home for a small amount of time to help his dad, things don't always go as planned.

These two people, Kacey and Ben, are so complex. There were times that I expected Kacey to do something and instead she goes a different route. And Ben is super sweet, though a very intense guy. I loved their chemistry together and let me tell you, it don't get any better than a hero rescuing his true love :) There is a lot of sound wisdom given in this book and two of my favorite quotes are below.


"People think that faith, especially as we face our fears, or hold on to our dreams, is for the weak, the pitiful. People who are afraid or indecisive. But in fact, having faith is the bravest thing we can do. It's the unwavering confidence that God loves us. That although we can't see the road ahead, we can see God. A God we know, a God that loves us - so much that he won't give up on us. Won't let us get lost, even when we think we are. Real faith takes everything you have - throwing your life, your heart, everything you are, with complete abandon into the embrace of God."


"How about this- let's not let our past determine whether God loves us or not. He does. And we'll never get it right without him." 

This is a story of redemption. Of second chances and being able to move forgive past mistakes. I found myself looking at my past, and how I forgive when someone comes to me after they have wronged me. And it goes the other way as well. An excellent story from Susan Warren, but again, what else do you expect? Five star for sure!




**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Applebee's $9.99 Steak Dinner! With 2 Winner #Giveaway #WOODFIRED

As a family it is difficult to go out together and get a good meal. One of those that you can sit down, relax and enjoy a steak. When I had the opportunity to visit an Applebee's restaurant and do just that, I was happy to try out their new steak myself and tell all my readers about it. But, I am overjoyed to let you know, that two of my readers will also be able to enjoy a visit of their own to Applebee's!


All four of us headed out to the location nearest us. It is actually in another state, but only about 30 minutes away and well worth the trip. We go to Applebee's on occasion, but as a family it is normally a treat. After all, $15 per person is a bit much for an everyday occurrence. This time we were going to try the limited offer that is available until November 13th. For the great price of $9,99, you are able to enjoy a wood fired grill, 6 oz top sirloin steak along with 2 sides. Believe me, their food is good, but when you bring in an offer like this? You can have your steak every day!


The waitress who seated us was not the friendliest, but our personal waitress was great. This is a young lady who was attentive without hovering and chatty with those who wanted to talk. We did have to ask about the $9.99 steak dinner as they had a sign up but when you open the menu, it says this is a higher price. Our waitress informed us that it actually rings up at the sale price, but not that way in the menu. We ordered our meals, three steaks and one grilled chicken and awaited our food to arrive. I wanted to see if these were as good as they looked on the sign. You know how it is with a lot of places, the pictures look great but then the food arrives and it is half the size or looks old. Let me show you pictures of food that arrived at our table and they can speak for themselves.

6 oz Top Sirloin Steak with Garlicky Green Beans 
and 
Garlic Mashed Potatoes

6 oz Top Sirloin Steak with Garlicky Green Beans 
and 
Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes



Now, do those not look delicious!! I could not believe when they arrived at our table. The food was steaming hot, the portions were good and I could not wait to dig in. Let me show you a picture of the chicken plate as well.

Grilled Chicken Breast with Garlicky Green Beans 
and 
Garlic Mashed Potatoes



We did have one steak that turned out medium well instead of the medium we had asked for, but this was a minor issue and easily taken care of. As you can tell, everyone loved the garlicky items. They were the hit of the night and I personally loved the green beans. Nice and fresh tasting! The meats were so flavorful and tender. I definitely want to make another stop at Applebee's again for another steak before this is over.


Now, I know you are all anxious to hear about the wonderful giveaway. There will be two winners, each receiving a $25 e-gift card. This means that you will be getting it over email and you have to print it off and take it in with you. I had no issues at all taking mine in. These are good for any location in the US and it also means that you and your spouse can have a date night!! Or maybe take a friend out to eat :) I do know they would make a great gift for the holidays but the deal does end next month. You know the normal rules. Giveaway ends 11/2/16, that way you have time to use the gift certificate before the deal is over. Winners will be chosen by Random.org and they will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

From the Start by Melissa Tagg with #Review



Kate Walker used to believe in true love and happily ever after. While her own love life may have left her brokenhearted, it hasn't kept her from churning out made-for-TV romance movie screenplays...until a major career slump and a longing to do something meaningful send her running back to her hometown of Maple Valley. Permanently sidelined by an injury, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is temporarily hiding out in a friend's hometown to avoid the media and the reminders of all he's lost. Maple Valley seems like the perfect place to learn how to adjust to normal life. The only trouble is he's never really done normal before. While Kate plays things safe and Colton is all about big risks and grand gestures, they both get what it's like to desperately need direction in life. An unexpected project gives them both a chance to jumpstart their new lives, but old wounds and new dreams are hard to ignore. Starting over wasn't part of the plan, but could it be the best thing that's ever happened to them?

MY THOUGHTS- Wow! Melissa Tagg has done it yet again. I read my first novel from her last year and I literally fell in love with it. Here To Stay was just marvelous. She is an author who knows how to write stories that are realistic but have just a slight touch of fantasy to them. And this one has made my top five list for the year.

The heroine is a girl who has been hurt by love in the past. Kate Walker feels like there is nothing more for her in that department. And while she makes films about romance, she just needs a break in her hometown of Maple Valley. I just love the name! I imagine a quaint area like Gatlinburg TN, full of fall leaves and little shops down main street. Colton Greene is the hero, though he doesn't feel like one at the moment. The characters have their up and down moments, keeping true to real life stories. I would suggest keeping your tissues available ;) I really felt like the author was trying to get across the point that sometimes it takes letting go of everything, being totally at the mercy of God, before He steps in to take over. It really got me to thinking about my life and how much I allow Him to control and how much I want to hang on for dear life to the reins. Again, an amazing book that kept me up late to finish :)




**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

By Your Side by Candace Calvert with #Review



ER nurse Macy Wynn learned essential, gritty lessons in the California foster care system: land on your feet and trust no one. She’s finally located the fellow foster child she loves like a sister, but the girl’s in deep trouble. Macy’s determined to help, no matter what it takes. Her motto is to “make it happen” in any situation life throws at her—even when she butts heads with an idealistic cop. Deputy Fletcher Holt believes in a higher plan, the fair outcome—and his ability to handle that by himself if necessary. Now he’s been yanked from Houston, his mother is battling cancer, and he’s attracted to a strong-willed nurse who could be the target of a brutal sniper. When everything goes wrong, where do they put their trust?



MY REVIEW- By Your Side is a medical thriller penned by Candace Calvert. She is an excellent author who knows how to make the medical terminology and phrases obvious to the layman. And believe me, I may know a couple of the phrases, I have watched some ER shows after all, but many times the books make it confusing and you aren't really sure what the author is talking about. Not so with By Your Side.

The book opens with a bang, or should I say gunfire, and keeps moving quite fast from there. The nurse is Macy, a woman with a troubled childhood, and the hero would be Fletcher, the police officer from Houston who is quite intriguing. He protects Macy after a sniper attacks those stuck on the highway from an accident. But can he continue to protect her from the crazed lunatic firing at those traveling the roads? Or will her past always be between them? Find out for yourself and enjoy a trip through a medical drama that will have your heart beating fast as you turn pages!



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Mattie's Pledge by Jan Drexler with #Review


When she feels the pull of both home and the horizon, which will she choose?



Mattie Schrock is no stranger to uprooting her life. Even as her father relocated her family from one Amish community to the next, she always managed to find a footing in their new homes. Now as the Schrock family plans to move west from Somerset County to a fledgling Amish settlement in Indiana, she looks forward to connecting with old friends who will be joining them from another Pennsylvania community--friends like Jacob Yoder, who has always held a special place in her heart.

Since Mattie last saw Jacob, they've both grown into different people with different dreams. Jacob yearns to settle down, but Mattie can't help but dream of what may lie over the western horizon. When a handsome Englisher tempts her to leave the Amish behind to search for adventure in the West, will her pledge to Jacob be the anchor that holds her secure?

Tender, poignant, and gentle, Mattie's Pledge offers you a glimpse into Amish life in the 1840s--and into the yearning heart of a character you'll not soon forget.



MY REVIEW- I have to admit, this is the first book I have ever read by this author. But it will definitely not be the last. Jan Drexler does an amazing job of pulling the readers into the story and making it an interesting ride. I learned things about the Amish and their history that I had never known before, as well as just enjoying a good romance.

This is the second in a series, have the first one on hold at my local library, but I really had no difficulties reading them out of order. The Amish are a group I sometimes have trouble reading about because of the rules and their systems. But not often are they brought so vividly to the forefront as it was in this book. For instance, the guidelines of no violence, even when being wronged. There is a horse thief and the Amish pioneers don't want to take any action against him. As a matter of fact, they want to give him some of their horses. Which I know this in my head, but to actually see it played out in a book was different. As I mentioned, the author does a perfect job in this way. The characters are all likable, other than the horse thief, and I really enjoyed getting to know them as the journey continued. Their compassion and kindness is something to strive for.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Download Your Free How-To Guide for Bring Your Bible to School Day



bringyourbible 

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are preparing for Hurricane Matthew to hit. For students in hurricane-affected states who are facing school closures but still want to participate in Bring Your Bible to School Day, the alternate date is Thursday, October 20.

This brings about a good point: Any day can be a day you organize your friends to bring your Bibles to school together!

By signing up during the month of October for Bring Your Bible to School Day (even if you missed the official celebration), you can download a free how-to guide for teens, parents, pastors, and elementary students. It's full of helpful information that will help you organize a day to take a stand for religious freedom and bring your Bible to school with your fellow classmates.

(Sign-ups must be received by midnight (MT), Oct. 7, in order to be automatically entered into the Newsboys giveaway.)

Plus Bring Your Bible to School Comes to Adventures in Odyssey

sept-oac-art-250x250 

Getting used to a new school isn’t easy, especially for someone as paranoid as Buddy Norman. In “A Predicament of Biblical Proportions” he envisions wacky worst-case encounters with townsfolk who seem like mobsters, snoops and fairy-tale tyrants—until he gets to know them. He’s also a little confused about Bring Your Bible to School Day. What’s it about? Should he participate? See Odyssey through Buddy’s eyes in this witty celebration of religious freedom.

Listen to this story through a two-week trial only on the Odyssey Adventure Club.




**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Monday, October 10, 2016

Don't Miss Timeless!! New Time Travel Show from NBC

How many of you like time travel? I enjoy some books and movies that portray people traveling into other time periods and either changing history or watching as history is made. So when I was offered the chance to preview a new series coming out, and it just happened to be about time travel? You can bet I said yes!



Timeless is a thrilling new series from NBC that combines action and adventure with time machines and fugitives who want to change history. A team of people, lead by Lucy (Abigail Spencer), must race to stop him from forever changing the past.



I have had the privilege of watching the pilot episode, airs Monday 10/9C on NBC, and boy is it a good one! We not only see everything come together and the team find their way, but you get to see the Hindenberg like never before. I don't want to give too much away, but if you like time period pieces, this is an amazing series. It is not just for those who like time travel, but rather anyone who enjoys a good action or thriller as well. I can see it piquing the interest of men and women, but also teenagers.



There was some language, not an over abundance, and a few comments that I thought could have been left out. But overall it was an entertaining and very intriguing start to a series. I will be previewing the next episode as well and just might give a teaser write up this week :)




This post was sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer's Network.​




**DISCLOSURE: This post was sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer's Network.​ Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Monday, October 3, 2016

Help Stomp Out Bullying Today! @STOMPOutBullyng #‎GOBLUE2EndBullying2016

Good morning everyone! I am writing this while out and about on vacation but this is such an important subject that I couldn't pass up the opportunity. After all, bullying has become a very major crisis in our world today. Believe me, I have seen it firsthand and I know how it feels. And with October being the National Bullying Prevention Month, the third, yes today, has been nominated as blue shirt day. I would encourage everyone to wear a blue shirt to stand with those who are opting to stomp out bullying!



As a teenager, I was not very sure of myself. Even now there are days where I still struggle with self confidence. I was very thin, gangly and yes, I wore eyeglasses. And not the nice ones they have available nowadays. These were big rims and since my eyes are so bad, they had thick lenses. Lets just say I wasn't the greatest at rocking them :) So I had my share of the looks and the comments. It is one of those things you learn to deal with and hope you grow out of. Today I am not as hard on myself and I try to see myself as being comfortable with who I am. I get it though, sometimes it just isn't easy to do at all.



For those around us, bullying can come in many forms. It could be the classmate in school who pushes and shoves, or it could be the sibling or relative who constantly talks down or calls names. It might be right in front of us and many times we won't even catch it. Or it could be blatantly obvious and we have the option to either stand out against the crowd to stop the bullying, or choose to just follow the others. There is also another possibility that many would say is the easier one, but I don't see it as a choice at all. That would be to just be quiet and go your way, not stepping in or raising our voice to be heard. It is time we stand up and come to the defense of those who are being bullied. We should also be checking ourselves and making sure we aren't harassing others in any way. I know how easy it is to put others down to make ourselves look good. Instead step beside that person and help stomp out bullying!


Elizabeth Olson BLUE SHIRT DAY® WORLD DAY OF BULLYING PREVENTION™ 2016 from STOMP Out Bullying on Vimeo.




**DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Beyond PR and Stomp Out Bullying. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**
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