Fabulous Friday 2/26/21

 Has this week seemed long to anyone else but me? It seems like each week just seems to get longer. I don't know if it is because I am not going very many places or what, but I feel like that is a small part of it. I want to make plans again and see people, but I am leery. I only went 3 places this week, and only got out of the van for two of them (I sat in the van for Elijah's music lessons) and today I feel like I am getting sick. I know that could be coincidence, allergies, or Matt could have brought germs into the house, but it makes it harder to get back in the routine of going places all the time. Anyway, despite if being a long week, there are several things making this Friday/week fabulous for me:

IT'S FRIDAY

IT'S FRIDAY

IT'S FRIDAY

IT'S FRIDAY

 We had 3 days of sunshine in a row

I will never run out of books to read

I will never be bored

Kayla is doing well

Matt and Elijah are healthy

Junior is healthy (although teething 🤦🐕)

It is not currently raining

Coffee

God's faithfulness

Answered prayers

Good books to read

Pupford (awesome customer service)

Texts

Phone calls from my girl

Currently #1 Reviewer on Reedsy Discovery (Probably won't last, but it makes me happy!)

Warm clothes

Matt

Book mail

Facebook Groups

Fun pens

Kindle holder

My computer

My Phone

Vacuum cleaner

3 days off sugar

Good food

Friends

My Bible

Christian authors

Music

My Alexa

Working washer/dryer

Electricity

 Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD."

 

 

 

Paleo Chili

I had not had chili in almost 2 years before I made this paleo pumpkin chili. With all my food allergies/intolerances, it is not something I thought I could have, I would have to leave too many ingredients out. However, I decided to try it with only the ingredients I could eat. I could not believe that it tasted like REAL chili!!! It had no tomatoes, pasta, pepper, or chili powder, which are some of the main staples of my chili. It was so good and made great leftovers. I told Matt that I should have
made his chili and he said "No need, this one is so good!" Even Elijah liked it, which is a MAJOR win in my book! I am looking forward to making it again next week when the temps get a little cooler again.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (sub turkey)
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups carrot, chopped
• 1 cup sweet potato, chopped
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1–2 tbsp fresh cilantro
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp cumin  
• 1 avocado, diced  
  

 

Directions:

1. Using a large pot or dutch oven, saute the beef on medium heat until browned. Remove from the pot and set aside, reserving about half of the fat in the pot for cooking.
2. Saute the onions on medium heat for about 5 minutes, then add in the garlic and saute for another few minutes.
3. Add the carrots and sweet potato stirring occasionally for 5-8 minutes or until slightly softened.
4. Pour the broth, pumpkin puree, and ground beef in and stir well. Add the seasonings (reserving half of the cilantro for garnish) and stir well.
5. Bring the chili to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste to ensure the veggies are cooked to liking and season further to taste.
6. Serve the chili topped with avocado and cilantro.

 The link to the Paleo Pumpkin Chili (AIP,  WHOLE 30) that we modified is here. Let me know what's in your favorite chili recipe and if this one sounds good to you 😋

It's the little things

I think most of us are stressed to the max. We are sick and tired of the pandemic. We are tired of all the political news. We are weary of masks or those who don't wear masks, or those who do and we don't. We had hope that by this point we wouldn't be wearing masks and now some are saying we will be wearing them into 2022. It is exhausting, overwhelming, and I think it is safe to say we are all over it. Add in the snowstorms if you are on that side of the country, or the incessant rain and mud if you are closer to where I live.

 Yet, these are not the things that seem to put us over the edge. It's the little things. You know what I mean? So yesterday, I was trying to clean my puppy's face. He was having none of it. I am like, I just want to get the eye boogies out of your eye, they are gross. And he is all like, get your hands off my face, I am going to eat you to death. I found myself getting frustrated, and I am like why? Is this really a hill I want to live or die on. No, it is not. So I walked away. This morning I was trying to put on his harness and it would not go on. (remember my post last week where I lost my stuff over this SAME issue?!) Yep, the EXACT same thing this morning. It would not fasten, it kept twisting, I was getting frustrated, he was being good, but he finally had enough and was over it as well. I cannot explain the extent of my frustration in that moment! 

So, why do these little things get to us so much? I think because we do not address them and adequately deal with them. So, they become this rolling ball of frustration, that just keeps rolling, getting bigger and bigger (like a snowball), and then slams into something solid exploding it all over the place. I truly believe that these little small things can be used by God. I believe that the hard things will be good. I know God can do great things with small things. 

So, how do we handle these things that keep getting thrown at us? I think the right attitude is the first thing. I can't tell you how many times I have heard, "I can't." Which always reminds me of "Can't never could do anything." I despise those two words, "I can't." Once you have that attitude, you are 100% right, you can't, because you have convinced yourself that it is impossible. One of my favorite sentences/Bible verses is "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). I know it's hard, but it is so much harder when we are trying to do everything in our own strength. If we look at that test, or that assignment, or that paper, or that person who is always negative, or that coworker that hates your guts or your whatever, and say, "What can I do at this moment." Start with one thing. The first thing. Writing your name on that test, that wasn't so hard, was it? Saying "I'm sorry," to start mending that relationship...one thing. What one thing could I do in my frustration this morning? I left the harness off and put it on later. I also chose not to take my frustration out on Junior, it was not his fault I could not get the harness on. One other thing I chose to do was to text Matt that we HAD to get a new harness because I could not keep fighting with this harness. I refuse to let it be a constant source of frustration at the beginning of my day. Thankfully he had already ordered a new one and it will be here toward the end of the week. You all, God can do good things with small things. Have you ever seen a mustard seed? They are tiny. The picture is for reference, it is a mustard seed on half a sheet of notebook paper...it's like a speck. Luke 17:5-6 says, ^"The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you." Faith as small as a mustard seed was used to represent the smallest of things...we need to take our focus off these small things and put them on the one Who can do great things. When I am frustrated and frazzled my focus is on all the things and not the One who should be the object of my faith and attention. Little is much when God is in it.  What are some of the things that you do to help you when "all the things" start getting to you?

I have written this on and off all day, so hopefully it makes sense!

Here is a song that I have been listening to on repeat lately:
You can listen here

"Good God Almighty" by Crowder

I can't count the times I've called Your name some broken night
And You showed up and patched me up like You do every time

I get amnesia
I forget that You keep coming around
Yeah, ain't no way You'll ever let me down

Good God Almighty
I hope You'll find me
Praising Your name no matter what comes

'Cause I know where I'd be
Without Your mercy
So I keep praising Your name at the top of my lungs

Tell me is He good? (He's good)
Tell me is He God? (He's God)
He is, Good God Almighty

You say Your love goes on forever, that Your mercy never stops
So why would I assume You'd be somebody that You're not?

Like sun in the morning
I know You're gonna be there every day
So what on earth could make me be afraid?

Good God Almighty
I hope You'll find me
Praising Your name no matter what comes

'Cause I know where I'd be
Without Your mercy
So I keep praising Your name at the top of my lungs

Tell me is He good? (He's good)
Tell me is He God? (He's God)
He is, Good God Almighty

Praise Him in the morning
Praise Him in the noon time
Praise Him when the Sun goes down

Love Him in the morning
Love Him in the noon time
Love Him when the Sun goes down

Good God Almighty
I hope You'll find me (I hope You'll find me)
Praising Your Name no matter what comes (No matter what comes)

'Cause I know where I'd be
Without Your mercy
So I keep praising Your name at the top of my lungs

Tell me is He good? (He's good)
Tell me is He God? (He's God)
He is, Good God Almighty

Jesus in the morning
Jesus in the noon time
Jesus when the Sun goes down

Jesus in the morning
Jesus in the noon time
Jesus when the Sun goes down 

 

Network of Deceit

 Title: Network of Deceit

Author: Tom Threadgill

Series: Amara Alvarez #2

Publisher: Revell

Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Synopsis:

 After her rescue of nearly fifty kidnapped children made international headlines, Amara Alvarez gets what she's worked for: a transfer to San Antonio's Homicide Division. Reality sets in quickly, though, as her first case, the suspicious death of a teenager at a crowded local water park, brings chaos to her personal life.

As the investigation moves forward and she increases the pressure on the suspects, Amara finds herself under attack by cybercriminals. Her every move is being potentially watched online, and she's forced to resort to unconventional methods to find the killer. With few leads, she fights to keep her first murder investigation from ending up in the cold case files.

Tom Threadgill is back with another riveting page-turner featuring the detective who is willing to put everything on the line to see that justice is served and lives are protected.

My Review:

Tom Threadgill's Network of Deceit is the second book in the Amara Alvarez series. While it can be read as a stand-alone novel, I highly recommend reading the first book, Collision of Lies. The first book gives the reader a good feel for the characters, while the second book builds upon that foundation. Network of Deceit also references some incidents in Collision of Lies, so it would make the second book that much richer knowing what happened in the first. 

Amara Alvarez has finally been moved over to the homicide department of SAPD and she is excited when she gets her first case. At first glance, it seems like a simple case, but as more details emerge, the case has Amara questioning everything. Things escalate quickly and she finds herself in the middle of a dangerous game. Will Amara be able to handle the conflicts in the office and on the case? Or will she give up and decide homicide is not for her? 

We met Starsky in Collision of Lies, he is also a homicide detective and ends up being Amara's sounding board whenever she needs advice. Their friendship continues to grow in this novel, and they are very real with each other. Their witty humor, crazy antics, and the way they handle conflict enhance the story.

Threadgill's writing is amazing. I was extremely impressed with Collision of Lies, and while sometimes second books do not do as well as the first, this one was just as well-written. While writing about cybercrimes, Threadgill explains in easy-to-understand ways, so that everything is easy to understand. He brings in interesting characters who are passionate about their jobs and hobbies to cover this in the depth that it needs. I found this book to be fast-paced, intriguing, funny at times, with doses of serious reality. There are a lot of twists and turns, and as with any great thriller, Network of Deceit keeps you guessing to the very end. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great thriller. It is phenomenal, with strong character development, real people with real problems, and leaves you wondering and hoping that there will be a third book. Again, I highly recommend this book!

Fabulous Friday 2/19/21

 Going to let the pictures do most of the talking this week 😀 Things that are making this week/Friday fabulous! Let me know if you have any questions about the pictures 😂

In no particular order:

umbrella 🌂☂

His head was cold😂 Never a dull moment

Freshly groomed! Nice haircut.

I get to see this face every morning at breakfast :)

Daily gratitude journal, begin new each year

3rd month in a row that I am #2, want to get to #1

HEALTHY!!!!

Thankful for masks

So proud of this girl!! We miss her, but she is doing well.

Exiting stuff!

Just babies when they met, now they are all teenagers, thankful for these friendships!

!!

"O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting." 1 Chronicles 16:34

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17

What is making this week/Friday fabulous for you? What are you thankful for? Any plans for the weekend? I would love to hear from you!

Heart check

 Have you ever had an EKG? The nurse will put electrodes on your arms, legs, and chest and then attach them to the heart monitor. They are, of course, checking to make sure your heart is doing what it should and is healthy. I have had more than my "fair" share of EKGs, the most recent one two weeks ago, but thankfully everything looked good and healthy! However, that is not the type of heart check I am talking about today. Luke 6:45 says, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." 

I woke up this morning with a bad headache, it was pouring down rain and I knew I had to let Junior go out to go potty, so I was procrastinating because I didn't want to go out in the rain. Matt, being the awesome man he is, offered to take him out for me, before continuing to get ready for work (love that man!). I decided to be helpful and while he was getting his jacket on I tried to get Junior's harness on (we don't put the leash on his collar because we don't want him to get hurt when he starts pulling!). I could not get it on right! It was way too tight! I said to Matt, "I don't know what the problem is, but I know he didn't get fat overnight!" So, we put the leash on the collar anyway, knowing Junior had to go. Matt took him out and I helped get him dry and then made my coffee. Matt looked at the harness and said it was twisted which is why it wasn't going on right. I was like "okay" and sat down for breakfast while Matt went to get ready for work. I sat down at the table, starting praying for my food and devotion time, and Junior starting whining at me and trying to jump out of his playpen! I look at my coffee and look at the dog and said, "Okay, but you had better have to go!" I once again grabbed the harness and tried to get it on him. He was squirming all over the place, trying to get away, I got it around him and try to snap it, and it will not fasten!! A few ugly things came out of my mouth, taking me by surprise. I skipped the harness and took Junior out, where he pooped, while I was praying. I said to God, "I don't know what is wrong with me. This is not who I want to be!" I had gone from 0 frustration to 10 frustration and it was not even 5:20 am!!! It's not even a Monday! Although I will say, Mondays and Thursdays are notoriously the hardest days around here. Mondays because we have to get back in the school/work schedule. Thursday's because we have Church on Wednesday nights and never manage to get in bed before 10 and it takes me a while to settle, then the alarm goes off at 4:50 am, so we are always tired. 

I know we are stressed and everyone is a bit frazzled from the pandemic, and I was tired and had a bad headache, but that is no excuse for getting that frustrated. I spend time every morning filling my cup and thought I was doing a pretty good job of it. However, what came out of my mouth was not what I was putting in, and this caused me to do a heart check. I needed to get to the root of my problem because my heart was not working right! I am just carrying too much that I still need to surrender. I am carrying some frustration from things not being how I want them to be (it's out of my control). I am carrying some frustration from people not necessarily doing what I want them to do (also out of my control), I need to surrender it. My blood pressure is good one day and not great the next (out of my control). The harness was getting on my nerves and is not easy to put on (I can fix this by getting a new harness). I could go on, but won't. Ultimately, I needed to do a heart check-up and it reminds me, yet again, that I try to carry too much and need to surrender the things that are out of my control...and then leave them there!! How  is your heart? Are you finding that you get angry, frustrated, sad, etc. more than you should? Maybe it is a time for a check-up, and maybe some fine-tuning. Life is hard for everyone right now, we keep thinking things are going to get easier, and when they don't it creates extra stress and great disappointments. When you find yourself thinking "what is wrong with me?" or "I don't want to be like this," then it is a time to do a check-up, and maybe give yourself some grace, knowing that everyone is struggling. If you can't figure it out on your own, don't hesitate to reach out to a trustworthy friend who you can talk to, or a professional. As I was getting ready this morning I listened to this song, especially since it had started as "one of those days." Read the lyrics, listen to the song (I recommend it!!), and know that whatever you may be facing, God has got this! He is in control (and will carry our burdens if we will only lay them down), and He can handle them way better than we can anyway! So, I ask again, how is your heart? Are you taking care of it? Putting good stuff in so good stuff can flow out?!

"You Got This" by Love & the Outcome

[Verse 1]
Have you ever had one of those days
When nothing really goes your way
Then you see it wasn't meant to
You get a new view, yeah, yeah
Everybody has sleepless nights
Lost in the worry, will I work out alright?
Feels like I'm going crazy
Stressed out praying, yeah, yeah

[Pre-Chorus 1]
I know it's not a lot, know it's not a lot
I give You all I got, give You all I got
I know it's true, I can count on You

[Chorus]
I don't know the way
But You got this
Give me the faith
That You got this
Even today
You got this
I know that I know that I know that You got this

[Verse 2]
Caught up in the same mistakes
You catch my fall when I fall on my face
Learning slowly, God You show me, yeah, yeah

[Pre-Chorus 2]
There's a better way, there's a better way
I give You everything, give You everything
I know it's true, I can count on You

[Chorus 2]
I don't know the way
But You got this
Give me the faith
That You got this
Even today
You got this
I know that I know that I know that You got this
Yeah, You got this
Give me the faith
That You got this
Even today
You got this
I know that I know that I know that You got this

[Bridge]
Breathe in, breathe out
Feels good to shout it out, shout it out
Breathe in, breathe out
Feels good to shout it out, shout it out

[Chorus 2]
I don't know the way
But You got this
Give me the faith
That You got this
Even today
You got this
I know that I know that I know that You got this
Yeah, You got this
Give me the faith
That You got this
Even today
You got this
I know that I know that I know that You got this

[Outro]
I know that I know that I know that You got this
I know that I know that I know that You got this

You can listen to the song here.

Dreams DO come true!

  "Dreams sometimes do come true. But not without something that looks a lot like hard work."         -Sylvia Aston Warner

We all have dreams, some of them are big, some are small, and some seem downright impossible. Some we have talked about for years and others we have kept hidden in our hearts, for fear that if we revealed them out loud, we would jinx ourselves. Do you believe that dreams can come true? I do. What about dreams that you never really thought to ask for? I believe those can come true too. How do I know? Because it happened to me. If you know me at all then you know what my dream job would be......go ahead, guess...I'll wait...Did you say mom? Well, yes, that is and has always been one of my dreams and it came true over 18 years ago. That is not the dream I am referring to here. I said on Facebook sometime last year something to the effect of "I wish I could get paid to read books!" Well, now I am getting paid to read books!!!!! There are several different ways to get "paid" for reading books, I am getting paid in different currencies for different sites. While this might not seem like a big deal to you, it is a VERY big deal for me. I am not getting paid very much money right now, but I am making more money than I was ($0). As a homemaker, and someone who has not had a paying job (lots of nonpaying jobs!) outside of the house in ten years (coincidence that that is the same amount of time I have been homeschooling 🤔?), I sometimes feel guilty that I am not contributing financially to our household. In case anyone is wondering, Matt has NEVER made me feel guilty. But, you can't always help how you feel. When money gets tight and we need things I always start wishing I had a paying job. Since I homeschool and I am needed at home it would have to be something I could do from home. I have looked into a lot of different jobs over the last few jobs, applied for a few, but nothing ever felt right. Then I came across this article from my author friend Sarah Geringer, and at the bottom of the article she talks about how to get more books for free or cheap and I was all over that!!!

What I realized from Sarah's article was that I ALREADY had a Net Galley account, but I had no idea how to use it, I had gotten it when I was on a book launch team in 2016 and hadn't used it since. I did not know you could read books there for free, much less that they were new releases!

Once I got started on Net Galley, I started doing some research to see what else I could find about being a book reviewer. I came across two articles that I found helpful. The first one from Angie Nelson is called "Get Paid to Read books" and the second is from Leisa Good on "How to Become a Paid Book Reviewer." While I have never heard of either of these ladies, I am very thankful to them for sharing their experiences and knowledge....which is what I hope to do in this blog post as well.

So, here are the Companies that I am currently getting "paid" to review books for, along with a brief overview of them:

Net Galley:

I use Net Galley quite a bit. I get free eBooks in exchange for an honest book review. They have a "read now" section on their site that anyone can read from. They also have free previews of new or upcoming books that you can request to read from the publisher. The publisher has the right to decide if you can read their book or not. (I have been declined quite a few times, but have read a lot too 😀) The review only has to be 75 words in length.

Moody Publishers:

To review books for Moody you have to have a blog. They send you a physical book to review and keep. They do not have a length requirement for the review, they only ask that you give an honest review and post on your blog. They start with allowing you one book at a time until you work up your "credits."

Revell:

You also need a blog to review books for Revell. They will send you an email each month and you decide which of their new releases you want to review. They will either send you eBook copies through Net Galley or physical copies in the mail. I have been blessed with both (I will always prefer physical books). Again, you only have to have a 75-word honest review on your blog, then you submit a form back to Revell to show that you have done it. 

Reedsy Discovery:

This is an interesting site and you do not have to have a blog to use it. You browse all the available books (all genres) and pick which ones you want to read (up to 3 at a time) and then write a review of 200-400 words depending on the book. Then, the authors have the option of giving you a tip of either $1, $3, or $5 for the review.  I have made a little bit of money in the 6ish weeks that I have used the site (about $25, and more than I was making $0), plus they ran a special promotion in December where you got $10 for each review, up to 10 reviews for an Amazon gift card ($100), which I did and received at the end of January. Not all authors will tip because again, they have the option. Readers can choose to give a tip too (which I thought was weird!). One other ongoing promotion they have is that if you refer someone to them you can get $50 when they write a review and then they get $50 as well. If this interests you click on my promotional link to join: https://reedsy.com/discovery/reviewers/apply?referral=cindy-davis

This has been a fun process for me.  Matt asked if I would be considered a paid reviewer now. I don't think so, I think I would have to be consistently making money and I am not. I do tell him and Elijah they need to give me time to read so I can do my job 😂😂 I have had authors comment on my book reviews on Goodreads and my blog, which has been very exciting to this book nerd!! I also had an author tag me on Facebook and Instagram thanking me for the review, which they are not required to do, but it was sweet. I have been reviewing books on my Goodreads account for several years and Amazon as well, so I am happy to take it to the next level. Even if I never got a free book or compensation in any way, I would continue to review books as I always have because I know how important this is to authors!! If you read books I would encourage you to take a few minutes and leave a review on your favorite book sites, it does not have to be long, at all, it just helps the authors. If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to me and thanks for helping in any way that you can.

What dreams have come true for you lately? What dreams are you hoping will come true for you? Or what dreams are you currently working toward? Would love to hear from you!!!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

(This section new as of 10/8/21)  

Ritta reached out to me and told me she thought this article 95+ Blogging Statistics to help you create the best blog in the world would b a great addition to this post, so I am adding it here. Happy reading!

A Dance in Donegal

Title: A Dance in Donegal

Author: Jennifer Deibel

Publisher: Revell

Genre: Christian Fiction & Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

To fulfill her mother's dying wish, Moira Doherty moves from Boston to the rolling green hills of 1921 Ireland to teach in a village school. She doesn't expect to fall in love--or to uncover a scandalous family reputation her mother left behind years ago.

My Review: 

When Moira's mother suddenly dies, Moira has a hard time coping and does not want to follow through on her promise to go to Ireland to teach. After agonizing over the decision she finally decides to go. Immediately upon entering Donegal, Moira experiences unexpected harshness before even reaching the guesthouse where she will be staying. Mrs. Martin makes Moira feel welcome and turns into her first friend, even though it is obvious that she is keeping secrets.

Sean is a thatcher and eventually becomes a friend to Moira as well. He wants to help her discover the secrets that the locals in Donegal are keeping from Moira and promises to be her friend no matter what. The people in Donegal are steeped in superstitions and rumors, and it looks like someone has made it a priority to try and scare Moira off. Once all is revealed, will Sean keep his promise to be friends with Moira, no matter what? 

A Dance in Donegal is well-written and the plotline flows seamlessly. The descriptions of Ireland are breath-taking and you can hear the Irish brogue in the conversations. When reading the story you get a sense that you are there. 

The author, Jennifer Deibel, has threaded powerful lessons of forgiveness and redemption throughout the story. Moria grows to be comfortable with herself, even though many residents of Donegal have made it clear they do not like her. She develops into a brave character, strong in her faith and compassion. While there are occasional light moments in the story, there are some extremely sad ones as well. As a trigger warning, there is a scene where a character is sexually assaulted, it is not extremely graphic, but may be hard for some readers.

I would highly recommend A Dance in Donegal, a debut novel by Jennifer Deibel, to anyone who loves historical fiction. Thank you to Revell and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review, but am happy to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Grumbler's Guide to Giving Thanks

Title: The Grumbler's Guide to Giving Thanks: Reclaiming the Gifts of a Lost    Spiritual Discipline

Author: Dustin Crowe

Publisher: Moody Publishers

Genre: Christian Nonfiction

Synopsis:

The apostle Paul instructed the Philippians to be anxious in nothing and thankful in everything. And when he said everything—he meant everything. We can all agree that this is easier said than done. Disappointments and discontent may cause you to slip into dissatisfaction, and grumbling becomes a state of mind—gratitude seems impossible to find. However, what if this is the precise reason you lack the joy of a God-filled life? Instead of a reaction to when things are going well, what if gratitude is actually necessary to knowing the hope of our gracious God?

This is exactly what Pastor Dustin Crowe identifies in The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks. Dustin examines the biblical foundations of thankfulness and traces how it can reshape every-day Christian living. When we express gratitude in all things, we not only praise our Creator, we also get to know Him better. With The Grumbler’s Guide, you’ll learn how to practice thanksgiving in both simple and extraordinary ways, even when you’re tempted to dwell on the negative. You’ll find your outlook on life realigned to see the hand of God in everything, strengthening your trust in Him. And in doing so, you’ll find greater, more joy-filled reasons to continue expressing thanks to our good and generous God.

My Review:

I thoroughly enjoyed The Grumbler's Guide to Giving Thanks by Dustin Crowe. I have read quite a few similar books, but what I appreciate about The Grumbler's Guide is that it is different from all the other ones I have read. 

The Grumbler's Guide to Giving Thanks starts with the reader taking a short gratitude quiz (15 questions), so the reader has a better idea of where they are on practicing gratitude. The introduction title is "Confessions of a recovering pessimist." Right away Crowe is putting the reader at ease by admitting his struggles with grumbling. He walks the reader through where he was and where he is, admitting that he still struggles at times with finding gratitude. His approach is appreciated as it has the message "we are all in this together," instead of condemning people for grumbling. One statement that stood out to me was "In the Bible, thanksgiving plays a prominent and powerful role, but we've demoted it to a seasonal add-on."

The Grumbler's Guide to Giving Thanks is broken down into nine chapters, taking the reader from what gratitude is, to being able to give thanks in all circumstances. Crowe mixes real-life examples with Biblical examples, as he sets a Biblical foundation for thankfulness. His writing is easy to understand, engaging, and informative as he makes many thought-provoking points in his narrative. At the end of each chapter, he has a section called "putting it into practice" as he gives the reader ideas on how to implement what they have read into their daily lives. These sections are just as "meaty" as the chapters as he gives several practical ideas that can immediately be put into practice. Crowe has put extra resources in the back of the book for those who would like to go further on their practicing gratitude journey.

This is an excellent resource. It is perfect for anyone who struggles with grumbling and complaining, and even those who do practice gratitude, but would like to take it even further. This text is rife with Bible verses and well-grounded in research. I appreciate the author including other author's quotes and documenting them well. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to enrich their lives with more gratitude and thankfulness. 

Thank you to Moody Publishers for the opportunity to review this book. I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, but I am more than happy to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fabulous Friday 2/12/21

 This has been another rough week and today had a pretty rough start. I feel like recently this is the story on repeat, and I am frustrated. There is so much going on, which causes stress, then with my health not being back to normal, and not getting enough sleep, it just makes a recipe for disaster. I know I am not alone in this and we all have struggles, but sometimes you just want to get off the roller coaster. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. We can't just take a break when we want or need a break. I could probably name as many, if not more negatives than positives for this week, but I am choosing joy, and will focus on the positives. There are so many things that I am thankful for this week, in no particular order:

I am getting better

Kayla is doing well

An author commented on my blog!!!

Junior seems to be doing better

Elijah continues to get taller

It is FRIDAY!

It is a more or less free 3 day weekend

A long-overdue chat with my friend Jill

The library

That it is not a constant rain today

Laughter

Silly antics

Chats with Kayla

Fixer Upper

Yummy food

Organizational skills

Time in the Word

His mercies are new every morning!!!

Cookies

Coffee

A van that runs well

Friendships

Answered prayers

Music

Books to read

Fruit

Headache meds

Inhalers

Face Masks

Insurance

Love

Kindness

Encouragement

Friends who will pray for you

Good in-laws

Puppy playpens 

Words of affirmation

Friends who share in the joys and struggles

A husband who helps

A husband who cooks

You all, I hope you are having a good week and a great Friday. What have been some of your highlights this week? Do you need prayer? Let me know and I will pray for you. Do you have any plans for the weekend? Regardless of what is on your plate, I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

When Twilight Breaks

 Title: When Twilight Breaks

Author: Sarah Sundin

Publisher: Revell

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

 Munich, 1938. Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. If she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed--and wake up the folks back home.

In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.

This electric standalone novel from fan-favorite Sarah Sundin puts you right at the intersection of pulse-pounding suspense and heart-stopping romance.

My review:

When Twilight Breaks is the first book that I have read by Sarah Sundin, but I look forward to reading more from her in the future. Sundin has written several series, but When Twilight Breaks is a stand-alone novel. I am not a huge fan of historical fiction, so I am very picky about which books I read, but this one was extremely well-written and interesting.

 

Evelyn Brand is a strong female character, as seen from this line, "Evelyn Brand had done a crack bit of journalism, and she hadn't even had to dress like a man to do so." Evelyn is a female journalist, in the late 1930s, which is a male-dominated career path. She is a foreign correspondent stationed in Munich, Germany, and determined to tell the truth about the Nazi situation in Germany. Evelyn has been hurt by men in her past and has serious trust issues. Most men want her to be silenced, and even in her field of work, her voice gets silenced and the men make cracks about how she should be at home. Evelyn is extremely brave and resilient, working hard to uncover and report the truth.

 

Peter Lang is also in Germany, working on his Ph.D. in German, by teaching American students how to sound fluent in German. He is working on his dissertation, but he is also discouraged from continuing in the direction he is going. Peter is enchanted about how orderly Germany is and wants more places to be run like Germany is run. In a series of eye-opening events, Peter comes to terms with what he thought he knew and reality. Peter is a great character with lots of depth. 

 

Peter and Evelyn meet when Evelyn is assigned a "softball" assignment and Peter's job is to essentially babysit her. While they are drawn to each other on their first meeting, neither one is looking for a relationship. Plus, Evelyn has issues with Peter's enchantment of the Nazis. 

 

I loved this story. I enjoyed the witty banter between Evelyn and Peter. It was refreshing that they did not immediately fall in love but instead developed a beautiful friendship. Their friendship has quite a few rocky moments but seems to come out stronger after each test. Eventually, it is put to the ultimate test and Evelyn has to decide if she can trust Peter or if he is like every other man that has hurt her.

 

When Twilight Breaks is masterfully crafted, with love, intrigue, mystery, and danger woven throughout its pages. It has something for everyone! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading Historical fiction, suspense novels, books with light romance, or just a great novel! I cannot say enough good things about When Twilight Breaks. The only downside for me was having to read it over multiple days because real life kept getting in the way of my reading! This is one that you will want to devour in one sitting.

 

Thank you to Revell and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review, but am more than happy to do so. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Fabulous Friday 2/5/21-Saturday Edition

 Friday was busy and rough, but I did have ever intention of getting on here and doing my thankful Friday post. Unfortunately, intention does not equal time. I will spare you all the details of the day/week, but regardless of what was wrong/rough this week, I am still able to find things to be thankful for. So, things that are making this week/weekend fabulous:

Answered prayers

God's mercies ARE new every day!!

God offers forgiveness

New medicine for me

New meds for Junior

A good vet for Junior

A nurse doing her best to help me

Friends

The sun being out several days this week

More sleep last night

A sale on chew toys

Kayla not seriously hurt when she fell

I am getting better

Friends checking on me

Library books

Elijah's laughter

Getting Kayla to laugh

Groceries

Junior's antics

Time to do this now

Quiet time

Hot water

Working heat

Opportunities

What are you thankful for today? This week? Has it been a rough one for you as well? One thing that I told Kayla yesterday is that it doesn't matter where you are or what you are doing, most people are struggling with something. We might not all be struggling with the same things, but if you are struggling, know that you are not alone, most of us have things going on that are beyond our control. I personally am thankful that I know the One Who is in control. To God be the glory.

Obsession

 Title: Obsession

Series: Natchez Trace Park Rangers #2

Author: Patricia Bradley

Genre: Christian Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she's forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed.

Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn't intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.

My Review:

Obsession is the second book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series by Patricia Bradley. While it can be read as a stand-alone book, I HIGHLY recommend reading the first book, Standoff, before beginning this one. Brooke, the main character in Standoff, makes several appearances in this book, just as Emma (main character for Obsession) made several appearances in Standoff. Obsession is the second book that I have read by Bradley; I look forward to reading more books by this author.

 

This book caught my attention from the beginning. It is fast-paced, intense, with quite a bit going on. Emma has shots fired at her when she goes back to work after hours, to pick up a file that she had left behind. She heard some heavy machinery that should not have been running at that time of night. The events lead to her trying to figure out what is going on in the slave cemetery. 

 

Sam arrives at the scene and is scared to death that something had happened to Emma. They had not seen each other in years, but the thought of her getting hurt was more than he could imagine. He ends up snapping at Emma for being at work after dark by herself. Emma and Sam are both fiercely independent individuals and they go head-to-head several times in the story. Emma seems to be very naive about the danger she is in, and her independent nature gets her into trouble. 

 

I loved this book. The characters are well developed, the plot is intriguing, with several twists and turns, and the book ends well. Not everything is as it seems, making it hard to predict what will happen next. I enjoyed the theme of forgiveness that was woven into the story as well.

 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense books with light romance. Fans of Irene Hannon, Dee Henderson, Lynette Easton, and Cara Putnam will enjoy this author as well. 

Thank you to Revell and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review but was happy to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book Reviews

 Two books that I had an opportunity to review in December released today. I thought I would share them here:

Title: Hepburn's Necklace

Author: Jan Moran

Genre: Women's Fiction

Synopsis:

 A vintage necklace. A long-hidden secret. A second chance for love.
A dual-timeline story of love and second chances at any age from a USA Today bestselling author. Escape to the film set of Roman Holiday and the sunny shores of Lake Como, Italy, in an intriguing family saga.

A long-hidden secret threatens Ruby Raines, a Texas-born Hollywood legend who began her career with Roman Holiday. When her sister dies and her great-niece, costume designer Ariana Ricci, leaves her groom at the altar, Ruby must reconcile her family before it’s too late. While opening yellowed, 1950s letters postmarked Italy, Ariana discovers relics from Ruby’s unknown past, including an intriguing vintage necklace that Audrey Hepburn gave her during the filming of the movie. Aching for a fresh start and the chance to resolve an unfinished story, the two embark on a journey to the sun-dappled shores of Lake Como, Italy, that will illuminate secrets of a bygone era and offer second chances to each of them—if they are bold enough to seize them.

My Review:

 New York Times bestselling author, Jan Moran’s newest release is Hepburn’s Necklace, is a dual-timeline story of love and second chances. Moran has written quite a few novels, series and stand-alone, that have been translated into multiple languages. Hepburn’s Necklace is a stand-alone historical fiction novel, with a beautiful cover design that illustrates the story remarkably well.

Full review here:  https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/hepburn-s-necklace-jan-moran#review

Title: Lyla's Encore

Author: Mary Meyer

Genre: Christian Fiction

Synopsis: 

 Lyla's Encore is an entertaining, light-hearted read about a couple of famous retirees: maturing movie star, Lyla Fontaine, and senior pro golfer, Smith Kennedy, who find themselves unexpectedly hiding out in the same less-than-spectacular retirement community. Laugh along with the two aging celebs on a rollicking adventure to uncover whodunit in the Retirement Village. Laying aside common sense and defying age limits Lyla and Smith discover that real life begins just when you think it’s over. There is always adventure ahead!

Written with undertones of Christian principles and squeaky-clean humor this is a book anyone will enjoy.

My Review:

 Lyla’s Encore written by Mary Jackson Meyer is a humorous Cristian fiction book. This is a debut novel for Meyer, although you would not know it from her writing. The plot line is sound, the story flows well, and the editing is meticulous.

Full review can be read here: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/lyla-s-encore-mary-meyer#review

 If you go to the full review, feel free to "like" or "upvote" the book, it helps the authors out :)