Gather Around the Amish Table by Lucy Leid Cookbook Review & Blog Tour + Win an Amish Baking Basket!

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

 Gather Around the Amish Table (MennoMedia, September 2015)

Straight from Amish kitchens to yours, this cookbook offers favorite family recipes and charming stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks.

Bake the pecan rolls that taste best after an ice-skating party, or try the hoagies that a community sold to help an Amish family with hospital bills. Discover the cocoa cupcakes with instructions to "stir by hand" that one young cook took literally, or whip up the whoopie pies that one Amish woman took to market in her horse and buggy.

These cherished recipes speak of comforting traditions, lively communities, and strong Christian faith. Gather your family around the table to sample the nourishing fare and trademark charm of the plain people. In the words of one cookbook contributor: "Bake someone happy!"

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1NfOVUi

About the author-

Lucy Leid is an Old Order Mennonite wife, mother, and cook in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

My thoughts-

I always love a good Amish cookbook. Most of the time they are old fashioned but simple recipes...good down home comfort food. Gather Around the Amish Table is without a doubt one of these wonderful cookbooks full of Amish and Mennonite recipes that deserve to grace your shelves among your other favorite cookbooks. It longs to be reached for and used often. There isn't a recipe in this book I wouldn't try or that I think my family wouldn't like. What really makes the cookbook stand out to me though are the little anecdotes and stories that accompany many of the recipes. I know in my own life that some of my best memories have been made involving eating food or cooking food and I love that in this cookbook we get an experience to place with so many of the recipes. I would recommend Gather Around the Amish Table to anyone who likes to eat and without a doubt to people who like to cook. You might want to buy some of those little post it note tabs because you will want to mark so many of the recipes to try!


Incorporate Amish cooking traditions this fall in your kitchen with Lucy Leid's Gather Around the Amish Table. Straight from Amish kitchens to yours, this cookbook offers favorite family recipes and charming stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks. Gather your family around the table to sample the nourishing fare and trademark charm of the plain people. In the words of one cookbook contributor: “Bake someone happy!”

Get your fall baking underway with an Amish baking basket giveaway from Lucy and MennoMedia!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Gather Around the Amish Table
• An Amish baking basket full of goodies

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 29th. The winner will be announced September 30th on the Litfuse blog.

How to Catch a Prince Blog Tour & Book Review + Giveaway!

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Litfuse Group. I was not required to  write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

How to Catch a Prince (Zondervan, February 2015)

She caught her prince once. Can she catch him again?

American heiress Corina Del Rey's life was devastated by war. Every thing she loved was lost. But after five years of grief, she's shed her grave clothes and started over in the sunshine along the Florida coast.

But some things are not so easily forgotten. When a secret from her past confronts her face to face, she realizes she must follow her heart. Even if it cost her everything.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom is a former Royal Air Command lieutenant turned star rugby player, trying to make sense of his life after the devastation of war.
When his brother, King Nathaniel, discovers Stephen's pre-war secret, he must deal with an aspect of his life he longed to forget. But how can he do so without exposing the truth and breaching national security?

Yet, true love has a destiny all it's own. As the cathedral bells peal through Cathedral City, Corina and Stephen must chose to answer the call of love on their hearts.

My thoughts- 

When I decided to read this book, I had no idea that there were previous books to read and that it was the third book in a series. It didn't take me long to catch on to that fact, but it was also not a difficult book to read on it's own. I enjoyed it though and definitely want to go back and read the first two books in the royal wedding series, Once Upon a Prince and Princess Ever After to get the complete feel of the story As far as How to Catch a Prince, I thought it was a fun premise for a story. I feel so bad for Corina, she seems to have had a lot of misfortune befall her and Stephen not giving her the full story of why she hasn't heard from her and it drives me crazy! Sometimes when I read stories like this I think if these two people would just communicate, have one conversation where they lay it all out on the table, they would save themselves a lot of grief and trouble...but that would not make a good story. I liked seeing Corina and Stephen's story unfold, especially the parts that have Corina and Stephen back together where they have to be around each other. I also liked the added element of Corina's stay at the quaint little Inn. This was, at it's core, a love story, but love stories aren't always rainbows and butterflies. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever dreamed of marrying a prince (most of us dreamers, right?) or who enjoys a good romance or drama.

Read the first chapter of How to Catch a Prince and purchase your own copy at RachelHauck.com.

About the author-

Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, best selling author of critically acclaimed novels such as The Wedding Dress, Love Starts with Elle, and Once Upon A Prince. She also penned the Songbird Novels with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Booklist named their novel, Softly and Tenderly, one of 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals. She serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets.

Find Rachel online: 

Connect with Rachel Hauck on Facebook 

Connect with Rachel Hauck on Twitter

www.rachelhauck.com

An American heiress and a crown prince seem destined to be together. Will the devastation of war keep them apart forever? Find out in Rachel Hauck's new book, How to Catch a Prince. True love has a destiny all its own. With a little heavenly help, Prince Stephen and Corina embark on a journey of truth. But when the secrets are revealed, can they overcome, move forward, and find love again?

*Enter to win a "royal" prize pack!*

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A royal-themed Brighton charm bracelet
• 2 tickets to see the new Cinderella movie
• The Royal Wedding series (Once Upon a Prince, Princess Ever After, and How to Catch a Prince)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced March 24th on Rachel's blog.


{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

A Lifelong Love by Gary Thomas Book Review + Giveaway

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Flyby Promotions. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

You believe your marriage has eternal purposes. You long for it to reach beyond your home and encourage others. But what does it look like to have spiritually intentional relationship in the midst of dirty dishes, work deadlines, and car pools.

In Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas showed us that God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy. Now, in A Lifelong Love, Thomas gives us the practical tools to craft our marriaes into inspiring relationships that breathe spiritual life to others.

Whatever season of marriage you are in, A Lifelong Love  gives you the practical help you need to infuse your marriage with a spiritual passion that will not only change you but will change the world around you.

My thoughts-

I try to read books about relationships and marriage whenever I can. I definitely believe that marriage is a learning process through each season of our relationship. A good marriage is a constant work in progress and A Lifelong Love is a great resource. This book can be applied to a newlywed couple or a more seasoned couple, so it is a great one to have in your home library. The pages are full of sage advice and examples of living your life and treating your marriage beyond the bare minimum. It teaches you not to just go through the motions, but really work at making it into something lovely, something sacred, There are even examples of things that are common occurrences in marriages or things that are different between women and men to help us understand why our husbands might act one way or to explain to our husbands why we might react a certain way to a situation. At the end of each chapter there are wonderful questions designed to really get you thinking, as well as prayers for your marriage. A Lifelong Love is the kind of book that you can revisit and get something out of each time. I know I will be reading this again and I am sure that I will gain something new with each time I read it!

A Lifelong Love is available on Amazon.com and other retailers nationwide.
About the author-

Connect with Gary Thomas on Facebook
Connect with Gary Thomas on Twitter
alifelonglove.com/


Enter via the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win a copy of the book!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Treasury Of Bible Stories Review & Giveaway

About the book-

If you are looking for a way to encourage your children to get into God's word, this is the book for your family. Treasury of Bible Stories is beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written in a way that kids will love to hear.

My thoughts-

I think it is important for little ones to have a Bible that is not only engaging, but easy to understand. The Treasury of Bible Stories by Kelly Pulley has beautiful, vibrant pictures and includes all of the big stories and parables from both the old and new testament. The stories are written in rhyming form which will help kids better remember the stories and makes them more fun to read. I have a little man named Noah so that is the first story we read out the Treasury of Bible Stories because he loves hearing stories about Noah and his ark. All 3 of my kids (ages 5-7) listened intently and loved the vivid illustrations. My oldest enjoyed the rhyming and all 3 of the kids fought over who got to look through the book that night after we were finished reading it. We have read several more of the stories and the kids are always eager to hear them. This is also a book that is great for young kids like mine who have learned to read. There are not that many big words and the rhyming lines also help them in their efforts to read on their own. This Treasury of Bible Stories would make a great addition to any children's home library and would also make a fantastic gift. I know we will be reading it often and for years to come.

Treasury of Bible Stories is available now on Amazon.com.

My little bookworm Noah reading about Joseph
and his coat of many colors. :)

One lucky reader will win a copy of the Treasury of Bible Stories. Enter via the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Watch the book trailer-

Younique 3d Fiber Lashes Review + Giveaway!

*Disclosure of material connection- Younique Presenter Jessily King generously provided the product for the giveaway.

 If you have been poking around this blog for any amount of time, you know that I love makeup and what I love even more is makeup without any awful, chemical ingredients. I have been hearing about Younique 3d fiber lashes since the beginning of this year, but I didn't know anyone personally that sold them and didn't have all of the information I needed. Then my friend decided to be a presenter and invited me to her first online party and she posted pictures of herself wearing the fiber lashes and I could see a dramatic difference. I knew I had to try them, so I ordered the May Kudos set (it came with eye pigments and lip gloss for a lower price than buying them all separately and I wanted to try them all, so I jumped at the deal!) and I am so glad I did.

When the lashes arrived, I saw that their were two tubes and a little instruction booklet and I was afraid it might be a process to put them on, but it was really easy. You put on the transplanting gel, then the fiber lashes, then seal it with the transplanting gel. You can start with a layer of mascara if you want, but I find that I like to go with just the lashes. The whole process took maybe 30 seconds longer than just applying regular mascara and looks 1,000 times better! Here are some pictures so you can see the difference-

My bare eyelashes.

Right eye- bare, Left eye- 3d fiber lashes.

One coat of 3d fiber lashes on both eyes.

Closed eyes with one coat of 3d fiber lashes.

2 coats of 3d fiber lashes, innocent eye pigment on my eyelids
and empowered eye pigment used as eye liner. LOVED the
way it turned out!

As you can see, the 3d fiber lashes alone will dramatically change the way your eyes look. If you add several coats, you can create a super dramatic look. I have never used a mascara that could make my eyes look as fantastic as they do in the last picture above! Younique 3d fiber lashes not only make your lashes look tons better than mascara, they contain better ingredients as well. Check out the difference between mascara vs. 3d fiber lash ingredients in the info-graphic to the left of this text. Did you know all of those chemicals were lurking in your mascara? And that there was an alternative that looks much better anyway? Younique 3d fiber lashes are awesome! I  recommend this product to absolutely anyone who likes to use makeup! I will never go back to regular mascara!



My awesome friend who I buy my Younique products from wants to give one of my lucky readers the chance to win FREE Younique 3d fiber lashes! Enter below via the Rafflecopter for your chance to win! Whoever wins this is really going to enjoy it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma Blog Tour & Book Review + Kindle HDX

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Litfuse Group in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Gisela must hold on to hope and love despite all odds in the midst of a war-torn country.

Gisela Cramer is an American living in eastern Germany with her cousin Ella Reinhardt. When the Red Army invades, they must leave their home to escape to safety in Berlin.

However, Ella is a nurse and refuses to leave, sending her young daughters with Gisela. During their journey, Gisela meets Mitch Edwards, an escaped British POW. She pretends she is his wife in order to preserve his safety among other Germans, especially one wounded German soldier, Kurt, who has suspicions about Mitch's identity. Kurt also has feelings for Gisela and tries to uncover the truth about her "marriage."

Their journey to Gisela's mother in Berlin is riddled with tragedy and hardship, but they strive to keep Ella's daughters safe so they can reunite with their mother. During the journey Gisela and Mitch begin to develop feelings for one another beyond friendship. They reach Berlin, but their struggles are far from over. Gisela and Mitch must learn to live for the day and find hope in the darkest of circumstances.

In this moving, historically accurate portrayal of WWII Germany, the characters learn that, even with destruction all around them, some things last forever.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/wAD3T 

My thoughts

Since the very first time I picked up Number the Stars by Lois Lowery when I was 8 years old, I have always been drawn to works of fiction that are set in the WWII era. There is just something so fascinating to me about this heartbreaking time in history. I think it is because I can not possibly fathom how anyone made it through such an awful war. I reviewed Liz Tolsma's first book Snow on the Tulips last year and I thought it was a very interesting look into both sides of what innocent people would be going through during the war...the Jewish people who were being targeted and the German people who made the significant risk to hide them away. I knew that when she wrote another novel about WWII I would have to read it. Daisies Are Forever didn't disappoint. It was certainly a page turner. The story is of a group of people trying to head out of the danger zone and into Berlin for safety. Gisela is the main character and she has a lot on her shoulders feeling like she is responsible for other people's safety and well being. She is thoughtful and scared out of her mind. On her way to fleeing to safety, she meets Mitch Edwards, who is a British soldier that escaped from a POW. This leads to her having to lie about his identity to make sure he stays safe as well. I found Gisela and Mitch both very likeable and my heart broke for both of them and everyone with them for what they were going through. I found Kurt to be kind of a creep and I could have done without him, but he was definitely an obstacle for Gisela and Mitch, or at least he was trying to be. The description used in the novel is vivid and really brings the story to life. You can almost feel the pain and fear that the characters feel. I read Daisies Are Forever in just a few short days and I could even see myself reading it a second time (I am not usually a repeat reader). I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or has a specific interest in WWII.

About the author-

New York Times best-selling author Liz Tolsma is the author of Daisies areForever, Snow on the Tulips, and the contributing author of A Log Cabin Christmas. When not busy putting words to paper, Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and children, all adopted internationally.

Connect with Liz Tolsma on Faceobok
Connect with Liz Tolsma on Twitter
Liz Tolsma's Website

***************Enter to win a Kindle HDX***************

Liz Tolsma's latest WWII historical fiction novel, Daisies are Forever, is getting rave reviews. 

". . . compelling and fast-paced tale about the atrocities and tremendous losses. . . ." —Library Journal

"Excellent storytelling, accurate historical reporting and gritty, persevering characters make this WWII-era novel a must-read." —CBA Retailers + Resources

Liz celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!
One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 31st. Winner will be announced June 2nd on Liz's website.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Liz's website on June 2nd to see if you won.

TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C + E + Hyaluronic Acid Serum Review + Giveaway

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. 

I love natural skin care products. Even if I wasn't aware of all of the chemicals that other skin care products contain, I have very sensitive skin so I can not just put anything on it, especially my incredibly sensitive face. I definitely believe that, especially as we get older, we really need to take care of our skin, especially our faces. We are exposed to so much sun and have probably worn a ton of makeup, so some extra vitamins are definitely helpful. TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C serum can be used after a toner or on it's own. I have tried it both ways and I think it stands alone very well, but toner beforehand takes this product to another level. I used rose water as my toner. I love how soft and hydrated the vitamin c serum makes my face feel and that there is no slimy or oil residue left behind. This oil feels great on the face and makes my skin feel very pampered. You end this facial care regimen by applying the moisturizer of your choice. I really feel like this is a simple routine to make sure your face retains a youthful appearance. I have been very impressed with this serum and will continue to use it in my regimen.

TruSkin Naturals Professional Vitamin C Serum is alcohol and paraben free and does not test on animals. You can purchase the vitamin c serum on Amazon.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

Nightmare City by Andrew Klavan Blog Tour & Book Review + Win a Copy of the Book

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson Publishers via YA Bound Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.


About the book- 
  
Tom Harding only wants the truth. But the truth is becoming more dangerous with every passing minute.

As a reporter for his high school newspaper, Tom Harding was tracking the best story of his life when, suddenly, his life turned very, very weird. He woke up one morning to find his house empty . . . his street empty . . . his whole town empty . ..empty except for an eerie, creeping fog and whatever creatures were slowly moving toward him through the fog.

Now Tom s once-ordinary world has become something out of a horror movie. How did it happen? Is it real? Is he dreaming? Has there been a zombie apocalypse? Has he died and gone to hell?

Tom is a good reporter he knows how to look for answers but no one has ever covered a story like this before. With the fog closing in and the hungry creatures of the fog surrounding him, he has only a few hours to find out how he lost the world he knew. In this bizarre universe nothing is what it seems and everything including Tom s life hangs in the balance.

My thoughts:
 
I thought that this book started off in an interesting way, but after a while it kind of drug out in the beginning about getting down to what was really going on. Once I got to the middle of the story though, I was definitely invested in finding out what was going on all around Tom and interested in finding out what exactly it was that had happened to him. I did feel that the book dragged out a little in a few places, but overall I really liked the plot line and felt that the story was woven together very nicely. There were a couple of plot twists that I didn't see coming, which I always count as a big win. I love being surprised and caught off guard and it doesn't often happen, so a few times in one book was pretty cool. Nightmare City was a pretty quick read, a thriller that demands your attention and makes you think as you try to think of the possible reasons of why Tom is going through what he is going through. There are several characters throughout the book that you think might be involved with what has happened to Tom, so it was fun trying to think of all the possible scenarios. I thought the story flowed well throughout and that the ending worked rather nicely. I would recommend this book to a reader who enjoys YA fiction or suspense novels.

About the author:

Andrew Klavan is a best-selling, award-winning thriller novelist whose books have been made into major motion pictures. He broke into the YA scene with the bestselling Homelanders series, starting with The Last Thing I Remember. He is also a screenwriter and scripted the innovative movie-in-an-app Haunting Melissa.

Connect with Andrew Klavan on Facebook

Connect with Andrew Klavan on Twitter

Connect with Andrew Klavan on Goodreads

http://www.andrewklavan.com/

Nightmare City is now available at BarnesandNoble.com & Amazon.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma Blog Tour & Book Review + Win a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card!

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson Publishers via Litfuse Group. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book: 

A stranger's life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything. 

The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After the losses she's endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.

When Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia's doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia's faith won't let her turn him out.

As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. Gerrit's intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.

She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love? She fears their story will end before it even begins.

My thoughts:

Every since I picked out award-winning Number the Stars by Lois Lowery from the library one fateful day while I was in 3rd grade many years ago, I have had a love of historical fiction and I have specifically been interested in stories set during WWII. What first drew me to Snow on the Tulips was the hauntingly beautiful cover. I do agree with the old adage that you can't judge a book by it's cover, but I don't think it applies to this book. I think you can take one look at this cover and almost immediately know what it's about and that it will take you for an emotional ride. The characters in the story are all very immediately likeable which made me want to know what happened. Even though they are fictional, and I know anyone who loves to read will understand this, I was hoping for a great outcome in the end for them all. I was hoping they would all make it out of the war unscathed. I knew going into it that there was a possibility they wouldn't all make it out alive, but I was rooting for them all anyway. I won't give away anything in that regard here because I am not one for spoilers, but I will say that this Snow on the Tulips really made me feel like I was able to feel these character's thoughts. Whether it be Cornelia, who lost her husband to the war very very early on in their marriage wanting to be helpful to Gerrit and keep him safe even though she knows the risks, or Johan who wants to help with the resistance because he feels like he's sitting idly by while others are helping, you can feel each character's emotions very deeply. I can't even imagine what it would have been like to live in fear because you are hiding someone the Nazi's were after, it would be utterly terrifying every single second and yet so many did. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Corrie and Gerrit grow as the book progressed and I loved that we got to see both of their thoughts regarding each other and to watch them play out was wonderful. It was the very happiest happening in this novel. I would absolutely recommend Snow on the Tulips to anyone who is interested in historical fiction, particularly with a focus on WWII, but I think anyone who enjoys a good romance would love this book as well. I will definitely be reading more novels by Liz Tolsma. I can't wait to see what else she has come up with. 

About Liz Tolsma:


Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. Add a dog and a cat to that mix and there's always something going on at their house. She's spent time teaching second grade, writing advertising for a real estate company, and working as a church secretary, but she always dreamed of becoming an author.

She'd love to have you visit her at www.liztolsma.com.

Connect with Liz Tolsma on Facebook

Connect with Liz Tolsma on Twitter

Connect with Liz Tolsma on Goodreads 

 ******Enter to win a $50 gift card to Amazon.com!!******

Liz Tolsma is celebrating the release of her novel, Snow on the Tulips, by giving away an Amazon Reading Pack to one lucky winner. Find out what readers are saying about the book here.

  One winner will receive:

• A $50 Amazon gift card
• Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 16th. Winner will be announced November 18th at Liz's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Liz's blog on the 18th to see if you won. (Or, better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox! Just enter your email address on the left sidebar of her blog.)

Waiting for Dusk by Nancy Pennick Blog Tour and Book Review + Win an E-copy of the Book

*Disclosure- I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher via YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

Summary from Goodreads:
 

Read a book.
Fall asleep.
Meet a boy.
Is it real or just a dream?
Katie’s everyday life suddenly turns exciting when she travels back in time and meets the boy of her dreams. Thinking of nothing else, willing to leave the real world behind, she’s determined to find out if it’s all a dream or not. Returning again and again, Katie almost has her answers until one day her precious book goes missing.

My thoughts:

Time travel books are so fascinating to me. I want to be in this one. These characters are easy to relate to and who wouldn't want to travel to another time period? The interactions of several different characters in both time periods is interesting. There are even some characters in the present that are actually from the past! I especially enjoyed the parts in the past when Katie is interacting with her own family members, making good friends and, of course, falling in love. I would have loved to see Katie and Drew interact more in the book because I really enjoyed their relationship and felt like I didn't get enough of it. I would have been happy to have more scenes in the past with any of the characters really. I love how Pennick tied the past to the present through a friend Katie made that she happens to come across in her present day as well. Although I really liked this book, I do have to say that I found the scenes with Ty rather grating. I felt bad for the character because he started out as a nice guy and then the author turned him into a terrible, terrible person and the progression into that didn't make any sense to me other than that the author wanted us to root for Drew. I am pretty sure we would have all been rooting for Katie to be with Drew anyway. I enjoyed this book and love that the whole idea behind it leaves it open for sequels which I certainly hope happen. I was not ready to leave behind these characters and would love to see other characters introduced in subsequent stories as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light-hearted romance or to anyone intersted in time travel or just different time periods in general.

Connect with Nancy Pennick on Facebook

Connect with Nancy Pennick on Twitter

Connect with Nancy Pennick on Goodreads

See what other bloggers are saying about Waiting for Dusk

Enter below via the Rafflecopter for your chance to win an e-copy of this book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway a6d67ce120bbef917870b4fbdc8f36b22c86e427e26da45af7

Viva Labs Social Media Launch & Essential Prize Pack Giveaway

 Something I am super passionate about is health and wellness. I believe that we need to be selective about what we put into our bodies to make sure that we are taking the best possible care of ourselves. Something that I do and recommend others do as well, is supplement where I am lacking. Not all supplements are created equal. Some are so full of synthetic ingredients that there really is no point to taking them. You want to make sure what you are getting are high quality, all natural supplements.

Viva Labs was founded in 2011 by a team of doctors, homeopaths and nutritionists, so you can be confident that what you are getting in these supplements is of the highest quality. The team at Viva Labs wants optimal health to be available to everyone, so they have worked hard to make their products as affordable as possible. These holistic supplements are FDA approved and go through rigorous testing to verify purity, quality and full potency.

In celebration of recently launching their social media pages, Viva Labs wants to offer one of my readers an Essential Prize Pack that includes several of their products. The prize pack will include a full sized bottles of our Krill Oil, Astaxanthin, and Optimal Greens.

Krill Oil- is an omega-3 supplement with maximum absorptive capacity. Krill oil supports heart, brain, skin, hormone, eye and nervous system health. One of the greatest things about this supplement is that it doesn't have the fishy aftertaste that pretty much every other fish oil does. It is sustainable, sourced from the Antarctic and free of toxins, heavy metals and PCBs making it a great choice for our health.

Astaxanthin- Is a powerful carotenoid and antioxidant. It promotes healthy, radiant skin, healthy eyesight and supports faster post-workout recovery. It is nearly 600 times more potent than vitamin E as an antioxidant!! 


Optimal Greens- Viva Labs proprietary blend of micro-greens, sea vegetables, antioxidants and probiotics can be added to water, juice or smoothies. This is an easy and delicious way for you to add a dose of greens to your diet for overall health.

Enter via the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win this amazing prize pack below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Is Our Time Movie Review + Giveaway

From the back of the DVD: 

Ethan, Luke, Ale, Ryder and Catherine are five friends connected by their strong faith. After graduation, they each set out to make a difference in the world for God. Their ambitions are high, their passions are strong but will they have the courage to fullfill their calling regardless of what comes their way? The sacrifice they are asked to pay may be just too high. Through Godly wisdom from an outside source, the group realized that this is not their time after all, it's all His!

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

My thoughts:

Bring a box of tissues with you to the couch for this one ya'll. The movie starts off with 5 close friends that have just freshly graduated from college, with each trying to find their way to the calling they feel God has for them. Newly married couple Luke & Ale find theirs right away as they are invited to be a part of Embarace a Village, an outreach in India devoted to preventing and treating leprosy  as well as sharing the Christian faith with the people they are interacting with. Ryder and Catherine both find jobs right out of college as well. The only one that seems to be struggling is Ale's older brother Ethan, who already took an extra year to finish college and didn't get into any of the graduate schools he applied for. He feels like he is on the sidelines while all of his friends are in the game. He wants to do what God calls him to do, but he just doesn't know what that is. The movie is narrated by Ethan and tells of the five friends' journey after the first year of college. When tragedy strikes, they all re-evaluate what they are doing.

I really enjoyed watching this movie. I thought it had a great subject, because who hasn't struggled to figure out what they are called by God to be on this Earth for? It is interesting to see these five friends take on the world as they try to support each other in the process. They have a great adviser in a professor (portrayed by Eric Roberts) that they clearly grew close to in college. He helps nudge them, especially Ethan, to figure things out and to see that the place that you are, even if it happens to be a waiter at your dad's cafe, is the place you are meant to be at the exact moment you are there. Ethan definitely comes to see that by the end of the movie and figures out exactly why he was there. God has a purpose for everything, sometimes we just don't see it until later. Something else I really enjoyed about this movie was that although it is a fictitious account, the non profit in India that two of the characters join, Embrace a Village, is actually a real charity and they even used some of the people they have helped in the film. It adds a bit of authenticity to the movie and there is also a little special feature to explain more about what Embrace a Village is all about.

This is a great movie to watch no matter what your age or place in life is. It definitely makes you think about what you are called to do. I know that God called me to help people, but like Ethan in the film, I feel a bit sidelined right now while I have 3 preschool aged kids at home. I know I meant to help people on a more personal level, on a bigger scale, but for now, my job is to take care of my kids and teach them the same compassion and to help where I can whether it be a friend who needs an encouraging word, donating food or clothes to those in need or offering my help in whatever way someone may need it that I can do while my kids are little. This movie definitely got me thinking about how I can utilize the gifts God gave me in this season of my life and that it is okay that it isn't as big as my heart aches for it to be just yet. All in His good time.

I absolutely recommend this dvd to anyone who feels a bit lost about their direction or even someone who thinks they have it figured out. Beyond that, it is a tear jerker and if you are like me and enjoy a good movie that will make you think and cry, This Is Our Time is a great pick.

This is our Time will be released on DVD on April 16, 2013. You can pre-order it at ChristianCinema.com




Enter below via the Rafflecopter form to win a copy of This Is Our Time!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blog App + Giveaway

In just a few days, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released on DVD!

"J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an amazing quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers."

From the brilliant mind of Academy Award Winning Peter Jackson comes the first in a trilogy of movies depicting J.R.R Tolkien's fiercely popular novel, The Hobbit.

In celebration of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's March 19th release date comes a fun, interactive blog app. Take the quiz to see if you rae 100% Hobbit (I was 67%), find out facts about the creatures of Middle Earth, watch the movie trailer, or download the Hobbit Handbook to find out all you need to know to throw an amazing Hobbit watch party from the comfort of your own home!




Enter via the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-Ray Combo Pack!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Updated* Win a 3 Month Subscription to Conscious Box! + Coupon Code for 50% off ANY subscription!!

**UPDATE** The first 100 people to sign up for any subscription at Conscious Box using the coupon code: GOCONSCIOUS will receive 50% off the subcription of their choice! Hurry, this promo is gonna go very fast!!

So many amazing things have been happening with Conscious Box that is hard to believe it has barely been around for a little over a year! In the last few months, they have introduced an all vegan box (yay!) and more recently a gluten free box. These new box options are in addition to the already magnificent traditional Conscious Box, which is also filled with eco-friendly products. As you can tell, they have been super busy working on new boxes to offer us, but they have also revamped the Conscious Box website. You can learn more about Conscious Box and about how you can earn points for each box you purchase and how you can even earn money as an affiliate! Conscious Box just keeps getting better and better!

 If you love discovering new products and you want to take better care of yourself and our planet, I highly suggest giving Conscious Box a try. I have never been disappointed by any box I have purchased or reviewed and I love that they have so many options! As I have already mentioned, there are several different boxes to choose from and what I really love about this particular subscription box is that you can decide whether you want to subscribe month to month, for 3 months, 5 months or for the entire year and you can even purchase gift subscriptions to send to your friends (I totally sent my bestie a Conscious Box for Christmas!)

There are so many subscription boxes out there and I have tried many of them. None can compare to Conscious Box. That is why I am excited to announce that the awesome people behind the company want to offer one of my readers a THREE month subscription to Conscious Box! Enter via the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win! a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure- I may receive a free product as a thank you for helping spread the word about Conscious Box via this post. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

VeggieTales The Little House That Stood Review & Giveaway

I remember the first time I watched VeggiesTales many years ago, long before I met my husband or even thought about having children of my own. It was in youth group at church on a Wednesday night and none of us could get enough of the Silly Songs with Larry segment of the show. I knew right away that one day when I had kids of my own, I would want to watch this wonderful, entertaining and best of all Faith based children's show with them.

Now that I do have my own kids, we definitely watch our fair share of Bob, Larry and friends, so I was beyond excited to have the opportunity to review the newest offering from VeggieTales- The Little House That Stood. This movie is about making good choices, a lesson we all need to be reminded of every now and then, adults and kids alike. The first story interweaves the Biblical parable of the wise man building his house upon the rock with the beloved children's classic The 3 Little Pigs. All three of my kids were excited to see the pigs make an appearance and they loved all of the catchy songs this VeggieTales offering was filled with. I loved the great lesson that no matter what we build our house out of, without a firm foundation, it is useless. And of course, this is also a great lesson in having a firm foundation for our lives as well (our faith in God).

Between the two episodes, there was a Silly Songs with Larry segment called "Happy Toothday" in which he sings an ode to his lone tooth. It's cute and silly as per usual. The next episode of VeggieTales on this dvd was just two cute and followed the theme of making good choices. Humpty Dumpty is the main character and mayor of a town of many chidlren's stories characters. My 5 year old daughter was most excited to see Goldilocks and the 3 bears in this episode and I really enjoyed the way some of these children's stories were woven together for the purpose of the lesson. It was pretty clever!

We enjoyed this VeggieTales DVD very much and look forward to watching it many more times in the future! Check out the trailer below!


Connect with VeggieTales on Facebook
Connect with VeggieTales on Twitter
The VeggieTales Website

VeggieTales: The Little House That Stood Still will be available on March 5, 2013...in just a few days! Enter below for your chance to win your own copy of the DVD below via the Rafflecopter.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.