Kindle Giveaway information and a Book Review: An Unlikely Blessing

To switch things up a bit, I will start with the giveaway information.  To celebrate the release of her new book, An Unlikely Blessing, author Judy Baer is hosting a giveaway:

One lucky winner will receive:

• Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
• A $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com

To enter just click on one the icons below and then tell your friends! Winner will be announced on February 21st on Judy's blog, http://www.judykbaer.com/wordpress

For more information please visit the Litfuse website, www.litfusegroup.com and click {HERE}!

About the author:  Judy Baer is the author of over seventy-five books for adults and teens. She has won the Romance Writer of America Bronze Medallion and has been a RITA finalist twice. She lives in Elk River , Minnesota with her husband. Follow the Hilltop characters on Judy’s blog and find out more about Judy and her books at http://www.judykbaer.com

 

Now for the review, here is the information from the publisher:

An Unlikely Blessing is a heartfelt story about a new pastor and life-long city dweller Alex Armstrong, who reluctantly accepts his first assignment, a two-point parish in the wilds of North Dakota . Hilltop Township , a farming community, blooms from the prairie like a wild pink rose—lovely and prickly all at once, much like the people who live there.

Unlikely

 

Alex quickly finds that this lovely place is in quiet peril. Farmers are struggling to make ends meet: Jonas Owens, a faithful member of Hilltop parish, is on the brink of losing the farm. Alex believes that part of why God called him to Hilltop was to help turn things around, and steps in with ideas for saving the Owens' land. But can even God's minister help save this rural community?

 

There are a lot of firsts for the new pastor—the annual Hunter's Breakfast, julebukking (also called Christmas fooling), King Oscar's fish balls, and the melody of the musical saw. And the new, single pastor creates remarkable excitement among the unmarried women in the community. If you could die of hot dish overdose, Alex would be a dead man. Whether performing weddings, counseling his flock, or herding cattle by snowmobile, Alex soon discovers that his new church home has as much to teach him as he will teach them. Day by day, he falls more in love with the people of Hilltop Church . People may leave Hilltop, but Hilltop never leaves them.

 My thoughts:

I found I could relate to Alex pretty well.  I had grown up in a large town on the outskirts of an average size city in New York state.  At the age of 19, I moved to a small town, that was a few hours away from a "city", to be a live-in nanny.  If you have never lived in a small-town, it may be difficult to believe that there are places like Hilltop in America today, but I promise you there are.  The author did a great job of painting a picture of Hilltop, and it's citizens, for the reader.  The telling of the story reminded me of a journal, but written in the third person.  There are problems that come up and a few exciting scenes in the book, but not one major problem to be overcome.  I do realize that this is part of a series though and will seek out the other books.  I found myself drawn into the lives of the characters and I particularly look forward to finding out what happens with Jared (Alex's nephew) and little Will Packard.  

I usually rate a book based on how easy it is for me to put it down.  Often, a book starts off slowly and I find it easy to put it down in the beginning, but after the first several chapters, I am so drawn into the story that I hate putting it down.  That was not the case with this book.  I was able to easily put it down throughout the entire book.  I found it to be slow-moving and lacked a real climax.   Having said that, I still enjoyed the story.  I do not typically like this style of writing, but the author did a phenomenal job of drawing me into the lives of the people in Hilltop and it is such an easy read that I was able to read during times of the day I cannot normally read (like when the kids are awake).  I am also a fan of Christian fiction, but only so long as it is not overly preachy.  I was a little concerned that a book written about a pastor could easily turn into a preachy book, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it was not.  I especially liked the way Alex dealt with gossiping from his parishioners.

My recommendation

If you enjoy slower moving books, or reading about the lives of others, or if you just want a taste of small town USA, I recommend reading An Unlikely Blessing.  I also recommend this to those who enjoy reading, but cannot find enough "quiet" time to really delve into a heavier story.  If you want a high energy book or one with twists and turns, this is not the one for you.


***Disclaimer***
I received a free copy of An Unlikely Blessing from LitFuse in exchange for my honest review.  My opinion is my own and was not influenced by anyone else.

Going Gluten-Free and a recipe: Southwestern Tuna and Rice Casserole

Last week, my doctor suggested I try going gluten-free for a few weeks to see if it helps with some issues I have been having.  It is a difficult transition, but I am finally figuring it out.  On the plus side- since I started the gluten-free diet last week, I have lost 6 pounds and 1.5% body fat.  I had been eating pretty healthy anyway and exercising, but my weight was at a plateau and would not budge.  I am guessing this is the kick start it needed.

Opening my pantries to shelves full of food I couldn't eat, was starting to depress me, so I am spending much of this week reorganizing them so that one is full of food I can eat and the other has the food I cannot eat.  In doing this, I have discovered that my packet of taco seasoning has wheat as the first ingredient and that tomato soup also has wheat in it.  Those were both surprises to me and the tomato soup meant I could no longer use it for the recipe I wanted to make for lunch.  Had it been the taco seasoning, it would not have been an issue as that is pretty easy to make with what I had on hand, but since tomatoes are not in season, I do not have any stored, and I only had 1 small fresh tomato on hand, the recipe needed to be scrapped.  Instead, I created a different tuna and rice casserole:

Southwestern Tuna and Rice Casserole

2 1/4 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 pound Velveeta, cubed (I used the 2% milk variety)
1 c sour cream (I used fat free)
1-15.5oz can black beans (you could also use red beans)
2-5 oz cans of tuna fish
3/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp fresh oregano (1 1/2 tsp dried)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 small tomato, diced
1 small onion, diced
lime flavored tortilla chips (regular ones will work too, just less flavor)

1) Preheat oven to 350° and spray a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish (a 9x9 pan also works).
2) Combine all ingredients in a bowl and gently stir until well blended.
3) Put all ingredients in the prepared casserole dish.
4) Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.
5) Remove from oven and stir together.
6) Crumble desired amount of tortilla chips over casserole and serve.


If any of you have any super yummy, fairly easy gluten-free recipes that you would like to share, please post a link in the comment section.  Also, please share any great gluten-free recipe blogs.  I currently follow A Year of Slow Cooking and Lynn's Kitchen Adventures, both of which offer lots of GF recipes, but would love to add a few more.  Thanks so much!

Book Review: The Rhythm of Secrets (blog tour) and information on a Nook eReader giveaway

I grew up as a voracious reader, but as life took over, the amount of time I had to read for myself (as opposed to reading picture books to my little ones) diminished to very little.  Then I discovered blogging, and better yet, I began to meet people that blessed me with opportunities to review books.  It was the impetus I needed to begin leisurely reading again and I am so grateful that I am.  Once again, I am here as a stop on a blog tour for the litfuse group.  This time, I was fortunate to read The Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy.

Here is the publisher's description:
Since 1955, Sheila Franklin, a talented musician, has perfectly performed the role of devout pastor’s wife, locking away her past as Sheba Alexander and Sylvia Allen. Her carefully constructed façade crumbles with a single phone call from a young Marine named Samuel, the illegitimate son she secretly put up for adoption. Samuel begs Sheila to use her government contacts to get his fiancé, Mali, a Thai prostitute, into America. A dangerous mixture of love and guilt spurs her to help her only child even though it devastates her husband Edward and exposes her questionable past. After a quarrel with Edward, Sheila and Samuel board a C-130 for Thailand and then search Bangkok’s steamy streets for a Madonna-faced prostitute. The two whisk Mali from a brothel but are seized by a warlord who considers Mali his “number one girl.” In a teak “ghost house,” Sheila discovers God’s grace and gains the freedom she needs to find her own identity—Sheila, Sylvia, and Sheba. A framed story, this novel has roots in the bohemian 1940s New Orleans French Quarter and spans three decades, including the turbulent Vietnam era.

My take:
I thoroughly enjoy any good book that can paint a vivid picture of sex and violence without going into sordid details.  I also enjoy historical fiction and unexpected twists.  This book combined all of these things into one.  It also had something I do not typically enjoy, flashbacks that occur throughout the story.  However, in this instance the flashbacks are well done and do not leave you trying to figure out which setting you are in.  I also enjoyed the musical references sprinkled throughout the book and the role that music played in the novel.  While I personally have very little musical talent, I love being around those who have been blessed with musicality.

My recommendation:
I had a difficult time putting this book down.  I was drawn into each era that Sheila lived through, as well as into the lives of her loved ones.  When I finished reading the book, it took on all new meaning when I learned it was based on a real person.  If you enjoy historical fiction, stories about inner struggles, and unexpected surprises, you will love this book.

About the author:
Patti Lacy is a Baylor graduate, who taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw. She has two grown children and a dog named Laura. She and her husband can be seen jog-walking the streets of Normal, Illinois, an amazing place to live for a woman born in a car. For more information, visit Patti's website at www.pattilacy.com, her blog at www.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites

How you can enter to win a Nook eReader:

Patti and her publisher, Kregel, are giving away a NOOK prize package worth over $150 to one lucky winner!!!!

Enter the Nook eReader Giveaway and you could win:
* A brand new Nook eReader with Wi-Fi
* $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble
To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form/s, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on February 16th at Patti's Rhythm of Secrets Facebook Party.

But, wait there’s more! Come to the Rhythm of Secrets Facebook Party on February 16th!
Patti will be announcing the winner of The Rhythm of Secrets NOOK giveaway at her Party on FB February 16th! She’ll be hosting a book club discussion of The Rhythm of Secrets and giving away other fun prizes! (signed copies of her books and gift certificates to Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, & iTunes!). Don’t miss the fun at Patti’s FB Author Page on February 16th at 5pm PST ( 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, & 8 pm EST)!

***Disclaimer***
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through the litfuse group in exchange for my honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Scripture Sundays, Proverbs 31:13

This week's scripture is Proverbs 31:13

 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh

willingly with her hands.

This tells me that a virtuous woman looks for good materials and does her work willingly, without complaint.  This week I plan to have a more cheerful attitude when doing my work around the house.  I am not sure how I plan to implement seeking good materials any differently than I already do, but because wool and flax are not typically useful in their original form, I believe this implies that the materials will be used to make things for the home.  I plan on working on my knitting this week, hopefully learning at least one new stitch this week.  

Over the past two weeks, as I have begun to implement these changes, I have had a change in attitude toward my husband.  This is not to say that I have not always done these things, but I have not done them consciously.  As I have thought more about my husband on a daily basis, I am finding that I appreciate him more than ever.  Our marriage is far from perfect, but so am I and I am enjoying the changes I am seeing in both myself and my husband. 

Scripture Sundays, Proverbs 31:12

Last week I began my study and application of Proverbs 31:10-31.  I continue this week with verse 12:

She will do him good and not evil 

all the days of her life.

This verse, like many of the ones in this section, is pretty straight forward.  It tells me that a virtuous woman will treat her husband well every day and not do anything bad to him.  I do not struggle so much with treating my husband bad, but I there are times where I struggle with treating my husband well, especially on days when I may be feeling frustrated with him.  So this week I plan to work on:

- I will try to do at least one thing each day to let my husband know that I love him.  On the days when I may be frustrated with him, I will do two good things for him.  This will be in addition to the everyday things I do anyway (cooking, cleaning, etc).

What are some of the ways you "do good" for your husband each day? 

 

Giveaway Winner: Big Cereal and Movie Cash

I was not feeling well last Sunday and Monday and then forgot to draw the winner when I did get back online.  However, when giving away prizes, I guess late is better than never :)

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

6 

Timestamp: 2011-01-23 23:51:21 UTC

Comment 6 was:

Mami2jcn said...

I follow you in GFC.

Congratulations!  I have sent the winner an e-mail and she has 48 hours to get back to me or I will choose a new winner.

Simple Changes

 I am not a fan of resolutions because resolutions often get broken and forgotten.  However, I do like the idea of making simple changes in my life that help bring me closer to my goals.  In past years, I have tried to implement several changes all at once to cover a wide range of areas in my life (marriage, housework, diet, etc), but this year, I am going to choose to focus on 2-3 changes at a time.  I will still cover all the same areas, just not all at once.  I think this will be much more manageable.  So here are my changes for this year:

Financial:  We paid off all our credit cards last tax season and I could not feel better about that.  I want to continue to reduce our debt by paying off my student loan this year.  My current payments are $50 a month and I am planning to pay at least double that each month.  In order to do this, I need to increase my personal income so my current goal is to research various ways to do that.

Marriage:  While I try to stay happy all the time, my marriage is not perfect.  I realize however, that I cannot change my husband so I am working on accepting him as he is.

Health:  It is my long-term goal to lose quite a bit of weight.  My current goal is to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables I am eating each day and to fit some form of exercise in at least 5 days a week.

Spiritual:  I want to work on including personal scripture study in my daily life.  I will start by reading for 10 minutes every day.

Blogging: I have been pretty irregular in my blogging over the past few years.  My goal for this year is to get back to a blogging schedule and to start by blogging at least 3 times a week.

Children:  It is my goal to get back to parent/child date nights once a month so that we can build stronger personal relationships with our kids.


I am sure other goals will come to mind throughout the year, but these are the important ones to me right now.  It is my plan to work on the health and the blogging one right now and to fit the others in as I feel I can.  Happiness does not happen overnight and I expect these few simple goals will take some time as well.  I am up for the challenge though and look forward to what this year will bring me.  How about you?  What changes are you planning this year?


***Disclosure***
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Simply Orange® blogging program. If I am one of the first 65 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 Target gift card and a gift pack that includes a Simply Orange® cooler bag and logoed fleece.