Book Review - Thin Ice

ABOUT THE BOOK:

After losing her parents and her sister, Christy Reed has been mired in grief. Now, life is finally starting to feel normal again--until an envelope addressed in her sister's handwriting arrives in the mail. And the note inside claims she is still alive.

FBI Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force operator, is assigned to reopen the case . . . but he's coming up with more questions than answers. Is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game--or the target of a sinister plot? As Lance digs deeper, one thing becomes clear: someone in the shadows has a deadly agenda.

Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon pulls out all the stops in this high-stakes thriller that races to a bone-chilling finish.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than forty-five novels, including That Certain Summer, One Perfect Spring, and the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, three HOLT Medallions, a Daphne du Maurier Award, two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine, a Retailers' Choice Award, a Booksellers' Best Award, and a National Readers' Choice Award. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist, and Booklist included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

MY REVIEW:

This is a definite page turner! The mystery and suspense of this story are very compelling and will keep you enthralled after each page.

Christy is trying to go forward after loosing her parents and sister in a span of eight months. Her parents were killed in an automobile accident and her sister in a fire. Then one day, she goes to her mailbox to find a note, in her sister's handwriting, telling her that she is alive but being held. She is told not to go to the police or tell anyone. She secretly goes to the FBI, though, for help.

Lance is a Special Agent with the FBI and this case is his first. He is a former Navy Seal and Delta Force operator so he understands danger. He understands that Christy's sister is in danger and he worries that Christy is, too. 

Christy can't come up with anyone who would hate her or her sister enough to do this. Lance isn't convinced since she was a former ice skating champion going for the Olympics. He feels there must be someone that wants to hurt her by kidnapping her sister. 

As they go along trying to figure this out we are introduced to a very dark person who gets pleasure and joy out of not only controlling, but hurting people. He's a very disturbing individual that torments anyone he can. He figures into this story, but we're not sure how.

As this goes along, the story gets more and more disturbing. What someone will do to inflict hurt and pain on someone they feel has wronged them shows the darker side of the human race. 

This story is definitely a story of good versus evil. We aren't sure what's really happening until the very end. It's also a story of romance between Christy and Lance as they get to know each other during this difficult time. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense book touched with a bit of romance. This book is very good and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Revell Reads


Blessings - Julie

Counting Our Blessings - Link-Up

It's been a rather tough week for me. I've been sick with diverticulitis (again) and have had some other issues from a new pill the doctor gave me. At least that's what they think is wrong. There is a lot of pain when you have diverticulitis so the doctor gave me a pill that was supposed to help with that pain. I did okay on it for the first day and then had a horrible new pain in the upper left side of my abdomen. I went back to the doctor who said that we would wait one day and then if it was still there, we would do an ultrasound. We're doing an ultrasound. It's always something, isn't it?

Through it all, though, I have to count my blessings or, quite frankly, I would go crazy. I see such a difference in my attitude if I dwell on the bad things that are happening rather than the good. So, with that in mind, lets start counting those blessings!

7.  I've been working on my cross stitch for my son. I've made some good progress, I think. I haven't worked on it as much as I would like but I have had a couple good sessions of getting those stitches in. Here's a pic of how it looks now.

I'm really enjoying doing this piece. I'm having to be diligent with all the thread changes but so far I'm doing good at keeping track.

8.  I worked on my Bible journaling this week, too. Here are two new pages I did in my Bible. The first one is from Isaiah 43:18-19 and I chose to show the river through the desert. This is the Scripture that I'm memorizing right now.

The second page I did is from Psalms 91:4 and I chose to show my favorite bird, the quail, hiding her chick under her wing.

I enjoy doing this so much and love using my art to meditate on God's Word.

I hope your week was full of blessings! Please share your blog post on the link-up. It can be your blessings, something you made or anything you'd like o share. It can be a current post or an older one. Linking is a good way of sharing your blog with others!

An InLinkz Link-up

Blessings - Julie

Book Review - Mermaid Moon

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn't have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point.

Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O'Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart---and left---without a word, years ago.

When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life---and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie---their search intensifies. There's a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye.

As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father's killer---it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble has written several romantic suspense novels including Tidewater Inn, Rosemary Cottage, and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series. Her books have sold more than 3 million copies.

Connect with Coble: website, Twitter, Facebook

MY REVIEW:

Once again, Colleen Coble has proven to continue to be one of my very favorite authors. Her stories are intriguing and this story will keep you reading late into the night!

Mallory gets a phone call from her father and she's certain that he's in some kind of physical trouble like a heart attack. She calls the only person she knows that has the authority to help her - Kevin. He's a game warden in the area where she grew up in and she asks him to look for her dad who is on his boat.

By the time Mallory gets there, she finds out that her dad has died but not from natural causes but because he's been murdered. This starts a whole mystery that involves Mallory and her daughter. There is someone looking for Mallory, too, and has broken into her home and ransacked it while she is at her dad's.

This brings Mallory's daughter and her next door neighbor and best friend, Carol, up to her dad's place because it's not safe to stay in Mallory's house. The jeopardy doesn't end, though, and they all find themselves living in fear of what will happen next.

This is a book that keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next! There are so many twists and turns to this fantastic story, you'll be finding yourself thinking you know what's really happening only to realize it's not that at all. The greatest thing I took away from this book was that we must not blame ourselves for what we think we've done in the past. A lot of times what we think we've done, we didn't do at all and we live our lives in despair when what we need to do is have forgiveness for ourselves!

This is such an amazing story. I just loved it and I know you will, too! It's a great thriller/mystery/romance and the story carries you with it from the beginning to the end! I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group

Blessings - Julie

Counting Our Blessings - Link Up

Happy Tuesday! It's that wonderful time to link up and bask in the blessings we've been given this week.

I've had a more productive week this week and have been working toward goals but also working on things I enjoy (which is part of my goals, too). I'm continuing to work on my Power Sheets that I showed you a couple weeks ago. I thought I would be done by now, but it's been more complex for me than I imagined and so, instead of pushing through, just to push through, I've been really thinking about each and every question on them. I'm really learning a lot and able to really focus on my goals for this year.

6. One thing I'm really enjoying is decorating a bit more in my home again. The last two years were very difficult for me and I did very little holiday/seasonal decorating. This is something I just love doing and look forward to so being able to do a bit of this again is such a blessing! Here is my tree all decorated for Valentines!

This is quite a close-up view but I wanted you to see the lovely ornaments I found at Michael's! They are red glitter and really sparkle on the tree. We're so enjoying having the tree up!

7. Another thing I've been doing is more cross stitch. I have been wanting to work on a bigger project along with my smalls I'm doing. I was going through my projects and found the sampler I started for my youngest son's birth announcement years ago. Okay...he's 24 years old so, yes, I'm a bit behind in getting this done! Hahaha! However, it's better late than never! So, this project is one I'm putting at the top of my list to work on and here's where I am so far.

Isn't it just adorable? There are so many thread changes that it's going to take me a while but it's going to be gorgeous when I'm done. I worked on it for hours on Sunday and there's not a lot of difference in how it's looking now but, little by little, it will be done.

What are your blessings for this week? Please link up and share!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Blessings - Julie

Book Review - Imitation of Christ

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When does a classic become new, fresh and extremely relevant? When someone takes it out of an outdated format and makes it readable, searchable and understandable. The Imitation of Christ has been in print for over 500 years for a good reason. It is powerful, beautiful and heart piercing. James Watkins has taken those words and reworked them into ninety daily readings, arranged by topic. Whether for daily devotions or for sound insight into a particular issue, Watkins paraphrase blends the ancient with the modern to introduce this classic to a new audience, speaking to all Christians with credibility and authority and using inclusive language not found in the original.

MY REVIEW:

This classic book has been a favorite of many for over 500 years but the old fashioned wording could make it difficult to read and understand. Mr. Watkins has updated this wonderful book to make it readable, and therefore, more applicable to apply to our life today.

Each devotion starts with a Scripture to meditate on and then a devotion to go with it. The devotions are in different sections focusing on imitating Christ's character and include certain attributes such as being wise, humble, trusting, disciplined, and being pure. These devotions are just as timely now as they were when they were written.

There are a total of 90 devotions in this book, not enough for the whole year, but I would highly recommend going through this book over again as each time you read them you definitely get something new out of it.

I really enjoyed this book as it grew me deeper in relationship with the Lord. It's a great book for your daily devotional/quiet time. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by First Look


Blessings - Julie

2016 Scripture Memorization Group!

As I shared before, I am starting a Scripture Memorization group here on More of Him and I'd love for you to join me!

The goal will be to memorize two Scriptures per month.  We will post our Scriptures in the comments on the Scripture Memorization posts. So, if you're going to join me - just post the Scripture you want to memorize in this posts comments. You can also post your Scripture on my Facebook page under the Scripture memorization post I will put there each time I post here. The link to my Facebook page is HERE

If you're unable to memorize two Scriptures a month - not to worry! Do one! The important thing is to memorize the Lord's Word and hide it in your heart.

You'll pick your own Scripture. If you're not sure what to choose, you can use the one I'm doing or one someone else is memorizing. Scripture should be personal so it can speak to you where you are right now in your life. Pick Scriptures that comfort you or are applicable to where you are right now.

In your comment, please put your first name and the state or country you're from. I would like to pray for you all - as I hope you'll do for each other - and it's so nice to have a name!

I want to show you what I'm writing my Scriptures in and also give you a couple of other ideas. Here's my pink glitter card book -

I found this at Office Depot during the back-to-school sale last fall. Here's the inside:

Here's a index card holder that is very durable and you can keep adding index cards.

You could even do something simple like this:

It's index cards with a ring. I just punched a hole in he corner and put them on this ring that you can pick up at any office supply store. I used this system for school as I could quickly flip through and learn the Scriptures or have them accessible for tests.

Whatever you chose to use, make it easy enough to take with you so you can go over the Scriptures. There is no right or wrong way to do this.

Another tool I use is ScriptureTyper. You can find all about it HERE  This is a fantastic tool for memorizing scripture. I use it on my phone and my tablet as well as my computer. It will help you learn Scriptures quite easily and fast.

Since I got a late start this month, we will start just memorizing one Scripture for January. Normally, we will share our Scriptures on the 1st and 15th of each month when the post goes up for that day.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email me (contact page is on the top) and I will be happy to answer anything you want to know. I'm praying that there will be a nice group of us who will commit to memorize Bible Scriptures for 2016!

Blessings - Julie

P. S. I have posted the Scripture I'm going to memorize in the comment section so you'll see how we're going to do this. :)

Scripture Memorization!!

I have been waiting anxiously for Beth Moore to start her Scripture memorization group again. I didn't realize that she only does it every other year and this is the off year.

I still want to make this a year where I memorize Scripture so thought I would create a group here. I would do it very similar to how Beth Moore does it on her blog and include a place on my blog's Facebook page where we could share, too.

Here's my first Scripture card I created.

This Scripture, Isaiah 43:18-19, really spoke to me. I feel the Lord is really impressing on me to let the past lie in the past and to look forward to the new things He has for me. Like many people, I tend to dwell too much on the past - especially past hurts. You, too?

Do you see that stamp I used? That's Elsa from "Frozen" and her song "Let It Go" has become a favorite of mine. It perfectly fits with this Scripture! Letting go of the past and going forward using the talents that God gives us!

If you're interested in being a part of the Scripture Memorization group here, please leave a comment telling me so. I will still be doing this every month so you can jump in anytime.

I'm so excited to hide more of God's Word in my heart!!

Blessings - Julie

Counting Our Blessings - Link-Up

I'm getting a late start on the Counting Our Blessings link up today! I've been feeling under the weather and slept most of the day away. In a way I feel guilty yet I can tell I need to rest and so I just try not to feel bad about it. It is what it is.

4.  On the days I've been feeling good I have been working on my cross stitch again. I've finished up the ornament I made for my hubby.

Cute huh? I haven't figured out how I'm going to finish it. I have a couple ideas but haven't settled on one of them yet. These little ornaments have been so fun to make. I'm on to a new one!

5.  My son's ordered this amazing faith journal for me! They actually ordered it way back at the beginning of November for my birthday but it didn't arrive until last week. Here's the inside with the January divider.

I then used my Copic pens and colored it in.

I'm just loving this! I will share more of it as I work in it. It's the Faith Journal from Documented Faith and it's designed by Stephanie Ackerman. I love her stuff and am so pleased with this beautiful journal!

Now you can link up with your own blessings or share something you've been doing or making or whatever! I always enjoy visiting your blogs when you share!

An InLinkz Link-up

Blessings - Julie

What Pro-Life Really Means - Evangelicals For Life

Even if you're not heading to Washington, D.C., January 21–22 for the March for Life event, block out some time those two days because you'll be able to attend some of the events in the comfort of your own home. Focus on the Family and The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will host Evangelicals for Life, a major pro-life conference held in conjunction with the March for Life event.

The event will take place in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Evangelicals from across the country will gather to hear from leading speakers, such as David Platt, Russell Moore, Jim Daly, Kelly Rosati, and others—to be equipped and encouraged to become a voice for life! The event will also be simulcast for FREE so individuals, churches, and organizations from coast-to-coast and around the world can take part.

Speakers will encourage evangelicals to engage the culture on issues of abortion and end-of-life decisions, and the event will affirm the evangelical belief in the sanctity of life, that every life matters to God and is created in His image.

For more information, visit http://evangelicals.life/.

Readers of this blog will receive 15% off their registration by using the code FocusLife.

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What Pro-Life Really Means

By Daniel Darling

It was a flippant comment by the spokesmen for a presidential candidate: “It doesn’t matter. They’re just Muslims.” But it made shudder.

This is how societies begin to dehumanize a people group, and every generation of Christians is responsible to face this thinking and fight it. This is what it means to be a pro-life champion.

We are pro-life because we are pro-human dignity. It is the uniquely Christian message that sees in every soul a person created in the image of God.

When Planned Parenthood and their allies say, “That’s just a fetus,” we say, “No, that’s a baby, a human life, that deserves dignity and respect.”

When corrupt profiteers look at vulnerable young girls and boys and say, “They are just a commodity to be trafficked for money,” we say, “No, they are boys and girls created in the image of God and deserving of dignity and respect.”

When eugenicists look at the elderly and say, “They are just burdens to be managed,” we say, “No, human dignity is not defined by utility, but is a unique gift given by God.”

When politicians look at immigrants and say, “They are a drain on society,” we say, “No, they are created in the image of God and worthy of kindness, welcoming, and respect.”

When ISIS brutally dehumanizes its victims—Christians, Muslims, Jews, and anyone who doesn’t subscribe to their ideology—and they say, “They are just infidels,” we say, by our acts of justice, “No, they are people created in the image of God and worthy of life and respect.”

When the disabled are marginalized, we say, “No, each was created in the image of God and is worthy of our full love and acceptance.”

Even in our discourse, even when we look across the aisle, across the screen, across the table at someone who doesn’t share our beliefs, we say to ourselves, “This person is worthy of respect and dignity because they too were created in the image of God.”

Human dignity, the intrinsic worth of every human soul, is not just a once-every-four-years mantra for voter guides and political scorecards. We live out the imago de as a way of life, and we seek justice wherever human dignity is compromised.

This is why ERLC and Focus on the Family join hands to help raise up a new generation of evangelicals who are passionate about the sanctity of human life. This why you should come to Washington, D.C., this January to the Evangelicals for Life event or participate via the free simulcast at your church or on your computer.

You should join Evangelicals for Life, not simply to make a powerful stand in the nation’s capital. You should come, not simply to be stirred by the gifted speakers. You should come, not only to fellowship and strategize with other champions for life.

You should be a part of of Evangelicals for Life because God is calling you, in this time and in your sphere of influence, to be a voice for human dignity.

Answer for yourself what it means to have a pro-life, whole-life vision. Discover where your gifts and talents best serve the kingdom of God in this way, and send a message to the world that your Christianity compels you to look every human being in the eye and not see what everyone sees. You see in them the image of their Creator.

Daniel Darling is the Vice President for Communications for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (ERLC), the co-sponsor of the Evangelicals for Life conference. Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry from Dayspring Bible College and has studied at  Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Angela have four children and reside in the Nashville area. They attend Green Hill Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, where Dan serves as Pastor of Teaching and Discipleship.

Book Review - The New Vintage Family

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Vintage is cool these days - unless you are talking about vintage values. Modern values differ dramatically from the "good old days" of the 1950s. Our culture has advanced, but are we really better off?

Our culture is trying to twist and dilute families, but there can be peace and joy in family life again. It is time to bring in the strongest, clearest form of the family system - one that works.

In The New Vintage Family, Drenda shows you how to embrace God's design for family, and how to refashion your family while pursuing your destiny together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Drenda Keesee has ministered at churches, seminars, and conferences for more than 20 years. She co-hosts Fixing the Money Thing with her husband, Gary, and has her own television program, Drenda, on ABC Family, NRB Network, and GEB America.

Contagious zeal and humorous personal experiences help this wife of over 30 years and mother of five children relate to people of all walks of life. Gary and Drenda pastor Faith Life Church in New Albany, Ohio, and are also the CEOs of Forward Financial Group.

MY REVIEW:

This is a very good book that really holds your attention and will give you the tools to help your family grow closer to God and each other.

I really enjoyed how Drenda shares so much of herself and her family in this book. I like that she gives so many ideas for bringing our families back to where God meant them to be. She starts at the basics and builds from there.

Each chapter is full of wonderful information and stories from the author's life. My very favorite chapters were from Drenda's children. I loved their stories of growing up and their adventures. I also loved the humor of this book. It definitely keeps your attention!

There are questions at the end of most chapters and they will help you understand yourself and your family better. They will also help you to build the kind of family that centers around God.

I enjoyed this book so much and highly recommend it for any parent that would like their family to be more God centered, family focused and closer. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by SON Studios

 

Blessings - Julie

Counting Our Blessings - Link Up!

It's the first Counting Our Blessings of 2016! I'm so excited to be doing this amazing link-up again. I've really missed it. In honor of this new year of new beginnings, I've created a new button for the link-up. I think it fits in better with my theme and the peaceful feeling I try to create here. It's under the "Grab My Buttons" tab at the top so, if you'd like to grab one for your blog, I'd be ever so grateful!

This new year I'm praying that we will have lots of blessings to share. Of course, even when things are hard, there are still so many blessings to be found. God never leaves us parched!!

This year we put up a rather small tree. It's a tall tree - 7ft, but it's a skinny tree. I am really wanting to have a holiday tree that I can decorate for all the different seasons and holidays. I've seen a lot of people doing this and it's just so cozy. Here's a picture of our tree from Christmas 2015

I'm going to enjoy having this beautiful tree around all year!

I've been working on another cross stitch ornament. I spent all of New Year's Day just stitching and watching DVD's of Naked City. This is an old tv show from the late 1950's and into the early 1960's. In my opinion, it's one of the best tv shows ever created. It's filmed entirely on location in New York City and the stories are excellent. Anyway, here's my little ornament so far. I'm almost done!

This ornament is for my hubby. He saw me working on it and thought it was adorable. :)

My blessings wouldn't be complete without these two!

Cookie and Mitzi are such blessings!! Do you see that poor girl on the bottom, though? We took her to a new groomer just before Thanksgiving. Mitzi had a few little knots in her tail and ears because she still had a bit of her soft puppy hair and, rather than take the time to brush her out or cut those little areas out, she COMPLETELY shaved that poor little thing! I was shocked when I picked her up! So she has no pom-pom on her tail and her ears are so pathetic looking. I took these photos today so you can see that her hair is growing out really slowly on her ears and tail. Needless to say, we won't be taking our girls to that groomer again. She was a totally frustrated person who did nothing but complain about all the dogs that day. I think she realized that she shouldn't have done that without my permission and gave us two used coats for her, but that did not make up for the fact that she did this. I don't think she was very nice to Mitzi either because Mitzi acted quite upset for a few days after her grooming, which she never does. Oh, well. Live and learn. Even if she does look rather sad, she is still the wonderful Mitzi and she brings such joy into my life!!

Now it's time for your to link up and share your blessings!! Thank you for coming by and always leaving such loving comments. I appreciate them so much.

An InLinkz Link-up

Blessings - Julie

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!! I pray that your new year - 2016 - is full of blessings, happiness, and health!

Much love to you all!!

Blessings - Julie