I have passed on most thriller/mystery novels over the past few years due to them all sounding like the same plotline, and they usually are. This one, however, seemed pretty intriguing. Court Stevens does a great job setting up the storyline of boys being kidnapped and then release a year and month later. Can you guess what month? The part that piqued my interest was why they were being returned? Most thriller/mystery ends with the kidnapped dying or some epic way of being found, they, in this case, were being released.

The main character Thea narrates the whole story. She is strong, brave and thinks through everything. Court Sevens also adds in letters that one of the kidnapped boys writes. This definitely allows us as the reader to get to know the boys on a more personal level and what they are going through. I would try and guess who the kidnapper was and the motives, but there were so many twists and turn that I was surprised who it was at the very end!

It was a great quick read. I hate most people gave low stars based on the formatting of the PDF ARC and not the story itself. Highly recommend for high schoolers and up.

Book Description

"Jonah wishes he could get the girl, but he’s an outcast and she’s the most perfect girl he knows. And their futures seemed destined to fork apart: Jonah’s physical condition is debilitating, and epileptic seizures fill his life with frustration. Whereas Stormi is seemingly carefree, and navigates life by sensing things before they happen. And her most recent premonition is urging her to leave town.
When Stormi begs Jonah for help, he finds himself swept into a dark mystery his small town has been keeping for years. And the answers Stormi needs about her own past could possibly destroy everything Jonah has ever known—including his growing relationship with Stormi herself.
Books published under the Blink imprint are intended for a general readership without being overtly Christian."

My Review

This book was quick to draw me in, then it got really slow and drawn out. After one of the main characters saves a bus load of kid then the book really picks up pace and becomes engaging again. It is an odd book in that it mixes mystery, paranormal (which isn't my favorite) and religion in. Although it is a slow easy read, it would be a great book for young adults/teens. I would recommend it for a good clean read for a younger audience. 

You guessed it, another book review! I am having so much fun doing these. 

Must.

Do.

Something.

Else.

No, I'll keep reading :) Maybe have a life update sometime soon. 

I have read so much fiction in 2016 and don't want to stop. I fell deeply in love with reading again. Fiction is my happy place. Few fantasies have fallen into that for me. This one is a fantasy and it is written by a Christian author. 

Wha...? (I thought that was just Narnia and Lord of the Rings)

Guys, it is SO GOOD. Now, don't get me wrong she is a Christian but does not badly incorporate it into the book at all. You really have to look for deeper meaning in what she writes to see any Christian symbolism. For those that would scare away. On the other hand its not filled with weird romance scenes or excessive magic. It's just a great fantasy novel.

Here is the description:
"Eliyana can’t bear to look at her own reflection. But what if that were only one Reflection—one world? What if another world exists where her blemish could become her strength?
Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her like he does: normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.
But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets weird.
Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to otherworldly.
Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she’s ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can’t even save herself?"
 I honestly don't know if the book description even gives it justice. It is so much more then that! This whole new world she finds is incredible with everyones unique gifts and not to mention the way they transport from one land to another. 

This book kept me on edge majority of the time, I think I finished it in about three days. Which is saying alot with me being pregnant, taking care of my other three kiddos ages six and under all day then working 30+ hours during the week as a freelancer. But, it was that good. Little did I know this novel is the first in the series. I cannot wait for the second one to come out! Sadly, that isn't until this summer. (Which is near my birthday, Happy Birthday to me :) )

I would highly recommend this novel for anyone that loves fiction and would love to dabble in some fantasy reading. 

Go.

Read it.

I feel odd even writing this post because I didn't particularly like it.

I graciously received this book to review from Blogging for Books. 

I know most people really enjoyed Avenue of Spies right off the bat. I was not able to follow along very easily when I first started. It seemed like the story would switch back and forth to quickly or I just could not get the names familiarized in my mind. After I say all that, the story itself (once I got familiarized with it) was about an great unsung hero during WWII.

"The leafy Avenue Foch, one of the most exclusive residential streets in Nazi-occupied France, was Paris's hotbed of daring spies, murderous secret police, amoral informers, and Vichy collaborators. So when American physician Sumner Jackson, who lived with his wife and young son Phillip at Number 11, found himself drawn into the Liberation network of the French resistance, he knew the stakes were impossibly high. Just down the road at Number 31 was the "mad sadist" Theodor Dannecker, an Eichmann protégé charged with deporting French Jews to concentration camps. And Number 84 housed the Parisian headquarters of the Gestapo, run by the most effective spy hunter in Nazi Germany. 

From his office at the American Hospital, itself an epicenter of Allied and Axis intrigue, Jackson smuggled fallen Allied fighter pilots safely out of France, a job complicated by the hospital director's close ties to collaborationist Vichy. After witnessing the brutal round-up of his Jewish friends, Jackson invited Liberation to officially operate out of his home at Number 11--but the noose soon began to tighten. When his secret life was discovered by his Nazi neighbors, he and his family were forced to undertake  a journey into the dark heart of the war-torn continent from which there was little chance of return.

Drawing upon a wealth of primary source material and extensive interviews with Phillip Jackson, Alex Kershaw recreates the City of Light during its darkest days. The untold story of the Jackson family anchors the suspenseful narrative, and Kershaw dazzles readers with the vivid immediacy of the best spy thrillers. Awash with the tense atmosphere of World War II's Europe, Avenue of Spies introduces us to the brave doctor who risked everything to defy Hitler." -Book Description

The history of the story seemed to have accurately match what I have learned about this era before. It's a great book about the unsung hero. It just takes some time to really get into it.

Book Description

A life-changing spiritual awakening freed Brian “Head” Welch from a stranglehold of drugs and alcohol and prompted him to leave the highly successful nu-metal band KoRn in 2005. What followed was a decade-long trial by fire, from the perils of fathering a teen lost in depression and self-mutilation to the harsh realities of playing solo and surviving the shattering betrayal of a trusted friend. In this intensely inspiring redemption saga, perhaps most inspiring is Brian’s radical decision to rejoin KoRn and reconcile with the tribe of people he once considered family in the metal music scene.
Brian returned to his musical roots with a clear head and a devoted heart. Though his story is wild, hilarious, and deeply poignant, the message is simple: God will love you into the freedom of being yourself, as long as you keep the relationship going and never, ever quit.

I usually do not ready biographies. But, this one peaked my interest because it was "Head". I was a huge fan of rock back in my highschool days. Not so much any more. Granted I listened to Christian Rock and not secular but Brian put out some great Christian music when he did enter the scene. You can check one of his songs out here . I'll warn you, it is not Christian rock that you hear on the radio. If you don't like Korn's style of rock you won't like Brian's, but if you do go have yourself a listen. 

His book was a great read about his own journey after he became a Christian. I loved that he was so honest with his struggles with family and drinking afterward. The struggles do not instantly vanish the minute you hand your life over to Christ. I loved reading about his relationship with his daughter and those heartaches and the "beauty from the ashes" moment when she was a teen. I'm really hoping she writes a biography *fingers crossed*. Brian did a great job at incorporating so much biblical truth into his journey. He had many Christians who loved him and wanted to see him get out of his pit. They spoke wisdom into his life, sometimes it was hard for Brian to hear but it was just what he needed when he needed it. 

I am still interested in following his journey as he tours with Korn. From the outside I question why he went back, even though he explains it in this book. I know he was following what God has called him to do. You can tell by the many people he is able to speak truth to. It's quite incredible the ministry he has now!

If you're looking for a great biography to read pick this one.

​You can find it at Amazon 

Also, check out his I Am Second video here.

This is one of our families favorite dishes. I love that I have gotten to share it with you and can't wait to share more! Remember to make adjustments as needed to meet the needs of your families flavor palette. 

I hope you enjoyed the instructional video! To print out the recipe, click the "print" button below.

Let me share a little back story with you all. I have been praying for quite some time that God would send me an older wise mentor, a woman after his own heart that I could just sit under, learn from and listen to for hours.

A few weeks ago a woman came to visit our little church. My husband and I went up and introduced ourselves and got to know her a bit. She was a widow to a former pastor. They had planted a church in the same state we were living in many years ago. She is now remarried and has her own little quilt and fabric shop she runs out of a cute little shed on her property. 

Let me tell you this woman radiates Christ's joy like no one I have encountered before. I think I could just stare at her all day (awkwardly of course because why wouldn't it be?) and watch Christ's light shine through her as she speaks and interacts with others. I think I probably have kept her too long after church a time or two just to feel that joy. I want that. Don't get me wrong, I know Christ has given me His joy, I feel it, I love it. But, there was something so much deeper with her joy, so much time and experience with the Lord that had caused this joy. It was a kind of joy that makes you want to rush home and just sit in God's presence so He can continue to slap you in the face with more Jesus joy. In the most awesome way of course. Just being around this woman the few times I had and for the few minutes, I had made me crave God in such a way. I think I finally understand letting His light shine through us. I thought I understood it. But, no, I did not. People don't see me and say "Man, I need to run home and be with Jesus, I have got to get me some of that joy He is throwin out". Let's be honest with ourselves, do people say that about you?

Last week, my husband preached a sermon on leading people to Christ and being in the belly of the whale at times (there was a bit more to it than that but that was the point). After the service, my husband and I chatted with her again (because who in their right mind wouldn't want to talk to this woman radiating Jesus joy). She was telling us about a time when she was in the belly of a whale herself after her husband died and how she was in such a dark place she did not lead one soul to Christ during that time. 

Whoa.

She said this to us with such conviction and heartache, I wanted to hug her. (I'm not a hugger, at all). Guys, I don't know if I have felt that convicted in a long time. I know it's not our job to get people to accept Christ, that is their choice. But, who in the world have I been a light to outside of my kiddos and church people? Who has said "I want that Jesus you have" to me in the last three years? Why am I not doing what He has called me to do? 

Matthew 28:19 (HCSB)
"19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

John 13:34-35 (HCSB)
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this, all people will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”

Am I loving people like Christ loves me? 

I'm going to go all end times on you because its real and its coming. We need to have some urgency. People need to see and experience God's love. I need to stop being afraid to tell people about my incredible God I serve and so do you.

Let's get serious about this. 

If I haven't mentioned it before, Amazon is one of my favorite places to shop. Mainly because I don't have to leave the house and get stuff in two days. Then there is the fact they have everything. 

Today is Prime Day which means they have some insanely good deals! I thought I would post some of my favorite book deals for you. I'll try to update through out the day as things go on sale.

P.S. You better hurry and snatch them because they only have a limited amount of items they are selling. 

Lighting Deal $29.99 Hardcover

Lighting Deal $30.99 Hardcover

Lighting Deal $29.99 Hardcover

 Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. I kinda slowed down on it for a while, but all I was reading was non fiction books. Good ones, they just take me quite a bit longer to absorb the information in them. This month I discovered they genre dystopian. I know, I am way behind on that band wagon. I didn't realize this was a genre. Its what books like Hunger Games and Divergent fall into. 

In case you need a definition:

"Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system."  According to readwritethink.org

Your welcome.

Any who, I didn't realize this was a genre until I received The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker for free when I cashed in some of my Tyndale House Reward points. Her father, Ted Dekker has been a long time favorite author of mine. I will say her writing did not disappoint!

The story is set around a society that has a choosing ceremony for young women. These women get to attend one ceremony and if they are chosen as a wife then they get to stay in society. If they are not chosen they are sent to the out skirts to silently serve the city. There is a ton of twists involved in the story and Rachelle does a great job at not making the story line predictable. 

After devouring that book, I checked out the second book in the series called The Calling.

This one I read in just a couple of days! Which is saying quite a bit considering I have three kids five and under. I might have not gotten much sleep those nights, but it was so worth it! To my disappointment the third book in the series does not come out until fall. Whomp whomp. 

I decided to find more dystopian books. Upon searching Goodreads I found the Out of Time Series by Nadine Brandes. My library carried the first book in the series called A Time to Die. The title seems a bit, well, harsh. Once you read the book though it makes complete sense. This book is based on a world that had a huge war in the past. There was then a wall built around the center of the entire world. Parven (the main character) lives on the east side. That side they have developed technology that can accurately tell you when you will die. You must always have your clock on you to show anyone who asks. If you don't have it or have smashed it you get sent across the wall. Holy cow. This book was incredible. I would say better then Hunger Games. Which is saying alot because I loved Hunger Games. 

_Sadly, my library did not have the second book in this series A Time to Speak. Luckily, if they do not have a book they will borrow it from a library that does have it. The second book was even better then the first. 

Some how I continue to strike out. The third book in this series won't be out until this fall too. Oh well, I'm going to have a great fall. The above links are to the paper versions of the books. Here are the kindle versions if you want to read any of them today:

The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker 
The Calling by Rachelle Dekker
A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes  
A Time to Speak by Nadine Brandes 

A Time to Die and A Time to Speak are only $5.99 on the kindle! Way worth it! I am hoping when the third books come out I can purchase them in a set. 

I am also making my way through For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. A wonderful read. I received it with our My Father's World kindergarten curriculum. Do you have any tips on how to take notes on non fiction books? My mind tends to wonder and I have to reread pages several times. It's not that the book is bad because there is so much good info. I just don't have a great method for really taking in all the good info. Any help would be appreciated. 

I'll try to take some actual pictures of the books next time. You know like all in a stack, all fancy and stuff. Or, real life photos of them scattered around the house and me trying to find where my kids put them because they were trying to help clean. 

What have you been reading this month?

A few posts ago I wrote about a vintage camper we had bought and planned on fixing up. Well, we started to get into it and it was an absolute mess. Walls were rotted out, plumbing was shot, roof falling, you name it. Plus, since it was an old hunting camper there were lots of critters that had lived and currently living in it. Don't ask me how we found this out! 

After much debate, we tore the whole thing down. Then we decided to build our own camper. (see above photo) We had great plans. It was going to be slightly a tiny home, slightly camper. It was going great. Then my husband got a new week job (he is a bi-vocational pastor), that was going to require more time out of his day and less time on our homemade tiny home/camper. 

It now sits in our backyard waiting to be torn down and reuse the wood for a bigger chicken coop. Our hens are complaining about needing more room...

The trailer will remain a trailer. To be honest, we only paid $500 for the camper. Now having a trailer for that price is pretty good if you have checked the price of trailers lately. 

The problem was we still wanted a camper. I know get a tent. Trust me the five of us have done plenty of tent camping. And as much fun as that was with a baby, we wanted a camper. Our vacations are camping. We love it.

Long story even longer. We searched the good ol trusty craigslist for a few days and stumbled on the above beauty. Guys, I kid you not this thing (minus a few soft spots in the floor) is in excellent condition. We got such an incredible deal on this thing. It blows my mind. We will be fixing this one up over the non-camping season. Just painting and making it feel more home-y. Stay tuned for those updates!

God knows what rests our souls. I think He enjoys blessing us at times with things to help us rest. 

​We were able to take it out the week we got it.

And we hiked.

And camped.

And splashed in streams.

​And loved every minute of it.

I encourage you to find something that takes you out of your normal routine of things. Something that refreshes you and your family's souls. 

I would highly suggest camping.

Because it is AWESOME.