I'm Joining the Living and Active Challenge

Through our 90-100 degree heat the last couple weeks, I've been such a slacker on getting exercise.  So, when I saw Clare from PEAK313.com was going to run another 5 week challenge, I knew it was just the motivation I needed.

I completed this challenge in September/October last year.  Even though I completed it, I really didn't push myself as hard as I could have.  I basically just did the minimum effort needed to say I was accountable.  I traveled a lot in October last year (I turned 40) and life was kind of hectic.  Not to say that our life isn't hectic now....4 different sports that our kids are involved in right now, my own volunteer obligations, book review deadlines, and general housework and meal fixing...all those typical mom jobs.  But, I have looked ahead and know when I can fit these workout times in.  Some days I know I won't be able to get one in, but the challenge requires 4 days/week and I KNOW I can manage that.  I just have to make it a priority.

I think what always gets me so frustrated in these challenges is that I am not seeing a difference.  What I need to realize is that it is more about forming a habit, making my health a priority, and gradually seeing and feeling different.

My motto for these next 5 weeks is going to be...

Patience, 

Perseverance, 

and Positivity.  

What I also appreciate about this particular challenge is that it isn't just about the fitness aspect, but also the spiritual aspect of your health. Each week there will be a verse to memorize and a short devotional based on that verse.  It really helps you focus and get in the right mind-set not just related to your fitness, but your whole mind and health.

I plan to continue running on the treadmill experimenting with sprints and inclines, riding my new bike(I need to tell you about that yet), using my Jillian Michaels DVDs, and even using Clare's workouts that she posts on her site.  By changing it up a bit, I hope to not get so bored.  Plus I have plenty of shows/movies I want to watch while on the treadmill.

So, you are welcome to join in with me in this 5 week challenge.  To join in on Clare's page, please click HERE.  Let me know in the comments so I can cheer you on!  

Can you commit to 25 minutes, 4 days/week for 5 weeks?  

I know I can do it!  I won't regret it!

Book Review: The Good Wife By Jane Porter

THE GOOD WIFE
Brennan Sisters #3

By: Jane Porter

Published:  September 3, 2013

Fiction - Series



The final book in the Brennan Sisters series features Sarah, the youngest and prettiest of the family.  Sarah tries to be the "good wife" to Boone, a MLB player who travels, is gone too often, and also cheated on her three years ago.  Something she hasn't forgotten or forgiven. Sarah tries to focus on their two children and their marriage, but she can't forget what Boone did and is always questioning and second-guessing where he is and what he is doing.  Sarah loves Boone, but can that love overcome her pride and anger at Boone's betrayal?

I was really excited to finish up the series with this book.  I really enjoyed the first two in the series.  See my review of THE GOOD WOMAN and THE GOOD DAUGHTER by clicking each title.  Even though, THE GOOD DAUGHTER was my favorite of the three, this story had me emotionally involved as well.  I think any woman can identify with Sarah's raw emotions through this novel....her need to keep her husband close, to believe him, to want to trust him even when she can't find a way to.  You will be able to see and understand Sarah's point of view while also understanding that she is wrong to assume the worst about Boone and seeing his side too.

When the story begins, we pick up where THE GOOD DAUGHTER leaves off.  Sarah's mother has just passed and her illness and following funeral have been tough on the whole family.  Just as you think the story is going to move on, Porter shakes you with another unexpected tragedy.  You are expecting the story to be only about Sarah, but it isn't.  This novel really encompasses the whole family and all of their personal struggles.  Some are tidied up and you are left knowing there will be a happy ending and others are left hanging in the balance.

Porter also introduces another character - apart from the Brennan family - early on in the story.  It was confusing as to what her role would be and why her story was being told in between stories of the Brennan family.  Eventually, you see the connection, but it was a side story that wasn't as interesting to me.  I had really come to care about the Brennan family, a big, bold Irish Catholic American family.  Their family was all I was really interested in.

Sarah struggled with her identity and her pride and let that overshadow what really mattered.  Sarah didn't seek out the support from her family like she should have and instead turned to alcohol and anger that only festered her obsessive attitude toward Boone.  I think a lot of women could identify with Sarah and will be able to appreciate her story.  I was pleased with how Sarah and Boone's story ended in the novel and the hope it could give other struggling couples.

My favorite line from the book was such a life lesson, that I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget:

I've learned that not everything is life and death because there is real life and death. Page 134

Porter accurately displays the anguish and heartache felt by each family member in this and the other two books in the series.  You will want to read all three and even though you will shed tears, get angry, feel frustrated, and exclaim shock and disappointment, you will want to ride on this emotional roller-coaster with this family.

NOTE:  You can win your very own copies of the Brennan Sisters series.  Win all THREE books in my giveaway.  You can enter through September 15 by clicking HERE and entering your information in the form. 

Jane Porter is an award-winning novelist with over 5 million books in print.  She grew up in central California, graduated from UCLA and holds an MA in writing from the University of San Francisco.  Porter writes full time and lives in southern California with her family.  Visit her website at www.janeporter.com.

I was provided a copy of this novel by Penguin Group in order to give this review.  This review is my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way for this review.

Book Review: Jesus, Mo, and Cheese Puffs By Lisa Boucher

Join Lisa Boucher, author of the cozy fiction novel, Jesus, Mo, and Cheese Puffs, as she tours the blogosphere  August 5 - October 25, 2013 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

JESUS, MO, AND CHEESE PUFFS

By: Lisa Boucher

Published: February 18, 2013

eBook/Fiction

Flo has been playing the lottery once a week for the past 25 years. Finally one day her prayers are answered and she wins $40,000. Due to an accident many years before, she has a bad eye and wears an eye patch.  Her husband, Mo, convinces her to use to money to fix her eye.  They make an appointment with a "TV Doctor" and head west to California.  Along the way, their travels put them in the path of others and makes for an adventure Flo and Mo will never forget.  


This isn't one of those great literary fiction novels, but instead, a "feel good" story.  One that can't help to make you see the people you interact with differently.  Flo and Mo have a wonderfully endearing relationship with each other.  They are of retirement age, and finally have extra money to do something special with it.  They aren't strangers to hard times after losing their down-syndrome son, Jimmy, much too early. Mo, still struggles with his acceptance of Jimmy's death and isn't quite so forgiving of Flo's God, whom she prays to on a regular basis.

Flo is self-conscious about her bad eye and patch and has ended up not engaging in some of the things she loves because she is so self-conscious about it.  When Mo suggests getting her eye fixed, she is very nervous about it, but agrees to it for Mo. Her favorite snack is cheese puffs and packs plenty to keep her nerves at bay for the trip.

Along the way, Flo and Mo meet many strangers who all show them a lesson or two on life.  Flo and Mo are easily waylaid on their trip due to their need to help others.  But, their interactions will prove to be something quite amazing.

I don't want to give any more away from this short, delightful story.  You will have to read it to find out if Flo gets her eye fixed and who Flo and Mo meet on their travels.  This story is perfect if you are looking for a light, quick read that will fill your heart with joy.

ABOUT LISA BOUCHER

Lisa Boucher has Sicilian roots and thinks about cooking and food about as often as she thinks about writing more books! In her spare time she travels, holds a BA in English, works part-time as a nurse, and makes pesto and homemade granola, naming her local cottage product line (Simple Grace). Lisa is married, and has twin sons that play college football.

Next book in the pipeline: "Black Butterflies White Fences," an interracial love story was published on July 29, 2013.

Jesus, Mo, and Cheese Puffs Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule

------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, August 6 - Book reviewed at Season of Opportunities

Tuesday, August 6 - Guest blogging and 1st chapter reveal at My Devotional Thoughts

Thursday, August 8 - Interviewed at Broowaha

Friday, August 9 - Guest blogging at From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, August 13 - Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book

Wednesday, August 14 - 1st chapter reveal at Examiner

Thursday, August 15 - Guest blogging at Inside BJ's Head

Monday, August 19 - Book featured at Between the Covers

Tuesday, August 20 - Guest blogging at She Writes

Wednesday, August 21 - Interviewed at My Devotional Thoughts

Thursday, August 22 - 1st chapter reveal at Margay Leah Justice

Monday, August 26 - Guest blogging at The Writer's Life

Wednesday, August 28 - Interviewed at Review From Here

Thursday, August 29 - Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking

Friday, August 30 - Guest blogging at Straight From the Author's Mouth

Monday, September 2 - Book featured at Reading Rendezvous Reviewz

Tuesday, September 3 - Interviewed at Reading Rendezvous Reviewz

Wednesday, September 4 - Guest blogging at Reading Rendezvous Reviewz

Thursday, September 5 - 1st chapter review at Reading Rendezvous Reviewz

Friday, September 6 - Guest blogging at Read 2 Review

Tuesday, September 10 - Book reviewed at Sincerely Stacie

Thursday, September 12 - Book reviewed at My Devotional Thoughts

Monday, September 16 - Interviewed at Literal Exposure

Wednesday, September 18 - 1st chapter reveal at Literary Winner

Thursday, September 19 - 1st chapter reveal at Authors and Readers Book Corner

Tuesday, September 24 - Book reviewed and guest blogging at B & M Review Gazette

Thursday, September 26 - Book reviewed at Sidewalk Shoes

--------------------------------------------------------------

I was sent a copy of this book for review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any other way for this review.

A Little Monday Inspiration

source

Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.

Dwight D Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States

Sometimes this is exactly how I feel.  I LIVE off of our schedule.  Everything is on the calendar, I operate from a To Do list each and every day, but some days, I don't even get to the list.  The phone may ring at 7AM asking me to sub at the school and all my plans are out the window. And most of the time....that is ok. As a planner, I have learned to let things go and not be so rigid in my plans for the day....and frankly, for my life.

It is good to have a general plan for the day, but if your husband wants to take you out to lunch or you get sucked in to a showing of your favorite movie on cable.....it is ok to veer off the plan and have a little fun!

Book Review: The Wishing Hill By Holly Robinson

THE WISHING HILL

By: Holly Robinson

Published:  July 2, 2013

Fiction




Juliet has been dumped by her husband, is pregnant, and now has to return to her home in New England to care for her mother whom she ran away from years ago.  What Juliet doesn't realize is that going home will reveal secrets that will forever change how she views her family and her future.

The setting begins with Juliet, a successful artist living in Mexico.  Her husband, Michael, has left her and she has recently found out she was pregnant.  As she struggles with how to handle the chaos in her life, her brother, a successful and busy lawyer, asks her to return to the states to care for their mother after a fall breaks her hip.  Not surprisingly, Juliet agrees to care for her mother and this is where the story gets interesting.

Juliet's mother, Desiree is an actress and is completely selfish and truly someone you will love to hate while reading the book.  She is negative, self-absorbed, and pouts if her daughter and friends don't cater to her. Desiree is definitely a drama queen in more ways than one. She makes everyone around her feel inadequate. You really feel quite sad for Juliet for having to deal with her mother.  While Juliet is home, we are also introduced to Claire, Desiree's neighbor.  Desiree and Claire do not get along and Juliet can't understand why since Claire has been nothing but kind to her.  As you can imagine, this is where the secrets come in.

Juliet is also quite smitten with the handyman she hired to remodel her mother's home to make it more accessible once she returns.  Once Ian finds out she is pregnant, Juliet is afraid he won't give her a second look.  Ian's character though is quite surprising and I felt like he was a stable outsider for Juliet in giving her the advice and support she needed at just the right times.

This story had several twists and turns and seemed to take its time in getting to the resolution of Juliet's problems.  Even though each step of the way was fairly predictable , I still cared enough about the characters to keep reading.

The author has a great talent for describing settings, places, and things so that you could imagine yourself in the room.  For example:

She could remember the nubby fabric of the couch and how her fingers fit through the webbed circles of the crocheted afghan, the smell of her mother's rose perfume, and the touch of Desiree's fingers in her own hair, gentle and unhurried. Page 112

As the author described Juliet's paintings, you could envision the vibrant colors and scenes she was creating and wished you could hang them in your own home. Thankfully, Juliet's art allowed her a diversion and brought a sense of peace in her life.  You may not be completely satisfied once you finish the novel as the author doesn't tie up all the loose ends.  You are left to wonder about the relationships and decisions made and imagining how you hope they will turn out.

This would make for a great book club choice as the characters and their decisions will give you lots to talk about.  The relationships in this book, though dysfunctional, will mirror some of the most "normal" of families. Even though this novel is full of regrets and missed opportunities, you will realize that behind all the secrets, there was a great love for each other.

Holly Robinson is an award-winning journalist whose work appears regularly in national venues such as Huffington Post and Ladies Home Journal.  She lives in Boston with her family. For more on Holly Robinson, visit her website HERE. You can also follow Holly on Twitter HERE or "Like" her on Facebook HERE.

I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.  This review is my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way for this review. 

Jane Porter's Brennan Sisters Series Spotlight and 3 Book Giveaway

Jane Porter is known for her emotional, heartfelt stories about women struggling with issues of friendship, marriage, family, and self-acceptance, and her Brennan Sisters Trilogy is no exception.  I have read the first two books in the series and reviewed them HERE and HERE.  Next week, THE GOOD WIFE review will be posted.  If you haven't heard about this series, you need to continue reading and be sure to enter the GIVEAWAY below!

 

With The Good Woman (Berkley, September 2012), she introduced a family grappling with the real, complicated and sometimes painful issues that arise in life.  In The Good Daughter (Berkley, February 2013), she explored the life of school teacher Kit Brennan, the second oldest of the five Brennan kids.  Now, in THE GOOD WIFE (Berkley, September 2013), she delves into the complicated marriage of Sarah, the youngest Brennan sister, long considered the beauty of the family.

Praise for the Brennan Sisters Trilogy by Jane Porter

“Porter excels at creating richly layered, realistically complex characters, and [The Good Woman]

deftly explores the glue that can hold a marriage together and the strong ties that connect

mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.”

—The Chicago Tribune

“[The Good Daughter] delivers a strong story and a compelling emotional punch that surpasses the first… Porter pulls the reader into the very heart of this close-knit family, examining intense feelings and life-altering decisions without backing away.”

—RT Book Reviews

“[The Good Wife is] believable, insightful and marked by witty dialogue.  A novel that may inspire readers to examine their own family relationships.”

—Kirkus

THE GOOD WOMAN

(Berkley Trade Paperback Original; 978-0-425-25300-7; September 4, 2012; $15)

Meg Roberts is the eldest of the Brennan sisters and she is used to being in control and presenting an image of perfection to those around her.  But Meg’s life isn’t perfect and lately it’s been feeling out of control as well.  As she approaches 43 and reflects on her 17 years of marriage, Meg realizes she wants more out of life.  More love, more passion, more something.  She embarks on an affair that shatters her world and her family relationships.  Meg is forced to come to terms with the person she was, and who she has become, as well as learning that happiness isn’t something she has to chase, but rather a choice she must make for herself.

THE GOOD DAUGHTER

(Berkley Trade Paperback Original; 978-0-425-25342-7; February 5, 2013; $15)

Kit Brennan has played it safe her entire life, but as a single thirty-eight year old English teacher at a Catholic high school in Oakland, her life hasn’t turned out as she planned.  Her ten-year relationship ended six months ago and Kit has now come to the realization that she may be better off pursuing her dreams without a man involved.  But when the mysterious, dangerous Jude Knight enters the picture, Kit begins to question who she’s become and who she should be.  Does she dare to follow her desires?  With one of her teenage students in crisis and her family’s burdens weighing heavily on her mind and heart, is Kit ready to risk everything by taking a chance at the unknown?

THE GOOD WIFE

(Berkley Trade Paperback Original; 978-0-425-25367-0; September 3, 2013; $15)

Sarah’s love for her husband, professional baseball player Boone Walker, is bottomless—so much so that her sisters say it will end up hurting her.  While Sarah stays home and cares for their two children, Boone travels almost year-round.  Living apart most of the time makes life difficult, especially since Sarah often wonders whether Boone is sharing his bed with other women on the road, even though he swears he’s been true to her since his infidelity three years ago.  Now, with Boone facing yet another career change, tension rises between the two, and the emotionally exhausted Sarah must choose whether to break free from the past and forgive Boone completely, or leave him behind and start anew. 

About the Author:

Jane Porter is an award-winning novelist with over 5 million books in print.  Her popular novel Flirting with Forty was made into a Lifetime movie starring Heather Locklear.  She grew up in central California, graduated from UCLA and holds an MA in writing from the University of San Francisco.  Porter writes full time and lives in southern California with her family.  Visit her website at www.janeporter.com.

Now for the BIG GIVEAWAY!  I have one complete set of the Brennan Sisters series available for one of my readers.  This giveaway is open to those who live in the United States.  This giveaway will run through 11:59 PM on Sunday, September 15.  I will choose a winner on Monday, September 16 and contact the winner via email.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. Please only enter the giveaway once.

  



This giveaway is offered thanks to Penguin Group. 

A Little Monday Inspiration

Be positive, ignore the critic, follow your heart, invest in your passions, believe in your dreams, and get busy making them reality.
Josh Cox, American record holder of the 50k

Source

This quote inspired me today.  I was recently excited about something that I had done and unfortunately, rather than be excited with me, the person I was talking to shot me down. This person chose to point out something negative about me rather than praise me for what I had done.  I let it bother me for about 5 minutes and then I decided to shake it off and remember all that I had accomplished and, much like this person, I still have a lot of work on.  Don't give up, keep at it, and accomplish that dream! Thanks Josh Cox for inspiring me today!