Book Review: The Joy 'Fit Club by Joy Bauer #bookreview

From the Book: Joy Bauer, the long-time on-air diet and nutrition expert for the "Today" show, regularly tells the personal stories of people who have lost 100 pounds or more using her weight-loss plan. Joy's diet plan not only works, it "really" works. Now, you can take the Joy Fit challenge and use these delicious, bountiful recipes and meal plans at home to start losing weight today. "The Joy Fit Club" is the one tool you'll need to succeed Featuring more than 75 recipes, detailed meal plans, and motivational before-and-after photographs of real people, anyone who loves the Joy Fit Club and these inspiring stories of personal triumph will love this book.

Joy Fit Club: Cookbook, Diet Plan and Inspiration by Joy Bauer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My Review: This was a excellent inspirational book. As someone who needs to lose quite a bit of weight, it was inspiring to read stories from those who been there. Each "chapter" is a story about an individual who lost a significant amount of weight. There were tips to discuss what they did, what they would encourage others to do and they also included recipes for the reader to try. I'm looking forward trying a few myself. The before and after pictures were an even greater inspirational tool.

Reading this book made it click for me and I have successfully began my weight loss journey (without surgery!) I realize it's not eliminating the foods I love to eat, but managing portion sizes and adding healthier options as well as adding movement to my day.  In essence, I have to do what works for me! After two weeks I'm already feeling so much better and look forward to reaching my weight loss goals!! 

This book is available in hardcover or Kindle format can be purchased on Amazon:



I received this book from NetGalley for the purpose of review.  The opinions expressed are 100% my own. Please note that I am an Amazon Affiliate and I will receive compensation for purchases through the links I provide.

Love and Blessings Always,
Margaret

Christian Book Review: Finding Our Way Home by Charlene Ann Baumbich

Finding Our Way Home: A Novel by Charlene Ann Baumbich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You work your life for one dream and in on moment it's gone forever. This is what happened to Sasha Davis when she was dropped during a premier performance. At age 38 the only career she has ever had is over and not only that, she can't even walk much less dance. She believes the "Lady of the Dance" from her snowglobe tried to warn her and this is her consequence for ignoring the warnings. Sasha has to give up everything she thought she wanted to find what it is that she needs.

Evelyn doesn't know why her parents are so mad! She's only postponing college not giving it up forever! And beside she's and adult... and ENGAGED adult at that! When the opportunity to be a live in assistant for Sasha Davis arises, it's the perfect answer to her problems. Moving out of her parents home, even temporarily, will give them all some breathing space, especially her father. Her relationship with her fiance hits some snags and Evelyn begins to wonder what exactly it is that she wants from life.

Sasha and Evelyn are the unlikeliest of pairs but yet they seem to complement each other. While they are complete opposites, they manage to work well enough together to help each other through some difficult times. I enjoyed the interaction between the two which was serious at times but also humorous at times. It added to the flow of the story to make it realistic and smooth.

From the extra characters, I loved Gramps and Donald the most. Gramps accepted Evelyn for who she was without judging her like her parents tended to do. Donald was a loving, devoted husband he felt shut out but persisted with his wife.

This is a Christian novel but I did not find it to be preachy. The references to faith are subtle and focus more on living a Christian Life rather than preaching to others about the Christian Life.

Overall I thought the book was wonderful and well-written.

Love and Blessings Always!
Margaret

View all my reviews

Starring Me by Krista McGee #christianbookreview

Starring Me by Krista McGee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from Booksneeze:

Kara McKormick is told she’s auditioning to star in a new teen variety show. But it’s what she isn’t told that could change her life.

The feisty New Yorker moves to sunny Orlando to participate in a month-long audition, where she’ll live with nine other contestants and an eccentric housemother. Kara knows that the show already has a big-time celebrity lined up for the co-host, but she doesn’t know who it is.

Chad Beacon quickly rose to fame after winning America’s Next Star, but he doesn’t want his entire career to be about singing. There is so much more he wants to do—like act. The new variety show sounds like the perfect next step for him, but his parents want him to have a co-star who shares his faith since they’ll be spending so much time together.

Acting is high on Kara’s priority list. But a relationship with God? Not so much. In fact, she’s tried to stay away from anything religious. But God is after Kara’s heart and He’s put people in her life who are showing her there’s far more to Christianity than rules and judgment.

And just when it seems that Kara’s going to have to give up her acting dream, God reveals that she may have a starring role after all—in a story so big only He could write it.

My review:

I really enjoyed this book as you can see by my rating. This book is target to the teen or young adult reader.  With that said, I think this book would be fine for an advanced reader of a younger age.  So many books targeting this age group are filled with vampires, werewolves or some other paranormal creature. It's tiring really and this book was refreshing in that it had none of that.

The lead character, Kara, was well written. I enjoyed her bold attitude even before she became a believer. I loved how the author used her friend Addy as a witness without her being overbearing. The subtle ways the author showed the love of Christ to Kara, was refreshing. Chad's character really helped to set the foundation for the book very well. He was a believable character as were his parents and his housekeeper Flora was hilarious but great! Again, it was refreshing to see such a great story without all the sleaze (and no vampires or werewolves!). While there were romantic relationships in the book, they were presented tastefully and clean.

The author did and excellent job of showing Kara's path to God. I thought the story she told was realistic in today's world of reality shows. The competition, the disregard for others by some of the characters was believable. The twist at the end with one of the house characters was kind of expected but was presented well.

I really didn't have complaints about this book. I would let my 11 yo read this book even though it involves high school age characters.

Thank you Booksneeze for a copy of this book for the purpose of review.

Love and Blessings Always!
Margaret

Cute dolls on Zulily today!

I don't know if I mentioned it here but I am a doll collector!  It is such a relaxing hobby and I enjoy getting my "children" ready for the holidays and special occasions!  So whenever I see dollies at a good price, I just have to share! 

Check out these adorable dolls on Zulily (you need to be a member to see but it's free to sign up).  They are slightly larger than the American Girl dolls and not quite as expensive! The outfits are really cute and reasonable as far as doll clothes go! But it appears that these dolls can also fit the 18" doll clothes.  I love that each doll comes with a little book!

Bella is my favorite:


Take a look and tell me who your favorite is! 

I am not affiliated with Zulily, however if you join and make a purchase I will receive a credit (as will you when your friends join!).


Love and Blessings Always!
Margaret

Perspective

This morning I got up and I had a whole list of complaints:

The kids are fighting and calling each other names!
I still have a million things to do before they leave for leadership next week!
I can't have my yard sale because everyone bailed on me!
Why am I the only one here who can pick Dad up from the doctor!
Poor me, poor me, poor me...

When I look at the CNN blast on my phone, my perspective was shifted in an uncomfortable way:

14 dead, 50 wounded at an Aurora, Colorado movie theatre (later updated to 12 dead, 38 wounded)

Some mother is mourning her child, mine are just fighting.
Some father is wishing their child was getting ready for leadership training, instead of lying in the city morgue.
Some wife is wishing just was cleaning out her husband's clothes for a yard sale, instead of planning his funeral.
Some child woke up this morning asking their mom where their Daddy was, and she couldn't answer because of the tears. 

We don't realize how blessed we are until our paradigm shifts, until our perspective is changed.

My heart aches, my soul cries for all of the anger and evil in this world. However, Jesus warned us of this period of time in Matthew 24.  Yet, even it the midst, I know that there is HOPE.  Revelation 21:4 tells us:

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Joyce Meyer shared Psalm 62:5 on her page today and I think it is very appropriate:

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." 

Today there are 12 souls who have departed this earth.  My hope is that they are now resting in the arms of our Heavenly Father.  I pray for the victims, the families of the victims and for the gunman.  As my soul aches for them, I am comforted by the knowledge that the Lord reigns for evermore and even in the midst of this tragedy, He is still on His throne.

Love and Blessings Always!

Margaret

Great Deal on Backpacks! #backtoschool #backpack #zulily

It's almost time for back to school (can't believe how fast this summer is going!), so I'm on the hunt for great bargains on back to school supplies.  I was browsing over at my favorite bargain site Zulily today and I saw a great deal on backpacks, so I thought I would share it.  You have to be a member to see the backpacks but sign up is free. 

If  your children are anything like my daughter, they might not make it a full year with one backpack.  I plan to get her one to start the school year and a back up!!

Anyway, check them out here!  This one is my fave!

Disclaimer:  I am not affiliated with Zulily in any way.  However, I will receive a credit should you decide to make a purchase. 

Love and Blessings Always!

Margaret

Book Review: The Keepers of the House #bookreview

The Keepers of the House by Shirley Ann Grau
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Keeper of the House is a book about the South After the Civil War but during the time of segregation. It covers the lives of the Howland Family, mostly William, Abigail and Margaret (William's Negro wife who was not officially recognized as a Howland). The Howlands and their eccentric ways (like ordering newspapers from the North and marrying foreigners) lead to some interesting situations. As the story is told by each of the three main characters, it covers the life of William and Margaret. Abigail, having had her fair share of difficulties, finishes the story as an adult.

My Thoughts on the Book
While I enjoyed the book, I only gave it three stars because there were a few things that bothered me.  For one thing, the chapters were really long.  When I'm reading, I need a place to rest my eyes and I didn't find that in this book. That made it much more difficult for me to concentrate and/or find a stopping point.
The style of writing was what I consider heavy in that I sometimes had to read a sentence several times before I could move on.  I considered this to be more literary and not a smooth flowing story.  It really wasn't my style of book.  Besides the heaviness, I thought the book was well written.  The characters were developed nicely and you really got a peek into their minds. It was actually like sitting by Grandpa, listening to him telling the stories of his youth.  He keeps talking and talking, barely taking a breath.

The relationship between William and Margaret was odd to say the least but it seemed to work for the story.  Abigail was eccentric in her own way before and after she left to go away to school.  I would have to say she was probably my favorite character, particularly at the end.

From a Christian perspective

There really isn't much to say from a Christian perspective.  This was not Christian fiction at all, there was very little mention of God, and when it was it was as an afterthought. There were implied instances of extramarital sex (I don't recall the book mentioning when the two characters were married but it turns out they were), however it was not graphic.  Towards the end there is a sad act of senseless violence but again it was not graphic. 

I would recommend this book for those who like Literary fiction.  It reads similar to those types of books.


Do you like Literary Fiction and does this seem like a book you would read?

I was provided a copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of review.  I was not required to provide a favorable review.

Love and Blessings Always!  

Margaret