Showing posts with label book

One Way Love by Tullian Tchividjian Giveaway

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, October 18, 2013

When FLYBY Promotions sent out an email asking their bloggers if we would be interested in reviewing One Way Love, I hesitated to sign up. Sure, I enjoy receiving free books and yes I am a Christian- but I am a tired Christian. 
A Christian tired of reading books and devotionals that leave me feeling worse about my sinner self than when I started. So, the email set until I read the promo again. The authors words below changed my mind and I couldn't wait for the books arrival.


 About One Way Love: 
Written by: Tullian Tchividjian,  Publisher: David C Cook


MyWAHMPlan.com


Real life is long on law and short on grace—the demands never stop, the failures pile up, and fear sets in. Life requires many things from us—a stable marriage, successful children, a certain quality of life. Anyone living inside the guilt, anxiety, and uncertainty of daily life knows that the weight of life is heavy. We are all in need of some relief. Bestselling author Tullian Tchividjian is convinced our world needs a fresh encounter with grace.


About the Author:
William Graham Tullian Tchividjian (pronounced cha-vi-jin) is the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. A Florida native, Tullian is the grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham. He is a visiting professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, and a contributing editor to Leadership Journal. He is an ordained minister in Presbyterian Church of America. He is the author of six books; including the best seller, Jesus + Nothing = Everything  that won Christianity Today’s 2011 book of the year. He travels extensively, speaking at conferences throughout the U.S. 


My Review:

Never and I really mean NEVER have I started writing down passages I wanted to share from a book while still reading the Introduction! Tullian’s words are so authentic and needed. Not just for me, but this whole tired world.
 In fact, he called the church out for some of the very reasons my husband and I made the hard decision to leave our home church last year. We would leave services not feeling uplifted with God’s good word and Grace, rather, we left feeling like we weren’t doing enough to serve and that we were somehow second rate Christians because we aren't perfect at being Christian people.
Tullian has a name for “the perfect people” (or all those trying hard to make it seem life is perfect): 

Performancism. 

He says performancism is the mindset that equates our identity and value directly to our performance and accomplishments. Performancism casts achievement not as something we do or don’t do but something we are or aren’t.

Wow. That is a powerful statement for a whole lot of people. People you may see on Facebook with their perfect life, kids, marriages, vacations, jobs and their faith and volunteerism. Don’t these people make you feel tired just watching them? I bet they are exhausted! This book is for them just as much as it is for the more grounded sinners such as me. 

Tullian humbly invites you in to this book. It is not a preachy do this not that book. I feel lightness in my heart from reading it, knowing I am not alone in my disenchantment with my church and my Christianity. Tullian’s message is that God’s good Grace- His One Way Love covers me.
I will return to this book often I’m sure. I will buy copies for my Christian friends for gifts, it’s that good! I invite you to visit One Way Love  HERE .



The Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a copy of One Way Love (paperback)! I hope this book blesses you as it has me. No purchase is necessary to enter. Open to US residents 18 or older. 

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in the hopes that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR Part 255: "Guides concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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Alone Yet Not Alone Book review and Giveaway

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, August 29, 2013
Material Disclosure: As a member of FlyBy Promotions, I received a free copy of this book to facilitate my review and to host a giveaway.  All opinions expressed our 100% my own. 


Reviewing children’s or young adult books can be a hit or miss endeavor, because sometimes a book you think will hold your child’s interest doesn’t. This was not the case with Alone yet Not Alone. I will go into more detail about that in my review, but first let me tell you about the book and movie coming in September. There’s a giveaway too at the bottom.


About Alone yet Not Alone:



Settled in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania, deep within America's new frontier, the Leininger family celebrates the blessings of a beautiful homestead and bountiful harvest. That is, until tragedy strikes with the beginning of the French and Indian War and the devastating raid known as the Penn's Creek Massacre. 

The lives of this simple, God-fearing family are forever altered when Barbara and Regina, two young sisters, are carried away by the Delaware tribe. Driven by their faith in God and the powerful bonds of family, Barbara and Regina hold firmly to the belief that they are never alone, even in their darkest hour, and that they will be reunited again. 

Rich in historical details, Alone Yet Not Alone is an inspirational, true story of a family caught in the cross fire of the French and Indian War. 



About The Author: 

Tracy Leininger Craven loves history and retelling real-life stories in her historical fiction books. She also loves spending her free time in the great outdoors with her husband David and their four children.



My Review:

I have to admit, I was a little concerned about how in depth the author might go in details of the French and Indian war. Be warned, there are parts of this book that deal with the ugliness of this part of our American history. 
While there are parts in this book that tell of the terrible ordeals this family endured, Mrs. Craven wrote about them in a way that wasn’t graphic or over the top.

I enjoyed this books flow and story line. It drew me in from the first chapter. The Leininger family are a close-knit Christian family that was very relatable even though the lived so long ago.

My ten year old daughter devoured this book! She absolutely loved it and asked to stay up a little longer because she was at a really good part. She had this book read in record time, which speaks volume's to the authors gifted pen. 

We highly recommend this book for your tween reader 10 or over because of the subject matter. This is an inspiring book, full of faith and family love, which in my humble opinion, our world needs more of.


And Alone Yet not Alone Movie will be released in theaters September 27, 2013. 



 Starring: Kelly Greyson, Natalie Racoosin, Clay Walker, Jenn Gotzon, Joanie Stewart, Ozzie Torres, Tony Wade.

Families will love this film based on a true story!  Awarded 5 Doves from the Dove Foundation! 



You can connect with Alone Yet not Alone on their website, Facebook and Twitter or watch the movie trailer on You Tube.


 As always, I hope you found this review helpful. 




About the giveaway:


Enter to win a copy of Alone Yet not Alone for your little reader. Open to United States residents 18 or older. No purchase is necessary. All terms and conditions can be read on the Rafflecopter form below. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for shipment of prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway





Disclosure: As a member of FlyBy Promotions, I received a free copy of this book to facilitate my review and to host a giveaway .  All opinions expressed our 100% my own. 

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Feeling Good with #The Fast Metabolism Diet

in , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, May 02, 2013

Thank you to The Fast Metabolism Diet for sponsoring this blog post. I was selected for this sponsorship by SheSpeaks.com  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Like most women I know, our weight is often on our minds. We go back and forth in sizes and usually draw a mental line in the sand that says " I will not go past this number on the scale! 
That's where I was at the beginning of this year. I was determined to get healthy and stay that way, so reviewing and following the Fast Metabolism Diet plan came at a wonderful time in my life. I had already changed my mindset, was making good progress and was mentally ready to start a new plan. That is the key to success in my opinion. 



About The Fast Metabolism Diet:



Diet
Courtesy: FastMetabolismDiet.com

The basic idea of this diet plan is to keep your body and metabolism guessing by rotating what you eat throughout each week. This is a simple and proven plan carefully designed to induce precise physiological changes that set your metabolism on fire. 

This is done in 3 phases: 
  • Phase 1 ( Monday-Tuesday)- Lots of carbs and fruits
  • Phase 2 ( Wednesday-Thursday)- Lots of proteins and veggies
  • Phase 3 ( Friday-Sunday)- All of the above, plus healthy fats and oils


The Science Behind the Diet:


Fast Metabolism
Courtesy:FastMetabolismDiet.com


About The Author: Haylie Pomroy:

Haylie Pomroy has spent more than 17 years helping people lose weight, improve fertility, overcome health challenges and reach optimal health while still enjoying real food and not going hungry. With clinic locations in Beverly Hills, Burbank, Irvine, and Fort Collins, Haylie is highly regarded in Hollywood and in the medical community.  You can learn more about Haylie here.  You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter. 



My Review:

I was a bit sceptical of the books claim that I could lose up to 20 pounds in 28 days. Not only did it sound unfeasible, it sounded unhealthy. Also, as the Mom of two impressionable daughters, I try to not use the term "diet" and I do my best to have a healthy body image so they will too. 
But, the truth is: I need to lose weight so I gladly accepted the challenge of change. 28 days is such a short time in the grand scheme of things. 

Here are my thoughts and tips:

  • Be prepared to read before you start this diet! Haylie spells out the science behind the diet and mentally prepares you for your 28 day journey. You'll need that information for what she asks of you, so please don't skip ahead.  
  • Once you are ready to start, double check your grocery list and shop for a full weeks worth of groceries. This book has lots of healthy recipes and a master food list for each week,  which I found very helpful.
  •  Be prepared to drink lots and lots of water! I thought I was good on my water consumption, but no. This diet has you drinking half your weight in ounces per day. Talk about flushing ~ literally and figuratively! So don't start this diet if you are not going to be able to take frequent bathroom breaks. 
  • Speaking of drinking, you aren't supposed to drink alcohol or coffee for 28 days.  I was fine with no alcohol, but no coffee? No way! I get up way too early to not have my morning coffee. I did concede to the plan and stopped using my normal fat free creamer and cut way back on my sugar.
  • Be prepared to keep this book with you for the 28 days. Since you are changing eating patterns and exercise patterns every 2 days, I got a little frustrated with trying to plan family meals and events around this diet, so having the book with me helped me get back on track if I slipped up and ate a piece of fruit on the wrong day.  The great thing about this plan is if you do mess up, just start over! 


My Take Away: 

I followed this diet to the best of my ability and found it easier to follow than first anticipated. The key is to plan! 

Now, to answer the big question: Did I lose 20 pounds in 28 days? 

No I didn't, but I did lose 9.2 pounds, 3 points off my body fat, 1 inch loss overall and gained a new healthy respect for my body and what I am asking of it. To me, that is priceless, so I do recommend this book and The Fast Metabolism Diet for those that need to kick start a new healthy way of eating and living. 

There are lots of resources and tools available to help you decide if this diet is right for you. I invite you to read the FAQ's here, check out the handy app here.  


I hope you found this review helpful. I would love to hear your feedback if you have tried this diet plan or want to. 

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Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist Review

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, April 30, 2013

My mailbox brings an assortment of products, letters and parcels that my family and I look forward to opening. Books hold a special place in my heart and I always open them first. Nothing beats that new book smell I say to my daughters and thankfully, they agree. 
This week I'm sharing another ARC book courtesy of Zondervan media. This free book was sent to me to read and share my thoughts with you, which are 100% my own.


About the book: Bread & Wine - A love letter to life around the table with recipes.

book
Courtesy: Zondervan Media
"As a follow up to her two bestselling books, Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines, author and blogger Shauna Niequist returns with the perfect read for those who love food and value the community and connection of family and friends around the table. 

 Bread & Wine is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. This mix of Anne Lamott and Barefoot Contessa is a funny, honest, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. 

 Bread & Wine is a celebration of food shared, reminding readers of the joy found in a life around the table. It’s about the ways God teaches and nourishes people as they nourish the people around them. 

 It’s about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two. With wonderful recipes included, from Bacon-Wrapped Dates to Mango Chicken Curry to Blueberry Crisp, readers will be able to recreate the comforting and satisfying meals that come to life in Bread & Wine."
About the Author: Shauna Niequist:
"Shauna Niequist is the author of Cold Tangerines, Bittersweet, and Bread & Wine. (These are my Amazon affiliate links, I may receive compensation if you purchase from them).

Shauna grew up in Barrington, Illinois, and then studied English and French Literature at Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
She is married to Aaron, who is a pianist and songwriter. Aaron is a worship leader at Willow Creek and is recording a project called A New Liturgy .  Aaron & Shauna live outside Chicago with their sons, Henry and Mac.
Shauna writes about the beautiful and broken moments of everyday life–friendship, family, faith, food, marriage, love, babies, books, celebration, heartache, and all the other things that shape us, delight us, and reveal to us the heart of God."

My Review: 
I love this book! The title and cover photo speaks of happy times and this book doesn't disappoint. I laughed, I cried and I shook my head in total agreement as I happily read. Shauna Niequist's Bread & Wine spoke to my heart in several ways and made me want to start my own cooking club. Or at the very least, a book club so I can share this book with others. Shauna makes it easy to do both, sharing her entertaining tips, sample menu's, recipes, pantry lists and even a four week book club discussion guide! 
Click here to download a free download/printable sample of Bread & Wine. Click here for a free audio chapter.
I highly recommend this book and will keep this in mind for gifts for a few of my friends and family. I loved Shauna's writing style so much that I am going to read her other books as well. 
You can learn more about Shauna by visiting her blog here.
You can purchase Bread & Wine at my Amazon affiliate link below: (see full disclosure here)
I hope you found this review helpful. Do you belong to a book or cooking club? Please share your views in comments. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation should you purchase this book via my links. 
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