30 Things About Me - Day 12 - 5 Weakness I Have

Day 12 - 5 Weakness I Have . . .

1. Weather Frustration - I am a true blue sun bunny who was born in Cali, lived in Florida and Hawaii, and I now live in Idaho. I don't do well with cold weather, and I get grumpy with cold weather. I am learning to be happy in every season.

2. Family Claustrophobia - As a former navy wife, and navy brat who didn't live near any family, and enjoyed the distance as long as it wasn't TOO far, I am now learning how to live near family, and enjoy it! It's a new experience for me.

3. Consistent in Bible reading and Prayer - I get in a good groove for awhile and then I slack off. God is so good to gently nudge me back into fellowship with Him.

4.  Writing - I want to be a published author, yet I get off track and don't write daily like I should.

5.  Books - I am a true blue bookaholic and I get myself in over my head and I am up reading late meet all the deadlines for reviews. I am learning how to say no.

Roses Have Thorns

Sandra Byrd has attracted countless fans for evoking the complexity, grandeur, and brutality of the Tudor period. In her latest tour de force, she poses the question: What happens when serving a queen may cost you your marriage—or your life?

In 1565, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg leaves Sweden on a treacherous journey to England. Her fiance has fallen in love with her sister and her dowry money has been gambled away, but ahead of her lies an adventure that will take her to the dizzying heights of Tudor power. Transformed through marriage into Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton, she becomes the highest-ranking woman in Elizabeth’s circle. But in a court that is surrounded by Catholic enemies who plot the queen’s downfall, Helena is forced to choose between an unyielding monarch and the husband she’s not sure she can trust—a choice that will provoke catastrophic consequences.

Vividly conjuring the years leading up to the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots, Roses Have Thorns is a brilliant exploration of treason, both to the realm and to the heart.

My Thoughts:

Elin leaves Sweden traveling with Princess Cecelia to England. It is a cold journey and while it is prestigious to go and be in the queen's court. Elin was leaving her fiance`, Philip, and her sister who has set her eyes on him. 
When Elin arrives in England she finds out that her dowry has been gambled away and that her sister has indeed taken her fiance`. She decides to stay in England, which may or may not be a good choice. She uses her knowledge of herbs and oils to become the queen's personal perfumer. This gives her the perfect opportunity to gain what she wants when the timing is right. She may gain what she desires, yet it may be her downfall.

I am a huge Tudor fan and Sandra Byrd never leaves me disappointed. If you enjoy the Tudors this is a must read!

30 Things About Me - Day 11 - Describe A Typical Day . . .

Day 11 . . . A Typical Day -

I don't know that I have a "Typical Day" LOL

We're in the process of looking for a home so when we get an email for a listing everything seems to stop so we can go and look at the home.

Reading and writing reviews are definitely apart of my daily activity.

My husband is a route driver for a medical waste company, and so I do load of laundry daily.

I am doing Jillian Michael's 30 day shred so 30 minutes of exercise is part of my day.

Daily cleaning, and picking up of the home. Which isn't much since it's just the two of us.

Cooking dinner, which is something I enjoy doing.

Checking email.

Nothing special or extra ordinary. :)

Free E-book . . . Sacred Treason

Sourcebooks will giveaway a free ebook of Sacred Treason by James Forrester

1563: Anyone could be a suspect; any Catholic could be accused of plotting against the throne. Clarenceux keeps his head down and his religion quiet. But when a friend desperately pleads with Clarenceux to hide a manuscript for him, he is drawn into a web of treachery and conspiracy he may never untangle. Is there no refuge if your faith is your enemy?

Bestselling author Dr. Ian Mortimer, writing as James Forrester, has crafted a chilling, brilliant story that re-imagines how the explosive mix of faith and fear can tear a country apart. Sacred Treason tells a thrilling story of murder, betrayal, and loyalty--and the power of the written word.

Here is my review of this book:  http://frommipov.blogspot.com/2012/10/sacred-treason-reviewed-with-interview.html

From now until April 30th when you pre-order book 2  . . .

1564: Catholic herald William Harley, Clarenceaux King of Arms, is the custodian of a highly dangerous document. When it is stolen, Clarenceaux immediately suspects a group of Catholic sympathisers, the self-styled Knights of the Round Table.
Francis Walsingham, the ruthless protégé of the queen's Principal Secretary, Sir William Cecil, intercepts a coded message from the Knights to a Countess known to have Catholic leanings. He is convinced that Clarenceaux is trying to use the document to advance the cause of the Catholic Queen.
And soon Clarenceaux enters a nightmare of suspicion, deception and conspiracy. Conflict and fear, compounded by the religious doubts of the time, conceal a persistent mystery. Where has the document gone? Who has it and who really took it? And why? The roots of betrayal are deep and shocking: and Clarenceaux's journey towards the truth entails not just the discovery of clues and signs, but also the discovery of himself.

To get the free ebook, readers can email proof of preorder to sbpublicity@sourcebooks.com anytime in April, and will receive a code to download the book through our website, Sourcebooks.com. 

You don't want to miss these two books! This is a great series about the Tudors. Take advantage of this great offer by Sourcebooks!!!! 

30 Things About Me . . . Day 11 Describe 10 Pet Peeves I Have

Day 11 Describe 10 Pet Peeves I Have. . .

1.  People who cause drama. - you know the ones, they don't have any thing going on in their life so they cause issues just so they have something going on.

2.  Know it alls - those who think they know everything about everything.

3.  Inconsiderate people, those who have no thought or care for others feelings.

4.  Bad drivers, don't get me started on this one.

5.  Dishes in the sink - I can't go to bed, or leave the house without dishes being put in the dishwasher or done.

6.  Unsupervised children. Where I live kids are constantly unsupervised, little ones, and they are very lucky they haven't gotten hit.

7.  Father / Mother who after a divorce won't stay in contact with their children, regardless of age. That is a huge pet peeve.  Kids suffer so much in a divorce regardless of age and they deserve their parents to stay connected to them. There is no reason not to, other than selfishness.

8.  People who can't do their job and do it correctly, which in the end costs more time and money for the business and everyone involved.

9.  Fake people. Be real, it's much better, and people definitely like real people better than fake.

10.  Guys with huge egos. Get over it! You are not the Cat's Meow! All of us women are not going to fall at your feet and worship you.

30 Things About Me - Day 10 Describe My Most Embarrassing Moment

Day 10 Describe My Most Embarrassing Moment . . .

Hmmm . . .

When I was a Freshman at Bethany Nazarene College, which is now called Southern Nazarene University.
We were initiated, when a upperclassman found us, because we wore green beanies on our head they could ask us to do anything within reason.

One afternoon I was found eating lunch in SAGA, the name for our cafeteria, and an upperclassman came up to me and told me to run backwards around the salad bar, jingling my keys, singing jingle bells. I looked at him and said you are not serious, he said yes. I was never so embarrassed in my life, but I did it, got a rounding applause. I could not wait for those six weeks to end so that I would not have to fear more embarrassing activities.

The Dance - Dan Walsh, Gary Smalley

About

Love’s recovery starts with a single step . . .
After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn Anderson is tired of playing the role of perfect wife. Her husband Jim is a successful businessman who gives her everything she needs-a beautiful home in an upscale neighborhood, the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home mom, an enviable collection of stuff. Everything, that is, except what really matters: love.
After years of trying to connect with Jim, Marilyn has had enough. She longs to experience some measure of happiness before she’s too old to enjoy it. Needing some time to herself to sort things out, Marilyn leaves to start a new job and take dancing lessons-something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember.
Shocked to find his wife gone, Jim Anderson must sort through the past to save his marriage. With a little help from an unexpected ally, he begins a campaign to win Marilyn back. What he doesn’t anticipate is how his actions will affect everyone around him-starting with himself.

Dan Walsh

Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of several books, including The Discovery and The Reunion. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy...

Continue reading about Dan Walsh 

 Gary Smalley

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of 16 books, along with several popular films and videos. He has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and...

Continue reading about Gary Smalley

My Thoughts:   

On a sunny day in central Florida, Marilyn has finally had enough, she can't believe she is actually doing what she is going to do, but she does it. She takes just what she needs from her beautiful home in River Oaks, leaves Jim a letter on his dresser and leaves. She is not leaving for good, she just wants space to think. She is tired of being a dangling charm on his arm, the nanny for his children, his maid, cook, and following his every command without him even asking what she thinks. 

Jim is a successful businessman who has supplied all of Marilyn's needs, a beautiful home, financial freedom so she can be a stay-at-home mom, yet he has no idea what she really wants, what her desires are, dreams, why? He doesn't ask, nor it seems he cares.

Thus begins both Marilyn and Jim learning to dance both literally and figuratively. Marilyn is living in an apartment, working making her own money, something she has longed to do. She casually meets a Audrey at a restaurant who tells her about dance classes at dance studio that her and her husband use to own. Marilyn begins to take lessons, and finds that she is rather good. 

Interestingly enough Audrey begins to coach Jim, not just in dancing, but in marriage.

In doing this Jim begins to see his mistakes, and it's not about Marilyn but about him.

I found myself bawling through different parts of the book. 

I also enjoyed that this book was set in Central Florida. :) Gave me lots of good memories of my old haunts!

I knew this book was going to be a home run with Dan Walsh, adding Gary Smalley was the icing on the cake. These two have written a book that will touch your heart and soul, and leave you thinking about the characters long after you close the last page. The good thing is that this is the beginning of a series so we will see more of the Andersons. 

I highly recommend this book and shine a light on it for pointing a path to Christ!

*Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.*