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Blog Tour - The Offering by Angela Hunt

Litfuse Publicity Group provided me with a free copy of The Offering for review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own and may differ from others.


About The Offering 

From bestselling author Angela Hunt, the heart-wrenching story of a young mother who unknowingly gave away her own child after serving as a surrogate for a childless couple.

After growing up as an only child, Amanda Lisandra wants a big family. But since she and her soldier husband can't afford to have more children right away, Mandy decides to earn money as a gestational carrier for a childless couple. She loves being pregnant, and while carrying the child she dreams of having her own son and maybe another daughter. . . Just when the nearly perfect pregnancy is about to conclude, unexpected tragedy enters Mandy's world and leaves her reeling. Devastated by grief, she surrenders the child she was carrying and struggles to regain her emotional equilibrium.

Two years later she studies a photograph of the baby she bore and wonders if the unthinkable has happened---could she have inadvertently given away her own biological child? Over the next few months Mandy struggles to decide between the desires of her grief-stricken heart and what's best for the little boy she has never known.

Meet The Author

With over four million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than one hundred books, including "The Nativity Story". Hunt is one of the most sought-after collaborators in the publishing industry. Her nonfiction book "Don't Bet Against Me", written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Angela's novel "The Note" (with sales of over 141,000) was filmed as the Hallmark Channel's Christmas movie for 2007 and proved to be the highest rated television movie in the channel's history. Angela's novels have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, including the RITA, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the Holt Medallion. She often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers' conferences, and she served as the keynote speaker at the 2008 American Christian Fiction Writers' national conference. She and her husband make their home in Florida with mastiffs. In 2001, one of her dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest dog in America.

Learn more at www.angelahuntbooks.com

Purchase The Offering

Follow along with the Blog Tour for The Offering


My Thoughts About The Book
Overall, I enjoyed reading The Offering. I loved the strong and loving relationship that Amanda shared with her soldier-husband, Gideon. Gideon's family is of Cuban descent and I liked seeing the importance they placed on family and their deep connections with one another. Because Amanda is an only child who lost her father at an early age and is not particularly close to her mother, she especially appreciates Gideon's extended family being such a big part of their lives.

While I found Amanda's decision to be a surrogate noble and giving, it also left me a little uneasy because I'm not sure it is something I could ever do. It was interesting to read about all the issues related to surrogacy and made me realize what a complicated undertaking it must be.

The book, at times, seemed to drag on a bit and was somewhat predictable. Nonetheless, I was thoroughly invested in the characters and the outcome of the story. Knowing everything that Amanda faced was daunting and definitely gave me some things to think about. It was painful to see how her relationship with her own little girl suffered while she was trying to get herself together. I found myself in tears several times but in the end, I was very satisfied with they way the story worked out.

Our Summer Break Starts Today!

Yesterday was the last day of the school year for my kids. And, we opened our pool a couple days ago so we are ready to officially start the fun of summer break!

We don't have any special vacation plans this year; just looking forward to a relaxed and laid-back schedule, hanging out at home with the family and visiting some local attractions and fun spots.

To celebrate our summer break kick-off, I wanted to share a music video. It's one of my very favorite songs and the video, with its summer/beach theme is a lot of fun. It's called Beach Bones by More Amor (featuring Ryan Ross).

Enjoy...

Win a Nook HD from Angela Hunt and RSVP for her June 5th Facebook Party!

I recently read The Offering, a new book by author Angela Hunt. Watch for my review coming up in a few days. Until then, check out the details on the giveaway and Facebook Chat Party to celebrate the release of the book...

Angela Hunt is celebrating the release of The Offering with a Nook HD Giveaway and an Author Chat Party on Facebook {6/5}.

  One winner will receive:

• A Nook HD
• The Offering by Angela Hunt 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 4th. Winner will be announced at the "The Offering" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 5th. Connect with Angela for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Angela will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Offering and join Angela on the evening of June 5th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

Blog Tour - Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt

Litfuse Publicity Group provided me with a free copy of this book for review. I was not obligated to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
About Catch a Falling Star:

What does a girl do when life doesn't go according to her plan? 

At 36, Kendall Haynes has seen some of her dreams come true. She's a family physician helping kids with severe allergies and asthma achieve more fulfilling lives-a childhood struggle she knows all too well. But the feeling of being "the kid never picked" looms large when romance continues to evade her and yet another one of her closest friends gets engaged. Are Kendall's dreams of having it all-a career, a husband, children-nothing more than childish wishing upon a star? Should she hold out for her elusive Plan A? Dust off Plan B? Or is it time to settle? God says he knows the plans he has for her-why can't Kendall figure them out and be content with her life?

Griffin Walker prefers flying solo-both as an Air Force pilot and in his personal life. But a wrong choice and health problems pulled him out of the cockpit. His attempts to get out of "flying a desk" are complicated by his parents' death-making Griffin the reluctant guardian of his sixteen-year-old brother, Ian. How did his life get so off course? Can God get his life back on track ... or has there been a divine plan all along?

Catch a Falling Star reminds readers that romance isn't just for twenty-somethings and that sometimes letting go of your "wish I may, wish I might" dreams is the only way to embrace everything God has waiting for you.

  

Meet Beth: 

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she'd never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice), though she said she'd never marry a doctor-or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four, though she said she'd never have kids. She's discovered that God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." Her contemporary romance novel, "Wish You Were Here", debuted in May 2012 (Howard Books), and "Catch a Falling Star" releases May 2013. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren.

Find out more about Beth K. at http://bethvogt.com.

Purchase Catch a Falling Star

Follow along with the Blog Tour for Catch a Falling Star


My Thoughts About the Book:
Catch a Falling Star is a sweet and heartwarming story. I appreciate the fact that it is a clean, romantic read with a strong Christian influence.

Dr. Kendall Haynes is an intelligent, strong woman who places great value on her faith and moral character. She is dedicated to her patients and especially loves helping children. Although her life hasn't ended up exactly how she planned, I like that she still has hope of finding someone with whom to share her life.

Griffin Walker's character, at first, comes across as a little self-centered and cold. But, as I learned more about him, it became clear that he is a good man who just needs to come to terms with where he is at in his life. While he is not at all open to the idea of finding love, it finds him anyway and ultimately saves him.

Even though the story is a little predictable, I still really enjoyed it and was hooked right away. It's a quick and easy read - I finished it in one day - and I found myself invested in the characters and rooting for them all the way.

Don't forget about the $200 Visa Giveaway and Facebook Party to celebrate the release of Catch a Falling Star. I posted the details last week, but here they are again in case you missed it -

Celebrate the release of Catch a Falling Star (Howard Books) with Beth K. Vogt by entering to win a Romantic Weekend Getaway and RSVPing for her June 4th Author Chat Party.

  One "lucky" winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Perfect for a weekend stay at a hotel or B&B!)
• Catch a Falling Star and Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon-worthy!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Catch a Falling Star" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 4th. Connect with Beth for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Beth will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Catch a Falling Star and join Beth on the evening of June 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

IndieFlix Subscription Giveaway - 10 Winners!

IndieFlix provided me with a free trial subscription for review. They are also providing gift subscriptions to share with my readers. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own and may differ from others.

I'm a huge movie lover and I'm always looking for great new films. One of my favorite types to watch is independent movies. They are often very entertaining, can be educational, and sometimes quirky - but you can really find some gems in this genre.

I just learned about a cool subscription based program called IndieFlix. This streaming service helps independent filmmakers to get their works out there while allowing movie fans access to some great independent films that might not otherwise be available.


For just $6.99 USD per month, members have access to thousands of films. IndieFlix will stream on any broadband internet connected device and there is no limit to how many films you can watch per month. I can't wait to check out Indieflix and find some great new films to enjoy.

One film, in particular, that I'm eager to watch is called Finding Kind.


In Finding Kind, filmmakers Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson travel around America speaking with middle and high school girls to uncover truths about girl-on-girl bullying. What starts out as an idea for a documentary ends up becoming an internationally recognized movement and school assembly program known as the Kind Campaign.

As a mom of a teenage girl, this topic is near and dear to my heart and I'm sure this will be a powerful film for both myself and my daughter.

Giveaway 
I'm excited to announce that IndieFlix has offered to give away (10) two-month subscription codes to share with my blog readers. This is the perfect opportunity for you to see what IndieFlix has to offer and try it out for yourself.

*MANDATORY ENTRY* To enter: Visit IndieFlix and leave a comment below telling me a film that you would like to watch.

*OPTIONAL ENTRY* Tweet the following message 1x daily. Please leave a comment below with the link to your tweet.

IndieFlix Subscription #Giveaway from @alas3lads - Get access to thousands of indie films to stream on your device http://tinyurl.com/lkt27zv

Must be 18+ to enter. This giveaway is open until 10:00 pm EST May 26, 2013. At that time, 10 random winners will be selected from all eligible entries. Please make sure I have a valid email to contact you in case you are the winner. Winners will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond and claim gift subscription code.

Walk The Walk America - The Moon Walk New York City 2013

This is one of the coolest events I've heard of and I wanted to be sure and share it with you.

The Moon Walk New York City is on July 20th, 2013. Thousands of women and men will be walking in support of breast cancer. The overnight walk will take place in the streets of NYC with participants being decked out in fun and decorated bras. This event is presented by Empire BlueCross Blue Shield.

For more information, please visit the website via the link above.

If you, like me, do not live close enough to participate, you can still help spread the word about this fun and important event. Please feel free to tweet the following message:

Grab your girls & signup to #MoonWalkNYC for breast cancer care on July 20  http://bit.ly/MoonWalkNYC


I am entered in a gift card giveaway in exchange for helping to spread the word about this event. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY - Mike and Sulley Featured in New "Got Milk?" Ad

I'm a big fan of the "Got Milk?" ads - they're always a lot of fun and you never know who you might see sporting that famous milk mustache.
Here's one of the latest ads. It features Mike and Sulley from MONSTERS UNIVERSITY.

At MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, it takes a lot to fuel a day of scaring and nothing scares up successful days more than a breakfast with milk. A glass of milk – with 8 grams of high-quality protein in each 8 oz serving – can help power your monster days!

Connect with the Milk Mustache community for tips, tools and activities including tasty morning recipes for all the little “monsters” in your family.
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Website
         Look for MONSTERS UNIVERSITY in theaters June 21, 2013. 

Beth K. Vogt’s “Catch a Falling Star” Romantic Weekend Getaway Giveaway & June 4th Facebook Party!

I just finished reading Beth K. Vogt's new book, Catch a Falling Star. Watch for my review coming up next week. Until then, here are the details on a giveaway and Facebook party to go along with the release of this book.

Celebrate the release of Catch a Falling Star (Howard Books) with Beth K. Vogt by entering to win a Romantic Weekend Getaway and RSVPing for her June 4th Author Chat Party.

  One "lucky" winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Perfect for a weekend stay at a hotel or B&B!)
• Catch a Falling Star and Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon-worthy!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Catch a Falling Star" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 4th. Connect with Beth for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Beth will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Catch a Falling Star and join Beth on the evening of June 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

Album Review - Rod Stewart, Time

I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.


Rod Stewart has been rocking for four decades! His new album, Time, which was released May 7th, 2013, marks Stewart's long-awaited return to his songwriting roots and features 12 tracks, 11 of which he wrote and produced.


This album came about as Stewart was reflecting and working on his personal memoir.

"Suddenly ideas for lyrics were piling up in my head," he says. "Next thing I knew, I had a song called 'It's Over' about divorce and separation. And now I was getting up in the middle of the night and scrambling for a pen to write things down, which has never happened to me. I finished seven or eight songs very quickly and I still wasn't done, and it became apparent that I would eventually have a whole album of material to record."

Along with the release of Time, Stewart is set to start his Live the Life tour. The European leg begins June 1st, with U.S. dates starting October 17th.

I've been listening to Rod Stewart for as long as I can remember and have always been a fan. He has such a unique, raspy voice and his songs just make you want to sing along. He really hasn't changed much over the years - he's still rockin' it out (and still has that great hair)!

I was excited to check out his new CD, Time. It is a mix of slow and tempo-filled songs with a lot of guitar influence. These new songs all seem to have a story to tell. They sound new, yet familiar too. One of my favorite tracks on the album is called Pure Love. The lyrics are really beautiful and bring me to tears - here's one of the verses:

Don't ask me now where all the time has gone

I've loved you since the minute you were born

So many times we have laughed and cried

I see you now it fills my heart with pride

You will always be, yes always be

You'll always be a part of me

Time has such a nice collection of music and I've really been enjoying it. My 75 year old mom also happens to be a huge Rod Stewart fan so I'm looking forward to sharing this with her as well. I know she will like it, too.

You can buy Rod Stewart's new CD, Time, on Itunes and Amazon. 

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Despicable Me 2

Get ready for more Minion madness with Despicable Me 2 - coming to theaters summer 2013. 

I absolutely loved Despicable Me; it's one of my all-time favorite animated films. Steve Carell as the voice of main character, Gru, is just brilliant and oh, so funny. I'm sure Despicable Me 2 will be just as much fun. Can't wait to see this with the family! 

Album Review - Michael Buble To Be Loved

I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the album to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.


Everyone's favorite Canadian crooner, Michael Bublé, is back with a new album titled To Be Loved.

"I want to take you on a wonderful journey about love—all different kinds of love," Michael says. "The album swings big time: it rocks, it’s soulful, it’s happy, sometimes a little sad. It’s romantic, it’s yummy, and it’s heartfelt."

In To Be Loved, which is out now, you'll find the grammy award winner covering songs by Frank Sinatra, the Bee Gees, Jackson 5, Elvis Presley, Van Morrison, and more. In the mix of golden standards are four original songs co-written by Bublé, dipping into his personal life for inspiration.

I've long been a fan of Michael Buble. There's just something about his smooth and easy voice - no matter what he is singing - that makes me instantly feel connected. I've been listening to his new CD, To Be Loved, and from start to finish, there's not a bad song. It's not often that I can honestly say I like every single song on an album, but with this one, I can. It is such a great collection. 
A few standout favorites for me: "To Love Somebody" (Bee Gees) and "Who's Loving You" (the Jackson Five). "Come Dance With Me" is also really upbeat and a lot of fun. My absolute favorite track on the album is the Nancy and Frank Sinatra classic "Something Stupid" which features Reese Witherspoon. Michael and Reese sound incredible together and I would  love to see them perform live. It's a great song and I find myself listening to that one over and over.
You can buy Michael Buble's To Be Loved on Amazon and ITunes.

Five Question Friday

I'm linking up for Five Question Friday. If you would like to participate, click the link and join the fun! Each Friday you will get a set of 5 questions to answer on your own blog. You can link up and then visit the other participants - a fun way to get to know some new bloggy friends!

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1. What is your next home improvement goal? - To landscape our back yard. We put in a pool last summer but didn't really get to do any landscaping of the back yard or pool deck. It's so expensive!


2. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? No religious texts (ie Bible, Quran, Torah, etc, etc)... - There are a ton of books that I love, but choosing just one to read for the rest of my life could get old. I would pick something like Grimm's Fairy Tales - it's a nice collection of stories and was one of my favorites when I was little.


3. What is on top of your refrigerator? - A fly swatter (and probably some dust!)


4. What are your favorite or most used phone apps? - Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. I also use Flixster a lot (to see movie trailers and check theater times), my Dictionary app and our local news channel weather app.


5. What's the one thing you hate most about your spouses job? - It can be dangerous - he is a firefighter. He is frequently on rooftops and rushing in to burning buildings. He loves it but I try not to think about how dangerous it can be.

More Pictures From My Ride Over Louisville In The #Despicablimp

I wanted to share a few more pictures that I snapped while riding over Louisville in the "Despicablimp" - Universal's cool Despicable Me 2 themed blimp. The Despicablimp is here for Kentucky Derby-time...

The views were spectacular! Thanks to the Despicablimp crew for showing us a great time and giving us a safe trip over Louisville. 

DespicableMe2 - #Despicablimp Arrives in Louisville for The Kentucky Derby

Despicable Me 2 hits theaters July 3, 2013. Now, just in time for the Kentucky Derby Festival celebrations, Universal's Despicable Me 2 themed blimp comes to Louisville!

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me 2 Despicablimp is on a journey across the United States. Cruising at an average height of 1,000 feet, the Despicablimp will travel approximately 20,000 miles, visiting locations from coast to coast. The blimp tour is well underway, having made its first appearance Saturday, March 23 over Nickelodeon’s 2013 Kids’ Choice Awards.

Visit the online Despicablimp Command Center where you can track the airship by GPS and check out its tour stops. Also, you have the opportunity to enter the Despicablimp Sweepstakes, where one lucky fan will win a trip for 4 to the Hollywood premiere of the movie.

You can follow the tour via Twitter with the hashtag #Despicablimp

Here are some fun facts:
*The Despicablimp is one of only 15 airships flying in the world today.

*The Despicablimp is an A-150 blimp, one of the largest in the world at 165-feet long, 55-feet high and 46-feet wide.

*Blimps have the best safety record of any type of aircraft and use less fuel in 2 weeks than a 747 uses to take off!

*The blimp normally flies at 1,000 feet above the earth so it's easy to see the giant Minion, but it can fly as high as 10,000 feet above the ground to get over a mountain range.

*The Despicablimp is lit from within using two 1,000-watt light bulbs and will be beautifully illuminated in a night sky.

I was thrilled to get an invitation to go see the Despicablimp while it's here in Louisville. I even got to go up for a ride, touring over downtown Louisville and Churchill Downs. What an amazing time! Here are a few pictures from my trip...

#Despicablimp

Me posing with a minion - what a funny little character!

My view as we were taking off

In-flight

Flying over Churchill Downs

A look at Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium and Churchill Downs

Louisville

I received a free ride aboard Universal's Despicable Me 2 Blimp. I was not obligated to write this post and all opinions expressed are my own. 

T

"Happy Momni Day" Sweepstakes from Omni Hotel & Resorts

No compensation was received for this post. I did receive a sweepstakes entry in exchange for the post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Omni Hotels & Resorts is running a Mother’s Day Pinterest Sweepstakes
called “Happy Momni Day“! Pin your tribute to your Mom (or yourself!)
for your chance to win!

Omni Hotel & Resorts is celebrating moms everywhere by offering a "Happy Momni Day" Pinterest sweepstakes. The sweepstakes runs until May 13, 2013. In addition to the easy Rafflecopter entry methods, contestants also have the option of using Pinterest to show their "mom-love" and gain optional extra entries.

The prize is pretty sweet and would surely make any mom happy! Check it out...

Grand Prize
- One 2 Night Weekend Stay at the Omni Hotel or Resort of their choice, and
- One $100 Omni Gift Card for use in the spa, or on food and beverage.

Visit Omni Hotel & Resorts for all the details. Good luck!

A Stealth Attack by Joanie Shawhan (Guest Post)

The following article was provided free of charge by the author through Kathy Carlton Willis Communications.

A Stealth Attack

By Joanie Shawhan

Do you know the symptoms of one of the most insidious diseases assaulting women today? I thought I did. But despite my background in oncology nursing, I had missed a cardinal symptom of ovarian cancer—nausea. Over the course of several months, I had experienced a few episodes of queasiness, mistaking it for the flu. Fleeting thoughts of ovarian cancer even crept into my mind, but I brushed them away. This nausea is just too infrequent, I rationalized.

During the blackness of night, a late warning sign emerged. I rolled over on a firm grapefruit-sized mass in my abdomen. When I pressed on the growth, stabbing pain clutched my abdomen and sucked my breath away. I hope this is just a uterine fibroid.

My doctor agreed that a fibroid was the most probable diagnosis, but we needed to schedule an ultrasound. In the darkened room, the ultrasound technician shot me a glance. I knew something was wrong. After the scan, I tucked the films under my arm and strode into my doctor’s office. She examined the images, then spun around and faced me. Her verdict? Ovarian cancer—the size of a cantaloupe. While she rattled off the tests and surgery that still needed to be scheduled, I sat numb. Words spilled over her lips, but the syllables sounded foreign and distant. Is she talking to me?

After surgery, I endured the ravages of chemotherapy: baldness, crushing chest pain, nausea and brain fog. Fatigue siphoned my strength and left me winded. My sister said, “We have to make this fun,” and she sent me my first installment of hats. Fun? Hats—yes. Chemotherapy—no.

But after a while, my hair grew back with perfect summer highlights. A spring returned to my step and the fog lifted off my mind. The anxiety that gripped my chest prior to each follow-up appointment has dissolved into what I now dub “a social visit.”

I won my race against cancer.

May is Women’s Health Care month:

 

Do you know the symptoms of ovarian cancer? 

 

• Pain or pressure in the pelvis, abdomen or lower back 
• Abdominal bloating or a sense of fullness 
• Nausea, constipation, diarrhea, gas or indigestion 
• Urinary frequency or urgency 
• Fatigue

If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor.

The life you save? Your own.

Joanie Shawhan Bio:

Joanie Shawhan is an ovarian cancer survivor and a registered nurse. She writes encouraging articles for women undergoing chemotherapy and is available for speaking engagements. Publishing credits include Coping with Cancer magazine and God Still Meets Needs. When not writing or attending book club, Joanie enjoys designing jewelry, knitting, and playing guitar. Website: http://joanieshawhan.com/.