Stressed-Less Living by Tracie Miles Book Review

Stressed-Less Living: Finding God's Peace in Your Chaotic World by Tracie Miles is an honest look at a startling epidemic that can cause life altering outcomes if someone chooses to continue down a stress filled path or be devoted to God.  Tracie shares deeply of her overwhelming struggles with stress in many life situations.  She also shares how God fully transformed her to a life with less stress and more peace.  Tracie is candid and passionate about how she truly discovered the path to peace.  It's only through God- "You truly become less stressed when you discover the God of peace."  Each chapter ends with several Stress-busting Scriptures and a set of Reflection Questions.

Even though I am a Stay at Home Mom, I find many stressful situations that cause me anxiety, restless sleep and extreme negative emotions.  I desperately need a change and I felt like this book from Tracie was a great encouragement to work toward discovering God's peace in this chaotic world.  Many times she shared that it is not the changing of our circumstances that will bring less stress, but what we focus on during our circumstances.  I absolutely loved the bonus quiet time activity where I could type out certain Scriptures and insert my name.  God desires a personal relationship with me and as I draw closer to him I will know true peace amidst this stressful life.  I recommend reading slowly through this book, studying Scriptures, working through the questions and spending lots of time in prayer.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ACU Press/Leafwood Publishers as part of their ACU Press Bookclub Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck- Enter to win a Kindle Fire from Rachel Hauck and RSVP for 5/28 Facebook Party!

Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of Once Upon a Prince with a fun "Royal Wedding" Giveaway and connecting with readers at her May 28th Facebook Party.

One "royal" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Once Upon a Prince" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 28th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of book chat, wedding trivia, laughter, and more! Rachel will also be sharing a sneak peek at the next book in the series and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Once Upon a Prince and join Rachel on the evening of May 28th 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 28th!

Book Review:
Meet Susanna: dumped by her boyfriend of 12 years, working part-time for her parents, quitting her architect job and wondering where she will living after Aunt Rue returns to claim her home.  Meet Nate (aka Crown Prince Nathaniel of Brighton): on holiday at St. Simon's Island where Susanna lives, caught between allegiance to his country and love for  a beautiful southern girl.  Their paths cross at Lover's Oak, but Susanna thinks he's a really handsome guy who seems to show up everytime she needs rescuing.  While politics and corrupt press continue to rage in Brighton, Susanna and Nate form a sweet friendship as she designs "A King's Garden" at his island home.  With news of his father's passing, Nate travels home to Brighton to prepare to become king.  But will he ever be able to marry whom he chooses?  Be swept away with Susanna and Nate as they seek to follow God's will, but also follow their hearts.

I have to admit at first that I thought this book was a little corny, but as I got to know the characters I absolutely fell in love with them and the story.  Susanna seems like a sweet but aimless young woman who sinks lower and lower until she truly is given the chance at true love.  Nate was a very likeable and romantic guy who cared for people which made him a great king.  And this story showed how God was the center of both of their lives.  It's a modern day romance full of quirky characters and scenes that will take your breath away.

*I was give this book to review as a complimentary copy from Litfuse Hens.  All opinions are my own.*

Magazine.com Review/Giveaway!!

Website: http://www.magazines.com/special-offers/mothers-day-gifts-sale,default,sc.html?origin=mdbo

Facebook: www.facebook.com/magazines.com

Twitter: @magazines 

About Magazines.com offers people a fun, easy way to discover new reads and helps them track their magazine subscriptions. 

Shop the great magazine subscription deals at Magazines.com for Mother’s Day 2013! You’ll find incredible savings on Mom’s favorite cooking, celebrity, crafting magazine subscriptions and more. Don’t forget about all the moms in your life—your aunt, sister and your grandmother! Give her a gift that keeps on giving!

Do you like magazines?  I sure do!  It's fun to flip through them, find good ideas, relax for a few minutes and clip out interesting articles to be read again. 

GIVEAWAY:
Would you like a free magazine subscription?  Just comment below with your email and a magazine that you like and I'll pick a winner on Friday, May 17! 

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope 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 in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

It Happened At the Fair by Deanne Gist Book Review + iPad Mini giveaway!!

Deeanne Gist is celebrating the release of It Happened at the Fair with an iPad Mini Giveaway and a Live Author Chat Webcast event {5/22}!

  One "fair" winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 21st. Winner will be announced at the "It Happened at the Fair" Live Webcast Event on May 22nd. Connect with Deeanne for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deeanne will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of It Happened at the Fair and join Deeanne and friends on the evening of May 22nd 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 22nd!

My Book Review:
It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist is an eventful historical romance.  Cullen McNamara is a farmer from North Carolina who is forced by his father to exhibit his automatic sprinkler invention at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.  Despite Cullen's misgivings about spending so much money on a product that he really doesn't want to share, he is not ready to leave his girlfriend for 6 months.  But with a set wedding date and a reason to possibly save the farm if he sells his invention, he goes to the White City.  However, he is not used to the extreme noise of the building where he sits all day and being hard of hearing, he decides to hire a lip-reading tutor, Della Wentworth.  Their lessons soon draw them closer together.  Della falls in love with Cullen, and he with her, but he neglects to share that he is already engaged.  Meanwhile, Cullen is discouraged at the lack of interest in his product and decides to do a demonstration that is sabotaged.  His only bright spot is his friendship with Della until his fiancé shows up.  Della is confused and feels betrayed.  Cullen tries to straighten out his love life and finds new ways to sell his product.  But will Della forgive Cullen and will Cullen honestly make a choice as to whom he will marry?

This book combines a sweet love story in the backdrop of an amazing historical event.  I absolutely loved the characters in this book, the setting and the story.  The author draws the reader in with the plight of the characters and the feelings each have, but don't share out loud.  Combined with the incredible World's Fair, the buildings, the people, the exhibits and the prejudices of that time concerning deaf people, this book is a hidden gem of pure historical romance.  I fell in love with Cullen and Della and their interactions.  They began to see things in each other that only lovers do.  And I was thrilled to read all the great descriptions of the fair.  I enjoy history and I had never heard of this event.  And the author even included a picture at the beginning of every chapter.  That really brought the story to life for me.  This was a fantastic book and I recommend any history lover to check this out.  Enjoy the romance and be swept away in the era of 1893.

Check out other reviews at Litfuse: http://litfusegroup.com/author/dgist

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse Hens.  All opinions are my own.*

Yes, it's True, Jessna's TWO!!

2 years old

1 year birthday

Eating purple crayon

Crazy hair

Time out

Helping with laundry

Coloring

Yummy pudding

Easter

Eating by herself

Yummy yogurt

Last summer- playing in the dirt

Climbing on the table

Playing peekaboo

Standing in the drawer

Sitting in the box

This little girl has turned my world upside down and inside out!  She is known as Little Miss Busy.  She is full of energy and loves to climb, jump, bounce and run.  She has increased her vocabulary to say "No, Read it, Up, Help" and much more.  She hates wearing bibs and she doesn't mind getting messy.
Jessna is one of a kind and we love her.  Can't wait to see what next year brings.