Morgan Bramlet Does it Again!

Genexus is a novel about an event that could be closer than many of us would be comfortable thinking about: Genetically engineered super humans.

I was just going to skim the first chapter, but this story gripped me and wouldn’t let go.

Although parts of the book read a bit like an athletic achievement report, it set the tone for how superior the six subjects in “D” series were, and made them more accessible.

I connected more with Jamie and Athena, the characters who wanted to help the "D" series children: Demetri, Derek Daniela, Diana David and Dominique. The kids are slated to be euthanized, having been raised for information in a state of the art high-security environment. But they're more like junior scientists at VanGen Biotechnology Corporation, than masterminds of corporate espionage. Could they really pull off kidnapping the company's most top secret investments? Six noticeably strange-looking ten-year olds?

This story had me guessing to the end, and I had to keep reading to see how far they'd get and what would happen next. The twists and turns did not fail to surprise.

This story has all the makings of a major motion picture. But until then, pick up a copy of this book and enjoy the ride. Incidentally, if you take it on vacation for a summer read, make sure you apply plenty of sun protection. Once you start reading it, you won’t want to stop.

Big Taste In The Small Kitchen

Having recently downsized my life, and moved to smaller quarters, In the Small Kitchen was a fresh perspective on cooking. Written by two ladies who have been friends since 7th grade, their delightful and eclectic stories are sprinkled through out along with mouthwatering photos of their delectable dishes. Together, Cara Eisenpress and Phoebe Lapine brighten what could be considered a mundane daily chore.

I think there's at least one recipe for everyone in this book, from Vegan to Carnivore. I found one in every chapter. The recipe for "noodles with bgsk peanut sauce" and "soy-honey baked tofu" were wonderful.

Along with social rules of engagement, tenets of byob and a year's worth of occasion for which to cook or have dinner parties, you will be well equipped to make delicious meals. This book is great for the off-campus college bound student, your new graduate, newly weds or anyone who has a small kitchen. The recipes are easy to follow but the reults are pleasantly exotic. The ingredients are easy to find just about anywhere (they are based in New York).

There are recipes for the solo or the sharer (up to ten people.) I love this book!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Amazon Vine 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 

Who Will Remember?

 

Who Will Remember from Lindsey Leanne on Vimeo.


Kudos to Lindsey Jones and her film crew for producing this amazing video based on the essay, Ghost of Christmas Past. I really like the way they updated the theme and made it more relevant. Great cinematograhy and staging. Congratulations!

Energized by Amino Energy

I've been working out for years but had slacked in recent months. I was looking for a way to kick-start a new work out routine when I saw this product and decided to give it a shot. I mostly do Pilates and Jillian Michaels with a bit of Core Rythms thrown in.

What I liked about it right away was there was no sugar or aspartame in it. It tasted great, even though I am not a fan of grape-flavored anything. I liked that you could add it to water, not juice. The Concorde Grape flavor was a pleasing shade of purple even with only 1 scoop and tastes distinctly grape without tasting watered down. When using 2 scoops in a 20 oz. bottle of water it tasted stronger, but not cloying or over-sweet. It dissolves quickly, and doesn't get lumpy in the bottom of a bottle (some other products needed more dissolving time.)

I notice when I drink it I am not so hungry even hours after working out. If I drink it half an hour before an afternoon workout I feel ready to go the distance. I also have more energy for the routine. Mentally, I feel sharper. I've been at it for just over a week and already notice a difference in the way my body looks and the way I feel. I can't wait to try the other flavors too, and would recommend this product to all my work out buddies.

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The Dumpster by Becky Due

As I started reading The Dumpster by author Becky Due, I couldn’t imagine how I was going to get through it. I am not a fan of Romance Novels and thought this was going to be one long painful read. I also prefer actual books to electronic readers and was not looking forward to the prospect of reading an electronic version.

The main character, Nicole, is just a little bit quirky, obssessive and slightly insecure. I liked that she wasn’t a blonde-haired blue-eyed beauty queen with everything going her way. When her new love interest furnished her with a cheap DVD player bailed on her by DVD, the story got a little more interesting. It certainly was a twist on getting dumped.

The dumpster really hooked me too, what it brought, what it took, what Nicole found there and what Nicole threw into it. I found myself laughing out loud and thinking about the characters. What was going to happen next? Before I knew it, I was halfway through the book. It seemed more of a romantic comedy than a romance novel. Once I stopped resisting, I got pulled into the story and really enjoyed it. I would recommend this light hearted book as a fast summer beach read.

Find out more about this author here: BECKY

I was given an electronic version of this book by the author in exchange for my honest opinion and a 5$ Starbucks gift card.

Dr. Morgan Sierra is surprised by a late-night meeting with research assistant, Matthew Fry. Fry intends to take her back to the US for a project arranged by Dr. Everett. As an unwitting keeper of one Apostle stone, she finds herself in the middle of questions surrounding it, and its potential power when reunited with the other eleven stones.

Before their meeting properly adjourns, Sierra and Fry become the target of Thanatos, a group who wants her stone. They’re willing to take it be whatever force necessary. Because of her training in the Israeli Defense Force, she is not faint hearted, but a pistol-packing femme fatale who trusts few individuals. She and Fry blast their way out and escape.
Intuitively, Morgan fears for her twin sister's safety, knowing that she too carried one of the stones. When Morgan discovers her sister and baby niece are missing, Morgan finds herself embroiled in a search for the other stones to save their lives.
Although the story is set in modern times, it takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the Mediterranean Region. While the story leans on Church history, Penn keeps the reader turning the pages.
I enjoyed this Pentecost immensely and think it reads like watching a movie. I can’t wait to see if Penn continues the adventures of Morgan Sierra. In the days ahead, look forward to reading more from this author.

Do You Know Abby?

Because not everything we do is scripted,
we are free to choose and make decisions
that have lasting repercussions in our lives
and the lives of others....





When the Director of Planned Parenthood quit her job, even given the national climate of the job market, it shouldn't have made national news. But it was the reason that she left that caused her to switch teams. And that choice made Abby Johnson a hero for the pro-life movement and an enemy of Planned Parenthood.

Every woman in America knows someone who's had an abortion. They are our sisters, mothers, daughters friends. They're our girlfriends, our wives, aunts and cousins It is not limited to race, religion or social standing. It is a heart-rending decision not easily made, that affects all of us for the rest of our lives.

The documentary of Abby Johnson had me spell bound to the end. The statements from her parents, really affected me.

At 23, I found myself in the middle of an unplanned pregnancy. By then, Roe v Wade was a decade old and women had a right to choose. Although I chose to carry to term and relinquish the child for adoption, it was not very popular among women who thought I was a slave to convention. Through the telling of my story over the years, I met many women along the way who regretted their decisions and were pained by them years, even decades afterward.
If you want to know the truth, you want to see this documentary about Abby's life, how she arrived in Planned Parenthood and became a champion for women.You'll hear what she discovered in a clinic that caused her radical decision to quit and change sides.

If you have daughters, nieces or sisters, tell then about this upcoming free webcast. The Unite for LIFE webcast is free, featuring Abby Johnson and will benefit pregnancy care organizations. You can sign up to participate on May 17 at 8:00 p.m. (in all time zones) at http://www.uniteforlifewebcast.org/. Unplanned the book and the DVD will be available for purchase as a package deal and 33% of each purchase will go to crisis pregnancy centers like CareNet, the National Institute of Family & Life Advocates, and Heartbeat International.
If you want to be in a drawing to win a voucher for a free copy, comment below and I will draw two names. The message is so important, I will throw my copy into the drawing.

No matter where you land on this topic, I do not judge you or your choice. I believe that to make such an enormous decision, one needs to be informed of all the facts. The choice is still yours to make.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this DVD free through Tyndale publishers. 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

What Questions Would You Ask Max?

How great would it be to sit down with Max Lucado and ask the tough questions about life, and get his take? Initially, I thought the book would be for people new in their faith walk, or new Christians who hadn’t gotten around to translating the Bible into practical steps for daily living. But Max has a real understanding of what the word of God says and how it should be played out in our daily life. I bet a guy who’s been in ministry and written over 50 books would have a lot to say on just about any topic you throw at him:

~ “I really dread going home for the holidays…”

~ “I’d like to slow down and simplify my life…”

~ “Are the commandments in the Bible archaic?”

I found Max’s biblically based explanations easy to understand and accessible. (Notice, I didn’t say easy.) You don’t have to sit down and read through all the chapters to get nuggets of truth. You can choose from one of the 7 and read as much or as little as you like. The questions were an attention-grabbing mix from simple to complex, and his answers were thoughtful, inspired and sometimes even lighthearted. (Life isn’t all evil and darkness.)

He answers over 150 questions in this book, categorized by subject. Need Hope? Been Hurt? Need Help? He’s got answers for you. He maintains a positive spin, and it neither harsh nor condemning, which kept me reading. This book isn’t asking just the simple question, but also the hard-hitting ones:

~ “How do I forgive my son-in-law now that he’s broken my daughter’s heart?”

~ “What’s the big deal about pornography?”
~ “Does God hate homosexuals?”  (Answer 100 was one of the longest in the book.)

Chances are, there’s at least one question in here you have asked aloud. I was surprised to find that I wasn’t the only one asking the question, and Max gave me new lines to think along. A fresh perspective. So if you’ve got questions, you might take a look at Max on Life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Booksneeze a book review bloggers 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

The Adjustment Bureau

I saw The Adjustment Bureau movie trailer only recently and really wanted to hear more. When I found the audio book, only then did I discover it was a Classic Paranoid Story by science fiction author, Philip K. Dick. I had to get it. With an hour drive time everyday, I was hoping it would be a longer story, but found it entirely entertaining.

When this curious tale began with a Clerk talking to a dog about upcoming changes to sector T137, I wondered, where is this going? But when the dog answered him, I had to see what happened next. I down loaded the disc to my MP3 player and listened to it on my way to work.

The story takes place in the day of Ed Fletcher, a real estate agent. All appears to be typical until the sun winks out, and Ed finds himself in world made of grey ash. What happens after that, will have you pondering the subtle changes in your own surroundings for days, possibly years.

Phil Gigante’s excellent performance gave a distinctive voice, tone and cadence to each character, making it easy to follow them through the hour-long drama.

The quality of this recording by Brilliance Audio was clear with Gigante maintaining a consistent volume and no distracting background noises. (In some other audio books I’ve heard cocks crowing and children and those elements weren’t part of the story.) Gigante’s spectacular enunciation kept me tracking with the story to its surprising conclusion. If you enjoy audio books, make time for this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this audio book free through the Amazon Vine 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

I Love Sugar Free Candy!

 Ever since I began getting headaches from regular candy, I've been searching for high-flavor sugar-free candy. So much of it seems to start out well then bite you back with a nasty aftertaste. I discovered too, that aspartame was also not good for me, so the search began for candy made with Splenda.

This package of Crystal Light Chewy Candy contained strawberry, raspberry orange and lemon. They were square like Starburst, but not quite as intense or as tart, which was a little bit of a let down. The berry flavors were tasty, as was the orange. My favorite flavor was the lemon.

I've been a fan of Sorbee hard candies because they have a great taste and texture and no bitter aftertaste, or any kind of head pain. I was thrilled to find chewy candy!

If you aren't used to eating sorbitol based candy, however, they are slightly laxative, so you should try to limit yourself to no more than six in a day. The more often you enjoy this type of confection, the less if seems to have that effect. I live with a diabetic who enjoyed the texture and taste of the chews as much as I did, and no spike in sugar numbers was definitely a plus. I would like to see a blend of tropical flavors.

I recommend this to anyone trying to watch calorie intake, sugar levels and it also has an exchange for those on Weight Watchers. I loved them and will be getting more soon!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free through the Amazon Vine 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 product

How Would You Like to Live in Victory?

Thirty One Days of Power
Learning to Live in Spiritual Victory

by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers

The world is a messy place these days. The stress of getting through a “normal” day seems to escalate. Traffic jams, calamities, disasters, people losing their livelihood and homes, crime, war... The worries seem to multiply and the world seems an increasingly dangerous place to live.

Are you really living? Or just surviving? At the end of a typical day, you might feel like you haven't any power left. Even though most Christians understand that Satan seeks to destroy our lives and souls, it seems not quite as many know how to fight this centuries old battle.

Wouldn't it be nice to rise above the turmoil of the day and enjoy some measure of real peace? How would you like to take a deep breath and be refreshed? Where can you plug into a major power source to be re-energized?

My husband and I began reading Ruth Myers book, Learning to Live in Spiritual Victory in morning over breakfast before leaving for work. The verses feel like a cup of hot tea with a friend, warming and comforting. They began positively affecting me from the beginning of chapter one: “Father in heaven, I lift up my heart to You... “

Instead of magnifying the problems, the daily prayers and praises of this devotional point to the answer: Almighty God. I read each prayer, weighing it in my heart, reminded that God is in control and far more worthy of my attention. He is ever present, waiting for me to call upon Him.

Since we began reading the book, I sleep better at night, feel closer to God and don't worry as much. When I begin feeling anxious, I go back to reread the devotion for that day. As I draw near to end of the book, I feel as though I have put on the armor of God, equipped to live in spiritual victory.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah book review bloggers 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

Power Based LIfe

 As I read through the table of contents to The Power Based Life by Mike Flynt, each one of the chapter headings seemed more interesting than the first. I was surprised by the first one, that talked about playing to your strengths. How different my life could have been if I had known that was even acceptable.

As I progressed through the book, some of it was less interesting to me particularly because I am not what you would consider an athlete. I’m not really into sports of any kind and struggle to maintain a work-out schedule. However, as I read, I felt encouraged to rethink some of my strategies and attitudes about my personal physical fitness, particularly after reading Sow in Health, Reap a Longer Life. Far too often I hear elderly people saying, “If I had known I was going to be around this long, I would have taken better care of myself.”

I feel like Mike’s book is a sort of physical, mental and spiritual fitness guide. I think there are principles and concepts in this book that could help anyone willing to apply them. The book was an easy read, upbeat and encouraging. He never beats anyone over the head with shoulds or oughts. His biblical references seemed to be in line with the word as I have understood it.

I found the book a little tough to get into at first because of all the sport analogies, but if you have an athlete on your hands, this would be a good choice. In spite of my lukewarm appreciation of sport, I thought the fitness aspects he covered were not only worth reading, but worth sharing.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers 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