EmpowerMoms

“A Secret to Die For” by Lisa Harris

Posted on October 2, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

“A Secret to Die For” by Lisa Harris

Fast paced, clean drama with some romance. Both character Grace and Nate have experienced heartache and drama in their lives. Their paths cross when a killer takes down Grace’s client. The killer thinks Grace knows the deceased secrets so Nate and Grace must work together to solve the case and keep from getting killed.

I loved the dynamics and personality of both main characters and how they worked together and talked about their past. I enjoyed the story line and read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. The ending wasn’t predictable or expected. I really enjoyed it!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret–one worth killing for. But when she finds out one of her clients has been murdered, she quickly realizes that the computer security specialist wasn’t simply suffering from paranoia.

Detective Nate Quinn has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed eighteen people, including his partner, and left him dealing with PTSD. His first case back on the job involves the murder of Stephen Shaw, and his only lead turns out to be an old friend, Grace Callahan–and her life is in grave danger. Someone believes Shaw gave his psychologist information before he died. Information they are willing to kill for.

With her signature pulse-pounding suspense, Lisa Harris takes readers deep into the heart of fear in this race against the clock.

Purchase your copy here:

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Very Veggie 5-Minute Stories by VeggieTales

Posted on September 30, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

This book is a large (8.5×11) hard cover book which includes 9 different VeggieTales stories. It includes lots of great bright pictures on every page! Although the description says this book is geared towards ages 3-6; my 8 year old loved it because he could read thru the stories himself. Younger kids will need these stories read to them.

We love VeggieTales stories and story collection will stay on our bookshelf to read again and again.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the book:
Perfect for an on-the-go storytime or a fast bedtime reading for sleepy kids, Very Veggie 5-Minute Stories brings fans a new collection of nine VeggieTales adventures. As the Veggie cast stumbles and springs through hilarious scenarios, children will learn values such as being patient, being responsible, loving others, and doing their best. Full-color illustrations accompany the stories and will hold the attention of the read-to-me set. Ages 3-6 years. grades k-1.

Purchase your copy here:

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“Christmas with the Cowboy” by Tina Radcliffe review and giveaway

Posted on September 27, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

“Christmas with the Cowboy” by Tina Radcliffe

I absolutely LOVED this book from start to finish. If you’ve read the two other “Big Heart Ranch” books you will recognize alot of the characters; if not, it can be read as a stand alone story.

Christmas time is my favorite holiday and I LOVE the Big Heart Ranch characters so I was thrilled she wrote a book featuring them around the holidays.

I loved the main character Emma and her determination and drive to take care of her family, her late husbands legacy, and the Big Heart ranch kids. The whole concept of the ranch is phenomenal and I loved reading how Emma and Zach worked together to decorate the ranch for Christmas along with their usual chores and day to day life.

I read the book in one night because I didn’t want to put it down. Have I said how much I loved this book??!! It was the perfect Christian holiday story with some romance and lots of fun. Highly recommend this book and the entire series!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

BIG HEART RANCH BOOKS:
Claiming her Cowboy (Dec 2017)
Falling for the Cowgirl (June 2018)
Christmas with the Cowboy (Sep 2018)
Her Last Chance Cowboy (Feb 2019)

christmaswiththecowboy_BlogBanner Welcome to the JustRead Publicity Tour’s BLOG TOUR for Christmas with the Cowboy by Tina Radcliffe.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Christmas with the Cowboy Series: Big Heart Ranch, Book 3 Author: Tina Radcliffe Publisher: Love Inspired Release Date: September 18, 2018 Home for the holidays A second chance at love on Big Heart Ranch Former Navy SEAL Zach Norman has been avoiding his ranching roots—and the woman he couldn’t have. Back to visit his brother’s widow, Emma Maxwell Norman, and her adorable toddler twins, the bah-humbug cowboy is roped into helping prepare the ranch for the holidays. Working side by side, can Emma and Zach overcome their troubled past…and receive the greatest Christmas gift of all—love? LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | Book Depository | BAM! | Book Bub

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tina March 2018 2 Originally from Western, N.Y., Tina Radcliffe left home for a tour of duty with the Army Security Agency (a branch of the NSA) stationed in Augsburg, Germany and ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While living in Tulsa she spent ten years as a Certified Oncology R.N. Her move to Colorado led to a career as a library cataloger. A freelance writer for over twenty years, Tinamanages Seekerville, 13 author blog which is starting its tenth year. Seekerville is a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers award winner. Tina is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist, a 2014 ACFW Mentor of the Year finalist, a 2014 Golden Quill finalist and a 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner. In 2016 Safe in the Fireman’s Arms was a Holt Medallion Merit Award finalist and a Detroit Bookseller’s Best finalist and a NERFA finalist. She has won first place in over twenty RWA chapter affiliated contests in her career. Tina is also a short story writer and has sold over twenty short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. She currently resides in Arizona where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. TO CONNECT WITH TINA: website, facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram, Book Bub Tina also have a great newsletter filled with fun facts and great giveaways for her newsletter subscribers. Sign up for her newsletter HERE.

GIVEAWAY

christmaswiththecowboy_Blog_Give Tina has graciously offered (1) winner an awesome Christmas with the Cowboy prize pack that includes:

An autographed copy of Christmas with the Cowboy
LED Christmas Bulb Necklace
$50 Amazon gift card.

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Complete prize open to US mailing addresses only. For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

TOUR SCHEDULE

(All stops expected to post by 11:00 AM EST)

Launch Page @JustReadTours Launch Page @JustCommonly

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

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“Orange Theory Fitness Roanoke” fitness class recap & review

Posted on September 25, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

I went to my first Orange Theory Fitness class a couple months ago and LOVED it! The first class is always free and includes borrowing their OT beat, although you do have to give them a credit card number to keep on file in case you walk off with their equipment.

The facility in Roanoke is pretty new, very clean and my trainer was VERY kind and helpful. They also have bathrooms and showers to use after class.

Orangetheory Fitness is a one-of-a-kind, group personal training workout broken into intervals of cardiovascular and strength training that produce maximum calorie burn. Backed by science, the heart-rate-monitored, high-intensity interval training is designed to maintain a target zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy. Fitness coaches lead each 60-minute session using a variety of equipment including treadmills, rowing machines, suspension training and free weights, getting heart rates in the target Orange Zone for the desired time to produce the Orange Effect. The result is more energy, visible toning and extra calorie burn after the workout. Orangetheory Fitness has been recognized on Entrepreneur’s 2014 Franchise 500® list of the top franchises in the world.

Since it was my first time, I had to get there about 30 mins early to fill out paperwork, get an OTbeat, and to take a tour of the facility. After I signed in I was assigned a “station” (station number 5) so I knew treadmill #5, rower #5 and strength training station #5 would be assigned specifically to me for the entire workout.

For the first (30) mins I was on the treadmill and for the last (30) mins I alternated between the rower and strength training station.

I’m not a big fan of the treadmill but the first 30 mins went by really fast because we did intervals of walking, jogging, and running based on what zone we needed to be in.

I had never done a rower machine before and it was really fun!

We did exercises like: reverse flys, rows, single arm overhead press with Bosu, single tricep extension with Bosu, crunches, plank jacks… I LOVE the Bosu-I have one at home so I was familiar with how to use it.

They said they use the TRX strap (which I also love!) and other equipment-it’t not the same routine every day or every week.

Although the trainer reviewed the movements with us before each set, the TV screen above me also showed the movements in case I forgot or needed to check my form. Really cool idea!

The workout I did was called a 60 min Endurance day and the workout was divided up in 7 min blocks. The trainer would announce what we were doing during the block and what our target zone should be.

The goal was to earn at least 12 “splat points” before the end of class and I earned 14!

I also burned 530 calories according to their OT beat and 508 according to my FitBit Blaze.

What is Orangetheory?
Orangetheory is a 1 hour, full body workout, focused on training Endurance, Strength and/or Power. We use Heart Rate Based Interval Training, which burns more calories post workout than a traditional exercise. When wearing our Heart Rate monitors, your real time results are displayed on large screens throughout the studio. Intensity is based on your individual Heart Rate zones, making the workout effective for all fitness levels. To top it off, our fitness coaches to lead the workout to prevent you from over or under training.

What equipment do you use at Orangetheory?
Our workout room has a variety of equipment including treadmills (bikes and striders as alternatives), WaterRowers and floor equipment, including dumbbells, benches, TRX suspension trainers, medicine balls, BOSU trainers and Ab Dolly’s.

What is OTbeat?
OTbeat is our exclusive heart rate monitoring technology. Members have the unique experience of seeing real time data during their workout, enabling them to push themselves to new limits. After class, they can then monitor their improvements through emailed results and by using the OTbeat APP.

What do the 5 zones mean, and why is the Orange zone so important?
Orangetheory is 5 Zone heart rate based interval training using specifically designed and timed interval training blocks. During a workout, members focus on Zones 3, 4 and 5. The workouts are designed to produce 12 minutes or more in Zones 4 & 5 combined (to achieve the after burn) during the treadmill training portion of the workout.

What are Splat points?
Splat points indicate minutes spent in the orange and red zones. Aim for at least 12 splat points per class.

What is EPOC?
The physiological theory behind the Orangetheory workout is known as “Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption,” or EPOC. Our 1 hour workout is designed to produce 12 minutes or more of intensities at 84% or higher of maximum heart rate. This program design produces workout “after burn” effect, which is an increased metabolic rate for up to 36 hours after the workout.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS:

**I wasn’t thrilled with having to provide a CC number and fill out paperwork just to take a free class, even though I understand why.

**LOVE the OTbeat and science behind the workout! I am a numbers person and love to see how hard I’m working and what zone and splat points I needed to get. Although I could see the other participants stats on the screen, I was only focused on my stats and what I needed to do. It definitely pushed me to work harder but not too hard.

**I hate having to buy the OTbeat just to take the class. I already have a Polar HRM and a FitBit HRM so I don’t need a 3rd one. 🙁 They did say once you buy it, you could download their app and use it outside the class. I have no idea the life expectancy of their monitors.

**The price is WAY too much for what I can afford for a monthly pass, especially since I know I couldn’t go to a class every week.
Because of my personal work schedule, teaching Walk15 fitness classes, going to my local YMCA with my kids and the studio location; realistically I could go to an OTF class 1-2 times a month. They offered me the 10 class pass option which is $199, plus I would still need to buy the OTbeat monitor which would be $69 for the chest band or $99 for the arm band (which I loved!) That option is on my wish list for the new year.

**I loved the class, the variety and the concept. I felt energized and proud of myself after class. I will definitely be back once I save up my money for a OTbeat and class pass. Crossing my fingers they offer some kind of deal or special towards the end of the year.

Have you ever taken an Orange Theory Fitness class? What did you think?

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“A Christmas by the Sea” by Melody Carlson

Posted on September 20, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

“A Christmas by the Sea” by Melody Carlson

I really liked this charming Christmas story! I loved the main characters Wendy and her son Jackson. I loved how descriptive the author was with describing the Maine seashore and sites of the small town and Wendy’s memories of her grandparents.

The story had a great steady plot that I really enjoyed UNTIL the last chapter of the book. Which is the only reason it gets 4 starts instead of 5 stars. The last chapter was so unrealistic and rushed-it was like the author had to keep the book under a certain number of words so she just quickly wrapped it up to end the story. 🙁 Other than that, I loved it!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
When Wendy Harper inherits her family’s beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in–temporarily, she reminds him–in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist.

Join award-winning author Melody Carlson for a Christmas story that will warm your heart and have you dreaming of your own enchanted seaside holiday.

Purchase your copy here: