EmpowerMoms

“Real-Life Romance” by Rhonda Stoppe Party and Prize Pack Giveaway

Posted on February 14, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

Real-Life Romance: Inspiring Stories to Help You Believe in True Love by Rhonda Stoppe

The author begins with an introduction and explains that each chapter is a different love story and that as readers we will “discover how God’s plan is for couples to love each other so deeply with His love that their marriage becomes a light He can use to draw others to Him.”

There are 26 different chapters of love stories included in this book along with pictures and additional resources on the author’s website “No Regrets Woman” which I found really interesting and fun!

Author Rhonda Stoppe begins chapter 1 with her personal love story with her husband Steve. Readers will be encouraged with the variety of christian love stories in this book. They are real, raw, and heart warming. They are the real deal-not fake fairy tale romances. They will make you cry and give you hope.

I like that there are “ponder this” and “ask yourself” sections at the end of every chapter.

This collection of love stories was put together nicely and I really enjoyed reading this book. It gave me hope in my own marriage to continue to seek God’s love in my own life and to be more patient and kind.

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

About the book:
Do You Believe in True Love?

In a world of broken relationships and hurting people, it can seem like all we ever see is heartache—that marriages are doomed from the start and romance isn’t worth the risk.

But heart-fluttering, long-lasting love is all around us…we just have to look for it!

This collection of beautiful, real-life accounts will bring laughter and tears as you enjoy each story of ordinary people who found extraordinary love. Page after page, you will find inspiration to

rekindle the romance in your love story

trust in God’s providence and timing

faithfully hope for your own happily-ever-after

celebrate true romance

believe in life-long love

Don’t let the world define romance for you! See how God is at work in the hearts of His people—knitting together hearts in a love that forever endures.

Purchase your copy here:

About the Author
Rhonda Stoppe is the No Regrets Woman. With more than 20 years of experience as a pastor’s wife, mom, mentor, author, and speaker, Rhonda uses humor and honest communication to help women build No Regrets Lives. She and her husband live their real-life romance in northern California, and have four grown children and eight grandchildren.
NoRegretsWoman.com

Whether you’re single and looking for a reason to believe in love or a parent watching your own child fall in love, Real-Life Romance by Rhonda Stoppe will inspire you to believe in life-long love. This collection of beautiful, real-life accounts will bring laughter and tears as you enjoy each story of ordinary people who found extraordinary love. Don’t let the world define romance for you! See how God is at work in the hearts of His people-knitting together hearts in a love that forever endures.

Join Rhonda and other real-life romancers on March 6 for a Facebook Live party, plus enter to win the Make Your Own Real-Life Romance prize pack!

One grand prize winner will receive:

One copy of Real-Life Romance
A $50 restaurant gift card
A $25 movie gift card

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 6. The winner will be announced at Rhonda’s Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Rhonda and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

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#IloveKickboxing Roanoke VA new kickboxing class review

Posted on February 13, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

I started seeing Facebook sponsored ads for a new “I love kickboxing” studio coming to my area. I signed up in November and got a great deal-3 classes plus gloves for $9.99! I talked to the Franchise manager (owner?) Seth who explained construction was underway but they didn’t expect to open until the beginning of January and he would be in tough with me to schedule my classes. So far, so good!

I then messaged Seth on Facebook the first part of January to schedule my first visit for myself, my son, and my friend Sarah for us to go in on Feb 5th. My friend Sarah even called the studio later that same day to confirm they had her info and they told her all three of us were on the schedule.

Fast forward to February 5th…. My son and I got to the studio by 4:45 and said we were there for 5pm class and they didnt have us on the schedule. The woman at the desk asked who I spoke with and I told them Seth and they acted like they didn’t know who that was. I told them “Seth the owner”??? Then Becky at the front desk said she was the new manager and Seth hadn’t worked there for “several weeks”. (okay very weird!) I told her I made my appointment with him almost a month ago. She then explained that typically new people have to get there 30 mins early but she would help us and fit us in. She also said she didn’t have time to check phone messages often and that some appointments and people’s info were on a spreadsheet and some were in the computer.

My son and I filled out a page of paperwork, she gave us our boxing gloves (pink or black) and then she showed us the locker rooms. They provide unlocked lockers to put your clothes and shoes in – only socks or bare feet are aloud on the studio floor.

Our workout begin promptly at 5pm and started off with 10 min HIIT warmup with jogging, high knees, lunges, jump lunges, squats, jump squats, planks, pushups, burpees. (WOW-I was like this is the warm up??!! I’m going to die!) Then we did some stretching which was great. Then the rest of the class was bag work and partner work.

The guy instructor would demonstrate the combo (jab, cross. or jab, cross, hook) and then we would do that one combo move until the bell rang-it was probably around 5 mins..?? We did that for a while… I had no concept of time really because my Fit Bit Watch was under my boxing gloves.

The partner work was my least favorite. I do not like putting my gloves in front of my face for someone (my son) to practice his jab, cross, and then side hooks. I didn’t like the impact on my hands and I didn’t like anyone punching towards my face.

The music was very loud, upbeat, but I couldn’t understand most of the words or recognized the songs. There were 2 instructors walking around helping people with their form and instructions. It was easy to follow him and hear him because I made sure I was in the middle of the room where he was so I wasn’t confused.

IN MY OPINION, I would not recommend this class to beginners or for anyone who doesn’t know the basic boxing movements like uppercut, jab, cross, punch, round house kick, etc. They don’t review those movements with you (They didn’t for my son and I and they knew we were new). They show you what to do but they expect you to have the basic knowledge I guess.

IN MY OPINION they are severally lacking in good customer service with their scheduling-they don’t check messages often and they can’t answer the phones when class is going on because its the front lobby area-making it very difficult for new people to schedule their classes. When you become a paying member you can apparently just show up. But to use your web special, you have to call ahead each time before coming.

After class they reviewed the memberships: It was at least a $100 sign up fee, and $125-165 per month depending on if you’re “founding member” and if you select 7 or 12 month membership. Apparently there isn’t a drop in rate because they didn’t offer that to me when I asked.

I was really excited to try this class and some parts were fun but my left shoulder started hurting halfway thru class. I continued to push through to the end of class which left me very sore for several days even though I feel I’m in good shape.

Unfortunately, I don’t plan on going back for my last 2 classes. The class was too high impact for me-it left me drained and tired instead of feeling uplifted and happy. The scheduling and disorganization is a nightmare. It concerns me that the franchise manager has already left and changed hands in the first month of opening. and the monthly cost of classes are way too high in my opinion for what little scheduling times/days they currently offer. (I pay $80 for a monthly family gym membership which includes all classes, childcare, etc and can go anytime I want for the most part 7 days a week)

Again, these are my personal opinions and experiences. Apparently these studios are franchises so I’m sure they are all different. I paid for my sons and my classes.

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“The View from Rainshadow Bay” (A Lavender Tides Novel) by Colleen Coble

Posted on February 12, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

“The View from Rainshadow Bay” (A Lavender Tides Novel) by Colleen Coble

The View from Rainshadow Bay is Book 1 in the Lavender Tides Series. I have read many books by this author and I absolutly love her clean, christian, suspense novels.

This story didn’t disappoint! Good steady pace with several twist and turns. Several times throughout the book there were flashbacks of previous events which helped readers understand current events like Shauna’s husband death and Shauna’s mothers death.

I really liked the main characters Shauna, her son, and Zach. I hope their relationship will continue in book 2. Lots of family dynamics and secrets left unsolved totally left me wanting more and hoping book 2 will answer some of my questions.

I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend this thrilling, suspenseful novel! Lots of mystery and clean romance.

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

About the Book
After her husband, Jack, dies in a climbing incident, Shauna has only her five-year-old son and her helicopter charter business to live for. Every day is a struggle to make ends meet and she lives in constant fear of losing even more than she already has.

When her business partner is murdered, his final words convince Shauna that she’s in danger too. But where can she turn? Zach Bannister was her husband’s best friend and is the person she blames for his death. She’s barely spoken to him since. But right now he seems her only hope for protecting her son.

Zach is only too happy to assuage his guilt over Jack’s death by helping Shauna any way he can. But there are secrets involved dating back to Shauna’s childhood that more than one person would prefer to stay hidden.

In The View from Rainshadow Bay, suspense, danger, and a longing to love again ignite amid the gorgeous lavender fields of Washington State.

Purchase your copy here:

About the author:
USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble has written numerous romantic suspense novels including The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, and Beneath Copper Falls. Visit her website at ColleenCoble.com, Twitter: @colleencoble, Facebook: colleencoblebooks.

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Holding the Fort (The Fort Reno Series) by Regina Jennings

Posted on February 5, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

Holding the Fort (The Fort Reno Series) by Regina Jennings

Louisa travels to Indian Territory to find her brother after being replaced by a younger dance hall singer. She arrives only to be mistaken as the teacher and governess for Major Daniel Adams daughters. His 2 daughters have been without a mother for some time so Major Daniel got a governess in hopes his girls can be properly trained in the way of education and manners before their grandmother whisks them off to the city.

Lousia finds out her brother Bradley is in the same location (Fort Reno) but doesn’t want others to know why she’s there and that they are related since he supposedly almost killed someone. If someone finds out Louisa isn’t a teacher and is really a dance hall singer, her hopes of a new life and possibly love, will disappear.

This book was fun to read and true to the time period of the late 1880s. This author has written several great books and this one doesn’t disappoint!

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

About the book:
Louisa Bell never wanted to be a dance-hall singer, but dire circumstances force her hand. With a little help from her brother in the cavalry, she’s able to make ends meet, but lately he’s run afoul of his commanding officer, so she undertakes a visit to straighten him out.

Major Daniel Adams has his hands full at Fort Reno. He can barely control his rowdy troops, much less his two adolescent daughters. If Daniel doesn’t find someone respectable to guide his children, his mother-in-law insists she’ll take them.

When Louisa arrives with some reading materials, she’s mistaken for the governess who never appeared. Major Adams is skeptical. She bears little resemblance to his idea of a governess–they’re not supposed to be so blamed pretty–but he’s left without recourse. His mother-in-law must be satisfied, which leaves him turning a blind eye to his unconventional governess’s methods. Louisa’s never faced so important a performance. Can she keep her act together long enough?

Purchase your copy here:

About the Author
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of numerous novels, including For the Record, A Most Inconvenient Marriage, Sixty Acres and a Bride, and Caught in the Middle, and contributed a novella to A Match Made in Texas. She has won a National Readers’ Choice Award and been a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.

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Picturing Heaven: 40 Hope-Filled Devotions with Coloring Pages

Posted on February 4, 2018 by EmpowerMoms

This 10×10 softcover coloring devotion book is very nicely written with lots of beautiful scriptures and details to color. This book includes 40 coloring pages with the theme of “Heaven”. The author begins the book by sharing why he decided to design this book with the theme of “Heaven” and the concept of God returning to earth and making it our “heaven on earth”.

Very nice book-would make a great gift!

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

About the Book
Imagine Heaven the way the Bible describes it―a place of exquisite beauty brimming with marvelous detail and intricate patterns; a special dwelling place free of corruption and sin; and a place of both rest and enjoyable, meaningful work.

Let the power and majesty of Heaven fill your heart with joy as you color these 40 designs carefully interpreted from the pages of Scripture. Savor a respite from daily life as you read and meditate on devotions from best–selling author Randy Alcorn, a leading authority on Heaven. Picturing Heaven will offer you comfort and relaxation, while filling your heart with restful assurance that God prepares a special place for those who love Him.

Purchase your book here: