EmpowerMoms

I have a couple top and bottom cabinets downstairs in my home gym which are perfect for storage. Every month I make up my goals and calendar to plan out my workout schedule. (I haven’t done my goals yet)

This month I’m combining a couple work out programs – I made up my own race training schedule, doing 3 strength training days a week with Bbeyond Fit Life program, 3 days a week of evening strolling with momsanitysisters , my local No Excuse Mom workouts, and later this month I’m taking a Trx class at the gym twice a week!

I love having lots of variety and a schedule to follow! It keeps me motivated and on track.

To the right of my calendar I have pictures of myself over the years during my fitness journey of doing special races to remind myself how far I’ve come in my journey and all the different things I can do!! ?

I decided to join Momsanity for their FREE #SeptemberStrolling challenge for the entire month of September. Plus, they are giving away prizes at the end of this challenge. You must register to be eligible and the challenge is from August 30 to October 1.

The challenge is to do 3 walks per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) and each walk will be one minute longer than the last. Walk 1 is only 6 minutes, walk 2 is only 7 minutes, etc. By October 1 you’ll enjoy a 20-minute stroll!

I typically do my workouts in the early mornings before work and getting the kids ready for school, so I’ve been doing my strolls in the evenings before or after dinner for my “stress relief” walks. I time them so I know how long I’m walking, but I don’t sprint or worry about my heart rate or count it as aerobic activity.

My recap from week 1:

Tuesday Aug 30 – 6 min stroll
Walking outside with my husband and 6 year old in the neighborhood.

Thursday Sept 1 – 7 min stroll
Walking with my 6 year old before school because I had a fitness class that night.

Saturday Sept 3 – 8 min stroll
Walking alone in my neighborhood before the sun went down.

Do you want to join me for this free strolling event? I have really been enjoying my evening walks and I have found they definitely help me relax before bed!

Facebook Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/252346401830836/

Register for free here:
https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/1767768292.htm

Slave Queen (An Omar Zagouri Thriller #3) by H.B. Moore

“Slave Queen” is book 3 of the Omar Zagouri series. It is a thrilling, historical fiction story mostly set in modern day times with main characters Leyla, Special Agent Omar and his girlfriend Mia. The story also flashes back to time period AD 1520s with Aleksandra and the Sultan in the Kingdom of Poland.

Filled with historical facts and on the edge of your seat adventure, this story is fast paced and well written. I tried to read it all in one night since it was so interesting, but life and work got in the way.

I have really liked all three books in this series. A must read series if you like historical fiction!

There are some swear words through out this book and violence.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the Book
Special Agent Omar Zagouri’s latest case is his most dangerous—and his most personal yet. The discovery of secret sixteenth-century letters unveils a plot between the sultan Suleyman and his chief wife, Roxelane, to change the course of the Ottoman Empire. A descendent of Roxelane, Zagouri learns he has an enemy whose revenge has been centuries in the making.

Targeted by an antiquities collector who’s also descended from a chief rival for the ancient throne, Zagouri soon uncovers a modern-day conspiracy that threatens the lives of his family and the security of a nation.

To expose the plot, Zagouri must team up with Naim, the son of his nemesis, who heads an international black-market operation that may have ties to the killings. From ancient Constantinople to the present-day Middle East, Zagouri is on a collision course with history. Time is running out to solve a royal mystery and stop a ruthless killer—one who has Zagouri’s name on his hit list.

Slave Queen BOOK 3

Finding Sheba BOOK 1

Lost King BOOK 2

About the Author
H.B. Moore is the award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen historical novels set in ancient Arabia and Mesoamerica. She attended the Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican International School in Jerusalem and received her bachelor of science degree from Brigham Young University. She writes historical novels and thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore. She also writes inspirational nonfiction, women’s fiction, and romance, including Heart of the Ocean, A Timeless Romance Anthology series, and Love Is Come, under Heather B. Moore. Her kids just call her Mom. Join her newsletter list for updates at www.hbmoore.com/contact.

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Starving Hearts (Triangular Trade Trilogy, #1) by Janine Mendenhall

“Starving Hearts” is book 1 of the Triangular Trade Trilogy.

The word “Triangular Trade” is used to refer to the trade in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that involved shipping goods from Britain to West Africa to be exchanged for slaves, these slaves being shipped to the West Indies and exchanged for sugar, rum, and other commodities, which were in turn shipped back to Britain.

This story is set in England during the late 1790s. This historical fiction offers some suspense, drama, romance and lots of history. It has good reviews online, but unfortunatly it wasn’t for me. I didn’t finish the story because the characters and story line just didn’t keep my interest. It was also annoying that each chapter only had 2 or 3 pages which means this story has 67 chapters but has 290 pages-typical length for a novel.

I did like how the author shared alot about faith and hope through out this story. She also mentions in the back part of her book, that she hoped her story would help those struggling with their faith and recognize that we can not get through this life alone.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book:
Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage.

She yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God’s existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Mr. Peter Adsley is joining the clergy, and he desires a godly wife by his side. After a failed attempt to obtain one, he engages in a clandestine meeting with the bewitching young woman who keeps crossing his path. But she is so unsettling.

Destined for disappointments, Peter and Annette both endure disgraceful situations. Will Peter’s faith sustain him through overwhelming setbacks? Can Annette overcome her doubts? Or will their starving hearts yield to the machinations of a mad man?

Purchase a copy:

About the author:
Janine Mendenhall teaches teens English, of all things! Sometimes she sleeps, but most nights she reads, writes, or watches movies like Pride and Prejudice and claims she’s researching her next book. Splickety Love and Splickety Prime have published her flash fiction. She and her husband, Tom, live in North Carolina where they and their two golden retrievers help gratify the needs of their five children and two cats.

Will Annette’s search for love and acceptance replace the loss and hurt in her heart? Find out in Janine Mendenhall’s book one, Starving Hearts, of the Triangular Trade Trilogy. Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage. But she yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God’s existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Join in the search for love and acceptance with Janine and Starving Hearts by entering to win the Delightful Heart Gift Pack Giveaway.

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Starving Hearts
• A bottle of essential oils
• An essential oils diffuser necklace
• A chiffon scarf
• A shoulder handbag
• A copy of Jane Austen’s World

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on September 12. The winner will be announced September 13 on Janine’s blog.

“Undercover Target” by Frank Holdaway

This new release is a fast paced, thrilling, on the edge of your seat story! There was suspense and drama in every chapter with lots of twists. I couldn’t put the book down until I read the entire thing!

The book had a steady, fast paced plot and all the characters were well written and most of them were likable. There were times I gasped and other times I laughed because some of the characters had spunk and determination.

I wouldn’t recommend this book to young adults due to the violence, but it is “clean” story line with some mentions of God and faith through out.

I highly recommend this dramatic, suspenseful “Undercover Target” book but beware-once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Covenant Communications in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book:
When Matt Knight left his career as a spy to marry the woman of his dreams, he thought he was in for a life of domestic bliss. But after adopting a baby girl and her teenage brother from China, he finds that being a father comes with its own set of challenges— problems for which his work as an antiterrorism agent did nothing to prepare him. Or so he thought. When a Scout campout with his teenage son takes a terrifying turn, Matt realizes his past and present have just collided, with devastating consequences.
Deep in the rugged mountains of Utah, a band of mercenaries lies in wait. The target: Matt Knight. Their orders come from a dangerous enemy from the former agent’s past, one who is bent on destroying everything Matt holds dear. While struggling to protect his son and the other Scouts, Matt is horrified to learn the full extent of the plan: his wife and baby have been taken too. Now the agent-turned-family-man must draw on his years of combat training in an explosive battle to save those he loves— or die trying.

You can purchase a copy of the book here:

Biography
Frank Holdaway lives, works, writes, and hikes in the foothills of the Wasatch mountains. He is blessed with a beautiful wife, two wonderful children, and a slightly warped sense of humor. He enjoys reading, eating tacos, and, most of all, watching characters come to life.

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