EmpowerMoms

PLANKSGIVING 30 days of Planks & Thanks November 2022 fitness challenge #PlanksgivingwithCoachRachel

Posted on October 29, 2022 by EmpowerMoms

First, you will need your calendar for your daily plank time, so click on this link below to get your printable PDF calendar:

Planksgiving Challenge

*We are starting off with 20 seconds but if that is too much too fast, than make this challenge work for you! You can change the daily plank times to whatever you want. Our goal is to be consistent so we can increase our core strength and increase our plank time slowly.

Here are some different plank options you can do:

Forearm plank using a chair

High plank using a chair

High plank on knees (toes up or toes pointed down)

High plank on toes

Forearm plank on toes

Plank on unstable surface like a Bosu Ball or TerraCore

EDITED TO ADD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

I would rather you stay consistent and have proper form, than to increase your time to match the calendar and get tired/have poor form. Meaning, if you can only have good form and proper alignment for the first 30 or 40 seconds, than STOP THERE! Just hold your plank, do different forms of planks, for that same time for the rest of the month.

You can also do different forms of planks other than what I have shown you above. You can also switch up your planks in the same day. Meaning, I can alternate between a high lo plank within my ____ seconds for that day.

While we plank, lets give THANKS!

You can say a prayer, list things you are grateful for, read a devotional while you plank…

Want to win?

I would love for you to check in with daily on my IG page! I will be posting reminders along with my daily planking videos and pictures. **I will be picking one winner at the end of the month to email a $10 AMAZON giftcard who participates the most by using the hashtag #PlanksgivingwithCoachRachel

Follow me on IG here:

https://www.instagram.com/empowermoms/

Let me know if you have any questions! I can’t wait to see you on IG planking and thanking this month! 🙂

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“Defending Honor” (Elite Guardians Collection) by Lynette Eason & Kelly Underwood REVIEW

Posted on October 28, 2022 by EmpowerMoms

Laila, one of the Elite Guardians, is hired as Preston’s bodyguard and pretend wife. This obviously causes some adjustments, laughs and intense moments as they try to figure out who is targeting them and the people around him.

This story has lots of suspense, twists and turns with some sweet, clean romance. I felt like I was playing a “clue” who dunnit game-trying to figure out who killed who, where, and why. So many people had motive and distain for Preston’s rich family. It made me sad how money and fame had completely destroyed their family and it made me appreciate how hard it was and why Preston made the choice to remove himself from the media and his family for years to become a better man and Christian.

I liked that the other Elite Guardians like Olivia, Katie, Christina, Lizzie and Juliette were a big part throughout the book. I absolutely loved reading this book and have enjoyed reading this entire series! This book is definitely one 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:
She’ll have to pretend to be his wife to save his life…but what will it cost her heart?

Laila Rabbinowitz is all business. Tough and stoic, she was the perfect Mossad agent…until a terrible betrayal led to her worst nightmare. Being a bodyguard with the Elite Guardians allows her to keep her heart safe—she’ll never let anyone close enough to betray her again. And she’s certainly not going to trust anyone who doesn’t earn it.

Billionaire and former playboy Preston Whittaker walked away from his famous family after a terrible event, but then his father and brother are killed in a suspicious boating accident. Since he’s next in line to helm the family business, now someone wants him dead.

Preston needs someone by his side 24/7, and the only solution is a fake marriage. In order to keep him safe, Laila will have to convince everyone that she and Preston are in love. She’s used to putting her life on the line for a client. But what will this case cost her heart?

Book three of the riveting, high-octane world of the Elite Guardians reboot!

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off

“The Christmas Switch” by Zoey Marie Jackson GIVEAWAY

Posted on October 25, 2022 by EmpowerMoms

The Christmas Switch JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Christmas Switch by Zoey Marie Jackson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Christmas Switch

Author: Zoey Marie Jackson

Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired

Release Date: October 25, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance

Keeping this secret gets complicated

with the family she wished for right next door.

Swapping places with her identical twin over the holidays sounds easy enough to Chanel Houston. But playing the role is trickier than expected when it comes to maintaining frosty relations with her sister’s neighbor and nemesis—especially since he has an adorable little girl and a rowdy puppy. Ryder Frost’s supposed to be grumpy and rude…so why does Chanel find the single dad so irresistible?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zoey Marie Jackson

Zoey Marie Jackson loves writing sweet romances. She is almost never without a book and reads across genres. Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, she has earned degrees from New York University, SUNY at Stony Brook, Teachers College Columbia University and Argosy University and has been an educator for over 20 years. Zoey loves interacting with her readers.

Connect with Zoey by visiting zoeymariejackson.comto follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 25, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 1, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Posted in Book Reviews | 9 Comments

“Explosive Christmas Showdown” by Darlene L. Turner REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

Posted on October 24, 2022 by EmpowerMoms

Explosive Christmas Showdown JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Explosive Christmas Showdown by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Explosive Christmas Showdown

Series: Crisis Rescue Team #2

Author: Darlene L. Turner

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense

Release Date: October 25, 2022

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

A bomber brings terror to Christmas

as the presents go tick…tick…boom.

With criminal investigative analyst Olive Wells at the center of a bomber’s dangerous game, she’ll do anything to catch the culprit—even work with her ex-fiancé and his K-9 detector dog. But with the Christmas rampage drawing ever closer, Zac Turner’s convinced the attacks are personal. Can they piece together their ties to the bomber…before another gift explodes?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

MY REVIEW

The Jingle Bell Bomber is determined to take some people out with a bang this Christmas season. This story had lots of drama woven throughout this clean, suspense with many twists and turns.

Olive and her ex Zac, along with his K9 partner are caught up in the bombers game of cat and mouse but constantly end up one step behind him unable to save the next victim.

I enjoyed getting to know Olive and Zac on a personal and work level. We find out little bits and pieces of their past relationship and why it ended abruptly. I always love the K9 working dog element and how helpful and dedicated they are to their jobs and handlers. It was also intriguing to get into the mind of the serial killer and why he picked his targets- without it being dark and graphic.

I really enjoyed this story!

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darlene L. Turner

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.

Connect with Darlene by visiting darlenelturner.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(3) winners will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 24, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 31, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Posted in Book Reviews | 8 Comments

“Abduction Cold Case” by Connie Queen

Posted on October 23, 2022 by EmpowerMoms

I have read other books by this author and have always enjoyed her clean suspense stories! I like that there’s nothing graphic in this child abduction story along with good, steady suspense that kept me riveted from beginning to end!

Texas Ranger Silas Boone and his working dog comes to psychologist Kennedy’s rescue when she is attacked after investigating a twenty-six-year-old kidnapping child case. He continues to protect her throughout the story as she’s trying to figure out why someone would be trying to harm her. Kennedy is at a loss as to whether her attacks are related to a current adoption case or completely unrelated.

This story had great characters, interesting story line with some definite twists I didn’t see coming. I was bummed that I felt like the book ended too fast and wished there was more time for Silas and Kennedy to develop a relationship.

I still Highly recommend this quick, easy to read, suspenseful read!

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:
An unsolved case. A family secret.

Getting to the truth could be deadly…

Finding a mysterious file on her desk sends psychologist Kennedy Wells chasing down clues to solve a twenty-six-year-old kidnapping—and straight into a violent assault. When Texas Ranger Silas Boone comes to Kennedy’s rescue, he can’t help but wonder at her resemblance to the long-missing girl. With someone willing to kill to end the investigation, can they uncover the truth…and live to see Christmas?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

About the Author
Connie Queen spent her life in Texas where she met and married her high-school sweetheart. Together they’ve raised eight children and are enjoying their grandchildren. As a child, Connie remembers her mom and sisters reading, but she preferred to be outside. It wasn’t until later, she found the joy of being whisked away into another world. Today she resides in Texas with her husband, and Nash, her Great Dane, where she’s working on her next suspense.