KEEPERS OF THE COVENANT Book review, Kindle Giveaway and Live Author Chat with Lynn Austin!

“Keepers of the Covenant” is book 2 of The Restoration Chronicles by Lynn Austin. I have not read book 1 but after reading this novel, I will definitely be reading it. 

This novel follows several people but they are all intertwined together so it’s not confusing. I love that its based from the teachings and stories from the Old Testament. I love biblical novels and all the history I relearn from reading books like this.

This book was very well written and had a great story line that kept my interest the entire time. This is not a read in one night kind of book-its almost 475 pages long-but I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to others.  

About the book: 

The Old Testament Comes to Thrilling Life in the Latest from Lynn Austin
In one life-changing moment, the lives of the Jewish exiles in Babylon are thrown into confusion and despair when a decree arrives from the king’s palace in Susa. It calls for the annihilation of every Jewish man, woman, and child throughout the empire on the thirteenth day of Adar, in less than one year. Ezra, a quiet Jewish scholar and teacher, is suddenly called upon to lead the community as they seek God for a reason for this catastrophe. When a second decree arrives, authorizing them to fight back, Ezra is thrust into the role of military leader as they defend themselves against their enemies.
When the battles come to an end, Ezra’s brother Jude is dead and Ezra is required by the Law he so diligently studies to marry Jude’s widow, Devorah, and provide an heir. Fatherhood changes Ezra, and he asks God to make a way for him and the other exiles to leave Babylon for good and return to Jerusalem. His prayers are answered and the exiles move to Judea to revitalize worship at the temple—but the fight to keep God’s Law is never easy. As more and more of his community are tempted, a new battle emerges . . . this one for the survival of God’s covenant and the souls of His chosen faithful.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/C7ss8

About the Author: 

Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago.

Find Lynn online: website, Facebook



Lynn Austin is back with the next book in The Restoration Chronicles series, Keepers of the Covenant. Austin weaves together the struggles and stories of both Jews and Gentiles, creating a tapestry of faith and doubt, love and loss. Here, the Old Testament comes to life, demonstrating the everlasting hope displayed in God’s unwavering love for His people.

Lynn is celebrating with a Kindle HDX giveaway and a live author chat webcast on October 21st.

keepers-400-click

One winner will receive:

  • A Kindle HDX
  • Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 21st. Winner will be announced at the Keepers of the Covenant LIVE webcast event on October 21st. Connect with Lynn for a fascinating evening centered around God’s unwavering love for His people. She’ll be hosting a Biblical fiction book club discussion, giving away prizes, answering your questions, offering an exclusive peek at the next book in The Restoration Chronicles, and much more!


So grab your copy of Keepers of the Covenant and join Lynn and friends on the evening of October 21st for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

keepers-enterbanner

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 21st!

I’m a blog book reviewer for LitFuse Publicity so I was given this book complimentary in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on KEEPERS OF THE COVENANT Book review, Kindle Giveaway and Live Author Chat with Lynn Austin!

Jillian Michaels NEW Beginner Shred Review

I’ve been working out to the newest Jillian Michael’s exercise dvd this month…and I LOVE it!
It’s called “Beginner Shred” and has (3) 20 minute workouts. 

Menu options

Select what workout you want to do

LEVEL 1
24 mins including warm up and cool down.
3 circuits on both sides. only 1 brief cardio exercise. hand weights used. 

LEVEL 2
25 mins including warm up and cool down.
3 circuits on both sides. hand weights used. 

LEVEL 3
23 mins including warm up and cool down.
3 circuits on both sides. cardio exercises thru out. hand weights used. 

MY THOUGHTS:
I have only done two other Jillian Michael’s dvds, but I really like her style and motivating personality. I pre-ordered this dvd not knowing if it would be too easy for me.

I like and use this dvd for my easier days or when I’m not feeling 100% but still want to do a workout. Level 3 is challenging and makes me sweat since it has more cardio and is more on my intermediate fitness level.

Jillian is alot calmer and more family friendly in this workout-no swear words, which I like because now my pre teen can workout to this dvd with me.

This is truly a “beginner” workout and Jillian does a great job being very clear with each exercise and shows modifications for everything. She also shows you what not to do in some exercises which is very helpful. You can make the workout easier by using light hand weights or go heavier. I personally use 5 and 8 lbs.

I LOVE this dvd workout and highly recommend it.

**If you’re looking for a tough workout and want Jillian to yell at you-this is NOT the workout for you!**

If you’re interested in buying this dvd, you can use my amazon affiliate link below: 

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Jillian Michaels NEW Beginner Shred Review

N.O.-XPLODE pre training igniter (pre workout energy powder) #NOXPLODE

I received this complimentary for blog and social media review thru FitFluential.

I have been using a different brand for my morning pre-training energy powder so I was curious how this brand and product would compare.

The taste was good. It mixed well-I made sure to follow the directions to not shake it. Gave me the energy I needed and I did not feel jittery or weird during/after taking it. My only complaint is that this product has red dye in it and my other workout powder does not. 🙁 For that reason alone, I will probably not buy this product. If the dyes doesn’t bother you, I would recommend this product for your pre-training needs!

You can read on below all about this product:

Pre-Workout/Energy

N.O.-XPLODE®

PRE-TRAINING IGNITER

  • Explosive Energy*
  • Enhanced Endurance*
  • Maximum Performance*
  • Focus, Muscular Strength, and Power*

The Original Pre-Workout Igniter. Re-engineered.

In 2004 BSN® changed the landscape of sports nutrition forever when we introduced the first complete pre-workout supplement, N.O.-XPLODE®.  BSN® pros have been hard at work over the past year to deliver the next evolution of pre-workout supplements.

We talked to supplement users, heard the feedback, and crafted a formula designed to help deliver explosive energy, enhanced endurance and maximum performance through our new Master Performance Blend.  In fact, over 75% of consumers who sampled the formula during the development process told us the product delivered the right level of energy, endurance and muscle pumps.1  We also took our work one step further and enhanced the taste, ensuring the new N.O.-XPLODE® delivers on the BSN® promise of great taste and superior mixability.

Featuring a more concentrated formula (over 17% reduction in serving size2) and advanced ingredient technology, N.O.-XPLODE® has been re-engineered to help push you and your workout past previous limits.

Push yourself and your workout as far as you can.

Then, push further.

The New N.O.-XPLODE® from BSN®.


How Will N.O.-XPLODE® enhance my workout?


To achieve the most effective training session, both mental and physical energy are a must. Focus is then needed to harness this energy and drive a strong mind-muscle connection. This mind-muscle connection will help you achieve a greater workout intensity* and help push your body past previous limits. At BSN®, we know that a pre-workout supplement should support all of these benefits. We designed N.O.-XPLODE®, our complete pre-workout igniter, to help deliver increased energy and endurance, support mental focus and muscular strength*, and provide second-to-none intensity to help athletes of all levels maximize workout performance.

Advanced Ingredient Technology
BSN® Pros have crafted the ingredients of N.O.-XPLODE® to work together and enhance overall workout performance.* The innovative ingredient technology of N.O.-XPLODE® features:

Explosive Energy
To maximize every moment of your workout and achieve your best results, you need energy. Equally as important is to channel that energy, ensuring a mind-muscle connection.
Our Thermic Energy™ blend helps deliver explosive energy, enhancing your workout intensity from start to finish.

Enhanced Endurance
Your body responds to the amount of work you do over a period of time. Whether you’re in the gym or on the field, our Endura Shot™ blend, featuring a concentrated beta-alanine blend, helps enhance your workout capacity, giving you the opportunity to exercise longer.

Maximum Performance
Muscular strength, power and endurance are supported by creatine in the body.
The innovative ingredient technology of our Myogenic Matrix™, featuring an advanced creatine blend, helps every athlete reach their goal of maximizing performance.  

Our Best Tasting N.O.-XPLODE® Ever
BSN® pros understand how to make a product that is both effective AND tastes great.  We have applied this knowledge to the new N.O.-XPLODE®, creating 5 amazing flavors:  Fruit Punch, Blue Raz, Watermelon, Grape, and Green Apple.



Quality & Safety

Quality and safety is the cornerstone on which all BSN® products are formulated and manufactured.  Our stringent ingredient and manufacturing requirements are best in class.  From the raw materials we select, to our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, this unrelenting commitment to superior quality ensures the safety and potency of every product we produce.

Recommended Use

WARNING: CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE USING THIS PRODUCT IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY MEDICATION OR ARE UNDER A PHYSICIAN’S CARE FOR A MEDICAL CONDITION. NOT FOR USE BY THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, WOMEN THAT ARE PREGNANT, TRYING TO GET PREGNANT, OR NURSING, OR THOSE THAT ARE SENSITIVE TO BETA-ALANINE, CAFFEINE OR NIACIN. DO NOT CONSUME CAFFEINE FROM OTHER SOURCES WHILE TAKING THIS PRODUCT AS TOO MUCH CAFFEINE MAY CAUSE NERVOUSNESS, IRRITABILITY, SLEEPLESSNESS, AND OCCASIONALLY RAPID HEARTBEAT. BETA-ALANINE AND NIACIN MAY CAUSE A HARMLESS, TEMPORARY TINGLING OR FLUSHING SENSATION.

Do not combine with alcohol. Consume as part of a healthy diet and exercise program, and drink at least 100 oz of water per day. Exercise may increase your need for additional fluid intake. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.

DIRECTIONS: 

Mix 1 scoop with 4-6 oz of cold water and consume 20-30 minutes before training. Do not take more than 2 scoops at a time or in 1 day.

Approximately 200mg of caffeine per serving. WHILE MIXING N.O.-XPLODE®, DO NOT SHAKE. STIR POWDER WITH UTENSIL.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on N.O.-XPLODE pre training igniter (pre workout energy powder) #NOXPLODE

Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason

Nowhere to Turn (Hidden Identity, #2)Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was Fantastic!! The story line was intriguing and fast paced with lots of drama and some romance. It kept me guessing as to who was the “bad guy” and what was going to happen next. The story line wasn’t predictable at all! I really enjoyed this clean, christian mystery book and I would highly recommend it!
I received this ebook complimentary for blog and social media review from netgalley.com All opinion are my own.

View all my reviews

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
The day Danielle Harding takes her 11-year-old son, Simon, and flees from her abusive husband, is the same day Kurt Harding dies. A relieved Dani believes she and her son are finally safe–but in reality, the danger has just begun. When Kurt was alive, he took something important to a mysterious person. That person wants the item back and believes Dani now has it. As she and her son run for their lives, they have nowhere to turn, until she hires Adam Buchanan of Operation Refuge and goes into hiding. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to hide for long . . .

From the first breathless scene, this tension-laced story will hold readers in its iron grip. Bestselling author Lynette Eason propels readers along at a breakneck pace in a race to discover the truth and a better future.

You buy this book thru my amazon affiliate link here:

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason

Week 2 of #30daywalkoff blog challenge and #livingandactive Recap with pictures

Just ended week 2 of my October fitness challenges.

First, I’m following my 30 day Leslie Sansone Walking challenge (found here: http://66.147.244.197/~empowfu5/2014/10/30daywalkoff-free-october-walking-challenge.html )

and the Peak313 5-week exercise/spiritual challenge (found here: http://peak313.com/featured/3rd-annual-living-and-active-week-1-tied-together/ )

10/5 – 10/11 workouts for the week:

Sunday
(35) mins Leslie Sansone

Monday
(30) mins/2 miles Leslie Sansone, (25) Jillian Michaels beginner shred level 1
Tuesday
REST DAY
Wednesday
(50) mins/3 miles Leslie Sansone with stretching
Thursday 
(30) mins walking and playing outside with the kids
Friday
(41) mins/3 miles Leslie Sansone, (25) mins Jillian Michaels beginner shred level 1
Saturday
(32) mins/2 miles Leslie Sansone

Overall I’m really pleased with how my week went.

I logged 100% of my food, including during the weekend and stayed under 1400 calories. I’ve been eating 1600-1700 and not losing any weight so I decided to back my calorie count down and eat more protein/veggies/fruits/fats to see how I do with my weight loss.

I FINALLY got my FitBit walking tracker to work (after 3 months no thanks to the crappy customer service) so I can keep better track of my daily step count.

I got new indoor walking shoes and new indoor cross trainer shoes-both by Asics. WHOOHOO!!

How did you week go?

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment