“Abducted in the Woods” by Kerry Johnson

I really enjoyed this fast paced, exciting, Love Inspired Suspense story set in the Allegheny National Forest.

Sarah, an Olympic swimmer, never expected to see her husband murdered in front of her, her son Liam abducted, and then running for her life.

Sarah ends up getting help from her brother-in-law Tucker along with his working canine Onyx to figure out what her late husband was hiding, who killed him, and why they want her son.

This story had great characters, storyline and setting that I found thrilling from beginning to end. I love the working canine stories-one of my favorites!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Pursued by criminals— with a child’s life on the line.

Just when Sarah Brindley believes she and her son, Liam, are safe from the men who murdered her husband, they are attacked—and Liam is taken. Her only hope is to team up with her brother-in-law, forest ranger Tucker Brindley, to uncover who is targeting her family. When they discover her late husband’s ties to an underground medical black-market ring, it’s clear the trail of danger runs deeper than they realized. With assaults on them ramping up, they must race against the clock to recover young Liam…before they become the next victims.

 

PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE: 

https://amzn.to/4p1qfoZ

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2025 Health & Fitness update

I’ve been contemplating for months how to share my current health/fitness journey.

I noticed the biggest changes in my health in 2023 when I was almost 41 – started gaining weight rapidly which resulted in an ankle injury, brain fog, , tired, more anxiety…  honestly it’s been downhill since then.

This year, 2025, I have felt burnt out from my Fitness so I stopped posting regular pictures and updates on social media.  I’ve been doing a deep dive into my health with specialists and doctors trying to figure out my 45 pound weight gain in the last 5 years. More about that in a minute…

Back when I started my health/fitness journey and blogging back in 2011; I started at 250 pounds after the birth of my son in 2010. By 2014 I had lost almost 100  pounds naturally weighing in at my lowest of 153. I was so proud of myself! I worked extremely hard every day with logging my food, making my meals and exercising!

From the years 2015 to 2020 I weighed between 160 and 170 pounds. I got several certifications for health and fitness and started teaching more and more classes at the gym and online- upwards to 7 classes per week. I loved it and I felt great!

In 2023 I started gaining weight and weighed in at 195 pounds. I hadn’t changed anything with my fitness and eating routines. I was still logging my food, eating around the same kind of calories and doing a variety of workouts. Then in 2024 I had a lot of sickness which resulted in multiple antibiotics and doctors visits, along with moving and going through a divorce, which is still going on almost 2 years later.

As my weight continued to creep up, my teaching group exercise classes started to decrease as my body hurt and wasn’t recovering like it used to 45 pounds less ago.

This year I have read tons of books about perimenopause, continued to do intermittent fasting, logging macros and calories, food journaling, hours of food prep every week, marriage counseling, saw a registered dietitian for several months to dial in my nutrition, multiple blood tests every couple months, hormone and functional doctor, HRT. As you can imagine, it’s been extremely expensive and a very frustrating year because none of these things have given me the results I’m looking for: Weight loss, energy, less brain fog, better sleep.

I continue to meal plan, eat healthy, log my food, exercise, and walk almost every day; but I am so burnt out from not seeing the results. Ive been experiencing aches and pains almost on a daily basis, which is extremely frustrating and makes exercising/Movement hard some days.

From starting at 250 pounds down to 153 pounds back up to 215 pounds currently has been so hard on me emotionally and physically. I want to feel good and exercise and recover quickly, but this weight that I currently have makes it so hard to do. I feel insecure about teaching group fitness classes, almost like I’m a fraud because I haven’t been able to lose this weight despite doing all of the “textbook” things that typically work.

I’m not going to give up! I love moving my body and working out and will continue to do so despite the challenges. I know many of you are experiencing the same challenges with body limitations, pain, weight gain, health issues, etc. I pray that as a community we can encourage each other and help each other.

Thank you for being a part of my blogging community and Walk Strong Roanoke team! You bring me joy and purpose every day!

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Still Waters (The Amish of Shepherd’s Hill #2) by Patricia Johns

My Review:

Still Waters is a beautiful story about love, family, redemption, and forgiveness.

Book 2 of “The Amish of Shepherd’s Hill” mostly follows the day-to-day of main characters Danny, Beth, her Mammi, veterinarian Tabitha and Jonas.

Veterinarian Tabitha is trying to find her way within the Amish community after divorcing her English husband and coming back to her community. She is unable to be married again according to her Amish faith but finds herself getting closer to her friend Jonas as their friendship deepens. I like how they interact and help each another especially with the animals. Tabitha has great insights with being a part of the English world and then coming back to rejoin the Amish way of life.

Beth is staying with her Mammi over the summer because of her Mammi’s health issues. Beth loves being Amish but struggles with the strictness and rules of limiting education and life experiences. Beth struggles with the hard questions of what she wants for her future and asking questions about her dad and heritage.

I loved the relatable characters with their experiences, questions, and doubts that we probably have all had in our lives. The Author did a beautiful job with creating the story, setting, and characters. I can’t wait to read book 3 in this series!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Their hidden past brings questions about their future . . . together.

Unsure of her future within the Amish community, Beth Peachy arrives in Lancaster County for the summer to care for her ailing grandmother. Yet with dementia threatening to steal away Mammi’s memories, Beth’s visit quickly evolves into an urgent search for answers to questions that her relatives seem determined to avoid. How can Beth possibly make a lifelong vow to the Amish church when her own family is concealing so much of the past from her?

Beth’s childhood friend Danny Lapp faces his own dilemma as his ex-Amish older brother turns his back on their family upbringing, dishonoring his Plain heritage. Struggling to find some sort of connection with his brother despite their deep difference of opinion, Danny is determined to find a solution before church leadership becomes involved. As Beth and Danny reconnect and seek to help each other in their search for answers, they find themselves stirring up not only surprising revelations about the past, but questions about a possible future–together.

 

Purchase your copy here: 

https://amzn.to/4otq8Cz

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The 12Ks of Christmas VIRTUAL event 2025 fitness walking

 

Join the 12Ks of Christmas!

This year I am participating in my local Blue Ridge Racing and Fleet Feet Roanoke 12 days-I mean 12ks- of Christmas event! How fun does that sound?

I thought it would be fun to invite my online Walk Strong Roanoke group and YOU to participate with me! Its FREE and although you can’t win prizes (if you’re not local) we can still have fun as a group logging our miles and walking together! Plus, if you register for this FREE event using my unique link, I will get extra entries to win. 🙂

REGISTER HERE: 

https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Roanoke/The12KsOfChristmasRoanoke?raceRefCode=JdDuhCH8

1km = 0.62 miles so that should be super easy to get, since most of you walk more than 1 mile every day. Don’t forget to check out my YOUTUBE channel for SEVERAL festive holiday walk aerobic workouts to help you get your 1KM every day.

Rachel DeVaughn – YouTube

Let me know if you have any questions and comment below if you’re ready to walk virtually with me from Dec 1-Dec 12th!

I’ve created a calendar in PDF or PNG if you want to print it for this challenge.

Red and White Christmas Themed December 2025 Calendar

About the event:

Get ready to be a part of Roanoke’s newest FREE Holiday tradition! In this festive, family-friendly virtual event, participants commit to walking/running at least 1 km per day for 12 days, from December 1st through December 12th. You’ll log your distance on our race website each day you complete a kilometer, and for every day you log, you earn an entry into that day’s daily prize drawing. The more days you walk, the more chances you have to win!

Everyone who logs at least 1K each day is entered into the GRAND PRIZE drawing from Fleet Feet Roanoke!

This event is a fun and easy way to stay active during the holiday season. It’s also free to enter and open to all ages and abilities. Since it’s a virtual event, you can walk or run anywhere!

REGISTER HERE: 

https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Roanoke/The12KsOfChristmasRoanoke?raceRefCode=JdDuhCH8

Win Prizes!

This event is all about having fun, developing a consistent exercise routine, and winning prizes! There are lots of ways you can win prizes:

  • Each day (Dec 1-12), log at least 1km of walking or running, and you’ll be entered into the DAILY PRIZE DRAWING.
  • Refer friends to register for the event, and for each friend you refer, you’ll get an extra entry into ALL prize drawings!
  • Register early for more chances to win in BONUS DRAWINGS!

Upon registering, you will receive a referral link that is unique to you. Share this link with your friends and social media followers to earn extra raffle entries!

All prizes must be picked up in person locally in Roanoke, Virginia. Mailing of prizes will not be allowed.

**1km = 0.62 miles

REGISTER HERE: 

https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Roanoke/The12KsOfChristmasRoanoke?raceRefCode=JdDuhCH8

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C Is for Courting (Amish ABCs) by Shelley Shepard Gray

About the Book:

The second eldest, Beth Schrock always believed herself the most level-headed sibling. After all, in the wake of their parents’ divorce, it was she who emerged as the caretaker and steadying presence. Yet after almost two years in Ohio, Beth’s life remains the most unsettled.

Unlike her younger sister and brothers, Beth has yet to become Amish, or fall in love, much less marry.
Still, she is about to take on the biggest responsibility of them all. She is going to be a mother. A single mother. While she’s not proud of her actions, she is excited, and hopeful about the sense of purpose this change will bring.

When Beth happens to meet family acquaintance Junior Lambright, they bump heads a bit. But after she takes a part-time job at his successful candle factory, it doesn’t take long for sparks to ignite—or for Junior to decide to be the friend Beth clearly needs.

Still, neither expects a romance. Ten years older than Beth, Junior seems content to devote himself to work and his two senior Labradors. And as Beth’s due date looms, she must choose a path. She considers returning to Cleveland and her high-paying, high-stress, realtor job. She could hire a nanny. But she’d miss so much about Walden—including Junior.

And then, Junior proposes.

Beth is sure Junior’s sweet offer is only to save her reputation. . . . Unless, like her, Junior is also yearning for something more. With faith, and the courage to open their hearts, they might soon find out . . .

 

My Review:

This sweet Amish story mostly follows Beth and Martin’s stories. Beth and Martin are from the Schrock siblings of 4 who travel to Walden to live with their grandparents and become Amish. The other sibling stories are from the 2 previous books in this series.

Beth has a hard journey ahead of her with being a single mom and I liked reading her determination to work and to help people around her. Despite being treated poorly by others, she continues to work hard in Junior’s office and stay optimistic. Martin and Pattie are trying to figure out how they can have a relationship and stay true to their beliefs. All of the siblings struggle with how they want to live their life (Amish or Plain?) and their relationships with each other.

It’s hard to believe 5 years have passed since the beginning of A is for Amish when this series started! I have loved getting to know Beth, Kelsey, Jonny and Martin as they individually and together as a family embark on their journeys about life, love, faith and contentment-whether they choose to be plain or Amish.

I highly recommend reading this feel good, Amish family series! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

Purchase your copy here:

https://amzn.to/4qqEx3N

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