When We Last Spoke Book Review (FlyBy Blog Promotions)

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I read When We Last Spoke by Marci Hanna, in exchange for honest review from FlyBy Blog Promotions.I received a paperback and a dvd intro (not released yet). I havent heard the dvd yet because my pc hates my external dvd player.

About the book

Humor, heartbreak, and triumph are served with whipped cream and lots of local nuts in this heartwarming tale of family, friendship, and forgiveness in Fireside, Texas.

Meet Juliet Cranbourne, local radio personality and owner of a whimsical kitchen gadget store,and her sister Evangeline, a fruit tree geneticist who works for Oregon State University.

When a rift due to their orphaned past affects their sisterhood, Juliet convinces Evangeline to come home for Christmas and choose headstones to honor grandparents Walt (a tenderhearted, good looking rancher) and Ruby (a blue-ribbon fiddler, fabulous cook, and expert in the art of making family feel loved). 

As they cruise through Fireside in Ruby's Thunderbird, Juliet hopes that healing memories will somehow smooth rough roads ahead.

Does the tremendous love that marked Walt and Ruby's lives still have the power to renew their sisterhood and help them find their place in the world?

About the Author:

Marci Henna was born in Austin, Texas and lived as a child in Kenya, East Africa with the Wakamba tribe where her parents managed a medical research station. She later moved to the Hill Country ranch which has been in the family since the 1800s and currently lives in Austin.

Book Review

I liked the concept of the book. Two sisters (Juliet and Evangeline) attempt to get along, while healing over the death of their grandparents (Walt and Ruby) years ago. My maternal biological grandpa died before I was born, while I never met my paternal grandpa. My maternal grandma died 16 years ago, while my paternal grandma is still living at 80 something years old. 

I have three sisters (two from my parent's marriage and one from my father, never met her). The middle two and I tolerate each other. It may take something major for all of us to come together and grieve.

In the beginning of the book, Juliet is on a mass declutter of her grandma's junk from the house. I am in the process of doing the same for my apartment. Need to declutter to make room for things I want like a sofa set, dining room table, and a fifth bed for Brad (maybe a mattress).

I also lived with my grandma as a kid, with mother, sisters, and a host of other relatives. She was the disciplinarian, the cook, and the cleaner. 

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The book will be free on Kindle from February 20th to 24th

The book is available in paperback, kindle, and kindle unlimited format. 

Awaken Love Review and Giveaway (Fly By Blog Promotions)

This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

About the Book (from media kit)

The Song Couple's Devotional is a 6-week book for couples that can help awaken love in their marriage. With daily relationship insights and prayer points drawn from the Song of Solomon, this devotional will help couples grow in their relationship with God and one another.

Inspired by the Song of Solomon, The Song is both a full-length movie and resource for churches to explore God’s plan for relationships, love and marriage.

About the author: (from media kit)

Kyle Idleman is the Teaching Pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, the fourth-largest church in America. Author of the award-winning and bestselling book, not a fan., and presenter of eight of City on a Hill’s curriculum series, he regularly speaks at conferences and events around the world. Kyle and his wife DesiRae have four children.

My Review: 

Even though I am single and happily divorced, I wanted to read this book, in hopes, I will get remarried again one day (hope I get selected for married at first sight). This marriage book is one of the thinnest, I ever seen, which I love. Each chapter (day) has a devotional, a reflection (Bridge), and notes (place to write your notes down). The chapters are short and easy to understand. There is no questions to answer.

The book is also accompanied by the following:

1. The Song Small Group Study
2. The Song Pastors Kit
   
3. The Song Album (Music From & Inspired By The Original Motion Picture)
   
4. The Song Participant's Guide
5. The Song Couple's Kit (DVD)

Social Media:

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Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of Awaken Love from Fly By Blog Promotions.

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Their Name is Today: Reclaiming Childhood in a Hostile World Book Review (Fly By Blog Promotions)

This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

I read Their Name Is Today: Reclaiming Childhood in a Hostile World by Johann Christoph Arnold in exchange for honest review from Fly By Blog Promotions.

About the book

There are many forces, which threatens to hinder a child from a happy childhood. The book teaches about reclaiming childhood. The book also teaches about giving children the time and space, they need to grow.

The author discussed how the world needs children. Children help teach us things, such as love and patience. Kids are usually honest and forgiving. The author also discussed how politics and money are affecting our children's creativity and originality. Not to mention, parents are working more hours to make ends meet and not spending time needed at home. Raising kids is left up to caregivers, versus the parents.

I was one of those parents. When my oldest was younger, I had a full-time job. I worked anywhere from 5 to 7 days per week. My check, at times, was being garnished for student loans and other bills due, not to mention the ex-husband got laid off twice, which left me working 8 to 10 hours per day, on top of paying a babysitter because the ex did not want to help watch his son.

Then, I went back to school. I went to class 3-4 days per week, since I only could attend the morning sessions because of work. Get up at 4 something, head to class, go to work, come home, and repeat. His aunts was his caregivers during those times. I don't know what I would have done without them.

I didn't realize how much I missed until the ex and I separated. I miss his first day of school. I missed ARD meetings. I miss those early milestones from age 5 to 10. With Kalen, I had the chance to experience those milestones in person versus hearing them from someone else.

Both kids are special needs, but where Kalen is at his age is more advanced than where Brad was. I could not afford any services for Brad when he was younger, while Kalen started getting services for free through WIC. Now he is in a preschool for children with developmental disabilities (ppcd) at 3 years old. If I did not put him in WIC's early childhood program, Kalen would not be in school now. I wish there was something similar for Brad, 11 years ago.

I have to try to put the kids first now. They have to learn. They have to grow. I am going through an issue right now, where....I guess I have to put it out there---where Brad's former, teacher called CPS because she said I send Brad to school dirty and stinky, despite his wonderful supply of Axe, Old Spice, and Dove Men. She also complained about Brad's recent temper tantrums at school, and how I can't come get him from school when he acts up. Even though, I have no driver's license and no car.

I live in a house with a few other adults and my two kids. My niece and great niece moved in with my other sister because my niece wanted to be homeschooled. I am responsible for cleaning this house, despite my anger and resentment towards other adults, who are not helping. Even though, the house is not in my name, even though I am not the only adult here, even though I still have to raise the kids, blog, etc, I have to make sure the house is super clean, just in case. The kids have to come first. If I don't do it, no one else will.

That is the basis of the book: Putting the kids first. Allowing them to channel their imagination, their creativity, their honesty.

The book comes in paperback, Audible, and Kindle format. The paperback is Prime-Eligible.

A lifelong love by Gary Thomas Book Review and Giveaway

This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

I received A Lifelong Love: What If Marriage Is about More Than Just Staying Together? in exchange for honest review from Fly By Blog Promotions. The book is written by Gary Thomas.

I wanted to read the book to see how to become a better wife whenever I married again. The book teaches about how to live a sacred marriage, versus any marriage. How to live a spirit-intentioned marriage. The book provides tools needed to inspire you and your spouse. The book consists of 3 parts, 21 chapters. The book also has questions for reflection at the end of each chapter.

With more people getting divorced, such as myself (finally divorced earlier this year), I would love a marriage with God at the forefront versus the background. Thomas said a marriage should share a love of Christ. The more you love God, the more you should love your spouse (p. 27). No matter what material possessions you have or the kids or sex can replace God in a relationship (p. 28).

I also loved p. 35 where Thomas said to think of your wife as God's daughter and God is your father in law. If you disrespect or mistreat your wife, then you will face trouble from daddy.

Finally, on page 41, Thomas said we need to empathize and understand what our spouses are going through--with love--just like God does.  No matter what they are going through, your spouse is still God's son or daughter.

Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of A life long love. Giveaway ends in 7 days.

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