Monthly Archives: July 2013

Book Review: Waking Up In Heaven

Waking Up in Heaven: A True Story of Brokenness, Heaven, and Life AgainWaking Up in Heaven: A True Story of Brokenness, Heaven, and Life Again by Crystal McVea
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I like to read about people who have had an experience in Heaven. I guess it’s because we don’t really know what it’s like except for what we read in the Bible. So personal commentary from people who have had near death experiences are very intriguing to me.

Crystal McVea is an amazing woman. When I think of what she went through in her life, it’s not surprising that she would question God. I feel very blessed that she felt she could be so transparent as to share her life’s story because I’m sure a lot of people will be blessed by her words.

When I first got the book, I didn’t know Crystal was a sister Okie but it’s awesome to read about strong Oklahoma women.

Thank you for sharing your story, Crystal! This is a book I will pass on to others. πŸ™‚

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Book Review: Lock, Stock and Over a Barrel

Lock, Stock, and Over a BarrelLock, Stock, and Over a Barrel by Melody Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. It was fun. I loved the characters and setting and story line.

Daphne, a wedding announcement writer for the New York Times, returns to her hometown for the funeral of her beloved Aunt Dee. When Aunt Dee’s will is read, Daphne finds out that she is the recipient of Aunt Dee’s entire estate if she only meets the terms of the will within a year.

The only thing bad I can say about this book is that it ended kind of abruptly but I definitely want to read the sequel to see what happens! πŸ™‚

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Book Review: Rich In Love

Rich In Love (Richness In Faith #1)Rich In Love by Lindi Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! I was immediately drawn into the story of Ann, the daughter of a missionary, who never knew her father. After her father dies, she is called to Florida for a reading of the will where here life will change forever.

Ann learns that in order for her and her newly found sister to receive the inheritance from her father, she must spend a million dollars in a month. But the purchases can only be paid for by the debit card that Brett holds. It’s a great love story between Ann and Brett but, more importantly a love story between Ann and Jesus. As Ann is confused about what to do, here mother comes back from the mission fields and tells her to go after what she wants. And she does.

I look forward to reading this author again! πŸ™‚

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Book Review: The Marriage Bargain

The Marriage BargainThe Marriage Bargain by Sandra Edwards
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a good book that I really enjoyed. I loved the story and how it ended. Camille enters into marriage with ultra rich playboy, Julian. Although it begins as a business arrangement, they end up falling in love.

I liked this book and highly recommend it if you’re looking for a great beach read! πŸ™‚

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#winning

winning

This past weekend, I was going through my email and was directed to Brian Hawkins’s blog. Β He was having a contest to find a book to read on the new Nook he got for Father’s Day.

You know I’m very competitive and I love contests. I also love to WIN!

The rules of the contest were to pitch a book that would interest Brian. He didn’t want a fictional story but wanted one that fit into his interest groups of blogging, business and social media. He wanted to be able to download it onto his Nook and said that the first person to convince him would win their choice of book.

I actually love reading more than I love contests, if you can believe that, so I really wanted to win and IΒ had just the book.

I pitched Think Like a Rock Star from Mack Collier. It’s a great book that I was lucky to read in galley form (but finally got in hard copy so I can write in it) and have been recommending ever since.

Here’s my pitch to Brian:

review

 

I won! I was so excited. I told Mack to give a look to the comments on Brian’s blog and look what Mack did:

mack

 

Isn’t that fun! I love it!

I’m super excited that I won the book from Brian. Thank you, Brian! And I’m also excited he gets to read Mack’s awesome book and actually get a signed copy from Mack himself. πŸ™‚

I’m looking forward to getting my own book signed when I meet Mack in real life at Y’all Connect in a couple of weeks.

And that folks, is some of the beauty of social media. πŸ™‚

My Big Fat Demon Slayer Wedding

My Big Fat Demon Slayer Wedding (Demon Slayer, #5)My Big Fat Demon Slayer Wedding by Angie Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a fun book. I normally wouldn’t read a book like this as it’s sort of fantastical or science fiction-ish but I was drawn in by the description.

I loved the love story between Lizzie and Dimitri and the crazy witches in the book. I also loved how Lizzie’s high society mom just started rolling with the punches, the wild punches!, as the story progressed. And Dimitri’s Greek griffin family was entertaining, too.

I’m glad I gave this book a shot. It was a good read that I didn’t put down once I started it. πŸ™‚

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Lowcountry Bombshell

Lowcountry Bombshell (A Liz Talbot Mystery, #2)Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! The story was great and the characters, wonderful. I also loved the setting since we’re planning our anniversary trip to Charleston and I made note of actual restaurant names we’re going to try out.

I love a mystery that’s fun to read as this one is. Liz is a PI who works with her partner, Nate. He’s now become her love interest. She’s smart and fashion conscious and someone I’d like to be friends with. I love the added angle of her friend, Colleen, who died and comes back as a ghost to help her.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and now I plan to go back and read them all! πŸ™‚

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Krispie Brownies, Yum

This weekend was a fun one. I went to visit my mini-me, Lyndzee. I was going to teach her how to cook some easy dinners and then she and her new husband were going to have a gender reveal party to tell everyone the sex of their baby that will be born in November.

Lauri & Lyndzee

I like to cook but sometimes I get really busy and run out of time. We try and eat a healthy paleo diet much of the time.

I asked Lyndzee if she had a George Foreman grill and she didn’t. We use the GF Grill at a minimum of five nights a week and often for lunch. Honestly, I can’t imagine how I would get along without my GF Grill. I brought one for Lyndzee so she will be able to see how fast and easy she can make dinner.

Most nights, I told her, I put the potatoes in the microwave when the GF Grill is heating up. Then, when the potatoes are done, put the meat on the grill and veggies in the microwave and, voila!, dinner in 15 minutes. There’s enough time to chop up an easy salad, too.

I taught her how to make spaghetti squash and meat sauce, a dish that both of us love. Mr. Lyndzee took a tiny portion to be sure he liked it.

Spaghetti Squash

And his review was two thumbs down. Oh well.

Although I was cooking healthy, Lyndzee is pregnant and she wanted treats so I brought a terrific dessert that I love but hadn’t made in years, Krispie Brownies. They are easy and so delicious.

They are so good, that Lyndzee wanted to eat a piece this big:

brownies

Here is the recipe so you can make your own awesome Krispie Brownies.

1 pkg fudge brownie mix, family size
1 (10 1/2 oz) pkg mini marshmallows
1 1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c creamy peanut butter
1 T butter
1 1/2 c Rice Krispies

Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom of 13×9 in baking pan. Prepare and bake brownies according to pkg directions for original recipe. Remove from oven. Sprinkle marshmallows on hot brownies. Return to oven. Bake 3 more minutes. Place chocolate chips and peanut butter in medium saucepan, cook on low heat, stirring constantly, until chips are melted. Add cereal, mix well. Spread mixture over marshmallow layer. Refrigerate until chilled. Cut into bars. Makes about 24 bars or one uber large brownie. πŸ˜‰

The next day was gender reveal day and

cupcake

It’s a GIRL!

We are so excited to welcome this little girl when she arrives in November. I hope she will be an extra-mini-me. πŸ™‚