Tuesday, February 9, 2016

First Hostage {a Tyndale House Blog Network review}

I've needed some suspense-filled escape reading lately, so I was thrilled to have The First Hostage by Joel C. Rosenberg on hand.

Like everything else I've read by Joel Rosenberg, once I had gotten past the expository material in the first couple of chapters, I had a hard time setting the book down.

J. B. Collins has been the central character in another novel before this, The Third Target.  This story picks up right where The Third Target leaves off.


From the publisher:
“The president of the United States . . . is missing.”

With these words, New York Times journalist J. B. Collins, reporting from the scene of a devastating attack by ISIS terrorists in Amman, Jordan, puts the entire world on high alert. The leaders of Israel and Palestine are critically injured, Jordan’s king is fighting for his life, and the U.S. president is missing and presumed captured.

As the U.S. government faces a constitutional crisis and Jordan battles for its very existence, Collins must do his best to keep the world informed while working to convince the FBI that his stories are not responsible for the terror attack on the Jordanian capital. And ISIS still has chemical weapons . . .

Struggling to clear his name, Collins and the Secret Service try frantically to locate and rescue the leader of the free world before ISIS’s threats become a catastrophic reality.

My thoughts:


This was action packed, and kept me guessing from the very start.  Obviously, from the title, I knew that the president was going to be a hostage, and from the opening scenes, it was pretty clear it would be ISIS holding him.  Of course, carefully reading the above description would have told me that too!  But I tend to avoid reading book descriptions when I know it is an author I want to read.

The thing I truly love about Rosenberg's novels is how well-researched his materials always are.  Rosenberg has the background for it.  He lives in Israel, has worked in the Middle East for years, and teaches about Bible prophecy.

Check out the trailer:





Bottom line is that I loved the book. 


Disclaimer:   I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers.  No other compensation was received.  The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Still Laughing After All These Tears {a Family Christian review and giveaway!}

Laughter is the best medicine.

I totally believe that.

Chonda Pierce: Still Laughing After All These Tears - Ultimate Fan Collection has been great medicine for me here lately. 

When Family Christian gave me this opportunity, I actually started crying.  It has been a stressful few months here, and just the idea of something like this -- something I wouldn't purchase for myself -- that is really for ME, well, it made me cry.

This is a collection of seven of Chonda Pierce's bestselling DVDs, with some fun extras.  One thing I really loved is that each DVD includes a recent interview with Chonda where she talks about that particular show.  It really made watching the comedy routine even more fun.  The backstories behind these earlier shows were fabulous.

The disks include:
  • Have I Got a Story For You
  • Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
  • A Piece of My Mind
  • Stayin' Alive
  • This Ain't Prettyville
  • Did I Say That Out Loud?
  • I'm Kind of a Big Deal
What I love about watching Chonda Pierce is that I know it will be clean entertainment, and it isn't just a random string of jokes and funny stories.  Chonda is making a point, pointing towards Jesus.

But she is also making me laugh. 

And it is okay if my kids walk in and overhear it.

Sounds perfect to me.


Right now, this set is just under $30, which is a bargain.  That's about $4 per DVD. 





I have a copy of this amazing set to give away!  US only please.


a Rafflecopter giveaway





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book and an additional copy for a giveaway, free from Family Christian Stores through the Family Christian Blogger program.  This post does contain affiliate links.  I was not required to write a positive review, and any affiliate relationship does not impact my opinions. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Snow Day!

One of the beauties of homeschooling is that when it snows, we can still get to school.

One of the downsides of homeschooling is that when it snows, we can still get to school.

Well, yesterday, we decided to take the day off just because we could.






We played games, we watched Star Wars, we baked brownies.

It was a very nice day.

We need more days like that.  But for today, we are probably getting back to school.