Endless Incarnation Sorrows: one mistake leads to generations of suffering

Endless Incarnation Sorrows: A Spiritual Odyssey of Mortal Imprints on Earth by Lucia Mann is the story of reincarnation in which a curse is handled out through time and life after life. Inspired by true events of the Ms. Mann’s ability to perceive and recognize the memories of people and places from the past and the connection to her current life after multiple hospital resuscitations. The story opens in the Judean Desert, 609 BCE where a group of women are traveling, in search of a new home. Rebekah bas Sora is pregnant, a result of a scandalous affair. When her daughter, Lala, is born, she is born with physical deformities, which do not belong to anyone in the family. It is immediately believed that she is cursed. The story continues with another generation who is born with these physical deformities and who seemed doomed to live a life of misery. From Lala’s struggles to Leandra in the Ptolemy Royal Dynasty, BC. To Laurencia in Medieval Spain during the Inquisition to Lyveva in Northumbria, 793 AD. To Lidiya in Ireland, 1847. To Lucja in Poland, 1939 to Maria in Sicily (who’s full story is told in Ms. Mann’s book The Sicilian Veil of Shame). To Shiya in South Africa, 1950 (Ms. Mann’s book Rented Silence) to Madeline Clark in Canada, 2018 (featured in Addicted to Hate). Is there a curse which links these women? Are they doomed to live a life of misery?

I have read and reviewed Ms. Mann’s books for a few years and each book is a powerful, often disturbing, revelation into events that many do not know occur or have occurred and were difficult to read, given the subject matter. When compared to her other books, Endless Incarnation Sorrows was easier to read and not as powerful. Possibly because I do not believe in reincarnation and familial curses as she has presented in this book. Possibly because the subject matter wasn’t presented as disturbing and heartbreaking as in her other books. Overall, the book was enjoyable. The writing style was easy to follow, and it was interesting to see different historical events and the people who lived during such times. The treatment of people simply based on who they are or what religion they follow is a story as old as time. The connection to her other books was also enjoyable. If you have read Ms. Mann’s other books, you may enjoy Endless Incarnation Sorrows.

Girl in Trouble: a mystery that's hard to care about

Girl in Trouble by Stacy Chaflin is the first book in the Alex Mercer Thriller series. It is the story of Alex Mercer who is a self-described deadbeat dad and loser. His daughter, Ariana, was adopted by her mother’s, Zoey, parents as both Alex and Zoey were 16 at the time of her birth and wanted to give her a better chance at a decent life. One night, Alex takes Ariana to a popular hangout for kids. After an evening of fun and excitement, Alex witnesses Ariana being taken by a man in a dirty SUV. As investigation gets started, Alex must deal with the criticisms of those who blame him while he tries to track down the man who took his daughter and finding Ariana alive. Will he find her in time? Will they discover the identity of the man who took her?

When I read the description of Girl in Trouble, I was intrigued; however, the book fails to live up to its description. From the get-go, I found myself uninterested in the characters. Alex’s self-loathing is annoying. Zoey’s meanness and bitchiness were irritating. The opening chapters were bored and failed to truly draw me into the drama. The book is described as a thriller but there was nothing thrilling about it. I was also disturbed by the number of chapters. 82 in a 365-page book. That is just too many. The chapters are too short for any real action to take place. Once something starts to happen, the chapter ends, and the reader is taken to a new scene and different action. It was hard to stay engaged. I do not recommend Girl in Trouble.

Girl in Trouble

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Emma's Dream: a pleasant romance

Emma’s Dream by M Lee Prescott is the first book in the Morgan’s Run Romances series. It is the story of Ben Morgan, who is on his way to his family’s ranch in the Saguaro Valley, Arizona. He has been ordered a few months rest by his doctors. His day back in town, he has a fender bender and the other driver is none other than Maggie Williams. Ben and Maggie had a one stand night many years ago. He left to start his business in California, she left to go to college. But she was back in town working at his family’s ranch. Ben learns she has a 4-year-old daughter, Emma, who has been in a wheelchair after a car accident. It is obvious from the beginning that Emma is Ben’s daughter, but will Maggie tell him? Will she be able to keep it a secret? How will he react? How will his family react?

Emma’s Dream is a nice romance as Ben is immediately drawn to Maggie as he was so many years ago. The characters were fun and relatable. I particularly liked Ben and Maggie. I understood her reluctance to tell Ben even though she knew she would have to in the future. The story was enjoyable and set up future stories in the series. My only complaint is the book had way too many chapters. 71! Granted they were short chapters but most of them could have been combined into larger chapters. Overall, I enjoyed Emma’s Dream and recommend it. I may continue the series if I come across the other titles.

Emma’s Dream

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Running on Empty: title says it all

Running on Empty by Christy Reece is the first book in the LCR Elite series. It is the story of Sabrina Fox, an LCR operative who rescue people when the officials have run out of options and leads. Her husband, Declan Steele, is an operative with The Agency. Their marriage is a secret to everyone expect their respective bosses. Tragedy strikes and Sabrina witnesses Declan die before her eyes. Fast forward to 11 months later and Declan is discovered in an Africa prison and has suffered physically and mentally from extensive torture and abuse. He believes in one thing that Sabrina betrayed him, and he is out for revenge. When they are reunited, Sabrina tries to explain that she had nothing to do with his capture and thought he was died. Although the attraction is still there, Declan keeps Sabrina at arm’s length, determined to find out who is behind this elaborate scheme. Will they discover who betrayed him? Will they be able to come together again?

Running on Empty was a very tedious book to read. It started out great and suddenly it wasn’t. It was bogged down with the various rescue missions and the main plotline, the find out who was behind Declan’s capture and torture, was sort of forgotten until the end. The reveal behind the culprit was dragged on and on until the final reveal was anticlimactic. Reading it was like enough already, get to the point! One of the minor characters had a name that sounded familiar. I don’t know if it was unintentional on the author’s part or if it was a shout out to a favorite show, but I laughed when I read it. Overall, the plot was unbelievable. The characters were unlikeable. I do not recommend Running on Empty.

Running on Empty

is available in paperback and eBook

The Glittering Hour: a mother's story and her daughter's discovery

The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey is the story of Alice Carew, a nine-year-old girl left at her grandparents’ estate, Blackwood Park, in Wiltshire while her parents, Rupert and Selina, are on a business trip to Burma in 1936. After she writes to her mother about how lonely she is, her mother decides to have a treasure hunt in which she will leave clues in her letters for Alice to follow around the estate. When Alice finds the location of the clue, a letter her mother leaves for her, tells her a story which corresponds to that location. It is at this point the story flips to the summer of 1925 when 20-year-old Selina was a young and wild woman. Along with her group of friends, known as the Bright Young People, her escapades were front page news. As the story flips back and forth between 1936 and 1925, Alice is taken on a journey of freedom, societal expectations and love. What will Selina’s story reveal to Alice? What secret has she been hiding all these years?

The Glittering Hour is filled with discovery, heartbreak and love. There is so much about this story that I wish I could talk about; however, spoilers, I can’t. The story is told in two parts. Part 1 was a bit slow and left me wondering where the story was leading. However, Part 2 blew wide open with a story of love, sacrifice, fear and learning about real love is. Ms. Grey wove a story so intriguing that even the slow parts kept you wondering if she was hiding a clue to the mystery and you kept reading. And as I kept reading the more intrigued, I was. I enjoyed Alice as the little girl who loved her mother and wished her home. Even the characters you were supposed to dislike, like her grandmother, Lady Lennox, you begin to feel for the woman who didn’t know how to do anything else but keep a sift upper lip. As the story ended, I had tears running down my face. I highly recommend The Glittering Hour!

The Glittering Hour

is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

Dark Desires: a gothic romance with a mysterious twist

Dark Desires by Eve Silver is a gothic romance set in London in 1828. Darcie Finch is alone in the Whitechapel area of London as she runs from a dangerous situation in search of somewhere safe. Her sister directs to find Dr. Damien Cole and seek employment in his household as a maid. Darcie is warned to keep her nose out of the doctor’s secrets. She is hired and quickly hears about the mysteries surrounding the doctor. A maid that suddenly left without a word. The doctor keeps late hours and has strange books in his study. On a whim, Darcie draws a sketch in his sketchbook and the doctor realizes her talents are needed elsewhere and she begins work as his assistant. Darcie cannot help being drawn to the handsome and mysterious Dr Cole. As word spreads of horrific murders in the Whitechapel area, Darcie fears her employer could be involved. While her head cannot help but notice the strange coincidences between the murders and the doctor’s late-night activities, her heart tells her something different. Will she follow her head or her heart? Will the mysterious murderer be uncovered?

Dark Desires started slow but once the mystery gets going, it draws you in and becomes an exciting page-turner. I loved the dark and brooding Dr Cole who is haunted by his secrets and Darcie who kept help but try to help him through his pain. While I figured out some of the mysteries, the reveal why still surprising especially Dr Cole’s reasons for his strange behaviors. If you like dark, gothic romance and mysteries, you may enjoy Dark Desires. It is the first book in the Dark Gothic series. I look forward to continuing the series in the future.

Dark Desires

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Not a lot of romance but plenty of drama

The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson is the romantic story of Cassie Everson and Jett Bentley. Cassie, 33. Is the director of Girls Haven, a center for disadvantaged girls, has been dating through an app with no great prospects until Jett Bentley finds her profile. Jett remembers Cassie from high school although he doubts, she would remember him. He sends her a message anyway and they are brought together by the scheming plans of her best friend, Bree. Soon their lives are thrown in chaos as Cassie takes in three sisters from a terrible situation and Jett is saddled with his niece and nephews as his sister suddenly shows up. In the chaos of their lives, a series of misunderstands and miscues leads Cassie and Jett to believe that the other doesn’t want children. Will they be able to finally clear the air? Will they be able to adjust to their new lives?

The Dating Charade started out as a great story, then facts about the characters’ backgrounds and plot points changed. It felt like the author didn’t remember she presented the information already and different information. For instance, Jett’s full name is presented one way in chapter 5 and presented another way in chapter 18. Then Cassie recognizes a character as a former date in chapter 5 and has the same recognition in chapter 23. It did start out great with drama and tension with the potential of a great romance but the misunderstands and miscues between Cassie and Jett were frustrating plus the lack of continuity was distracting. The story just fizzled for me. as the book is also marketed as a Christian romance and the only thing that makes it “Christian” is that the characters go to church at one point. In Jett’s case, he goes to church to get a couple hours of peace and quiet. I do not recommend The Dating Charade.

The Dating Charade

Is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

With Every Heartbeat: a great story with dancing, drama and passion

With Every Heartbeat by Melody Grace is the story of Annalise Taylor who is a member of the American Ballet Company studying in Rome. As the daughter of a prima ballerina, ballet has been her life and her dream until she met Raphael. One day while touring the city with her friends, she watches local street dancers and there she catches the eye of Raphael Gibraldi. Their whirlwind romance opens her eyes to new desires and new dreams. Does she desire to be a prima ballet and dance in the limelight? Or is she living someone else’s dreams? Annalise must decide if she is going to follow the path that has been laid out before her all her life or will she follow her heart?

With Every Heartbeat is a fascinating story about the cutthroat world of ballet where, as one character states, “You don’t get ahead without pushing someone else down.” Annalise is a great dancer but doesn’t live up to the expectations of her mother who gave up ballet when Annalise was born. The demands of training leaves Annalise with very little enjoyment in life. When she meets Raphael, her eyes are open to living life to the fullest. This book is filled with drama, tensions between Annalise and her friends as well as her rivals. It is filled with passion as Annalise opens her heart to Raphael and the excitement of life he offers. Their love scenes are breathtaking and heart stopping. There is a point in every one’s life when they must decide if they are chasing their dreams or the dreams of another. This is Annalise’s fork in the road life decision. With Every Heartbeat is a great weekend read with dramatic twists and turns with a great romance. I highly recommend it.

With Every Heartbeat

is available in eBook

Which end is up?: when the life you know is turned upside down

Which End Is Up? by Patricia Kay is the story of Grace Campisi, a New York lawyer who is about to have her life turned upside down. Her sister, Perry, shows up at her apartment, pregnant and needing a place to stay. Reluctantly, she allows her sister to stay. She soon delivers a baby girl she names Emily Grace. It quickly becomes apparent that Perry has no idea what she is doing and in an act of desperation, leaves baby Emily with her sister and runs to join her deadbeat boyfriend in Vegas. Grace is left to figure out how to take care of Emily and pursue her dreams of making partner at her law firm. When faced with tough choices, will Grace put her dreams ahead of her niece or will she find a new life and new dreams with Emily?

Which End is Up? is a story that you think you know where it is heading as you read. Oh no! The book did not go the way I thought it would. Grace is a typical older sister who feels she is always cleaning up after her wayward sister who has no faults in their mother’s eyes. She also learns that life has a funny way of turning out for the better in ways you could never have imagined or planned. Filled with family drama, old tensions and self-discovery, it is a beautiful, heartbreaking and tear-jerking story. You will cry at certain points and laugh and smile at others. I highly recommend Which End is Up?!

Which End is Up?

is available in paperback and eBook.

Holy Disunity: there is something good and useful about our differences

Holy Disunity: How what separates us can save us by Layton E. Williams is a call to “let go of the idol of unity and see the holiness in disunity” as stated by Diana Butler Bass in the foreword. Ms. Layton, a bisexual ordained Presbyterian minister, who sets out to show how we are unified in Christ and holy unity is not ours to create or to destroy. She sets out to argue for holy disunity and how we can faithfully coexist without being unified with each chapter dedicated to a challenge that we all face such as fear, doubt and tension and how it divides us and how we can use it in the Church. Through Biblical text and her own personal struggles and journey, she presents how we should embrace our differences in our life experiences, our abilities, our limitations and in our failures, so we can further the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

When I picked this book, I was intrigued by the idea of holy disunity. Ms. Williams makes a very convincing case of how the goal of “peace on earth” is not our mission. Holy Disunity is a very interesting read and while I disagreed with a few of Ms. Williams’ assertions, I found myself agreeing with her main points and thinking about how to use our differences as we strive to spread the Gospel. Just as Paul states in Romans 12:3-8 and in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, we are all one part of the a greater whole and each with different gifts and different roles. At the end of the book, she presents questions for reflection and discussion. They were thought provoking and allows the reader to apply the ideas presented in each chapter. I would have liked to see the questions at the end of each chapter so that the reflections can be done after reading the designated chapters. Overall, I enjoyed this book and Ms. Williams is heartfelt and honest in her arguments and examples for holy disunity. It is a book I will read again in the future. I recommend Holy Disunity.

Holy Disunity:

How what separates us can save us

Is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Possibility of America: an examination of America and God

The Possibility of America: How the Gospel Can Mend Our God-Blessed, God-forsaken Land by David Dark is an examination of American culture, democracy and its spirituality. America had brought this great experiment in to the world and extended the argument that human beings owe one another the basics of respect and decency. Mr. Dark examines American patriotism as well as being honest about the darkness that is in American history. Any relationship cannot be at its best when its lying to itself about itself. Americans need to acknowledge its dark history as well as its flaws. Using examples from American movies, music, literature, television and its political figures, David Dark shows that America is on the right track with areas of improvement. He also uses these areas to show that God and Christian values, and even its faults, have been a part of the American fabric from the beginning. He advocates for the Beloved Community, an idea postulated by the late Martin Luther King Jr, in which a society is based on justice, equal opportunity, and love of one’s fellow man.

The Possibility of America is a difficult read as Mr. Dark goes into great depth and analysis in order to support his argument. He likes to use heavy vocabulary with sentences that seem to drag on. He often gets too bogged down in summarizing a book, movie or music before making his point. However, his points were eye-openers and I made notes in order to back and examine his examples on my own. It is a book that I will revisit again after I have made my own examination of his examples. It is a fairly short book, only 188 pages, but it is jampacked with information and insights. I recommend The Possibility of America for its honest look at America, it’s history, it’s culture and its spirituality.

The Possibility of America

is available in paperback and eBook

What is woke? Does it need to go?

Like many things in current political culture, I am behind on the latest terms. It’s not that I am not politically aware. I’m just not interested in slang. One term I have been hearing a lot lately is the term “woke.” I wasn’t curious about what it meant until recently when I read a social media comment that said that a celebrity was trying to prove how woke he was. I finally said ok, what is woke? So, I decided to research the origins of the word and what it means in today’s modern usage. I also found a few articles which state that the word needs to go.

Woke is a political term of African American origin. It refers to a perceived awareness of social and racial justice. It is derived from the African American Vernacular English, “stay woke.” According to the Oxford Dictionaries, the early political conscious usage of the term was in 1962 with William Melvin Kelley’s New York Times article “If You’re Woke You Dig It.” Erykah Badu brought the term to the modern age with her 2008 song “Master Teacher.” To “stay woke” is to stay vigilant and #staywoke was the most widely used hashtag on Twitter in 2012. By the late 2010s, the term has adopted a more generic slang and became synonymous with political correctness (Sanders, 2018). The term has also come to symbolize a pat on the back from the left affirming how sensitive one is to the issues (Hass, 2019). It denotes awareness as well as blackness and white allies can use it “if they walk the walk, they get to talk the talk” (Hass, 2019).

Despite the meaning behind the term, there are many who think the term needs to go as too many are too easily using it. It has become so mainstream that it is losing its power and meaning. When MTV announced that “woke” was the new trendy teen slang, it allowed the original cultural meaning of “stay woke” to get lost (Hass, 2019). Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune stated in his article that “’woke’ can also mean “the act of being very pretentious about how much you care about a social issue’” (2019). Sam Sanders of National Public Radio simply stated, “The word is done. It is dead. It is over” (2018). The internet has sped up the lifestyle of the term, according to Nicole Holliday, a linguist at Pomona College, and the term has gone from new to played out in record time (Sanders, 2018). Even former president Barack Obama spoke against the woke/call out culture. At an Obama Foundation Summit on October 29, 2019, he told an audience of young college students, “That’s not activism. That’s not bringing about change. If all you’re doing is casting stone, you’re probably not going to get that far” (Wulfson, 2019). Essentially the woke and call out culture were focused too much on casting judgment than advancing positive change.

It is unfortunate that a powerful message of staying aware to the social issues around us has become a badge of honor or proof that outsiders are sympathetic and join the fight against injustices against Blacks. One commenter on an article I read stated, “Being an ally without striking the woke pose. Help them find and amplify their voice and not to toot your own horn.” Another commenter posted, “’Woke’ should not be about being seen. But instead, should be about how you see yourself and the action you take going forward.” Exactly, letting your actions speak louder than your words. If you see a minority group being mistreated and you don’t like it, make sure you extend a hand in friendship. Make sure you do not repeat the same mistreatment as you interact with people of other groups. And that goes for all groups, even groups you don’t agree with. The adage is true, “You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.” And as Obama said in July 2018, “Maybe we can change their minds, but maybe they’ll change ours. And you can’t do this if you just out of hand disregard what your opponents have to say from the start” (Chiu, 2019).

In conclusion, I can understand the sentiment behind woke. However, the woke movement has become more of calling people out for their “un-wokeness” than trying to change the mentalities. I agree with Mr. Obama, casting stones doesn’t get us very far. As Jesus says in John 8:7, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone…” If you are going to throw stones at one’s social errors, then you better prepared to have yours be called out as well. None of us are perfect. Some are more aware of the injustices around us, instead of calling people out for their lack of awareness, use your knowledge to help them understand. While there will be some who will forever be closed to what you have to say, there are others who are willing to listen and, at least try, to understand. Stop being so condescending. Listen to learn instead of listening to respond. This is not just for liberals or the younger generations, this is for the conservatives and the older generations too. We aren’t going to get anywhere yelling at each other.

References

Chiu, Allyson (October 31, 2019). ‘He is right on all counts’: Obama finds rare bipartisan support by bashing ‘woke’ shaming. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/10/31/obama-woke-shaming-bipartisan-support-yang-coulter-gabbard/. Retrieved November 16, 2019.

Hass, Amanda (April 19, 2019). Earning the ‘Woke’ Badge. The New York Times Magazine. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/magazine/earning-the-woke-badge.html. Retrieved November 13, 2019.

Page, Clarence (November 16, 2019). Column: Barack Obama is right about giving ‘woke’ culture a rest. Will progressive Democrats listen? Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/clarence-page/ct-column-barack-obama-woke-cancel-culture-page-20191101-is2efucd55de3imffpq33mbbm4-story.html. Retrieved November 16, 2019.

Sanders, Sam (December 30, 2018). Opinion: It's Time To Put 'Woke' To Sleep. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2018/12/30/680899262/opinion-its-time-to-put-woke-to-sleep. Retrieved November 16, 2019.

Wulfson, Joseph A. (October 31, 2019). Obama's comments blasting 'woke' cancel culture snubbed by broadcast networks, study finds. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/media/obama-woke-cancel-culture-broadcast-networks-snub. Retrieved November 16, 2019.

Winter's Secret: a romance and mystery story

Winter’s Secret by Lyn Cote is the first book in the Northern Intrigue series. A small town in Wisconsin is experience a series of burglaries. The newly appointed sheriff, Rodd Durand, is determined to find the thief, he has nicknamed “The Weasel.” He notices that the victims have a connection to a local nurse, Wendy Carey. As the two team up to help catch this thief, the small town rumor mill starts turning about their relationship. The old stories of bad families and feuds between families start to turn their ugly heads. When the town bullies start to spread rumors about his incompetence, Rod is now in a race against time. Can Rodd ignore the small-town chatter to find the thief? Will he catch him in time before someone gets hurts?

Winter’s Secret is a very interesting romance/mystery novel. I loved every minute from the first page to the final gasp as the identity of the thief is revealed. It is a mystery that keeps you guessing. I loved all the characters from the ones you love to the ones you hate and love to see their reign of terror come to an end. I also enjoyed that the mystery for the next book begins near the end and pulls you in to continue the series. I will definitely be reading the series. The books are currently on my Amazon wish list for future purchase. I highly recommend Winter’s Secret.

Winter’s Secret

is available in eBook and audiobook

Fake news: what it is and what to do with it

Fake news. The term has been shouted at us for the last few years. From presidential candidates to newscasters to people on Facebook and other social media. Recently I found myself rolling my eyes as if to say “good grief” when someone tried to explain away a news story as fake news. And the more partisan the new source, the more “fake” people believe the news is. Conservatives often see CNN as fake news while liberals view Fox News as fake. It seems if people do not believe the story could possibly be true, then its fake news. Why do people engage in fake news? The answer is simple: power. Fake news has power. Even when proven false and redacted that information still has the potential to influence decisions, opinions and impressions. What exactly is fake news? How is it defined? What are the types of fake news? And what can we do in order to avoid falling for fake news?

Fake news is a type of yellow journalism or propaganda. It is deliberate misinformation or flat out hoaxes. It has been spread in traditional ways like via newspapers, broadcast media and word of mouth. Fake news in newspapers is nothing new. In 1835, the New York Sun ran a series about scientists finding life on the moon. Many people believed, at first, soon many people saw through the outrageous story. Edgar Allan Poe would eventually write a critical essay about the story’s unbelievability and the public’s gullibility for believing the story in the first place (Uberti, 2016). Today, we have online social media added to the mix. Fake news is written and published with the intent to mislead the public’s perception about an agency, business or a person. It is used to damage the reputation of the subject and gain either financially, when a business goes under, or politically by winning an office or causing an individual to lose theirs. As stated above, fake news is about power. Many stories are shared because they confirm the worldview of the sharer not as the world truly is (Borel, 2017). Fake new plants seeds of doubt to distract and flood everyone with conflicting and confusing information that people stop listening (Borel, 2017). Fake news is often used to cast doubt on legitimate news stories or to take attention away from more serious and important events. Considering how fast many of us get our news, many people sometimes just reading the headlines without reading the article, it is no wonder that fake news can flourish.

Claire Wardle of First Draft News identified seven types of fake news and their motivations. First, satire or parody has no intention to cause harm but has the potential to fool. Sites like The Onion and The Babylon Bee are clearly satire sites and yet many people read their articles as if they were real news stories. Understanding satire is not a trait that many people have. In 1729, Jonathan Swift wrote an article titled A Modest Proposal, in which he suggested that impoverished people sell their children as food to the rich, was met with outrage. While some understood the joke and took offense while others just didn’t understand its intentions. Second, false connection when headlines, visuals or captions do not support an article’s content. Clickbait articles are notorious for this type. Their aim is for you to click on the article in order to gain money. Third, misleading content used to frame an issue or individual in an unfavorable light. Fourth, false content is when false information is used in conjunction with real information and the reader is unable to distinguish between the two. Fifth, imposter content is when genuine sources are impersonated with false make up sources. Sixth, manipulated content is genuine information or imagery is manipulated to deceive. This form is commonly used when photos or photoshopped or videos are doctored. Lastly, fabricated content is an article that is 100% false and written to deceive or do harm. The motivations behind these types of fake news ranges from poor journalism (someone just didn’t take the time to fact check) to parody to influence political support and elections.

So, what do we do about fake news? First, be critical of all information. Double check and verify before sharing, posting and even reacting to it. I’ve gotten into the habit of checking a story that seems too outrageous to be true. If only one news site is carrying the story, then I am skeptical at the story’s veracity. There are also a variety of face checking website to verify a story. For example, Factcheck,org and FactCheckEd,org are nonpartisan, nonprofit sites to check stories. False information is deeply ingrained in politics and always has been. So why are we surprised when a politician lies or stretches the truth? Every politician will say whatever is needed to order to gain a vote. Whether it is trashing the opponent or making promises that are too good to be true. Second, stop and think. While a guest on “On the Media” radio show, Craig Silverman stated that we need to use emotional skepticism, to second guess their instinctual reactions (Wardle, 2017). Emotional skepticism is essentially to stop and think, “why am I having this reaction?” What about the article incites anger or other emotions? We need to stop and take a second look before hitting the share button. A second look may show you whether you truly need to share it or not. Third, Brooke Borel states in her article that news media needs to “stop trying so hard to entertain” and just state the facts or story (2017). News has become a source of entertainment. Newscaster tell story or make silly comments about the stories that its hard to take the story, or the newscasters themselves, seriously.

In conclusion, fake news is essentially propaganda. It is designed to distract, cast doubt and destroy. Fake news is nothing new. It just as been given a new name and, in this age of fast news, very few news organizations are fact checking news stories in order to beat their competitors when reporting, leading to false information and misinformation public. Fact checking takes effort and time which is probably why so many people don’t bother to do it. They see a headline immediately have an emotional response, usually anger, and comment, share and spread the story without stopping first to check to see what is even true. As we approach the 2020 presidential election, a year I am personally dreading, we need to stop and check the facts before we form opinions, comment and share on social media and debate with others. Don’t take the newscasters’ word for it. Don’t take the candidates or any politicians’ word for it. Don't take a family member or a friend's word for it, Stop and check.

References

Borel, Brooke (January 4, 2017). Fact-Checking Won’t Save Us From Fake News. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/fact-checking-wont-save-us-from-fake-news/. Retrieved October 30, 2019.

Uberti, David (December 15, 2016). The real history of fake news. https://www.cjr.org/special_report/fake_news_history.php?link. Retrieved October 29, 2019.

Wardle, Claire (February 16, 2017). Fake news. It's complicated. https://firstdraftnews.org/fake-news-complicated/. Retrieved October 29, 2019.

The Light in the Hallway: how do you move on when your spouse dies?

The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse is a story of life after the death of a spouse and how does one move on? The story opens in 1992 with 10-year-old Nick Bairstow, along with his best friends, Eric and Alex, has begged his father for a bike only to be horribly disappointed. Fast forward 25 years, Nick is begging his 18-year-old son, Oliver “Olly” to come with him but her refuses. So, Nick goes alone. Where is he going? The hospital where his wife, Kerry, is dying of cancer. He arrives in time to say goodbye. Soon the doors of grief close in on Nick and he is not sure what do to. But life must go one as Olly heads to university and Nick finds a way to come home to an empty house. At every turn, he is criticized by his sister-in-law, Diane, for various missteps and bad behavior on his and Olly’s part. At one point, Nick confesses, “It seems I can’t do right for doing wrong, where they are all concerned.” What is the protocol for moving on? What are the steps to get on with one’s life when their loved one dies? Throughout the book, the story flashbacks to the summer of 1992 when Nick begins to learn important life lessons and connects to the new life lessons he learns in the present.

The Light in the Hallway is the fourth book I have read by Ms. Prowse. While it’s not my favorite (I still love The Food of Love (2016)), I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I found myself very protective of Nick as he tries to navigate life after Kerry’s death. I wanted to give Diane a piece of my mind when she criticized Nick for “moving on too fast” after Kerry’s death. But was he really? How long is he supposed to stay in mourning? I cheered when he finally gets the courage to stand up to her and tell her off. There was one moment when I cried my eyes out. I can’t discuss it further, but it is very significant to the story and it was very touching. I highly recommend The Light in the Hallway. It is a moving story of how one moves on after a death. Life truly does go on.

The Light in the Hallway

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Perfect for You: a sexy fun romance novel

Perfect for You by Kate Perry is the first book in her Laurel Heights novel series. It is the story of Freya Godwin, a web designer who has lost her mojo. When her job is threatened, she places a personal ad for a man, hoping the right guy will come along and give her a spark of inspiration. Enter her hot, upstairs neighbor, Greg Cavanagh, unfortunately, he is a lawyer and therefore unacceptable. After a few replies which turns out to be duds and another ultimatum from her boss, Freya reluctantly strikes a deal with Greg. She proposes that he help her come up with a sexy new web design for an adult website and she agrees to let him woo her in attempts to win her heart. Will Greg give her the spark of inspiration she’s looking for? Will she be able to push aside her preconceived notions and allow herself to fall in love?

Perfect for You is a fun, sexy romance novel. It is beach book, a weekend read but it was fun to read. There were moments I groan at Freya’s stubbornness and there were moments I laughed at the antics the characters engaged in. And there were moments I caught my breath with the flirting, anticipation and, of course, the love scenes. If you enjoy romance novels, Perfect for You is a great choice. I bought the book when it was a free to buy as the description pulled me in. And despite some of the reviews I read, after I purchased it, I may continue the series as they are currently six books in total, because I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I recommend Perfect for You.

Perfect for You

is available in eBook and audiobook

In the Cradle Lies: continuation of the Tree of Life series

In the Cradle Lies by Olivia Newport is the second book in her The Tree of Life series. The story opens with the introduction of a new stranger in town. Tucker Kintzler is throwing money around and looking to ski a very dangerous slope, Hidden Run. Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father, Nolan, along with their friends, befriend Tucker hoping to urge him from skiing the dangerous slope. Interwoven with the present is the story of Matthew “Matt” Ryder, from a child in the 1930 to an adult in the 1950s. Matt learns a dark family secret which destroys his mother’s fragile mental state and tears apart his relationship with his father, Judd. What is the connection to Tucker? Can Jillian and the others discover what he is running from before he seriously injures himself? Can he find peace with the burden he seems to be carrying?

From the opening page, In the Cradle Lies grabs you and sucks you in until you are determined to finish and discover the great secret that connects Tucker and Matt Ryder. There is so much about the book that I loved but due to possible spoiler issues, I won’t discuss them. However, I loved each character. I laughed at their banter. I gasped as the secret is revealed and I smiled as all the dots are connected. In the Cradle Lies is a great story about family, the past and coming to terms with it in the present. I am looking forward to the next book in the series which is set to be released next year. I highly recommend In the Cradle Lies as well as the first book in the series, The Inn at Hidden Run.

In the Cradle Lies

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

The Wideness of the Sea: the search for home and forgiveness

The Wideness of the Sea by Katie Curtis is a story of family, following your dreams and returning home. Anna Goodrich is a 28-year-old art gallery worker in New York City with friends and a handsome boyfriend. She rarely thinks about her family in her hometown of New Harbor, Maine. She left it all behind after the death of her beloved mother. One day she gets terrible news. Her uncle had passed away suddenly and Anna finds herself on the road back home for his funeral. While she is there, she must deal with her widowed father who she has butted heads with about her career path. She discovers that her uncle has left her his house and she must stay to clean it out. Anna finds herself being pulled back into life of the seaside town. Her boyfriend, boss, and friends are urging her to return to her life in New York. Anna must decide does she stay in Maine or does she return in New York? Will she be able to find healing from the past and find the life she has been searching for?

The Wideness of the Sea is a beautiful story of family, tragedy and finding healing by the sea. Ms. Curtis’ descriptions of Maine are so vivid, I could almost smell the saltiness of the ocean. I would love to visit Maine now after reading her story. The ending was predictable, and you can see it coming a mile away; however, it is still a beautiful story of forgiveness and discovering where you truly belong. I loved the scene where Anna realizes that our loved ones never truly leave us. We are always connected through our memories and love. I recommend The Wideness of the Sea.

The Wideness of the Sea

Is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Toy Story 4: a good family film that tells a similar story

When Toy Story was released in 1995, it was an instant hit and launched the Disney Pixar studio into stardom. Their future films have been major hits with a few misses, overall Pixar could be counted on for a great movie. However, when Disney Pixar announced that they were releasing a fourth Toy Story film, I was skeptical. Was a fourth film necessary? Toy Story 4 was released in theaters on June 21, 2019 to rave reviews and went on to earn $1.071 billion worldwide. It was released on Blu-ray, DVD and digital streaming in October 2019. I recently got the opportunity to watch the movie and while it was a good film, it told the same tired story.

The film opens 9 years ago, before the events of Toy Story 3 (2010) with Bo Peep (voiced by Annie Potts), her sheep and the lamp she stands on are donated to another family. Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is determined to save her but Bo is refuses to return to the house, telling Woody she is not Andy’s toy and “it’s time for the next kid.” Woody reluctantly lets her go. Fast forward to the present day and life with Bonnie. Woody is not Bonnie’s favorite as she prefers to play with Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) and the others. That day is special as Bonnie is starting kindergarten and it is orientation. Woody thinks a toy should go with her despite hearing from Bonnie’s dad that toys are not allowed at school. Woody sneaks into her backpack and watches as she struggles in school. While at school, Bonnie creates Forky (voiced by Tony Hale) and instantly attached. For the final week before school officially starts, Bonnie and her parents go on vacation and while on vacation, Forky gets lost, Woody leaves to rescue him and the other toys must find a way to get Forky and Woody back before Bonnie realizes they are gone.

There are three things I liked about the film. First, it was a great story despite the familiar plot (I’ll get into that last). It had touching moments and great humor. It had the nostalgia about childhood toys and dreams while presenting a lesson about letting go and moving on with just memories to keep. Second, Woody’s place in the ending. I won’t discuss it, but it was a fitting ending. My husband and I both got misty eyed as it was a great moment. The ending of this film makes it clear that this is the final film. Even Tom Hanks in interview has hinted that this is the final film. Third, the Easter Eggs. You can always count on Pixar putting great Easter Eggs into their films. Whether it is a shout out to other Pixar films like Finding Nemo (2003) and Up (2009) or connections to the other Toy Story films.

There is one main thing I didn’t like about this film. The plot was too familiar. A toy needs to be recused. Toy Story (1995) has Woody trying to get himself and Buzz back to Andy when his jealous got them separated from him. Toy Story 2 (1999) had Buzz on a mission to rescue Woody after he was taken, and they must return before Andy returns home from camp. Toy Story 3 (2010) has Woody on a mission to rescue the others when they are mistakenly donated to a day care and he must do so before Andy leaves for college. Familiar? Very. Any story needs a villain. Something to fight against. The Toy Story films have evil toys. While the first film, technically didn’t have an evil toy, Woody was essentially the villain as his jealousy got him and Buzz into their desperate situation. The second film had The Prospector who was trying to keep Woody with the collection to the Japanese museum. The third film had Lotso who was like a mafia crime boss who used terror to control the weaker toys. The fourth film has Gabby Gabby (voiced by Christian Hendricks) who had henchmen to do her bidding.

Overall, it was a good film that kids will enjoy. However, it was just a rehash of previous plots and characters with just enough to make it look different. Children will enjoy this film as they have enjoyed the other Toy Story films. However, Pixar, if you are listening, Toy Story 4 needs to be the finale. All good things must come to an end and let Toy Story 4 be it. At some point, it stops being innovative and starts being lazy. Keep being innovative with new stories and characters and stop rehashing old ones.

Faith, hope, and love: three very important factors in a Christian's life

Faith, hope and love are at the center of Christian’s life, at least they should be. They are the drive and motivation behind everything we do. At the end of what is known as the Love Chapter, Paul writes that faith, hope and love are what remains (or lasts) and the greatest of these three is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). These words are often found on home décor, to be displayed in one’s house but does one truly understand that they mean? What is faith? What is hope? What is love? We may know the basic definitions of these terms but what about them makes them so important.

Faith is defined as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” In the New International Version (NIV) Bible, faith is used 270 times. The basics of faith is trust and commitment to God. Faith can be shown in three basic ways. First, personal belief, mental acceptance and acknowledgment of God’s existence. In John 20:29 Jesus says to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Many people have come to believe and have faith in Christ but have not seen him. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says “We live by faith, not by sight.” Faith is belief in things that are unseen. Second, conduct inspired faith. In Matthew 9:2, Jesus healed a man because of his faith. Faith allows us to believe in the unbelievable and one day, believers will be rewarded for their faith by seeing that was once unseen. St Augustine once said, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” Third, a trust or trustworthiness inspires our faith. Thomas Aquinas wrote “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To no without faith, no explanation is possible.”

Hope is defined as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” Hope is used 129 times in 121 verses in the NIV Bible. Hope is essential because “hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12). However, hope is not like having a lottery ticket and hoping you win. Hope in the Bible is linked to salvation by grace and faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is our hope. Hope for eternity. Hope because God is in control of everything around us. It is a hope of certainty, a divine hope while a human hope is a hope of uncertainty. Human hope is merely wishful thinking. Hope in Jesus helps us live now. Sometimes we still use hope as wishful thinking “I hope it all works out” but you never know. However, there is hope in our salvation and the promises that Jesus gives us in the gospels that we can rely on with certainty. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul writes, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Lastly, love. Everyone knows love and it is a word that many people use carelessly. Love is used 681 in the NIV Bible. 1 Corinthians 13 describes what love is. Love is patient, kind, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres and rejoices with the truth (verses 4 and 6). It also describes what love is not. Love is not boastful, jealous, proud, rude, or easily angered (verses 4 and 5). Love does not keep any record of wrongs, self-seeking, or delight in evil (verses 5 and 6). Love never fails (verse 8). Love is the greatest of all human qualities because it involves unselfish service to others. It is the most durable and real evidence that you care. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Laying down one’s life is putting another’s needs ahead of your own and it is the ultimate sacrifice of giving one’s life for another as Jesus did on the cross. Love is attributed to God himself. John 3:16 states “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In conclusion, faith, hope and love are important in a Christian life. Faith is the foundation and content of God’s message. From faith, hope and love are built. Hope is the attitude and focus. Love is both in action. All three on interconnected. Love without faith or hope is hallow. While faith and hope without love will fail. Faith, hope and love are the things that will last forever. When everything else falls away, these three things will remain. Faith, hope and love are the things we should be pursuing in our lives and should be the motivations behind all we do in the name of Jesus.

In the Field of Grace: a great love story

In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar is the romantic retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz. Their story appears in the small but powerful Bible book of Ruth. Ruth is a Moabite who is the youngest and forgotten daughter when she befriends Naomi and catches the eye of her son, Mahlon. The two marry and set up house with Naomi, his older brother Chilion and his young bride, Orpah. The small family is very happy until suddenly Mahlon and Chilion become ill and die. Naomi is left with one option, to return to her home in Bethlehem. Ruth is determined to follow her beloved mother in law to the ends of the earth if she had to and refuses to return to her parents even after Naomi pleads with her. When the two arrive in Bethlehem, they have very little to their name. Naomi tells Ruth about gleaning in the fields. Gleaning is when the poor pick up the shafts of wheat and barley that the harvesters drop. In order to keep them from starvation, Ruth decides to join the gleaners in the fields. The one she chooses belongs to Boaz, a distant cousin of Naomi, a kind and gentle man who all he can to help the less fortunate. He is immediately drawn to Ruth and finds himself making sure Ruth and Naomi have all they need to survive. He tells himself that his interest in Ruth is nothing more than repaying her love and kindness to his cousin, but will he open himself up to the truth? Will he and Ruth surrender to God’s will and plan for their lives?

I have always loved the book of Ruth. I love the love story between Ruth and Boaz. A woman from a nation who was a hated enemy of Israel and a man with a strong stance in the community. God brings them together and from their son, Obed, comes King David and from David’s line is the Messiah, Jesus. Ms. Afshar once again brings a simple but magical story on its own and fills it with even more wonderful. In In the Field of Grace, the human sides of Ruth and Boaz become more real. Readers can see them as we are today, filled with doubts, pain, grief and uncertainty. Often you read a Bible story and it seems so obvious that the people in these stories would follow God and rewarded. But we do not realize that Ruth and Boaz had their own doubts, insecurities about their self-worth and God’s love for them. Ms. Afshar’s story opens the human side to these Biblical figures in a powerful way. I highly recommend In the Field of Grace.

In the Field of Grace

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Before and After: a nice companion to Before We Were Yours

Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate is a follow-up to Ms. Wingate’s bestselling book, Before We were Yours which I reviewed two years ago (a link for that review is posted below). Ms. Christie, a journalist, and Ms. Wingate present the real stories of individuals who were stolen from their parents, from their homes and placed in illegal adoptions. As well as documented the outpouring of support for Before We Were Yours as many do not know these painful events which occurred in Memphis, Tennessee from roughly 1923 to 1950 when the scandal broke. Each story was heartbreaking as many of the victims were torn between being angry that they were taken from their families and loving the families they grew up in. Before and After helps put the physical names and faces to the events readers see in Before We Were Yours.

Some of the stories were harder to read then others. Some stories the children were stolen from very loving homes and placed in not so loving homes. Stories of uneducated, but loving parents being tricked into signing away their children. Even the adopted parents were doped by Ms. Tann as there are many stories of Jewish parents asking, and being told they were getting, a Jewish baby, only to find out years later, their baby isn’t Jewish. There was one part of the story I had to laugh, and it isn’t related to the victim’s stories. Ms. Christie was recounting a story that her older brother helped name her that she quipped “Who lets a 7-year-old name their child?” Well, my husband and I let our 6-year-old have a say in the names that were considered for our youngest daughter. It was a name we ultimately chose too. If you have read Before We were Yours, I highly recommend reading Before and After. If you haven’t read Before We were Yours, I highly recommend reading it and following up with Before and After.

Before and After

is available in hardcover and eBook

My review of Before We Were Yours

https://observationsfromasimplelife.blogspot.com/2017/07/before-we-were-yours-excellent-story.html

Bread of Angels: the story of Lydia, the seller of purple

Bread of Angels by Tessa Afshar is the story of Lydia, the seller of purple who is briefly mentioned in Acts 16:14. The story begins with Lydia as a young girl learning her father’s secret formula for the richest purple dye. After tragedy strikes, Lydia is forced to leave her ancestral home and head to Philippi. In Philippi, she establishes herself as a seller of purple and gained a reputation as an honest and generous businesswoman despite the attempts of sabotage by those who wish to see her fail. One such act of sabotage seems to be her ruin. Until one day, a chance meeting with Paul and his companions, she turns her life over to God. As she learns more about God and opening her heart to him, individuals from her past come to Philippi and threaten to destroy everything she has worked so hard to build. Her newly found faith will be tested and she must decide to stand up and fight for herself or turn and hide.

One of the things I love about Tessa Afshar’s writing is that she can take a simple and relatively minor person from the Bible and make her come alive. She did it here in Bread of Angels. Lydia is mentioned briefly during Paul’s mission trips in Acts, but her story is very significant. From the opening page to the closing chapter, I was captivated by Lydia’s story and how seemingly insignificant encounters brought her to a place of prestige and influence. I also love how Tessa Afshar works the meaning of the title very subtly in the story and seems to come from nowhere. While some details about these characters and the times in which they lived are fictionalized and altered for a modern reader, Ms. Afshar keeps the integrity of the main character, Lydia, and opened my eyes to her story in a new way. I highly recommend Bread of Angels.

Bread of Angels

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Here's to pizza!

Pizza. A savory Italian dish of a round flattened base of leavened dough. In Italy, a formal restaurant setting, a pizza would be eaten with a knife and fork. In a causal setting, it is cut into wedges and eaten by hand, which is the way most of us usually eat it. A favorite food among many people around the world. It enjoys a wide variety of crust and toppings depending on regions. October is National Pizza Month. Started by Gerry Durnell, publisher of Pizza Today magazine in 1984, October has become a month to celebrate this delicious food from its humble origins to the crazy debates about which region has the better pizza and even what toppings are acceptable.

There have been foods like the pizza found throughout the Ancient World. In the 6^th century BCE, Persian soldiers of the Achaemenid Empire, during the rule of King Darius I, baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their shields. Ancient Greeks would use oil, herbs and cheese on their flatbreads. The term, pizza, was first recorded in a 10^th century in a Latin manuscript from southern Italy. According to legend, the modern pizza was invented in Naples in the 18^th to early 19^th century. The popular story goes, in 1889, the Royal Palace of Capodimonte commissioned the Neapolitan pizzaiolo (pizza maker) Raffaele Esposito to create a pizza in honor of the visiting Queen Margherita (1851-1926). He created three pizzas and the queen preferred the pizza which represented the Italian flag: red (tomatoes), green (basil) and white (mozzarella) which became the pizza Margherita. Pizza was brought to the US by Italian immigrants in the late 19^th century. The first US pizzeria, Lombardi’s, was opened in New York City in 1905 and it is still open today. The demand for pizza would skyrocket after World War II when servicemen were returning home from the Italian front and asked for this dish.

There are many variations of pizza. In Italy, the pizza napolitana remains a popular style which contains San Marzano and mozzarella di bufala.  Pizza is extremely popular in the United States in which 13% of American eat pizza on any given day. There are regional pizzas which developed in the US. Everyone is familiar with the New York style which is a hand tossed crust with a light layer of tomato sauce with mozzarella cheese and toppings such as pepperoni. New York pizzas usually measure between 18-24 inches in diameter and cut into eight large pieces. You may also be familiar with the popular Chicago style deep dish pizza. However, were you familiar with the other regional styles. First, the California style which is a thin crust and topping which unusual toppings such as chicken and goat cheese. This style was popularized by California chefs, Wolfgang Puck and Ed LaDou. Second, the Detroit style is a rectangular pizza with a thick crisp crust topped with sauce, cheese, pepperoni and mushrooms. Lastly, the St Louis pizza, which is a very thin, cracker like crust commonly topped with Provel cheese, which is made with cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheeses, and cut into squares instead of wedges.

The world record for the largest pizza was in Rome in December 2012 which measured 1,261 square meters (approximately 13,570 square feet)! And the world record for the longest pizza was in Fontana, California in 2017 which measured 1,930.39 meters (approximately 6,333.3 feet)! That’s almost a mile and a quarter long! Of course, with the popularity of pizza, there are many debates which occur. New York will always claim their pizza is better than other regions. While style of pizza is dependent on region and personal taste, one topic sparks a large and louder debate: toppings. More specific: is pineapple an acceptable pizza topping? Most people will state that pineapple does not belong on a pizza because it is not an Italian ingredient. However, this argument is week as many different styles use toppings which are not Italian. I personally love a pizza with pineapple and Canadian bacon. However, that is the only combination I will use with pineapple. Pineapple does not belong on a pizza with pepperoni or other toppings. According to Debate.org, 59% of respondents said yes, pineapple is an acceptable topping while 41% said no. And the debate goes on.

In conclusion, pizza is as simple or as complex as consumers wants. Regardless how you enjoy your pizza, it is a food which has had a long and successful history. From early forms in the Ancient world to the legendary beginnings in Italy, pizza will continue to be favorite around the US and around the world. So next time you enjoy your favorite pizza, remember its humble beginnings to its worldwide success. May even try a type of pizza you have never had before. You never know, you may find a new favorite. Here’s to pizza!

The Grumble Free Year: One family's journey to help others be grumble free

The Grumble Free Year: Twelve months, eleven family members and one impossible goal by Tricia Goyer is her family’s journey to attempt to grumble less and praise more. Before they set off on this seemingly impossible journey, Tricia and her husband, John, promise their kids that if they can achieve this goal, the family will go on a cruise. Their ten children agree to give it a try. The book is twenty chapters, separating into three parts: Gearing Up, The Challenge Begins, and Winding Down, Tricia Goyer details their planning, their successes as well as their failures and where the ideas need to be thrown out, added new ideas or improved upon original ones. At the end of each chapter, there are three Reflection Questions in which the reader can reflect on the topics discussed in each chapter and find the areas that need more attention or improvement. There is also a My Turn section in which the reader can apply the Grumble Free technique to their own journey. Using personal stories and well as relevant Bible verses, Tricia Goyer guides the reader to a grumble free year and beyond.

I was invited to become a member of the Grumble Free Year Launch team. Since I review books on a regular basis, I joined even though I was unfamiliar with Ms. Goyer’s work. I was curious about what this journey would be about. As I began, I was intrigued by her story as her younger children come to their family through adoption and the challenges they faced as the children were older adoptees. At the end of each chapter, I would thoughtfully answer the Reflection Questions and I begin to see where I could change my grumbly ways. Some of the challenges and methods do not apply to me…yet as my children are only 7 years old and 13 months. However, I now have a tool at my disposal in order to face those future grumble years by getting to the root of the grumbles. The Grumble Free Year is a wonderful book with heartfelt, personal and honest stories that shows that the goal of being grumble free isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. This book helped me realize where I am already working on my grumbling and the areas where I still need work. It is a book I will be visiting again and again as I need it. I highly recommend The Grumble Free Year.

The Grumble Free Year:

Twelve months, eleven family members, and one impossible goal

will be available November 5, 2019

in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Harvest of Gold: Darius and Sarah's story continues

Harvest of Gold by Tessa Afshar is the sequel to Harvest of Rubies. Sarah is still adjusting to life married to a Persian aristocrat. She has wealth, property, honor and power and yet the one thing she desperately wants seems impossible to get: her husband’s love. What she doesn’t realize is that Darius is battling within himself. He finds himself drawn to her, at the edge of falling in love with her, yet he always seems to find an excuse to pull himself back, to close himself off. When a plot against the king is discover, Darius is sent on a mission to expose the plotters before it is too late. At the same time, Sarah’s cousin, Nehemiah, hears God’s call to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. Nehemiah’s journey to Jerusalem and Darius’ mission soon combine, and Darius finds himself being pulled by his mother’s God. Will Darius discover who is behind the plot against the king? Will he finally surrender to his love for Sarah? Will he stop running away from God and surrender to his call?

Harvest of Gold starts soon after Harvest of Rubies ends, and Darius and Sarah can’t seem to find a peaceful life before they are caught up in another plot to unravel. This book didn’t have the same intensity as the first book and it’s drama seemed to be drawn out. The story was separated into three parts. The third part is where the real emotions and drama happens although it seems rushed in order to finish the book. Overall, I enjoyed Darius and Sarah’s continued story and the challenges Nehemiah faced as he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. If you enjoyed Harvest of Rubies, you will enjoy Harvest of Gold, although it doesn’t exact live up to its predecessor.

Harvest of Gold

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook