Irene Hannon thrills again with Buried Secrets

I love a good crime novel and Irene Hannon does not disappoint in her latest novel Buried Secrets. 

Part crime solver, part romance Buried Secrets introduces us to Lisa Grant, a former Chicago Homicide detective looking for a change of pace as police chief of a small town and ex-Navy SEAL Mac McGregor getting a new start as a county detective. The two meet at the scene of a decades old murder when a body is found by a construction crew.

We also meet three adults trying to put a teen mistake behind them and face the aftermath of choices they made one fateful night. Central to this trio is ambitious go-getter Jessica, who is now next-in-line to run a prominent Christian PR firm and will do anything to keep the past in the past. (I found this ironic as I used to work for the country's first and most prominent Christian PR firm. There were some similarities in the book, but the author was definitely off when she referenced high dollar expense accounts and clients expecting the best in dining and travel, etc. I have been to client meetings where you are lucky to get anything to drink aside from water).

Nevertheless, the characters are well developed and the plot is full of twists and turns as Jessica plots and ploys to cover up her misdeed with Lisa and Mac closing in on her. It ends with a dangerous confrontation that kept my heart beating with suspense. Thumbs up!

Is a digital device on your kids gift list? How to handle growing up social.

It's that time of year when our kids are shouting from the other room when the commercials come on "Mom, I want this!"

It is the time we begin to organize our Christmas lists and prep for a big week of sales, Monday before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Tech Tuesday! Phew!

I've been putting careful consideration into what I get our kids this year. I am concerned that they don't get enough active play, so I want them to get something that encourages movement. I want to encourage hobbies. I want to get them reading print! (Book/print reading, as opposed to reading on a digital reader promotes focus and creativity, it is calming and relaxing and is linked to increased intelligence and brain activity.) And then there is this issue of technology. 

At our home my husband, teen, and I have smart phones and I have an iPad. Increasingly, my four and six year olds are taking over our devices! Now filled with their apps, my storage is low, the power is always running low and they are sticky (if I can get a hold of one). I believe that technology has a lot of positive benefits. I can see it in my son, who has Down syndrome. He is a visual learner and these apps have helped him learn words and colors. But research shows that too much time can actually be detrimental to brain development. Not to mention other dangers involved with social media I must consider for my teen. 

I recently read this post pointing out that as GenX parents, we are the first to face this parenting dilemma and straddle the divide between traditional media consumers and digital natives. So what are we to do? How do we handle this territory that is relatively untested? How will our decisions impact our kids' futures?

I've considered getting each their own devices this year. Nabi has child friendly tablets with great parental controls such as time limits, Internet blocking, etc. They even have versions for ages 4-6, 6-12 and teens at reasonable prices between $99-$200. But how to make sure I put the right controls in place to reap the benefits and limit the negatives?

Fortunately, I have a guide. Dr Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane have written a guide for us called Growing Up Social. In Growing Up Social, Chapman and Pellicane acknowledge that we all want to equip our children to show affection, appreciate others, deal with anger, learn to apologize, and pay attention. Through research and stories, they illustrate how screen time can affect our ability to equip our children in these areas and give us strategies to work around the negative aspects of screen time, such as:

• Reduced attention span
• The need for instant gratification
• Lack of patience
• Overstimulation
• Not able to relax
• Sleep issues
• Poor concentration
• Lack of empathy

Growing Up Social addresses how the digital world has affected the A+ skills of affection, appreciation, anger management, apology and attention and provides solutions for ensuring these skills are taught and embraced. The book also addresses the affects of screen time and brain development, shyness, security, parental authority, single parenting and us! The authors point out obstacles and challenges and provide sound advice. The authors are not preachy and fully accept the fact that the digital world is here to stay. They want us to be aware of the affects and consequence and have tools and skills to work around these to provide a right balance for our families.

So, I will likely go ahead and get these devices for our kids fully using the time limit features. I plan to set up a system to earn screen time and to lay a few ground rules:

• Must read printed words for at least 20 minutes before screen time
• Must have active play for 40-60 minutes per day
• No screens while doing homework, unless needed for research
• No screens during meals
• Screen time daily limits according to age
• Devices must be checked in and out by parents in order to use
• Teen phone must be on charger upstairs by 9 p.m. each night
• App purchases must be pre-approved
• Must have all usernames and passwords
• Teen must review and sign agreement to social conduct/safety standards
• People first, tech second

In the people first, technology second arena, we will make sure that face time takes precedence in the areas of affection, appreciation, anger management, apology and attention. If you are concerned with how screen time can affect your kids and your family and what you can do to minimize the negative affects, pick up a copy of Growing Up Social, or comment with your family tech tips/guidelines below for a chance to win your own copy!

Disclosure: I was given a copy of the book by the publisher for an honest review.

Their Name Is Today

Last month, my 13 year old asked to go trick or treating with some friends in the neighborhood. They wanted to leave from school and go to a kids house and leave from there. I have never met these kids or their parents so I had cause to be concerned. Truth be told when I was her age, in the same neighborhood, I had a group of girls meet at my house to get ready and roam the neighborhood on. Halloween, but today is so very different.

I ended up not allowing her to go and she had friend come with us. They did go out on their own, but just on the few streets near our house and we were nearby. Call me protective but the dangers of things such as sex trafficking, sex offenders and reckless/distracted drivers just scare me. Halloween is a night that has unseen dangers if not careful. 

It's sad that so much has changed since I was a child. In the book Their Name Is Today, Johann Christoph Arnold talks about the need to reclaim childhood in a hostile world and I agree much has been lost. But, he claims that parents and teachers can turn the tide by giving children the time and space they need to grow.

"I am getting older; my life is coming to an end, but I still have a great urge to use my remaining strength to help anyone within reach, especially children. Working in schools for forty years, counseling many struggling families, as well as veterans and prisoners, I have seen much human need and tragedy. So often, the roots of this suffering began in childhood."

At the root of it is a need for cultural change in the way society views and treats children. We have
become a society that:

• pushes children to the edge of our busy schedules
• is always striving for overachievement
• does not allow enough time for play
• relies too much on screen time
• focuses on material rewards over true signs of affection
• is slack and inconsistent with discipline

Arnold writes this guide book for parents and teachers to offer insights into how to raise and influence a new generation of children to be more compassionate, considerate, courageous, bold, independent, secure and thoughtful. His perspective stems from the premise that children are to be cherished and every child has a right to joy and wonder.

"For whatever else may define childhood, one thing is constant: it is the gathering place of life's first and most indelible memories- the unalterable frame for all the experiences that accompany us through life. And this in the end, the task of bringing up children is not only a question of effective parenting, and even less one of educational insights, theories or ideals. It is, first and foremost, a matter of the love we give them, which has the power to awaken more of the same, even years down the road."

If you struggle to keep up and wonder if your priorities are right or if you are an educator wondering if you are really making a difference, grab a copy of Their Name is Today - Reclaiming Childhood in a Hostile World. 

Bouquet of Love Smells Sweet

As a Revell book review blogger, I had the opportunity to review a light-hearted Christian romance by Janice Thompson titled A Bouquet of Love.

Set in Galveston Texas, it is the story of a Greek family, led by a patriarch who moves his family and business to the island to open up a second family restaurant. 

Already entrenched in the island is a large and vibrant Italian family who owns the pizzeria across the street.

Conflict ensues when Pappa Pappas decides he will steal all the customers away from the popular Italian restaurant across the street and declares its owners, the Rossi family mortal enemies.

Cassia Pappas is s dutiful daughter who followed the family to Galveston even as she should be embarking on her own course. With a desire to go into the floral business, Cassia's dreams are poised to come true when she is asked to help out at the local floral shop. It is here she meets and befriends several members of the Rossi family.

A third source of tension comes from the budding romance between Cassia and a Greek nursery owner who supplies flowers to the shop.

A sweet romance, with plenty of tension and comedic undertones, the book explores themes of independence, following self or staying within family expectations, friendship and family. 

The book was engaging and reminiscent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It would also be appropriate for teenagers. 

Have you ever taken a path different from what was expected of you? 

Lost in Time with In Perfect Time

In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin is a brilliant tale of romance on the front lines during World War II. Sarah blends true to life historic events with multi-dimensional fictional characters to paint a captivating picture of romance during wartime in the 1940s in and around Italy.

It is the story of a young, troubled flight nurse searching for redemption and finding true love in the process and of a young pilot trying to escape his past by sitting out future possibilities whose defenses are shattered by true love.

I have read two other books in this series and am left wanting to know these characters even more. I was excited to get the opportunity from the publisher to receive a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Critique

Writing: Sarah's writing is descriptive prose, blended with action, humor, compassion and romance. In Perfect Time is no different.

Sundin explores the struggles her hero and heroine have in truly accepting the gift of faith and overcoming internal struggles while on the front lines of WWII.

The prose and dialogue are very well balanced and engage us deeper with the story. Through alternating chapters that focus on each character, Sundin tells us the stories of Kay and Roger with a pace that makes it hard to put down. Each character has a complexity that make them seem like real people. Flawed and wounded by what life has dealt thus far, both Kay and Roger put up defenses to control who they let in. Kay, who has a reputation of being a loose flirt, searches for acceptance through her relationships. Roger, who doesn't trust himself, puts walls of defense around him to keep from finding his true passion.

The backdrop of the war and the internal struggles each character faces provide plenty of tension. The romantic angst, however, is off the charts as each character becomes so handicapped by own inner battles they nearly miss the gift of love and acceptance in front of them.

Sundin brings back the characters from her two previous novels and helps tie up some loose ends. I am glad I got to know this group of nightingales and their men.

Historical significance: Sundin's immense knowledge of both World War II and nursing brings much credibility to the storyline. The settings are so vividly described I felt transported to an army base in Italy or a remote German cave. Sundin depicts 1940s culture, and as such, some of the characters smoke and drink and defy the traditional views on sex before marriage. The war scenes include descriptions of dog fights, bombings, plundering and injury. In Perfect Time, as well as the entire series, offers a unique look at the contributions of women on the front lines during that time.

Spiritual themes of redemption, assurance and grace are strongly highlighted throughout. Each of the characters, as do many of us at times, have a difficult time understanding and fully embracing forgiveness, the free gift of God's grace and newness promised to those who have accepted Christ.

Audience: This book would appeal to women and men who enjoy historical fiction. With strong, but not pushy, spiritual overtones, both Christians and non-Christians will enjoy the entire series, which I think has a broad appeal with enough action and romance to be a feature film.

You can get In Perfect Time at Amazon and book retailers near you.

The Care and Keeping of your Soul

We spend so much time working on physical wellness, educational pursuits and relationship development, but how often do we consider the condition of our soul? After all, it is all we will be left with when we die. Shouldn't we be sure it is cultivated and cared for?

What is a soul exactly?

How do you care for it?

What does the soul desire?

What are the best ways to meet those desire and what ways should be wary of?

What happens when our soul is in darkness?

These are the questions best selling author and pastor John Ortberg address in

his newest book Soul Keeping: Caring for the most important part of you. Influenced by the teachings on spiritual formation by Dallas Willard, Ortberg organizes his reflections into three segments: What the Soul Is, What the Soul Needs, and The Soul Restored. The second section offers direction for building soul wellness through rest, worship, freedom, blessing, satisfaction and gratitude with scriptural examples of key concepts.

One of my favorite chapters is The Soul Needs Blessing. Ortberg quotes Willard saying there are two great words in the Bible that describe the posture of our souls toward other people. One is to bless. The other is to curse. In every encounter with people, we will will what is good for them, or we will will what is bad. We are highly aware of our souls being blessed or cursed in our interactions with others. We are sensitive to this because our souls were made to be blessed.

Blessing is the projection of good into the life of another. We must think it, feel it, and will it. We communicate it with our words and bodies. Blessing is done by the soul.

Ortberg describes "soul love." It is a love I desire and one I want to give others. To love someone with your soul means your will, your choices, your mind, your thoughts, your feelings,  your body, your behaviors, and your habits are aligned for the good of their entire being before God. 

Wow.

Although a heavy topic, the book is understandable and an easy read. This is a book I will reflect on often as I try to craft a remarkable life for my family. Helping my children and husband care for their souls is of key importance. 

I want my kids to know how to get true soul satisfaction before they are tempted to try the poor substitutes this world offers. This won't likely just happen by accident. I must teach gratitude, worship, rest, blessing and mostly teach this by example. In fact, my primary job in my vocation of wife and mother is that of family soul tender. I have never thought if it that way before, but that was my key takeaway from the book. Of course, I cannot tend others' souls, unless mine is also well cared for.

The Lord bless you and keep you;The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Are You Working on the Right Core?

It turns out that the gym isn't the only place where you should work your core. Athletes of all types know that a strong core helps improve performance, makes their efforts more effective, and most importantly, protects them from injury.

While strong core muscles will help us achieve greater physical longevity, a strong internal core will help us achieve greater success in the areas in which we have influence. 

According to Tim Irwin, Ph.D., in his new book Impact! Great Leadership Changes Everything, a fall from a leadership position has very little to do with a leader's competence but has everything to do with his or her core.

Wherever you lead, whether the boardroom or baseball field, the principles in Impact! can help you guard and grow your internal core so you can have impact and lead from a position of influence. 

The book focuses on a number of disciplines that help us to build and protect a strong core. In it, Irwin calls for leaders to develop a practice of self-examination, self awareness and self regulation to guide our daily actions. Through exercises designed to aid self examination, Irwin leads help us identify inner beliefs about ourselves and those we lead; shines a light on the lies we tell ourselves; and leads us in setting up our own personal accountability team. Impact! Great Leadership Changes Everything is engaging, instructive and provides several concrete examples of leaders who have fallen as a result of a weak inner core, as well as those who have thrived from a strong core.

I have had several leadership positions in both my personal and professional life, including a few failures that were the result of an immature core. When I was placed in one of my most significant leadership positions in my professional career, my core was not strong enough to withstand the enormous pressures that came with it. I got a big head and lost focus. I learned a whole lot about self from that experience and underwent a period of self examination myself. It was a time of tremendous growth and I am still learning and developing.

I'm looking forward to practicing the disciplines found in this book and applying them in my various roles: as a mom, as a professional, as a Girl Scout leader, as a member of the board of the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta and as writer. I know that being a good leader is a learned skill and I still have much to learn.

This book is a great tool for anyone who wants to lead more effectively in their home, at their church, in their local community or in business. I have one to give away to one of my readers! Please comment below with a story about a failure or success in leadership in your life!

How to Uncomplicate Your Life

Life is extremely complicated. Living out this life as a full-time working mom, wife, mother of three, daughter, volunteer, servant gets messy and I don't always do it well. It can so easily become unbalanced. Schedules get full, obligations (both real and made up in my mind) take over and I become overcome with anxiety. I lash out, I stress out, I gain weight, I stumble. I want to fill all my roles well. I am doing important things. Yet, I often find myself completely exhausted and I just need a pillow and some rest. However, it seems I just don't know how to do that. To stop. To rest. To just be.

Yet the solution is simple and it is uncomplicated.

Stovall Weems, pastor of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida provides an approachable, easy to digest guide for applying the biblical principle of putting God first. 

I'm sure you are familiar with the verse Mathew 6:33 that tells us to seek first the kingdom of God. But how does that apply to your daily life? How does one seek God first?

In The God First Life - Uncomplicate Your Life God's Way, Weems explains how to change

our priorities to live out the life we were designed for.

The new priority of our lives is to truly put God first above our own desires, hopes, challenges and circumstances. It is a commitment to living your life God's way. Weems says, "The primary thing we should wish for, crave, diligently seek is God. And when this proper order is restored, the blessing is released into our lives." (28)

The God First Life outlines how to practically reorder your priorities every day to put God first and foremost. He aligns each principle with scripture and includes examples from the early church and believers of this age. Weems says God First living comes out of seven key decisions:

• I will make God's family (the Church) my primary family
• I will engage in the community life of the church
• I will be filled by the Spirit
• I will worship God on my own and with my church family
• I will spend time with God through prayer and His Word
• I will give of myself and my means
• I will experience freedom, joy and blessing that God offers

Weems goes on to unpack each of those decisions through vivid examples and practical application. He reminded me of how it felt to be a new believer totally in love with my savior. And he encouraged me to be engaged in a long-term commitment to total personal transformation (sanctification) for Christ. He point's out that God gave us the sculpting tools to enact this transformation - His Church, His Word, His Spirit, His presence, His son. 

Reading this book opened my eyes to the bland faith I have been living. Working each day for God's Kingdom at a Christian PR firm, it is easy to believe that I'm living for God but the reality is that He has not been a priority.  The busyness of my life, the life stage of my young ones, has put Him on the back burner. Though it will take some rearranging and dedication, I must reorder my life so that I am tapped into the One who can truly give me rest, and who has a plan for me. Plans to prosper me and not harm me. Plans to give me a hope and a future. 

His plan is better than my plan. 

Only one thing can hold me back - fear. Giving our trust to the Lord is a leap of faith. Living life is like being blindfolded and behind the wheel of a mini-van full of children. To make it through, we must trust that God has the map for our journey and completely rely on Him. step-by-step, to provide clear directions to our destination. If we try to steer on our own, we will surely crash. 

But perfect love casts out fear or put another way, "only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart." Jesus's act of true love on the cross can cast out our fear and lack of trust. So, I choose to put on the spirit of power, love and sound mind, as well as that blindfold, and commit to anchor myself in Him who directs my path.

About The God First Life - Uncomplicate Your Life, God's Way
A simple and sustainable path to a deep and satisfying walk with Christ There are thousands of how-to books for improving various areas of life---self, relationships, finances, fitness, business, marriage, family. And there are nearly as many books written for believers offering a framework for the 'right' approach to a new life in God. What if it were possible, Pastor Stovall Weems asks,to boil it all down to one practical, un-complicated principle that would yield the vibrant, purposeful spiritual life so many are looking for? What if, in our relationship with God, we had one simple and sustainable touch point to experience a deep and satisfying walk with Christ? In The God-First Life, Weems shows that true success in our walk with God and in life in general is not an issue of need, but an issue of order. Brilliantly unpacking the simple Scripture in Matthew 6:33, Weems gives a fresh and practical perspective on what Christian 'discipleship' is about. Bringing clarity, depth, and simplicity, Pastor Weems makes clear core truths that have been misunderstood by many Christians and non-Christians alike.

About the Author
Stovall Weems is the founder and lead pastor of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, FL. Celebration is a global, diverse, growing multisite church, with more than twelve thousand people in weekly attendance. As a pastor, teacher, writer and sought-after conference speaker, his ministry focuses on building the local church, reaching people with the gospel, and developing passionate followers of Christ. Stovall and his wife, Kerri, have three children, Kaylan, Stovie, and Annabelle.

Disclosure of material connection: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in the hope that I would give it my fair review. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

Return to Hollyhill for a Summer of Joy

Ann H. Gabhart, author of Scent of Lilacs takes us back to Hollyhill to check back in with Jocie Brooke and her family who are navigating life in the early 1960s. In Summer of Love, Gabhart weaves an eduring tale of small town people from a time gone by who are used to doing life always it had always been done. These simple folk are facing the tumultuous changes of life in the 60s and finding meaning and truth in the process. We enter the story from the perspectives of Jocie, a fourteen year old girl coming of age; and her father David the town newspaper editor and preacher, whose past and future finally find resolution, despite quite a few obstacles.

The story is about belonging. Jocie's mom left when she was younger taking her older sister with her. In Scent of Lilacs, her pregnant sister returns to Hollyhill looking to reunite with her family but is sure no one would want to be involved with a single mother with a interracial child. Jocie's dad is the town newspaper editor and pastor of the local church. Still hurt by the sudden departure of his wife years ago, David Brook has found a reason to hope for happiness again, but will he accept that his is worthy of that love?

Summer of Joy is the tale of three, once-bitten twice shy individuals are all learning how to overcome insecurities and trust that they can find love and belonging once again.

I really like this series from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Disclosure of material connection: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in the hope that I would give it my fair review. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

What Makes Ideas Spread? Review of Contagious by Jonah Berger

We are bombarded with ideas all day long. What makes some ideas take on and spread and others die off? This is the subject of Contagious by Jonah Berger.  As a PR professional and a blogger, I am very interested in what makes ideas spread. This book explains why some ideas are more shareable than others.

According to Berger, there are six key STEPPS that cause things to be shared:

1. Social currency: we talk about what makes us look good
2. Triggers: we talk about what is top of mind
3. Emotion: when we care, we share
4. Public: the more observable something is, the more we share
5. Practical value: we share what is useful
6. Stories: We don't just share information, we wrap it in a story

The book discusses each of these STEPPS in detail as well as the psychology behind these principles. 

Obviously, the more of these elements included in your content, the more shareable it will be. The book provides practical information with good examples of businesses that have had success using one or more of these principles. 

Two things I thought were missing:

1.  It is not clear whether the organizations were strategically employing one of these principles or just had good luck.
2. The author doesn't describe how these ideas were launched, in other words how did that initial spark get out there? 

Putting it into practice.

1. In developing a content strategy, as well as choosing content you want to curate, analyze how well your chosen content scores with these STEPPS to increase engagement potential. 
2. Practice by checking off which STEPPS are included in the pieces of content that are shared with you or that you want to share over the next week. What buckets get shared more frequently? 
3. Review your own copy and see if you can add an element or two to make it more shareable. 

Good luck! I'd love to hear how it works for you.

The Key to Stress Relief Lies Within You

It's the end of January. Resolutions may be languishing in the dust. The holiday bills are sitting on the counter. Its cold outside. The dark and dreary days of winter, may reflect a darkness in your own spirit. If that is the case, if you are overwhelmed, discouraged, and feeling like your problems or issues are getting the best of you, then I urge you to read God is Able by Priscilla Shirer.

Shirer unpacks, word by word, Ephesians 3:20-21. Like an older, wiser sister, Shirer assures us that whatever has us troubled, no matter how small, God has it covered. As Olivia Pope says, "It is handled."

In fact, it is more than handled. God promises He can do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.

Once more, we have the power within us to take away the fear, anxiety, self-doubt, need to be in control. All we have to do us turn unto Him. Lay it on the cross with the knowledge that He, who made the heavens and the earth and counted every hair upon your head, is there in the little nagging thought bubbles and the large tsunami of worry that washes over you on sleepless nights. He has a plan we cannot see and He wants us to turn unto Him who is able and receive His peace.

When you are in a tough place, it is difficult to discern what God has planned. Why would he let cancer take a young husband and father? Why would he call you to a new career path only for it to be taken away some months later? Why is a question we are good at asking, isn't it? "What if?" is another question that can haunt us if we allow it.

I have had those nights filled with fear, feeling out of control. I have asked those whys and what ifs. Through it all, God was teaching me that there is really little I can control, that I must decrease, the He is Lord, that he has my back and it all works out for good. Looking back I can see a thread that has run through my life drawing me to Him. And I'm learning to lean in to His promises. The more I let go of my need to be in control and lay my worries on the cross, the more peace I find. He's got this. And it will be exceeding abundantly more than I can ask or imagine. How cool is that?

Disclosure of material connection: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in the hope that I would give it my fair review. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

Book Review: Submerged had me hooked...until the end

As you might guess by now, I love a good thriller/murder mystery. Submerged, by Dani Pettrey, has all the elements of a good mystery novel: suspicious accident, outsiders in a small town, Russian suspects, a reunion with a lost love to solve a mystery, sexual tension, a race against time and several twists and turns.

The story also layers in lessons on redemption, facing fears, releasing shame, learning to trust and embracing forgiveness.

I really enjoyed the novel. Up until the end. It seemed to me Pettrey just got tired of the story and cut it short. The murder is solved and the two lovers, who'd been dancing around each other the entire book, finally come together in a hurried, almost clumsy way. But what really irked me is an entire side story that began to build from the conflict to climax is just ignored in the resolution. We are left to wonder whatever will happen here between two supporting characters. Perhaps there is a sequel in mind, but the were no clear cliffhangers to leave that possibility a natural next step. Or perhaps an editor was pressing the author to finish. But the end did not have the quality that the rest of the novel did. 

I really loved the rest of the book but have to give it one thumbs up and one thumbs down for the anticlimactic ending. I do hope there is a sequel because the characters were well-developed and I'd love to see how they  move forward in that tiny, historical Alaska town.

Disclosure of material connection: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in the hope that I would give it my fair review. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

A Good Mystery: What's Not to Like?

I love a good mystery. Always have. When I was six or seven, the two neighbor girls and I used to play a game we made up called "Pete, Michelle and Lisa." In it, we were characters who solved mysteries. We would spend hours acting out our stories and solving crimes. I have no idea where we came up with that name or who played who in it. But the mystery solving bug stayed with me.

One job I'd like to have is to be J.J. in Criminal Minds or an investigative crime reporter or Castle, the writer helping police solve cases.

But since my crime solving credentials only include being well-versed in nearly every crime drama of the past 25 years, I guess I'll stick to writing stories for great Christian organizations and causes. And read and watch crime dramas and mysteries in my spare time.

The current thriller I'm reading is Singularity by Steven James (not the comedian). It has suspense on overdrive. The story marries mysterious scientific experiments aimed at joining man and machine with a magician whose stunt producer is gruesomely murdered during a show. Solving his friend's murder will reveal a dangerous, dark secret testing the ethical limits of mankind.

Part murder mystery and part sci-fi thriller, James brings up questions about the possibilities of abuse of technology leading to ethical breakdown and the demise of mankind. Could our quest to become like God be our own downfall? Its frighteningly believable. Murder, secrets, moral dilemmas and a little romance make for a real page turner.

“Available November 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

When We Can't Wait

Today I had the pleasure of being the mystery reader for my daughter's class. One of the books I chose offers a valuable lesson for kids as well as their parents. The book is Can't Wait Willow! by Christy Ziglar, financial planner, mother of twins and niece of legendary motivator and the world’s original optimist, Zig Ziglar. In the story, Willow has been looking forward to the circus for a while. The day finally comes, but along the way Willow gets distracted by many flashy and tempting things. She ultimately learns a lesson that my family has been learning the last few years; sometimes to get the big thing you long for, you sometimes have to forgo the smaller good things that come along.

It's hard to keep your eye on the prize in this fast serve world. It's hard to learn to be measured with your resources and live within your means when our own government can't agree on, or stick to, a budget. Can't Wait Willow teaches this important lesson in an engaging and relatable way. The illustrations are colorful and tempting - I could taste the cotton candy! 

Teaching Discipline
Teaching kids to sacrifice now for something greater later is an important lesson. It is one that will largely be caught more than taught. It will be learned in the little things. Share the thought process behind decisions you are making to illustrate to your kids how saying no to good things now, helps you to experience greater things later. Then given them tools to help make patient and wise decisions.

One tool I use to teach this concept is to take photos of things they see that they want now (thereby putting it on a visual wish list) and remind them of what we are working for. I tell them the item can go on the wish list and we won't forget cause we took a photo. What are some of your tools?

Can't Wait Willow! is part of a series of books by Shine Bright Kids teaching principles including: using good judgment, taking responsibility, self-control, having a positive attitude, and demonstrating perseverance.  Check out their website atwww.ShineBrightKids.com for free reward charts, activities and other parenting resources.

Find Can't-Wait Willow! at Barnes & Noble and other fine retailers, as well as http://www.idealsbooks.com or http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cant-wait-willow-christy-ziglar/1113298086?ean=9780824956486

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShineBrightKidCom

Disclosure of material connection: I received one ore more of the products mentioned above for free in the hope that I would give it my fair review. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

Superwomen Goes to Mass: Ten Tips for Bringing Your Child to Church

Day 4 of 31 Days in the Life of A Superwomen Sufferer

Superwomen Goes to Mass

I recently saw a clip from the upcoming film Mom's Night Out. In it, the mom is faced with getting her crew, and herself, presentable and to church. It is quite comical and somewhat true to my life. With three children, two under the age of six, going to Mass is an event to say the least.

My Protestant friends have what they call children's church, where parent's can drop off their children, get a beeper like the ones you get at restaurants, and head off to a peaceful hour of worship and liturgy. Not so at Catholic Mass, for it is the duty of every Catholic to support the mission of the family to raise godly children. We go to Mass as a family to worship together, receive God's grace and unify with christ and our Catholic brothers and sisters through the sacrament of the Eucharist.  

It is often difficult to get kids to sit quietly and pay attention, but I believe we are doing them more service to train them proper behavior at church from an early age and engage them in the community of believers worshipping together than we are to put them in a nursery. Nevertheless, it takes a lot of effort to "train our kids in the way they should go" at church.

For instance, on any given Sunday you will find my family in a pew. My youngest loudly enjoying the music, my oldest mortified at the attention her younger brother brings, and my middle child trying to keep my youngest entertained or asking me questions about the service. With a little preparation, we make it through okay and we may even catch a little bit of the sermon. 

We try to make sure they have had a snack before church so they are not hungry and we usually bring a bag of Cheerios, just in case. We also bring a toy or small stuffed animal or a plush nativity set they can play with. 

Recently, I was given this new children's book Rufus and Ryan Go to Church,  by Kathleen Long Bostrom. In the book, four-year-old Ryan explains to his stuffed Monkey, what is happening as they attend church on Sunday morning. He lets Rufus know when its time to sing, pray and be quiet. Part of a new series of  inspirational books for preschoolers age two to five, featuring Ryan and Rufus. This series uses Christian and church concepts as the foundation of the series and focuses on character traits and development. My little ones really enjoy the fun illustrations and ask to read it often.

Rufus and Ryan Go to Church! 

Written by: Kathleen Long Bostrom 

Illustrated by: Rebecca Thornburgh

Publisher: Ideals Books

Board book

$7.99

Available at IdealsBooks.com

Here are Ten tips for Bringing Your Child to Church

1.         Make sure the kids are well-napped and well-fed.

To help minimize distractions and meltdowns, be sure your kids are well-rested before services and have had something to eat. Additionally, you may want to show up a little early to avoid the stress of being late.

2.         Bring your child to church on a day other than Sunday morning.

Call the church office and make an appointment with a pastor, religious education director, or church school teacher. Go on a tour of the church facility, and locate the Sunday school rooms and bathrooms as well as the sanctuary. Let your child explore the sanctuary, see how it feels to sit in the pew, and leaf through the Bibles and hymnbooks. Look behind the pulpit, altar and baptismal font, and explain the use of these.

3.         Take home a worship bulletin and go through the service at home.

Show your child that there are times to sit, to stand. kneel, to sing, to pray, and to listen. Help your child learn the Lord’s Prayer.  Let your child practice offering the sign of peace or making the sign of the cross at home. Prepare offering envelopes and let your child put money in the envelope, and explain why the offering is important.

4.         Play “Let’s go to church” at home.

Practicing the worship service at home will help your child feel more comfortable with what happens in worship.

5.         Read the Bible and pray at home.

Purchase an age-appropriate Bible for your child and read the stories. Let your child handle the Bible and encourage questions. You can explain that the Bible is where we learn God’s story, and how we are part of that story. If you let prayer be a part of your everyday life, not just something you do at church, your child will understand its importance.

6.         Sit near an aisle or in a place where you can make an exit if needed.

If your child needs to go to the bathroom, or is feeling overly stimulated or having a disruptive day, don’t be embarrassed. Walk your child out of the sanctuary until she can calm down, and then come back in. This is much easier if you don’t have to crawl across a row of other people in the pew!

           

7.         Be prepared with a worship notebook or bag.

Colored pencils can be used to mark the parts of worship in the bulletin as you go through them one by one. Get to church a few minutes in advance and use a bookmark to mark the hymns that will be sung that day. Have some coloring pages from a Bible coloring book for your child to color, or some blank pages for doodling. This is not disrespectful, and can help your child listen more attentively. Have the words of the Lord’s Prayer printed on a page for the child to follow, if he or she is of reading age. Let your child draw a picture of the anthem or hymns being sung, or the sermon, and give this to the choir director or pastor afterwards. There are Bible-related toys they can bring to play along with the service. They have some great inspirational items and plush toys at Wee Believers.

8.         Teach basic church etiquette.

Speak to people before and after worship, and teach your child how to shake hands and greet others.  If your child is shy, don’t force it, but practice at home and let your child see you greeting others. Let the child put the hymnbook and Bible away after use, and be sure to take your bulletin with you, rather than leaving it in the pew. Meeting other people and taking care of the church facility helps a child feel that “This is my church!”

9.         Get to know the pastor.

Pastors of child-friendly churches love to get to know the children of the church. Introduce your child to the pastor after worship, and participate in other church activities so that the pastor becomes a friend and not a scary adult.

10.       Don’t give up!

It may take awhile for your child to become comfortable in worship, and to learn how to sit quietly. The best way for this to happen is to attend worship on a regular basis. There may be days when it doesn’t go well, but don’t let this stop you from coming the following week. Practice makes perfect!

Share your tips for attending services with your children in the comments below and find more useful tips here:

http://catholicexchange.com/contraceptive-sanctuary-bring-your-baby-to-church/
http://www.foryourmarriage.org/how-to-take-young-children-to-mass/