Quotes to Live By

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
(John Quincy Adams)

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. (Aristotle)

Every artist was first an amateur. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. (Thomas Jefferson)

It takes ten years to build up a reputation, but only five minutes to ruin one. (Anonymous)

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Barefoot Summer


Madison’s heart has been closed for years. But one summer can change everything.
In the years since her twin brother’s drowning, Madison McKinley has struggled to put it behind her. Despite the support of her close-knit family and her gratifying job as a veterinarian in their riverside town, the loss still haunts her.
To find closure, Madison sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. But first she has to learn to sail, and fast.
Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league, but someone neglected to tell his heart. Now she needs his help—and he’ll give it, because he owes her far more than she’ll ever know.
Madison will do anything—even work with the infamous Beckett O’Reilly—to reach her goal. And as much as she’d like to deny it, the chemistry between them is electrifying. As summer wanes, her feelings for him grow and a fledgling faith takes root in her heart.
But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their new love. Can their romance survive summer’s challenges? And will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately seeks?

I loved this book because it was heartwarming and nice at the same time, not the cheesy kind of romantic but the realistic kind that one can relate with. Not that I can actually relate, cause I've never had a boyfriend or anything that went beyond a crush, but I like the how the author, Denise Hunter described the character of Madison.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

King

Fantasy Meets the Old Testament in a Novel That Will Reach Readers of All Ages

Against his wishes and desires, Akabe of Siphra has been chosen by his people to be King. But what does a warrior know of ruling during peacetime? Guided by the Infinite, Akabe seeks to rebuild the Temple in the city of Munra to give the sacred books of Parne a home. But dangerous factions are forming in the background. To gain the land he needs, Akabe must forsake the yearnings of his heart and instead align himself through marriage to the Thaenfall family.

Meanwhile, Kien Lantec and Ela Roeh are drawn still closer together...while becoming pawns in a quest to gain power over the region. As questions of love and faith become tangled with lies and murderous plots, each must seek the Infinite to guide them through an ever more tangled web of intrigue and danger.

When I started reading this book, I was so confused. I liked Barth, the little servant for the King and the prophet, but I was utterly confused about everything else. It wasn't until the end of the book until I got some parts of it.

I would highly recommend reading the first two books of the series before jumping to this book though. It would help a lot.

Because of my confusion, I didn't get a lot out from this book because I was still trying to figure out what the book was about as I was reading.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Frame 232

As I read this book, I was confused about the events. As I read a few more pages, I started to figure out my bearings and realized that this is a good conspiracy book for all those conspiracy theorists out there. Even though this book really isn't my cup of tea, I just couldn't put it down.

I bought it with me to an appointment and I was so into it, that when I looked up and saw a man in a trench coat, I thought: oh no! Big brother knows that I'm reading about conspiracies. Good thing he was just getting coffee at the table in front of me.

I know, I know....you want me to tell you what the story is about, but first how about a Q & A with the author Wil Mara?

1. What inspired you to write a novel around the assassination of President John F. Kennedy?
I have always been fascinated by the assassination, which, obviously, was one of the most pivotal and enigmatic events in American history. And when I heard about the ‘Babushka Lady’---one of the few people in Dealey Plaza that day who remains unidentified---and the possibility that she may have filmed the shooting, an idea came to mind that seemed too good to disregard.

2. How has your research informed your own theory of what happened during the JFK assassination?
My personal theory, prosaic though it may be, is that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. If you want to be convinced, get your hands on a fairly rare book called Lee, which was written by his brother, Robert. Once you understand the mind behind the eyes that looked through that rifle scope, you will be convinced.

3. What have you learned about the real Babushka Lady?
She was wearing an overcoat, glasses, and a head scarf (i.e., a babushka), and was standing about thirty feet from the limousine when the president took the fatal shot. Most assassination experts believe she was also holding a camera---very possibly a film camera. If so, and if she had a reasonably steady hand, then she probably took the best moving images of the assassination; even better than the famed Zapruder film. Plus, she was standing opposite Zapruder, which afforded her a unique angle. And yet, we don’t know her name, and her film has never surfaced. And here’s the most important part about her in relation to Frame 232---she was a real person. I didn’t invent her to serve the story. If you do a Google search, you’ll find her.

4. What lessons do you hope readers will come away with after reading Frame 232?
I can’t interpret the story for anyone but myself, but there are a few themes at work that strike me as particularly valuable. One is that God’s path is always the right one in the end, even if it seems unimaginably rocky at times. Another is that tragedies occur in every life, that these misfortunes usually happen for a reason, and that the reason may not be apparent for some time. A third is that we need to treasure our loved ones for as long as we have them around, because they can disappear in a heartbeat. Also, it’s important to keep getting out of bed and moving forward every day because life is a gift, and God does not favor those who waste their time and talents. If you are blessed with ability and resources (and Jason has plenty of both), you should use them.

5. What would you like to say to Christian retailers to help them promote Frame 232?
I have tried like mad to strike an ideal balance between solid, suspenseful storytelling and the delivery of worthwhile Christian messages without being over-the-top preachy. All the books in the series, while undeniable in their Christian content, are suitable for the mainstream market as well and thus should find a broad audience. It is also important to note that they were designed not just in regard to what they offer, but what they don’t offer---readers will not have to deal with inappropriate language, gratuitous sexual content, brazen violence, or any of the similar nonsense that characterizes so many other forms of contemporary storytelling. The subject matter might be somewhat advanced in places, but it can be safely absorbed and enjoyed by people from all walks of life.

In case the Q & A wasn't enough, here is a link from the author himself: The History of Frame 232

Now I know you have been patiently waiting for the summary, so here it is:

The time had come, she decided, to rid herself of this burden, to take the steps necessary to put the matter to rest once and for all. And the first step, she knew—against every instinct and desire—was to watch that film.

During the reading of her mother’s will, Sheila Baker discovers that she has inherited everything her parents ever possessed, including their secrets. A mysterious safe-deposit box key leads her to the answers to one of history’s greatest conspiracies: Who killed John F. Kennedy? Not only does she have the missing film, revealing her mother as the infamous babushka lady, but she has proof that there was more than one shooter.

On the run from people who would stop at nothing to keep secrets buried, Sheila turns to billionaire sleuth Jason Hammond for help. Having lost his own family in a tragic plane crash, Jason knows a thing or two about running from the past. With a target on their backs and time running out, can Jason finally uncover the truth behind the crime that shook a generation—or will he and Sheila become its final victims?

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Once Upon a Husband

Don't we all wish to marry a prince? I remember when Prince William married Kate who was a commoner and then all the girls wanted to be the next lucky Cinderella.

In the book I recently read: Once Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by best-selling author Rachel Hauck, treats you to a modern-day fairy tale.

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life. The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simons Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love. Their lives are worlds apart. He's a royal prince. She's an ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation. It's the ultimate choice: His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own?

After reading this book, I don't know if I, like Susanna would dare marry a Prince. A Prince in the modern world comes with everybody else, like the media. I certainly would not want the whole world to know everything about me, like when I'm pregnant or when I'm going shopping.

But I know that when the time comes for me to marry, I will marry a prince of my dreams with God's blessings attached to it.

In the Eyes of God

An Amazing True Story of Angelic Intervention in a Desperate Situation

The Stadlers' harrowing journey began with a midnight crash caused by a drunk driver. The odds they would both survive the crash were minimal--a testimony to the miracles that began that night and continued through months of surgeries and hospitalizations. The Stadlers struggled to rebuild their lives, only to face more heartache and loss. But through the hard times, their faith grew as God continued to save them from despair and bring blessings into their lives.

For everyone seeking a deeper faith or affirmation of their belief in a good God, this book will provide hope and the reassurance that God still ministers through his angels today.

As I read this book, I noticed one common link. During the accounts, neither Dann nor Tracey blamed each other for their accident but rather they loved each other through each moment of life for their daughter Meghan.

I was deeply touched by the marriage that both Dann and Tracy had described by their memoir/book. I hope to experience this kind of bond in my marriage in the future. But as I was reading about their bond, it also seemed as though they were, on some level, describing the kind of bond that God wants with each and everyone of us.

I can imagine the intimacy of knowing God on such a level and wish to revel in His love just as Dann and Tracey revels in each other's love.

Unconditional Love

Can God’s Love Save Anyone?

California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.  Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea.

A man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything, Michael Hosea obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation until, despite her resistance her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she can no longer deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael Hosea does…the One who will never let her go.

A life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

Even though Angel was sold into bondage, God still saved her. This is a powerful story that illustrates God's love in each of us. If you are reading this post and know of anyone in spiritual bondage, please refer this book to them before it's too late!

God Bless!