Tracy L. Higley’s THE QUEEN’S HANDMAID Kindle HDX giveaway!

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above for free for the purpose of this review. I was not financially compensated for this post.  The opinions are my own, based on my personal experience with the product.  However, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

A bit about the book:

From the servant halls of Cleopatra's Egyptian palace to the courts of Herod the Great, Lydia will serve two queens to see prophecy fulfilled.

Alexandria, Egypt 39 BC:  Orphaned at birth, Lydia was raised as a servant in Cleopatra's palace, working hard to please while keeping everyone at arm's length. She's been rejected and left with a broken heart too many times in her short life.

But then her dying mentor entrusts her with secret writings of the prophet Daniel and charges her to deliver this vital information to those watching for the promised King of Israel. Lydia must leave the nearest thing she's had to a family and flee to Jerusalem. Once in the Holy City, she attaches herself to the newly appointed king, Herod the Great, as handmaid to Queen Mariamme.

Trapped among the scheming women of Herod's political family---his sister, his wife, and their mothers---and forced to serve in the palace to protect her treasure, Lydia must deliver the scrolls before dark forces warring against the truth destroy all hope of the coming Messiah.

My thoughts:   

I really enjoyed this book.  It is based during a very bloody time in history and that kind of makes it fascinating.  The author provides amazing details and really gives you a sense of the era. She doesn’t go into gory detail on death though so don’t worry about that. She focuses on key characters such as a servant named Lydia.

I enjoyed how the author took characters from history that I knew and included them in the story. It made it more interesting.  The book kept you trying to figure out what was going to be happening with Lydia and really got you into that whole Cleopatra era

Lydia is one tough nut. She is smart and very brave. She follows through on her tasks no matter how difficult. The book really kept me on my toes. You are going to enjoy it….a really nice story.

Tracy L. Higley is celebrating the release of The Queen's Handmaid with a fun giveaway.

Retailers + Resources gave it this glowing review: "Rich in historic detail, Higley’s vivid writing brings to life the plots and intrigues that swirled through the ancient world as alliances were built and broken on the calculated schemes of power-mad monarchs." 






• A Kindle Fire HDX


• The Queen's Handmaid by Tracy L. Higley

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced April 21st on Tracy's blog.






Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Tracy's blog on April 21st to see if you won.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would 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."

Zero Six Bravo by Damien Lewis Book Review

Disclosure:  I received the product mentioned above for free for the purpose of this review. I was not financially compensated for this post.  The opinions are my own, based on my personal experience with the product.  However, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

This is an amazing true story.  All the events described in the book are non-fiction. This is an unbelievable and totally gripping, suspense filled book that you are not going to be able to put down.  

A little background on the book:  These men were branded as cowards and accused of being the British Special Forces Squadron that ran away from the Iraqis. Well, nothing could be further from the real truth.  It took 10 long years before the true story of these sixty brave men is finally able to be shared.  Back in March 2003 the M Squadron British SBS unit was sent 1,000 kilometers behind enemy lines.   British intelligence had suggested that eh 5th morale was at a low point.  M Squadron members were told 5th Corps  would not to fight and would pretty much surrender immediately. This wasn’t the case at all. This was  a complete  mission impossible, to take the surrender of the 100,000-strong Iraqi Army 5th Corps.   Yes, 100, 000 men to be taken by 60 men.  I wrote that correctly.  So you understand the reality that they faced, know that the mission was named  “Operation No Return. “  

These elite and well trained soldiers were caught in a challenging ambush by thousands of die-hard Sadam Hussein fanatics.  Add the massive firepower of the 5th Corps' battle tanks and heavy machine guns to that.  Eight of their specially modified Land Rovers became bogged down in Iraqi swamps and M Squadron was in a desperate situation.  Their fuel and ammo was running low and they were in dire straits. The men were totally and quickly outnumbered, out-manuevered and outgunned.  Nothing like the original plan but M Squadron made the critical, courageous and difficult decision to destroy sensitive data and prepare for death or capture as the Iraqis closed in on them.  Zero Six Bravo shares all the details in living color about this battle fought valiantly by the British and allied Special Forces trapped behind enemy lines. You feel and get a true sense of what they experience as the author literally transports you back to the Iraqi swamps. This is an incredible story of true courage and military resilience in the eyes of death.  This was a great book that was hard to put down.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and  believe would 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."

Nature's Bounty® Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies Review

Disclosure: I received a full size bottle of Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails, free samples and a small gift pack including a nail file, compact mirror and hair ties to share with friends through Smiley360. My opinions are my own.  Always check with your physician before starting any supplement product and specifically Nature's Bounty supplements. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition.  Keep out of reach of children.

Nature's Bounty® Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies are a great way to support your hair, skin and nails easily and in a second a day. They taste delicious too. I have been using Nature's Bounty products for years and I really like that they are easy to find at all the big pharmacies like CVS and Rite Aid. Nature's Bounty® Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies taste great and I can pop one in a flash and feel confident I am doing something great for myself.

I received a adorable little gift pack of goodies which I have been sharing with my friends and colleagues from work. Everyone has loved them so far. 

• 1) full size bottle of Nature's Bounty®  Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies
• (5) trial size samples of Nature's Bounty® Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies with a $1.00 coupon attached
• (1) Folding Nail File
• (1) Compact Mirror
• (2) Hair Ties
• (1) Smiley360 Nature's Bounty® Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies Sharing Guide

Check them out and try them for yourself. Let me know what you think!

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and  believe would 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."

Win a NEW Spring Wardrobe from Quilts of Love | “Maybelle in Stitches” Giveaway!

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above for free for the purpose of this review. I was not financially compensated for this post.  The opinions are my own, based on my personal experience with the product.  However, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am such a huge reader. I love all kinds of books from period novels to dystopian stories.  It all just depends on my mood. I was happy to see a new book out from Joyce Magnin, "Maybelle in Stitches."  It was a really easy and relaxing weekend read.  

A little about the book from the author:
Maybelle Kazinzki can't sew. She was after all, the only girl in the seventh grade Home Economics class to sew the zipper in the neck hole of the A-Line dress they were supposed to make. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother's house she gets the crazy idea to finish it---somehow, come heck or high water. She thinks it will help fill the lonely nights while her husband, Holden, is serving overseas during World War II.

Her recently departed mother's quilt is made from scraps of material Maybelle traces back to her mother's childhood, her grandmother's childhood and her own childhood. She tries to add one of Holden's stripes to it but the sewing is not going well and neither is her life. After receiving some harsh news, Maybelle's faith falters and she puts the quilt away and stops trusting God. But God is faithful---no matter what. And it'll take a group of neighborhood women armed with quilting needles to help Maybelle believe that.

This book was a little bit somber but I really enjoyed it.  Maybelle lives in Pennsylvania during World War II and works at a ship manufacturing plant while her husband is serving overseas.  Most all the characters in the book are not surprisingly, spouses of soldiers that are serving our country overseas during the war.  It was really interesting to read about all the things going on during that time with food rationing, and air raids.  Telegrams meant possible bad news.

 Doris is a good friend to Maybelle and I liked their relationship. Doris is the one who encourages Maybelle to finish that quilt her mother had left her.  She is very supportive of Maybelle and it is interesting to hear the stories behind the pieces and to learn more about the two women as they sew together.  You really get a sense of how strong and capable Maybelle truly is!

There are so few men around but the one man that you do see is Roger.  He helps the ladies and finds the extras that are hard to come by during the war.  You get a real sense of what the women face day to day and their worries about their husbands overseas during a time when there are no cell phones, Skype or emails. Communication is sparse.  These women worked so hard in factories and this was something that was totally novel for the time. The author provided great detail and made you feel their hardship.

 


4/1-4/19!
Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Maybelle in Stitches, by Joyce Magnin. Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.


Joyce is celebrating the release with a $200 Modcloth giveaway. Enter today for a chance to spruce up your spring wardrobe!










One winner will receive:




• A $200 ModCloth.com gift card


• Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron


• A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare


• Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced on April 21st on the Quilts of Love blog!






Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would 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."