I am in a fantabulous mood (yes it’s a word… maybe my word – but a word! :D)
Yesterday was a fun road trip with Chance. We went to Hennen’s which was really the reason for the hour trip to St Cloud because we were looking for a new mattress set that we could not find what we liked locally. I do love Hennen’s. It is a large furniture store with good prices and sales and they deliver for free which unfortunately is a better deal than they offer in my own home town.
After spending about an hour in the store I found what I believe to be a great deal and the set will be delivered to my home next Wednesday. Mission accomplished.
Next stop – Barnes and Noble… fondly know by my friends and family as my Mother Ship. Ahhhhh…… I can just smell that new book scent! I did not really have a mission when I went in other than to see what I could find but of course I could not leave empty-handed AND I did have a gift card from my friend Cindy from Christmas. So….
The Hate List and Olive Kitteridge
The Hate List was one I have heard a lot about and the synopsis left me going “whoa” which in book language is “this sounds good.”. Olive Kitteridge is a book that part of my book club is reading for a bonus read this month. We have been asked as a group to review a couple of books and plan food around the reviews for a possible opportunity to have our group mentioned in a book coming out. I know – SSQQUUUUEEE right? In order to do this we had to plan a couple additional reviews, and for this month – Olive Kitteridge is the one we will review in two weeks.
Then Chance and I popped into Mongo’s in St Cloud which is a treat every time we are in the area. The food is Mongolian stir fry and if you have never experienced this sort of grill I highly recommend it. They go by many names around the country, I think the one in Fargo is called Hu Hot. You get a bowl when you come in and you go around and fill your bowl with the veggies of choice, (there is everything you could imagine – peppers, cauliflower, spinach, yellow squash, broccoli, onion, pea pods, green beans, potato, peas…) and then you chose your meats (chicken, crab, shrimp, beef, salmon, sausage…) then there are three choices of noodles and then you choose 6 scoops of a sauce which you can select from about twenty different types from sweet and mild to hot and spicy and everything in between. Then you give your bowl to the cooks and they stir fry it in front of you. They will ask you if you would like to add an egg of rice or a wrap – all included. It is delicious and fun! And to give you a bit of what it was like I totally geeked out and recorded a bit of the experience:
Today I have a pretty open day and I am really looking forward to it. After church Chance is hanging with friends all day and I am coming home to read a bit, prep meals for the week, and do a bit of house cleaning and then hopefully – read a bit more. After a week of birthday celebration and eating out way too much and eating way too much…. I need to get back on track.
Cheryl Lu-Lein Tan grew up in Singapore with no interest in the family traditional cooking that surrounded her youth. Cheryl’s dreams were bigger than that. At the age of 18 she left home and family for America to become the fashion writer she had always hoped to. Yet in her 30’s, Cheryl began to long for that taste of Singapore, the dishes that defined her childhood. Was it too late to learn the secrets that surrounded her youth and now were embedded within the kitchens of her Grandmothers and Aunts?
A memoir of not only the beauty of tradition and food but also the strength found in unlocking the stories of the past.
First of all – do you see this cover? What is not to love? There is a story about how this book came to me. Last weekend I was looking at the inner workings of my blog. I noticed that I was bringing in a large number of readers from a site called Food News Journal and I could not figure out why. When I went to their site, my review from last Saturday, The First Timer’s Cookbook was listed under Best Of The Blogs which was kind of cool – but what really caught my eye was in the upper left hard corner this book, A Tiger In The Kitchen was being featured. When I read a little about it – I decided that it was a birthday gift to me…. from me. AND since it was not released until February 8th, I actually preordered it on the 7th. As you can see, it did not take me long to dig into.
In this mouth-watering sensation of a book – I learned about the history of Singapore flavors to the point that I felt as though I could almost smell the scents of fried crab, peppery pork rib broth, and Hainanese Chicken Rice…
During one trip back to Singapore when Cheryl has decided to actively pursue learning more about her Singapore heritage in cooking and offers to help make the traditional Pineapple tarts, I had to laugh when she walks into the kitchen to help to find not one or two pineapples for the tart making – but seventy. The plan was to make 3,000 tarts.
Popiah
Written and told by Cheryl Lu-Lein Tan herself, I enjoyed the humorous style of writing and had to laugh because she sounds a little like me – biting off more than she can chew (pun intended) such as traveling back and forth to Singapore to capture the family traditions, and in the midst of it all taking on the Bread Bakers Apprentice Challenge which was an on-line challenge to bake your way through every recipe in this book…. which includes triumphant stories “Bagels that were perfection right out of the oven!”, as well as not so triumphant stories. “I knew the day would come when I would almost burn down my kitchen”.
Oh – and just wait until she calls her maternal grandmother a liar. 😀
Honestly I have not had so much fun reading a food memoir style read
Laksa (spicy noodle soup)
in a long time. I tasked myself to look up the words I did not know and turned this whole culinary adventure into a learning experience as well. As Cheryl makes her way through New York restaurants that feature Singapore favorites, and heads home to learn the “how to’s” of her heritage she grows in more ways than she could have imagined.
I thoroughly enjoyed every morsel of this book. If you are looking for a real treat in culture, food, and everything in between, I would highly put my stamp of approval on this book.
Well this recipe would truly be an adventure in cooking, I do not think this review would be complete without Cheryl’s recipe of Tanglin Ah Ma’s Pineapple Tarts
* this
Yields about 100 tarts
Quantities aren’t exact. My aunts don’t use a recipe, and they laughed at me the first 10 times I asked them for this one. The first set of instructions they gave me for pineapple jam was, “Aiyah, you just juice the pineapple, add sugar and then boil, boil, boil!”
For the jam:
4 pineapples at least ½ kilogram sugar (at least 2 ½ cups, depending on desired sweetness) 2 to 3 pandan leaves* knotted together 1 long cinnamon stick, broken in two
Peel the pineapples, dig out the eyes and chop into chunks. Run the chunks through a juicer. Place the pulp in a large wok or pot with a large surface area and heat on the stove. Add the juice until the mixture has the consistency of porridge or grits; add the knotted pandan leaves and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and keep it there for a total of three hours, stirring often. Halfway through, taste the jam, and add sugar by the half cup until it is as sweet as you desire. (Note: The amount of sugar needed will vary greatly depending on how ripe the pineapples are.)
The jam is done when the pineapple mixture has changed color from bright yellow to brownish ochre and most of the liquid has evaporated, leaving a dense but moist jam.
375 grams salted butter (3 sticks plus 2 ½ Tablespoons) at room temperature 600 grams flour (about 4 ¾ cups) 4 egg yolks, plus 1 yolk for brushing onto pastry
With a mixer on low speed, combine the butter, flour and four egg yolks, mixing for 3 to 5 minutes.
Place dough in a cookie press fitted with a disc featuring a circle of diamonds. Press cookies out onto greased baking sheets. Form small balls of dough and press each one into the hollow of a cookie, forming the base of the tart.
Beat the remaining egg yolk with ½ teaspoon of water. Brush the rim of each tart generously. Take a scant teaspoon of pineapple jam (more or less, as desired) and form a ball, then press into the hollow of each tart. Pat the sides of the jam to create a small dome.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees, until golden brown. Remove cookies from sheets and cool on a rack.
** Note: During last weeks Weekend Cooking I found this recipe posted by Books and Quilts for shredded beef. I made this for out supper tonight and it smells and tastes fantastic! Perfect for February in Minnesota!
Good morning *as I shuffle through the kitchen hair all a twang in sleep pajamas and large fluffy slippers*
Saturday.
At last.
Today Chance and I are road tripping to St Cloud. I need to look at a couple of things at Hennen’s (the furniture store) and then of course we need to stop at Barnes and Noble (tradition when I am in the area) and maybe we will hit Mongo’s on the way back. I am hoping not to make a long day out of this as I want to get back home and do a little reading.
This is (Left) Sara, Me, and Cindy. We are in Duluth at the park in fall of 2009. Other than that... we are just goofing off. 😀
This morning as I was looking at my Good reads email I was all excited to see some of the beautiful new releases coming out! (Ignore the mass piles of books behind me as we share in this moment of new books).
I mean just look at them!
NEW RELEASES BY GENRE
fiction
nonfiction
young adult
children’s
history & biography
memoir & autobiography
mystery & thriller
romance
science fiction
fantasy
historical fiction
graphic novels & comics
Looking at these, I have heard good things about West Of Here, I am absolutely kicking myself that I have taken the time to read Delirium yet even though it is on my Nook., Fortunate Sons looks interesting, I just read a review on The History Of Witches that sounded interesting enough, and Madame Tussaud is the latest ny Michele Moran – and of course that is totally SSQQQUUUEEEEE worthy! Of course there is also Sarah Pekkenen’s new one Skipping A Beat (not pictured here) but woo….. I loved her last book.
Are there any on this list that are on your “must read” list? Any other releases coming up that you have circled on the calendar and can not wait to read?
My plan for 2011 was to do more author chats. I really enjoy chatting it up with the authors of the books I enjoy and being able to know the person, behind the book. So far, as of this mid February, I have not accomplished and where near what I had hoped to do in this category. Today however, I am hoping this interview will be a launching pad for me to move forward on more discussions such as these.
In most cases, I find books I want to read through book magazines, on-line websites, word of mouth, and of course by reading book blogs. It is a rare circumstance these days that I find a book all on my own with no outside influences, yet, the book Unspeakable Journey is exactly that.
I was looking through audible.com a month ago for my next book on my IPOD. Nothing on the “best sellers” list or the “Newly Released” was speaking to me and I started to explore the books by genres that I enjoy. Cruising through the pages offered of faith reads, I found myself giving pause at this book, Unspeakable Journey. The cover stopped me – the synopsis hooked me, and the brief listen of the narrator reeled me in.
It was supposed to be a quick trip to the store, but it turned into an Unspeakable Journey. On the eve of her 30th birthday, Isabella is abducted in the parking lot of her local grocery store. Hasam, a sinister human trafficker, arranges for her to marry Latif, his longtime friend and a Saudi Arabian prince. Latif has everything—political prowess, success, and wealth—until he meets Isabella.
Earlier this week I posted my review of this audio and was pleased when an email out to Rinda Hahn requesting a chat was responded by a “yes. I would love to!”
So – please welcome to Book Journey Rinda Hahn.
Rinda hahn
Good afternoon Rinda! Being a coffee lover I have to ask, how do you take your coffee?
Rinda: I hate to say it, but I don’t drink coffee. I’m trying to like a couple of the Starbucks flavored lattes, but I’m not sure that counts as coffee to a real coffee lover. My husband loves coffee, and I have been trying to like it since we met. I just can’t acquire the taste, but I love the smell of coffee in my kitchen.
Well… as long as you are TRYING to like some sort of coffee product… and you do enjoy the smell so that does count too. 😀 I am always fascinated with the books that people surrounded themselves with when they were young. Have you been a long time reader?
Rinda: I have loved to read for as long as I can remember. When my kids were small, there was even a period of time that I had to stop reading completely. When I start a good book, I am compulsive. I stay up too late, neglect my responsibilities, and get lost in the world created by the author. During the demanding stage of being a new mom, I found my compulsion did not lend itself to reading. Even now, my family loves it when I read, and they hate it too for that reason.
When I was in seventh grade I had an English teacher that assigned three or four short stories written by Stephen King. I had never been exposed to psychological horror/thrillers, and that was the moment I knew the raw, unyielding power of a written story. There were moments when I was too afraid to read more, but I was unable to stop. This isn’t my favorite genre to read, but to this day, I still remember the intense emotions (mostly fear) that he evoked with those stories.
That is awesome! I had a Stephen King phase too in high school through early 20’s. What authors and or books inspire you today? Why?
Rinda: I like well written Christian fiction, but find a lot of it disappointing. CS Lewis and Francine Rivers are two authors that inspire me, but I really love any well written book that transports me to another world and introduces me to great characters. When an author uses their story to teach me a hidden truth, it is even better.
I am a big fan of Francine Rivers! I really enjoyed her women of the Bible series, and Redeeming Love still has me gushing (and for a reader who avoids any sort of romance style reads this is huge!) If there was a fictional character in any book that you could bring to life and hang out with – what character would that be and why?
Rinda: Several years ago I read the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. Her main character, Hadassah, endured many heart wrenching situations, but never lost her unrelenting love for her God and those who persecuted her. To really have a conversation with her would be amazing.
I have to talk about the book. I can’t wait to talk about the book. Unspeakable Journey was an amazing book on faith and at the same time, hugely frightening and real feeling. What made you decide to write this book, this topic?
Rinda: I had prayed for several months about what story to write. One morning, I awoke and the storyline for this book played out like a movie for me. At that moment I knew it was the story that I had to tell.
I loved how you covered some hard issues within the book. I am not a fan of “book fluff” and you did not hold back. Isabella’s character is abducted and forced to marry a Muslim prince – even though she is already married in the States. Not only does she get married, but she is expected to behave as a wife should, and risk becoming pregnant. In your opinion, what was the hardest part of Unspeakable Journey to write?
Rinda: For the most part writing Unspeakable Journey was wonderful. I loved engaging with my characters, and at times, it seemed the story wrote itself. Probably the hardest part was balancing Latif’s selfish, controlling, yet passionate and kind nature. I wanted the reader to struggle with how they felt about him. In life people are complicated, and I wanted that to translate to all my characters in the book. My readers have the most diverse feelings about him. Some love him and feel sorry for him, and others see his weaknesses and never like him. I like it that each reader takes away something different from the story.
It worked Rinda… I was back and forth between horrified and frustrated by him, and then understanding him. What research did you need to do to make this book come together?
Rinda: When I started Unspeakable Journey, I knew almost nothing about Saudi Arabia and their culture. I spent weeks reading through material from the library and on the internet about their customs, their religion, and their social structure.
Rinda, I said it in my review and I will say it here… the ending left me wanting more! I was so curious as to what would happen next and feel there is plenty of material here to continue this story. Have you given this any thought?
Rinda: This is the most asked question I have received about Unspeakable Journey. I have a couple of ideas I am tossing around that may introduce a character or two from Unspeakable Journey into another completely different story, but I am not planning to write a sequel. I know that some of my readers are disappointed by that. I have just had so many readers and book club members discuss with me what they think happens next, and I don’t want to mess with that. A great story leaves you thinking about what happens, wondering where the characters are now, and how they are doing. They come alive and live with you for a while, and it is hard to say good-bye at the end. For people to want a sequel to Unspeakable Journey is a great compliment, but right now, I like the end the way it is, where you have to fill in the blanks.
Oh! I was afraid you were going to say that…. 🙂 What is currently in the works for you?
Rinda: I am currently working on a new novel. It is very different from Unspeakable Journey and is geared more toward young adults. I don’t think it will be Christian fiction (at least at this point that is the plan). I do hope that readers of Unspeakable Journey will still enjoy this new novel.
I have also been very busy promoting Unspeakable Journey and interacting with book clubs that have invited me to attend their discussion of my book. The book seems to lend itself to engaging book club discussion, and I hear from lots of readers that they are suggesting it to their local book club groups.
This is the family dog: Cuddles. Rinda says, "Can you tell that we have girls? My husband just laughs about all his girls, and when he gets overrun, he escapes to the garage. He has appropriately named it the "man cave". I am glad he has a sense of humor!"
It is a tradition here to ask each author I interview to share a little known fact about themselves.
Rinda: Like do you want to know that I am clumsy? I don’t pay attention to where I am going, because my head is usually in the clouds, dreaming, and I run into things and fall down. My husband and kids laugh at me a lot. Truthfully, I laugh at myself, cause you know, I have learned not to take myself too seriously!
On a more serious note, I am an artist. I enjoy drawing and painting, and would love to write and illustrate a children’s book.
Rinda, thank you so much for taking the time to come and chat with me today. I enjoyed learning more about your book, your writing, and what we can expect next.
Readers: You can find Rinda Hahn hanging out at her website: www.rindahahn.com
Unspeakable Journey is available on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Borders.com, or nationwide at your local bookstore. I picked up the audio version on audible.com If your bookstore does not have it in stock, they can order it.
Ok its morning.. and I do not have the capacity this early to carry on a long con (sorry – LOST joke and thumbs up to Sawyer).
Over the past couple weeks I have ran across a couple of videos that have cracked me up. One is Harry Potter related. The other is book related. I tried to ignore them….but…. ya know….
I am not real good at that either.
SO – hopefully you find at least one of these as entertaining as I did:
Literal Harry Potter. Had to chuckle.
and then…
This one… his eye brows crack me up.
Today I am striking against activity. LOL – ok, just until 1:00 when I have lunch with a friend and then at 4:00 when I go to Group Power…. but other than that…. I am banning activity for the day other than good books and a little down time. This past week exhausted me… last night I had dinner with my friends who I used to work with and that was a lot of fun catching up. By the time I got home at 7:30 pm I was so tired I went to bed at 8 pm.
Mmmmm hmmmm… there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. I have people over dosed and just need a little recoup time.
Any hoo – off to read! Have an awesome rest of your day!
Come One – and come all and join in on the Berg festivities!
This year I was introduced to a new author…. honestly I do not even remember how this original connection came about. It could have been a review on someone’s blog, or it could have been a title I spotted while cruising the audio aisles of my library – but whatever it was…. I fell in love with this authors writing and have been popping her books and audio like candy ever since.
Now – I want to make sure all of you take the time to try this author out for yourself.
Here is the layout… starting today through March 11th I am asking that you read (or listen) to a book by Elizabeth Berg. There are plenty to choose from!
Then link your reviews back here at Mr Linky so myself as well as other participants can go and check them out. Each review counts towards the March 11th drawing where one participant will win a Berg book of choice as long as it is available on Amazon. If you link three reviews here… you will have three entries.
Do your old reviews of Elizabeth Berg books count? If you have past reviews of Elizabeth Berg’s books yes, please link them – as long as you have written a review on them and link to that review – it will qualify. As this Berg Fest is all about reading Berg books – I would like it if you did search out a Berg book you have not read yet, even if you have read her before.
What if you do not have a blog – can you still participate? Yes – you need to leave a comment on this post about which book you read and a little bit about the book. If you do not have a blog however I would like the book to be reviewed and linked here.
** Note – if you are doing the Word Shaker read a long with me you are already one Berg book in once you post what review! 😀
More prizes may be added and if so, the updates to the prize list will be added here.
Here is the LINKY (below) feel free to add your Berg links as you go! 😀
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Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…
Yesterday turned out to be much more than I had planned….. in a good way… but wow. I am exhausted.
I worked and at work my wonderful co workers left this for me on my desk:
This beautiful calla lily is now sitting at my desk. I wish I would have taken a better picture – it really is gorgeous.
Then my wonderful coworker Dawn took me out to lunch at China Buffet (I did mention I was turning off the good eating habits for a day for my birthday….) 😀
After work I worked out and then went home and SURPRISE- my hubby had changed his evening plans so we could go shopping and go out to dinner. He thought I would want Chinese (I LOVE Chinese) but I had to confess to him that ship had sailed as of my noon lunch plans. Instead we went to Poncho and lefty’s a wonderful Mexican restaurant and we split a full size order of chicken nachos. (Again – remember I took the day off from eating healthy) 😛
At 8 pm I left to meet up with friends and had a blast. They had made me a cake (ok – seriously – I took the day off from eating healthy! LOL) and we shared in a lot of laughs. Paula picked me up an amazing book – thank you Paula 🙂
Left: Amy, Paula, Deb, Dawn, Laura, and me
And then finally….
I had to (HAD TO!) treat myself to a couple of books…..
The Beth Moore book is a 90 day study on Paul. I seen this at Barnes and Noble when I was there last month and I wanted soooooo badly to purchase it but decided I could wait for my birthday. SO – it arrived yesterday – on my birthday! I love books like this and there is space inside to write which I also enjoy.
A Tiger In The Kitchen:
After growing up in the most food-obsessed city in the world, Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan left home and family at eighteen for America–proof of the rebelliousness of daughters born in the Year of the Tiger. But as a thirtysomething fashion writer in New York, she felt the Singaporean dishes that defined her childhood beginning to call her back. Was it too late to learn the secrets of her grandmothers’ and aunties’ kitchens, as well as the tumultuous family history that had kept them hidden before? In her quest to recreate the dishes of her native Singapore by cooking with her family, Tan learned not only cherished recipes but long-buried stories of past generations.
A Tiger in the Kitchen, which includes ten authentic recipes for Singaporean classics such as pineapple tarts and Teochew braised duck, is the charming, beautifully written story of a Chinese-Singaporean ex-pat who learns to infuse her New York lifestyle with the rich lessons of the Singaporean kitchen, ultimately reconnecting with her family and herself.
I know right? I can not wait to read this book!
And finally (yes I know – babbling on…) I have to a sweet mention to two bloggers who not only made me smile a little bigger the last few days but were also two of my roommates last year at BEA. A big thank you to Care from Care’s on-line book club who sent me a birthday card a couple of days ago. How super sweet is she? AND hugs to my wonderful friend Reagan of Miss Remmer’s Reviews who called me and sang her own version of Happy Birthday yesterday evening. Seriously – this is two great examples of why I love this community of book bloggers.
Ok… I have an early morning meeting, work until 3, Zumba class at 3:30 and dinner with my Wal-Mart friends at 4:30. Yes another crazy day of good things.
Seventeen year old Mia has many things to be thankful for. She has an adoring and sweet boyfriend, a pretty exciting career in music and a possible scholarship to Julliard. She was a loving family – one that she actually likes to spend time with… and a snow day, where everyone is at home and a road trip is in the making – well that’s just icing on the cake.
And then in an instant…
it is all gone.
A tragic accident leaves Mia in a state of in between…. as she sees the devastation before her and an unsure future, Mia has really, only one decision to make….
should she stay?
If I Stay is out Bookies book club read for February. I was fascinated by the synopsis I detail above, and had a twinge of that Before I Fall feeling, which was so so so so sooooooo good. Can book lightning strike twice?
If I stay is a book about relationships. It’s about who we are and who we hope to be… and in some cases, it is about who we were.
As Mia contemplates the life she had, filled with memories of growing up, making pancakes with her mom, school work her dad, watching her baby brother come into this world, and falling in love with the boy she knows she was meant to be with…..all while laying in a coma on a hospital bed hovering between life… and death.
She has to now see if she is strong enough to movie into a future that is so different from what she has known. Mostly Mia has to ask herself if she is strong enough to move forward, when it seems so much easier just to let it all slip away.
It is hard to review this book without slipping into spoiler after spoiler, so if my thoughts here seem…. cryptic, it is intentional. I found this book to be a fast read that really did not fully impact me until after I was finished… now I sit here and the question lies on my lips…
what would I have done if I had to choose?
This book is real. This book is powerful and fans of YA will enjoy the highly emotional roller coaster of Mia’s life – before, during…. and after.
BOOKIES THOUGHTS:
This was our February book pick for the bookies book club. We brought food over to Kaydi’s house and potlucked over our discussion. We try to theme the food to the book, but in this case as the entire book is centered around Mia and Mia in mainly in the hospital unconscious… there was not a lot of food opportunity. However… never fear – as Amy was wise enough to bring jello…. a hospital staple. 😛
The book brought up many conversations on music ( a beautiful piece about this book is that it is surrounded with music – the whole family is associated to it and Mia and Adam both play instruments… we even listened to one of the songs from the book called Girl friend in a Coma by the Smiths. (seriously that’s the name of the song).
We closed up our meeting with the final question that really is what sums up the book…. what would you have done? If your entire family is killed in a car accident and you are the only survivor… do you fight to live… or do you just … let go. This part of the discussion turned deep as mixed opinions – all highly understandable were brought to the surface as well as personal memories that brought the entire Bookies to tears. It amazes me how all of us seen to carry something – no matter how many years it has been, that brings these emotions to the surface in a blink of an eye… a trigger word or phrase.
Here is something I love LOVE about book club. We can take an average read such as this one – a likable read yes, but not over the top… and we can review to the point that I feel we leave the book club feeling like we bonded a little more and we all know each other in a deeper way that makes me feel thrilled about the power of a book.
Over all bookies rating (1 – 5) A 3 3/4 rating and a box of Kleenex.
I am having a pretty good week. After the Monday What Are You reading Celebration, a fantastic book club meeting last night (review and discussion up later today), and now today…. is my birthday.
I am in a fine festive mood and feel we need a little theme music here before I can move on so hang on while I put some music on…
(right click on above text and click where it says open new window)
Oh come on it is 80’s! Whats not to love? 😛
Anyway while I dance around my kitchen table with my coffee cup let me share a happening and a tip….
Last night at book club I apparently dropped my cell phone in the snow. By the time I left 2 1/2 hours later (yeah… we were chatty last night) I found it iced over by my vehicle…. it was functioning but slowly.
Thanks to my son doing the same thing a year ago _ I knew what to do.
I brought it home and put it in a Ziploc of rice. Apparently the rice will draw any moisture out of the phone. The verdict? It is working fine today.
SO – birthday agenda? Nothing great really. I work until 3, then hitting the gym…. home for dinner and then 6:30 I take Chance to Youth Group and myself to class. AT 8 pm I plan to run Chance home and then at 8:15 meet up with a few girlfriends for appetizers for a small but “Woo Hoo its your birthday” gathering. The eating healthy is on hold until the Birthday is over. 😀
Isabella is happy with her life. She has a loving husband and children she adores. She lives pleasantly enough and has money to buy the things they need. On the eve of her thirtieth birthday as Isabella is grabbing a few groceries at the local grocery store she is abducted in the parking lot.
Despite all Isabella does to escape, Hasam, a human trafficker arranges to have her taken into Saudi Arabia where she is presented to the Prince Latif to be taken as wife. Latif, upon meeting Isabella finds her to be a beauty of long lavish red hair and captivating green eyes.
Isabella arrives in a country foreign to her. Ripped from the love of her family and friends she is forced to live under the laws of this country and live out her Christian faith under the very large and ever-present watchful eye of the Muslim community.
Ok… first off, holy smokes did this audio get me heart racing! While this is a fiction read it felt as though it could be a memoir. Isabella’s abduction seemed very real to me, I think in the times we live in there is so much out in the world happening that I listened to the start of this audio and thought, “Why not? It could happen.”
Isabella’s story is one of a strong faith. While she loses everything that can be taken away from her, there is one thing that can not by taken – and that is God. As Isabella’s captivity goes from days, to weeks to months… she has little hope of ever returning home to her husband and her children, and she literally gives it all to God. If this is His plan for her, then she will abide. A powerful, POWERFUL reflection of being fully committed to whatever will be.
I found the characters to be well written and the story line engaging. As Isabella fully gives herself to this new husband as she is demanded to… I found this to be an incredible topic for a Christian fiction read. There are many questions that came to mind and I felt that author Rinda Hahn wrote a very impressive book.
My only complaint is the ending was so abrupt. I would have liked to have known more from that point on – however I can see where if there was to be a sequel (hint hint hint!!!) I can see where this story line could pick up and continue into another book.
A book about keeping your faith and knowing God is with you, even in the darkest of days. A wonderful debut for author Rinda Hahn, who I would gladly read again.
**Stay tune – soon I will be interviewing author Rinda Hahn
Book Journey 