Book Review: "Abducted" by Janice Cantore, A Tyndale House Publication

I recently curled up with the latest novel by Janice Cantore, Abducted , a Tydale House publication. The book is the second in a series (Pacific Coast Justice), of which I have not read the first, but the second book stands alone just fine. I actually thought there was too much recap of the first novel that wasn't always relevant to the current story line. It was enough to spoil the outcome of the first book, so I didn't feel like I should go back and read it. I think the author could have left it a mystery, enough to make me want to go buy a copy of the first book. The second book, Abducted, revolves around police officer Carly and an investigation into the abduction of her patrol partner's infant son while dealing with her own personal life drama. After divorcing over an affair, newly found forgiveness and grace through Christ have led to the possible reconciliation between Carly and her ex-husband, Nick. Carly and Nick have both become Christians which has helped them change for the better.

The sub-plot includes a strained relationship between Carly and her roommate who doesn't know what to make of Carly's new found Christianity. There is also the new friendship between Carly and Alex, a reporter who once held all cops in a negative light, both personally and professionally. Alex may want more than a friendship which adds to the drama of Carly's reconciliation with Nick.

 Carly's relationship with God as a new Christian plays out in the book much as in any Christian's every day life. Carly prays for favorable outcomes both through inner dialogue and aloud with others. She seeks God's wisdom and turns to her bible for comfort in times of confusion and desperation. Although Christian messages like forgiveness and trust are present in the story line, they wern't spelled out in an unnecessary, hit you over the head with a bible sort of way. They were easy to recognize and the author left it at that. Even if the reader is not a Christian the author makes a good case for forgiving or even having pity on those who at first seem to be in the wrong. I thought it was a great way of reminding the reader of the humanity of all people or in this case, characters, meaning that we all fall short and sin sometimes and each character is not simply a good guy or a bad guy.

The book was a very easy read. It had short chapters and kept you wanting to continue reading from the very start. The dialogue flowed well and the plot line was well constructed. I liked the fact that I almost thought a twist ending was coming but didn't, in the main plot as well as the sub-plot, which I think the author meant to do. I was surprised when it didn't turn out as I expected and delighted because I wasn't able to predict the outcome. Although there is some satisfaction in being able to figure it all out as a reader, I prefer the surprise much more. As a former police officer the author could have filled the novel with lots of police jargon and shorthand but there wasn't too much and what was there was well explained. I feel a bit smarted now that I even know some of the short hand, it was like going for a ride along in the back of a cop car. One could easily finish this books 350+ pages in about a week, perfect for taking along on vacation and reading pool side. I give it 4 1/2 stars out of 5.

This book is available online through Amazon.

**Please note, I did not receive any compensation for this review. I did however receive a copy of the book to review. All opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced in any way.

Noxicare Review & Giveaway

I was recently given the opportunity to try out Noxicare Natural Pain Relief. Noxicare was developed by Dr. Ghorbani, a Harvard-trained, board certified Interventional Pain Management Specialist. Noxicare is ideal for artharitis, fibromyalgia, muscle pain, tension headaches, and diabetes. It combines seven natural and potent pain relievers for lasting relief of inflammation, muscle ache, and nerve pain. There are no known side effects and a prescription is not required. It is registered with the FDA as well.

So what's in it? Tumeric and Rosemary which both act as anti-inflammatory. Willow bark which has long been used to treat low back pain and tension headaches. Ginger which relieves muscle strain and acts as a catalyst, improving the strength of the other ingredients. Holy-Basil which inhibits inflammatory enzymes to help counteract arthritis and headaches among others. Alpha Lipoic Acid is known to combat numbness, burning, and pain associated with nerve-pain. Boswellia which relieves pain and promotes healthy inflammation response, reducing joint pain. Together these ingredients improve on the strengths of the others to boost the effectiveness of the pain reliever as a whole.

I let my husband be the test dummy for this product because the Noxicare website states that it is not intended for use by pregnant women (that's me as you may have read in my previous giveaway!) but I did give it a smell test and rubbed it on my husband's muscles that he could not reach. It is odorless and goes on just like lotion with no after film or greasy residue. As the pregnant one I appreciate not having to go to bed with someone who just slathered on a pain reliever that has so much menthol it goes up my nose, what a relief! You aren't going to feel the numbness and tingling that comes with those relievers, but you are also not rubbing chemicals or lab-created pharmaceuticals into your skin either. Many other products for pain relief act only temporarily and shouldn't be used in excess. Noxicare is safe to use everyday.

My husband can't really attest to Noxicare's effects at this point, and because he doesn't suffer chronic pain, it is hard to determine if his pain relief came from Noxicare or just a restful night's sleep, but the muscle aches he had after a long workout at the gym were gone the next day. In order to determine effectiveness for lasting pain relief, Noxicare recommends daily application, 2-3 times a day, for at least two weeks. It is also available in a supplement. After learning about this product I would have no problem recommending it to a friend, such as someone I know who has fibromyalgia.

BUY IT:  Noxicare Natural Pain Relief Cream

WIN IT: Win a bottle of Noxicare and a Noxicare T-Shirt. Enter on the Rafflecopter form below, please be patient and wait for it to load.

Moms Day Off Giveaway & Blogger Event Hop

“Welcome To "Moms Day Off" For A Great Giveaway”

✣"BLOGGERS: Event Hop To Add Your Own Events"✣

Moms Day Off 

Is being Hosted By;

Debs Sit-n-Shop | MommiesPoint of View | 
Live Laugh Love To Shop | Oh! My Heartsie |

Here is your chance to pamper yourself or a beloved lady! Enter the giveaway below and then check out our giveaway for another gift for mom HERE!

✣The event run August 20th through August 27th

"One Lucky Winner Will Receive"
✣ Avon 
✣ Country Gourmet 
✣ Paparazzi Jewelry 
✣ Enchanted Candles
Sponsors Mommies Point of View + Deb's Sit Shop + Oh! My Heartsie

Please be patient and let the page load

Enter on the easy Rafflecopter Below

Next Event Taking Signups!

 Mommies Point Of View and Live Laugh Love to Shop

Hosting The $100.00 ShopBop Gift Card Event Signup Here

Upcoming Hop: Blogger Opportunity

  

Time has flew right by! As of this August, Mom with a Dot Com has been in business for a year now! She’s really excited and wants to thank her readers with a giveaway hop! Got something great to giveaway valued at at least $25? Join Mom With a Dot Com for the "Better Late Than Never" Giveaway Hop! Even though it's technically August still, the event won't take place until September... so we'll be a little late - but that makes it fun! Better Late Than Never will take place from September 1 - September 9. This event will feature a variety of giveaways. It does not need to be theme specific (just family friendly). 25 blogs are already signed up!

Details

• Host: Mom with a dot com
• Dates: September 1 - September 9, 2012
• Minimum Prize Value: $25
• Cost to join: Free (w/ a paid promotional options!) 

To Join:

• Sign up at Mom With a Dot Com
  

Inspired Deals: Back To School with DaySpring Products

 

Heading back to school can be an exciting time for kids. They want the coolest backpack and the latest gear to start the year off right. For our family and many of our friend's families, that also means preparing our children for social interaction. This can mean making new friends, remembering to share and lend a hand, being comfortable with being U-Neek, and being a positive influence. As a Christian family, it also means preparing our children for the different world views of their classmates (especially if they are headed to public school) and equipping them to share and defend their faith. It can be really hard for kids to talk about these things, because they know they will find judgement, assumptions, and stereotypes as stumbling blocks. One easy way they can show who they are is by stocking those cool new backpacks with DaySpring back to school products such as notebooks, binders, and maybe even a cuddly buddy to help break the ice.

DaySpring has gear for girls and boys headed back to school like notebooks and binders in fun prints and designs that include "text speak" like "Jesus is my BFF" and "I Heart Jesus." DaySpring also has a line of U-Neek cuddly friends that can accompany a nervous young one back to school and remind them that it is ok to be themselves. We received Alliebird, a cute little hoot owl, which I am sure will be a new favorite friend for my preschooler. (Coincidental that Allie is a name we are considering for our next child? I like to think that's God's way of giving me something to smile about today!). We also received encouragement cards with clever sayings to match the cute creatures on the cards. We plan to share some of this great stuff with our friend's kids that are headed to school, perhaps for the first time, because we know that is a way we can show encouragement and love to our friends.

I am excited to fill these binders with early learning activity sheets, both of general and biblical knowledge, and know that they will one day accompany him to school, even if that may just be at the kitchen table of our future home-school. Who knows, we may spend many school days at area parks where others may get to see that "I Heart Jesus" notebook. You never know where you might plant a seed for God to water. I encourage you, fellow Christian, to visit DaySpring and support Christian businesses by purchasing their school supplies for your kids.

*Please note, I was not compensated for this post. I did however receive sample products. All opinions are 100% my own.

Wordless Wednesday: A Sweet Moment, Daddy & Son

Spectacular Back To School Shoe Deal at Famous Footwear!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear. All opinions are 100% mine.

Getting ready to hit the stores and take care of your back to school shopping? Take care of all your shoe needs by shopping the large variety of shoes at Famous Footwear. They have hundreds of brand name shoes at prices you can afford! The store is designed for ease of shopping; you can be in and out with 3 pairs of shoes for the kids in twenty minutes. The staff is trained to be respectful of your time because they know you have a lot to do on your back-to-school checklist.
I love getting a great deal on shoes. I hardly ever shop at a shoe store unless they are running a sale and one of my favorite promotions is a BOGO or buy one get one half off sale. Well, Famous Footwear has hit the top of my shopping list with the great deal they are running right now. Not only can you take advantage of a BOGO sale, but you can now get an extra 15% off!
Want to save even more? That's right, I said you can save even more! Sign up to be a Rewards Member and that extra 15% will turn into 20%. The rewards program is FREE and you can earn a point for every dollar you spend, accumulating all the way up to $100 in rewards per year. You will also enjoy other perks such as special discounts just for being a member.
Want to take advantage of this great deal? Be sure to print off the coupon below to receive your discount and go use it by 8/18.  I know I will! I am looking forward to shopping for shoes in just one stop because even if they don't have the sizes I need in store, they can ship what I need to my door! I could even pre-shop at www.famous.com and have the shoes I want shipped to my store at no extra cost.

BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon

Suprise! It's A Giveaway! Literary Love Hop

Welcome to the Literary Love Giveaway Hop! This hop is brought to you by Views From the 'Ville and Money Saving Mindy! After entering this giveaway be sure to hop around on the blog list below and see what other great contests there are!

I have a big announcement that may shed some light on why you haven't seen much on my blog the last few weeks. I have been struggling with morning sickness! That's right! We are expecting our second little kiwi in February 2013 and I am cracking open my favorite book on pregnancy, What To Expect When You Are Expecting! I am excited that the plural from my blog name will finally be true as I will have two little kiwis when Logan becomes a big brother. We used this photo of the 3 of us to announce our news to our family: 

So part of this first trimester is awful morning sickness for me. I was sick with my son too, so I saw it coming but it is different this time as I hear each pregnancy usually is. For one, I am gagging at everything! Opening the fridge, walking into the pantry, brushing my teeth, and trying to down the many vitamins and pills I need to take. Pre-natal vitamins are a must (as the great book will tell you!) and I had no trouble with them before I became pregnant, but as soon as morning sickness kicked in the huge pills became a dreaded daily chore. If you are like me at all, or have trouble swallowing your regular daily vitamin, you will be as excited as I was to hear about our sponsor!

Vitalah gave me the opportunity to review their first line of products: Oxylent Vitamin Drink Mix. I was sent a pre-natal version which is approved by the American Pregnancy Association. Vitalah was started by world traveler Lisa Lent who brought us Oxylent after beginning her search for the perfect health supplement for her busy, active life.

 "Oxylent is made exclusively with Albion Minerals, and has received Albion’s Gold Medallion, which recognizes products for excellence in mineral fortification.Research has shown that Albion’s chelated minerals exhibit superior absorption over common mineral salts. Oxylent is the only effervescent multivitamin product to be awarded the Albion Gold Medallion". 

 I was so excited to have one less pill to swallow! I had no idea that a drink version of a prenatal even existed until partnering with Oxylent. They also make other multivitamin mixes for adults in several flavors and a mix for children and I received a few samples of them as well. I like that they have a children's mix, which also has no sugar, because my son is still too young to take even the gummy vitamins. A few other powders I have tried for him are too bland and I have to hide them in food. And sometimes he doesn't want to eat what I prepare him, which results in a vitamin wasted. This mix is berry punch flavored and I can put in his juice cup with some water, which I know he will always finish off. My husband tried the regular vitamin mix and said it was a lot like juice and didn't have the aftertaste of some mixes or the bitter aftertaste of swallowing a vitamin pill. I am really enjoying this vitamin mix, it has a great cranberry raspberry flavor and mixes easily into warm water to which I add ice for a cold drink that also keeps me hydrated. I also like that it is sweetened with Stevia so there is no added sugar and it also has no artificial color, flavor, gluten, lactose, or caffeine. I love that it has B6 which is known to help ease nausea as well. It takes me a while to drink anything so sometimes I have to get a spoon and stir in the last bits at the bottom to make sure I get all the good nutrients. I don't mind though. Sometimes I take it on the go in a water bottle and then I can just shake to redistribute the mix if needed.

I was really curious at how the nutrients compared to the vitamin I was taking and here is how the nutrition information breaks down:

It has less Iron than my other vitamin but I like that, because I have also had some constipation (sorry for the TMI!) and less iron should help ease that a little. It also has twice the IU's or mg of many of the other nutrients in my current pill. My current pill also has no B6, Chromium, Potassium, or Magnesium. This looks to be the better supplement by comparison, at least to me.

More great health benefits about Oxylent:

OXYGENATES: The enzymes, SOD and catalase, work together to promote the conversion of toxins into oxygen and water.*

HYDRATES: Important electrolytes control the balance of fluid in the body. They are also important for muscle and nerve function, blood pressure, movement of nutrients into the cells, and the removal of waste product from the cells.*

CIRCULATES: The amino acid L-Arginine promotes healthy blood flow, which significantly improves circulation.*

REJUVENATES: A full range of B vitamins support adrenal health, and immune and nervous systems. Powerful antioxidants in the form of CoQ10, vitamin C, bioflavonoids and are also included.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.

I will be giving one lucky reader a copy of What To Expect When You Are Expecting, as well as an Oxylent gift pack valued at $55 that includes a camelbak water bottle, a box of Prenatal Oxylent and some other goodies. 

 BUY IT NOW: Visit Oxylent.com!

Use Discount code: TOPOXYLENT

20% off entire order and free shipping with order of 2 boxes or more!

Every purchase helps to support Vitamin Angels: a global organization that provides under-nourished children with nutritional supplements. They reach 24,000,000 children in 43 countries including the US.