Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil Review & Giveaway

We absolutely LOVE Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil around our house.  We use it nearly daily for cooking.  I use it to replace vegetable oils in frying, as well as for shortening and even butter in my baking.  The flavor of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is the best I’ve ever had, and we’ve been using and eating coconut oil for years.

I not only use it in my cooking, but I also use it in my homemade toothpaste and deodorant.  I use it on my face as a moisturizer and also on my hair everyday to help prevent the frizzies and to generally moisturize my hair.  Coconut oil has SO many wonderful uses!  Because I use it all the time for all sorts of uses, Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil doesn’t last long at our house.

My whole family loves Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil so much that they like to eat it straight from the spoon!  My oldest son has even created a really yummy and easy “fudge” recipe that we all love.  He just takes some of the Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil in the liquid form and mixes it with a tad bit of unsweetened cocoa and sugar.  Pours it into the bottom of a pie plate and then puts it in the refrigerator to harden.  Then when we want something sweet, we just break off a piece and eat.  But you have to eat it in a hurry, because it melts fast!  YUM!!

Enter to Win 1 quart of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

 Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Notice: If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.

Vocal Coach Singer Review

As a member of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I was recently able to try Vocal Coach Singer from The Vocal Coach for review.

About Vocal Coach Singer

Have you ever wished your kids could take private voice lessons, but it just wasn’t in your budget?  Well now they can!  Vocal Coach Singer is a complete voice lesson curriculum available in both CD and mp3 format.  The creators, Chris and Carol Beatty, are professional musicians and vocal coaches for over 40 years.  Vocal Coach Singer covers everything you need to learn to become a more accomplished singer.  The system includes:

(from the website)

7 Training CDs:

• Getting Started
• Complete Breathing
• Complete Warm-Up
• Complete Tone
• Complete Expanding Your Range
• Complete Diction
• Complete Performance

4 Workout CDs:

• Daily Workout High Voice 1 & 2
• Daily Workout Medium/Low Voice 1 & 2

Plus these great educational tools:

• Guidebook – Full-size Instructional Guidebook to Ensure Success
• Printable Lead Sheets – each exercise in our course, plus track lists
• Personal Singer’s Journal (Getting Started Journal & Workout Journal) to Track Your Progress
• Vocal Coach Song Evaluation – Evaluation form to enable you to make more intelligent song selections

Vocal Coach Singer is affordable.  You can get the complete 12 CD set for only $119.99 or $99.99 for the mp3 set. Vocal Coach Singer is the equivalent of over $2,000 worth of private lessons!  It’s a great value!

My Thoughts on Vocal Coach Singer

I have been involved in choir since I was young, so I have a lot of experience working with vocal coaches and vocal lessons.  I was involved in the Texas Girl’s Choir, as well as school and church choirs.  I have to say that I am really impresses with the content and quality of the Vocal Coach Singer program.  It is a really thorough voice curriculum.

I feel music instruction is a really important part of a well rounded education.  It’s something missing in a lot of homeschools (including my own!) because of budget constraints.  That is why I was so excited to try Vocal Coach Singer.  For basic voice instruction it is an excellent product.  I tried the program myself and with my 8 year old son, Riley.  After doing so, I would certainly recommend it for Junior High and above age.  Riley got a case of the giggles whenever we’d do the scales (me, ma, mo, moo).  It might work okay with younger ages if they are more serious about vocal instruction.  For younger students, several of the other reviewer from The Schoolhouse Review Crew chose to review a product called Teaching Kids to Sing, which  might be more appropriate.

Overall, I think Vocal Coach Singer is a n excellent program.  If you have a child interested in voice training, I can certainly recommend this program!

Want to find out what other people thought of Vocal Coach Singer? Then check out the rest of the reviews from the The Schoolhouse Review Crew by clicking the graphic below!

NOTICE: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this item free from the creator. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

 

Conceptual Illustrations by BGibbs Giveaway

Recently, Britney from Conceptual Illustrations sent me a pair of really beautiful earrings to try, which I was so thankful for.   I absolutely loved the way she packages her earrings.  The arrived at my door in a good padded envelope which assured me they would not be damaged.  Inside the envelope, I found a pretty navy blue gauzy, drawstring bag with the earrings tucked inside.  Even the card the earrings were on was pretty.  The nice packaging made it obvious that Britney cares a lot about presentation and about her customers.  She went the extra mile to make sure they arrived safely and would present a pretty picture when opened.

As pretty as the packaging was, I was thrilled by the beautiful earrings she sent me to try.  While her pictures on her Etsy store, Conceptual Illustrations, are beautiful, they just do not truly do justice to how beautiful her work is.  Britney is one talented lady!  I don’t know if I could ever summon up enough patience to make earrings with all the details that Britney does.  She obviously puts a lot of time into her work and it shows!

The detail to her work is absolutely amazing.  I wore these earrings all weekend and was constantly getting compliments on them.  She does a fantastic job using a variety of mediums and colors.  The earrings I received had lots of beautiful wire work and several colors of beads.  Well, let me show you:

Aren’t they beautiful!  I just love the turquoise with the peach with a little jade thrown in!  They go with so many of my outfits too.  And, I can’t imagine how long it took to do all the wire work, the detail is amazing!

You really have to go check out her Etsy store, Conceptual Illustrations!  She has MANY more beautiful things in her store that would make perfect Christmas gifts.  I think any woman would love receiving a piece of her jewelry under the tree.  Take a look as these earrings as well….

Aren’t they gorgeous??!!  The colors are just perfect for fall, as well as Christmas!  These sell for $30, which is a fantastic price for hand crafted earrings with this much detail.  They are affordable and make a beautiful gift.  Britney currently has a 10% off coupon you can use to save!  Simply use the code: “FIRSTTIME” as you check out from Conceptual Illustrations to get the 10% discount. You know the only thing that could make these earrings better?  To get them for FREE, and Britney has generously offered the earrings above for me to GIVEAWAY here at Finding Beauty!!

Enter to WIN a Pair of Earrings from Conceptual Illustrations!!

Britney has been generous enough to offer y’all a chance to win a Pair of Earrings from Conceptual Illustrations (a $30 Value)!!   One lucky reader will win these earrings:

To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter form below! This giveaway ends on Monday, November 19th and the winner will be announced on Tuesday,  November 20th! Enter today and win a Pair of Earrings from Conceptual Illustrations!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTICE:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free sample of the earrings. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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 Season for Tending Review

I recently received a copy of the book A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall from Library Thing to read and review.  A Season for Tending is a 339 page Amish fiction novel released in September 2012.  It is the first book in Woodsmall’s new Amish Vines and Orchards series and is the first book by Cindy Woodsmall that I’ve ever read.

A Season for Tending Summary

In a community where conformity flourishes, seeds of Rhonda’s odd behavior were planted long ago.  Can she cultivate her relationships with the same care that she gives her beloved garden?

Old Order Amish Rhoda Byler’s unusual gift and her remarkable abilities to grow herbs and berries have caused many to think her odd. As rumors mount that Rhoda’s “gift” is a detriment to the community, she chooses isolation, spending her time in her fruit garden and on her thriving canning business. 
 
Miles away in Harvest Mills, Samuel King struggles to keep his family’s apple orchard profitable. As the eldest son, Samuel farms with his brothers, the irrepressible Jacob and brash Eli, while his longtime girlfriend Catherine remains hopeful that Samuel will marry her when he feels financially stable. 
 
Meanwhile, Samuel’s younger sister Leah is testing all the boundaries during her rumschpringe, and finds herself far from home in Rhoda’s garden after a night of partying gone badly. But Leah’s poor choices serve as a bridge between Rhoda and the King family when a tragic mistake in the orchard leaves Samuel searching for solutions.

Rhoda’s expertise in canning could be the answer, but she struggles with guilt over the tragic death of her sister and doesn’t trust herself outside her garden walls. As the lines between business, love, and family begin to blur, can Rhoda finally open up to a new life? And what effect will this odd, amazing woman have on the entire King family?

My Thoughts About A Season for Tending

I will state up front–I am NOT a fan of Amish fiction and A Season for Tending is not the book that will change that.  It was slow moving and a bit too soapy for me.  Cindy Woodsmall is a fine writer, no doubt about it, but I simply did not enjoy the storyline at all.  I would love to see her take a step away from the Amish fiction fad and write a Christian fiction book of a different genre.

Fans of Amish fiction will probably love A Season for Tending.  The writing is good and if you enjoy this sort of story line, then I would say that you’d enjoy this one.  As for me, I felt it was too slow and stilted. I just didn’t connect with the characters at all.  If Woodsmall continues to write Amish fiction alone, this will be the last book of hers I read.  But, I hope that at some point she steps away from this genre to write about a different subject.  If you like Amish fiction, then give this one a try, but if you’re like me and don’t enjoy it, I’d say skip this one.

NOTICE:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Library Thing in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

Some links are affiliate links, if you purchase the books through these links, I will receive a small percentage of the sales price.

 

Growing Up Wild Review

As a member of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I was thrilled to receive two DVDs from the Growing Up Wild series.  I received Volume 1 and Volume 4.

About Growing Up Wild

Growing Up Wild is a series of DVDs produced by the Wild family who are real missionaries to a remote tribe in the Indonesian jungle.  The Growing Up Wild DVDs document their lives with the Wano people in the Papua jungle.  The DVDs are narrated by Mom and Dad and show the daily missionary life through the eyes of their boys…the Wild Boys.

Each episode is a view into a different aspect of the missionary life and is geared to give children a broader view of just what missionary work is all about.  The Growing Up Wild series is geared toward children ages 5-12.  They are beautifully shot and really engaging.  Each episode is about 15 minutes in length and there are 3 episodes per DVD.  There is also an included activity guide that offers lots of activities and ideas to bring the message home.  Each of the Growing Up Wild DVDs sell for $18.99 plus shipping and handling.  You can also purchase the entire Growing Up Wild set (5 DVDs) at a 15% discount for $80.99 plus shipping and handling.

Growing Up Wild Volume 1 Description

Home Sweet Hut – In this episode, you will see a glimpse into the Wild brothers house and life. Learn how a house in the jungle is built and see the creatures that emerge in the night.

Supply Trip – How do the Wild brothers buy and bring in supplies for months while living in the jungle? Come and watch as this episode takes off on a little bush airplane and ends with a pantry full of supplies.

Sun & Water – Discover how the mighty sun’s power and a rushing mountain stream can be harnessed and become useful daily tools for the Wild brothers and their family. Who knew learning about electricity and water pressure could be so much fun!

Growing Up Wild Volume 4 Description

Amazing World Around Us – Colorful pythons, tropical birds, a giant stick bug and a huge hairy spider are the stars of this exciting episode. Join the Wild brothers as they marvel at the amazing evidences of our Creator in the jungles of Papua.

Adventures In Culture – Cultures are fascinating and different for all people groups. In this episode, you will follow the Wild brothers adventures in culture as they learn about war, hunting, red fruit and nose piercing.

Tribal Calling – In one of our favorite episodes yet, discover how the Wilds knew that their calling was a tribal calling. Find out how icebergs, missionaries and the body of Christ are alike. You may be surprised to hear a calling of your own!

My Thoughts on Growing Up Wild

When I brought the package into the house and told Riley what it was, he was ecstatic.  This was quite possibly the one most anticipated reviews for him.  When I told him about the DVDs, he couldn’t stop talking about them.  Every time I’d come from the mail box with a package he way dying to know if it was the Wild Boys 🙂  He bugged me as much about the Growing Up Wild DVDs as he does about the free Lego magazine.  So, you can imagine how excited he for them to finally arrive.

The minute I got back into the house from the mail box with the Growing Up Wild DVDs the first one went into the player and Riley was mesmerized for the next 45 minutes.  The episodes are FUN!  We all enjoyed watching the Wild boys antics and learning about life as a missionary.  Riley oohed and ahhed over all the “critters” (I had a slight different reaction…lol!).  After watching Volume 1 to completion, Riley went outside to build a hut on his own (in small scale).  Now, he’s begging Marty to go out with him in the “back-forty” and built our own hut like the one they built in the DVD.  I haven’t seen Riley this excited about something in a while and that it’s something with a missionary focus and messages of spreading what Christ did for is to the world is just icing on the cake.

Riley’s “hut” he made after watching Volume 1.

The Growing Up Wild DVD’s have earned a permanent spot in our home.  I can already see they will be popular for years to come.  I can’t recommend them high enough!

Want to find out what other people thought of Growing Up Wild? Then check out the rest of the reviews from the The Schoolhouse Review Crew by clicking the graphic below!

NOTICE: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this item free from the creator. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

 

Grace and Truth Books Review

As a member of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I was recently able to try out two books from Grace and Truth Books to review.  I received two books from their Boy’s Heritage Series: Gerrit and His Dog and A Faithful Boy’s Influence.

About Grace and Truth Books

Grace and Truth Books is a Christian online book store that focuses on classic Christian literature reprints from eras past.  These are not your modern, trendy Christian books.  These have much more substance.  The quality of these repents are fantastic, really nice paperbacks.

I received copies of two of their books from their Boy’s Heritage series, Gerrit and His Dog, which sells for $5.50 and A Faithful Boy’s Influence, which sells for $6.25.  There are 9 volumes in the Boy’s Heritage Series.  You can purchase the entire set for $39.  These book are quality made and the price is really reasonable.

Gerrit and His Dog Description

“Back in print with a beautiful new edition! The heart-warming story of a boy named Gerrit his dog Brownie, and God’s kindness to both boy and dog while separated – then their joyful reunion! Here’s a story which will teach your boys the blessing of what it is to feel a heart of compassion and sympathetic care.

This volume also contains a 2nd story, The Royal Law, about a poor boy whose whole family life was transformed by the grace of God when they learned Jesus’ great commandment about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you”

A Faithful Boy’s Influence Description

“Charlie Clement was a visitor at the home of relatives for a year, and his visit brought about great changes in the minds and attitudes of both the townspeople and even the local pastor. Charlie’s admirable character was an encouragement to everyone he met and many learned to imitate his walk with the Lord. This wonderful children’s book, about how a young boy initiated respect for God’s servant by a good example, will mold your children’s character in an important area.

Also, a second part of the book includes Herbert Dawson’s Ears For Little Gleaners, a collection of lessons from 19th-century Sunday school books on what true treasure is, how to find wisdom, keep away from sin, and several more. For ages 6-12.

Note: A Faithful Boy’s Influence was formerly entitled All Can Help. This new title represents the meaning of the story far better.”

My Thoughts On Grace and Truth Books

When these books arrived in my mail box, my first thought was how impressed I was at the quality of them.  They are nicely put together.  When Riley saw them, he was really excited to read them, especially Gerrit and His Dog.  Riley really like the art work on the cover and was immediately drawn to that one.  He begged me multiple times to read it to him that first day, but it had to wait until bedtime.

We started reading it that evening and were able to finish it up in less than a week.  He LOVED the story.  It taught him a lot about compassion and we had some really great discussions each evening following our reading.  It was such a sweet story that we all enjoyed.  He also enjoyed the second story in the book  called The Royal Law.

The second book, A Faithful Boy’s Influence, we chose to read as a part of our homeschool day.  I had Riley read it aloud with me there helping him with words he was unfamiliar with.  Riley is 8 and probably reads on an early to mid second grade level.  He was able to read the book with a little help and even learned a few new words :).  I had him write the words he didn’t know down in a personal vocabulary word list which he practiced reading each day.  By the end of the book, he was reading pretty much on his own.  I know a lot of kids might find the old-fashioned writing and wording a bit hard to read and understand, but Riley’s been learning to read using the old McGuffey readers, so he’s use to the old-fashioned words and style.

Overall, I can HIGHLY recommend these books.  I’m quite impressed with the quality of them and the selection is also really nice.  If you like old-fashioned values, then go to Grace and Truth Books and make a purchase!

Want to find out what other people thought of Grace and Truth Books? Then check out the rest of the reviews from the The Schoolhouse Review Crew by clicking the graphic below!

NOTICE: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this item free from the creator. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

 

The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking Review & GIVEAWAY

I recently received a copy of the ebook The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking by  K.M. Logan to read and review.  K.M. Logan is the author of the blog, Lessons From Ivy, as well as the author of several other books: Devotions for the First Few Days, The Matthew 6:33 Piano Teacher, and Honoring a Child Born to Heaven.

Description of The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking

From the website:

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have an extra hour in the evening to yourself and not have to worry about the dreaded question, “Hey Mom, what’s for dinner?” then freezer cooking just might be for you.

The “The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking” covers all the basics to teach you how and how not to prepare freezer meals for your family. From cooking all your meals for a month in just one day, or preparing just a few extra meals for when you’re family is particularly busy, this book is full of helpful tips and tricks to help you make it happen.

Included are meal plan ideas, money saving strategies, basic recipes, and there is even a section on how to utilize freezer cooking as a weight loss tool. If you’re looking for a quick read, and an introduction into the world of make-ahead meals then this book is the perfect place to get started.

My Thoughts About The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking

The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking is a 66 page ebook from K.M. Logan.  I found it to be a very well thought out book that gives you a great starting point for beginning freezer cooking.  I have considered doing freezer cooking for a long time, have never actually bitten the bullet and gave it a try.  I was always a bit intimidated by the process.  Ms. Logan’s book actually made me feel that freezer cooking could actually be a possibility for my family.  She doesn’t white wash the work behind preparing a freezer full of meals, but but she did make me feel it was an attainable goal.

The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking is a great little book for people just starting out.  Ms. Logan’s writing is humorous and conversational.  It was kind of like having a friend over in your kitchen helping you along with the process.  She has a section for each letter of the alphabet, with lots of great information under each section.  Even though it’s not a big book, it is packed with lots of real world and useful ideas that anyone considering freezer cooking could use.  It also contains many recipes to get you started.

Overall, I would highly recommend The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking to anyone just starting out in Freezer Cooking.  It’s a really nice introduction to freezer cooking and a helpful little book at a great price–only $2.99!

The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking Giveaway–Enter to WIN!!

K.M. Logan has been generous enough to offer y’all a chance to win a copy of The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking! Five (5) of my readers will win a copy!!  To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter form below! This giveaway ends on Sunday, November 11th and the winner will be announced on Monday,  November 12th! Enter today and win a copy this great little book, The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking,  from K.M. Logan!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Activity Bags Review – Schoolhouse Review Crew

As a member of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I was recently able to try out 4 really wonderful ebooks from Activity Bags: Science Experiments in a Bag Ebook 1, Science Experiments in a Bag Ebook 2, Science Experiments in a Bag Ebook 3, and Math Games in a Bag.

About Activity Bags

Activity Bags books all come in PDF ebook format and are a fun way to add learning games to your homeschool day.  If you’re anything like me, you’ve learned that if you can make learning fun, then your kids learn and retain the information better.

Each book contains all the information and pritables that you need to assemble the games/activities.  I love that they also encourage you to assemble the, as a group to exchange.  They provide a free Coordinators Handbook just for this purpose.  This is a GREAT way to assemble these games/activities, as each person assembles multiples of a couple of them to share with the group.  This allows you to be able to purchase some items in bulk at a discounted price which makes it even cheaper to assemble them.

Assembling the games/activities is easy.  All you need to do is gather the supplies for each activity/game, print out the masters from the ebook for each game you are assembling,  and then tuck them into a gallon sized ziplock bag for storage.  Easy Peasy!  Once assembled, you are ready for some educational fun!  The games are mostly designed for 2 or more players and they are geared toward grades K-8.

We received 4 books to review:

Science Experiments in a Bag Ebook 1 – This book contains 25 experiments for biology, nature, and general science.  It costs $15.

Science Experiments in a Bag Ebook 2 – This book contains 25 experiments for chemistry, the human body,  and general science.  It costs $15.

Science Experiments in a Bag Ebook 3 – This book contains 25 experiments for chemistry.  It costs $15.

You can purchase Books 1 & 2 in a bundle set for only $27 or you can get a bundle with all 3 books for $39 (a $6 savings!)

Math Games in a Bag – This book contains 33 math games and costs $15.

They also have books with Preschool Activities (2), Reading Games, Travel Activities, and Daily Activity Journals.

My Thoughts on Activity Bags

I have to say, I’m highly impressed with Activity Bags.  My son loves playing games and doing science experiments, so this was a BIG hit at our house.  The games and experiments are really easy to assemble and many times we already had the “ingredients” around.  We have a lot of homeschoolers in our church and I can see doing a swap really soon with these Activity Bags.

Riley’s favorites have to have been the Science Experiments in a Bag books.  He loved making salt crystals and volcanoes.  The experiments are hands-on and fun.  He’s also been struggling with math of the Math Games in a Bag were so helpful in encouraging him to strengthen his math skills.

I am actually going to be using these books a lot in the next couple of months.  I’ve decided to make up quite a few of them for my nieces as a Christmas present for my nieces.  My sister-in-law is homeschooling her 5 girls and it’s always hard to pick gifts for them.  So I though that these would be perfect as a gift.

I really think Activity Bags are a great way to add some fun into your homeschool.  I really can’t recommend them high enough.  They are reasonably priced and are chock full of homeschooling fun.  I suggest you run out an purchase them today!

Want to find out what other people thought of Activity Bags? Then check out the rest of the reviews from the The Schoolhouse Review Crew by clicking the graphic below!

NOTICE: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this item free from the creator. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

Gladheart Acres Giveaway!

It’s been a while since I’ve had a giveaway here on Finding Beauty and thought it was about time that we had another one! This giveaway is kindly being offered by my friend Tammy from Gladheart Acres. Gladheart Acres is a family owned and operated business located in the heart of the Mat-Su Valley in the beautiful state of Alaska. They specialize in handcrafted bar soaps, liquid soap, liquid lotion, lotion bars, salves, soy candles, lip balms, skeeter scatter, linen sprays, bath salts, sugar scrubs, and milk bath. She was kind enough to send me some samples to try as well. She sent me a bar of her Alaskan Fireweed scented soap and a bottle of Alaskan Fireweed scented Olive Oil and Glycerine Lotion. We LOVED this soap. It lathers really well and smells beautiful. Okay…my guys weren’t crazy about the scent for themselves, it’s a very floral, feminine scent. But, my husband loved it on me 🙂 I use the lotions several times a week as well and it’s very soothing on dry hands. I can’t believe how pretty her soap is. I just love the marbling effect. I think it’s safe to say that Gladheart Acres soap and lotion were a hit in our house. I also think they would make the perfect Christmas gifts!

Enter to Win!

Tammy has been generous enough to offer y’all a chance to win this set of soap and lotion! To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter form below! This giveaway ends on Wednesday, November 7th and the winner will be announced on Thursday, Novewmber 8th! Enter today and win this fabulous set from Gladheart Acres!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Over the Edge by Mary Connealy Review :: Bethany House

I recently received a copy of the book Over the Edge by Mary Connealy from Bethany House to read and review.  Over the Edge is a 336 page Christian historical romance, released in August of 2012.  Over the Edge is the third book in The Kincaid Brides series, of which I’ve only read the first one, Out of Control.  I have read many of Mary Connealy’s romances and have found them to be very entertaining and fun to read and I’m always eager to read her new books.  Her Lassoed in Texas Series is one of my favorites, so I was looking forward to The Kincaid Brides series.

Over the Edge Plot Summary

Seth Kincaid survived a fire in a cave, but he hasn’t been the same since. Then he fought in the Civil War and returned to Colorado crazier than ever.

Somewhere along the line, it appears Seth got married. Oh, he has a lot of excuses, but his wife isn’t too happy to find out Seth doesn’t remember her. Callie isn’t a long-suffering woman. When Seth disappeared, she searched, prayed, and worried. Now she’s come out west to wrangle her long-lost husband.

Seth is willing to make amends. Callie is more interested in shooting him. Can they rekindle their love before one of them goes over the edge?

My Thoughts About Over the Edge

A few months ago, I was able to read the first book in The Kincaid Brides series, Out of Control and I was really disappointed with it.  The main female character in that one, Julia Gilliland, annoyed me beyond belief.  I really, REALLY disliked her character.  I was so disappointed by the book, especially because Mary Connealy is on of my favorite authors and has written so many fun novels in the past.  That being said, I was a little nervous about reading Over the Edge.  While I found it better than Out of Control, I still am not that impressed with Over the Edge.  Not only was something about it a bit “off”, but I had to endure the character of Julia Gilliland yet again.  I really wanted to like this series, but of the two books I’ve read, I’m just left feeling disappointed.  I think I’ll skip the second book in the series that I haven’t read yet.  I’m not giving up on Mary Connealy yet, but hope future books aren’t duds like these two.

Enjoy the book trailer below!

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes fun and lively “romantic comedy with cowboys” for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie’s Daughters series, and her novel Calico Canyon was nominated for a Christy Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters. Visit her on her Web site maryconnealy.com or her blog http://mconnealy.blogspot.com.

NOTICE:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

Some links are affiliate links, if you purchase the books through these links, I will receive a small percentage of the sales price.