The King's Mercy by Lori Benton

My thoughts:  As with all of Lori Benton's books, The King's Mercy is absolutely rich with historical information and is written with such realistic and detailed descriptions that you can sense a feeling of the humidity in the air, the sound of insects abuzz and the feel of slapping away a mosquito. The characters are so richly drawn verbally that you begin to love or hate them because your heart beats with anticipation, fear, love, dread, joy just as theirs.

Very well written with a depth of perception of the times, locale, and social mores that you will mentally engage on a level that takes you striving with the under dog from page one to the exciting conclusion.

Do the good guys win out? Sure they do. Can you accurately anticipate the ending? To a small degree you can.

The King's Mercy takes the reader to the shores of the Cape Fear River near Wilmington, North Carolina. The timeline is in the mid 1700s. The large "plantation" or estate is owned by a retired sea Captain whose wife is deceased and who has two daughters. He has a contingent of slaves to work his land, black smithy, and mill. One of the main male characters if the Scottish Indentured Slave who has been purchased and whose captivity by the English King has been granted a "mercy" which is indentured slavery.

I highly recommend this Christian historical fiction. It is heavy with Christian teachings which believers will enjoy.


About the book: This epic historical romance tells of fateful love between an indentured Scotsman and a daughter of the 18th century colonial south.

When captured rebel Scotsman Alex MacKinnon is granted the king's mercy--exile to the Colony of North Carolina--he's indentured to Englishman Edmund Carey as a blacksmith. Against his will Alex is drawn into the struggles of Carey's slaves--and those of his stepdaughter, Joanna Carey. A mistress with a servant's heart, Joanna is expected to wed her father's overseer, Phineas Reeves, but finds herself drawn instead to the new blacksmith. As their unlikely relationship deepens, successive tragedies strike the Careys. When blame falls unfairly upon Alex he flees to the distant mountains where he encounters Reverend Pauling, itinerant preacher and friend of the Careys, now a prisoner of the Cherokees. Haunted by his abandoning of Joanna, Alex tries to settle into life with the Cherokees, until circumstances thwart yet another attempt to forge his freedom and he's faced with the choice that's long hounded him: continue down his rebellious path or embrace the faith of a man like Pauling, whose freedom in Christ no man can steal. But the price of such mercy is total surrender, and perhaps Alex's very life.

DISCLOSURE: I received an advanced reader complimentary copy from WaterBrook and Multnomah Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

Love "baby" books for the whole family..... "Baby Moon" by Hayley Barrett & "Hello, I'm Here!" by Helen Frost & Rick Lieder [Review & Giveaway]

BabyMoon by Hayley Barrett (2-5 years PS-Kind)

My thoughts:  The "honeymoon" phase of having a new addition to a family - baby - has been termed "Babymoon" and is quite appropriate. Whether it is a couple embarking on being parents to that new life entrusted to them or an already "bulging at the seams" family, a period of quiet integration and adjustment is a beautiful way to begin this adventure.

Beautifully written rhyme gently takes the reader - young or older - into the confines of the home where the new baby has arrived. The sweet pictures are simply adorable.

I highly recommend.

About the book: A newborn family spends a quiet day together. It's their babymoon—a time set apart for them to bond, to rest, and to fall in love.

Hello, I'm Here! by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder (2-5 years PS-Kind)

My thoughts:  This is a beautifully illustrated book using exquisite photography that seems to hint at an artist's brush to portray the story of a Sandhill Crane baby chick beginning his adventure.

This is no timid chick but an adventurous one that wants to walk, swim, follow, eat. He boldly declares that he is here in the world making his acquaintance with "brother chick" and soft-winged mother.

A lovely book that offers the opportunity for a teaching moment about nature and new life as well as instilling a sense of place and identify to the child who is listening to the story.

At the end of the book there is a page of great information about the Sandhill Crane. Will tiny tots absorb this material? Probably not entirely but seeds of information should constantly be placed with anticipated future blossoming.

I highly recommend.

About the book: A poetic text and wonderfully intimate photographs follow a newborn sandhill crane as it takes its first steps into the world.

Will my legs hold me?

What if I fall?

Peek in as a sandhill crane hatchling makes its first wobbly stand and takes its first steps alongside its brother. With their parents close by, they flap their wings and dance before enjoying a buggy treat. Someday they will fly with the majestic cranes overhead, but for now, Mama's soft feathers beckon. With a lyrical narrative and lovely photo illustrations, this latest venture from an acclaimed creative team makes a perfect new baby gift -- and will appeal to bird lovers, too.

GIVEAWAY ~ 2 Winners

Begins May 29

Ends June 25 at 12:01 a.m EDT

Open to USA & CANADA 

NO P.O. Boxes, please

Canadian winner's must provide a phone #

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' copies are provided and shipped by publisher directly to the winner/s.

Morning Pep Pure Birch Xylitol FLASH GIVEAWAY - Open to USA (16 oz. pkg of Morning Pep Pure Birch Xylitol)

I've had chewing gum that used Xylitol as the sweetener and I'm sure my dentist appreciates my use of less sugar that is corn based or sugarcane based.

But I never realized that this was a sweetener you could buy for yourself and the qualities it is purported to have.

The Morning Pep Pure Birch Xylitol is so good that you can dip your strawberries in it and eat 'em as you do. There is no aftertaste. It just tastes good.But it is advertised as having other grand qualities.....

• Keto Diet friendly
• Non GMO
• Koshser
• Gluten Free
• Made from the sap of the Birch tree 
• Free of GMO, Corn, Wheat, Soy and Gluten
• Made in USA

Where can you find it? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PUSODZ0

GIVEAWAY

A 16 oz. Pkg. Morning Pep Pure Birch Xylitol

Open to USA addresses only.

Begins May 28

Ends June 4 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary products to facilitate a review and host giveaway. Winner's prize is provided by Morning Pep and shipped directly to them. Any opinions expressed are my own. This is a #sponsored review for which I received a highly discounted product or was otherwise compensated. #morningpepxylitol

Fish Sandwiches Troy Schmidt [The Delight of Receiving God's Promises] from NavPress

My thoughts:  I never knew you could get so much information from the stories of Jesus multiplying the fish and bread at the two feedings of thousands events recorded in the New Testament. The author breaks intellectual bread with readers in a light hearted, easy to read format.

You will chuckle a bit here and there as he brings out the makings of Fish Sandwiches when Jesus fed the folks on each side of the watery expanse. Different people and different times but the same idea of provision for those who need. As we are in need today for nourishment - physically, emotionally, spiritually, Jesus provides that nourishment for us as he did for them.

A terrific little book jammed full of treasures.

Read the 1st chapter (pdf)

About the book: We all have this in common: We get hungry. Inevitably, we eventually notice something we lack, and we wonder how we’re going to get our needs met. And then sometimes we notice that someone else has already taken care of our needs. And then sometimes we notice that the One who is taking care of our needs is God.

This warm and down-to-earth book invites you to sit in on one of the most miraculous moments of human history, when one Man took a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread and fed an entire village. Meet the Jesus who dares you to ask Him to give you each day your daily bread, who makes promises and keeps them, and who does immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine on a regular basis.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy fro the publisher to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone, and are freely shared.

The Wonder Seed company's Hemp Seed Oil Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner [Review & Giveaway & Discount Code]

Now before anyone says, "Oh! I can't believe Ms. Vera is promoting or using hemp products!" take a moment to read the actual facts and legitimacy of hemp oil production, use in cosmetics and other products, and its effect on folks.

It is declared safe and legal for consumers. It is not the addictive Cannabis that is associated with Marijuana. I think of using products with hemp seed oil as simply another type of essential oil based product. Use of a variety of essential oils in skin care, nutritional, aromatherapy, cosmetics, and soaps is well accepted. You can find information that clarifies the differences between the hemp and marijuana plants. Some generalized information is available at CBD Origin: Hemp vs Marijuana but there are other sources of information as well.

The great folks at Good Earth Beauty carry some of The Wonder Seed products in their great online store of natural, organic, and vegan products. I had the opportunity to use the Green Tea Hemp Shampoo and Conditioner products. While my daughter was visiting from Georgia, she, too, used them.

Our take? ..... Fabulous!

My daughter’s comments: 

The hemp shampoo and conditioner smoothed frizzy ends without leaving hair flat and lifeless. My color treated hair responded better to heat after using the shampoo and conditioner.

The Wonder Seed Hemp Shampoo and Conditioner products left my hair silky and shiny and didn't  compete with other fragrances.  A plus - these products didn't over-condition my fine hair. 

Even unruly hair of
ladies-of-a-certain-age
can be soft and shiny

My thoughts on the Wonder Seed Green Tea Hemp Shampoo and Conditioner:  

This shampoo is a slightly thin, clear liquid shampoo so you need to be careful not to pour too much out (don't be wasteful). It lathers beautifully! Depending on how dirty or oily your hair is, you lather once or twice and this is also dependent on how frequently you wash your hair. It left my hair feeling very clean.

I rinsed thoroughly and then followed through with the Wonder Seed: Hemp Conditioner - Green Tea. The conditioner is thicker and an opaque white. You only need to use a small amount.

After washing, conditioning, and blow drying my hair I was amazed at the hair's silky softness.

I then proceeded to add the products I normally use to style my hair. The hair is soft, shinny, and really feels good. No sense of a fragrance at all to conflict with other fragrances I might select for the day.

I will need to use this product longer to be able to confirm it's nutritional or healing properties for scalp. Being a natural products, I look forward to using it regularly.

Both these products are.....

• All Natural Formula - optimal blend of Virgin Organic Hemp Seed Oil
• No parabens, sulfates, gluten, artificial colors or fragrance
• Green Tea essential oil scent
• 100% vegan & cruelty free

The Wonder Seed: Hemp Shampoo - Green Tea 

Product Details - Color-safe hemp seed oil shampoo gently cleanses all hair types and nourishes your scalp to give your hair strength, elasticity and a healthy bounce and shine while providing necessary moisture. The green tea scent is fresh and exhilarating. It balances your scalp's natural oil profile and seals in moisture. No matter what type of hair you have, this nutritious shampoo will deliver your best hair day ever!  The hemp seed oil is truly super food for your scalp and may even help issues like dry, itchy or flakey scalp, Eczema and Psoriasis. The formula is gentle so it is ideal for children and infants.

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Virgin Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Organic Green Tea Essential Oil, Organic Green Tea Extract, Organic Aloe Vera, Ginseng Extract, Camphor Essential Oil, Glycerin (Vegetable), Borage Seed Oil, Lauryl Glucoside, Coconut Oil, Yucca Extract, Dermochlorella Extract (Seaweed Based), Nettle Extract, Coco Glucoside, Jojoba Oil, Awapuhi, Soluble Natural Plant Collagen, Wheat Germ Glycerides (Gluten Free), Echinacea Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Cocoa Butter, Ivy Extract, Soy Protein (non-GMO), Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (Palm Based), Golden Seal Extract, Behenic Acid (Natural Plant Based), Guar Gum, Ylang Ylang Extract, Sea Salt

The Wonder Seed: Hemp Conditioner - Green Tea

Product Details - Our color-safe hemp seed oil conditioner works for all hair types to nourish your scalp and increase moisture and shine while making your hair smooth, more manageable and providing nutrients for a healthy bounce and your best hair days ever! The green tea scent is fresh and rejuvenating. It balances your scalp's natural oil profile and seals in moisture. No matter what type of hair you have, this nutritious conditioner will please. Hemp seed oil is truly super food for your scalp and may even help issues like dry, itchy or flaky scalp, Eczema, and Psoriasis.

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Organic Virgin Hemp Seed Oil, Green Tea Essential Oil, Organic Green Tea Extract, Organic Aloe Vera, Ginseng Extract, Mandarin White Oil, LYCD (Live Yeast Cell Derivative), Nettle Extract, Coconut Oil, Burdock Extract, Palm Kernel Glyceride, Soy Protein, Apple Cider Vinegar, Hyaluronic Acid (Natural Plant Based), Soluble Natural Plant Collagen, Cetearyl Alcohol (Natural Plant Based), Decanoic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside (Lauryl Oil Based) Green Papaya Concentrate, Lemongrass Extract, Potassium Stearate (Natural Plant Based), Geranium Extract, Carnauba Wax, Cetyl Esters, Sorbitan Stearate (Strawberry Based), Isostearyl Palmitate (Palm Oil Based), Horseradish Extract, Camphor Essential Oil, Behenic Acid (Natural Plant Based), Nutmeg Oil Extract and Sea Salt

Your opportunity to shop for it on GOOD EARTH BEAUTY where your USA order SHIPS FREE. And to sweeten the shopping trip, take 10% off using SUMMER10 discount code.

GIVEAWAY

A bottle of shampoo and a bottle of condition as shown

Begins May 24

Ends June 22 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary products to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and shipped by publicist or The Wonder See directly to the winner.

Heart & Home: Design Basics for Your Soul and Living Space by Victoria Duerstock from Abingdon Press

My thoughts:  Complete with a variety of lovely pictures of decorated homes that will satisfy the inveterate decorator, this little book conveys a sense of beauty and togetherness for homes. But the actual beauty of this book is the focus on how God in your life can be expressed through your personal sense of peaceful decorations in your home.

Find it here Abingdon Press

Whether costly or simply balanced "stuff" of your own accumulation, your home can be lovely. But more important is your personal peace and tranquility you convey in the setting of your home. This is accomplished through attention to God's Word and His direction in your life.

The devotionals are short and succinctly phrased to bring your heart, mind, and soul in alignment with the peace of God. A well done book that doesn't intimidate on the decorations angle but allows your to imagine your own home with its personal touches that only you can provide. And aids in your thoughtful reflections on God in your life on a daily basis.

Some I loved or enjoyed or found appropriate for me...... "All Eyes on Him," "No Room In the Room," "Light It Up!" and others.

About the book: Our home and its design can encourage spiritual growth in our hearts.

Heart and Home is a short devotional book with daily devotions for 90 days. The devotionals seek to draw clear connection between the basics of interior design and scripture that encourages spiritual growth within our hearts. The devotionals inspire women to have a captivating heart and home. Included in each devotional is an applicable design tip and photographs. Example devotional topics include unity and harmony, negative space, flow, focal point, and balance.

This devotional includes four-color photographs of home interiors throughout the book.

Click here to view a sample of the book. https://www.abingdonpress.com/victoriaduerstock.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Coming this fall - As a writer, teacher, and speaker with a busy work and family life, Victoria Duerstock understands that all the tasks of the holiday season can make it easy to forget the true joy that Christmas can bring.

In Heart & Home for Christmas, Duerstock brings her mission to inspire hope for God's purpose, and her 20 years of experience in the furniture and design industry together, connecting Scripture with design elements and easy decorating tips in a way that reflects the true spirit of Christmas. The devotions and holiday decorating tips will encourage spiritual growth and inspiration to have both a captivating heart and home at Christmas.

About the author: Victoria Duerstock is a writer, blogger, teacher, and speaker. Her mission is to inspire hope and ignite bigger dreams for God’s purpose in each of our stories. She has a master’s degree in music, but ended up working in the furniture industry for more than twenty years and loves to make connections between our home environments and our spiritual lives. Victoria writes at Encouraging Women Today, Everything’s Gravy, Creative Corner, and Serious Writer Academy and also has contributed to devotionals for Worthy. She lives in Nesbit, Mississippi, with her husband, and they have three children.

Learn more about Victoria at: www.victoriaduerstock.com

Follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/VDuerstock

Twitter,  https://twitter.com/vduerstock

Instagram www.instagram.com/vduerstock www.instagram.com/heartandhomebooks.

DISCLOSURE: I received a  complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Giveaway is hosted by another blogger who is responsible for prize distribution.

Sateen weave sheets made of pure, organic bamboo from Linenly provide luxurious bedtime experience [#sponsored #review]

I've used 100% cotton sheets of varying quality through the years. I also used very high quality polyester/cotton blend sheets when they were the height of quality linens. Now, I have tried bamboo sheets from Linenly.com.au and found them to be fabulous.

 They are silky smooth providing a sleep experience totally different, and perhaps superior to other sheets. They are beautiful. And to think that these are made of sustainable fabric that provides sleep comfort with breathable fabric that perhaps surpasses the breathablity of 100% cotton is wonderful.

After removing the sheets from their own fabric bag, I see that
the fabric has a wonderful silk hand. This promises a
luxurious sleep experience.

When placing our pillows inside the pillowcases, I noticed a reverse flap or tuck. I haven't seen one of these in years. This is designed to "tuck the pillow neatly inside" the case. This makes for a neatly made bed and also "hides" the actual pillow or protects the end of the pillow from soil. They are called "envelope" pillow cases. Nice.

The pillowcase "envelope" provides a neater cover for your pillow
beautifully tucking the actual pillow out of sight.

These sheets are certainly amply sized and perhaps a bit oversized. This is to allow for any shrinkage that might occur. Washing instructions say to use cold water, mild liquid detergent, and to line/air dry or dry in the dryer on the lowest setting.

After using these silky sheets a few days, I laundered them according to the directions - cold water, no bleach or fabric softener, mild detergent. They came out of the washer and dryer (low heat) silky and wrinkle free.

My first experience with a bamboo fabric sheet is truly wonderful.

Product information (from Linenly.com.au)

Woven with a silky, super-fine yarn, our fabric is ultra-smooth, soft and naturally breathable.

• Pure organic bamboo fabric
• OEKO-TEX Certified
• Free of harmful chemicals
• Ultra-soft and breathable
• Antibacterial and naturally hypoallergenic
• SATEEN QUALITIES
• Rich 400 thread count sateen weave, equals to 1000 cotton thread count

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary set of sheets to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone, and given after using the product myself in my own home. I was not required to render a positive review. I may have been compensated. This is a #sponsored #review.