Sunday Review: The Here And Now by Ann Brashares

Title: The Here and Now
Author: Ann Brashares
Source: Received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Purchase Link: AMAZON

Blurb

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking--and a must-read novel of the year.

"This gripping story is set in a world unlike any other and inhabited by beautifully imagined characters that stay with you long after the last page. As always, Brashares expertly captures the wonder of love’s enduring power.” – Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars

Review

I really enjoyed this little story. I read almost all of it on a Saturday afternoon. It was a pleasant way to pass the time.

The story line is interesting - it makes me want to know more about what happened in 'the future' and what made these characters come back in time. Aside from the plague and all. Like, why THESE characters and not others?

I don't typically like characters in high school but these main characters I actually was able to bond to and like. Which speaks a lot of volume for this author because I am very hard to get to enjoy YA characters.

I am interested in what happens in the next book. So I think if I am given the chance to review that one I will say yes. Again kind of shocked that I am attached to a YA character!

The main reason that I am giving this a 4 star review is because I could put it down. While I read it all in pretty much one sitting - that was because I was just home relaxing. I wasn't so hooked that I couldn't put it down.

But - it was still a very nice afternoon read that I did enjoy.

I haven't given a 4 star review in a while so I also think that this was very refreshing to me. Having a book that wasn't riddled with errors.

If you like YA books I think you will love this one and if you  like good afternoon reads I really recommend it!!

A PS Note - As I am putting this blog together I just saw the price of the book - I do think it's a bit over priced for the ebook based on the length of the story. That actually puts me back as a reader ... Just thought I would add that in there just a bit ... I had to be honest

Gluten Free Friday Home Made Recipe #15: Ground Beef Kabobs with Veggies

There is Mediterranean restaurant near my father's house that I absolutely love. Cafe Mezza. If you are ever in the Galleria in Houston I suggest you check it out. They have my current new favorite dish, Ground Beef Kabobs. It is seriously amazing and they serve it with this special rice and garlic butter dipping sauce. It is seriously heaven. So this is my attempt at recreating that lovely sensational dish. While it didn't turn out Cafe Mezza quality, it was still pretty darn good.

As always all my ingredients are organic and gluten free.

Enjoy cooking and as always, Happy Eating!

You will need these supplies
4 Kabob Skewers
1 Greased Baking Dish
1 small boiling pot
1 strainer
1 larger boiling pot
1 hand held blender

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef (as lean as possible)
Olive Oil - as needed
1 t of Thyme
3 cloves of ground Garlic
1 T of Cinnamon
1/2 large (or 1 small) Chopped Onion
Fresh Crushed Pepper (as needed)
Garlic Powder(as needed)
5 Small Sweet Potatoes, cleaned
1 cup of Green Beans
1 stick of Organic Butter (1/2 cups)
1/2 cup of Organic Sour Cream
1/2 cup of Hemp Milk

Directions

Kabobs (Do this step first)
Spread the beef out on a clean surface and spread Olive Oil along the surface of the beef. Spring equal bits of the Cinnamon, Thyme chopped Onion and Garlic along the surface. Mix it all together with your hands making sure the spices and olive oil make it along all of the beef. Pound it back out flat on the surface and cut into 4 equally sized sections.

Place the cleaned skewer in the middle of each section. With your hands mash the beef along the skewer until it is evenly distributed along all 4 of the kabobs.

Move the kabobs carefully into the baking dish. The beef isn't welded together very well so move quickly and over as small of distance as possible.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Make sure you drain any fat that seeps out before serving. You don't want a soggy meal. :)

Mashed Sweet Potatoes (Begin this step once the beef is in the oven)
Skin and slice the sweet potatoes and place them into the larger boiling pot. Make sure you fill it with enough water to completely cover the sweet potatoes and then a little extra for evaporation.
Let it cook on medium heat, watching to make sure it doesn't spill over, for 20-25 minutes. Once you can easily slice through the sweet potatoes with a knife its done. Drain them and move the sweet potatoes into a mixing bowl. Cut the bar of butter into 1/4's and drop in random places in your mixing bowl. Pour the milk and sour cream into the mix and with a spoon gingerly mix. Then with the hand held blender mix until the contents are fluffy. Be careful as these will splash. I put a paper towel over the bowl to limit the mess. Season with fresh ground pepper to your liking.

Green Beans (Start this right before you begin mashing the potatoes)
In the small boiling pan put enough water in to reach 3/4 of the pot. In a strainer (that fits inside this pot) place the cleaned and halved green beans. Place a lid on top of the strainer and let it steam for approx 10 minutes. Season with cane salt and fresh ground pepper to your liking.

Obviously you can use any vegetables you want but these offer a nice taste with the beef.

I am giving this a solid 4.5 stars!

Sunday Review: The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5) By Diana Gabaldon

Title: The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5)
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Source: Purchase form Amazon
Purchase Link: Amazon

Blurb

The year is 1771, and war is coming. Jamie Fraser’s wife tells him so. Little as he wishes to, he must believe it, for hers is a gift of dreadful prophecy—a time-traveler’s certain knowledge. Claire’s unique view of the future has brought him both danger and deliverance in the past; her knowledge of the oncoming revolution is a flickering torch that may light his way through the perilous years ahead—or ignite a conflagration that will leave their lives in ashes.

Review

My my this poor family has really the shit end of the deal huh? I don't think Ms. Gabaldon could make it any harder on them - but I know she does since the Hubby has told me as much.

Anywhoo....

The last 3 or 4 chapters in this book were the best in the series thus far. While at this point I DO feel connected to these characters, it wasn't until these chapters that I actually shed tears with them.

I really liked the big surprise at the end, that was probably the most happy moment of the series. The surprise I mean is with the wolf.

I loved how Roger and Jemmy are coming in this story. As father and son. And I am enjoying how Roger and Jamie are coming along together too.

The author really does have amazing character development but jesus does it have to be so blood long!?!?

That's still my biggest issue is that these epic books just are so, epic.

It takes way to many hours to read them to get to the nitty gritty.

Of course I am going to read book 6 because now, I'm over 150 hours into the series it would be crazy to just give it up now ya know?

Overall a 4.5 for this book and a 4 star for the series as a whole.

Batman V Superman Early Thoughts .....

 

I just watched the Batman V Superman trailer and Oh My God!! Now I am excited!!!

Some of you may remember from summer 2013 my Early Review Of Superman blog post that got my poor little ole blog bashed on some of the 'Nerd' sites that my husband and dear friends like to visit.

If you don't remember I'll do a little re-cap ... I gave it a 3.5 star review because I was just not impressed at all and I felt like some of the plot copied Independence Day with Will Smith and Bill Pullman. (Side note - so glad ID4 is coming out with a sequel! Even if the love of my life Will Smith isn't going to be in it *insert very dramatic tears* )

Anyway ... I've digressed and then did like a 30 min search on Will Smith .. but back to reality!

BATMAN v SUPERMAN!

Oh My Holy Hotness Batman!!!!

While I have always enjoyed Ben Affleck. I mean come on ... he's pretty yummy to look at. Especially when he has that sexy man beard going on ... I never pictured him as Batman.

And now that I've seen him .... Oh yeah .... Hugh Jackman as Wolverine watch out!!! You MAY just have been bumped as my sexiest super hero yet!

We will have to wait and see how he looks in the suit on the big screen.

Now what I did gather from the two minute trailer is some yummy drama that I can't wait to see unfold.

Honestly, I hope Batman kicks Superman's ass!

And kicks it way back to Krypton!

I loved Superman as a kid but and by loved I mean I really enjoyed the movies. But Batman (And the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Wolverine) have always been the ones my heart holds dear.

And now its time for Batman to get his dirty sexy fighting skills on.

I am so mad I have to wait until 2016 to see this movie! I NEEEEEED me some Batman!

I LOVED Christian Bale as Batman, his voice, oh it wooed me. So I expect Ben Affleck's to woo me as well. He better melt my insides and get me all worked up because that black suit NEEDS to get that action on!

As I have said before I haven't read the comics but the hubby tells me that Batman DOES win in them. THANK GOD!

I can't handle Batman losing on the big screen. Not sure what I would do if that happened. Cry maybe?

Oh My God - I just had a thought! What if BEN AFFLECK! Comes to ComicPalooza one year because NOW he is BACK in the super hero ring!!!! (If you remember he did play the blind super hero DareDevil once upon a time...) Oh man that would be so exciting being able to go MEET BATMAN!

Alright so to wrap up this craziness ... long story short ... I NEED this movie to come out ASAP! I can't wait to see it. And Batman BETTER beat the tar out of that flying alien!

This was a major dose of Ashley Randomness tonight. You can blame it on the lack of sleep I've had all week. Since last Sunday I've only had 15 hours of sleep ... they say at some point you become delusional ... let's just blame it on that okay?

Have a great night peeps and remember #BATMANBEATSSUPERMAN!

Gluten Free Friday Home Made Recipe #14: Granola Bars

I was on a quest to try and find a source of protein that was healthy and tasted good. That's when I thought of Granola Bars. Now I personally love them. They are easy to grab and toss in a bag to carry with you to work. And they tend to fill you up. So I did a little research on different recipes and I took a little bit from all of them. And here is what I came up with.

Remember, as always, everything is organic and gluten free.

Enjoy and Happy Eating!

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients - Glue
1/4 cup honey
1/4 stick of butter
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1 tablespoon of water

Dry Ingredients
1 cup of rice crispy
1 2/3 cup of oats
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2/3 cup of quinoa flour
1/4 tablespoon of cinnamon
2 cups worth of dried fruit, nuts or chocolate chips. I used 1 cup raisins and 1 cup chocolate chip.

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl together and mix thoroughly

Mix the wet ingredients together over a low burner. Once melted and mixed slowly pour over the dry mixture. Once the pan is empty set aside and begin to stir the wet and dry ingredients until they all have the 'glue' on them.

In a square or rectangle pan place parchment paper down. Pour the mixture over the paper and smooth out evenly at the thickness level you want.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. When you pull it out let it cool. If you go to cut into pieces and it's still soft place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to harden.

Make sure you wrap each individual piece properly or place in an air tight container.

This was an easy sweet dish that I give 3.5 stars too.

Voir Media Group Presents: USA Today Best Selling Author Kit Morgan

USA TODAY BEST SELLING AUTHOR KIT MORGAN RELEASES HER PRAIRIE VIKING IN AUDIO FORMAT!

 

Prairie Brides is a series, so you'll want to listen to the audiobooks in order to have the most fun! Enjoy these sweet romances as you get to know the Cooke brothers and the townsfolk of Clear Creek. One of the wackiest little towns in the old west!

The long awaited arrival of Mr. Berg is here! He made his first appearance in Her Prairie Knight, and then sprang into action with the rest of the townsfolk in His Prairie Duchess, now Mr. Berg has his own story to tell!

Andel Berg came to Clear Creek under the guise of becoming the new blacksmith, but little did the townspeople of Clear Creek know that he was so much more! Madeline Van Zuyen came to Clear Creek for a new beginning and the chance to start a new life. Little did she know that SHE was so much more!

Mr. Berg had a duty to perform. Find the Princess Madelaina at any cost, retrieve her, and deliver her to Count Rudge, one of the most despicable men Andel had ever known. Not an appealing task for a Captain of the King's Guard but unfortunately, Andel had no choice. If he didn't deliver the princess Count Rudge would kill his father and Andel was prepared to do anything to keep that from happening. But Andel hadn't counted on falling in love.

If he didn't deliver the princess his father would die. And if he did could Andel live with himself not to mention, live without his princess?

What then, will Mr. Berg do?

AUDIBLE

IF YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE HER ARTICLE IN USA TODAY YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT HERE:

USA TODAY ARTICLE

His Prairie Duchess, Prairie Brides Book 3

Available Now on AUDIBLE | AMAZON | ITUNES

Her Prairie Knight, Prairie Bride Book 2

Now Available on AUDIBLE | AMAZON | ITUNES

 

His Prairie Princess, Prairie Brides Book 1

Available NOW on AUDIBLE | AMAZON | ITUNES

The Christmas Mail Order Bride, Holiday Mail Order Brides Book 1

Now Available on AUDIBLE | AMAZON | ITUNES

The New Year’s Bride, Holiday Mail Order Bride Book 2

Now Available on AUDIBLE | AMAZON | ITUNES

MEET THE VOICE BEHIND THE PAGES

MICHAEL RAHHAL

Michael Rahhal has been a performer for his entire life. He has been performing, writing and directing comedy, theater, music and public or private events for the past 20 years. He has toured the world and collaborated with Blue Man Group as a writer, director and performer, founding members of The Wooster Group and as a writer, director, producer and performer for New Belgium Brewing Co.’s nonprofit touring bikes-and-beer festival “Tour De Fat”, where he helped raise over $500,000 for bike nonprofit organizations around the U.S. He also had his own hour-long solo comedy show at Caroline’s on Broadway, performed with Center Theater Group in Los Angeles and the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts.

As an audiobook narrator, his credits include The Wicked Passage: A Blake Wyatt Adventure by N.M. Singel, Realms of Mystery: A Forgotten Realms Anthology, Dragons of Chaos: A Dragonlance Anthology, And the Girl Screamed by Gil Brewer, Kolchak’s Gold by Brian Garfield, The Two Faces of Tomorrow by James P. Hogan, and Rule: A Marked Men Novel by Jay Crownover. All of these titles are available on audible.com. He has also narrated feature documentaries, as well as various animated comedic shorts. Since moving to Los Angeles, he has frequented the comedy lineups of “What’s Up Tiger Lily”, “Garage Comedy” and “The Tomorrow Show”, as well as “Hot Tub with Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler”. He also has been studying and now teaching Krav Maga, a self-defense system that is as fun and effective as it is easy to learn, for he believes all bullies, bad guys and would-be assailants deserve to get kicked in the groin several times for preying on us regular folks.

Searching for that Spiritual Guidance ....

I just read an article about why people are leaving the Church. Now it didn't say which church but generally I believe it's agreed that when you say 'the Church' it is meant as the Catholic Church. So I am writing this post with that assumption in mind.

I get that Church now days can be intimidating and frustrating. I know for a period of time it was for me too. For a long period of time. From 2007 until 2014 stepping into church was beyond painful and extremely hard to bare. And for most of that time I blamed the Church for my absence. I had my reasons, and my right. But that didn't exactly make me correct. Even though my reasons were correct.

It was me. There was so much going on in my heart and soul that facing those demons, the church demons, was just too much.

Someone once told me, I believe it was my friend Kelly in high school, that God puts people in our lives for a reason. A reason we don't necessarily know, and may never know. She was very wise beyond her years, that Kelly. Anyway - I had someone who encouraged me to go back and face my demons. My boss.

Now I've known my boss since 2006. He was around for all of my marriage, all of my lost babies/pregnancies, my stent in the hospital when I got septic infection. And he was most of all a friend. Now why am I stating all this you wonder? Because I want you to understand the relationship that was there and why it was okay for him to push me to do what needed to be done. And I believe he was put in my life to be there for me - when I was ready to forgive.

In 2007 I lost my first child, she ... she was dying in my womb and there was a very high potential for me to become ill because of it. (Which later that year I ironically did) So we were forced to abort. Never in my life would I have ever thought I would be signing those papers to have an abortion. In Texas, it is like an act of Congress to perform this. It felt like I had to sign twenty seven different papers all stating I understood I was killing my child. My child....

It didn't matter that she was already dying and wouldn't make it to full term. Or if she did she would come out as a mushed up baby with no head and die instantaneously. All that mattered to the State of Texas was that I knew I was killing my child.

Growing up Catholic, this guilt I carried around was too much. It weighed me down. So naturally I thought Confession was the next step at peace.

And that single act was a total disaster. I went to the Church at my lowest moment, turning to it for love and support. And the priest shunned me.

It took me 7 years to really understand that a priest is just a man. A man like my husband or father or brother. A man who is allowed to sin himself. A man who is allowed to fall from Grace because maybe he doesn't know any better.

So back to 2014 and my boss. Some of my other blog posts you might remember where I had been working on my self. Working on becoming healthier and happier. Since fall of 2013 I've been on my own quest to better myself as a human being. And in Feb of 2014 my boss and I had the talk.

The Lent talk. And the facing ones demons talk.

My husband told me that if I want to participate in Lent I should l do something meaningful. And he was right. So I told my boss this and my boss said, "You should go back to the Church and face the past."

It took me a long time to think about this and become okay with it.

But I did it. I contacted the head Priest at the church and scheduled a meeting with one of the associate pastors.

It was the best thing I could do for myself, and for my spirit.

And I learned the real reason I wasn't in church - forgiveness.

I hadn't forgiven myself and God for what had happened.

So when I read this article ( Dear Church, Here's Why People Are Really Leaving ) it made me really think. Why are people leaving? And it's, to me, because of forgiveness.

You might read this article and wonder why that's what I came up with but here are my reasons.

-People are too hard on themselves and we don't allow ourselves to fail. We hold it against us until the burden becomes too much.

-People also expect from the church what it isn't necessarily there to give. People expect clear cut signs, but that's not religion. Religion is faith. And having faith is believing in a power that is lager than you. A source of life that isn't your own. And when the Church doesn't instantly give you that sign, you hold a grudge. You need to forgive the church for being made up of humans.

-The Church needs to forgive us regular people for being individuals who can be lead astray. Leaders of the church come down too hard on its sinners. Jesus embraced the sinners and forgave them. So should the Church.

-People think they know more. They know best. They know it all. And that allows them to derail from the most important aspect of religion. Community and Faith. We should come together to study faith and celebrate in our community. But instead people get derailed and start spouting off their own ideology and use the Church as their backing because it's what is in the scripture. These radicals and Evangelical people shouldn't deter you from your faith. You need to forgive them from their sins and move on.

-The Church is made up of humans ... and to be human means to sin. So we need to forgive our leaders for their transgressions, just as we ask God to forgive us of ours.

All that angst and animosity isn't healthy. Some of the worst people I have known have been Christians. And by 'worst' I mean hateful and judgmental. Some of the nicest have been Jewish.

We all believe in the same God - why can't us Christians be a little more like our Jewish brothers and sisters and forgive one another.

So this is my opinion on why religion is coming short to people as of late .... Maybe we should work on ourselves before we cast the stones.

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men of their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.