Book Review: Vanished by Barbara Derksen

I am a member of the CWA review Crew. The CWA Review Crew is a network of Christian Women that were brought together to review new books, ebooks, products, apps, or resources. I was given an ecopy of Vanished to read and review. The opinions are all my own.
A synopsis of Vanished from Amazon:
Vanished! That’s what Andrea Wilton and Brian Strait discover when they come to visit their best friends one evening. Where could they be and does God answer prayers, two questions they find the answers to as they journey to another world of voodoo, murder, and more missing people. Andrea and Brian also discover each other as they learn to scuba, fight a common enemy, and search for the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Book Details:
Paperback: 340 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (April 19, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 146809419X
ISBN-13: 978-1468094190
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

Vanished is the first book in the series of 'mysteries' starring Andrea Wilton and Brian Strait. This particular book is a little bit mystery and a little bit thriller. I was not surprised or shocked by anything that happened in the book, though some readers may be surprised. Andrea and Brian are enjoyable characters that I think anyone can relate to. They do make some mistakes, but they mean well. The banter back and forth is amusing and definitely something I would engage in with my friends. I realize I'm not saying a lot about the plot or what happens, but I don't want to give anything away.
The only thing that I just can't get out of my mind is the SCUBA diving. The little details drove me nuts, because some of them were wrong. I've been a certified diver for over 25 yrs and not once have I heard a driver call fins "flippers," for example. None of these details would be picked up on by the average person, and I know it shouldn't bug me, but it does.
Overall, I'd give this book 4 1/2 stars (out of 5). I'm interested and invested enough in the characters that I've already read the second book in the series.

Book Review: Veil of Pearls by MaryLu Tyndall

I was fortunate to receive a copy of MaryLu's new Christian Historical Fiction book Veil of Pearls. About the book, from her website:
It is 1811, and the prosperous port city of Charleston is bustling with immigrants like Adalia. But she has a secret: her light skin belies that she is part black and a runaway slave from Barbados. She lives in terror that her owner will come looking for her. Instead Morgan, the son of a plantation owner, finds her. He is handsome, charming, bored—and enamored of the beautiful Adalia. Soon she is swept into his glamorous world, a world in which the truth about Adalia’s heritage would ruin her—and Morgan. This epic romance reveals the beauty and tragedy of the Old South.

From the first page, I was swept away to the 1800's and living through Adalia. Though her life after escaping slavery is still rough (can you say corsets and NO INDOOR PLUMBING), I wanted to be right with Adalia in Charleston. She is plucky and not afraid to stand up to the spoiled rich brothers. Morgan becomes enthralled with Adalia and pulls her in to his world of privilege and luxury. I, like Adalia, would not be comfortable in that world, but I'd also probably love to be doted on and spoiled by Morgan. Being a part of the 'in' crowd would be nice...at least for a while.
I don't want to give anything away, but I'll say that I was so captivated by the story that I was up until after 3 am reading. I just wanted to know what was going to happen. The nastiness of certain other characters made me want to seek some revenge....nothing too drastic though.....just highly embarrass someone.... I know, I know...not very Christian of me, but geez, a person can only take so much...LOL.
I'm very glad that MaryLu Tyndall decided to put in an epilogue, though it probably means no sequel. I like to know the future of the characters....and see if what I want to happen, happens.
Overall, I give this book 5 stars. If you like Christian Historical Fiction, you'll love this book.

The Christian Olympics -- Fun and FREE!

I'd like to tell you all about the week-long Christian Olympics beta testing group I just finished. It's by the Christian organization “Love, Life, Wellness“ which is owned by Certified Wellness Coach, Elizabeth Avelar. It plays through a free site called Mindbloom.

What is the Christian Olympics, you ask?  Well, the Christian Olympics is a free, two-week long on-line Special Event taking place July 26- Aug 8^Th. Each day, you’re given different tasks to complete that will help you grown physically, spiritually, and/or emotionally, You are encouraged to make improvements are in 3 main areas: NUTRITION, RELATIONSHIPS and FAITH, and Coach Liz is there every step of the way. She is encouraging and also answers any questions you may have.

Now, remember this is completely FREE (No, they are NOT selling anything). The Christian Olympics Game will explain itself, as you join and follow the given directions. It is a highly interactive! Just like in the regular Olympics,  you can earn the bronze, silver, or gold by completing the various levels. I found it to be a lot of fun, though I did have to go out of my comfort zone a few times. I also made some friends that I will stay in touch with via Facebook.

You can also win prizes during this special event! I've been told there will be other surprises throughout the 2 weeks...including the 'opening ceremonies.'

If you need more details, just click here and Coach Liz will tell you all about it herself!

Bzz Review: Dr.Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles

As a bzzagent, I get to try and review products through what is called a bzz campaign. The opinions are strictly my own.
One of my campaigns is for Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles. I was so excited to get a pair in the mail. I knew exactly what shoes I would put my Dr. Scholl's Insoles in....my old Vasque shoes.
From the Website:
Whether you're on your feet all day for work, or your feet are simply the innocent victims of a busy lifestyle, you have plenty of reasons to try Dr. Scholl's^® Massaging GelTM Insoles. For starters, these ingenious insoles:

• Double the comfort in your shoes (for people with foot discomfort)
• Feature a Dual Wave Design™ — soft blue gel cushions and provides superior shock absorption, while firmer purple gel offers added support
• Can be used in a variety of shoes
• Belong to a full line of Massaging GelTM foot care solutions
• Come in men's sizes 8–13 and women's sizes 6–10
• Sell for a suggested retail price of $12.99
• Can be found in the foot care aisle of most drugstores, grocery stores, and discount mass retailers
• Offer a money-back guarantee, so there's no risk in trying them!

It was so easy to cut down the Dr. Scholl's Inserts to fit my shoes. There are markings on the back of the insoles for sizes, and honestly, I didn't have to cut them down very much. Yes, I have big feet....and yes, my shoes are well worn.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles. They are very comfortable and gave new life to my old shoes. I don't know if I'd call them massaging, but after wearing my shoes all day, my feet didn't hurt a bit. I did have to loosen the laces a little bit since the Insoles add a little height.
After trying the Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles for almost 30 days, I've concluded I'm keeping them in the shoes. I do like them and would buy them, especially since they do have a money back guarantee. I don't think new shoes would need them, but as your shoes start to wear out, the Gel Insoles make the shoes more comfortable.
Next time I'd like to try the firmer purple gel (versus the softer blue).