"Stress Test" by Richard Mabry

They may not have enough evidence to convict him, but they have enough to ruin his life.

Dr. Matt Newman thought he was leaving his life in private practice for a better one in academic medicine. But the kidnappers who attacked him as he left his last shift in the ER have no such plans—they just want him dead. Bound and in the trunk of his car, Matt’s only thought is escape. He does so, but at a price: a head injury that lands him in the ICU . . . where he awakens to discover he’s being charged with murder.

Sandra Murray is a fiery, redheaded lawyer who swore she was done with doctors. But when Matt calls, she knows she can’t walk away from defending someone who is truly innocent.

Matt’s career is going down the drain. His freedom and perhaps his life may be next. But with the police convinced he’s a murderer and the kidnappers still trying to finish what they started, finding the truth—and the faith to keep going—will be the toughest stress test Matt has ever endured.

What would you do when someone is systematically attacking every facet of your life - trying to destroy you before killing you?  Would your meager faith sustain you, or would you trust only what you could see?

That's the dilemma that Dr. Matt Newman faces, and it's a fascinating one.  From the very first sentence you're handcuffed to Matt, totally invested in his character and wanting to find an escape from the one trying to ruin him.  The plot is very fast-paced and full of action, with death, crime, and hope surgically implanted into every page.  This is definitely a book that I'll be passing off to my husband, for while there is a side romance and emotional moments, this is an action story on every level - of the body, mind, and soul.

Mabry used a fairly wide cast of characters to keep his story moving right along, switching from each perspective seamlessly.  I enjoyed the way that he drew his net ever closer to the heart of the matter, keeping the action high but providing enough clues to keep your mind working on overdrive.  One character's choices were more obvious than the others, I felt, and so you could see where that person was heading; but the others had dark and unpredictable journeys ahead.

I've read Mabry before, and I hope I'll read his again.  Stress Test will make you need one, but if you're a fan of action and suspense, this story will thrill you.


You can read other reviews of this story here, or purchase a copy here.

A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of four critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader’s Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.

Find out more about Richard at http://www.rmabry.com/.

I received a free copy of Stress Test from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Inspired Wednesday - Throw a Party

As a homeschooling family, much of our academic work is, by the very nature of the beast, done at home.  This means that it's often the kids and I, found gathered in one spot somewhere (because they absolutely insist on us being all together) reading, writing, painting, adding something, or working on some kind of project.  We are part of a science co-op and do lots of field trips, but much of that extends something that we've begun to study at home.

Then this past winter a friend got the brilliant idea for a few of us to study chocolate.  Perfect, right?  We were able to purchase Amanda Bennett's Chocolate Challenge study at a great discount and each began work at home. 

When we downloaded it, however, we noticed that the last day's plan called for a tasting party.  

Why should we taste all of this delectable chocolate at home?  Why not throw a party?

So we did.  That same fabulous friend created a basic plan for the party (thanks, Susan!) and we all brought supplies.  During the course of the party the kids each sampled white, dark, and milk chocolate, then did a blind taste test to determine which brand of milk chocolate they liked best - Hershey, Nestle, or a generic one.  They graphed results and used some great describing words to tell us their thoughts.

When we had finished with that, they got creative.  We passed out plates with melted white and dark chocolate and the children chose from a wide assortment of dippables to sample the way that the flavors complement each other.  Personally, the strawberries and potato chips in dark chocolate were my favorite, but oranges and pretzels are pretty good, too.

My kids loved this activity - really, who wouldn't?  What better way to solidify your knowledge and personalize your experience with a given topic than by eating it with your friends?

Do you ever throw parties to match up learning and fun?  What are your favorite kind of kid parties to have?

Last week Christina linked up a post sharing ways that she works with her difference in personality and celebratory styles with her son. This is a really important topic - stifling our children's differences can have disastrous results.  To find out more, visit NextGen Homeschooler - and Christina, please visit our Inspired Wednesday page and take the "I was featured on Washed Up Inspired Wednesdays' button back with you.  

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If you have a post about an encouraging activity, project, or trip that you've taken, please link up below and add a link back to this post.  Either way, please read on to find out more about a fun activity that we enjoy here in our nest, and be sure to hop over to Where He Leads, We Follow to check out Stephanie's  Inspiring Wednesday post, too. 

"Tales of the Undefended Ones" by Beth Guckenberger

 Ben and Joseph lose their mothers, but find a family looking just for them. Antonio is rescued from what seems like a hopeless situation. Caitlyn dares to trust that truth will set her free. Jorani is delivered from slavery into the arms of grace. 

Follow these real-life stories as they take you on a journey to foreign places and extreme struggles. Travel through their challenges and see the hand of the great Storyweaver - our Defender God shielding and defending the defenseless in the amazing ways only he can.These are the tales of the ones left wounded and weak-ones made whole and strong . . .

I read the first chapter of Tales of the Defended Ones through curtains of tears.  The stories that Beth shares are heartbreaking - and yet they will confirm your hope in a God who cares and defends those whom He has created, but you won't be able to stop there.  You'll want to do something - anything - to reach out beyond yourself and be used by Him to help those who live in disparaging situations.

The Storyweaver series reminds me of just how incredibly blessed I am in my comfortable American life and how so many all around the world face choices that I cannot imagine.  The stories in this particular book seemed harsher to me in that the situations faced by the children were not just those of hunger or poverty but sometimes of violence.  I think that Beth handled these situations with tact, making it possible to share them with children but for teens and adults to gain a fuller understanding of each story.

A curriculum exists for Tales of the Defended Ones, but I have not seen it yet.  For the past school year I've been teaching the curriculum that accompanied Tales of the Not Forgotten Ones to elementary children at my church, and I've heard from several parents about the impact it has made.  I'm hopeful that this curriculum contains the same quality of resources as the previous one.

If you are mission-minded at all or want your children to be, this is a top-notch resource.

You can read more reviews in this blog hop here, or click through to this site to purchase your own copy.

Beth Guckenberger and her husband, Todd, are the founders of Back2Back Ministries which communicates a lifestyle of service by sharing the love of Christ and serving God through service to others. Guckenberger travels and speaks regularly at women's and missions conferences, as well as youth gatherings and church services. In addition to her children's releases in the Storyweaver series, Guckenberger has written two mission-minded books. She has also partnered with Standard Publishing on the mission content in its 2013 VBS program. The Guckenberger family lives and serves in Monterrey, Mexico. 

 

Find out more about Beth at http://www.bethguckenberger.com/. 

I received a free copy of Tales of the Defended Ones from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Menu Plan Monday - April 8, 2013

Baseball season begins tomorrow, and since I've got a Blue Jay in the house, as well as his assistant coach, we're in for a busy few weeks.  I'm planning simple, healthy meals and want to utilize the grill and slow cooker as much as possible.  If you have a favorite busy-night recipe, I'd love to hear about it below!

Breakfast:

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- Cinnamon Almond Granola
- Breakfast pizza, fruit

- Blueberry Biscuits
- Toast and fruit

Dinner:
- Chubby Chicken & Cream Cheese Taquitos, carrots, applesauce
- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken, applesauce
- Spicy Sausage Pasta, salad
- Quick and Healthy Stir Fry
- Smothered Chicken and rice
- Leftovers
- Dinner at church

How are you keeping meals simple this week?

For more Menu Plan Mondays, visit OrgJunkie.

”When Jesus Wept” Bodie and Brock Thoene | iPad Giveaway and Facebook Party {4/23}

Celebrate the release of When Jesus Wept with the Thoenes by entering their iPad Mini giveaway and RSVPing to their {4/23} Facebook Author Chat party!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A brand new iPad Mini
• A book club kit - 10 copies of When Jesus Wept

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "When Jesus Wept" Author Chat Party on 4/23. Connect with the Thoenes, get a sneak peek of the next book in the Jerusalem Chronicles series, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be fun giveaways - gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of When Jesus Wept and join Bodie and Brock on the evening of the April 23rd for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

"When Jesus Wept" by Bodie & Brock Thoene

Lazarus occupies a surprising position in the Gospel accounts. Widely known as the man Jesus raised from the dead, his story is actually much broader and richer than that. Living as he did at Bethany, near Jerusalem, Lazarus was uniquely placed to witness the swirl of events around Jesus. When Jesus Wept, the first novel in The Jerusalem Chronicles series by bestselling authors Bodie and Brock Thoene, unfolds the turbulent times in Judea during Jesus' ministry, centering on the friendship between Jesus and Lazarus. With rich insights from vineyard owners and vine dressers, the Thoenes explore the metaphor of Jesus as the True Vine, harvesting the ancient secrets found in the Old Testament. Weaving the life of Lazarus, who owned a vineyard, into the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ will help you understand it is the hand of Love Divine that holds the knife, that cuts and breaks with such tender and loving touch, and that we who have born some fruit, after the pruning, can bear much more. 

When Jesus Wept is the best kind of historical fiction:  the kind that drops you headfirst into another era and makes it difficult to return to your own time upon the turning of the last page.  The Thoenes had me questioning from the very first sentence about Lazarus' backstory.  I wanted to know more: What was he like, what happened to him, what did he believe?  I couldn't wait to find out how Lazarus came to be lying dead in the tomb and later resurrected by Jesus.  Prior to reading this book, I had thought little about Lazarus' life, focusing instead on his sisters' joy upon his resurrection, but this story brings into sharp relief the fact that Lazarus was a friend of Jesus', too, and in the perfect position to have known Him well.

From the first I wanted to take this book and read it alongside my Bible; not because I wanted to compare the two texts but because it made me curious about many nuances.  Lazarus' life was not the only story of which I now want more, and I want to reread many to ponder on my own what each person's story could be.

The Thoenes dedication to research shines through on every page:  from the customs of the times to the wine-making process to the large chunks of scripture placed throughout the book and the context into which they are written.  This is not merely a work of fiction but a well-researched supposition, one which we can't know is true but also can't know isn't.  It will help the reader understand the period into which Jesus was born and died and gain a fuller understanding of His movements leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection.

I had a rather large misconception about this book, my first Thoene book, before reading it:  I expected that it was about Jesus' raising Lazarus from the dead, and so it is, but the story does not end there.  That is not the climax that I was expecting, and this shift in story line from my expectation to their perfection leaves the reader unsatisfied at the end, not because there is anything missing, but because the story stops.  You will not want it to - despite knowing what happens, having read the Gospels over and over and despite your childhood VBS attendance, you'll thirst for the next step of the story.

To read other reviews in this blog tour, click here; or, to purchase your own copy of When Jesus Wept, click here.

 Bodie and Brock Thoene (pronounced Tay-nee) are bestselling authors of over sixty-five works of historical fiction. Their timeless classics have sold more than thirty-five million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards. The Thoenes have four grown children and eight grandchildren. They divide their time between Hawaii, London, and Nevada.

Find out more about Bodie and Brock athttp://www.thoenebooks.com/.

I received a free copy of When Jesus Wept from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Pink Lemonade (Baked) Doughnuts

I made these doughnuts just before my Big Helper's birthday a few weeks ago, and she was super excited.  A huge lemonade fan, she loved the tartness of these doughnuts - and their pretty pink color didn't hurt, either! 

I loved how quick and easy these doughnuts are to make.  If you pipe the batter into the doughnut pans, it's even easier.

Here's how to make your own Pink Lemonade Doughnuts.

Ingredients:

• 1 box of Pink Lemonade cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 c. water
• 6 oz. strawberry Greek yogurt
• 1 c. 10X sugar
• 1 t. vanilla
• pinch of salt
• 1-3 T. milk

Directions:

1. Mix eggs, water, cake mix, and yogurt in a large bowl.
2. Transfer batter to a bag for piping.
3. Butter doughnut pan.
4. Bake doughnuts at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until springy (in texture, not color).
5. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.
6. While cooling, make the glaze by stirring 10X sugar, vanilla, salt, and milk together until it resembles a gravy-like consistency.
7. Dip each doughnut into the glaze.
8. Enjoy!

What's your favorite kind of doughnut?