This is the second book in the Francine Rivers series The Mark of the Lion. I had read book one and was enamored by it and I was hoping that this book would have the same effect on me. From the very first page of this book I was totally hooked. It was a romantic story about a man who went to the ends of the earth to get to experience life the way the woman he loved did. He is taking a journey to mourn her loss but the world has bigger plans for his travels and he discovers more than he bargained for. The man's sister is also plagued with a deadly illness while he is on this journey and he is forced to cut his journey short to be at her side to help her regain the hope she lost. The book had tons of adventure and there were so many unexpected twists and turns. It kept me wanting to read on so I could find out what was really going to happen at the end.
I love the way she writes because she really has a wonderful way of bringing you in to connect with each of the characters on a personal level. It’s often difficult to make the emotions and the situations of the characters relevant to people’s lives but these books do it with ease. I think that the writer gears her books to appeal more to females but I have also heard several positive reviews from men that have read her books. This is a great read to suggest for book studies because there is extreme depth to her writing. Reading her books has totally changed my life and I can’t get enough of her words. They jump off the page and soak right into my heart. After reading this book I still think of quotes and scenarios from the chapters because the ideas throughout the novel often apply to my daily life.
I wish the story did not have to end and I could keep reading about the characters forever. I recommend this book and hope you will love it as much as I did. If you are looking for a good read this isn’t the book for you because this is a great book and will blow your mind in every way. Let this book wrap its pages around you and comfort you will all things beautiful this life has to offer.
Rating: 9/10
Monday, December 1, 2008
Fireproof Review
I had never even heard of the movie Fireproof before a close friend told me since I was get married I absolutely have to go see it with my betrothed. I wound up sitting in the theater at 10 am on a Sunday morning with my fiancé waiting to see the movie my friend spoke so highly of. I was not immediately drawn into the story of a man whose wife was ready to end their marriage due to him being drawn to other women on the Internet. As the movie progressed I got more involved with the characters and their situation as the leading man was challenged by his father to do a 40-day love challenge. He got a journal from his dad and in it was a daily challenge that was supposed to show more love to his spouse in hopes of saving their marriage. As the man accepted the challenge day after day he never gave up fighting for love and in the end he really ended up finding himself and what was missing from his life. I wont ruin the movie and tell you if they ended up getting a divorce or not, which will hopefully encourage your curiosity to see the film. The movie was really about the journey to discover what the man needed in his life. He couldn’t fully share his life with someone else until he discovered what he was missing in his own life. It is such a great lesson of self-discovery that is taught throughout the movie and everyone can benefit from seeing this film. You should know this is a very, very low budget film but that does not make it any less important. Keep in mind that the acting may struggle at times as well as the visuals because this is not an extravagant Hollywood film like we are so used to seeing. I learned so much about marriage from this movie that it was totally worth seeing and I have talked to other friends who said it helped with their relationship too. If you are in a meaningful relationship that is doing great or if you are in one that is struggling this movie will help you grow in love. Even in the simple story and dialog a strong message rings through the film, “There is only one way to make your life complete.” You will have to see the movie to figure out what it is that people need to feel satisfied in their life. I hope you will discover this film and it will lead you to know more about yourself and your relationships. Take a chance and see a movie that you would not normally sit through. I guarantee you will feel revived and renewed after walking out of this film. Just remember to bring your box of tissues because it could get pretty emotional for you. Just take a minute to work on your love life and you will find all other things in your life will start to get better.
Rating: 9/10
Rating: 9/10
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
I have been seeing previews for the movie “Nights in Rodanthe” for weeks and have been anxious to see it. I talked to some of my girlfriends about it and they said they didn’t want to see it because they read the book and nothing could beat that. I decided I would borrow the book and read it to get me prepped for the movie.
As I got deeper and deeper into the book I started really getting involved in the story of a doctor who decided to retire and rekindle his relationship with his son. On his way to visit him he made a stop at a bed and breakfast in the town of Rodanthe where he meets a woman who ends up changing his life forever. This was a short read and it is easy to breeze through the love story. I liked that this book was an extreme romance because it captures something that is so hard to find in this world: love. It was an amazing story that revealed how, in one simple weekend, two people can experience a bigger love than they ever thought was possible.
The best part of this book is that it portrays love as being simple and easy, which is how it should be. The characters did not go overboard with complicated emotions but instead relished the beautiful joy of what love can be.
The lesson that I learned from this book was to be in the moment and just let love happen. Once we make things complicated for ourselves, love becomes something less great. The only thing that was slightly harder to relate to was the age of the characters. They are older and have life experiences that I don't... yet. The fact that they are older, however, does not take away from one of the best love stories I have ever read. If you loved The Notebook then you will enjoy this book just as much.
I walked away from this book wishing that it was longer because I just wanted more. There was magic in its pages and I hope you will discover how amazing a life with love can be through reading it. Take a night, curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea and get involved in one of the greatest love stories of our time. Oh and after you read this don’t bother seeing the movie; it wont be as good, I promise.
Rating: 8/10
As I got deeper and deeper into the book I started really getting involved in the story of a doctor who decided to retire and rekindle his relationship with his son. On his way to visit him he made a stop at a bed and breakfast in the town of Rodanthe where he meets a woman who ends up changing his life forever. This was a short read and it is easy to breeze through the love story. I liked that this book was an extreme romance because it captures something that is so hard to find in this world: love. It was an amazing story that revealed how, in one simple weekend, two people can experience a bigger love than they ever thought was possible.
The best part of this book is that it portrays love as being simple and easy, which is how it should be. The characters did not go overboard with complicated emotions but instead relished the beautiful joy of what love can be.
The lesson that I learned from this book was to be in the moment and just let love happen. Once we make things complicated for ourselves, love becomes something less great. The only thing that was slightly harder to relate to was the age of the characters. They are older and have life experiences that I don't... yet. The fact that they are older, however, does not take away from one of the best love stories I have ever read. If you loved The Notebook then you will enjoy this book just as much.
I walked away from this book wishing that it was longer because I just wanted more. There was magic in its pages and I hope you will discover how amazing a life with love can be through reading it. Take a night, curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea and get involved in one of the greatest love stories of our time. Oh and after you read this don’t bother seeing the movie; it wont be as good, I promise.
Rating: 8/10
Last Minute Hot Holiday getaways
With all the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season it can become such a stressful time of year. Why not try and get away this year and take some time to just enjoy the magic of the holidays again and take a vacation? It is a great time to tap into tons of last minute travel deals and get the most for your money.
In order to get the best deals offered you have to be extremely flexible and usually search for deals 2-3 weeks before the holiday. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that most deals with flights involved are only offered from select airport locations so not all locations might be in your city. The hottest travel deals can often be found in the very state you live in because it doesn’t take long to book a hotel and you usually can easily drive to the location of your vacation.
Often, a great vacation can be found within hours of where you live if you are located next to lakes or a ski resorts so it’s not necessary to book this trip far in advance. Another great option for finding deals on short notice is to utilize sites like Travelocity.com and Expedia.com. For example, on the site Travelocity.com there is a specific section for booking last minute deals that can save you up to 70% off the price of the regular cost of the vacation. Most deals from sites like these offer great rates on trips to the east cost and usually require booking a New York flight.
Looking at airlines web sites is also great way to find deals because they often have specials a few weeks or days before you would leave. I personally am a fan of Southwest.com and their DING fares you can register for. Basically, you go to Southwest.com and register for alerts to be sent to your computer when fares in certain cities go on sale. These will tell you the specials for your select cities for the next two months or sooner. Most airlines allow you to sign up to receive specials on fights from your city, which is a wonderful way to get a cheap travel deal. You just have to be willing to travel during the week as most fight deals tend to be offered during weekdays.
Perhaps the best way to have a last minute vacation is to book a cruise. They can be the most cost effective vacation for two people and are especially inexpensive a few weeks prior to setting sail. There are several Internet sites devoted to showcasing cheap cruises and you can typically find trips that are 75-80% off the original price. These sites such as VacationsToGo.com or Cruisedeals.com offer the best rates for finding your last minute trip. Typically, the most advanced you can find these discounted rates are about 90 days in advance. Most of these sites are extremely handy because they collect all of the cruise deals and post them in one location so you can look at the whole scope of sales available. You can also set up a tracker to areas where you would want to cruise to and the sites will direct alerts to be sent to you 90 days in advanced.
Hopefully, you will find the perfect vacation that works for you to just help you get away from the stresses in your life. Be sure to always remember that vacations are for you to relax so leave the cell phone behind and step away from the computer and let yourself start to feel like you again!
http://www.societemagazine.com/world/59-life-travel/244-last-minute-hot-holiday-getaways
In order to get the best deals offered you have to be extremely flexible and usually search for deals 2-3 weeks before the holiday. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that most deals with flights involved are only offered from select airport locations so not all locations might be in your city. The hottest travel deals can often be found in the very state you live in because it doesn’t take long to book a hotel and you usually can easily drive to the location of your vacation.
Often, a great vacation can be found within hours of where you live if you are located next to lakes or a ski resorts so it’s not necessary to book this trip far in advance. Another great option for finding deals on short notice is to utilize sites like Travelocity.com and Expedia.com. For example, on the site Travelocity.com there is a specific section for booking last minute deals that can save you up to 70% off the price of the regular cost of the vacation. Most deals from sites like these offer great rates on trips to the east cost and usually require booking a New York flight.
Looking at airlines web sites is also great way to find deals because they often have specials a few weeks or days before you would leave. I personally am a fan of Southwest.com and their DING fares you can register for. Basically, you go to Southwest.com and register for alerts to be sent to your computer when fares in certain cities go on sale. These will tell you the specials for your select cities for the next two months or sooner. Most airlines allow you to sign up to receive specials on fights from your city, which is a wonderful way to get a cheap travel deal. You just have to be willing to travel during the week as most fight deals tend to be offered during weekdays.
Perhaps the best way to have a last minute vacation is to book a cruise. They can be the most cost effective vacation for two people and are especially inexpensive a few weeks prior to setting sail. There are several Internet sites devoted to showcasing cheap cruises and you can typically find trips that are 75-80% off the original price. These sites such as VacationsToGo.com or Cruisedeals.com offer the best rates for finding your last minute trip. Typically, the most advanced you can find these discounted rates are about 90 days in advance. Most of these sites are extremely handy because they collect all of the cruise deals and post them in one location so you can look at the whole scope of sales available. You can also set up a tracker to areas where you would want to cruise to and the sites will direct alerts to be sent to you 90 days in advanced.
Hopefully, you will find the perfect vacation that works for you to just help you get away from the stresses in your life. Be sure to always remember that vacations are for you to relax so leave the cell phone behind and step away from the computer and let yourself start to feel like you again!
http://www.societemagazine.com/world/59-life-travel/244-last-minute-hot-holiday-getaways
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
