Tempestuous Eden review

I have read several of Heather Graham's novels, mostly mystery, but this is her first romance that I have read.  "Tempestuous Eden" is a romance involving international diplomacy, missions, US government, etc.  Blair is a powerful government official's daughter who is in Central America feeding the hungry when her father arranges for her to be abducted for her safety.  Unfortunately he doesn't bother to tell her this.  He sends Craig to kidnap her and hold her for 10 days until the all clear comes through.  Of course they get on each others nerves ( as one does when involved in a kidnapping) but can't seem to fight off the attraction either.  I am not normally a romance reader, so I don't "love" them.  This one seems pretty standard for the genre.  It is good as far as romance goes.  If romance is your genre of choice, this is one I would pick.  There is sex.  Not, like, porn, but you get it. 

A little Time

Gratitude list:
 one is about me, one is in the future, 5 are about today, 5 are general.

1. Country is opening back up
2. Memorial Weekend was nice
3. Viola got a nice ring
4. Spent time with my grandaughters
5. Husband got some rest

1. Hostile customer is gone
2. a little time alone
3. workout was done in morning
4. accounts balace
5. cooler weather

1. I kept my cool with jerk

1. I am grateful I have lost weight (future)

Gratitude list

I am doing a Gratitude Challenge.  Today I am supposed to come up with 5 things I am grateful for and thank God for them.  You can do the challenge here:  https://emilyflorence.lpages.co/savvy-miss-gratitude-challenge/?inf_contact_key=f27ece92d1279b4a3120aec08cda2007680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1

 1. personal growth
2. Eva
3. Izzy
4. Grown children finding their way
5. Avoiding COVID
6 love of a good man
7. peace and quiet.  Much needed.

Waterkeeper Review

"The Water Keeper" by Charles Martin is a novel about an author serves as a rescuer of the Human Slave Trafficking for the governor.  His cover is a serving as a priest.  The story follows Murph as he tries to bring home Angel, a girl tring to lead the wild life and quickly finds herself in over her head. 
The book is the first in a new series by Martin, but it reads like you have joined in the middle of a series.  It leaves the reader kind of confused, but pulls it all together in the end.  It is a Christian novel, but not too preachy.  Keeps things on a n emotional level.  It was worth the read and I will probably give the next in the series a try.  "I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

cuz the preacher told me to

My church has not been meeting due to the state of Kansas being shut down.  Instead our preacher has been doing some videos on Facebook.  Some of his videos are a couple of minutes, just a magic trick or something(he's a professional clown).  Usually on Sundays he does one a little longer with a message and visuals.  This Sunday he said something about how we don't write when we meet together in church, we just talk, or sing, or hug or give.  He said we should write in a journal.  This is kinda like a journal.  Here goes.
Since the shut down has started I have probably been "going" to church more now than I ever did.  Before I went to my local church on Sundays.  I read a devotional and Upper room every morning or so.  That's about it.  Since then I have severely upped my religious game.  I now virtually attend a neighboring town's worship service that meets live on FB.  I also watch the videos from my own pastor.  I watch another church that is much larger in Texas on occasion.  I still do the morning devotionals, but also do a couple of scripture readings when I get to work as well.  I DVR Joyce Meyer everyday.  I can't help but feel like all of this down time is for our own good.  That we were getting out of hand, so God pulled the proverbial plug and is now counting to 30.  The typical reset to anything that has frozen up and won't respond.  Not that God plans pandemics, but you know.  silver linings and all.  I don't miss most of the usual extras.  The meetings, the games, the whatever.  I miss sports on TV.  I miss family get-togethers.  The rest can stay gone. 

Hold me Back

What holds me back from fully embracing God's love?  Well.  I guess it is the belief that I am not worthy.  That would probably be it.  I don't feel I am important or that I have done anything to deserve it.  Which, I guess no one has.  I should allow myself to feel it.  Allow it to come through.  There is no reason not to.  It's not like I can fool him.

Hope

We are all enduring something.  What has God already shown you while you wait?  He is showing me that I was doing too much and not paying enough attention to Him.  Since the world went into quarantine, I have started doing devotions and religious readings throughout the day.  I watch daily "speaks" through a local church and a Christian health influencer on Facebook.  I read the Bible more.  On Sundays I not only watch my own church's, but also a couple of others' services.  My connection to God has grown greatly since my connection to others has been set aside.  I think the whole world is going through similar changes.  I feel like God has pulled the cord and is counting to thirty.