Sarah Holman's Blog, page 102

Busy Getting Ready For...

NaNoWriMo!

I am very busy researching right now, as you can see. However, I am not going to tell you anything about the book until November. Enjoy the suspense!
Are you doing NaNo? Well then, we can be Buddies!

This is a Very Big Day!

Today is a very big day for me. You see, I posted my 100th review on Amazon.

It is so fun to be able to share my opinons on books with the world. I have also been blessed because it seems some people feel the reviews are helpful
If you would like to take a peek at my reviews on Amazon, click Here!
That is my news for the day. Do you have any to share?

Just What I am up to

I am reading
I am editing
I am enjoying the cooler weather
I am also busy with the laundry
What are you up to today?

Finds of the Week

The Paris Time Capsule Apartment~This is so cool!~
20 Things Every Twentysomething Should Know How to Do~A Very good List~
Future Homeschool Authors~My Sister's New Blog~
Waiting for the "Foundation"~A very encouraging post~


For I know the Destiny I have for You
~My latest guest post~

My Day

Today I am working through emails
Reading an old book
Watching the rain outside "Drops Of Water On Glass" by moggara12
Editing Adventures and Adversities
What are you up to today?

Book Review: City of Fire by Tracy Higley

Buy it HereAge Appropriate For: 18 and upBest for Ages: 18 and up
Description: As Vesuvius churns, a slave girl-turned-gladiator joins forces with an unlikely source to seek justice. In the coastal town of Pompeii, a new gladiator prepares to fight. But this gladiator hides a deadly secret: she’s a runaway Jewish slave girl named Ariella, disguised as a young boy. A savvy fighter, Ariella determines to triumph in the arena, knowing her life will be forfeit should anyone uncover the truth. Cato, a wealthy politician, moved to Pompeii after tiring of the corruption in Rome. But he soon learns that Pompeii is just as corrupt, and if he doesn’t play the game, his family could pay the price. Determined to bring about justice for the citizens of Pompeii, Cato searches for allies. But what he discovers instead is a confounding group of Christians . . . and a young female gladiator whose fame is growing daily. Political unrest reaches a boiling point as Christians are jailed and executed, and the mountain in the distance threatens to destroy the city with its river of fire. Cato and Ariella must act quickly and courageously to save their loved ones before all is lost.
So I normally don’t like stories about women doing men’s work. So I’m not into disaster books or movies. However, Tracy happens to be one of my favorite authors and I didn’t want to pass up a chance to review one of her books. I jumped at the chance to review City of Fire, previously released under the title - .City of Fire is set during the last days of the city of Pompeii. This city has fascinated me and many other historians because much of what we know of day to day Roman life comes for this city, buried under the ash and lava of a volcano.
As usual, Tracy did her research and wove the historical details into the story flawlessly I really felt as if I was walking the streets of Pompeii and seeing things as they were. The characters were also well developed and, like all of Tracy’s books, they leapt off the page.
Although there was much good about this book, I ended up not liking it as much as I thought I would. The godless society was portrayed vividly. Unlike all the other books I have read by Tracy, this one left me feeling dirty. The faith element didn’t feel as strong as the depravity shown in the book. Prostitution, affairs, gay relationships, and nudity are mentioned often throughout the book. Historically correct? Yes. Was it worth it for the story? Not in my mind.
Although the characters encounter wonderful Christian people who live out their faith, it wasn’t enough for me to feel the book was redeemed. Unlike So Shines the Night, which also dealt with very hard issues, this book didn’t leave me feeling amazed at my faith. It left me feeling in great need of so wholesome, clean books.
I still highly recommend this author, but caution younger readers about this book.
Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Growing your own Herbs

I love growing things. There isn't much that makes me happier then planting seeds and nurturing plants. This year, I decided I wanted to start growing a lot of the herbs we use in our kitchen. I bought the plants to start with, and had fun selecting three pots that we already had to make this fun herb garden.


When one of the plants has enough I think it can spare it, I cut off the excess stems. I cut it several inches above the base of the plant so that it can easily regrow.

This is the mint I picked. Isn't it pretty? It smells amazing too!
Next, I rinse the leaves to get dirt and anything else off the leaves.
Taking a clean towel, I pat it dry. There might be a little water left, but not much.
Now I hang them up to dry. Hang them where they will stay dry for the next three or four weeks.
In a few weeks, You can pull the dry leaves off the stems and put them into jars for safe keeping a use.

Book Review: Burning Sky by Lori Benton

Buy it HereAge Appropriate For: 15 and up (romance and violence)Best for Ages: 15 and up
Description: Abducted by Mohawk Indians at fourteen and renamed Burning Sky, Willa Obenchain is driven to return to her family’s New York frontier homestead after many years building a life with the People. At the boundary of her father’s property, Willa discovers a wounded Scotsman lying in her path. Feeling obliged to nurse his injuries, the two quickly find much has changed during her twelve-year absence—her childhood home is in disrepair, her missing parents are rumored to be Tories, and the young Richard Waring she once admired is now grown into a man twisted by the horrors of war and claiming ownership of the Obenchain land. When her Mohawk brother arrives and questions her place in the white world, the cultural divide blurs Willa’s vision. Can she follow Tames-His-Horse back to the People now that she is no longer Burning Sky? And what about Neil MacGregor, the kind and loyal botanist who does not fit into in her plan for a solitary life, yet is now helping her revive her farm? In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, strong feelings against “savages” abound in the nearby village of Shiloh, leaving Willa’s safety unsure. Willa is a woman caught between two worlds. As tensions rise, challenging her shielded heart, the woman called Burning Sky must find a new courage--the courage to again risk embracing the blessings the Almighty wants to bestow. Is she brave enough to love again?
One of the hardest things about being a book reviewer is you have to be honest. There are some books you want to love and give high ratings too but for the sake of honesty you can’t. This was one of those books.Lori Benton got a lot right in this book. Historically, I don’t think it could have gotten much better. The details of not only life, but also the feelings in post-Revolutionary War America, were brilliantly woven into the story. There wasn’t any part that felt like an information dump, the story provided details as needed.The characters themselves were so well developed. Willa and Neil especially had there faults and strengths. You both loved them and were frustrated by them in the course of the story. The supporting characters were also well done. None of them were flat or boring.
So why didn’t I enjoy this story? To be honest, the romance really bothered me. Although Willa and Neil are both people of strong character and deep faith, their romance nothing like what I would have hoped. Willa especially seems to think of them ‘being together’ a few times without regret and never seems to think about Neil’s character. It really bothered me and kept me from fully enjoying the story.
The book also felt long in places. Although I wanted to find out what happened, I skimmed so parts. 400 plus pages seemed to long for the story, the book contained.
Although this wasn’t my favorite book, it was far from the worst. I wouldn’t mind trying another book by Lori Benton. I also think that there are many who will enjoy this book.
Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon and like it on Goodreads

I received this book from WaterBrook Press in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Writing Saturday: A Bit of Inspiration #11

As Christians, and as writers, we have been given a purpose. Sometimes, we can get discouraged when a book isn't going how we think it should, we get a harsh review, or no one seems to be interested in what we are writing. It is at these times we have to remember that we are not writing just for ourselves, we are writing for the glory of God. He will give us the strength we need.

Esther days

About once a month, while my brother is at his college classes and my Dad is at work, us Holman girls pull out nail polish, shampoo, face-mask cream and much more. We set up our little salon, wash each others hair, nails and more. 
We call these ours Esther days, in honor of Esther of the Bible who spent a year receiving beauty treatments. We have a lot of fun hanging out together and bonding as sisters.
Do have something you do for fun as a family?