Hidden Under Her Heart EBook Review

 

Hidden Under Her Heart is an EBook that I received for free to review from the author, Rachelle Ayala. 

Ok, so this is the VERY FIRST Christian Romance novel that I have ever read.  I truly thought, "What could be so interesting about a Christian romance novel?"  I thought that they would meet, fall in love and get married. 

Boy was I wrong!

This book....  Man, this book....

At first I wasn't sure that I liked it.  Maryanne and Lucas met in such a way that I thought it was going to be exactly like I had imagined.  But then things got intriguing.  I honestly couldn't put it down for two days!  (And that is saying a lot considering I have two little humans at home that have to be tended to!) 

Maryanne and Lucas are the couple that you route for.  You WANT them to make it against all odds.  At moments it looks like things are going to fall apart, but then you get a glimpse of hope for their relationship to hold on to.  There are MANY touchy subjects that I wasn't expecting (rape, abortion, prematurity, NICU stays) and I wasn't ready for them when I started the book.  But the author took Maryanne and Lucas through each event in a graceful way. 

The thing that SHOULD have popped out to me the most (I think) was abortion issue.  But the thing that DID stand out to me the most was the prematurity and NICU stay.  I think this was the thing that hit me the most because I had been there and done that, so it was shocking to see it in a Christian romance novel considering it has nothing to do with romance!

I don't like to give away to much when I do book reviews, but I think that this was an interesting read!  I really enjoyed the ending!

Over all, this book beat my expectations of a Christian romance novel.  If you want a book that goes beyond the romance and into the depths of the relationship, then this is the book for you!  :)



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

TLC VoxBox!

It's been awhile.  Life got in the way, and I have been super busy with kids and such!  :)  But hoping I can get back into blogging a little!

So, I was so excited to see that I received the TLC VoxBox from Influenster!  :) 

In this box I got:

1: Shell Fuel Rewards card:  This is not something that I would use, we don't use Shell that often for gas.  But I passed it on to my mom who loves it!
2: Puffs Plus Tissue pack:  LOVE Puffs tissues!  And I love the little pack that fits perfectly into a purse or diaper bag!  :)  These had the lotion in them and are super soft!
3: ANEW Reversalist Complete Renewal Express Wrinkle Smoother:  I have tried this and have to say, it goes on wonderfully!  :)  I don't have "wrinkles" yet, but have been using it next to my eyes and corners of my mouth for those little "laugh lines" that are there.  :)
4: Ivory soap:  Yes, this is just a bar of Ivory soap.  But OH the things that this can be used for!  We are planning on making some fun soap for in the boys bath!  :)
5: Neo to Go: This is something that I have been eyeing in the store and with 2 boys you can never have enough Neosporin!  Lol.  Now it can go with us anywhere for on the go use!
6: Breyer's Gelato:  YUMM-O!  This is the perfect after dinner treat!  :)  Even better with 2 spoons and a good movie!  ;)

Over all this box was the perfect mom box!  We need a little TLC and we have to give a little TLC!  :)  Thanks Influenster!

Bluum March 2014

This is the Bluum March 2014 box for a 4 year old boy.  I got Eli a 3 month subscription after seeing a January box.  But I haven't been super impressed by the boxes and I don't think I am going to renew after next month.  I think we are going back to Citrus Lane or I might subscribe him to Nerd Box Jr for boys.  :)  We will see!  lol

Anyways, Bluum is $24.99 a month and there is a discount for multiple month subscriptions.  They go from ages 0-5.  :)

This is the box!  :)

Sleep Sheep Soothing Puppet ($18.95)  This is cute, it a puppet AND a hot/cold pack.  So if the kid is feeling sick, you can use the hot/cold pack.  I like that.  Eli likes it because it reminds him of Lambie from Doc McStuffins.  lol

Parents Click Clack Bell ($9.99)  I am not sure Eli will like this, but I am hoping.  lol.  Saving it for his Easter basket!
Shark Skinzz foldable water bottle ($6.99)  Eli won't like this.  He has one and doesn't use it.  :(

Raspberry Fig Bar ($0.65)  Not really into this one.
Luna Chocolate Dipped Coconut ($1.20)  This was DELICIOUS!  lol.  :)  I wouldn't mind more of these!  ;)

Paid $15.00
Value $37.78

The value is there, but I feel like this box does NOT do a good job catering to the 4 year old boy age group.  :/  We shall see what next month brings!  :)

Box Me Mommy March 2014

Box Me Mommy is my FAVORITE monthly box right now!  I love that there is an option for Mommy + Us!  That is the one that we are subscribed to, so we get items for a 1 year old, 4 year old and mom!  :)

Box Me Mommy prices vary depending on what box you order, with the Mommy + Us box the cost is $33.00 a month.  But recently they have been sending out discounts!  So sign up for their emails!  :)

On to the FANTASTIC box!  :)

Woot woot!  (There is 1 item that is missing from this picture, but it's in the unboxing!)

These are the 1 year old items....

Alphabet Zoo ABC House Blocks ($24.99)  Jack will love these!  Saving them for his Easter basket! :)

Re-Play Bowls ($4.99)  These are so cool!  They are made from recycled milk jugs.  And we can always use more bowls! 

These are the 4 year old items....

Zoo Reusable Sandwich and Snack Bag set ($12.00) I have been wanting a set of these!  And now we have them!  lol

Re-Play 8 Pack Utensils ($4.65)  We have a set of these and love them!  So these are a great addition!  :)

This is a shared item...

Ready for Spring book ($7.16)  We love books so this is a welcome addition to our book shelf!

 

 

These are the mommy items...

 

The KIND bars are an extra in my box because one of mine was ruined from my box last month!  So they threw 2 into my box this month!  Lovely customer service!!  :) :)

 

Germ Fighti'n Hand Lotion ($9.99) This smells AWESOME!  It says to use it before and after diaper changes.  I will!  lol

 

Butter London nail polish ($15.00)  LOVE Butter London nail polish!  So excited to get this!  :)

 

Paid $28.00

Value $78.78

 

Once again, Box Me Mommy hit it out of the ballpark!  I really love this box!  Woo-hoo!!!!!



Citrus Lane March 2014

This is Eli's last Citrus Lane, but Jack will keep getting it.  :)  And I am thinking that Eli will get re-subscribed in the end too, lol.

Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for kids age 0-5.  We have loved it for a long time!  :)  Some months are great, some aren't but that is the way it goes with sub boxes!  :)  The cost is $29.00 for month to month with a discount if you sub for multiple months.

Let's get on to the boxes!

Here is Eli's box:  (4 year old boy)

 
Woo hoo!!

 

 

Petit Collage Memory Game ($15.00)  Eli loves memory!  And He really loved this game!  :)

 

 

 

Me4Kids Medi Buddy ($5.99) We have gotten one of these already in a CL box.  :/  But it is something that you can use another of!  :)

Hello Hanna Monkey Hello Book ($9.95)  This looks like fun!  Eli will enjoy making the story up!  :)

Hape Toys Bamboo Vehicle ($6.52)  Eli has gotten 2 of these in past boxes too, but this is a new design.  :)


Jack's Box:  (1 year old boy)

Yeah!  First, I liked how this box was "themed".  It had 2 safari items and 2 wellness items!  :)



Me4Kids Medi Buddy ($5.99)  We got this same thing in Eli's box. 

 

CleanWell All-Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes ($3.89)  We have gotten this in a previous CL box too, SIGH!  But again, this is a good item to have multiple of.

 

 

 

 

Chronicle Books You Are My Baby Book ($7.92) This is so cute!  You can open the big part of the book to the different animals and the smaller part of the book to different baby animals to match the animal baby's and mama's!

 

Hape Qubes ($9.75)  These are so cute!  Jack loves animals and these will be well played with!  :)

 

 

Eli:
Paid $18.75

Value $37.46

 

Jack:
Paid $11.00

Value $27.55

 

Both boxes were great this month!  :)



BirchBox March 2014

This is my last BirchBox.  I really enjoyed the first one I received, but the last two were NOT a win.  I just can't see myself spending $10.00 on something that I am just not impressed with.  :(  I really wanted to be impressed.  But I wasn't.  :(

But let's see what is in the box anyways!  :) 

This is the Spring Forward box that I received:

Air Repair Rescue Balm (Full size $12.00) 
Coola Tinted Matte (Full size $36.00)  I have tried this before and liked it so I am not sad to have another one!  :)
Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper (Full size $10.00) Curly hair is the bane of my existence!  So I am happy to try this!
Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Face Rejuvenator (Full size $34.00)
Beauty Extra
Mighty Leaf Tea Pouches (Full size $9.95)  I don't like hot drinks, but maybe I can cool it off with ice?! 
Bonus
Ghirardelli's Cherry Tango Square

Over all this box was ok.  I liked the Coola and the Curl Keeper but I'm not really impressed by anything else.  :(
I re-subscribed to GlossyBox this month and I hope it's a hit!  I need a good box!

Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask #powerofplants

I was so lucky when I got chosen to receive the J'Adore VoxBox from Influenster to try awesome products for FREE! 

One that I had never heard of or tried before was the Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask.  I must say I am in love!  :)


First of all, I am about to be 30 years old and I still deal with outbreaks!  :( 

When I opened the bottle, it was a little liquidy but apparently it is supposed to be!  lol.  The mask went on my face so smoothly and I started to feel it working right away.  About 10 minutes after I put it on, it was completely dry and I washed it off very easily. 

My face had that "squeaky clean" feeling that your face has right out of the shower.  And the next day I had very few outbreaks!  It was awesome!  And the "outbreak-freeness" lasted for about 2 days! 

Over all I was really impressed by the Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask!  :)