Review of A Killer Among Us by Lynette Eason

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them.
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Book Three in Women of Justice Series, Lynette Eason introduces Kit Kenyon, a detective and hostage negotiator. She and her new partner are on the hunt for a serial killer who may be hunting one of them as well.

This is a fast pasted thriller with a few squeamish parts thrown in to keep things interesting. Lynette, as always, does a fantastic job creating a thrilling plot with touches of a budding relationship on the side.

Loved this book. Though I couldn't read it before bed as it was a bit suspenseful for my dreams. It was a can't-put-down, what's-going-to-happen next type of read that any one would enjoy.

As book three in the series, this could be a stand-alone novel as well, but reading books one and two (which are equally fantastic), would only build upon this third book and make it that much more great.

Available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

memory lane

Taking a trip down memory lane today. 16 years ago at this time, I was getting ready to walk down the aisle into a new adventure called marriage.

Reflecting over the past 16 years, I see a lot of laughs. A lot of tears. A lot of changes. A lot of love.

One memory was my first ever backpacking experience. My husband, a seasoned backpacker, and I drove up to a mosquito infested Lake Superior Provincial Park in the U.P. on a July weekend. We arrived at dark to set up our tent, bedded down for the night then rose early the next day to start our hike in. The mosquitoes were thick. We went through an entire can of bug spray in a couple hours. I said out loud that I hoped it would be so cold the next day that it would kill all the mosquitoes. My wish came true as it only reached the mid 40's the next day.

And that was the day I ended up sick in the tent while Ed boiled water as his water purifier was broken. The third day I uttered the words before backpacking out,

"Just leave me here. Go get a boat or something and come back for me."

Um...can't do that out in the middle of no where. I was never so glad to see that little red pick up truck when we arrived at the parking lot.

So many more memories come rushing in. Our first anniversary trip, complete with me being blindfolded, to Niagara Falls. A trip to Northern Ireland to celebrate graduating college. Purchasing our first house. So many more backpacking trips (that weren't so dramatic). The birth of Sam along with surgeries and bladder bags for months there after. Purchasing our second house. Alina being added to our family. 10 year anniversary trip to Mexico. Raccoons eating the food supply on our first family backpacking trip. Bike rides to Jersey Junction. The decision to uproot and move across the country. Entering elementary years with two kids. Wading through life with a pre-teenager.

And then there's love. Not a squishy, ooey-gooey love (though that's still present). But an I'm-in-this-with-you love. A love that doesn't give up. A love that when the feelings aren't there, commitment and foundation are. I won't give up on you.

Our marriage hasn't been all flowers and sunshine. There have been trecherous storms, very dark valleys that could have easily broken us to pieces. By God's amazing example of love, we battled through each one and came out stronger on the other side. I'm pretty sure there will be more down the road too. But building the foundation of commitment to each other, commitment to our wedding vows, and commitment to Christ, has and will help us weather each storm.

Here's to 16 more amazing years my Love. I'm excited to enter yet another new adventure with you in the coming weeks. And to see how God weaves us closer together in the coming months and years.

Happy Anniversary! I love you!

slowing down? i think not.

I thought when the end of the school year approaches, things are supposed to start slowing down and come to finale of celebration of freedom for the kids on the last day of school.

I'm finding quite the opposite (except the celebration part...one can't wait...the other one will be very, very sad).

We are 3 1/2 weeks out from the end of school. There is a lot of ground to cover between now and then.

For the son, there was a spring concert last night, field trip today, 3 part auto-biography paper (of which I type for him...and no, I'm not cheating. promise) and the presentation, field day, one other field trip, year end field trip celebration, three more soccer practices, two more games, three more musical practices, musical overnight tour, musical dress-rehearsal night, musical church performance and then last day of school.

For the daughter, there is a spring concert, two more soccer practices, three games, a science project, bring a shirt to school to decorate, read-in day, dress up/presentation as favorite book character day, outside reading coupons, field trip, field day, end of year field trip celebration and then last day of school.

And I know I'm forgetting something in there.

looking back

On a whim, I jumped back years in my blog to May of 2006. I found the post below:

When's Friday?
Today my most adorable children have been at each others throats constantly. Arguing. Screaming. Roaring. Laughing. It's been one roller-coaster after another. One minute they're giving each other hugs and then next yelling, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO I don't WAAAANTTTT TOOOOO" (my lovely daughter) and "I DON'T WANT HER TO FOLLOW MEEEEE!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!" (my handsome son). These are the days I say no more mini people allowed. Unless they are someone else's and I can give them back. I just sit here and watch it all. All my energy is spent. I let them scream and see what happens. I interveen only when bodily harm is becoming evident.

Alina found the little pepper grinder. Sam found pepper in his water. I ran out of diapers today. Alina's wearing a swimmy diaper with rubber underwear training pants so she doesn't leak everywhere. The joys of having one vehicle and no diapers.

Oh....happy place..... How I love being there.

Alina was 2 years old. Sam was 5 and getting ready to graduate preschool.
Preschool people.
He's now getting ready to finish 4th grade.

I chuckled when I read this old post and sadness coursed through me too. Sadness that my kids aren't little any more. I've watched video's of them when they were wee whipper snappers and I've wept. Those years don't come back. They fly.

There's more than just pepper in water and no diapers. There is wading through emotions of why there was no birthday invite when everyone else got one. Explanations as to why you don't need a cell phone when "all" your friends have one. Liking girls. Growing bodies. Mending tender hearts.

I miss those early days. Looking back they seemed easy compared to now. But I know they were just as hard as today. And 8 years from now when Sam's getting ready to graduate high school, I know I'll look back and think these present years were easy.

So many seasons to life. So many new experiences to wade through. I'm so thankful for the season I'm in right now. Thankful for the season I was in five years ago. Thankful for my 7 and 10 year old. Thankful for my 2 and 5 year old and having the opportunity to grow with them.

And yes, they still argue and laugh with each other.

Lenten thoughts

For Lent I chose to put aside sugary sweet goodness. Did I make it the entire time? No. I caved. More than once. But I was still committed, and was thankful for a new day to start over.

I also had a live conscience. Alina. She held me accountable so many times. "Mom, you can't eat that! You made a PROMISE to GOD!" Oh my sweet, sweet daughter. How can anyone dispute that? I couldn't even negotiate! And she was a huge example to me as well by giving up playing Webkinz on the computer.

I found that it was not an easy Lent. There was many a time I prayed while craving those sweets, which is the whole point. At times I failed. All the time God showed me his ever-lasting grace.

And I find it quite humorous that during Lent, I wanted what I couldn't have, but now I don't want what I can have! Go figure.