From The Heart Archives - Napturale Living

The Concrete Kiss: A Book Review

December 8, 2013 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

Brief Summary:

Homicide Detective Ned Danes discovers that an ambitious Deputy D.A. has concealed evidence of an accused murderer’s innocence in order to secure a headline-grabbing conviction. Danes torpedoes the corrupt Deputy D.A.’s case, and for his honesty, Danes is exiled to the tiny, basement office of the Cold Case Squad.

Working in his forgotten outpost Danes becomes obsessed with finding the real killer whom the Deputy D.A.’s scheme has allowed to run free. But, just as he seems to be closing in, Danes receives a plea for help from an old friend.

FBI agent Phillip Abbott has been put on leave for his last sixty days before his forced retirement. He has that long to catch a drug-cartel hit man whose specialty is murdering entire families. Completely alone, Abbott needs a courageous cop like Ned Danes to back him up.

While Danes knows that Abbott has a seventeen-year-old adopted daughter, it is only after Danes agrees to help Abbott catch the killer that he discovers that the hit man murdered the girl’s entire family. Abbott promised her that he would get the monster no matter what it took and Danes soon learns that Abbott is willing to do anything, including breaking the law and possibly going to prison, to keep that promise.

And after Danes and Abbot do all that, Ned still has a killer of his own to catch.

My Thoughts:

Concrete Kiss is a brilliantly written crime novel by David Grace which has seriously put this talented writer on my radar. David’s writing held my attention from start to surprising end and left me wanting more. It’s plot and characters were very well crafted and thought out, down to the very last detail.

Concrete Kiss is definitely one of those novels that I had difficulty putting down. I couldn’t wait to turn the page to find out what would happen next and didn’t mind losing sleep to continue ‘living’ in this novel. David is very descriptive and you can’t help visualizing each character and every situation. I’ve said this before about a few other novels I’ve read lately and in the past but I can really see this novel as a movie on the silver screen or as a made-for-tv film. It’s seriously THAT good!

I’m not one of those reviewers that likes to give away what happens in the book. The best way to verify what I’m saying is to read the book yourself. David Grace has graciously aloud me to share a free coupon code with you guys which will expire December 31st. So if you want a chance to read this book and do so for free, be sure to grab the coupon code below.

Until next time!

To Download Your Free Copy of The Concrete Kiss from Smashwords.com:

Go to: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/175650

Click “Add To Cart”

Enter the Coupon Code HT99T in the coupon code box
(Coupon expires on 12-31-13)

Click “Checkout”

Find the format you want (epub, MOBI, PDF, etc.) in the list of available formats and then click the Download button.

Copy the downloaded file to your Kindle, iPad, Nook, etc.

If you don’t know how to copy it to your ereader Smashwords has instructions at the following link on how to copy your downloaded file to various kinds of readers.

https://www.smashwords.com/about/supportfaq#Reading

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.

Hidden Under Her Heart: A Book Review

December 7, 2013 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

Book Description:

Maryanne Torres has sworn off sex. Intent on finding a marrying man, she joins a church youth group. A party at her pastor’s house turns into a drinking binge, and Maryanne is raped.

Lucas Knight’s only concern was winning the Ironman Triathlon until the morning he finds Maryanne unconscious in the church parking lot. He becomes the prime suspect, even though Maryanne cannot identify her attacker.

Maryanne wants justice but the identity of her rapist is hidden in the baby she plans to abort. A trap is set. Lucas races to clear his name and keep Maryanne’s secret from drowning her and her baby.

My Thoughts:

My first impression of this book after reading the above description was that it would be an awesome Lifetime movie. It has all of the ingredients: a damsel in distress, a hot guy who appears and ultimately saves the day and enough conflict to keep you interested.

Rachelle Ayala did an excellent job of creating characters that were multidimensional and they all sort of jumped off of the page. They had real world issues that they were dealing with and were each trying to find a way to navigate life while dealing with those issues. I feel that Rachelle’s bravery in tackling such heaving subjects as rape and abortion to be awesome. Most people would shy away from these subjects but Rachelle met them head on and managed to write a story that is touching as well as entertaining.

The only issue that I had with the book is that it contained some language that I didn’t like. Rachelle did a great job of warning her potential readers that there would be a mild sex scene in the book, which I was ok with because I could just skip that section entirely. However, there were other scenes early on in the book that were just as steamy as any sex scene in my opinion and I ended up skipping those parts as well. This is not to deter anyone from reading the book. This is just my own opinion and personal preference.

Anyhoo, that aside, Rachelle’s ability to make the reader really visualize the people and situations in her writing is impeccable. If any of you have read any of my other book reviews either on GoodReads or Amazon.com you already know that there’s a special place in my heart for writers that are very descriptive. I need to be able to lose myself in your book and really ‘see’ what you’re trying to convey to me. Rachelle does this beautifully. Overall I would say this novel is most certainly worth reading and I can’t wait to read another novel by Rachelle.

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.

The ‘When’ App Review

December 1, 2013 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

Hey guys I found a really cute way to keep track of your daily activities with another awesome opportunity via Tomoson.com.

‘When’ is a cute task manager application that looks just like a clock.

The clock symbolizes one full day with all of your tasks being noted by little icons in different shapes like squares and stars.

Easily create tasks by touching the rim of the clock.

Move the icon along the rim to the time on the clock corresponding to the time of your event. Just like that the task is created!

If you’ve made a mistake or no longer want the task included in the manager, simply drag the icon from the rim to the inside of the clock. The task then turns into a crumpled piece of paper and is successfully deleted.

All task are noted around the clock using cute shapes and tasks created in the same location will all have the same color.

In the picture below, I created an entry for 5 pm the evening of November 3rd. If you guys follow me on Twitter you already know that my family and I had a blast at the Food Truck Bazaar.

If you want to go back and check an entry, just tap the icon and a message will appear at the bottom of the page.

‘When’ also included very useful audio alerts when it’s time for the event to take place. You can even change the sound of the alarm if you don’t like the default setting.

Overall, I would say this app is very cute and very useful. It rolls your calendar, reminders and clock apps into one stylish app. I would definitely recommend using this if you want to use just one app for everything and the app is very cheaply priced at only $1.99 on the iTunes app store.

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.

An Ergonomic Pen That Works

November 26, 2013 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

Do you suffer from pain and discomfort when writing? Are you one of the unfortunate ones like myself who suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome? Or do you just like to collect awesome pens?

Regardless of what your needs are, the UGLee Pen created by Dr. James Lee is the perfect solution for you. The idea for this little ergonomic pen was born while Dr. Lee was in Medical School and began searching for a pen that would help to relieve the fatigue in his hand. After searching for years and trying many different pens, he decided that designing his own pen would be the best option.

UGLee Pen offers a stress free design that includes a full-size gel comfort grip that’s similar to the shock absorbers found in most high-end athletic footwear. The finger tip groves allow for maximum comfort while writing, making it easy to write for hours without any pain or stress on your fingers or wrists.

I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my right wrist which also happens to be my writing hand. Usually writing for long periods of time can be quite painful for me. I’m also guilty of holding my pen a little too tightly while writing which I’m sure doesn’t help matters either. While using the UGLee pen, even while tightly gripping the pen I was able to write with ease. There was no pain in my palms or in my wrist after writing for two hours straight! I have tried many different pens as well and I can honestly say that the UGLee Pen lives up to its claims. It writes so effortlessly and when I finally use up all of the ink in this pen, I don’t have to throw it away. Dr. Lee offers refills that can be ordered right from his website.

But don’t take my word for it. You can enter today for your chance to win a pack of 3 pens for yourself or someone you love. To enter, ‘like’ UGLee Pen on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter. You can visit his website here and read other testimonials about this little ergonomic pen and be sure to come back here to leave a comment stating what method you used to enter the contest. Also include in your comment a little bit of what you learned after visiting Dr. Lee’s website along with either your Facebook username and/or Twitter handle.

The contest/giveaway will run until 10:59 pm Eastern time on November 27th and the winner will be chosen at random.

Hope to see you all soon!

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.

Enjoy A Home Away From Home and Rent A Timeshare

November 26, 2013 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

Traveling during any time of year can be very stressful but especially during the holidays when many hotels are booked solid and any last minute planning can be costly. Timeshare rentals is an easy and affordable option that can make your time away from home this season more enjoyable and affordable.

Redweek.com allows guests to the site to view timeshare availability and pricing, request notification of new timeshare postings, participate in the forums as well as to receive their monthly newsletter all for free. But the best experience comes with the paid yearly subscription. For only $14.99 a month, Redweek.com allows its members to also contact timeshare owners directly, read and post timeshares for rent or sale and so much more.

Being able to contact timeshare owners directly offers a unique advantage in that it gives you a way to negotiate pricing or dates as needed making it even easier to tailor your vacation to your own individual needs.

Easily search timeshare rentals by location or resort name. Here I searched for locations in Daytona Beach and chose to search dates and prices for the the Daytona Beach Regency. At this timeshare, I choose to stay for five nights starting on November 26th and leaving on December first. Being that this is a last minute reservation you’d expect the price to be over the top. However, I could book all five nights for only $90 a night which is approximately $450 for the entire stay. I did a similar search for the Hyatt Regency in Daytona Beach for the same dates and the cost would be $154 a night which is approximately $770 for the entire stay. Already it’s clear which option is the better choice.

Now let’s compare the amenities offered by each one. The Hyatt Regency offers an ocean view king size bed, state-of-the-art media and work area, 42″ flat-panel HDTV , corner sofa sleeper, and bathroom vanity. For $320 less, the Daytona Beach Regency offers its guest a king size bed and sleeper sofa, BBQ, deck/patio, dishwasher, internet access, Jacuzzi tub, washer and dryer, microwave, TV, stereo and a VCR. It’s clear which option is the better choice.

If you are planning a trip this holiday season and are short on cash, consider timeshare rentals as an option. And to make it even easier to get access to all of the awesome deals on the site, Redweek.com is giving away a free 2-year subscription!

All you have to do is ‘Like’ Redweek.com on their Facebook page and their ~~Timeshare Ambassador.~~ Or if you don’t have a Facebook account then just simply follow them on Twitter. In addition to following them through their social media networks be sure to leave a comment stating what you learned from visiting and browsing through the site. Lastly don’t forget to come back here and leave a comment on this post with the method that you used to enter the contest along with your Facebook username and/or Twitter handle.

The contest will run from November 26th until December 10th. A winner will be chosen at random on December 11th.

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.

***UPDATE*** Per Redweek.com, their Timeshare Ambassador page has been discontinued. So be sure to enter the contest either by ‘liking’ their main Facebook page or following them on Twitter.

Card.com Review

November 12, 2013 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

A little over a month ago I received an awesome opportunity via SVERVE to review a product from CARD.com. In exchange for my honest review I was given $25 dollars automatically loaded onto the debit card. The process was so simple and the hardest part was choosing the style of my debit card.

Instead of your plain old bank debit card, Card.com offers designs featuring animals, design and culture, food and drink, seasonal and so many more. I chose a card that spoke to my artistic side.

Saturday Evening Post

Once you have chosen your card, complete the short form and get approved within seconds! Within seven days you will receive your new card to use anywhere you choose. After being approved for the debit card, I was able to sign into my homepage where I could then load additional funds onto the card. I was pleased to see that with Card.com, I could even set up direct deposit for my place of employment. Card.com even provides you with your very own routing and account number making the sign up process painless.

The card arrives very discreetly in a white envelope which gives the impression that you’re receiving a greeting card instead of a private financial product. We all know privacy is a really big issue nowadays and especially during the holiday season, so it was nice to see that Card.com took this extra step.

Here are few more fun facts Card.com would like to share with all of you!:

This is a debit card, like the one from your bank, and you can use it EVERYWHERE Visa is accepted — except it’s way cooler and cuter than your crumby old bank card.

Free to order, activate and load
Free app and check deposits from your smartphone
Free direct deposit
Free card-to-card transfers, any time, anywhere, in seconds
No overdraft fees — never goes negative!
Safer than cash – 24/7 support, Visa fraud protection and 100% FDIC insurance on funds
No debt, financially responsible, no interest/credit/APRs
No credit check and approval in seconds
22,000 in-network ATMs
Thousands of cool, unique card designs to choose from, including brands like: Garfield, Popeye, Betty Paige, James Dean, Care Bears, Walking Dead, Star Trek, Autism Awareness, Breast Cancer Research, Shark Week, Where’s Waldo, Doodle Jump, THree Stooges, Nancy Drew, etc.

This card is not a gift card, so you can’t give or receive the card as a gift – It’s better than a gift card because you don’t just use it once and toss it, but instead get to replace your boring bank-issued debit card and show it off over and over.

Free for 30 days – then $5.95 monthly fee, which we waive when you direct deposit over $800 in the previous 30 days. This fee is the same as the Walmart prepaid card and way less than many of our competitors. It’s also much less than overdrafting your bank account, paying for a checking account or using a credit card.

Will all of the fun facts listed above, it’s easy to see why Card.com is a better choice for keeping tracking of your hard earned money. Go ahead and stop by their site today and sign up for your very own debit card and be sure to visit them on Facebook as well as Twitter.

Emotional Assault: A Book Review

November 7, 2013 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

According to helpguide.org, domestic abuse, also known as spousal abuse, occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other person. The most recognized form of domestic abuse includes physical abuse; however, for many, there exist a more sinister and subtle form of abuse. One that often goes unnoticed because there are no physical signs.

Emotional abuse is a very common yet overlooked form of domestic abuse which takes on many forms which are oftentimes hard to recognize by those outside of the immediate situation. In her book, Emotional Assault: Recognizing the Abusive Partner’s Bag of Tricks, Lisa Kroulik describes each of the emotional abusers tactics in detail using examples from her own life.

Part one of the book covers each tactic:

The Silent Treatment
Turning the Tables
Poor Me!
You’re Not Perfect Either!
Rewriting History
But I’m a Really Good Person
You’re Not Very Forgiving
It’s All a Misunderstanding and Other Hodgepodge Tricks

Trick number six was especially interesting to me, since in my opinion, this tactic can be the most hurtful and damaging. The abuser will appear before others to be the perfect mate but behind closed doors, the devil comes out in full force. And because this person is so charismatic, charming and outgoing, any pleas from the abuse victim for understanding or help go unheard. The abuser is skillful in the art of pulling the wool over the eyes of those who do not know him well. He has not only broken the spirit of the abused but has completely isolated her, making the road to recovery even harder. And recovery is possible, only if the abused ever gets strong enough to leave in the first place.

One might say, ‘If I were ever in that situation, I would never stay. I would leave immediately!’ That’s easy to say if you’ve never been in a situation like this. But an abuser is very skillful in the way he uses each of the tactics outlined in Lisa’s book. He doesn’t just use one at a time or even use a tactic once and never return. It’s a continual cycle of hurtful blows always aiming so as to exact the most impact at the right time. The abuser will build you up and convince you that he’s changed, only to pull the rug right from under your feet the next minute without warning. And if that isn’t enough, he then convinces you that it is your fault that he hurt you.

Lisa explains very well in her book that recognizing each of the signs of an emotionally abusive partner is detrimental in breaking free of the abuse and the subsequent recovery. If you are currently in an abusive relationship and are not yet strong enough to get away from your abuser, knowing the tactics will equip you with enough ammunition to fight back and protect yourself. After all, you are worth genuine love and respect. You must recognize that you will not get this from your partner! The best way to regain the love and respect you deserve is to first provide it to yourself. Remember you are better than your current circumstances!

It’s very easy in these situations to go back and forth with yourself on all of the reasons why you should stay. Part two of Lisa’s book will discuss the feelings she experienced during this phase of her life and how she was able to finally make the hard but necessary decision to leave. She explains the backlash she received from others outside of her marriage that were completely fooled by her ex-husband’s public persona. Lisa also covers some of the physical symptoms that can sometimes occur due to prolonged heightened stress levels.

What I found most interesting about part two of this book is the section covering the feelings Lisa experienced once the decision to leave had been made. What people often don’t realize is that the abused individual still suffers from that relationship months or even years after the relationship has ended. Like so many victims of domestic abuse, Lisa experienced feelings of sadness, anger, grief, anxiety, disorientation, loneliness and failure. However, her story is one of triumph as she is today a successful freelance writer, a proud mother of two teen-aged girls and wife to Darrell who is the exact opposite of her first husband.

I encourage everyone to read this book. If you are in an abusive relationship this book will hopefully give you enough courage to take the steps needed to break free or if nothing else, begin to recognize the signs and protect yourself. Those who have broken free of an abusive relationship will find comfort in knowing that you are not alone. If neither of these situations fit you, my hope is that you can use this book to prevent these events from happening to yourself or someone you love.

Napturaleliving.com Lisa Kroulik freelance writer

Lisa Kroulik lives in Minnesota with her husband, Darrell, two teenage daughters and two cats. She has been a full-time freelance writer since March 2011. She currently writes articles for Hubpages, Bubblews and Yahoo Voices.

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.

What You Been Up To??

September 4, 2013 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

It’s been a while since I last posted and I won’t offer anymore apologies because honestly I’ve done that a bit too much. What I will do is fill you in on what I’ve been up to during my hiatus.

Ever since I started this blog I have searched high and low for a template that I thought embodied the overall feel of my blog. I needed something that looked organic and natural. Something that was still famine without being too girly. And most of all something that was very eye-catching in that it would draw attention to all my blog’s best points.

I was pleased to stumble upon a blog design created by fellow blogger and entrepreneur The Pixelista, which can be found on the Studio Press website. The design was everything I wanted for my blog and then some. I also worked with RFE Hosting, which is an awesome company that specializes in web hosting and a list of other services including Blogger to WordPress migrations. The entire transition from Blogger to WordPress and the upgrade of my site was so seamless and stress free. Anything I needed help with, both The Pixelista and Aaron at RFE Hosting, were right on top of it and made things so simple to understand.

Outside of taking care of my blog I also had the opportunity to try out some really awesome subscription boxes. This was a really great experience and gave me a great way to try out lots of new products for just one monthly price. I loved all of the subscriptions boxes that I tried but my two favorites were Klutchclub and Love With Food. There will be a more in-depth review coming soon of each subscription box I tried.

The rest of the time away from the blog was used to spend time with my family that I love so dearly and to take care of some personal matters that I have been neglecting. I firmly believe that while blogging or owning your own business has its joys, things will fall out of line if you don’t take care of your personal needs and your close relationships. Everything has its proper place and what I’m learning to do now is to prioritize which is important in all aspects of life.

Anyhoo, I’m super excited to be back on top of things now. I have so many wonderful things planned and can’t wait for you all to be apart of the next phase of Napturale Living.

Until next time!

My Apologies and New Things To Come

March 4, 2013 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

I know it has been a considerable amount of time since my last post. Definitely unacceptable and I do sincerely apologize. My blog was/is primarily about my triumphs and failures in natural hair care and so far I haven’t given you that. Starting next Monday and every Monday thereafter you can expect to see a brand new post featuring hairstyles that I’ve tried, maintenance tips and anything else hair related.It has also been my goal for quite a while now to begin leading a healthier lifestyle and to make better food choices. I really enjoy searching for and cooking healthier tasty food for my family. Each Wednesday it is my goal to share with you a new recipe that I have either created myself, put my own spin on or recreated. The last Wednesday of every month will be Splurge Day wherein I will post a recipe of one of my not so guilty pleasures. I do believe that healthy eating every day is essential but having playtime every once in a blue moon is okay as well.Fitness has also become a larger part of my life as I would love to shed 115 pounds. Originally I made a goal to do so by my 30th birthday. But in order to do this in a way that is lasting and not self-defeating, I’ll just concentrate on doing some type of workout everyday. Better to focus on how I feel and to keep going. The number on the scale with take care of itself. Check in every Friday for Fitness Friday as I will be posting the workouts that I have done throughout the week. From time to time I will post update photos and maybe my new measurements but not the actual weight. The pictures will speak for themselves.I am also an artist at heart and have always loved doing anything creative since childhood. Didn’t really matter what it was as long as I was creating something and if my family liked what I came up with that made it even better. I hope to share these same joys with you also and on every Saturday I plan to do just that. Hopefully you will like them as much as I do.

Please, please stay tuned as I have many things in store!

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!!

October 9, 2012 By Shannon Barnes Leave a Comment

Hello All!! My name is Shannon and I am so glad you have taken the time out of your busy day to visit my new blog, Napturale Living. I created this blog as a way for me to share my love of art, natural hair, cooking and also to share my weight loss journey. It has taken some time to get the blog up and running but it’s finally here and I’m so excited!

I started my natural hair journey back in January 2010 after I received my last relaxer in December 2009. I decided that enough was enough and refused to allow any more chemicals to ruin my hair. I grew tired of having my hair grow to a certain length then thin out and eventually break off. I ‘big chopped’ November 2010 and since then my hair has been the healthiest it has ever been in my life. Through my blog, I hope to share many tips and tricks I have learned along the way. From time to time, you will find reviews on products I have found to be the most useful and I may even share a few hairstyles as well.

I love, love, love cooking and due to different illnesses within my family, eating healthier food is more than necessary at this time. Each week I plan to share many recipes that my family and I love. I also plan to chronicle my weight loss journey as I am determined to be fit and healthy before I turn 30. I can’t wait to start this journey with all of you. In the meantime, feel free to follow me on Pinterest, subscribe to my channel on Youtube and like my page on Facebook for interesting tid bits in between posts.