Redeeming Love | janeaustenrunsmylife

So two years ago, (I wasn’t kidding when I said I was behind on my posts), I won the Tea and Me Blog & Harts of America giveaway. You know me and free, I just can’t resist.

Anytime I see a giveaway I have to enter it.

So I ended up winning a bag of Pacific Spearmint and Sleepynight Extra Strength Tea

Harts of America is such a cute company. When you open the package of your tea, each bag of loose leaf has a cute little postcard, which not only discusses the ingredients of the tea but has a little romantic meet-cute that has been shared by fans of the tea. So romantic and sweet!

I tried the Pacific Spearmint right away, but even through it was delicious, something in the ingredients activated my allergies and I couldn’t continue to drink it. I believe I am allergic to spearmint as I love mint it never seems to bother me.

However, my niece absolutely adored it and I ended up giving the tea to her.

Pacific spearmint tea and Anne of green gables — Pacific Spearmint Tea and Anne of Green Gables

Now the Sleepytime tea, that was a different story. I have suffered from insomnia for years and nothing has helped. I can’t take most medications as I’m really sensitive to them and always experience the side effects. I have tried all kinds of different teas, habits, etc.; but nothing has helped. The only thing that has worked is this amazing tea! Every time I am struggling with sleep, I drink it and it helps.

Because I love this Sleepytime Extra Strength tea I have shared it with friends and family, converting one of my friends into becoming a serious customer of Harts of America. She recently shared a Chamomile Mint she had just ordered and it was delicious.

This company has absolutely wonderful tea and I highly I recommend it. Every order has free shipping, it’s reasonably priced (on average $4-$5 a bag), and they have a variety of caffeinated and non-caffeinated tea.

And again, if you too have any issues sleeping or troubles with insomnia i cannot stress enough to check out Extra Strength Sleepytime Tea. You won’t be sorry!

For more giveaway posts, go to I Won the BookNookMajorieMaeShop Giveaway

For more tea posts, go to Spill the Tea: Tea Bar and Fusion Café Review

A few years back I was given a collection of five teas, A World of Teas. As I was about to try them out, I started thinking: which books would best suit these teas? After all, nothing goes together better than a good book and a delicious cup of tea.

Since then I try my best to repeat it whenever I review new teas. 🙂

Tea #1: Pacific Spearmint

Pacific Spearmint was cool and relaxing. Spearmint is known to help with fevers and digestive disorders, and if I hadn’t been allergic to it, I definitely would have drank more of it.

As this tea is from the Northwest, I tried to find a book to match. One I enjoy reading and find to be equally enjoyable and a relaxing reread. I decided to pair it with Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

The story of Redeeming Love, is a retelling of an Old Testament book of the Bible, Hosea, but in this depiction follows a Gold Rush Era prostitute, her farmer husband, and the redeeming love God gives to all sinners. Angel has been a prostitute for as long as she can remember, hoping for the one day she can make enough to have a life where she is in charge. Michael Hosea is a Christian farmer who is baffled when God tells him Angel is the woman he should marry. After convincing her to marry him, their marriage life is not the smoothest journey as Angel has never been shown true kindness, affection, love, or caring; and Michael tries to discover a way to show it to her. Other obstacles come in their way such as doubt, jealousy, insecurity, fear, etc. before this book reaches its powerful conclusion.

This was first given to me by a friend, and I really enjoy this book and while there are serious events and traumas in it, reading it always relaxes me as I enjoy the journey to a fitting conclusion. The other reason why I pair these together, is the steadfast, relaxed, collected, and mostly even-tempered (occasionally he gets riled up) character of Michael is similar to the coolness of the spearmint.

A film of this book was just released in theaters, but I strongly recommend reading the book as all my favorite scenes and moment are not in the film.

For more on Francine Rivers, go to Book Club Picks: The Masterpiece

Tea #2: Sleepynight Extra Strength Tea

As this tea is for one who is having restless nights, I thought no better book would be suited than The Storyteller’s Daughter by Cameron Dokey.

In this adaptation of 1001 Arabian Nights, Shahrayar was betrayed by his wife and after he executed her he decides to never love or trust a woman again. Shahrayar decrees that he will marry once a month for one night only, executing his brides in the morning so they cannot betray him. If a maiden volunteers for the first month, all those who come after her will merely be imprisoned. Shahrazad, the daughter of the vizier and a famous storyteller, volunteers and comes up with a plan to try and turn Shahrazad’s heart. Every night she tells a story, but doesn’t end it, continuing the next night. But while her plan is a success at first, the family of Shahrayar’s deceased wife continue to plot to bring their destruction. Will Shahrazad save Shahrayar, or will she run out of time?

I really loved the way the characters are in this and the stories they kept, although I wish there was a few more stories in this. Something that is different about this retelling is Dokay wrote Shahrazad as blind, which I thought was interesting and helped tell this particular version of the story better. One scene I really liked is when Shahrayar is upset that Shahrazad came to be his first wife as he doesn’t want to kill a blind woman and she basically sasses him, politely, about why it should matter as he is going to kill the first wife anyway. He immediately starts feeling bad about himself. Haha.

And just how Shahrazad puts the king to sleep, this Sleepynight Extra Strength tea will help you fall asleep.

So with everything that happened in July and with GISHWHES, I realized I totally forgot to post the last book we read for Book Club.

Just in case for anyone new, I started a book club with three other people. There is no theme or restrictions, just every month a different person has a turn to pick a book, we read it for the month, and afterwards meet to talk about it. Fun for everyone.

Last month’s pick was:

A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion #1) by Francine Rivers

I first started reading Francine Rivers’ novels when a friend recommended Redeeming Love (a fantastic book that I strongly recommend). Afterwards, I started reading as many of her books as I could get a copy of. This one I put on my to-read list like five years ago and forgot all about it. I mean you know about to-read lists.

So when my friend brought it out as a suggestion, I was all for it.

That’s what I want

The story actually follows four main characters and how their lives intersect with each other, the decisions they make, and how they grow or regress as characters.

Character One: Hadassah

Hadassah is living in a time where Rome is in complete control and being Jewish or Christian can mean death. Unfortunately for Hadassah, she is both.

Yes, her parents were both Jewish but her father converted to Christianity when Jesus raised him from the dead (Luke 7:11-17). Her married Hadassah’s mother (who also converted to Christianity) and the two raised their three children as Christians.

Their lives have gone incredibly downhill as Rome marches on Jerusalem destroying it, with all of Hadassah’s family being murdered. Hadassah finds herself unsure how she will continue on with her weak faith and uncertain future. Will she be able to trust God through it all?

Hadassah is saved from being killed; manages to survive the march to Rome, gets through a lice-filled boat, barely is maneuvered from becoming a temple prostitute, and is bought by a Jewish slave for his master, going into the powerful Valerian family. There she is given to serve the selfish, young, and beautiful Julia Valerian. Hadassah faces many ups and downs trying to live her Christian faith, set an example to others; while trying to walk the thin line that separates her from being thrown to the lions as a pre-show for the gladiatorial games.

She finds herself becoming friends with Julia’s older brother Marcus, praying hard for him and his family. But as her connection to Marcus grows stronger:

She finds herself unsure what path to take. Will Hadassah be able to serve God and receive a happy ending? Or will she cross that line and enter temptation? Or worse, death?

Character Two: Atretes

Atretes is a prince from Germany known for his wildness, strength, courage, and ability. After the death of his father he finds himself being handed the kingship and given a prophecy: a dark haired woman as his lover, being known throughout Rome, he will triumph over his foes, and being able to free his people from slavery.

That’s the kind of prophecy I’m talking about.

However, in the next battle skirmish, Atretes is captured by Roman soldiers. He tried hard to be killed in battle, but they decide to keep him and train him to become a gladiator.

At first he refuses to play along, but eventually becomes the star fighter as he discovers the only way to win his freedom is to follow along.

He achieves, money, fame, etc.; but still remains a slave and not given real freedom. His life changes when he meets Julia Valerian. She comes to him willingly, paying heavily to be with him. She appears to be everything foreseen by his mother and he begins to fall for her, and changes his perspective of “the game” as he fights for money, freedom, and the ability to marry the person he loves.

But will Atretes fullfill his prophecies of the woman he loves, overpower Rome, and free his people? Or will he discover that Rome doesn’t fight fair and that he will never truly be free from its grasp?

Hmm…

Character Three: Marcus Valerian

Meh.

Marcus Valerian grew up in a time of strife that has settles into prosperity and peace. His only hobbies in life are pursuing whatever pleases him: mostly making money and winning women. However, Marcus quickly becomes bored with this lifestyle and is always pursuing making more money and a harder challenge.

He is constantly going to the gladiator games, but becomes bored with those as well in life.

His father tries to instill a moral code in him, but Marcus refuses to listen to anything his father says as he feels that his father is “too old” and “behind the times”. He thinks his way is the best and his lifestyle-something he ends up instilling in his younger, naive, and impressionable sister.

Seriously, parents.

But when Hadassah enters the house she starts a ripple effect of a change of atmosphere. Everything about her and her beliefs challenges his lifestyle and the choices he is making in life.

Will Marcus find something real to fill his life? Will he ever be happy? Or will the choices he has made come back to bite him?

Hmm…

Character Four: Julia Valerian

Julia is the Marcus’ younger sister and has been sheltered her whole life and given every whim. In an effort to reshape her character and give her more morals, her parents give her Hadassah to be her servant; hoping that Hadassah’s kind and gentle spirit will rub off on Julia.

Hadassah

But all Julia cares about is being beautiful, idolizing her brother Marcus and his values, and seeks to become the most sough after gal in Rome. She ends up trusting women who are bad influences that like to manipulate her, not listening to any of the advice her parents try to give her.

She is married off to a kind man, but is too selfish and self-centered to appreciate him. Instead she sets her eyes on a handsome gladiator she sees training, Atretes. Later her foolish and heedless behavior causes the death of her husband, and she and Hadassah are sent back to her parent’s house.

Through it all Hadassah loves and cares for Julia as a sister, even when Julia is rude, crude, overbearing, etc.

Once again Julia chooses friends who don’t have her best interest at heart and are using her. She also marries a handsome, but abusive man. After she grows tired of being treated so cruelly she makes a decision that leads her down a dark path. As Julia continues to make bad decisions and hurt those around her, will Hadassah continue to care and help her? Will Julia turn from her dark choices? Will she have a happy ending? Or will she continue on her trail of destruction?