Captive Book Review

I'm sure we have all felt "Captive" at some point or another in our lives.  I myself in more ways than one.  Right now I feel "Captive" to this crazy lifestyle my family has put ourselves in.  I leave the house at 7 AM and typically return around 9PM still needing to feed the family, bathe two kids, double check homework, clean (did I mention our dishwasher has been broken for 6 months??), put kids to bed, pack bags for the next day's activities...oh and then I work on more work from home until who knows when....to wake up and do it all over again the next day!

My captivity has nothing on Ashley Smith's experiences from 2005.  She was held captive in her own apartment by a man who had escaped prison and had been on a killing spree in the process.

Her book, also written in 2005 has been made into a movie by the same title, "Captive" and was released on 9/18/15.

Before I received the book to review I had heard this story but not in full detail.  Ashley had actually spoken at one of my church's women's retreats, but I had not attended.  I was intrigued by her story, but never got a chance to read or hear more.  I was excited to finally read her book.  I read it while at the beach with my family and I could not put it down.  It was an easy read, and I wanted to continue to read to find out what would happen next.  I knew that Ashley survived her captivity but I didn't know how or why.

I honestly felt like I was in her apartment with her, pleading with Brian Nichols to let her go, let her go see her daughter.  Let her turn her life around.  I was trying to find ways to help her escape, help her break away but in all honesty, Ashley needed Brian as much as Brian needed her.

Reading her book makes you question your own lifestyle.  Are you purposeful in what you are doing? 

Overview

CAPTIVE, based on a miraculous true story that drew the attention of the entire nation, is a thrilling drama about the spiritual collision of two broken lives.  When Brian Nichols - on the run as the subject of a city wide manhunt and desperate to make contact with his newborn son - takes recovering meth addict Ashley Smith hostage in her own apartment, she turns for guidance to Rick Warren’s best-selling inspirational book, The Purpose Driven Life.  While reading aloud, Ashley and her would-be killer each face crossroads where despair and death intersect hope.  

The movie stars David Oyelowo, who played Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the recent film, Selma.

Click HERE for a special greeting from David Oyelowo.

 

I have already read the book that helped her get through her captivity, A Purpose Driven Life but I want to go back and re-read it and see if I am able to pull more out of it.  My lifestyle (aka kids) has changed a lot since I first read this book. 

 

You can follow along with all the below links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE 

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

AUDIO BOOK BYTE  (Audio excerpt from the audio book format of CAPTIVE (chapter 1), read by the author, Ashley Smith.) 

OFFICIAL MOVIE TRAILER

 

If you have not read Ashley's book yet, please do, it really is a must read.  Once you have read the book, then head out to the theater and see the movie version.  I cannot wait to see this movie myself!

 

I leave you with some questions to ponder....

 

We’ve all faced circumstances that have held us captive in some regard.  What has held you captive?  How did you find your purpose?  

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this book for my review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 

 

 

 

Whatever Wanda Book Review and Giveaway

Brynnleigh loves to do book reviews - she gets so excited every time we get a new one!  So the MINUTE Whatever Wanda arrived in the mail she had to get her hands on it!

About the book:
32 pages 

Whatever Wanda, is the third title in the Shine Bright Kids series! The Shine Bright Kids series provides children and their families with the tools to teach the importance of making good choices. The series explores such topics as: using good judgment, taking responsibility, having a positive attitude, and demonstrating perseverance.

Wanda is in serious need of an attitude adjustment! She doesn’t want to accompany her family to the Rubber Duck Days Festival, and once there, she won’t participate in any of the events or join in with her friends. Soon Wanda receives some helpful advice and learns that:

“Sometimes you have to believe something will be great before it actually is. Being positive is a choice that makes everything better, not to mention, a whole lot more fun!”

About the author:
Christy Ziglar, financial planner, mother of twins, and niece of legendary motivator and the world’s original optimist, Zig Ziglar, is bringing the same timeless wisdom and ageless advice to an entirely new, younger audience through her Shine Bright Kids picture book series. Christy, her husband, and their twins live in Atlanta, Georgia.

About the illustrator:
Paige Billin-Frye lives with her husband in Washington, D.C., where she gardens and grows food in her city yard. She has illustrated numerous children’s books and works in a studio over a neighborhood hardware store. Coincidentally, Paige has amassed a collection of rubber duckies of all sizes across the years.

You can find the other titles of the Shine Bright Kids series HERE.

Brynnleigh and I read this book right before bed and we both loved it.  It is super cute with great illustrations to keep little ones entertained.  There is a bit of repeat where it says "Whatever" and Brynnleigh loved "reading" that with me.  There is also a cute little star you have to find on each page. 

This is a great books for kids - it teaches you that your attitude can make or break an experience.  This is perfect for my house because Brynnleigh's older brother, Owen is at the age where not everything is fun...at least until he gets there.  It may hit home to some adults too, it's very easy to get wrapped up into all the negative vs. the positive.

Brynnleigh has been asking me to read this book to her over and over again - so it is definitely a hit in our house!

Now it's your turn to win a copy for yourself!  Pretty easy and simple - just comment below who you would like to win this book for, and if you follow me on FB (or just started) leave another comment that you are a follower!  This is open to US and Canada only.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”