Do You Want To Change Your Life?

So in the month of June, I decided to take on a new job title. Independent fitness and nutrition coach for Beach Body, the company responsible for programs such as P90X, Insanity and Shakeology.  My job as a coach is to take those that want to transform their health and fitness and help motivate them, hold them accountable and help them reach their personal goals while working on myself in the process.

I wanted to hold an open invite to anyone interested in becoming more confident about themselves, become healthier, more active and ready to completely change their lives.  On August 4th, my very first challenge group will begin.  It's a mixed program group, which means that you can join in with any BeachBody challenge pack that you choose.  I, personally, will be doing the popular 21 Day Fix but there are a number of different programs for you to choose from!

Also, if you decide to join in on the fun, you will get to join our exclusive online fitness and nutrition group on Facebook, a free BeachBody account and free coach (me)!

If you're interested in joining or would just like more information, please email me at darcusmurrayfitness@hotmail.com or leave your email address below and I'll contact you!

Be good to yourselves!

Review: Marigny Street by Annie Rose Welch

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: Marigny Street
Author: Annie Rose Welch
Series: Saving Angels #1
Version Reviewed: Finished, Paperback.
Website: www.annierosewelch.com
*I won this book in a giveaway.


GoodReads Summary:

Do you believe in the power of dreams?
Way down south on Marigny Street in the heart of New Orleans, the land of Catholic intercessions, purgatory, and supernatural superstitions, young Evangeline Chenier dreams of a radiant boy who saves her from a storm. She takes the dream seriously – in her family, dreams are sometimes more than dreams. Sometimes they foretell the future. Sometimes they create it.
Years later, Eva is no longer the same wistful girl but a hardened woman who no longer believes in dreams. Losing faith in her gift, she becomes lost in a nightmare of emotion, mourning her son, separating from her husband, and stewing in a dead-end job. And then fate brings her an unlikely surprise: one of the most famous movie stars in the world, Gabriel Roberts.
Caught by something in his eyes, Eva agrees to show him the real Big Easy on his last night in New Orleans—an evening that turns into four dreamy days spent recapturing lost faith and discovering a love neither expected. Realizing Gabriel is the boy from her childhood dream, Eva must leave everything behind—her husband, her family, her history, and the beautiful city she calls home—and gamble it all for the dream that has saved her on MARIGNY STREET.

Review:

Marigny Street is one of those book that, for me, changes the course of how I read other books. This is one that, for a while afterwards, no other book can compare. 

I won this book in a giveaway when I lived in Louisiana but I didn't get to read it until after I moved. It's set in New Orleans, my favorite city, and even though I only lived an hour away, I rarely got to visit this beautiful place. When I did, it was for medical reasons for my newborn daughter. So Marigny Street is special to me as more than just a good book. 

As Eva introduces Gabriel to all the amazing things that New Orleans has to offer, I was discovering the city right along with him. Cafe au lait and beignets at Cafe du Monde, an experience that's literally on my bucket list, and all the different sights and sounds that I never got to experience were right there for me to witness through the characters' eyes. 

This story was so beautiful that I honestly want to reread it again already. I knew I was going to love this book but I had no idea that it was going to affect me as strongly as it did. I fell so hard for this book and the characters. It quickly became my new favorite series. 

When I won the contest, I also won every other book in the series. I've received all so far, except Red Dirt Road, the second in the series.  I wasn't going to bug Annie because I know she has a lot going on and she's busy but after finishing, I immediately messaged her and told her what her story had done to me. We ended up talking about until about 1:00am (my time) about the book and how the story unfolded. 

The ending was such a shock for me and I'll admit that, at first, I wasn't quite sure about it but by the end, I was so emotionally tied up in it that I wasn't sure how I really felt about it. I turned to my sister-in-law and told her that the book ripped my heart out. To which, she replied: "I could tell! I looked at you ten minutes ago and you looked like you were about to cry. What the hell are you reading?" 

I've already told numerous people about it and I cannot wait to see what Annie has come up with for the new batch of characters in Red Dirt Road.

Favorite Character: Eva & Gabriel.
Rating: 5 Stars.

Review: The Last Archangel by Michael D. Young

Title: The Last Archangel
Author: Michael D. Young
Series:
Version Reviewed: ARC, eBook.
Website: www.writermike.com
*This book was provided for free by the author for review.


GoodReads Summary:

Xandir has been exiled to earth until the end of time. But when his cherub trainee disappears, Xandir makes a deal with rogue angels and giants that could restore life to the mortal woman he loves and end his assignment as a destroying angel in exchange for helping them bring about the end of the world and all of mankind.

Review:

First I would like to thank Michael D. Young for sending us a copy of The Last Archangel.

I literally just finished this novel and all I can say is wow. This book has so much depth to it and I found myself getting lost in the world the author has created for these characters. Michael D. Young successfully weaved in historic events in the world's history, our "myths", as well as stories from the Old Testament. (Ex: The Flood, Atlantis, Pompeii). I loved this. It worked so well for the story and was believable as a part of the storyline.

This novel is very action packed. Lovers of actions and heroics, this is definitely a novel for you. There's action literally on almost every single page. It well written and the characters are very well created.

Multiples times in the novel I found myself practically doing a mental double take. There's so much stuff in The Last Archangel that draws you in and constantly makes you wonder what the heck is going to happen next.

The novel as a whole was amazing and the ending did not disappoint. There was quite a twist that I did not see coming and certainly enjoyed. This novel will definitely be a future re-read for me.

Favorite Character:
Memorable Quotes:

"Jarom, sometimes we have to endure pain in order to grow."

Rating:4 Stars.