Sunday, June 10, 2012

Holiday Inn Express - Greenfield, IN

Over the weekend, my family and I rented a room at the brand new Holiday Inn Express in Greenfield, Indiana, and I thought I would post a quick review, to help any other weary travelers!

First off, the hotel is new, and I mean it's brand new - it even still smells new. We had a King Suite, and were very happy with the accommodations. The King Suite had a small bar area, with coffee maker, sink, mini fridge, and microwave, as well as a few small cabinets (upper and lower) for those staying for a few days, or traveling with children and snacks! The king bed had a firm mattress, and was very comfortable! Blankets and sheets were soft, and very comparable to the ones I have seen at Hampton Inn hotels. The King Suite also featured a couch that pulls out into a bed, which worked well for our four year old. Also, the room had a small table and two chairs, in addition to the desk and chair. Overall, plenty of space for a family - much more than what I actually expected!

The indoor heated pool is a figure "8" shape, and the room also features a small jacuzzi. Pool hours were from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., so plenty of time to enjoy it! The one thing I did notice was that the entry way into the pool was tiled, and got VERY slippery from people going in and out, so a little dangerous if, like me, you have little ones. The area around the actual pool is concrete, and much safer. It would have been much better if the whole thing was concrete!

The hotel offers free wi-fi to guests, but we had a very hard time accessing the internet, and only had one little line of signal on it. They mention in their guest book in the room and you can request an ethernet cord from the front desk, and plug into the internet, but when we asked for one, we were told they didn't have any. So I would recommend bringing along an ethernet cord if you plan on using it!

The hotel offers free breakfast to guests as well, and I have to say, it was delicious! Featuring a wide variety of breakfast items, there is something for everyone. Omelettes, sausage links, biscuits and gravy, yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, apples, muffins, bagels were all available! And it was all delicious - if you stay here, definitely make a trip down to the breakfast area!

Overall, the hotel is really beautiful and gives a classy vibe. Rooms are modern, and roomy - perfect for the family traveling through the area or wanting to stay outside of the craziness of the downtown area. There are plenty off food and shopping options nearby, as well.

Overall, I would give this hotel a 7/10. There were only a few things I didn't like, which I mentioned. I think that most of the problems will probably be resolved as time goes on, and the hotel gets feedback from guests and staff. I would absolutely stay here again. We visit the area often, and usually stay at the Hampton Inn next door, but I think we will definitely be opting for the Holiday Inn Express from now on.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Fearless

Eric Blehm's newest book, "Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown" is essentially the story of Adam Brown's life. The title made me believe that perhaps the story would begin as Adam entered the military, or even after his advancement to SEAT Team SIX, but this story begins exactly where it should - at the very beginning of Adam's life. This man lead such an amazing life that it would have been a disservice to him to start anywhere else for this book. From his early days through his last mission as a SEAL, Adam showed through his actions the man that he was. Deeply devoted, loving, kind, and charitable are just a few of the words that describe this American hero. Adam Brown was real, with baggage, like a past addiction, and through his love for his family, love for God, he overcame, and became exactly what he was destined to be. This book is a tribute to Adam's life, and I think it was written perfectly.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book from Water Brook Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review of this book.

The Coming Revolution

"The Coming Revolution" by Dr. Richard G. Lee (author of "In God We Still Trust") is a book that makes the case that America is on the verge of a second revolution, and how following our faith can help bring about this revolution. "The Coming Revolution" begins with a crash course in early American history, detailing the events leading up to the American Revolution, and what our founding fathers believed in when they began building the foundation of the United States. The book draws comparison between the current atmosphere and disposition of citizens of our country and those of our ancestors. Drawing on topics such as faith and the American spirit, Dr. Lee makes the case for the need of a complete overhaul of the government of the United States, factually, and insightfully. Dr. Lee uses Biblical references and principles to show how items such as the dignity of human life, traditional monogamy, national work ethic, God-centered education, and our personal accountability to God have driven our country to the brink - away from God, and this creates the need for a "rebirth" in a sense.

I found this book to be very interesting, and while it does contain a lot of historical context, it wasn't overly complicated. It was easy to read, and easy to understand, which is why I would recommend this book to anyone who truly loves America, and wants to see our country change for the better. I would give this book a 5/5.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com's blogging for books program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Asher of Bethlehem

"Asher of Bethlehem" by Howard Rodney Jones (illustrated by Paul C. Spoor) is a children's book that tells the story of the birth of Jesus through the personal account of Asher the orphan, and his best friend Medad, whose father owns the only inn in Bethlehem. Through Asher's eyes, we see the story of the nativity unfold. Asher, through a chance encouter, meets Joseph and his pregnant wife, and tries to help them find a place to stay in Bethlehem. The story continues through the birth of Jesus, visitation of the magi, and their departure for their homeland, rather than report to King Herod. Asher is the central figure of this story, and his story is woven so perfectly into the story of Jesus' birth, that it reads flawlessly. The story is engaging, with characters that are easy to fall in love with, and it truly makes you want to keep reading to find out what will happen to Asher next. This would be the perfect book for children ages 7 and up. It is a chapter book, and much longer than most younger children can manage.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookCrash.com's blogging for books program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Your Heart's Desire

"Your Heart's Desire" by Sheri Rose Shepherd is an awesome book for women - single, married, widowed, or divorced. "Your Heart's Desire" is all about faith, love, and following the truth for any woman. So many times we feel disappointed in our current situation, and this book is truly an inspirational study in finding the love we so desire from our Heavenly Father. This book teaches us that rather than sulking in our current problem, we need to understand what it is that our hearts are desiring. Sheri Rose Shepherd discusses our desires, chapter by chapter, through topics such as "Desiring to leave a legacy for my loved ones", and "Desiring a happily ever after". Sheri Rose hits the nail on the head with her approach to the desires that a woman has, and she does a wonderful job of inspiring and educating on how these desires can be completely fulfilled if we continue to look to God for the answers, and for the help that we need to fulfill them. I thought this book was very insightful, and would highly recommend it.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale Publisher's blogging for books program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.