Welcome back to Life of Heritage Corner! It’s hard to believe the first month of 2021 is over! Time sure does fly when you’re having fun! Today I’m recapping my month and sharing some of the highlights from life in the Peterson house! So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

Life ||

I moved into my new house with my husband at the end of last year! So, much of this month was spent getting settled in. And I still have much to do in the office, but progress is happening 😉
 
Books||

My ambition was to read 15 books (mostly short stories), but that didn’t happen. 😉 I did, however, get in a couple books!
 
Modern Warriors by Pete Hegseth (Check out my review here!)
O To Be Like Thee by Kassie Angle (Check out my review here!)
 
Writing ||

I didn’t hit my goal here, but I did manage to get a good chunk of rereading done and got several chapters divided out! I’m starting to get inspired again, which is a relief!
Brainstorming did happen on one of my future WIPs! Some sweet family/friends were more than willing to help me out with some parts that were bugging me, so that was a blessing! Thank you so much!
 
Song ||

Our church has a song of the month, and this month’s was such a blessing! Open My Eyes That I May See… what a lovely prayer in song! I love that our church sings all the verses in the hymn book for the most part, and this song was no exception! What is something you need God to open your eyes to in your life?
 
Food ||

My sister gave me a fantastic recipe for Tacos, and they have proved to be a hit with my husband! And a topping that just up-levels the homemade taco experience even more? Salsa con Queso! It adds just the right kick!
 
Anticipated Read for February ||

This month I hope to read the Colours of Life Series by Katja L.! There are two novels and two short stories so far, so I am excited to get into them!

10 Posts You Should Read ||

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite posts from my archives and from some of my friends!
 
From My Blog

Now More than Ever
Why the South Fought
My Writing Journey
Stories of Valor from the War on Terror
An Interview with Mrs. Armistead
 
From My Friend’s Blogs

Welcome 2021 || Soldier Girl Stories
Plot Twist! || Read Another Page
New Years Book Tag || Little Blossoms for Jesus
8 Books to Read in Winter || Little Blossoms for Jesus
22 Tips to Read More (& How to Avoid Reading Slumps!) || Little Blossoms for Jesus
 
And Last but not least…
 
Verse ||

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

This verse was very special to me this month. There have been so many new things going on in my life, and to be honest, sometimes, if you overthink, it could be a little scary. But God has been so good to me in stilling my fears and giving me so many people to encourage me through the hard times. The good far outweighs the bad!
 
That wraps things up for January! How was your month? Read any good books? What verse has meant a lot to you? Any good blog posts or songs to share?
 
Have a blessed day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

I am so excited to share my review of this book with you! I had wanted to read this book ever since I first saw it, and on a whim, I picked it up at our local BJ’s! And I am not sorry at all!

Modern Warriors
By Pete Hegseth
(November 24th, 2020)
Content: 3 Stars || Quality: 10 Stars || Personal Enjoyment: 10 Stars || Overall: 8 Stars
(Click here to see How I Rate Books)
|| Amazon ||

Pete Hegseth is a FOX News contributor who regularly appears on FOX & Friends, The Kelly File, and Outnumbered. An infantry officer in the Army National Guard, he is a veteran of Iraq, Afghani­stan, and Guantanamo Bay who holds two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his time overseas. He is the former CEO of the veterans advocacy organization Concerned Veterans for America and former Chairman of the pro-victory organization Vets for Freedom. He is also a graduate of Princeton Uni­versity and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He writes regularly for National Review and FOXNews.com and is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

*From Amazon Page*

This book! Where do I start? This book is one I’m sure will be appearing on my 2021 Top 10 Books list next year! I’ve never read a military biography that made me feel like I was sitting down talking with a veteran! Mr. Hegseth took their interviews and just printed them mostly verbatim, only adjusting things or adding notes as needed for context. So, in essence, these veterans are sitting down and telling you what they wish they could say to your face if you gave them half the chance.

Themes like PTSD, finding your mission, helping the next guy, adjusting from military to civilian life, and prejudice was dealt with on a level that tugs at your heartstrings. But at the same time, it challenges you to make an effort to better yourself and lend a hand to those around you!

While this won’t make sense in some ways, I felt like I could understand exactly what they had/were going through. I’ve not been in their shoes; I’m a civilian. But when you really stop to listen, to actually try and understand what they have been through, you’ll find we have a lot more in common than we realize.

Among my favorite interviews were SGT1C John Wayne Walding, SSGT Jeremiah Workman, LT Morgan Luttrell (Brother to Marcus Luttrell, the Lone Survivor), Capt. Sean Parnell, and Rep. Dan Crenshaw. Though to be honest, there wasn’t one that I didn’t enjoy!

I did have to censor some language out of this book. It was less than I anticipated, but still a fair amount. So I would recommend a mature adult going through this book with a fine-toothed comb. It will be worth it, I assure you!

Recommended for Ages 21+, 16+ if censored.

Have you read this book? Have you ever gotten to speak with a Veteran and hear their stories? What books have you enjoyed so far this year?

Have a Blessed Day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

I am so excited to share a review with you about a new game! It’s not yet on the market, but Lord Willing it will be soon!

Wet a Hook is a fast passed card game created by David and Alisha Robinson of ARRCOM Games and FBN Radio! Think about combining Old Maid, Uno, Phase Ten and Dutch Blitz into one game. That’s Wet a Hook! It took us a few goes to get the hang of the game, but once we did, we all enjoyed it! The artwork is charming for young players and pun-filled as you see the play on names the artist created! And with all the cards this deck comes with, I can easily see kids inventing their own games! The possibilities are endless!

(Pictures to come! I miss laid my set while moving 😉)

If you are interested, please use the photos to help spread the word!
*I received a complementary deck of cards for promotional purposes. All thoughts were my own!*

What is one of your favorite games? Do you enjoy game reviews?

Have a blessed day and God Bless America!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

I love looking back over the books I’ve read in a year. It’s almost like a journal of all the places I’ve been! Today, I’m sharing my top 10 favorites of 2020! (Click here to see how I review Books!)

#10 || The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin

This one comes with a MAJOR disclaimer. This is not a family-friendly book. I knew it had a pro-life aspect in the story when I borrowed it, but I didn’t know precisely what aspect. It was sad, and I skipped a good portion of one chapter because of the content. I also didn’t agree with two of the marriages depicted in the story because of personal convictions. I thought that since it stated in the blurb that the couple married early in the story, there would be less romantic content. It was true to a certain extent, but it was still a bit more than I prefer. There was also talk of suicide missions, a disturbing serial killer line, and a divorce (it doesn’t happen but doesn’t show how this isn’t biblical). It was also super annoying that people kept using their childhood past and their ethnic group as a crutch for all the hard things in their life. One or two mentions would have been realistic, but this was every chapter. Way overdone.

That being said, I thought the pro-life aspects of the story were excellently depicted. The message of forgiveness and the lesson of the prodigal son’s brother was profound and well-executed. Lessons on humility, charity, and making yourself useful to society were sprinkled throughout. I also loved how they depict true love as both letting go and coming home. It was very well written.

It was a library book, but I think it would be fixable if I had my own copy. It would take a good deal of time, though.

Recommended for 21+ || Content meter: 2.5 || Quality: 10 || Personal Enjoyment: 6 || Overall: 6
 
#9 || Resistance by Jaye L. Knight

This is not my usual genre, but it was a good starting book for one not used to “Fantasy” (none magical; I do NOT condone anything with magic). Think persecuted church meets the world before dragons became extinct…only with a super confusing race system that just seems more like a mix of different countries/creatures. That part was weird, and I disapprove of it. Just keep it realistic, people.

The persecution was very real, reminding me of the Roman Catholic Spanish Inquisition. I fear I might have buckled. I was much impressed by the faith of the characters. It was a great encouragement to me. There is a time to be silent, a time to speak, a time to run, and a time to stand.

I was irritated that they never referred to God as God. He was called Elom. I disapprove of tricking people into reading a Christian story by disguising God under a different name. Don’t play games, don’t hide your intentions. Just be honest.

I also didn’t approve of some story insinuations (clothing, behavior, rumors, but nothing too detailed that I remember?). Personally, I was uncomfortable with how often those elements came up. I also didn’t like the alone time between a girl and boy in the story. The situation wasn’t above reproach. It’s not the girl’s place to evangelize or befriend a troubled young man; That is a man’s place. There were also mentions of kissing and hugging before marriage, but it wasn’t a heavy part of the story. Kyrin could have been made a bit more feminine, but she wasn’t your typical tomboy feminist heroine, which I appreciated. In fact, it was nice seeing her learn to give up her forced masculinity and find joy in being a lady.

But the faith of Trask, Kyrin, Kaden, and Rayad was so impressive! I think the book is worth the reading, but only if you are older and mature and don’t mind the editing.

Recommended for 18+ || Content meter: 3 || Quality: 10 || Personal Enjoyment: 9 || Overal: 7
 
#8 || Untitled by Jesseca Wheaton

Again, I need to start with a disclaimer. This is an excellent book. But there is some language in this book that I do NOT condone at all. My copy is set to be censored as soon as I can get to a reread. Also, this book deals with a sin that desperately needs addressing in our country. It is done well and tactfully. But because of these things, I do not recommend it for young readers.

This book hurt to read. It details the realities of PTSD and how it was viewed during WWII. It’s not a happy-feel-good book. It’s meant to make you think; to make you appreciate the life you have; to make you open your eyes to what many of our veterans face every day. Her example is on the more extreme side of the spectrum, but that doesn’t make it any less real. This is not Hollywood. This is a reality for too many people.

But this story is not without hope! The Epilogue to the story was beautiful, showing that not every story has a resolution, but not every bad thing defines the rest of your life. Y’all know how passionate I am about our troops and that PTSD is a topic that I think is grossly misunderstood and misrepresented. I can give this book a big thumbs up in how the subject is presented.

*I received access to an early edition to this book as a beta reader and happily provided my honest review*

Recommended for 18+ || Content Meter: 4 || Quality: 9 || Personal Enjoyment: 10 || Overall: 8
 
#7 || Dare by Tricia Mingerink

I promise, not all the books I read require a disclaimer! 😉 This on is for some violence, and a couple scenes where girls were alone with a boy, but everything was kept appropriate. The salvation scene in here was super confusing, and I wondered if it was actually Calvinism, which is heresy. I have fixed my copy to show the truth about Salvation; Everyone gets a chance to be saved, not a select few. God died for everyone!

But aside from that! WOW! This book was powerful! It covers very similar themes as Resistance and even had a heroine that I could relate to! She was nervous, unsure if she could stand up for what she believed in when faced with death. Gives one hope that maybe we could if put in her shoes. Highly recommended for a grounded reader.

Recommended for 16+ || Content Meter: 4* || Quality: 9 || Personal Enjoyment: 9 || Overall: 9

*I would hand this to a 16-year-old, but it does require a little censoring because of the above disclaimer.
 
#6 || Five-Star Spy by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick

Y’all know how much I love The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott 😍 I adore these books, and right before I got married, I binge-read the series to my younger siblings. This particular book is my personal favorite! Emily and Brent are hilarious, and I loved all the details in the setting! Who doesn’t want to be an heiress for a day at a lavish hotel?? The 10,000 mystery gets more in-depth, we learn about triage medical care and that Wasabi is super hot! And that Emily is the ultimate expert at handing out insults 😆

There is a reference to alcohol that I removed from my copy.

Recommended for All Ages ||Content Meter: 4.5* || Quality: 10 || Personal Enjoyment: 10 || Overall: 9

*This is a clean book for all ages but may require minimal censoring for little readers*
*I received an ARC of this book and happily provided my honest review!*
 
#5 ||Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Finally, I have read this classic! I grew up reading children’s editions, listening to audio dramas, and watching film adaptions, but I’d never read the unabridged version! 2020 was the perfect time to indulge in this epic, and I am so glad I did! Although, I’m still confused about the author’s beliefs on suicide. It sounded like he believes suicide would automatically send you to hell, which is not true if you are born again. I am still researching this, as I know some words have changed meanings since the 1600s.

Recommended for 13+ || Content Meter: 4 || Quality: 10 || Personal Enjoyment: 10 || Overall: 9
 
#4 || A Touch of Purple Paint by Hailey Rose

(See my full review here!) This book. *cries* It was so beautiful! And I loved that it showcased a YouTubing couple? I’ve never seen that done in a book, and I adored that aspect! And the relationship between the main characters was heartbreakingly beautiful. The message was so needed in this day and age, and overall I can’t say enough good about this book! 💜

Recommended All Ages || Content Meter: 4* || Quality: 10 || Personal Enjoyment: 10 || Overall: 10

*This book is 100% clean, but there are references to a movie with magic, social media, and deals with intense medical sequences*

#3 || A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero

(Read my Review Here!) This book, y’all, is a heart-tugging, soul-stirring, thought-provoking novel that every family should read. That being said, it deals with some mature content in a clean and Godly manner, so I would recommend this for older readers. But the message of this story was so profound!  I love books that talk about books and reading and how they can help others, and ah! I just adore this book so much! It’s the best one in the series!

Recommended for 16+ || Content Meter: 4 || Quality: 10 || Personal Enjoyment: 10 || Overall: 10

#2 || Preacher on the Run by Jayna Baas

(Click here for my review!) Everyone here knows that I am a die-hard southerner and a proud North Carolinian. You also know I am a hard-core Patriot. I’m also a huge fan of anything about the Regulators of the 1700s. They are the ones who actually started the War for Independence, not the Sons of Liberty! So when I found out someone was writing on the subject…and asked me to be in her blog tour…how could I say no?? If you want to exactly why we went to war with England (hint, it wasn’t just about taxation 😉) and want to see it addressed from a Biblical standpoint, please get this book!

Recommended 16+ || Content Meter: 4 || Quality: 9 || Personal Enjoyment: 10 || Overall: 10
 
#1 || Tattered Wings and Stop the Rain by Kassie Angle

(Click here and here for my full reviews!) Yep, I couldn’t pick my favorite of the two! But y’all! These books had me bawling my eyes out! Especially Stop the Rain… I have never connected with a book character on that deep of a level. And I don’t fully understand why I did. What do me and a teenaged soldier with PTSD have in common? Why do I understand him so well? Why he does what he does? I shouldn’t be able to connect with him like I did. But regardless, I’m glad I did. Harley is probably one of my favorite book characters…

If you don’t understand how PTSD works or if you are passionate about the topic—basically, if you are alive and breathing, get this book and read it! You will not regret it! It’s super clean, but because of the honest nature of combat and PTSD, I’d rate this book 14+ for understanding.

Recommended 14+ || Content Meter: 4 || Quality: 10 || Personal Enjoyment: 10+ 😉|| Overall 10

Tattered Wing broke my heart in a completely different way. It was about wounds we can see—broken dreams. A memory itching at the back of your mind, but you don’t know why. A wounded puppy… and red ballons… it’s heart-wrenching. And being someone who enjoys a good run… yeah, it hit home pretty hard. But the ending, though… it was perfect.

Recommended All Ages || Content Meter: 5 || Quality: 10 || Personal Enjoyment: 10+ || Overall: 10
 
Writing Prompt: What are your Top 10 2020 reads? Have you read any of these?
 
Have a blessed day, and God Bless America!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Emoji provided free by Emoji One

Hello everyone!

So, sometimes, I just want to ramble a little. And if you know me, there are several things I can go on and on about—Pro-Life and the Giver of Life; all things America, Patriotism and Military; and Books. So I thought it would be fun to share some of my rambles here! Sound fun? Okay, let’s do this!

I’ve been thinking about our Military a lot the last few weeks. With all the unrest going on these days, I am so scared of what they will be asked—or ordered—to do. What wars are looming on the horizon? Will I lose anyone I know? Will they reinstate a draft? What is gonna happen?

One of my dreams for 2021 was to finally see Roe v. Wade repealed. It was within our grasp. Now? I’m not so sure. Will 2021 see positive results in our fight against the murder of innocent lives? Will we get to hear their voice? Will we get to see what they were meant to be? Will we get to experience an abortion-free America?

Well, there is no answer to these questions. Because it’s in the future. We can only live our days one day at a time. We can’t see the future. And the fact that we can’t do anything to fix it or change it can drive you batty!

Or can we?

So many times, we forget a simple truth.

God. Knows. Every. Thing.

And if you are born again, He is your Father.

Through the cleansing Blood of Jesus Christ, you have the right to come before God and ask Him ANYTHING!

YOU CAN CHANGE HISTORY WHEN YOU LET GO AND LET GOD!

You have the mightiest weapon in the world. Prayer. Get in your closet, kneel by your bed, stop where you are, and pour out your heart to the One who does have control of the future! Tell Him how scared you are. Ask Him for peace. Go to war on your knees for our service members and our unborn babies. Cry out to God and beg Him to give us another chance. Place whatever it is that you are worried over into His mighty hands.

And let go.

This is hard. I know. I’ve been there. I’m still there sometimes. It’s not easy letting go of what you are the most worried about. Your dreams. Regrets. Things you know you should have done but didn’t.

But you have to. It’s a process, a journey. But if you will take the first step, God will help you. I’ve won some victories. I’m still fighting others. It’s part of growing in Christ. But you can win victories, the big ones and the little ones if you fight on your knees.

Does that mean we will always get the answer we want to our prayers? No. Does it mean God doesn’t care or that He is ignoring you or wants terrible things to happen? Absolutely not. What it does mean is that He knows the whole story. We don’t. We have to accept that He knows what He’s doing. We have to accept that sometimes, people abuse their free will and do terrible things. God is not blind. We have to learn to trust. It’s hard, but not impossible.

Trust God and Pray!

We live in uncertain times these days, but something that hasn’t changed is my love for our Military. Anyone who knows me very well knows that I am a hardcore Army girl. My late grandfather and great-grandfather both served in the Army, so it was bound to happen, right? 😇

I recently came across a book that has filled a need for some Military history and stories of real people fighting real battles. So far, it’s been about soldiers and Marines, but I happen to know a Navy SEAL or two are supposed to make an appearance! These aren’t like Hollywood soldiers. These are men who get hurt. Guys who cry when they get shot. Marines that butcher the Lord’s Prayer cause they are losing so much blood and can’t concentrate. People with flaws. People who do their best, even when things go wrong. Soldiers who struggle and think they may not be able to pull through. But they do. And they make sure that those who didn’t pull through are not forgotten.

Because that’s what Soldiers do. That’s what Marines do. It’s what all our service members do.

Those stories make you proud to be an American. Proud to know these are the guys on our side. And indebted to them for all they sacrifice to keep us safe.
 
Which leads us to…

I’m a woman on a mission! Of late, I’ve taken to reading through my supply of military fiction and non-fiction! If you have a good book to recommend or a warning on one not bothering with, please drop us a line via our contact form!

Currently, I am reading Modern Warriors by Pete Hegseth. It’s a good book but definitely needs some cleaning up! Keep an eye open for my complete review!

And while we’re on the subject of books…

Becoming Miss Knight is no easy task, but surrender is not an option.

Alice Knight’s debut is in less than a year, and everything has to be perfect. Of course, she’d rather be riding her horse or playing with her younger siblings than learning to curtsy. But, with her mother in France for a holiday, the care of the house falls to her—and what better time to learn what it really means to be a lady?

Ivy, her twin sister, has other things on her mind. Namely, the endless conundrum of why she promised to keep an eye on her younger siblings while her parents are gone. She’s the least-qualified person to take care of them, but, bound by her word, she’s determined to try.

Even with all the guidance and advice available, becoming Miss Knight isn’t proving to be easy for either of them. However, any amount of work is worth keeping a promise to their mother.

This short novella, set between Ivy Introspective and At Her Fingertips, is the first Alice and Ivy novella to launch.

Kellyn Roth is a Christian historical women’s fiction & romance author from North-Eastern Oregon who has independently published multiple novels, the most notable being The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy series. You should definitely call her Kell.

Kell lives on family-owned property outside an unmemorable but historical town with her parents, two little brothers, arbitrary cat, precious border collies, a dozen cows, and lots of chickens. She also possesses a classic, vintage aesthetic which does not at all speak to her country girl side, but such is life.

When not writing, Kell likes to blog, teach writing to her various students, have day jobs which allow her to keep her car properly insured, and spend lavish amounts of money on Dairy Queen french fries. She also likes to talk about Keira Knightley and her own books. Just … way too much. You’ve been warned.

Website: https://kellynrothauthor.com/
Pre-order Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RZ2ZDS8?
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56522914-becoming-miss-knight

Let’s Talk! What is something God has been teaching you lately? Did you hear about the last Abortion facility in Missouri terminating services?? What branch of the Military is your favorite? (I appreciate them all, but there’s nothing wrong with having a favorite 😉) What books have you been enjoying lately? Isn’t that cover gorgeous???
 
Have a blessed day, and God Bless America!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22