The 13th Gift- Book review

The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle is Joanne Huist Smith's recounting of how her family was deeply affected by the kindness of strangers.  Getting in the holiday spirit was at the bottom of Joanne's priorities the first Christmas after her husband unexpectedly passed away. From Joanne's description, her husband was a huge force in her family, especially during the holidays.  Without him, Joanne wanted to curl up on the couch and wait for Christmas to pass by. With a daughter desperate to come together as a family and celebrate and a son desperate to escape all things family related, Joanne's family seemed to be failing apart.

Twelve days before Christmas, a gift is left on their doorstep from their "True Friends".  The Smiths, even Joanne, become intrigued with who could be leaving these presents.  As the family tries to figure out clues and stage an occasional stake out, they slowly regain their footing.  

I found this to be a charming story about the kindness of strangers and how even small gifts can have such a large impact on someone in pain.  It was a quick read, largely in part because I found myself reading in bed saying "Just one more chapter then I'll go to bed" and then reading five more chapters.  It is great story to read during the holidays, but it would have held my interest even outside of the holiday season.  

I received this book for free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.  

The Wet and the Dry- Book Review

The Wet and the Dry by Lawrence Osborne is a nonfiction "drinker's journey" that is not exactly the story I expected.  The description on the back of the book reads:

“Drinking alcohol: a beloved tradition, a dangerous addiction, even “a sickness of the soul” (as once described by a group of young Muslim men in Bali). In his wide-ranging travels, Lawrence Osborne—a veritable connoisseur himself—has witnessed opposing views of alcohol across cultures worldwide, compelling him to wonder: is drinking alcohol a sign of civilization and sanity, or the very reverse? Where do societies fall on the spectrum between indulgence and restraint?
 
An immersing, controversial, and often irreverent travel narrative, The Wet and the Dry offers provocative, sometimes unsettling insights into the deeply embedded conflicts between East and West, and the surprising influence of drinking on the contemporary world today.”

Based on this description, I was expecting an Anthony Bourdain-style travel monologue with tales of Mr. Osborne’s drinking escapades woven into a larger discussion of how various cultures view drinking.  Perhaps I expected a more historical explanation of how alcohol has become part of a country’s identity or how religious practices influence the role (or lack thereof) of alcohol in a particular area.  The book does address the context of drinking within various countries and cultures, but is largely a retelling of Mr. Osborne’s specific drinking escapades.  As in, having a no recollection of where he was or what he did the night before hangover. 

Something about this writing style just didn't click with me and I had a difficult time getting through it.  (I’m sure it did not help that my sister passed on a large stack of books that I was really eager to read.) It wasn't for me, but some readers will enjoy the drinking-related anecdotes.    

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.  

No Place to Hide- Book Review

No Place to Hide is the true story of neurosurgeon W. Lee Warren's deployment to the biggest Air Force hospital of the Iraq War. Dr. Warren details the stark differences between performing brain surgery in a state of the art San Antonio trauma center and in the middle of a war zone.  While surgeons in the U.S. may refuse to use an instrument they don't like (or throw it across the room), military surgeons in Iraq may have to wait hours for a set of instruments to be sterilized.  Dr. Warren had to adapt to an environment where supplies are in short demand, surgery may be performed while missiles are landing 100 yards away, and medical personnel must treat soldiers and terrorists with the same level of care.

Dr. Warren describes the stress and fatigue of his 120 days in Iraq so clearly that some readers may feel some stress just reading about it.  Aside from the challenges of being in a battle zone, he describes his personal struggles as well.  Facing divorce as he was deployed, Dr. Warren shares his disappointment with a failed marriage and fear of separation from his children, the testing of his faith, and the effect Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) had on him after his return to the States.

I have no background in the military as neither I nor anyone in my immediate family has served in the military, and I selected this book in part to stretch my usual reading selections.  I did not expect to be as taken with this book as I was, but I read it voraciously within a couple of days.  I highly recommend this book as anyone can relate to his struggles with faith and overcoming challenges and the depiction of life in a war zone is so insightful.  Some of the content may be disturbing for people who also struggle with PTSD or those are upset by descriptions of violence or serious injuries.  There are also eight pages of color photos from Dr. Warren's deployment with two photos showing injuries or surgery.

This book was provided to me for free by BookLook in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.  

Love Skip Jump- Book Review

I don’t personally know Shelene Bryan, but she seems awesome and inspiring and a little bit crazy!  In Love Skip Jump: Start Living the Adventure of Yes, Shelene encourages us to say yes to God and experience what great plans He has that we might otherwise miss.  Shelene said yes to traveling to Africa to see where exactly her charitable contributions were going.  That trip inspired her to form her own charity, Skip1.org, which provides food and clean water to children around the world.  The book chronicles the numerous times Shelene said “Yes!” and how it has changed her life and many other lives in response.

Shelene makes many wonderful points about how much richer life can be when we say yes and jump in.  I was completely on board with working in impoverished communities or feeding starving children.  Putting your house up for sale by God (chapter 15) just to prove you’re willing to sell your house is where it got a little crazy for me.  However, I still took away her point about our own openness to God’s will.  (But I’m not putting my house on the market.)

One passage that really made an impact on me was when she said sometimes God wants us to go through a process without ever achieving what we thought was the goal and that the journey can be more important than the end result (page 134).  I tend to be very goal focused.  I like marking things off a to do list, so the idea that we may go through things to get a completely different result than we wanted is something I grapple with.  This book encourages me to look for more opportunities rather than challenges, and to really listen for what God is asking us to jump into. 

This book was provided to me for free by BookLook in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions stated are my own.  

The Nesting Place- Book Review

The Nesting Place blog has been on my daily blog feed for a while, and the site's mantra "It Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful" captures blogger Myquillyn Smith's decorating style perfectly.  Don't misunderstand: every luscious scene of a living space or bedroom is in fact beautiful.  I would say gorgeous. But it isn't a study in perfection.  Myquillyn believes a beautiful space can (and should) also be comfortable and inviting. With chapters on giving up perfection and "the gift of messes", she makes you believe a beautiful, yet "yes, children live here" home is possible.

I really appreciated chapter 5: "A Place of Peace: Embracing the True Purpose of Your Home". Personally, I frequently think things should be a certain way because, well, that is how people do it.  Mind you, these "people" don't live in my home and understand how we need it to function.  It is just a knee-jerk reaction that certain rooms have a purpose and you should make your home fit that purpose, rather then making your home fit what you really need (or want).  How many people have that formal front room where no one is allowed to sit on the furniture?  A whole room just waiting for someone who might, but most likely will not, one day possibly use it.  I think Myquillyn would advise against that. From this chapter, I am thinking more of whether I would actually benefit from a more formal sitting room, or if a second home office is more useful. (Hint, both adults in my house are currently working 40+ hours a week from home.)

This book largely addresses broad ideas of decorating, such as don't be afraid to try new things or put nail holes in your wall.  It is not going to provide you specific decorating advice, like pairing stripes with patterns, etc.  Given the frequent change in what is considered current or stylish, this is, in my opinion, a better way to go.  There is also loads of advice on how to make your rental place a home where you may be limited in what permanent changes you are allowed to make.  A paperback copy of this book was not available for my review, and I really dislike reading books electronically, but even on my tiny iPhone screen the photos were beautiful.  It was a quick read, but made many good points about finding your own style and I would recommend it to anyone interested in design and home decor.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Table by the Window- Book Review

A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge combines a few of my favorite things: food, non-cheesy romance, and a bit of mystery.  The book follows food writer Juliette D'Alisa as she navigates an increasingly stressful career, contemplates opening a restaurant with her brother, tries to solve a mystery surrounding her beloved late grandmother, and oh, begins a long-distance romance.  If her life was not complicated enough, she must also manage her large, incredibly nosy (and opinionated) family of restaurant owners.

I liked that Juliette is a successful and independent woman but struggles with realistic self-doubt.  She is part of a large, close-knit French-Italian family that have a lot to say about her job, her love life- just about everything.  While her family is in everyone's business and a couple of siblings really push Juliette's buttons, it is clear the family acts out of love and truly cares for each other.  Their nosiness came across as endearing rather than annoying.  I enjoyed the bit of mystery involving the possible romantic past of Juliette's grandmother, and the romance angle for Juliette developed nicely.  Three possible suitors appear throughout the book, and while none were terrible choices, I was rooting for one relationship in particular to blossom (and it did!).

I hate when you already know where the plot is going in chapter one, and this book was not one of those books. While there were no huge plot twists, it kept me guessing and changing my mind throughout the romance and mystery story lines.  Food does play a role in the book as Juliette's family has always revolved around running restaurants and sharing great meals.  Luckily, the author previously interned at Northwest Palate magazine and, knowing a thing or two about delicious meals, includes multiple recipes throughout the book.  I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a somewhat light read with romance and a bit of mystery.  And food.      

A copy of this book was provided to me for free by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.   

"Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek"- Book Review

I thought it would be fun to let one of the kids review a book and S enthusiastically agreed. "Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek" is the first book in Jill Osborne's The Good News Shoes series.  In this book, Riley Mae becomes a Swiftriver Shoe Company spokesperson for their outdoor sport collection.  Riley Mae's love of softball and adventure sound like a perfect match for this deal, until the responsibility of shooting commercials and attending promotional events takes up the whole softball season.  She also suspects something isn't quite right at Swiftriver and aims to find out what is going on.  

I thought Riley Mae was a seven year old just like S, but she's actually a seventh grader.  Oops. S still read it just fine, and said she would definitely read more books featuring Riley Mae.  S actually wrote our her own book review and wanted me to post it here, but I had to explain what "spoilers" are and point out that her written review had two of them.  Here is what I can share from her review: "I loved this book because there were some really shocking parts!  For instance, SPOILER.  And I was shocked when SPOILER.  It was just shocking and that is why I liked this book."  Well, there you have it.  HA!

I also read this book, and thought it was generally a pretty cute story about Riley's friendship with her BFF changing as she starts to miss softball games and let her friend down.  She also makes a new friend, Rusty, whose family is struggling financially.  I found this sub-plot a good jumping off point to discuss with S how some families don't have enough food every day, and how we should treat people kindly even if our other friends don't want to add new friends to the group.  Riley Mae's parents are largely involved in her decision to become a spokesperson, and they emphasize throughout the book the importance of sticking with commitments.  The ending of the book wraps up enough of the various sub-plots to leave you (or your child) satisfied, but also leaves some lingering issues I assume will continue to play out in book #2 of the series.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Stillness of Chimes- Book Review

A Stillness of Chimes is the first novel by Meg Moseley I have read.  If this novel is an indication of her work, I will definitely add her other books to my reading list.  Meg is originally from California but moved to the south and worked as a journalist for the Atlanta Journal Constitution for four years.  As a fellow Georgian, I appreciate that she sets this novel in our state and describes it full of southern charm (and doesn't make characters into a caricature of  uneducated hillbillies and buffoons) - even the kudzu sounds charming!

The plot revolves around Laura Gantt's return to Prospect, Georgia after her mother's death.  As Laura stays in town to clear her mother's house, she is reunited with former sweetheart Sean and best friend Cassie. Laura's father, Elliott, was presumed drowned in a fishing accident twelve years before, but his body was never recovered.  Rumors of Elliott sightings begin swirling around town, and Laura sets out to find out if her father could possibly have survived all those years ago.  Sean tries to support and protect Laura at the same time, but he has his own reasons for keeping Elliott a ghost in the past.

I really enjoyed Meg's storytelling in this book.  There are threads of several stories woven throughout the book, and the last few chapters really tied all those ends together well.  I liked that there were some resolutions spread throughout the book.  I'm not a big fan of having a bunch of questions that carry on until the last page, and I enjoyed having some bits of information fed to me throughout the book.  For example, you do not have to wait until the end of the book to learn Sean's secret.  There are vivid descriptions of both Laura's mother and father, and even though they are dead (or are they?), you learn a lot about them as people from flashback scenes and descriptions from the other characters.  The only tiny issue I had was a subplot involving Cassie and her husband.  There seemed to be a build up to some relatively large plot point involving them, then it kind of petered out.  I don't know if that was a casualty of editing, or if I placed too large an expectation on what troubles Cassie may be having.  Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction surrounding relationships and mysteries.

This is Christian fiction, so characters attend church, reference God and voice prayers.  As you might expect, there is no cursing, little violence (not graphic), and no sexual scenes.  You can read the first chapter here, and visit Meg Moseley's website here.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review, but all opinions are my own.

Sisterchicks Do the Hula- Book Review

Sisterchicks Do the Hula by Robin Jones Gunn is a Christian fiction book about long lost friends Hope and Laurie.  Hope and Laurie were best friends in college but lost touch with each other over the years.  They reconnect as Hope's fortieth birthday approaches and agree to take the Hawaiian vacation they originally planned in college.  The book chronicles their (mis)adventures in Hawaii and highlights the value of female friendships.

This book is a pretty quick read, partially because I didn't want to put it down!  Overall, this is not a terribly deep book.  It's more of what I can a "beach read", meaning the kind of fun, lighthearted book I would typically take on vacation with me.  Some of the plot points a little silly, and some may find it unlikely that two friends would take off to Hawaii after not speaking for twenty-something years.  However, the friendship between Hope and Laurie was really relatable to me.  I could totally picture my sister (and BFF) and I taking off to the islands, enjoying a luau and discussing the appeal of traditional Hawaii cuisine.  There are some tidbits of Hawaiian history thrown in, which I found interesting.  It also doesn't hurt that I would LOVE to walk the beaches of Hawaii.  This is a Christian book, so there are Christian elements thrown in, such as references to prayer and God but it doesn't hit you over the head.

I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories of friendship and a fun, light read about two women helping each other embrace the new phases of their lives.  There are nine or so books in the "Sisterchicks" series featuring different female characters.  Visit Robin Jones Gunn's website for more information on her books or read an excerpt here.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books.  All opinions expressed are my own.  

Hands Free Mama- Book Review

In 2010, Rachel Macy Stafford realized she was spending more time with her phone and laptop than her young children and decided something had to change.  Becoming a hands free mama was her solution. Rachel doesn't rail against the "evil" of technology or advocate saying no to any responsibility outside of the home, as I partially feared.  Instead, she discusses how becoming hands free allows us to focus on life's moments as they happen.

Hands free doesn't mean going without a phone or laptop- it is limiting the time and energy we spend on things other than the people in our lives.  Each chapter covers a singular aspect of hands free living such as deliberateness or presentness.  An example is how Rachel realized all the time she spent volunteering,  She began to select more carefully what events or causes she wanted to devote time to, and what opportunities she began turning down.  Each chapter includes hands free weekly intentions and a hands free weekly reflection, short essays relevant to the chapter topic.  Most, if not all, the ideas in this book could be applicable to non-mamas as well.  Anyone who would like a little encouragement to re-prioritize their time and habits could benefit from this book, though most examples given in this book as specific to Rachel spending more quality time with her husband and kids.

Hands Free Mama will be released on January 7, 2014.  It is Rachel Macy Stafford's first book, though she has written numerous articles and runs the blog Hands Free Mama with over one million visitors per month.

This book was provided to me for free by Booksneeze in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own.  

Dear Mr. Knightly- Book Review

I sat down to read Dear Mr. Knightley and enjoyed it so much, I kept reading until I was done!  Samantha Moore is a twenty-three-year-old orphan who frequently escapes into her beloved literary world of Austen, Dickens and Shakespeare.  Given the opportunity to attend journalism school by an anonymous benefactor going by the name Mr. Knightley, all Samantha has to do is write Mr. Knightley frequently detailing her progress.  Growing up in an abusive home, Samantha must stretch emotionally to become successful.

Dear Mr. Knightley is written primarily as a series of letters from Samantha Brown detailing her development personally and in school.  A one-sided account of Samantha's life could be very dry, but Katherine Reay writes in such an engaging manner, it held my interest the whole time.  Samantha is flawed and sometimes less than likable, but she was still a character I really rooted for.  My only complaint is I HATED the ending.  I saw a glimpse of it earlier in the book and hoped I was wrong, but unfortunately, the plot progressed as I feared it would.  I don't want to give anything away, but the resolution of Mr. Knightley was highly disappointing to me. A bad ending is a big deal, but the rest of the book was so enjoyable I still recommend this book.

I received this book for free from Booksneeze in exchange for my review, but all opinions expressed are my own.

God Distorted- Book Review

The subtitle of John Bishop's book, God Distorted, pretty succinctly sums up the content of the book: "How Your Earthly Father Affects Your Perception of God and Why It Matters".  For many of us who grew up in the church, God as "father" was the prevailing way we were taught to identify with God.  These sermons frequently drew a parallel between the love and care of an earthly father with the love of God.  I don't recall many sermons (if any) that addressed the "what if your earthly father sucks" type of questions.  John's book covers multiple types of fathers people may have on earth.  Each chapter covers fathers who are physically absent, physically present but emotionally absent, abusive, controlling, or enabling.  There is even a chapter for those who feel they had a pretty good dad (hint- he still isn't God).

The idea of this book was very interesting to me and the content did not disappoint.  John shares his own experiences as the child of several types of fathers (mostly bad but some good) and the challenges he has faced as an enabling father.  I appreciate his use of personal stories to demonstrate how damaging a father/child relationship can be for some children, but they can still experience the full love and acceptance of God.  I'll still thinking of several points from this book weeks later, so it clearly made an impact.  If you at all question how God can be a father to you, I highly recommend you give this book a try.  Even if you have or had a great father, I believe you can still gain some new insight into the father role of God.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I was not otherwise compensated for this review and all opinions stated are my own.  

Sweet Olive- Book Review

One benefit of all my recent travel was hours of uninterrupted reading time.  I chose the book Sweet Olive from Booksneeze because a) I have a fondness for books set in the South, b) it sounded like an interesting story, and c) it weighed significantly less than the 600+ page bio of Steve Jobs I was reading.  FYI- books become exponentially heavier the longer you carry them around in your bag.

Sweet Olive centers around Camille Gardner, who works for her uncle and his oil and gas company.  She is typically sent in as the sweet but tough negotiator to persuade hesitant people to sign over their mineral rights. In this case, she is sent to Samford, Louisiana, where she once spent the worst month of her life.  Her job is to convince a group of artists to sign over their mineral rights.  As the story unfolds, we learn more about why she was so hesitant to return to Samford.  Camille has a true love for art, so we also see her struggle with the duties of her job, her want to genuinely help the artists profit by selling their mineral rights, and her growing affection for the artists personally.  There is also a romantic interest thrown in for good measure.

I enjoyed the character of Camille.  She's a strong professional women, but also warm-hearted and sensitive in a very likable way.  The romantic interest angle was (in my opinion) pretty predictable in a standard boy and girl hate each other at first kind of way, and the that plot point was wrapped up very quickly at the end of the book, but I enjoyed reading Sweet Olive from beginning to end.

I received Sweet Olive free from Booksneeze in exchange for my review, but all opinions expressed are my own.    

Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron- Book Review

I'm not generally a big fan of Christian fiction, but Chasing Francis piqued my interest.  First of all, I love the cover (I'm a bit of a cover snob).  Second of all, the story takes place largely in Italy- sign me up! Chasing Francis is the story of Pastor Chase Falson, the leader of a megachurch in New England.  After a tragedy, Chase has a huge crisis of faith...in front of his entire church.  The church elders "invite" Chase to take some time off to reassess his commitment to God and the church.  With few options, Chase goes to visit his uncle, a Franciscan priest in Italy.  He begins a reluctant study of Saint Francis of Assisi that quickly becomes a huge revelation for Chase.  Ian Cron weaves the life of Francis of Assisi throughout Chase's story in a really interesting way.  The supporting characters add a lot of depth, and Chase's struggle is so realistically described, I was really rooting for him to find happiness and peace.  I highly recommend this book.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

Firsthand by Ryan and Josh Shook- Book Review

Growing up in a conservative Christian church, I am well versed in the stereotypes about preacher's kids.  People divide preacher's kids ("PKs") into two groups: the pious youth group leader destined to be a preacher or preacher's wife, or the highly rebellious kid who will probably end up in jail. Luckily, my sister and I only rose to the rank of Deacon's Kid (DK) and escaped the strict scrutiny bestowed on PKs or slightly lesser Elder's Kids.  : )

Firsthand is written by Ryan and Josh Shook, a couple of PKs. The book describes how they had a working knowledge of the Bible and faith concepts growing up in the church, but realized in college that they did not have a genuine faith of their own. This book is about the eventual need for every Christian to question what they believe and develop their own individual relationship with Jesus.  The Shook brothers provide examples from their lives and other real person accounts, thought provoking questions and practical suggestions of how to find your own faith.  This would be a great read for a young Christian (age or walk with Jesus) to really consider what they believe.  It was a little light (in my opinion) for some of the issues I struggle with faith-wise, but I would definitely let my 11 year old read it now or as she gets older.

If you want more information on this book, you can check out this description or Ryan Shook's website.

I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books to read and review, but all opinions expressed are my own.   

Francis: Man of Prayer by Mario Escobar- book review

Mario Escobar has written numerous books and articles on church history, sectarian groups, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas.  It may be this background of writing historical accounts that made this biography feel more like an encyclopedia entry than a personal account of Pope Francis.  This biography is well written if you are looking for a factual background on Pope Francis from the beginnings of his theological studies through his election to Pope. However, I was hoping for a more personal account of the man who became Pope that showed his personality or how he has arrived at setting certain priorities for his leadership over the Catholic Church.  I am not Catholic and some of the terminology used and descriptions of certain church activities in this book were unclear to me.  Pope Francis' apparent concern for the poor and shunning some traditional papal benefits, such as traditional robes and housing, make his a very interesting person to me. I was a little disappointed that this book did not delve more into these personal attributes.

I received this book for free from Book Sneeze for my review, but all opinions expressed are my own.

"Bread and Wine" by Shauna Niequist- Book review

Moment of truth- I saw several reviews of Bread and Wine and thought "Meh. Not for me." My sister raved about it and recommended I try it and I still thought "Boring. Not for me". Why would I want to read what essentially seemed like a cookbook with thoughts sprinkled in? Boy, was I wrong. 

This is the first Shauna Niequist book I have read and I truly enjoyed every part of it. Let's just start with the cover. Doesn't that look so cozy and inviting? 

It gets even better on the inside. Each page paints a beautiful picture of what it means to share a meal with family or friends. Shauna reminds us of how meals are not just about eating warm bread or a hearty soup. Meals are an opportunity to gather those we care about around a table to share our lives. She describes the many life events that have been shared around her table: lost pregnancies, death of a parent, joy of receiving a long awaited child, new opportunities, grief and joy. The descriptions of Shauna's feelings toward her mother and the honoring of her friend Nathan stood out to me of wonderful examples of how closely linked food and love can be. There are (delicious looking) recipes spread throughout the book, but it primarily storytelling on the rituals and hospitality surrounding shared meals. 

I was particularly struck by Shauna's point that offering our homes and a meal in hospitality are so much more important than the "perfect" event. Sometimes, our desire to impress (or avoid embarrassment) prevent us from extending ourselves to people. This was a lovely reminder that personal connections are vastly more important that creating a Pinterest worthy tabletop. 



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Cleaning House" by Kay Wills Wyma- book review

Have you ever looked around your house and realized, "Holy cow, my children do nothing around here"? Maybe it is just me. And Kay Wills Wyma. The difference is Kay did something about it, and I still have to remind kids to replace the empty roll of toilet paper. 

Kay's book, "Cleaning House", describes her yearlong experiment teaching her five children twelve different responsibilities in “Cleaning House”. While knowing these life skills are important, Kay was motivated by the sense of entitlement she saw in her kids. Like most kids, certainly my own, her kids seemed to think a magical fairy flew in and cleaned dirty dishes, picked up clothes, prepared meals and generally kept the house running. Instead of taking the easy route by continuing to enable this attitude, Kay tackled a different skill or habit each month for a year. Teaching her kids to clean up after themselves or prepare dinner (my personal nightmare) was not without an occasional bad attitude or complaint. However, Kay describes these experiences with humor and a realistic description of how most of us experience our children for good or bad. 

One thing that really hit home with me was Kay's description of how some of us tend to do everything for our kids because we can do it better, faster, easier. I can be quick to not enforce a chore because it will take me half the time (and half the hassle). Kay makes the point that by constantly stepping in, we are telling our children they are not capable. She gives an example of when she took over writing her daughter's English paper. When Kay's daughter Snopes brought home an A, she wasn't proud because she knew Kay did the bulk of the work. I'd never thought of it in that sense. I think my kids should do chores because they are part of the family and they need to learn how to do things for their own knowledge. However, I never looked at it as building their confidence. My kids are going to be very unhappy I read this book- it is motivating me to shift more responsibility onto their little shoulders.  I recommend this book to any parent who needs a laugh and some motivation to encourage their kid’s self-sufficiency. 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. 

“Freefall to Fly” by Rebekah Lyons- Book Review

When I received “Freefall to Fly” last month, I was already in the middle of another book. I thought I would just browse the first chapter until I finished my other book. I was so wrong. I literally could not put this book down. Rebekah Lyons chronicles her family’s move from Georgia to New York and the crippling depression and anxiety that came with it. My heart ached for the desperation she describes as she struggled for control.  Hearing her describe the effect on her children brought tears to my eyes. Rebekah gives a very raw description of what it was like to experience that freefall. She then draws a beautiful picture of how letting go allowed her to fly. 

Maybe this memoir was more appealing to me because, like Rebekah, I have struggled with depression for years. I've never suffered from panic attacks but I related to her feelings that the basic acts of life being overwhelming. Also, on the surface Rebekah was living a life I could easily envy. I miss living near a big city (for me, D.C.) and daydream of how I start over and achieve big things in a new life when I move back. This book made me reconsider putting life on hold until I am in my "perfect" circumstances. Circumstances will never be perfect so why not start living today? If you have not specifically experienced anxiety and depression, I still believe everyone can relate to wondering what our purpose is and how to start living it.  

"Freefall to Fly" will be out April 9th.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Handlebar.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

“The 5 Money Personalities” by Scott and Bethany Palmer

As the authors state in the introduction, this is not a book about how to create budgets or manage your money. Instead, it guides you though identifying your own relationship with money. Are you a spender, do you save money at all costs, are you seeking security through your financial decisions? The book explores five identified “money personalities” and helps you detect which primary and secondary “personalities” you identify with the most. Once you (and your significant other) identify your types, the rest of the book discusses the advantages and pitfalls of your personalities working together. 

I found the descriptions of the five money personalities interesting. I always assumed I was a blanket “saver”, but it turns out I am primarily a “security seeker” with a “saver” backup personality.  The authors did a good job describing how similar outlooks on money bring some drawbacks (imagine two spenders together) and how differing views can complement each other. I didn't read this with my husband, so I probably missed out of some of the usefulness of the book as a whole. However, there is still value in learning more about your own views on money. It is clearly intended for couples to use together, so I would primarily recommend this for couples seeking to better understand their views on money and make more harmonious financial decisions.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”