The Clancys of Queens by Tara Clancy

In "The Clancys of Queens", author Tara Clancy recounts her formative years in Queens, NY during the 1980's and 1990's.  In the author's life, it did "take a village" to raise her, yet she definitely grew up on her own terms.  This rough-around-the-edges girl reminds me very much of what Rizzo from "Grease" might have grown up like (except for sexual orientation), and was a curious story from an alternate universe to suburbia or rural America.

In all honesty, I found this book to be both fascinating and cringe-worthy at times.  I'm having a hard time deciding if I enjoyed this book or not.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest opinion.

All is Bright - Christmas Coloring Devotional

This lovely Christmas devotional is a wonderful break from the traditional ones.  Though each daily reading is relatively short, they are thought provoking and insightful.  Each coloring page is beautifully designed and offers the reader more time for contemplation while coloring the daily designs.  Starting December 1 and going through the 31st allows for meditation not only for the Christmas season but the coming year as well.

A beautiful and unique way to prepare for the Christmas season.

I was given this book by the publisher for my honest opinion.

The Secret Language of Dogs by Victoria Stilwell

I have always had cats.  Always.  Never dogs. Then, a few years ago, my husband fell in love with one of his clients' dogs.  Now we have a dog, and I don't think we will ever be without one.  Even though we have had her for almost 10 years, I believed I still had so much to learn.

This book confirmed some things I already knew but still answered many things I had questioned.  It is written in an easy-to-read manner which I found to be quite enjoyable.  Filled with  a lot of sweet pictures and great information, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in dogs.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mamaleh Knows Best by Marjorie Ingall

I don't know a parent alive who doesn't want to raise successful, creative, empathetic, independent children, and "Mamaleh Knows Best" certainly gives you Marjorie Ingall's honest and humorous perspective.  As with all books on parenting, the reader needs to think for themselves and adopt or dismiss ideas that are presented.  With that said, I appreciated the author's approach to raising her daughters and thought that she offered something fresh that I haven't read in other books of this genre. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

365 Pocket Morning Prayers

This little book for prayers has some really great topics such as keeping life in perspective, changing my attitude, admitting sin, embracing my age, holding my tongue, and so many more.  As I read through this book, I felt that it was written for women like me who are in our "middle age" and need some help in our prayer life.  Great for the morning as it gets your mind thinking about and praying about the topics as the day progresses.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Drawing Lesson

Our teenage son is a very gifted artist.  Although we have not wanted to stifle his personal style and creativity by a formal art class, we do encourage him to learn techniques to enhance and perfect his craft.

This book is really great in that it teaches using a comic book format versus a textbook one.  That makes it very easy to read and follow along with, which is especially helpful with those who would rather draw than read.  Some concepts covered are shading, negative space, starting with a loose sketch, and proportions. 

So, although I chose this book for our artsy son, I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in learning to draw. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal

I have been super curious about adult coloring books and was wondering if an art-challenged person, such as myself, could really enjoy a book like this. 

First of all, this isn't just a coloring book.  It is a beautifully written book that leads the reader to reflect and journal.  The activities of doodling and coloring allow the reader to dive deeper into thought, making the experience more profound and meaningful.

I admit to being a bit of a skeptic prior to receiving this book, but am thinking this, with a pack of colored pencils, would be a great Christmas gift for some of my gal pals this year!

Love it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Food with Friends by Leela Cyd

I love to make memorable meals, and to make people happy through cooking.  Because of that, I am always looking for great recipes and tips. 

"Food with Friends" by Leela Cyd is a beautiful book that has a warm, eclectic style.  There are great tips for setting a gracious table and making your guests feel genuinely special.  As for the recipes, like most cookbooks there are recipes I am looking forward to trying.  For the most part, though, I believe this book will be a launching point for ideas using ingredients I would personally have on hand.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Meditate Your Weight by Tiffany Cruikshank, LAc, MAOM

In all honesty, it was with a bit of hesitation that I requested to review "Meditate Your Weight" by Tiffany Cruikshank, LAc, MAOM.  But, really, meditate just means to think deeply about something, right?

What I found was this book was like positive affirmations on steroids.  The author encourages us to learn to love and accept ourselves for who we are.  Although I do struggle to create the time to "meditate, I found the yoga sequence in the back of the book to be great, even for a novice such as myself.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

"Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris is geared toward the teenage reader and challenges them to look at their high school years as an opportunity not a vacation.

Included are stories of those who have done just that: they have done things that others would not choose to do, and have overcome fears, built self-confidence, and helped many in the process.

As the mother of teenagers, I am just as guilty of not expecting as much as my young adults are capable of as well as fighting the "norms" that they see and encouraging them to be more!  I'm glad I read this book because it opened my eyes to that.

A thought-provoking, must-read book that I will be asking my teens to read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Traces of Guilt by Dee Henderson

"Traces of Guilt: An Evie Blackwell Cold Case" by Dee Henderson was a book I just could not put down.

In past books, I felt that the author could be unnecessarily wordy and the story lines unbelievable.  But Ms. Henderson hit a home run with this one.  I especially enjoyed the process and questions an investigator might take when working on cases such as these.  Also, the characters were likeably flawed and the two main characters, although attracted to each other, did not have a romance to clutter the story.

This is my favorite book by this author (so far) and I'm really looking forward to reading more about Evie, Gabe, and the Thane family.  Encore, please!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering

The 4th book in Julianna Deering's Drew Farthering Mystery series, "Dressed for Death" was my least favorite. 

I really like the idea of a young, rich, married couple sleuthing in England in the 1920's, but I found this book didn't capture my attention as the previous books had.  As a matter of fact, I had to reread certain sections to make sure I understood who was doing what (there are a lot of nicknames used by characters which is confusing at first).

Although it is impossible to figure out "who done it" until the very end (which is somewhat of a plus), I do wish that there had been a few less references to Jane Austen.

Even though I didn't care for this book, I do look forward to reading more of Drew's and Madeline's adventures.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette

I love historical fiction, and better yet when it's Biblical historical fiction.  "Counted with the Stars" by Connilyn Cossette was a pleasant surprise.  A fresh story line, unique insight, and characters that aren't perfect (except for the woman portrayed on the cover!) made for a great read.  I never before had entertained the thought that there may have been Egyptians fleeing Egypt with the Israelites.

My only concern:  Although the story is pretty G-rated, some of the romantic scenarios I question if they are appropriate for Christian readers.

Other than that, I would give this book an enthusiastic two thumbs up and I look forward to the next book in the series!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Prime by Kulreet Chaudhary, MD

Over the past 18 months, my sister-in-law has lost over 50 pounds, increased her energy, and improved her health and life while working with a naturopath to rid her body of toxins and eliminating inflammatory foods from her diet.  With that said, I have seen how toxins can effect a person’s body, so when I was offered the opportunity to review this book, I must admit that I am already a believer of the basic information covered in “The Prime” by Kulreet Chaudhary, M.D.

This book is easy to read and understand and covers concepts in traditional Indian medicine that healing the body starts with healing the gut.  While Western medicine treats symptoms, Dr. Chaudhary shares how she truly heals (not just masks symptoms with medications) patients through detoxification.  Although weight loss was not the primary objective of this program, it was a happy circumstance. 

Healing the body, clearing the mind and improved overall health are the targets.  Dr. Chaudhary shares how to do that with the use of herbal supplements to cleanse the digestive system over a period of several weeks.  This program does not require you to stop eating certain foods, but through the improvement in your body’s function as you begin to heal, foods that are not “good” for you will not be (as) appealing. 

I think it’s important that we take responsibility for our own health, and the ideas in “The Prime” make sense.  I, for one, am going to give it a go.  I promise to let you know my results.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Letters to My Daughters: The Art of Being a Wife by Barbara Rainey

“Letters to my Daughters” by Barbara Rainey is a book of loving encouragement for women wanting to be the best wife they can be. Definitely a wonderful reminder for those of us who have been married for several years, but also great insight for those just embarking on their marriage journey.

We have done the “Passport to Purity” weekend with our children that Dennis and Barbara Rainey share, and I have always aspired to have that same openness with our children that they have with their family.  Their honest and caring teaching style is again found in this book for wives.

Also, this book is absolutely beautiful.  The calligraphy found throughout is stunning.  I found myself wanting to frame several pages and hang them on the walls of my home.  Definitely a gift-worthy item all the way around.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Knot: Outdoor Weddings

I requested this book to review as my hubby and I are considering renewing our wedding vows. 

"The Knot Outdoor Weddings" is full of ideas, many of which would be great for an indoor wedding/reception, too.  The book is absolutely filled with gorgeous photography that really gets one's creative juices flowing.  Although the weddings featured were larger, upscale events, again, the ideas given could help with smaller ones.  Every time I page through this book, I see something new.

Great book if you are planning a wedding, a vow renewal, or other important life event.  Not so great if you are doing it on a very limited budget.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Bee-Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn

“The Bee-Friendly Garden” by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn is an enlightening book about my favorite insect.  This book is written in an engaging way that is easy to read and understand.  The book covers information about different types of bees and their preferred habitats as well as lists of annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs that these beautiful creatures are most attracted to.  In addition, there are good ideas about bee-friendly flowers that can be incorporated in your vegetable garden to make not only a productive, but pretty space as well.  All that, and gorgeous photography, too.

If you are considering making your garden a beautiful and bee-friendly place, I would recommend this book.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

De Niro A Life by Shawn Levy

Although not what I would consider a movie "buff", I've always enjoyed a good movie.  In addition, I find people fascinating.  Put those two factors together, having the opportunity to read a biography about a well-know actor was right up my alley.

I believe that the author did a fantastic job of recounting Mr. DeNiro's resume.  The amount of effort that Mr. DeNiro puts into preparing for a role has, I'm sure, been the secret to his incredible success.  Many of his earlier movies I have not seen, so the synopsis for each was informative, as was his choices in investments and contributions.

In my opinion, by the end of the book I really felt that I did not know much about the man himself.  I believe the author has done the best he could with the information he had given Mr. DeNiro is a very private man, but it seemed to me that I learned more about Mr. DeNiro's "supporting cast" than the man himself.

With that said, I would highly recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.