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.