Million Dollar, One Person Business (Review)

This review is for the book "The Million-Dollar One-Person Business" by Elaine Pofeldt. If you are a small business owner, an entrepreneur, or someone who has even considered going down this route, you have GOT to get your hands on this book. It is slam full of awesome ideas and suggestions. The book has dozens of examples of what has worked and what hasn't worked for other small business owners and entrepreneurs. There are hundreds of resources in here for creating websites, making things easier on you, email accounts, freebies that you are going to want, etc. And tons of encouragement for making it through the first few years.

This book is underlined and highlighted all the way through for me! So much goodness in one space. It was really helpful. I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

Roanoke Girls (Review)

This review is for the book "The Roanoke Girls" by Amy Engel. Okay, if you are into twisted, dark, gothic stories with horrible secrets that unfold, you will enjoy this book. I'm telling you what, there is something about the Roanoke girls that makes them different from everyone else... and when you find out what it is, you will probably do a double take. I literally started flipping backwards in the book to make sure I was reading correctly when I figured it out. This is a crazy story but the storyline and characters will absolutely suck you in. A must read.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

No One Ever Asked (Review)

This review is for the book "No One Ever Asked" by Katie Ganshert. I have only read one of the other books she has written, but I loved that book and really wanted to read something else by her. This book was phenomenal. It is absolutely emotional and heart-wrenching. She really digs into the tragedy here, which is the fact that in 2017 we are still seeing people who are being treated unfairly simply based on their skin color. As a white woman, I rarely see this affect my daily life, but I do know people who say that they never have one day where they forget their skin color because of how they are treated.

This novel is just extremely emotional. There are so many things at play in this book. Not just the racial aspect, but the relationships and the misunderstandings and the faith struggles. It is so good. It's one of those books that you won't want to put down.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

When God Made You (Review)

This review is for the book "When God Made You" by Matthew Paul Turner. My kids absolutely love these types of books and stories, so I had to get this one for them. This book is really cute. The illustrations are beautiful, creative, and colorful, and my kids loved them. The book talks about how special each one of us is, which is a really important thing for kids to grasp. The book rhymes, which of course usually is more entertaining for kids and more fun for us adults to read out loud! And what a great premise - that God made us exactly the way He wanted us. I love it. Perfect for the kids in your life!

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

The Kindness Challenge (Review)

This review is for the book "The Kindness Challenge" by Shaunti Feldhahn. I absolutely loved this book. I cannot WAIT to put it into practice. In this book, the reader is challenged to think of a relationship that is tough, or strained, or could just be better in general. Feldhahn asserts that we can make small steps to improve these relationships.

What is really amazing is how much this book made me self-reflect. I consider myself a very kind person, but I realized that I can definitely improve in a lot of areas, especially towards my husband and children. For example, one of the chapters talks about thanking my husband for the little things - washing my car, mowing the lawn, etc. These are the things I take for granted that he does. But when I thank him, it's an affirmation of love for him. I also realized that there are times I will thank someone in my family for something and then show exasperation right after. For example, "Thanks for changing the baby's diaper, but I really like for the tabs to be fastened this way", or "Bonnie! You know we don't do it that way!" These things make us lose perspective.

I could go on and on about the tips found in this book and the realizations I've had from reading it, but it would make this review really long. Please grab this book and try it for yourself.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

You're Saying It Wrong (Review)

This review is for the book "You're Saying It Wrong" by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras. When I saw this book I just knew I had to get it. This book is a guide to pronouncing the top 150 most commonly mispronounced words. It even gives a background on the words. I am such a word geek, so this book is one that I am keeping for myself but also buying for my word geek friends for Christmas!

The book is alphabetical and contains words that I didn't even know I was mispronouncing, such as "bruschetta" and "spit and image" (I always say "spitting image")!! As you can see, it also includes phrases. The book even contains some names, such as "Thames" and "Beijing". Also, sprinkled throughout the pages are lists such as British names, names of authors, and names of wines.

I absolutely love this book. Any writers, readers, and word lovers out there NEED this book in their lives! I highly recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book.

Photographs from the Edge (Review)

This review is for the book "Photographs from the Edge" by Art Wolfe. I am not a photographer (except of my children) but I definitely have an appreciation for photography. This book is a collection of Art Wolfe's photography, and Rob Sheppard has compiled it all, while getting the background story on these fascinating pictures. The book begins with pictures from the 1980's and continues into the modern photographs he has taken. The photographs are of things and situations unlike any that a typical person has ever seen in person. From the Milky Way in Madagascar to hyenas in Botswana, these pictures will astound you and make you realize how huge and magnificent our world is! Wolfe has amazing stories to tell over his decades of experience and any photographer or lover of nature, adventure and photography will enjoy this book.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book.

Habit Changers (Review)

This review is for the book "Habit Changers" by M.J. Ryan. This book is filled with 81 game-changing mantras to mindfully realize your goal. Each mantra is short and sweet and easy to remember, such as "Presume goodwill" or "Mind the gap". After the mantra is given, a short essay is written to help you understand the mantra and explain how to put it into play in your life. There are a lot of real-life examples to help you also. This book is awesome for business owners, entrepreneurs, and people at high levels in their companies. I had several really good takeaways from reading this book that I plan on putting into practice!

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

Punderdome (Review)

I recently was able to check out this really cool game called Punderdome. I love card games, I love board games, I love games that make you think, and I love family games. This one game has ALL of those things! Apparently it is based on a live game show, but I have never heard of the game show before. This game is for three or more players who are age 12 and up. You grab two prompts and then race to make bad puns that connect those two prompts. There is a judge who will decide which one is the best (worst?) pun to win the round. I guarantee this game will bring loads of laughs to your next family game night!! I received this game free of charge from Penguin Random House LLC.

God Gave Us Thankful Hearts (Review)

This review is for the book "God Gave Us Thankful Hearts" by Lisa Tawn Bergren. I will be honest. We have almost every book in this series that Lisa Tawn Bergren has created ("God Gave Us...") and our family absolutely loves them. I am never disappointed with the books.

In this book, Little Pup, a fox, is bummed because he knows that winter is coming and that means hibernation time is close. His mother encourages him to think of things to be thankful for in every season. When Little Pup complains about poison ivy, his mother tells him to be thankful he knows how to avoid it. She teaches him to focus on the things that make us happy, rather than the things that don't.

This is the cutest book as Little Pup's mother and father take him through the things that seem to be disappointments and help him turn them into blessings. It's really a great lesson for all of us! I highly recommend not just this book, but any of the books in this series. They are fun to read and they teach great lessons in a really simple way.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Moment of Weakness (Review)

This review is for the book "A Moment of Weakness" by Karen Kingsbury. This is the second book in her Forever Faithful series. I did not realize that this was a series or I would have started at the beginning. Fortunately, you do not need to read the first book in the series to love and enjoy this book.

Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman were best friends until a family tragedy tore them apart. They found each other almost 10 years later and spent a summer falling in love. In a moment of weakness, they lose track of their faith. When Jade is feeling the consequences of their actions, she goes to Tanner's mother for advice since Tanner is on a missionary journey. She takes his mother's advice, although it stems from lies, and immediately goes and marries a guy who has been chasing her for years. When Tanner comes home, he is diverted from finding her based on lies his mother gives him.

Later in life, Jade's son is taken from her because her husband doesn't share her Christian beliefs. Her custody battle needs the best law firm possible, and it just so happens that she has to turn to Tanner.
This book is intriguing, and although it didn't seem realistic to me, it sadly probably IS realistic in these modern times. I enjoyed this book and the characters. If you have liked other Kingsbury books you will definitely like this one as well.

Thank you to Waterbrook Mulnomah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Mr. Selfie (Review)

This review is for the book "Mr. Selfie" by Dan Zevin. This book is a parody of the old "Ms and Mr" books. I used to read those books growing up. I have read two other books in this series, "Little Miss Overshare" and "Little Miss Basic". I thought both of those books were pretty hilarious. This book, I thought, was not quite as funny, but still a bit humorous. Mr. Selfie spends all of his time uploading selfies to various social media outlets, and ends up aggravating everyone he comes across.

Thank you to Blogging for Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Little Miss Basic (Review)

This review is for the book "Little Miss Basic" by Dan Zevin. This is the second book I have read in his parody series of the "Little Miss" and "Little Mr." books that used to be so popular. I thought this one was hilarious. It was spot on, with tons of references to lingo ("Worst. Day. Evs."), clothing (she wore her Uggs with her "black North Face jacket, her black Lululemons, and her black Kate Spade spectacles"), and food (she loves pumpkin spice lattes and juice cleanses).

This is not child-friendly reading like the old series, but it will get a giggle out of many adults, I can assure you. For those of us who remember the series from our childhood, it will probably hit our funny bone a bit harder.

Thank you to Blogging for Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

The Martian (Review)

This review is for the book "The Martian" by Andy Weir. Honestly, I did not know what to expect from this book. Based on the title I thought it was going to be some outlandish science-fiction novel, which I don't really enjoy. Instead, I was met with an intriguing, exciting book that kept me on the edge of my seat.

This book begins in the journal of Mark Watney, an astronaut on Mars. In a freak accident, his fellow crew members left him, thinking he was dead. But he's not. And now he's alone - on Mars. Fortunately, Watney is an engineer. An insanely good engineer. He is determined to find a way to survive on Mars and try to find a way home. This book is his story and his journey.

I loved this book. It had my attention from the beginning. There were a couple of nights I was reading and my eyes were heavy as rocks, but I just had to see what was going to happen next. I was rooting for Watney for the entire book! I hear this is a movie now, and I am excited to see it, although I happen to love books more than movies. The book does contain some crass language, so be aware of that.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

God Gave Us Sleep (Review)

This review is for the book "God Gave Us Sleep" by Lisa Tawn Bergren. This is the fifth or six book in the "God Gave Us" series that my family has read together. My kids absolutely love this series, and to be honest, I do not really tire of reading the books to them. I think these books are great ways to introduce topics on the level of a child. This book is about the importance of rest, in order for our bodies and minds to feel refreshed. If you are a parent, there is going to be a fight over bedtime at some point! You will be able to relate to this book, as Little Cub doesn't want to go to bed, but when she doesn't get enough sleep, she is very grumpy the next day.

My family loves seeing these same characters over and over again. We read the books repeatedly. I highly recommend not just this book, but the whole series.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Things I've Said (Review)

This review is for the book "Things I've Said to My Children" by Nathan Ripperger. This is a really funny, silly, easy read. The entire book is quotes that Ripperger has found himself saying to his children over the years. He took the quotes and put them to original illustrations. The quotes are all child-appropriate and off-the-wall. For example, he has to remind his children that the cat does not want to wear lipstick, and watermelon should not be rubbed on your arm.

This is a great, light-hearted read that parents and non-parents alike will enjoy. And hey, you may have said one or two similar things to your own children!

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

It's Good to Be Queen (Review)

This review is for the book "It's Good to Be Queen" by Liz Curtis Higgs. If you are not familiar with other works by Higgs, she excels in researching ladies in the Bible and explaining them in extraordinary (and interesting) detail. This particular book details the story of the Queen of Sheba, as she journeys to meet King Solomon. The story of "Sheba" (as she is widely known) is very short in the Bible. Higgs is such a talented author and researcher, and she was very able to pull so much meat out of such a short Bible passage.

This is a very easy, down-to-earth read. You will enjoy it and learn a lot from it. Also included in the book is a study guide with discussion questions. I highly recommend this book, as well as all of her other works.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I Take You (Review)

This review is for the book "I Take You" by Eliza Kennedy.

I usually love British novels, especially "chick" novels. They are usually the type of book I cannot put down or stop laughing. This one, for me though, was a bit too much.

In this novel, Lily Wilder has accepted the proposal of her boyfriend, Will. He's a brilliant archaelogist, and she has everything going for her as well - job at a law firm, great friends, and a hilarious but incredible family. The problem is that Lily can't seem to bring herself to stop sleeping with every handsome guy she lays her eyes on. This book begins only one week before the wedding and in the first chapter she is already sleeping with one of her coworkers. Her family and friends know her reputation and actually spend most of the book trying to get her to break off the wedding. Her future in-laws even hear about her reputation and try to blackmail her into walking away. In the end, there are lots of secrets that come forth between Lily and Will. I won't give away the ending, but the book definitely did have me wondering what the big secret was going to be.

I think I'm just too old-fashioned for books like this. Ten or fifteen years ago I probably would have loved this book. But now I look at it as ridiculing the sanctity of marriage and laughing in the face of monogamy. It just wasn't up my alley. But I do think the author had a great writing style. I would try to read another of her books in the future.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

What You Left Behind (Review)

This review is for the book "What You Left Behind" by Samantha Hayes. I read my first book written by Samantha Hayes about three months ago and I loved it. I loved the twists and turns in that novel and I really liked her writing style. So I was looking forward to reading another book by her. This one did not disappoint me.

In this book, Lorraine Fisher has come to Radcote just for a simple vacation with her sister. The city is still healing from a rash of teenage suicides when it looks like more suicides are beginning to take place. Lorraine is a detective inspector, so her police instincts set in. She begins investigating.

There are tons of suspicious characters - homeless teens, an autistic son, and plenty of other people who are just plain creepy. While reading the book you can prepare to suspect just about everyone of foul play. The ending is twisted and you won't be able to guess it. I love books like that. I look forward to reading another Hayes novel in the future.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

No More Excuses Diet (Review)

This review is for the book "No More Excuses Diet" by Maria Kang. I will admit that I began reading this book with a little bit of judgment. After all - no excuses? How about the flu? Homeschooling your kids? Working two jobs? So I was really happy to realize throughout the book that Maria Kang isn't talking about life situations like that. She's talking about excuses like you love food too much to give it up, you don't have enough energy, or you don't have enough time.

Maria gives a full account of her background in the beginning of the book. Her lifestyle and knowledge have come after years of hard work - this was not a quick fix for her, which made me like her from the beginning. I was also concerned that she was going to focus on a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, lots of cardio type of diet. I am so glad that she proved me wrong on all these accounts. She follows a method of flexible dieting which I love, and she encourages cardio (if you love it) but primarily weight-lifting as an exercise method. She also encourages exercise such as hiking or riding bikes with your family, keeping track of non-scale victories (such as upping your weights in the gym or accomplishing a marathon), and even different forms of mental "stretches" like prayer and meditation.

The book is full of meal ideas and workout ideas, pictures included. I was really impressed with this book and I'm happy with the information in it because I think it can be helpful to a lot of people. I would recommend this book for anyone who is searching for a lifestyle change and needs a little push.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.