Cookbook Review: Tasting Rome

Tasting Rome: Fresh Flavors and Forgotten Recipes from an Ancient City by Katie Parla
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Publication date: March 2016
Source: Review copy from Blogging for Books

This is a beautiful book, but for me it fails slightly in the useful cookbook department.

The cover and photographs inside are quite lovely. I like the descriptions and history of Rome. There is a lot of information here. So I guess that's good in a way.

What it was missing was pictures of a lot of the recipes. Some recipes had no picture, and some included a picture of scenery instead of the food. Is day about half had a picture of the recipe.

Then there were a lot of ingredients that I wouldn't be able to find in my little Utah suburb. But I was really interested in the pizza and bread section, and suspect that I'll try at least a few of those recipes.

So overall not my favorite cookbook, but still enjoyable to look at and read.

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Book Review: Only in Naples

In the tradition of M. F. K. Fisher and Peter Mayle, this enchantingly warm and witty memoir follows American-born Katherine Wilson on her adventures abroad, where a three-month rite of passage in Naples turns into a permanent embrace of this boisterous city on the Mediterranean. It is all thanks to a surprising romance, a new passion for food, and a spirited woman who will become her mother-in-law—and teach her to laugh, to seize joy, and to love.

  Only in Naples: Lessons in Food and Famiglia from My Italian Mother-in-Law by Katherine Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publication date: April 19, 2016
Source: Netgalley

I don't know what it was about this book that made me like it so much. On the surface, it's really not my style of book, but I requested it from Netgalley cause I was interested in reading more travel memoirs.

The writing style really drew me in, and I quite liked Katherine. I found her story really fun to read, even though nothing very exciting ever happened.

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Cookbook Review: The Broad Fork

The Broad Fork: Recipes for the Wide World of Vegetables and Fruits by Hugh Acheson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publication Date: May 2015 by Clarkston Potter
Source: Blogging for Books review copy

 In The Broad Fork, Hugh narrates the four seasons of produce, inspired by the most-asked question at the market: "What the hell do I do with kohlrabi?" And so here are 50 ingredients--from kohlrabi to carrots, beets to Brussels sprouts--demystified or reintroduced to us through 200 recipes: three quick hits to get us excited and one more elaborate dish. For apples in the fall there's apple butter; snapper ceviche with apple and lime; and pork tenderloin and roasted apple. In the summer, Hugh explores uses for berries, offering recipes for blackberry vinegar, pickled blueberries, and raspberry cobbler with drop biscuits. Beautifully written, this book brings fresh produce to the center of your plate. It's what both your doctor and your grocery bill have been telling you to do, and Hugh gives us the knowledge and the inspiration to wrap ourselves around produce in new ways.

This is a great cookbook if you get vegetables from a CSA (or something similar) and don't quite know what to do with them. It doesn't have every vegetable included, but there are some ideas for some less common veggies. And some fresh ideas for more common ones, like broccoli and carrots, too. I've been trying to eat vegetarian lately, and was hoping this would give me more ideas for meatless meals, but a lot of the main dishes included meat, relegating the meatless recipes to side dishes. There were a few in there that I will definitely try, though.

It's also a beautiful book with tons of pictures of the recipes. I love this, because it's always nice to know what your recipes are supposed to look like. Not every recipe includes a picture, but most do. I was glad to add this cookbook to my collection, as it does have some great recipes and ideas.

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Book Review: Wide-Open World

Wide-Open World: How Volunteering Around the Globe Changed One Family's Lives Forever by John Marshall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Publication Date: February 2015
Source: Netgalley

John Marshall needed a change. His twenty-year marriage was falling apart, his seventeen-year-old son was about to leave home, and his fourteen-year-old daughter was lost in cyberspace. Desperate to get out of a rut and reconnect with his family, John dreamed of a trip around the world, a chance to leave behind, if only just for a while, routines and responsibilities. He didn’t have the money for resorts or luxury tours, but he did have an idea that would make traveling the globe more affordable and more meaningful than he’d ever imagined: The family would volunteer their time and energy to others in far-flung locales. 

This started off really good, and I was smiling and even laughing a little bit as I was reading. As a person who would love to travel around the world, I thought this was going to be a favorite book for me. And it really started out promising.

But then somewhere around India I started to get a bit bored. I just didn't care anymore, and was ready for the book to be over. I don't know if it's that the author cared a bit less at this point, and didn't try to make the book as interesting, or if I was just over it. Their last volunteer stop just bored me completely, and there was almost nothing interesting about it.

I'm glad I read this, if only to let me know that I probably don't want to go volunteering around the world. I'd rather travel as a tourist, as selfish as that might make me sound.

Book Review: Ceviche

Ceviche: Peruvian Kitchen by Martin Morales
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publication Date: May 2014
Source: Review copy from Blogging for Books in exchange for review

Flavor-driven and captivating, Peruvian dishes are unique and familiar at the same time. This cuisine combines native ingredients that are becoming increasingly popular in their own right (such as quinoa and amaranth) with Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese techniques and ingredients to create fresh, multicultural gourmet dishes that appeal to America's ravenous taste for ethnic food. From sizzling barbecued beef anticucho skewers, superfood salads featuring quinoa and physalis, and piquant ceviche to airy giant choclo corn cakes and lucuma ice dessert, The Peruvian Kitchen will be the first authoritative cookbook to bring the delicious dishes from Peru's lush jungles, Andean peaks, and seaside villages to US kitchens.

Let's start off with the aesthetics of this cookbook.  I know I'm not the only one who likes to display beautiful cookbooks in my kitchen.  While I wouldn't call this beautiful, it is very interesting to look at.  The outside of the book has a tiled look to it, which is different and fun.  The inside does include some very beautiful, full color pictures.

When I first received this book, I wasn't sure how useful it would be to me.  See, I don't care very much for seafood, and there are a lot of seafood recipes in here.  But I shouldn't have worried, because once I started reading through, I found lots of lovely recipes I'd like to try.  There were many in the Street Food section that looked especially delicious.  Things like Sánguche de Chicharrón (Pork and Sweet Potato Rolls) and Chifles (Deep-fried plantain) are recipes that I will definitely be trying.  Other standouts that sound really delicious are Lomo Saltado (Peruvian Beef Stir-fry), Tacu Tacu de Palta (Avocado & Rice Fritters), and Picarones (Pumpkin & Sweet Potato Doughnuts).
  
I don't think I've ever eaten Peruvian food, let alone cooked it.  So reading through this cookbook was an interesting experience for me.  A lot of the ingredients are definitely not things I'd have on hand, and some I don't even know if I could find in my local stores.  But there was enough recipes throughout that I feel like I could definitely get a taste of Peruvian food.  

The little stories told throughout were also quite enjoyable, and is one of the reasons I'm enjoying cookbooks so much lately.  It's so fascinating to read about people living in different cultures, how they grew up, the reasons behind the things they cook, etc.  Ceviche is a great example of that, and I'm so happy to add it to my cookbook collection.

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Book Review: My Paris Kitchen

My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories by David Lebovitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Publication Date: April 2014
Source: review copy from Blogging for Books

It’s been ten years since David Lebovitz packed up his most treasured cookbooks, a well-worn cast-iron skillet, and his laptop and moved to Paris. In that time, the culinary culture of France has shifted as a new generation of chefs and home cooks—most notably in Paris—incorporates ingredients and techniques from around the world into traditional French dishes.
     In My Paris Kitchen, David remasters the classics, introduces lesser-known fare, and presents 100 sweet and savory recipes that reflect the way modern Parisians eat today. You’ll find Soupe à l’oignon, Cassoulet, Coq au vin, and Croque-monsieur, as well as Smoky barbecue-style pork, Lamb shank tagine, Dukkah-roasted cauliflower, Salt cod fritters with tartar sauce, and Wheat berry salad with radicchio, root vegetables, and pomegranate. And of course, there’s dessert: Warm chocolate cake with salted butter caramel sauce, Duck fat cookies, Bay leaf poundcake with orange glaze, French cheesecake...and the list goes on. David also shares stories told with his trademark wit and humor, and lush photography taken on location around Paris and in David’s kitchen reveals the quirks, trials, beauty, and joys of life in the culinary capital of the world.

I generally don't sit down and read a cookbook all the way through, but that's exactly what I did with My Paris Kitchen. Well, to be honest, I didn't read every word. I didn't read all of the instructions on every recipe. But all the stories sprinkled throughout, and the introductions to each recipe we're just lovely.

I love Paris, and if I could move there, I'd do it in a heartbeat. It was fun getting an insiders look (from an American) on what it's like living in Paris.

The recipes look delicious, too, and although I don't think I'd cook all of them, there are definitely a bunch that I want to try. Reading this book just made me feel happy. I'd definitely recommend it for cookbook lovers, as well as anyone who loves France. 

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Book Review: Treat Yourself

This was such a fun cookbook.  There are so many things in here I'd like to try making, like Twinkies, Samoas, Tagalongs, Oreos, Pop tarts, and the list goes on and on. 

This cookbook is filled with pretty much every treat you had (or wanted to have) during your childhood.  Reading through it for the nostalgia alone was a fun time, regardless of if I ever get around to cooking all the recipes.

I have made one recipe so far, and that was for fruit snacks.  It didn't turn out quite like I expected, and I'm not sure if it was how the recipe was supposed to be or not.  It still tasted good, and I really can't wait to try more recipes.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Blogging For Books.

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Book Review: OMG That's Paleo?

Omg. That's Paleo? by Juli Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

OMG. That's Paleo? features 30 new recipes never seen before on author Juli Bauer's blog, paleomg.com, as well as a selection of her best blog recipes. Sections include poultry, beef, pork, fish/seafood, slow cooker, sweet and savory breakfasts, baked goods, 5-ingredient meals, side dishes, snacks and desserts; and each recipe features a color photo. Juli also writes about the paleo diet in general and why it works for her, suggestions for keeping a kitchen well stocked, and recommended resources for further reading. And just like her blog, you can expect plenty of funny stories and awkward moments.

This is not your usual cookbook. Juli writes just like she does on her blog, PaleOMG, and she is very funny. When reading this cookbook, it feels like talking to a friend. I don't think I've ever laughed at a cookbook, or even really been entertained, until now.

But what really matters with a cookbook is the food, right? I admit, I have only cooked one recipe from this cookbook, and that is one that was also posted on her blog. But it was really good. I've also made a couple of other recipes from her blog that were delicious. So, even though I haven't cooked a bunch from this particular cookbook, I know her recipes are good.

If you're looking into eating Paleo, or even just want another good cookbook to add to your collection, I recommend this.

*I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley.

Review: Otherworlds: Fantasy Art

Book Details

Title: OtherWorlds: How to Imagine, Paint and Create Epic Scenes of Fantasy 
Author: Tom Kidd
Genre: How-to 
Page Count: 191
Publishing Info: Impact, November 8, 2010

My Review
Why I read it: Review copy from the publisher
About the book: With OtherWorlds,you will learn to draw and paint fantasy scenery. Also disc over how to bring forth ideas more quickly, and communicate a sense of place that evokes a range of emotions, especially the thrill of taking an exotic journey to explore the unknown. Enjoy Tom Kidd's lively and personal step-by-step instruction that includes information on materials, observing nature, drawing, form, color, creating special effects and more. You will learn to create scenes so vast they take your breath away with exquisite skies and aircraft, rugged terrain, glittering cites, spectacular rock formations, stormy seas, magnificent forests and more. (from Goodreads)
Who Should Read This? Artists, people who would like to be artists, people who like art, especially fantasy art.
Final Thoughts: I really love fantasy art, and this book is just full of beautiful artwork.  Not only that, but it tells you how to create your own beautiful artwork.  There are some great tips to techniques that an advanced artist might already know, but someone like me who is more on the beginner side will find extremely helpful.  Each section has a materials list, a step by step guide for drawing a scene (breaking it down into smaller parts of instruction), and of course, the finished picture.  I would enjoy this book even if it only had the amazing pictures to look at, but it's nice that there's so much more here.
Grade: A
Cover Thoughts: I love the picture on the cover here.  It gives you a small taste of what's inside.

Divanomics

Book Details:
Genre: non-fiction/self help
Page Count: 247
Publication Date: April 1, 2010
Why I read it: review copy from Tyndale
Grade: C

The plot:
Once upon a time, Michelle McKinney Hammond’s lifestyle centered around the finer things in life—designer clothes, five-star restaurants, and bag after bag of high-end nonessentials. Then one day, like many people, Michelle awoke to find herself on the losing end of a most unwelcome and unexpected financial downturn. In response, she quickly went from “spoiled” to “fabulously frugal,” and with courage and a sense of humor, she made the necessary adjustments in her life.
Now, Hammond, a self-proclaimed DIVA (Divine Inspiration for Victorious Attitude), shares what she learned about her own spending, desires, and needs and how she adjusted to life during an unpredictable economy. Divanomics is filled with money-saving tips on fashion, beauty, home decor, entertaining, diet, housing, and more.

My review:
I'm not sure that I'm really the target audience for this book. Yes, I'd like to budget better and get tips for spending less money, but this book seemed to be more for people who had expensive tastes (something I've never had) and it seemed to be geared more towards single woman. Since I'm a married mother of three, my life looks a lot different than the authors.

I think if you're looking for a good book on budgeting and financing, check out something by Dave Ramsey. In fact, the author even suggests his books in Divanomics, so I think she's aware that she's not an expert on finance. What this book reads more like is sitting down for a cup of coffee with a girlfriend who found herself in financial trouble, figured out how to help herself, and wants to give you her advice and experiences.

I think what I liked best about the book were the little snippets at the end of each chapter called "What's a diva to do". These were basically a summary of the chapter, but in the form of a list of things you could try. Since I'm all about lists, these were good for me. This is a fun book about spending less, but a lot of the time I felt like she was too focused on getting stuff--like what she could get out of other people for free. There were times that it wasn't in a bad way, like trading clothes with your friends, but there were other times where it seemed like she was giving pointers for getting men (or others) to buy you things or give you things. It rubbed me the wrong way a little bit.

All in all, this was a quick read (when I actually picked it up and read it), but definitely not the best if you're looking to get your finances in order. If you're looking for something lighthearted about finances, though, this may be a good option. You can visit the product page for this book at Tyndale here.

DragonArt Evolution

Book Details:
Genre: instructional book
Page Count: 144
Publication Date: Sept. 30, 2010
Why I read it: review copy
Grade: B

The plot:
Inspiration, instruction, and entertainment - you will get it all in this book filled with all-new dragons and detailed anatomy instruction. As seen in J “NeonDragon” Peffer’s first book, DragonArt: How to Draw Fantastic Dragons and Fantasy Creatures, this book features a combination of beautiful, inspiring art, easy-to-follow instruction with DragonArt™ Evolution. You will be able to draw every part of dragon anatomy book and be able to assemble those pieces into dragons of your very own.

My review:
I've always liked to draw, and fantasy pictures have long been my favorites. The problem was, I could never draw a dragon. I didn't even know where to start with getting the body rightly proportioned, or making the head look right. So I was kind of excited to get this book for review. I'll be honest, I haven't actually tried drawing any of these dragons yet. I haven't actually picked up a drawing pad and pencil for years, if you want to know the truth.

I do really like the pictures, though. The illustrations are beautiful, and the instruction seems to be pretty good. My seven year old sat down with the book and tried to draw a dragon. He worked at it for quite awhile, and while you'd never know it was a dragon from looking at it, he sure had fun. I don't think he realized you're not supposed to draw and keep every line in the instructions.

If you're already a great fantasy artist, this book may not be helpful to you. But if you like to draw, and need a little help, or if you just want to look at great illustrations of dragons, check out this book.

Skinny is Overrated

Title: Skinny is Overrated
Author: Danielle Milano, MD
Genre: nonfiction/self-help
Page Count: 256
Why I read it: received review copy
Grade: C+

Synopsis:
Skinny Is Overrated is a guide to health and happiness for women of any size who are tired of dieting. Writing in a conversational and often humorous style, and backed by scientific research, Dr. Danielle Milano teaches us to make healthier food choices. She emphasizes the importance of exercise, assuring the reader that it isn't necessary to be a size two! With helpful, easy recipes and common sense advice, Dr. Milano's guidelines for simple lifestyle changes will help you lose weight, gain energy, and become a healthier, more confident you-as you were meant to be.

My review:
There was a lot of good information here. Milano tells us what food choices are good and what are bad, but what's good here is that she tells us why in detail. Her writing style is very easy to read, and I found it to be a very quick read for a health type book, which usually seem slow, and I can only read a little bit at a time.

The downside to this one was that there was some inconsistency, which I've found quite common in books about nutrition and fitness. She would say one thing, and then a few pages or a chapter later, say the complete opposite. The other thing is that I found her food recommendations to be a little unrealistic, at least for me. To eat the way she suggests would be pretty expensive, time consuming, and would make my kids hate me--three things that would almost guarantee failure for me.

Still, there are some good ideas here that I will incorporate into our diets. She advocates getting exercise every day, no matter what level you're at. If you're new to it, start small and work your way up. Just do something. It's all good advice. I would recommend this if you're looking for an easy, quick read, but with the caveat to take the information that works for you, and leave the rest.

Start Here (+Giveaway)

Title: Start Here
Author: Alex & Brett Harris
Genre: YA Christian Non-fiction
Page Count: 160
Why I read it: blog tour for publisher
Grade: B

Synopsis:
You want to do hard things.  But you don’t know where to start.
You are changing the world around you.  But you are tired and burned out.

You feel called to do the extraordinary for God.  But you feel stuck in the ordinary.
 Do Hard Things inspired thousands of young people around the world to make the most of the teen years.  Now Alex and Brett Harris are back and ready to tackle the questions that Do Hard Things inspired: How do I get started?  What do I do when I get discouraged?  What’s the best way to inspire others?  Filled with stories and insights from Alex, Brett, and other real-life rebelutionaries, Start Here is a powerful and practical guide to doing hard things, right where you are.

Are you ready to take the next step and blast past mediocrity for the glory of God?

START HERE.

For this review, I have a guest blogger--my daughter, Kaitlyn (who is 12).
Kaitlyn's review:
I liked this book, it was a great way to grow closer to God. I think this is a good book for any teen that just wants to do something hard for God. I really liked how they had other peoples stories included in it to kind of give you an idea of what doing hard things is like. I like the points in this book. This book explained how to get started with doing something hard. It showed what you need to learn and do before you do something hard. This book is excellent  for doing in a youth group. It includes a discussion at the end to talk about in a youth group. I think the worst part in this story is there was some words I could not understand but besides that it was a good book. :)

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  To find out more information about this book, click here.

***I have a copy of this book to give away to one lucky reader.  To enter, just leave a comment here, including an e-mail address where I can contact you if you win.  Giveaway ends, and a winner will be chosen on March 22nd. *** 
 

Mother Daughter Duet (+Giveaway)

Title: Mother Daughter Duet
Author: Cheri Fuller & Ali Plum
Genre: Christian non-fiction
Page Count: 212
Why I read it: blog tour for the publisher

Synopsis:
Written by a mother and daughter who have successfully navigated the minefield from distance and tension to acceptance and friendship, Mother-Daughter Duet helps moms open wide the door of communication so that daughters want to walk through it. Filled with personal anecdotes and based on proven principles, each chapter offers timeless wisdom as well as a daughter’s perspective. Often these principles apply to daughters-in-law as well.

My review:
I'm not really the target audience for this book.  I do have a daughter, but she's not an adult.  With that in mind, I read this thinking about the future, and the relationship I want to have with my daughter when she is an adult.

There is some great advice and ideas in here, and I think any mom with a daughter would benefit from reading Mother Daughter Duet.  Even if, like me, you're not the target audience, you can get something out of it.  There is a chapter on connecting and bonding, and most of the ideas there will work for a daughter of any age.

Here's a favorite quote from the book:
I stayed at the altar and continued to pray, this time asking God to forgive me for trying to control it all.  While I was on my knees, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.  Trust me.  I love your daughter even more than you do.  And if you died today, I would see to it that she ends up in my kingdom for eternity.  It will be in her timing and mine, not yours.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  To find out more information about this book, click here.

***I have a copy of this book to give away to one lucky reader.  To enter, just leave a comment here, including an e-mail address where I can contact you if you win.  Giveaway ends, and a winner will be chosen on March 12th. *** 

Dancing With My Father (+Giveaway)

Title: Dancing With My Father
Author: Sally Clarkson
Genre: Christian Non-Fiction
Page Count: 206
Why I read it: blog tour for the publisher

Synopsis:
When trusted author and mentor Sally Clarkson noticed a lack of joy in her own life, she realized how easy it can be, especially for women with overloaded to-do lists, to feel weighed down by drudgery and disappointment. But rather than slogging through her days, Sally wanted to know the delight of God's presence. She began prayerfully exploring how to cultivate deep-rooted joy even in the midst of difficult seasons.

My review:
How many times have you asked yourself why everything has to be so hard?  I know I've asked myself that.  As I go through the day to day drudgery of being a stay at home mom, sometimes it's hard to find the joy in life.  But joy doesn't depend on our circumstances, it's found in loving and trusting God, and this book was a beautiful illustration of that.

Through stories from her own life, Sally Clarkson tells us how we can find joy--through trials, through experiencing God's creation, through His word . . . God has given us endless things to bring us joy.  Each chapter ends with questions so that you can reflect on what you've read.  This book would be wonderful for a small group or womens Bible study.

One of the passages from the book says, "When I intentionally asked God to open my eyes to his provision of joy, I began to notice even small, everyday occurrences as a gift, such as the sunrise and sunset."  I've realized I need to not only enjoy the beauty of things, but take the time to stop what I'm doing and recognize that those beautiful things I'm seeing are part of God's love letter to me.  Dancing With My Father gives wonderful examples of ways to find joy in all things.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  To find out more information about this book, click here.


***I also have a copy of this book to give away to one lucky reader.  To enter, just leave a comment here, including an e-mail address where I can contact you if you win.  Giveaway ends, and a winner will be chosen on March 10th. ***

Comfort Living

Title: Comfort Living
Author: Christine Eisner
Genre: Non-fiction
Page Count: 84
Why I read it: Received review copy from the publisher
Grade: B

Synopsis:
With simple tools and do-able steps, Comfort Living will guide you in creating a home that transforms the way you experience each day. No big investment of time or money is required. Filled with exercises, ToolBoxes, photographs and planning pages, this book becomes a personalized experience for each reader, customized to individual needs and wants, much like a wedding planner or baby book. Just as comfort food does more than satisfy hunger, Comfort Living realigns your surroundings so that they support your priorities and feed your soul.

My review:
This was a fairly short, straightforward book about simple ways that you can make your home more comfortable and inviting.  A lot of it centered around "campfires" or different comfort areas that you could make within your home.  This might be a reading nook, your dining room table, your entryway--you figure out a place that's important to you, and then make it your own.

There was a lot of useful advice packed into this little book.  The chapters are divided into weeks, and there are eight of them, so it's meant to be done one week at a time.  There is planning areas, places to take notes, little assignments for you to do each week, etc.  I really liked some of the ideas in this book, and will implement them in my home.

The Language of Love and Respect

Title: The Language of Love & Respect
Author: Emerson Eggerichs
Genre: Christian Non-Fiction
Page Count: 368
Why I read it: Received review copy from Thomas Nelson publisher
Grade: B-

Synopsis:
Finally an answer for the number one problem in marriages—communication! This analysis of the vital principles of cross-gender communication helps couples recognize they speak two different languages. They are sending each other messages in "code" but won't be able to crack that code until they realize that she listens to hear the language of love and he listens for respect.

Most advice on this subject fails to understand that husbands and wives are wired very differently, and when those wires get crossed, the communication sparks can fly!


My review:
There seemed to be a whole lot of repetition in this book.  Men and women are different (blue and pink, in this book).  Men desire to be respected by their wives, and women desire to be loved by their husbands.  When one spouse isn't feeling the love or respect, the crazy cycle begins, and it goes round and round until one of them decides to stop it.  It's not good to live in the crazy cycle.  And even if your spouse doesn't show you love (or respect), it'll be best for all involved if you show respect (or love) anyway.

So, that was pretty much the message of the book.  Repeat as necessary for 368 pages.  But, it's a good message.  Really good.  I think if one or both spouses really followed what was in this book, they'd have a happy, content marriage.  So, while I felt that the book could have been shortened quite a bit, I think it was a good book, for the message.  I'd recommend this to Christian couples who might be having trouble in their marriage.

The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2

Title: The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2
Author: Carla Barnhill
Genre: Juvenile Christian Non-fiction
Page Count: 384
Why I read it: Received from Tyndale Publisher for review
Grade: A

Synopsis:
The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2 uses the Little Blessings characters to help children through easy-to-understand devotions. Each reading pairs a Little Blessings illustration with a short Bible verse and devotional thought that gets you and your child talking about the simple truths of Scripture. A fun, rhyming prayer completes each devotional. This book is a great way to get young children interacting with Scripture daily to learn of God’s wonderful promises and timeless truths. Previously published as Blessings Every Day.

My review:
When I received this in the mail, and let my three-year-old open it, he was so excited to be getting his very own book in the mail.  We started reading it right away, and although it's a devotional, meant to be read one page (or devotion) each day, he wanted me to just keep on going.  We've read through this whole book a couple of times already.

He absolutely loves it, and I think it's quite cute, with good Biblical truths.  The illustrations are adorable as well.  I'm not sure how you could get by with just reading one page at a time with your preschooler.  I guarantee once you start reading, they'll want more.  So, in this way, it doesn't really work as a devotional book.  But that's not a bad thing, I don't think.  I would recommend this to Christian parents looking for a good book to read with their young child.

The One Day Way

Title: The One Day Way
Author: Chantel Hobbs
Genre: Self Help
Page Count: 210
Why I read it: Received review copy from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Grade: B

Synopsis:
Yesterday's mistakes are gone so let them go. You can't control tomorrow, so stop worrying about it. Today is your opportunity to lose weight, get strong, and look great. It won't happen overnight, but you can build a new life by changing your actions immediately and this book shows you how to make the changes that will create the new lifestyle you dream of: body, mind, and spirit.  For more information visit Random House.

My review:
This was a well-written, easy to read book about a new approach to losing weight.  The author makes things easy to understand, and has good advice throughout the book.  I've read a few different fitness and weight loss books, and while I can see how the plans in each book might work, they've always seemed a bit unattainable, to be honest.  The fitness and food plans were never anything that I could do or afford. 

At first I was thinking the approach in this book wouldn't work for me, because I've always been the "I'll start tomorrow" type of person.  So I thought if I took it one day at a time, every day I'd just say I'd start doing better tomorrow.  But then I realized I'm that way because my plans are always long term.  It's always a month long plan, or a six month plan or the like.  So it's easier to say I'll start on my new plan tomorrow.  If I focus on small, daily goals, every day is a chance to accomplish a goal.  It won't seem so daunting, and won't be something to put off starting until tomorrow.

I haven't started on the one day way yet.  It's going to be a New Years resolution for me, so I can't say how well the plan actually works, but I can say the book was an easy, enjoyable read, and I would recommend it if you're looking to try something new and fresh for getting healthier.

Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World

Title: Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World
Author: Dr. David Jeremiah
Genre: Christian Nonfiction
Got it from: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Why I read it: received review copy
Grade: C

Synopsis:
This book is about things that we can do to live calmly and confidently in a world that is filled with uncertainty and turmoil.  Filled with scriptural references and biblical reasoning, Dr. David Jeremiah gives ten ways to make life more peaceful and filled with hope as we look toward the end times.






My review:
I think Dr. Jeremiah is an interesting author, and this book may have worked better for me had it been in article form.  I know that would negate it being a book, and therefore I wouldn't be doing a book review.  I just didn't feel like there was enough information to fill a whole book.  While it was scripturally sound, and I liked what he had to say, I felt that it was way to repetitive for me to enjoy it.  It seemed to be saying the same things over and over in a chapter, and while what he was saying were all very good things, and things that make sense, I don't need to read the same advice told in ten different ways.