Book Review - "5 Days to a Clutter Free House"

Two organizing experts, Sandra Felton (The Organizer Lady) and Marsha Sims (Sort-it-out, inc.), have teamed together to write their book, "5 Days to a Clutter-Free House: Quick, Easy Ways to Clear Up Your Space."  I have to be honest that I was so excited to read this book, as I feel like I always have something to clean and organize around the house and cannot keep up with everything!  This book is split into two sections. the first focuses on getting the home/the items all under control and organized and the second section is how to keep the home organized and managing time and all areas of one's life.  Much of this first part of the book focuses on making a plan, forming a team to help you tackle the home stages at a time and tips for making the plan successful in the follow-through.  A main point and question that is asked in the second section is if your home were perfect what would it look like/be like?  That is so important to address as each person's idea of perfection and the ideal home is different.  There are clutter-buster tips included and also tips for really individualizing this plan. 

I like the layout of this book as it is easy to use and filled with excellent tips and encouragers to really help get the home organized in order to live confortably.  While I would not go through with all parts of the plan that are included as I personally do not like them or feel they would work for me just as they are, I find so many parts of the book extremely useful and practical.  One tip to help maintain an organized home is to avoid over-shopping.  If you see something you want, take a picture and wait for twenty-four hours to see if you still want it; if you do, then you go and buy it.  Excellent, easy tip to implement and this is just one of many in this book!

“Available February 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Book Review - "A New Home for Lily"

"A New Home for Lily," is book two in Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher's The Adventures of Lily Lapp series.  Lily and her family have moved to a new home and there is nothing that she likes in the home besides the working light switches, but that will only be for a few weeks.  Lily is in a new home, has to go to new school, does not even have her own real bedroom and has to make new friends.  Lily finds out that her new home and her new community is filled with new adventures and fun, exciting things for her to do. 

This is a really fun book for kids to read.  Young girls will enjoy reading about Lily and her many adventures with her brothers and friends.  The story includes details about everyday farm life as well as fun things such as going sledding and exploring new places.  Lily's feelings are also expressed and girls will be able to relate to Lily and decide how they would react in the same situations and feel.  I highly recommend this book and series for young girls to read.  I am looking forward to more books in this series!

“Available February 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Book Review - "Threads of Grace"

"Threads of Grace," another one of Kelly Long's A Patch of Heaven Novel, will warm your heart and immerse you in the lives of the characters.

Book Description from the publisher:

Grace's autistic son needs a life that is safe and consistent. Seth wants to leave his flirting days behind him and settle down.
Deep in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania, the beautiful and weary Amish widow, Grace Beiler, is not looking for a husband—especially one so much younger than her. But handsome and smitten Seth Wyse stumbles upon a way to help her and they marry to keep Grace’s autistic son safe from his ill-intentioned uncle.
Grace soon discovers that she is far from immune to her young husband’s experienced charm and realizes that her first marriage has not destroyed her capacity for love.
Seth Wyse seeks counsel from his older brother, Jacob, when playing the game of pursuing his wife becomes more dangerous to both his heart and life than he ever imagined.
Yet God can give Grace and Seth a passion for family and each other that teaches them the ways of the Master Quilter through the tangled and tender threads of their lives.

My review:

I am a fan of Kelly Long's novels and this one is another winner!  The characters are all so lovable and face decisions and hardships just as many of us do in our own lives, making it easy to relate to them as well even though they are Amish and live completely different lifestyles.  I love Long's style of writing as it is easy to follow and I am immediately drawn into the story. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

Book Review - "Wishing on Willows"

I really enjoyed Katie Ganshert's novel, "Wildflowers from Winter," and I was thrilled to see that she had another novel released!  "Wishing on Willows" transports the reader back to Iowa and back into the lives of characters whom we all fell in love with in the first book! 

Robin is struggling to keep her cafe open and care for her son as a single mom. This cafe means more to her than people on the outside know.  Ian is struggling to save his father's business and do something good, however it will destroy Robin's cafe.  Both Robin and Ian are trying to do things with a purpose, but yet it does not seem to be a win-win situation. 

I do not want to share too much about the story as I want you to go pick up a copy and read it, you will not be disappointed!  I love the cafe setting and the relationships between the characters.  This is an excellent book filled with characters whom come alive on the pages drawing you into their story. 

To read more about this book and some fun things related to the book go to the author's website found at:
http://katieganshert.com/books/wishing-on-willows/

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for a honest review.*

Book Review - "Cheaper, Better, Faster"

Mary Hunt, the founder of Debt-Proof Living, has compiled a huge collection of tips for everyday life in her book, "Cheaper, Better, Faster: over 2,000 tips and tricks to save you time and money every day."  The tips are divided into 16 chapters and are organized, so that it easy to find a tip in a specific category that you need in the moment or an area you are trying to save money in or make changes in the near future.  There are tips for saving money with cleaning products, tips for making gifts and giving creative gifts that do not cost a lot of money, health and beauty tips and tips for maintaining a home. 

This is such a handy book that every home needs to have a copy in it!  It is filled with so many tips and ideas of such a wide range that every time you open the book, you will find a useful tip.  I think my favorite chapter is the holidays and special occasions one.  There are a ton of ideas for having different Christmas parties or making the party preparation easier and simplier and also ideas for creating new traditions.  I have been impressed with each of Mary Hunt's books that I have read and this one is another winner!

 

“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Book Review - "The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow"

"The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow," is book 2 in Olivia Newport's Avenue of Dreams series following book 1 "The Pursuit of Lucy Banning."  Charlotte is a servant in the Banning household and yet she has a secret that could get her fired from her position if someone finds out.  Lucy knows Charlotte's secret, but she is away on her honeymoon.  During this time, Charlotte's secret, her baby boy, is left in the Banning's courtyard and Charlotte must think fast and make difficult decisions in order to protect herself and keep Henry safe.  Not only does Charlotte have to deal with her duties in the home, and protecting Henry, but she also is trying to protect her heart as Archie declares his love to her.  When Charlotte finds out that her son may be given away, and at about the same time someone from her past shows up, Charlotte must decide fast what to do and cannot wait for Lucy's return to ask her advice. 

I loved book 1 and book 2 is just as good!  I love that not only do we get to hear more about the Banning family, but we are privy to the servants' world and life as well.  Charlotte is such a great main character and I found myself admiring her strength and determination throughout the book. Of course, Lucy is very admirable and I love the role that she and Will play in the story!  Emmaline is a character whom I also admire and respect, she made hard decisions of her own and I would love to find out she still has contact with Charlotte and the family.  The historical details that are included as so much to the story and the really bring the time period and Chicago alive!  I am looking forward to the next book in the series and wonder who will be the main character, perhaps Sarah, or one of the Banning sons, or even perhaps Emmaline whom most certainly deserves a happily ever after.

“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Book Review - "Choices of the Heart"

"Choices of the Heart," book three in Laurie Alice Eakes' The Midwives series, will draw you right into the story from the very beginning!  When we start the story Esther is packing her things and preparing to leave to escape the rumors and scandal.  Esther's family does not want her to leave and Esther does not want them to know where she is going, so she leaves under the cover of darkness with two individuals whom she does not know.  Esther believes she is going to be a school teacher.  However, the real purpose that Esther has been brought to Virginia is to become a wife.  Esther finds herself being pursued by two men; two men whom want to become her husband and they are on opposite sides of a family feud throwing Esther in the midst of it all. Esther must learn to trust, follow her heart and do what she knows she must do in the midst of hardships, deception and love.

The author really brings alive the time periods with her descriptions and the events that take place in the story.  Esther is a very strong main character and one I admired her throughout the story.  This book is filled with everything to make a good story - scandal, romance, and deception.  If you have enjoyed this series, you will enjoy this latest book as well! 

“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”