Save Your Marriage in Five Minutes a Day by Bonnie Jacobson, PhD

This book is a self-help book stock full of strategies to save one's marriage.  Dr. Jacobson provides insight, examples and advice on how to pinpoint areas of weakness and slowly take action to make amends and work on one of the most precious relationships in our society...our marriage.

Throughout the book, one thing is made very clear...you cannot change your spouse, only yourself.  However, by communicating concerns and choosing to slowly address the problems...even at five minutes a day...positive change can be achieved.

What I Thought:
I would like to preface this by stating that my marriage is great!  Hubby and I are very happy and approaching our fifth wedding anniversary.  I know, I know...we're still practically newlyweds! 

I chose to review this book from the Thomas Nelson book review program because I figured it is never bad to read information and work on strengthening our marriage!  I've seen several friends divorce over the past few years, and it made me sad.  So, I considered this read as "proactive" and then figured it could be good to review every so many years just to keep that spark alive.

This book may not be the best for my intentions.   It really was more intended for couples who were looking to save their marriage, or at least their sanity.  Nothing hubby does drives me bonkers as to the point that I got the feeling of the examples in the book.  (I cannot speak for him though!)

However, it did provide several "aha" moments which got me thinking about things we could work on, so I was happy overall with the read.  I hope that we never get to the point where we need to use some of the strategies, but I have the resource in my pocket if needed. 

Now, I thought the book was well-written and laid out in a great way.  Each chapter included information about a potential trouble area in relationships and a story outlining an example of the problem and an effective way to communicate the issue with your spouse, along with five minute strategies on how to tackle the issue.  Extra credit snippets are also included to further work on the relationship!

(I do have to say that some of the example stories made me giggle...they seemed to resolve themselves a little too cleanly and properly.  Almost too perfect...too bad all conversations can't be that neat!)

If you are experiencing problems in your marriage and want to read a book about how to start working to fix them...even just a little at a time this is a wonderful book to read. 

Recommended. 

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon:  Save Your Marriage in Five Minutes a Day by Bonnie Jacobson, PhD.

Reviewed from a copy provided by the Thomas Nelson Publisher Book Review Bloggers program.

Regret Free Parenting:Raise Good Kids and Know You're Doing it Right by Catherine Hickem

Catherine Hickem is a licensed psychotherapist and founder of the organization Intentional Moms, and most importantly a mother of two!  In this book she encourages mothers to be intentional.  She writes about purpose, about being intentional, about raising kids who are emotionally intelligent, about how to survive those bumpy teenage years!

Each chapter focuses on a different area, but through it all Hickem is encouraging and offers biblical wisdom with practical insight and tips on how to become a regret-free parent. 

What I Thought
I'm not a mother, but wanted to read this book for preparation of when that day comes!   This book is absolutely chock-full of great nuggets of wisdom and lots of things to ponder.

I appreciated all of her thoughts and biblical backing.   She never promises that being a parent is easy...just the opposite in fact!  Hickem provides many examples from her life, both as a parent and examples from some of her clients.  She points out successes, and scenarios that could have been handled differently.  However, in those situations she provides insight on how to resolve the issue. 

I found a lot of things that I could use in the classroom as a teacher! 

Definitely a great book for parents who want to do a great job raising their children...of any age!

Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Regret Free Parenting:Raise Good Kids and Know You're Doing it Right by Catherine Hickem.

Reviewed from a copy provided by the Thomas Nelson Publisher Book Review Bloggers program. (I'll be stashing this book away for future reference!)

Read and Share Stories About Jesus by Gwen Ellis

A board book featuring 13 different Bible stories for young children.

What I Thought:
These are wonderful Biblical stories for children.  The author adapted the stories for young children very well and even included a discussion question for the adult and child to talk about with each story.

The cartoon illustrations are bright, colorful and correlate very well with each story.  One thing I found odd was the characters' noses...they seemed to be puppet-like and glued on their faces.  I found that distracting.

However, I thought the stories were excellent and the discussion questions correlated nicely and provided a great discussion starter for life application of the moral of each story.  

Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Read and Share Stories About Jesus by Gwen Ellis.

Reviewed from a copy provided by the Thomas Nelson Publisher Book Review Bloggers program.

Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America's Cheapest Family by Steve & Annette Economides

The Economides family shares their tips and procedures for saving money in the grocery department.  This family, dubbed as "America's Cheapest Family" has fed their family of seven on $350 a month for years.

Impossible?  This family lay out step by step plans proving that anyone can do the same!  The book covers topics such as how to plan your grocery shopping and tips for stretching that dollar at the store by seeking out the deals, organizing your kitchen, using coupons, cooking in bulk, planting a garden, recipes, and even a bonus section for singles and empty-nesters.


What I Thought:

My husband and I have recently started eating more at home and being conscious of our shopping habits, both for health and budgetary reasons.  This book peaked my interest, and I found it to be very helpful!

The authors are very aware that their lifestyle is not the norm in our society, and that it took them a long time to build up to the efficiency that they now enjoy.  In their book, they are nothing but encouraging and understanding that what they do may not be for everyone!  With that in mind, I especially appreciated the tips at the end of each chapter written specifically for people with various skill levels in mind:  tips for those just beginning, those who have been doing it for some time, and those who have been doing it for a long time and are ready for a further challenge.

I especially enjoyed the chapters about once a month shopping and cooking and kitchen organization.  These are concepts that I hope to incorporate into our lives, but perhaps and a smaller scale.  (Especially since we don't have children!)

This is a great book for those who are looking to save both time and money in the kitchen!

Recommended. 

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America's Cheapest Family by Steve & Annette Economides

Reviewed from a copy provided by the Thomas Nelson Publisher Book Review Bloggers program.  This book will make the rounds among family and friends and kept in my personal library for future reference.

God's Promises for Boys by Jack Countryman and Amy Parker

This book compiles short lists of Bible verses applicable for a variety of situations boys may encounter.  For instance, if  he feels sad and need comfort, the lad can flip write to a list of verses of God's promises for this situation.


What I Thought:
I think this is a great little guide that any child could use!  It's a great resource for anyone as we could all use a reminder of God's promises to us.

Each topic can be easily found using the table of contents which is organized by subheadings such as "God's Promises When..." and "God Wants You To..." and "God's Promises for You."

Each topic is opened with a short poem, then followed with several verses and a cute illustration.

Overall, I think this would be a wonderful gift to a boy.  Be sure to check out the book designed for girls by the same authors.  

Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: God's Promises for Boys by Jack Countryman and Amy Parker.

Reviewed from a copy provided by the Thomas Nelson Publisher Book Review Bloggers program.

Love Your Heart by Tim McGraw & Tom Douglas, illustrated by Abigail Marble

Katie can't decide what her talent should be for her school's talent show.  Should she sing?  Dance?  Do cartwheels? 

Each one is a great talent, but when it comes time for the talent show, Katie demonstrates something more important than her talent, being a true friend.

What I Thought:
What a sweet book!  Katie is a spunky little girl who has a genuine heart.  It is so sweet to see the special relationship she and her father share in this second book about these characters.  (My Little Girl by Tim McGraw is the first book that features this duo.)

This is a wonderful inspiring book, perfect for little girls and their daddies to share. 

Recommended. 

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Love Your Heart by Tim McGraw & Tom Douglas, illustrated by Abigail Marble.

Reviewed from a copy provided by the Thomas Nelson Publisher Book Review Bloggers program. This book will be donated to my local public library. 

The Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado, illustrated by Maria Monescillo

In the land of Stiltsville, all the Too Smalls clamored for a pair of stilts each day when they were handed out at 6pm. They were handed out to those that were "cool" or "special" and not those who were different.

Ollie, a young boy with a patch on his pants, desperately wanted some stilts. After being turned down again and again, his day finally came! He received a pair of tall stilts!

However, maneuvering in the stilts prove to be a little difficult, especially when a flock of birds take residence on him and the wooden sticks. Ollie goes tumbling to the ground, embarrassed and no one runs to help him.

In the shame of the moment, a hand touches his shoulder. It's Jesus and He reminds him that it doesn't matter what others think, Ollie needs to "keep his feet on the ground" and remember that he is precious and belongs to Him.


What I Thought:
What a great story! Lucado wrote this book as a parable from his book Fearless. It has a most wonderful and important message that is relevant for all of us.

Throughout the story, I was reminded of a few different stories: You are Special by Mad Lucado, Oliver (I guess because of the main character's name--Ollie), and Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I thought the rhyme and rhythm of the book was very reminiscent to Seuss and the illustrations made me think of WhoVille.

This would be a wonderful read aloud (where appropriate) and a lovely gift to anyone who needs to be reminded that though the world may want to dictate who we are and what we desire, Jesus is the only one who matters.

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: The Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado, illustrated by Maria Monescillo.

Reviewed from a copy provided by the Thomas Nelson Publisher Book Review Bloggers program. This book will be donated to my local public library.

Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage by Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey

The famous duo from the wildly popular Rick and Bubba radio show has written a book giving practical marriage advice using Biblical standards while mixing in stories from their own marriages and family lives, and of course lots of laughs!

What I Thought:
I'll be honest. I didn't have high expectations for this book--and I was pleasantly surprised! I don't get to listen to Rick & Bubba's show, I don't even know much about them except that they are funny and popular.

I think they did a perfect job blending the serious topics such as dealing with the death of a child with the seeming trivial issues while making the entertaining.

This book will make you look at your marriage and you will find something you could be doing better for your spouse, laughing all the way!

Recommended for all married couples.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage by Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey .

I Believe Bunny by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Frank Endersby

"Once upon a time in a land hard to find lived the I Believe Bunny who was funny and kind."

Thus begins the story of a sweet little bunny who loved his little home, even when it rained! One day it rained all day long and the little bunny was getting a little tired of all the wetness, when he hears a small mouse struggling in a river crying out for help because she couldn't swim.

Would the Bunny save her?


What I Thought:
A lovely, uplifting story about when you believe in yourself, ask God for help, and have faith there is no end to what you can do.

This story is based on the verse Philippians 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Rabe did a lovely job creating a sweet story told through a poem showing how faith can give anyone the strength to do the impossible. Endersby's illustrations provide a wonderful accompaniment using a soft color palette and a sense of movement.

Overall, a delightful book.

Recommended.

The Wackiest Wildest Weirdest Animals in the World by Jack Hanna

"Jungle" Jack Hanna shares a number of wacky animals in this book. Each animal is given it's own individual page with a large picture accompanied by several smaller pictures, a short written description of the animal, a box of "quick facts" including a physical description of the animal, where they live and what they eat, and another blurb of information from Jack, ranging from his experience with the animal or an especially odd fact.

What I thought:
I think kids will clamor after this very kid friendly book! Jack Hanna does a great job presenting each animal and giving wacky facts on each one, no matter if it's an animal kids may be familiar with (such as a lion or great white shark) or one that they may not be as familiar with (such as a naked mole rat or a sloth).

The pictures are excellent and the presentation of the material is very friendly for leisurely browsing or reading for information. This book does have a slight religious undertone as Hannah mentions God's animals or His sense of humor.

Book includes a glossary of terms in the back and a DVD of bloopers from Hanna's TV Show, Jack Hanna's Into the Wild. The pages are incredibly sturdy, a definite plus when giving the book to small children!

Give this book to anyone who loves to read about animals (and what kid doesn't like to read about animals?). You take a peek too, it's an enjoyable book for all.

Highly recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: The Wackiest Wildest Weirdest Animals in the World by Jack Hanna.