If you need a real dose of encouragement, the new May issue of Christian Women Online magazine is hot off the press. I can’t wait for you to see it because guess who is the new “Book Buzz” columnist? Me! I’ve found a fun place to buzz about the latest, greatest inspirational books for women.

There are plenty of cool things going on at CWO for bloggers — I hope you’ll join the party if you haven’t already. First of all, you can join the CWO Blogring and you’ll be linked to the site. Here’s what the purpose of the Blogring is:

The Christian Women Online blog ring was newly created to unite women of faith via the internet. Web users can use this unique list to easily find other women that share the same faith, without having to waste hours searching through secular blogs that may hold little or no interest to them.

This is a great way to stay connected to other like-minded bloggers. And once a month, CWO will feature a “Pick of the Month” blog, offering you the opportunity to introduce your blog to tons of new readers! This month’s feature is the beautiful My Prairie Rose blog, where “Carolyn shares her life as a 47 year-old Christian wife, mom and grandma who loves to read, scrapbook, and other crafty things.”

Besides the Blog of the Month, the May issue of CWO features a free book drawing and writing contest, as well as inspirational columns and articles on growing in your faith, scrapbooking, home organizing, eating healthy, homeschooling, parenting, new recipes, and more! I hope you’ll go check it out. Best of all, it’s free!

I feel like I’ve discovered something new, and I can’t wait to tell you about it. Well, maybe you’ve already heard of the Sisterchicks series by Robin Jones Gunn — and I’m a bit late to the party. Why didn’t someone tell me? I’ve recently decided I want to branch out from reviewing nonfiction, and so when the opportunity to review this novel came up, I jumped on it. And I feel like I’m just starting a grand adventure!

Venice … as Gunn says, is “the city that Italy wears proudly like a diamond-studded broach on the cuff of her tall boot.” From the very first page of this book, I felt like I was whisked away to the land of canals and chilled Italian gelato ice cream. It was almost comical how I could actually hear the sweet sounds of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” being played by an Italian violinist every time I opened the book. I hope I didn’t start waving my arms around like a conductor while I waited in my kids’ pick-up line (the best spot for reading).

The setting in the jewel of Italy is magnificent, and the characters captivated me as well. Jenna and Sue have been sisters-in-law for almost 30 years, yet their friendship has become tightly knit only in the last five. In exchange for cooking for a group on a retreat, the women are invited to stay in a 15th-century restored palace on a quiet Venician canal. The descriptions of this palace are breathtaking.

What’s even more fun is that Sue and Jenna decide to sleep on the roof of the palace, since the other guests need all the bedroom space. And we’re right there with them. Jenna narrates for us:

Once we managed to heave both mattresses onto the rooftop, I stood back and caught my breath. The evening air swirled with the scent of salt air and garlic. Accordian music floated our way from one of the alleyways where I could picture an Italian musician playing his or her heart out for locals who were making their evening commute on foot.

Not only do readers get to enjoy the scenery, we’re also gently pulled along into the author’s deep Christian faith. While on the rooftop, Jenna ponders her relationship with God. She remembers how He comforted her years ago when her husband left her, when her daughter was only a few months old. Even though she’d prayed fervently for her marriage to be restored, she was left alone, as a single mom. Yet God carried her through the years.

He didn’t give me any of the solutions I begged and bargained for. All God gave me was Himself. His presence. And even though I didn’t recognize it at the time, the grace of His presence was sufficient. His abiding Spirit was like the moon. A sliver of comfort and light rising even on the darkest night. This night, on the Venecian rooftop, His presence was more than sufficient. He filled heaven and earth.

I couldn’t get enough of this wonderful, faith-driven writing. And it’s laugh-out-loud funny too! Native Texan Sue brings humor to their excursions through Venice as she pronounces Italian words with her Southern drawl. I found myself picking up certain words and phrases from my reading and teaching my children how to pronounce grazie and prego. (I never knew the word Prego on all those spaghetti sauce jars means “you’re welcome!”)

I’ll keep the plot a secret so you can read it for yourself, but this trip is a season of awakening for these two women. Both have been through deep valleys — Jenna’s brother (Sue’s husband) has recently been through a horrific accident and will never fully recover. But their trip to Italy is the perfect salve to their wounds, and you can sense their refreshment as they both enter a new season of their lives. One that will be full of joy cut from the grooves of sorrow.

Now I’ve become a new Sisterchicks fan, and I can’t wait to read the other books in this bestselling series. They’ve sold more than three million copies worldwide (see — I am late to the party!). Other titles include Sisterchicks Say Ooh La La!, Sisterchicks Down Under, Sisterchicks in Sombreros, and Sisterchicks Do the Hula. Don’t they sound fun?

There’s no bad language or smut in these books. Author Robin Jones Gunn is the mother of two and has been married for 28 years. She makes her home in Portland, Oregon, and has written over 60 books in all genres! I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to discover Christian fiction. It’s so refreshing to read! I’m absolutely SICK of reading novels that have bad language — I bought a paperback at the grocery store a year ago in my ninth month of pregnancy — in complete desperation for a light-hearted distraction. I won’t say who — she’s a topselling author — but the language and immorality left me feeling defeated. In contrast, Gunn’s books inspire me and encourage my faith.

Sorry, I just discovered you’ll have to wait until May for this book to come out! But if you happen to read any of the other Sisterchicks novels, let me know what you think! Y’all know I love my armchair traveling these days. (sigh) Click here to see a cute picture of the author riding a gondola through a canal in Venice.

— Reviewed by Heather Ivester

Well, I’m probably breaking all book reviewer records today, but I can’t wait another second to tell you about this book. Only two days ago, it appeared in my mailbox, wrapped inside a padded white envelope with that oh-so-familiar Mind & Media return address. I knew instantly what book it was, and I could hardly wait to get inside and unwrap it!

I first heard about Barbara Curtis’ book on Amy’s Humble Musings. I love Amy’s blog and when she said, “Reading this book was like a cup of cocoa on a cold day: Barbara’s warm candor and not-so-perfect stories were a treat to me, a mother in the trenches,” I knew I’d enjoy this book too. Also, one of Amy’s commenters said she read the book cover to cover with a flashlight at night! So, when I found out Mind & Media was offering this book for review, I was all over it.

This is how I spent my quiet Sunday afternoon — reading this delightful book. It’s the perfect length for busy moms, and oh-so-full of wonderful words of refreshment. Barbara Curtis has a passion for inspiring mothers like me to see our roles as a calling. I can tell you my book is already dog-eared, underlined, and filled with stars and scribbles in the margins — which means I’ll be quoting from it every chance I can get!

First of all, this book is rich; it’s not fluffy. I’m so tired of fluffy books written by authors who must produce a new book every year, even when they have nothing new to say. Their books are full of cutesy graphics and quotes from other people. The same old thing I’ve read dozens of times. Instead, this is written by a woman who finds deep, spiritual joy in the GREAT ADVENTURE of motherhood. She loves her family; she loves her life. And after reading it, you’ll understand why — and you’ll want what she has for yourself.

Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room is Barbara Curtis’ life story — her long, drawn-out answer to the question she probably hears several times a day: “So, how do you DO it?” Barbara is the mother of 12 kids — 9 of her own and 3 adopted. What’s more, she and her husband purposefully adopted three children with Down’s syndrome since one of their sons has this “little extra” chromosome. Need I say more about her qualifications to write a book?

In the first chapter, Barbara describes how her laundry room became the one place in her home where she could have a “Quiet Time,” where she could pour out her heart to God as well as listen to the “still small Voice” of the Lord. She says:

And so my laundry room became my prayer closet. For years it’s been the place I meet the Lord each morning before my children awake, and at intervals throughout the day as I transfer clothes from baskets to washer, from washer to dryer, from dryer to baskets again … I never have trouble finding God in my laundry room. He is always ready to receive my praise, my thanks, my prayers for family and friends, my joys and heartaches too.

Barbara’s journey to motherhood has taken plenty of twists and turns — she didn’t have a good role model growing up, as she was transferred between divorced parents and even in foster care at one time. She moved to California and went through a period of embracing the ideals of radical feminism. Then she discovered Christianity for the very first time while listening to James Dobson’s gentle voice on her car radio, then through attending a Focus on the Family marriage retreat. From that point on, her life changed forever, and she’s never looked back.

Despite what the world tells women, she considers motherhood the highest of callings, and she loves sharing her heart with her readers. She says:

If I had my druthers, we’d be sipping tea or coffee together, and I could take your hands and give you this special blessing: May God bless your motherhood as He has mine. May He give you the courage to see your mistakes and the assurance that He can use every one of them to His advantage. May He give you a vision of the glory of your motherhood, so that even while doing the lowliest tasks, you will not forget the privilege of your calling.

I have the feeling that one day I’m going to be reading that message out loud to a group of fellow moms — and I’ll have to practice it plenty of times beforehand so I don’t get all choked up saying it!

If you have a child who is a “challenge” or has special needs, this book is definitely for you. Barbara calls this “a little extra.” She describes what it was like to be surprised on her delivery day when she found out her newborn son had Down’s. While the nurses and doctors feared her reaction, instead she described the “joy and exhilaration” she felt at being chosen by God to raise such a special child who would always need her care. She shares how this “little extra” in some of our children motivates us to depend on God more.

She writes, “What a privilege to be so dependent, so connected to Him. And no doubt about it, it’s the connectedness to God that’s key in realizing that being a mommy is a completely worthy — and unique — calling.”

If you’d like to read an excerpt from this book, you can go to Barbara’s blog at Mommy Life and read her post, The Chapel of the Wash and Dry. You can also enter her Love that Laundry Room contest by sending her a picture of yourself having a “Quiet Time” alone in your laundry room. (Hey, some of these laundry rooms are fabulous — no fair!)

In case Barbara Curtis has a chance to read my review, I’d like to say thank you for writing this book. You’ve reminded me what a blessing it is to be chosen by God to be a mom, and how my calling is unique and wonderful. In return, I hope to find ways to continue sharing this message to people God puts in my path as well.

[Note: A condensed version of this review has been cross-posted on Amazon.]

The forces of darkness figured out a long time ago
that they don’t have to make any Christian family bad;
they just have to make them too busy.
Dr. Tim Kemmel

I read this quote when I opened up Timothy Smith’s book, Connecting With Your Kids: How Fast Families Can Move from Chaos to Closeness. From the very first page, I saw our family between the covers — he was talking to me. I’m the one who manages our family schedule, and it was the perfect timing to hear some straight talk from a professional family coach.

Smith uses the analogy of a runner finding the right pace throughout the book, which he calls “discovering your heartprint.” The four types of heartprints are the cruiser, the walker, the runner, and the biathlete. When members of your family run at different paces, you can see how it’s difficult to move forward together.

I think the material in this book is as revolutionary as Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages, which is still on the bestseller list the last time I checked. People love reading books by counselors who regularly meet with families in crisis — we’re all looking for solutions, and it helps to see how others handle life.

I enjoyed learning how families all have different paces. As a mom, I’ve realized my pace has had to change in the past few years and sometimes it drives me crazy. I’m a “runner” — I like to move fast and get a lot accomplished. But the more our family has grown, I’ve had to slow down. Babies and small children get sick and have to stay home to recuperate; pregnancy can be nine months of exhaustion; and traveling with children requires days of planning and packing.

This book reminded me that it’s OK to operate in seasons. My main role is to help introduce our children to a relationship with Christ — even if they don’t become Olympic athletes, Carnegie-hall-bound musicians, or academy-award-winning stars. Do they know Jesus personally? Do they love Him? Will they obey Him on their own when they grow up?

Connecting With Your Kids is pefect for group discussions because it’s got “Parent-to-Parent” and “Parent and Child” questions at the end of each chapter. I’ve mentioned to several people this would be a GREAT book for Sunday School or Bible Study.

[This book was sent to me from Mind & Media as a gift from the publisher.]

I also put on my best Sunday-shoe words and wrote a spiffy review of this book for Christian Book Previews, which has been cross-posted on Amazon.

P.S. I must add:
THIS BOOK HAS AN ADORABLE COVER!! DON’TCHA LOVE IT?

A novel? It’s about time. I don’t read much fiction, but I’m glad I discovered this one. If you love getting carried away in a good story, this novel is way too much fun. It’s ideal for a breezy weekend read.

The Potluck Club is co-authored by Eva Marie Everson and Linda Evans Shepherd, two ladies who keep my inbox brimming. Eva Marie sends me her newest articles on Crosswalk, and Linda sends me recipes. When I heard Eva Marie speak at a conference, I just had to get a signed copy of her book.

“How do two people write a novel together?” I asked her. “We each wrote three characters,” she whispered. “But it’s a secret which ones.”

What is the Potluck Club? It’s a tight-knit group of six friends who get together to share a home-cooked meal, spicing things up with the latest gossip prayer requests. These ladies find plenty to talk about in their small town nestled in the scenic Colorado mountains.

What I enjoyed most about this book is that the women are real. They’re funny and flawed, but have a heart for growing in their faith. As the plot unfolds, we enter into their joys and heartaches, frowning at the naughty and smiling at the nice. I laughed and cried — now, I’m hooked and can’t wait to read the sequel.

It’s about time Christian publishers gave us something to read that rivals best-selling chick-lit that won’t make us blush! This is a novel you wouldn’t mind your teen daughter or your grandmother picking up after you — pass it on. Forget the trashy romances — here’s a piece that’s good for your mind and soul.

If you’re looking for something fun and poignant to discuss at your next book club meeting, this book is the perfect accompaniment to the staples of food and laughter. Since all the recipes are included at the back of the book, why not try some out? Are Lisa Leann’s oven-barbecued brisket and cinnamon rolls really ALL THAT? Make them and see. Vonnie’s Mexican tamales will always remind you of that sad secret in her past. And Mother Dippel’s chocolate cake looks delicious — just watch out for hungry black bears!

As you can see in this author picture, the Colorado mountains make a gorgeous backdrop for a novel. And since I don’t live anywhere near mountains like that, it made me relish the story even more. I felt like I was on a little adventure — all the while I was curled up reading this book. It really inspired me! I won’t be surprised at all if The Potluck Club gets made into a movie — it’s one I’ll enjoy taking my daughters to see.

Speaking of Potluck Clubs, don’t forget to go through your recipe files this weekend and tell me about your favorite “Comfort Food.” I’m hosting the Carnival of Beauty here next Wednesday, and I need YOUR potluck dish. Click here for details. All you have to do is post the recipe in your blog by 3 pm on Tuesday, then email me the link. And you can be in our Carnival! Even if you don’t have a blog, email me your recipe, and I’ll post it with mine. Let’s break out of our winter doldrums and dish up something tasty.

Good books. Good food. Bon Appetit!

Something funny happened this week that involves this book. A friend of mine bought A Mom Just Like You for herself and read through the first couple of chapters, but then she felt like God was saying to her, “You need to give this book to Heather.”

So she did! As a belated birthday gift. And I had to laugh and tell her “great minds think alike” because I love this book! In fact, I bought it four years ago and read it cover to cover — devouring it like hot brownies out of the oven. Then I loaned it out a couple of times, and a friend returned it to me last summer.

So, I told her I’d “loan” her my new book permanently, so she could finish it and we could talk about it. Then I thought, “Well, maybe I’m supposed to write about this in my blog.” Is there a mom out there who could use some encouragement? Is there anyone struggling with the issue of … family size? A Mom Just Like You is written by Vickie Farris (with her daughter Jayme), and she’s the mother of ten kids.

Well, in my pre-blogging days, I wrote a bunch of reviews on Amazon, and so I decided to review this book. And while I was looking it up, I discovered some people didn’t like it. Well, I had to differ on their opinion. So here’s what I wrote:

I can’t understand the other reviewers who write negatively about this book. The title is absolutely perfect! It’s not supposed to be a practical how-to guide; it’s a journey, a very personal peek into the life of a large, successful homeschooling family. Mrs. Farris bravely tells the story of how she came to be the mother of ten children and why they chose to homeschool.

I’ve heard Michael Farris speak before, and I too wondered what kind of a woman could possibly mother and teach ten children. So that’s why I bought the book to begin with. Mrs. Farris writes, “I am a very normal mom who happens to have a very visible, talented, and energetic husband … I struggle regularly with feeling overwhelmed … I am very much a mom like you. And from one normal mom to another, let me just tell you that God is faithful …” (Her husband is a successful attorney, the founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association, founder of Patrick Henry College, professor, author of several non-fiction books and novels, and has won many awards.)

The theme of her story is that God alone can enable and give grace for a person to accomplish anything. Mrs. Farris grew up as a shy, only child who had little practice in domestic arts or caring for children. She even admits that she is a “scaredy cat” when her husband is away traveling. Yet she uses her weaknesses to draw on God’s strength.

The book encompasses her journey of child-bearing, beginning with the birth of her first daughter, and ending with her new role as grandmother. She goes into great detail about how she and her husband made the decisions that led them along this path.

While listening to a Focus on the Family radio show, she became interested in homeschooling. Later, it was through reading a magazine article as well as Mary Pride’s book, The Way Home, that she changed her views on planning the size of her family.

The whole book is funny and encouraging. We see her youngest son jumping off the coffee table. We agonize with her as she is planning a wedding while still taking care of a child in the middle of the night. We see how her daily afternoon walks help her stay sane and refreshed.

She explains the Farris’ principles of child-rearing; mainly, “our ultimate goal is not to raise children, but to raise adults.” She discusses the delicate balance between rights and responsibility as children move through different ages. This wisdom is so helpful for moms in the trenches with young kids (like me).

The last two chapters are extremely inspirational, and for anyone who is planning a mother/daughter speech or tea, these chapters offer you great ideas. She quotes another of my favorite authors, Elisabeth Elliot, who says, “None of the gifts of my own life — not my “career” or my work or any other gift — is higher or more precious to me than that of being someone’s mother.”

I’ve read this book through twice, and I plan on reading it again — sorry, I can’t loan you my copy. (Order it through your local Christian bookstore, and give them some business!) One more thing about this book: although Mrs. Farris does hold certain beliefs about family planning, she doesn’t come across as judgmental. I personally believe this is a decision that husbands and wives should make together as a couple, after much prayer and seeking God about it. This book will give you one point of view; it’s up to you to research and make the wisest choice — for your family.

Several Mind & Media reviewers are currently reading/reviewing the first two books of the Wilderking trilogy, so I thought I’d share some recent news. I found out that Book 1, The Bark of the Bog Owl, has been chosen as one of ten finalists in the Lamplighter Awards. According to the Children’s Crown Awards website:

The mission of the Children’s Gallery, the Children’s Crown, and the Lamplighter Awards is to encourage elementary and junior high students to read wholesome and uplifting books by providing lists each year of the best literature … Books that convey wholesome values, uplifting characters, and edifying themes that inspire children toward positive goals are selected by a committee of readers from participating schools.

Teachers and school librarians encourage students to read books from this list. They’re new books that have all been published within the last two years. When kids read one of these books, they can earn points in the Accelerated Reader program — by taking a specially designed comprehension test. (If you’re not familiar with the AR program, it’s highly competitive for kids throughout the school year. They earn prizes, and teachers display the points up on the wall.) The Lamplighter Award winner and runner-up will be voted on by students this spring, so it will be interesting to see which of these ten books wins.

We caught up with the author, Jonathan Rogers, at CBA Advance in Nashville. He was signing Book 2, The Secret of the Swamp King, and hosting Swampboat Tours around Delta island inside Opryland.

Although I didn’t see them, I heard his wife made feechie costumes for their children to wear, complete with Dobro Turtlebane-approved hairstyles (moss included). The feechies are the tribe of creatures who inhabit the swamps of Corenwald in the Wilderking books — and their way of talkin’ keeps you turning the pages in laughter.

Rogers also showed us an advance copy of his forthcoming Book 3, The Way of the Wilderking, which will be released in May. Rumor has it this book’s the funniest one yet. It’s the final installment in the Wilderking trilogy.

A Mom 2 Mom reader sent me an enthusiastic comment last night after recently reading Book 1 and Book 2:

Great read. I especially love Roger’s insight to David. Book 1…Looking at the whole Goliath situation through the eyes of David gave me fresh ideas for Sunday School. The theme of Book 2 is “grace.” Again, Rogers gives us a good look at what God’s grace truly is. Book 3…I can hardly wait!

So, if you’ve got kids who like fantasy adventure books, you still have time to jump in before the third book comes out in May. They’re published by Broadman & Holman, the same people who give us glorious Beth Moore.

Mind & Media is looking for some new book reviewers — so if you have a blog and you love Christian books, music, and movies, you may be interested in becoming a reviewer. In exchange for posting product reviews in your blog, you get to keep the items — free of charge.

Stacy just celebrated her one-year anniversary of starting her company, and her business is doing so well — she really needs more people to work on her team!

In the past week, I’ve been able to pick and choose from several newly released books. I chose two that specifically interest me. So, in a couple of weeks, I’ll open my mailbox (my real metal one), and these books will be waiting for me. All I have to do is read them and write a review.

The only requirements are that you need to post the above beautiful logo in your blog, and you post an Amazon ad of the books you review for two months. Also, your blog needs to have at least 1,000 unique visitors a month, and you must be approved based on the content in your blog. Stacy will check out every blog that requests to become a reviewer to make sure it’s a blog that edifies. She has a few more rules, which you can read about in the Become a Reviewer section of the Mind & Media site.

I hope you’ll give this some consideration because writing reviews of products is a great way to share the Good News of Christianity — whether your reviews are positive or negative. Good reviews can help promote books and spur sales, and critical reviews can give much-needed reader feedback to the author and publisher.

At any rate, I feel like I’m using my platform as a blogger to make a difference — all from the comfort of my home. At this season of life, I’m home raising young children, and I can’t get out and travel the world sharing the messages that I believe in (though I’d like to someday, when my kids are older and can travel with me!).

Here’s a verse I read recently that reminds me of my role as a writer/book reviewer:

“Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters” Proverbs 25:13.

Note: FlyLady Friday will return next week — keep those timers ticking and sinks shining, fellow FlyBabies!

Here’s a book I read last summer that I’d love to share with you. If you’re looking for something to curl up with by the fire this winter, then Carol Kent and Ellie Kay have a real treat for you. Some of these stories were so hilarious, I was laughing out loud — and others had me in tears. Most of all, they pointed me to Christ, the true Storyteller.

Each of the 50 stories begins with a funny or inspiring quote and ends with a scripture that draws upon the theme of the story. It doesn’t matter what stage of mothering you’re in, you’ll connect with these women. If you’re expecting your first child, you’ll love the labor and delivery stories (Whew, Ellie!). Reading about fellow diaper-changing mavens, homeschooling with a mouse on the loose, and reflections in the garden are just a few of my favorites.

You’ll crack up reading Jill Gregory’s story, “This Isn’t the Life I Signed Up For!” when you see what she discovers while bathing her son. In pure exhaustion, she does what many of us do: she called her mom with a cry for Help!! And she comes to this wonderful conclusion:

I can honestly smile now, realizing that my life has taken a more difficult turn than I expected, but I am learning firsthand that I have a God of refuge who is my Comforter and my Teacher. He has given me the important job of loving a special-needs child and of sharing my story with other mothers who have had unexpected “job descriptions” in their own roles as parents … This is not the life I signed up for, but it’s the assignment God has for me today.

With titles such as “Did I really Say Drug Free?,” “Keeping the Groom — Dumping the Dress,” “Girls’ Day Jammin” and “A Tale of Two Manicures,” there’s something for every woman to enjoy. If you’re looking for a gift for an expectant or new mom — or for a friend who could use some encouragement, I highly recommend Kisses of Sunshine for Moms. Plus — it’s just downright pretty and would look fun in a gift basket!

One thing I really enjoy about this book is that it makes me feel a whisper of creativity, urging me to write. When I read someone else’s mothering experiences, it makes me reflect on my own. Do you write things down somewhere? If you can at least jot down a line or two of a special memory, one day you can go back and write about it. Reflect on what God taught you — or what you’d like to share with your children someday.

I think it brings joy to God’s heart when we remember the good things in life and record our memories with words. Here’s one of the quotes I love: “Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to others” (Rick Warren).

Last week, a friend emailed me and said she was trying to decide on a book for her Sunday School class to read together. She wanted to know if I had any ideas. Of course I do — I read a ton of great books!

Today, I’m writing some book reviews for Christian Book Previews, and I just realized I don’t think I’ve told you about this site yet.

If you hear about a new Christian book coming out, or you’re curious about something you’ve heard of, chances are you can find a review and even an author interview at this site. There are hundreds to choose from — and only the best books get picked for reviews.

Here are a few book reviews I’ve written — I highly recommend all of these books:

Little Lessons from a Big God, by Michelle Medlock Adams

Five-Star Families: Moving Yours From Good to Great, by Carol Kuykendall

The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted, by Gary Chapman

All in Good Time, by Debbie Williams

P.S. You can also sign up to receive a free newsletter — and if you love novels, there’s a Go Girl! Book Club that will keep you flipping pages in pure delight. (Just be sure you put your oven timer on if you’re baking while reading a novel — I speak from experience.)