Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Make Me Smile

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

What a fun topic for this week's Top Ten Tuesday. It was suggested by Julia at Pages for Thought.

Top Ten Books That Make Me Smile

This book made me smile because the main character is as bold as we wish we all could be.

Danger, humor, and romance make a great combination.

Attractive single women, hot single men, and lots of fun in this one. I haven't read them in a while, but they were all great. 

When I read this in 2014, it had been a long time since I read a romantic comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The characters in Chattahoochee, Florida made this a fabulous read. You will want to read more about Hattie Davis, Aunt Piddie, and the gang because they are so much fun. This book introduced me to southern fiction. I am grateful for that.

This is my favorite out of all the Little House on the Prairie cast memoirs so far. Alison is as funny in person--I met her in 2014. She has a great sense of humor and can put a smile on your face because she is so likable. 

One of the zaniest books I've ever read. A dragon detective and a mage at a Mensa convention. Need I say more?

The title says it all. The struggle is real. 

I loved everything about this middle grade novel. The main character is an overweight genius who invents the craziest contraptions. When Owen's cookies keep disappearing, he creates a new thief catching device. This book captures the challenges of being different in school--something I have a lot of experience with.

Clare is turning 13, which is way too old to hold onto her imaginary friend, Elsa. Clare is funny, sarcastic, and filled with a ton of emotions. I related to her at that age very well. 

What are some books that made you smile? 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - July 6

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome back to Monday. It is our second week on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The weather has been good--a bit cooler than home--and the food amazing. Some restaurants and businesses haven't survived the pandemic, which is sad. More than 1,000 international workers aren't here for their planned summer jobs. No organized fireworks either. We still feel blessed to be able to go away, but it's very different this year.

I'm not reading as much as I usually do, but I am working my way through the books I've brought.

My review of this one appears here.

I started reading these two.

These two are next. 

We haven't made it to the bookstore yet, so I don't have any new books to add to the list. 

What's on your list this week? Are you reading more this summer? 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?- June 29

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday from the Outer Banks. I hope you had a nice weekend. I am doing my best not to work too much while we are away, but I know several things will command my attention today.

Here is what my reading world looks like:

I posted my review of this book on Sunday. You can read it here.

I am not sure which book I will start next, but it will be one of these.

My vacation time reading is often all over the place. I am dedicated to reading, but if something doesn't capture my attention, I might shift to something else. 

Does your reading change when you're away? Do you prefer different kinds of books or do you feel freer to abandon something that isn't working for you?

Book Review: Grumpy Moms Takes a Holiday by Valerie Woerner

Are you a mom who is stressed? Worn out? Grumpy? Those moments come to all of us. In Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday by Valerie Woerner, the author shares some of her trials as a mother and encourages other moms to ignore the world's lies about motherhood and, instead, embrace the energy, joy and peace that can be found in spending purposeful time with God amid the daily chaos that is called motherhood.

Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday will have you smiling. It will have you laughing. There are moments where you'll say to yourself, "Yes, that's just how I feel." In this helpful resource, you'll learn Woerner's story of how she realized she needed to tackle her Grumpy Mom for her and her family's sake. Then she plots out action steps for you to take so you can rein in your Grumpy Mom. Each chapter also has a Bible verse and a prayer.

One of the best pieces of advice for me came in Chapter 4. This chapter discusses worry--something we moms know a lot about. Woerner puts worry (and our need to control things) into the right perspective by reminding the reader that God is the One in control. As she says, "He is able to love my kids better, discipline them better, comfort them better, and counsel them better than I ever could."

Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday reminds the reader to trust in the Lord, spend time in His presence, and be open to His plan for your life. In the fourth section, Woerner talks about connecting to your spouse, your friends, and with God. There are tons of helpful tips here on how to connect in all these relationships. The last section is about thriving--enjoying some breathing room, slowing down, and living in the moment. For me, anyway, this is the hardest part. As Woerner says, however, "...with God's help, we're going to choose peace and joy and fulfillment right in the middle of it."

I truly enjoyed Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday and will hold onto it for future reference. Also available is Fresh Start for Moms: A 31-Day Devotional Journal to Renew Your Joy, which nicely complements Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday.



Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (April 9, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1496435303
ISBN-13: 978-1496435309

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Interview with Rachel Marie Martin, Author of The Brave Art of Motherhood

Rachel Marie Martin believes in the power of the human spirit to overcome, to thrive and to find deep joy and because of that she pours out her heart via these platforms: she is the writer behind the site FindingJoy.net, partner of BloggingConcentrated.com, co-host of the Amplify Podcast, and a featured writer for The Huffington Post. Her top blog post, "Why Being a Mom is Enough" has surpassed 1.9 million Facebook likes and she has had her articles translated into over 25 languages. Her site reaches millions of visitors and has a robust, engaged Facebook community. Her articles have been featured in The Huffington Post, iVillage, The Today Show, Star Tribune, iVillage, Stuff New Zealand, PopSugar, Parents, What to Expect, Mamalode, NBC Parents, Dr. Greene, and many more. Her first book, "The Brave Art of Motherhood", published by Penguin Random House, was released on October 9, 2018.

She speaks worldwide about a variety of empowering topics ranging from motherhood to social media marketing to website strategy to writing to creating an authentic community. She believes in living each day intentionally and loves working with others to cultivate a vision, realize their potential and see their dreams become a reality.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Where did you grow up?

We are from St. Michael, a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. We moved to Nashville just over two years ago. My folks were church planters, among other things, and are retired now. My extended family still lives in Minnesota, but have grown to love having family in the South to visit during the long winters. The lack of snow been quite a change for the kids, but they have acclimated and look forward to school getting cancelled for the tiniest of reasons.

When did you begin writing?

I’ve always been drawn to computers. I have a memory of my dad purchasing a TI99 desktop computer and teaching me to code. Fast forward to college years and the AOL floppy disk to Yahoo! Groups to the start of blogging. The internet has always been a place for me to connect and became a vessel for my thoughts and words. As stated above, I started writing Finding Joy just about ten years ago. In the beginning, it was a bit of a hobby, but as time went on and it began to grow I gradually made the pivot from hobby to career. And honestly, for the last six years, this has been my full time job for myself, my partner Dan, as well as several others who are part of our team.

What is this book about?

Your heart matters and it’s easy to forget yourself in the middle of motherhood and think that “I’ll take care of myself” tomorrow. But life is short and there is no greater gift to yourself, your family and your friends when you are brave and fight for your heart, purpose and happiness again.

How is it similar to other books in its genre? How is it different?

Well, I think it’s similar in the fact that most motherhood books embrace how much motherhood matters. I can’t think of one book that would ever negate that universal truth. I would say that it differs in the way that it’s not about motherhood as in making a better pot roast or organizing, but is rather about your own heart in the midst of motherhood. It’s a reminder of strength and bravery and is the friend in the motherhood ring with you believing in all you can do and showing you what you have already done.

What is the most important thing readers can learn from your book?

You are a given a choice every day - wait to live fully or dare to live fully - and when you decided that every single day is a gift the decision to fight for that day becomes easy.

Where can readers purchase a copy?

All the usual places of course (ie. Amazon, Barnes&Noble, BAM, Target, Kindle, Audible) and I have autographed copies and special bundles at BraveArtofMotherhood.com

What is up next for you?

Finding Joy is a full-time job and I’m grateful that it’s my life. I will continue writing and continue developing programs that motivate and inspire. I’m hopeful to also continue to speak, to write another book when the opportunity presents, and to start a podcast.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Mar 18

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Sometimes Monday comes too soon. That's certainly the case today. After a tough weekend--you can read about that here if  you like--I'm going to work on catching up since I've been a bit distracted.

I just finished this Regency romance novella and my review appears here.

I am also continuing with  my Lenten devotional.

Next up I need to read this mystery.

Then these next two follow.

What's on your reading list? Any good books you could recommend from your recent reads?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Mar 11

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

It's hard to believe two weeks has passed since I last posted this meme. Time slips away faster as we head toward the spring market. That's part of why we snuck away for a little R&R this weekend. I didn't even bring my laptop; so rare in my world that the children thought I had gone crazy.

Thanks to our time away and the time in the car, I was able to finish The Morning Mind. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it was extremely interesting.

I also polished off The Last Fifty Pages. 

I'm reading this devotional for Lent, which began this past Wednesday. 

Next up are these ones:

As of right now, that's it for books I must review. I would really like to read The Liberty Bride after that. I think this is my favorite cover of the series so far. 

What have you been reading? Are you caught up on reviews? Are there any spring and summer releases you're looking forward to?

Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive by Stacy Gooch-Anderson--Book Review

Life lessons learned through one mother's journey is what readers will discover when they open the pages of Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive by Stacy Gooch- Anderson.

Already a fan of Stacy Gooch-Anderson and her book The Santa Letters--which we reviewed here--I was thrilled to be asked to review Life is Tough. Gooch-Anderson has a way of touching the heart like few authors can; and here, her skills shine through in a funny and often tender way, as she shares with readers twenty-eight lessons she has learned from her own parents and her journey through motherhood.

From embarrassing home movies, to the challenges of learning to ski; from Daddy's little girl, to married woman; from a first-time mother, to the ruler over four unique and challenging boys, and from her role as daughter to her role as family matriarch, Stacy Gooch-Anderson's lessons will leave you laughing so hard that you cry, and crying along with her as she deals with the loss of a child and the loss of both parents to cancer.

Perhaps, having lost my mother to cancer when I was just a girl helped me relate to the emotions the author shares as she watches her father struggle with the disease, but still maintain his positive outlook on life. And perhaps I cried a few extra tears as Gooch-Anderson tells of her mother asking her to become the "mother bird" who would watch over her siblings "like a hawk".

Overall, though there sad moments like these in every mother's life, the majority of the book shares the joys of motherhood: watching your children grow, looking back to laugh upon the challenges they have brought to your life, the pride you feel in them, and the days you threatened to sell them to the Indians (at least that's what my parents always said they would do).

Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive is the perfect gift for mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, sisters, and aunts who have traveled and who are traveling along the wonderful, and sometimes difficult, journey of motherhood.

It is my hope, that Stacy Gooch-Anderson comes out with another title soon. I'll be the first in line to buy a copy.


Title: Life is Tough - I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive
Author: Stacy Gooch-Anderson
Publisher: CFI, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-59955-176-0
SRP: $14.99 (U.S.)

Check out a Life Saver from Stacy Gooch-Anderson here.

When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes by Kelly Epperson--Book Review

If you are looking for the perfect gift for the Mom on your list, then look no further than When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes by Kelly Epperson.

A compilation of Epperson's columns that have appeared in a variety of newspapers, When Life Stinks is an often humorous look at life, aging, motherhood, and world events.

From traveling down memory lane to the hazards of parenting, from 9/11 to the death of Princess Diana, and from Live Aid to living in France, When Life Stinks will have you saying, "Yes! Finally there is someone who understands." Epperson talks about the making and breaking of New Year's resolutions and being a "gum junkie". You'll laugh right along with her as she discusses how JcPenney might have discovered that 8 out 10 women are wearing the wrong bra size and the fad of girls wearing sweatpants with words plastered across their behinds.

Granted, I may have related more to this book than a younger reader because Epperson and I are close enough in age that I recognized the name of almost every band or musician mentioned, but most of the themes flowing through When Life Stinks are universal and can be appreciated by a diverse group of readers.

An excellent debut for Kelly Epperson. I eagerly await her next book.


Title: When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes
Author: Kelly Epperson
Publisher: Rockford Writers' Guild
ISBN: 978-0-9796634-2-0
U.S. Price: $15.95

The Truth: (I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything) by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein--Book Review

Funny, thought-provoking, and inspiring, The Truth (I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything) by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is sure to be a hit with young girls ages 8 to 14.

Based upon Dr. Holstein's women's self-help book, The Truth (I'm 10, I'm smart and I know everything), the girl's version has a hip new cover, new introduction, and new discussion questions.

The format remains the same: a series of diary entries from a young girl who shares everything she thinks and feels about life at home and at school, her dreams for the future, and her knowledge of The Truth. Young girls will follow along as this girl talks about how her parents' fighting makes her feel. They'll witness her fall in love. They'll even get to be with her as her body begins to change. And as young girls move along through two years in this young journalist's life, they will be reminded of their inner strength, their talents, and their future potential.

The Truth (I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything) is a book that girls and their mothers can read together. It will also make a meaningful gift for any young girl age 8 to 14.

Once again, Positive Psychologist and Happiness Coach Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein teaches her readers how to learn about themselves in positive ways.


Read my 2007 interview with Dr. Holstein here


Title: The Truth (I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything)
Author: Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
Publisher: Enchanted Self Press
ISBN: 978-0-9798952-0-3
U.S. Price: $6.95