I first heard about oil pulling a couple of years ago. It sounded somewhat off the wall, but the more I read about it, the more it made sense. I took the plunge and for a short time began oil pulling myself. I did see many positive results. Sadly I did not do it long enough to make a habit and discontinued it.
Wanting to start again, I researched information that might help me. While I am sure there is much to learn, these publications seemed to go into a greater detail than what I was interested in.
This book is exactly what I needed! From it I learned the history of oil pulling. Even though this is obviously not rocket science, the essentials of this centuries old practice are covered and answers to common questions that arise. Also discussed are the oral and health benefits many experience from this simple wellness routine.
The book covers the different types of oil you can use and how to choose one. I especially liked the chapter which discussed including different essential oils in your regime and their benefits. The last chapter was particularly of interest to me, “Working Oil Pulling into Your Life.” I found numerous tips and solutions to challenges you might face along the way.
If you haven’t tried this yet, you should. What do you have to lose? I highly recommend this book. It was concise and easy to read. If you want to learn about oil pulling and get started, this is the book you need! Armed with more information, I am excited and ready to start again!
I received this book from Ulysses Press in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.

This book is like having a professional organizer and counselor to help you declutter, organize your home, and keep it that way! Through this book Ms. Kondo works beside you to face this overwhelming job. Her unique perspective in viewing possessions can result inspirational discoveries about yourself and how you view your belongings.
I am a seasoned homemaker but since the death of my mother and husband within a short time, I am lost in a sea of stuff; his, hers, and mine. The author’s step by step instruction and diagrams are helping me take the first bite of the “elephant” (and believe me it is a big one!). Being a reader and creative soul I do not know that I will able to pare down to such severe simplicity as she suggests, but I believe I will able to reach a happy medium.
I learned many new skills and ideas I know will help me get my home in order permanently. If you follow her instructions your efforts will not be frustratingly temporary as they often are, but a lasting investment for an orderly home that bring s you joy!
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I expressed are my own.

What a treat! In this book you get the writings of four great authors and four entertaining Amish romances. It can’t get better than that! All the writers were kind enough to add a word list with Pennsylvania Dutch words used in the story and an Amish recipe!
“Love Birds” by Amy Clipston. Ellie and Lloyd are both grieving over the loss of her brother Seth. With no male family member her mother and she are struggling to make ends meet. She must go to work at a gift shop to help support them. Lloyd, Seth’s best friend, along with others in the community regularly stops by to help. He begins to see Ellie as more than his friend’s little sister. Romance seems to be in the air until Ellie accidentally discovers an extraordinary talent Lloyd has for carving intricate wooden birds. She feels he must sell them in the gift shop where she is employed, but he refuses. Ignoring his protests she shows them to the owner. He sees her act as disloyalty and his love turns to anger and hurt. Is the relationship over?
Sweeter than Honey by Kelly Irvin. Will Glick and Isabella Shrock are two very shy, lonely people. Both are hindered in a relationship because they are having trouble moving forward with their lives. Isabella struggles to adjust to her family relocating to a new community. Will is held in the past by hurt and bitterness from the betrayal of a sweetheart. His critical judgmental spirit keeps everyone at a distance. Being a kind and sympathetic girl, she senses his pain after their first awkward meeting. She hurts for him and purposes to help him heal. He wants none of it, and then the shell around him begins to soften. Will Isabella’s compassion and efforts be enough?
The next two novellas were my favorite because the main characters were older people, not the usual young couples.
A Bid for Love by Kathleen Fuller. Ezra Yutzy is the town’s long-established bachelor. How odd that he makes weekly visits to the market to buy the butter Hannah Beiler makes. Who needs that much butter!? At the auction, Hannah puts all her money on one heirloom quilt, and loses. Ezra sees her disappointment and buys the quilt from the winner. The perfect love story, right? Not quite! This is the only beginning of miscommunication, misunderstandings, and conflict between the couple. There is a mystery here too; the quilt holds many secrets that neither of them knows about.
Love in Store by Vannetta Chapman. This story has a unique twist. A sweet Amish widower, David and cranky old maid, Stella are exact opposites, more like oil and water! With both being in their 50’s, they are not definitely spring chickens! They meet at the Amish Mill tourist attraction where both work. He is as kind as she is bad tempered. Knowing she could not have children from a young age, Stella decided no one would EVER want her for a wife. Her resentment hardened her through the years, turning to hostility and a sharp tongue. David sees past her crusty exterior and attempts become acquainted. They might never have come together except for some bizarre and dangerous occurrences at the mill. Both are concerned for the safety of others, and the possibility of the mill closing, so they make a combined effort to solve the mystery. There is a lot of suspense and surprises! Four entertaining novellas with distinctive lessons on relationships and forgiveness.
I received this book free from http://www.Booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.

How many times do parents and teachers hear this little phrase, “But it’s not my fault!” Once again in her accomplished way, Ms. Cook addresses solution for a common childhood problem of not wanting to take responsibility for their actions.
Noodle is at it again, being a kid and having trouble blaming everyone else for his mistakes. No matter if his blunders or large or small, they are all someone else’s fault, to the point of being ridiculous! My favorite was when he was called down for interrupting and he said, “But it’s not my fault! My mouth is addicted to talking!” The blame game may seem innocent in a child but if not corrected they grow to be adults who live their lives as victims and are never responsible for any mistakes.
Ms. Cook’s words of insight and wisdom come through Noodle’s Mom. I like the way the story hits at the heart of the problems without having an accusatory tone. This way the children have the opportunity to look at themselves without feeling the need to defend, or blame!! Another favorite point made in the book is “Blaming others is a reason but it’s not an excuse.”
I had my 10 year old granddaughter and 13 year old grandson read the book. When they finished each one had a sheepish look and said, “I do this. . . sometimes”. Both said it helped them see they need to own up for what they do. Also that it affects those around them. Someone could get in trouble for what they falsely accused them of. Plus blame causes conflict and hard feelings among friends and family. At the end are very helpful ideas to guide children in overcoming this bad habit. Engaging, vibrant illustrations, sound wisdom, and written from a child’s viewpoint. Go to http://www.juliacookonline.com to see more of Julia Cook’s amazing books!

The title of this book is the perfect word to describe a bad attitude. Children and adults all experience them. As adults we are mature enough to know we have a lousy attitude, but a child is not always able to recognize it. They don’t understand why they feel the way they do and certainly have no clue how to remedy it. Their mood spirals out of control until their actions are out of control too!
The story follows “Noodle”, Norman David Edwards. Noodle feels he has had a very bad day from the time he gets up until he comes home from school. There is just one irritating, unfair incident after another. To Noodle everything “STINKS” and is unfair. His mood escalates until by the time he arrives home he mad. As he shares the day’s events with his mom she begins to point out the positive things he is overlooking gives him some very useful insights and tools to deal with his overpowering emotions and clouded thinking.
The concepts and ideas Ms. Cook shares are easy to understand and eye opening. Her communication skills and experience as a school counselor are evident. In addition to reading the book, I also had a 10 and 13 year old read it. Both children enjoyed the book said it made them very thoughtful about when they have a “baditude”. Each one said the story helped them realize that they need to focus on the positive side of their life more. One said that it helped them see that their sour disposition affects those around them and it can put others in a bad mood too.
At the back of the book are 10 tips to teach a child to change a negative attitude into a positive one. Eye catching illustrations, sound wisdom, and written from a child’s viewpoint. A great to help children (and it wouldn’t hurt adults to read it either!) I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Cook’s books! Go to http://www.juliacookonline.com to see more of them!

The internment of Japanese Americans during WWII is a period of history which I was not familiar with. I had read magazine articles but they only touched the surface. Ms. Dettmann’s book is a real eye opener! I had no clue what my fellow Japanese Americans faced and the atrocities they lived through! While this book is a historical fiction novel, I had to continually remind myself of just that. The author’s extraordinary writing skills made it read like a true story. The characters and their experiences seemed so real.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese were rounded up and arrested like common criminals. They were forced in to camps against their will and remained there until the end of the war. The reader follows the painful journey the Sakomoto family through the eyes of their teenage daughter Yasu. They were law-abiding American citizens in 1941. They owned a small business in Glenville, California. Being a close knit family, they had a deep love for one another and their country. The quiet, peaceful life they had known changed quickly after the bombing. Persecution from fellow townspeople and even friends was immediate and harsh. Their lives became endangered in the very area and by the people that had been a part of their happiness.
My heart broke for young Yasu. Being a teenager is hard enough, but to face adolescence with such rejection and hostility was excruciating. Her sweet family continued to trust their country and government right up to their arrests. The gentle humble spirits of the Japanese were a great contrast as to how most Americans would have responded to this extreme discrimination.
I had no clue the camp conditions were so degrading and horrific. My first thought was about the concentration camps of the Jews. These camps were not as severe as Hitler’s, but they were shocking. There was filth, crowding, squalid living conditions, poor food, such as I would never have dreamed could take place in America. The author took me into the camp, to walk daily with the Sakamotos, living their experiences and allowing my heart of feel their emotions.
Though each era had different details, I saw a common thread running through history in the injustice toward other groups: the slavery of African Americans, the Chinese in the early 1900’s, the Jews, and the Japanese. People that had done no wrong but were victims of fear and misunderstanding.
I do disagree with this being labeled as a “young adult fiction”. This book is for teens and adults too! A must read for all! Watch for a sequel!
I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All the opinions I expressed were my own.

Reading this book was like stepping back into the “Roaring Twenties”! Twenty-two year old Poppy Denby is a sheltered obedient Methodist pastor’s daughter. The extent of her work and life experience is working in a charity store and food kitchen. Her wheelchair bound aunt, Dot, has requested Poppy to come and be her paid companion. Dot is quite a flashy, feisty lady. She was an actress and radical suffragette in her youth, and her condition and age has not lessened her passion for the cause.
Upon arrival Poppy finds that her aunt already has a dear friend and companion of many years. Grace is totally Dot’s opposite in every way, other than their shared commitment to the women’s movement. The whole job offer was a ruse to get Poppy out from under her parents and start a life and career of her own. She is hired at a local newspaper as the editor’s assistant. Her dream job was to become a journalist. After the death of one of the reporters, Poppy steps into his job. This exposes her to all sorts of danger and wickedness that is out of her experience level and innocence.
I like the way the author alternates between a mysterious events 7 years ago and Poppy’s adventures. It adds to the suspense of the story and made me wanted to hurry it along to learn more about what happened!
Historical fiction is one of my favorites. I have read only one other fiction book about this period. It is a time I did not know a great deal about other than generalities and specific events. Ms. Smith totally changed that! This book was entertaining but it is also packed with details about lifestyle, attitudes, and social issues. I got a fun read and a history lesson too!
I admired Poppy’s confidence and enthusiasm despite her sheltered life and being thrust into so many new situations. Bolstered by her aunt’s belief in her and her youthful zeal, she does not hesitate to face everything head on! The author brought to life the struggle of society to cope with so many changes in all areas. I was amazed at the expectations and roles of women. How strange to think of a time when a woman wanting to vote or have a career was considered almost immoral and unacceptable! All the characters are interesting and well developed. I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Smith’s books!
I received this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated here are my own.

People are seeking peace in all areas of life. In our chaotic world today the search is even more intense. The author shares how we make our lives more distressed by seeking the peace we so greatly desire in all the wrong ways. The more we try the more elusive and distant it becomes. We attempt to create our own world based on what we believe will make it perfect. Of course anything we do is far from that. It takes a while for us to learn (and some never learn) that a relationship with Christ and turning control of our lives over to Him is the only way to have a peaceful, purposeful life.
The first part of the book addresses attitudes and actions toward God that will hinder us from having that tranquility and harmony within that we crave. Mr. Hettinga uses different people from the Bible that are an example of wrong approaches and shows us how to examine ourselves. I liked his illustrations showing how the “Kingdom of Self” operates differently than the “Kingdom of God.”
The second part of the books reveals what we must do to end our vicious cycle of restlessness and futilely searching. As in the first part, we learn from men and women in Scripture the ways to end our pursuit and have the peace God intended for us to. This book is not only a good study book, but it also gives you a lot of food for thought.
I received this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I expressed are my own.

This was my first book to read by Pam Rhodes. I have a mixed review. The story centers around an Anglican priest who joins his previous and new church members on a cruise that highlights historic religious locations.
I had a lot of trouble getting into parts of the story. There were far too many characters, and I had difficulty keeping them straight, even with the list of their names and descriptions at the front of the book. It was not until the middle of the book that I was able to keep them straight. Also, the accounts of the special sites they visited on their tours, did not interest me.
Don’t get me wrong, the book was well written. In spite of a very large character cast, I enjoyed the glimpses into their personal lives and struggles. There was a wonderfully board representation of the varied personalities people possess and how they interact or in some cases clash when put together. All of them had different reasons for taking the cruise. There was humor, sadness, personal discovery and even tragedy scattered throughout. I found it true to life and very interesting how the characters appeared one way in public, careful to hide actual problems and emotions from their fellow shipmates. I reminder that we have no clue what others are facing their private lives. I thought it was very clever of the author to cast herself as a character using her real name and doing what she does in real life!
I received this book at no charge from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed Delia Parr’s 1st book in this series, The Midwife’s Tale, and I liked this one even more! Although you definitely want to read the other book, this one can be read as a standalone. Where the first book was exciting this one really steps up the suspense and mystery!
I really like Martha Cade, the main character, a widowed midwife in the mid-1800. She has poured her heart and soul into to profession for many years. At age 42, she is not like most heroines, young and just staring out in life. This makes her even more interesting to me. She is a tough independent woman that has weathered many storms.
Her only daughter who has run away from home in the previous book returns but her homecoming does not have the outcome Martha envisioned. She is living with to elderly sisters over their bakery business. They are very sweet and loving ladies and have taken Martha as part of their family, but the hide a very dark secret. Thomas, an old flame of Martha’s who is also widow continues his pursuit of her which causes her to question her past and future.
Her job as a midwife and making her own way has molded Martha into quite a formidable lady. She has a take charge, decisive, “my way or the highway” attitude. While these are wonderful qualities for bringing new life into the world, and caring for new mothers, they are not so great in personal relationships.
We forget that other era’s had many of the same social problems we do, but did not have all the resources we have to deal with them. Solutions relied on the love and commitment of the community. Martha reaches out to help a young woman caught up in domestic abuse, a disabled elderly man, and an orphan. I love the way she has a personal ministry with such love and compassion for others. Her unwavering faith in God and her strong relationship with Him are the foundation that brings her through so much. Sometimes though she tries to use that strength to fight against God’s plan, but she always surrenders and sees the error of her way. As always I enjoy learning more about the practice of midwifery during that time.
This book received this book at no charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.