Book Review of Mothering from Scratch: Finding the Best Parenting Style for You and Your Family by Melinda Means & Kathy Helgemo

Mothering from Scratch: Finding the Best Parenting Style for You and Your Family by Melinda Means & Kathy Helgemo is a great book for all mothers to read.  

The back cover says: 

"Trying to follow someone else's rules for mothering can take the joy out of being a parent. But Mothering From Scratch shows you how to develop your own style that helps you be the best mom for your kids.

Full of solid biblical truth, this book will help you
· explore your personality and examine your strengths and weaknesses in order to find what works for you
· tap into the resources surrounding you and get mentoring and support from other moms
· push past the fear of change or doing it wrong and allow room for grace in your mothering

Melinda Means and Kathy Helgemo provide a flexible, customizable approach to help you discover your optimal parenting style."

I found this book both encouraging and thought provoking.  I enjoyed reading Melinda and Kathy's personal stories about different topics.  I really liked the Lovin' Spoonful (prayers, Bible verses, encouraging quotes and thoughts) sections throughout the book.  I also liked that the end of each chapter had the Stirring Your Thoughts (questions to think about) and Let's Get Cookin' (suggested action plan) sections.  It is so often that self help books have lots of great ideas, but don't give suggestions as to how to start implementing those changes into your life.  I highly recommend this book!

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Book Review of Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell

Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell tells the story of Charlotte Withersby who has a love of plants and flowers.  Her world changes dramatically when her uncle convinces her father that her future is to be a wife and mother, and that she needs to be out socializing in society to find a suitor.  

The back cover says: 
"He Stole the Work She Loved. Will She Let Him Steal Her Heart as Well?

It's all her uncle's fault. For years Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But now that she's reached the old age of twenty-two, an intrusive uncle has convinced her father that Charlotte's future--the only proper future for a woman--is to be a wife and mother, not a scholar. 

Her father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he'll soon change his mind...and then Edward Trimble shows up. A long-time botany correspondent in the South Pacific, Trimble arrives ready to step in as assistant so that Charlotte can step out into proper society--a world that baffles her with its unwritten rules, inexplicable expectations, and confounding fashion. 
Things aren't perfectly smooth between Trimble and her father, so Charlotte hatches a last gasp plan. She'll pretend such an interest in marriage that the thought of losing her will make her father welcome her back. Only things go quickly awry, and she realizes that the one man who recognizes her intelligence is also the person she's most angry with: Edward Trimble, her supposed rival. Suddenly juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved flowers behind?"

Like a Flower in Bloom is the first book I have read by Siri Mitchell, and I LOVED it!  I didn't want to put it down and finished it within a week.  I absolutely loved the interactions between Edward and Charlotte.  Charlotte's character is so naive when it comes to society, and I found myself laughing at several times.  She is such a well-developed character as are the other characters throughout the book. I highly recommend picking this one up to read!

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*