Recipes for a Perfect Marriage
by Morag Prunty (aka Kate Kerrigan)

Publisher’s Note: Successful New York food writer Tressa Nolan has a great life -- wonderful friends, a gorgeous apartment, and of course fabulous food -- but the idea of turning forty alone scares her, so she marries the next man who asks: Dan, her building's super. He's handsome and he adores her, but soon after the wedding Tressa regrets her decision. Everything from Dan's unsophisticated interests to his enormous (and intrusive) Irish-American family sets her teeth on edge. Why couldn't she have the perfect marriage her grandparents had? What Tressa doesn't know -- what she only discovers when she reads her Grandma Bernadine's journal-cum- recipe book -- is that she's following in Bernadine's footsteps, and like all the best recipes, a perfect marriage calls for a long, slow simmer.

Overall Review:  Recipes for a Perfect Marriage showcases the difficulties and hardships that arise in marriage—especially when people (mistakenly) think that as soon as you say ‘I do’, it’s peaches and cream from now on—no more hard work involved!

I am definitely of two minds when it comes to this book.  On the one hand, I loved the flow of the story!  Going back and forth between Tressa (whose contemporary views and language—and even the feel and style of the writing reminded me of the book Eat, Pray, Love) and her grandmother, Bernadine (which read like a lovely historical fiction) was fascinating!  The points made about marriage and moments of genuine good sense and advice about marriage and life itself were absolutely marvelous!  Many of the realizations were so beautiful: the stepping back and looking through someone else’s eyes to see yourself, or the finding out more about another person in order to see them more clearly.  I absolutely LOVED the moment of connection between Tressa and her mother in law!  I have to admit, I teared up a bit! 

On the other hand, I detested all the whining, complaining, self-pity and bitterness.  There were many times throughout this book that I wanted to scream at these women!  Just throttle them and yell, “Get a Grip!!!  Don’t you see what you have?!?”  They whined and complained about the men in their lives; they griped about how they didn’t really love the men they had married and gave reason after reason why (like clipping toenails in bed or the way they chew).  They were petty and selfish and self-centered.  But, really, how many people get married, then are totally disillusioned after that first little while and decide that it’s not worth it, give up, and move on?

In the end, was it worth it?  Was it worth sifting through all the complaining to reach the conclusion that marriage is hard work?  For me, I felt the resolution was satisfying and the whole point of the book was well thought out—and something that is very needed in today’s world of failed marriages and unhappy lives.  Recipes for a Perfect Marriage is a fast read full of life and learning, with some wonderful insights into what marriage and love really mean and the effort it actually takes to make it work—and make it Perfect!  Overall rating is 3.5 out of 5 Stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: Moderate to Strong throughout

VIOLENCE: A few Mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: Mild to Moderate throughout

MATURE THEMES: Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 21+

There is a lot of moderate to strong profanity throughout--about 1-2 words per page on average.  There are also many f-words (more than 10)!  It is especially concentrated during moments of anger. 

There is a character who is a very angry drunk.  When he is drunk, he becomes very verbally and physically abusive.  Only two instances are mentioned in some detail. 

There is sexual content all throughout.  Some of it is more mild than others.  There is a great deal of talk about sexual relationships before marriage (one-night stands, drunken evenings, affairs, meaningless flings) as well as some instances after marriage (both between husband and wife and as some stolen kisses and almost affairs).  All instances are told with minor detail and in a very matter of fact manner.

The mature themes revolve mostly around relationships and the perceived ideas vs reality, love vs lust, seeking/finding true happiness, death, and making difficult lasting life choices.

Some other issues were drinking (throughout) and a few mentions of drug use/smoking.

Recipes for a Perfect Marriage is recommended for ages 21+.

Enriching Your Marriage
by Dr. Clark Swain

Publisher's Note:  With its straightforward, practical wisdom, Enriching Your Marriage will spark a flame in lovers of all ages to help strengthen their marriage, no matter how rocky or blissful. With over 30 years of marriage and family teaching and counseling experience, Dr. Clark Swain has positively influenced many lives. Make yours one of them as this book becomes a turning point for your marriage and your life.


Overall Review:    Enriching Your Marriage by Dr. Clark Swain is an amazingly helpful and straight-forward resource.  If you are dating, engaged, or have been married for 50 years, this book is for you. Readers will laugh at how spot-on Dr. Clark is about marriage in its humorous ways, and will find themselves implementing his easy strategies as soon as they read them, even the very same day! Read it, follow it, and watch as you change into a more positive, loving person, and see your relationship become more fulfilling. Please take the time to read this great book, and the pass it on to all of your friends so they can read it too!  Overall Rating is 5 out of 5 stars!


Content Review:

PROFANITY: None

VIOLENCE: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: Some mild

MATURE THEMES: None

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 16+

There was no violence, mature themes, or profanity in this book.

Sexual content was mild and not offensive in nature: The book contains a chapter on “sexual love” and uses related terms throughout that chapter.  Although it is not offensive for an adult audience, it may be inappropriate for a young teen to read.   

This book is a clean resource for marriage and other relationships and is recommended for ages 16+ because of the sexual content.  Overall, Enriching your Marriage by Dr. Clark Swain is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 16+.

This review was written by Shelley
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean reads by Cedar Fort, Inc for a review

The Seven Laws of Learning
by Richard L. Godfrey, Gerreld L. Pulsipher, and Hyrum W. Smith

Publisher’s Note:  Become a great leader like Christ, Confucius, Winston Churchill, and other extraordinary leaders. Teach new ideas in ways that both engage people and persuade them to use their agency to bring about personal and global change. By using storytelling, metaphor, and other teaching styles that motivate and inspire, you'll soon be effectively communicating and leading in every situation.

Overall Review:  In The Seven Laws of Learning, we take a journey through history in order to learn how to be a better leader and teacher.  I really enjoyed all the stories—which I think was part of the point of the whole book: We learn best through stories!  I loved learning more about the experiences of great world leaders and how their methods can be used in our everyday lives.  People such as  Eva (Evita) Peron, who gave life to Argentina; William Wilberforce, who was one of the main forces behind the abolition of slaves in England; Mohandas Ghandi and his peaceable revolt against the English in India; Nelson Mandela and his 20+ years in prison and subsequent presidency in South Africa; even Bill Cosby and his easy banter with children and uproariously hilarious takes on life!  I also found the stories of the Hopi people of southern Utah/Arizona area to be very fascinating—starting off with their story, then continuing it at the end was a stroke of genius.  It tied everything all together and made a lovely point.

The seven laws were all different, and yet they were very interconnected.  You couldn’t have one without the others.  Each law was introduced with an example of a person from history who utilized that specific law in one way or another, which I found fascinating.  It was wonderful to learn about so many great people!  My favorite section was Law #4, which talked about the 4 learning styles: Visual, Auditory, Reading Based, and Kinesthetic.  Specific examples were given on how to tell which type of learner you and those around you are.  It was very simple and very eye opening as I used those examples to discover the learning styles of myself and my family!

On the whole, The Seven Laws of Learning is a very helpful and engaging book.  There were, of course, moments that dragged, but that’s what inevitably happens when you’re repeating information or ideas.  Upon finishing the book, I felt a great satisfaction, and I’m ready to put some of the ideas to the test on my own family!  Overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: One very mild instance

VIOLENCE: Some very mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE: 16+

There was only one word that could be construed as profanity—a word used to describe a very boring meeting.

The violence is mild and is mostly merely mentioned in storytelling form.  There are stories of wars, death, severe situations, imprisonment, slavery, etc.  All of the instances are from the life stories of well-known figures in history, and they are not told for shock value, but are used to prove a point and create positive emotion.  There is also an example in the author’s life when he cuts his leg and has to have stitches.

The mature themes revolve around the stories of the historical figures' hard life situations.  There is also the theme of the whole book:  improving our lives and our teaching/leading ability. 

The Seven Laws of Learning is a Squeaky Clean Read for any age, but would probably be most appreciated by ages 16+!

Outliers
by Malcolm Gladwell

Publisher's Note:  In the past decade, Malcolm Gladwell has written three books that have radically changed how we understand our world and ourselves: The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers. Regarded by many as the most gifted and influential author and journalist in America today, Gladwell has the rare ability to connect with audiences of tremendously varied interests.


Overall Review: We usually think of success as being the product of simple hard work—but is it? In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell challenges this idea, showing that success depends on a lot more than hard work alone. In the course of the book, you'll learn the surprising secrets of success for people all over the spectrum. You'll find out, for instance, what the key ingredient that sets Canadian pro hockey players apart from their fellows is (hint: it's not talent); how to predict the birth year and ethnicity of nearly all top New York lawyers (you'll even be able to predict their parents' or grandparents' professions!); why Asians are good at math; and why some countries have dramatically higher rates of airplane crashes than others. With language that is clear and easy to follow, Gladwell presents dozens of fascinating case studies to back up his points. Not only did I enjoy the interesting information presented in this book, but I was inspired, too! Gladwell helps to unravel the popular cultural notion that success comes from a magical "it" factor that you either have or don't; Outliers is sure to be an inspiring eye-opener to anyone who has ever felt like they lack talent!  Overall Rating is 5 out of 5 stars.


Content Review:

PROFANITY: One moderate instance

VIOLENCE: A few very mild, one moderate

SEXUAL CONTENT: Very mild

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 18+

There is little profanity in the book; however, one of the studies that the author cites involved participants being insulted with a moderate derogatory epithet, and that word is used a few times in the discussion of the study. There are a few references to violence, mostly very mild (a pilot slaps a co-pilot, etc.), but there is one moderate instance—a story is told about a slave owner who inflicted severe punishments on his slaves if they tried to run away, and the punishments are briefly described. There is reference to slave owners taking their slaves as concubines and having children with them. There are a few mature themes, all dealing with difficult living situations (poverty, neglect, slavery, etc.). Although this book is a clean, easy read, it subject matter would probably appeal most to adults. Outliers is recommended as a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 18+.

This Review was Written by Cindy B.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer

Growing Up Green
by Charles E. Majuri, PhD

Overall Review:  If you're looking for ways to get involved with your children, Growing Up Green by Charles E. Majuri, PhD, is a resource full of activities and guidance.  Using gardening as a tool for bringing parents and children together in meaningful communication and purposeful teamwork, Growing Up Green is a simple, accessible book.  Each chapter is a step-by-step guide to creating your own garden, and is filled with inspirational quotes, "togetherness activities", and extension activities.  I was absolutely inspired by the book's introduction and foreword, as Dr. Majuri presents a compelling case for improving parent/child interaction. I was truly excited to not only read the book, but put it into practice. 

In the foreword, Dr. Majuri explains that the book is written for both adults and children at the same time, and to "accept this as part of the journey".  However, it was this intermingling of adult/child concepts and the over-simplified writing style that made this book feel unpolished.  Because of the combined audiences, I couldn't read it on my own as an adult, and I couldn't read it out loud to my girls.  The book read more like a college paper than a book.  I full-heartedly support the concept of Horticultural Therapy, and, after reading Dr. Majuri's impassioned foreword and preface, I will definitely be watching for future relationship guidance books from him.  Overall Rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.           


Content Review:

VIOLENCE:  none

PROFANITY:  none

SEXUAL CONTENT:  none

MATURE THEMES:  none

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP:  9+ 

There are not content concerns at all  in this book.  Growing Up Green is a Squeaky Clean Read for all ages.

This Review was Written by Melissa
A Squeaky Clean Reads Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by The Cadence Marketing Group for a review

The Alchemist
by Paul Coelho

Publisher's Note:   Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho's charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come.

The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.


Overall Review:  The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a lyrical fable, simply told, of an Andalusian shepherd boy searching for his destiny and his treasure.  Stylistically, one can almost hear an ancient storyteller unfolding the story next to a fire under a canopy of stars.  This is not a book about character development.  This is not a book about plotline.  This is a thinking book.  Woven within the story are ideas and themes to be pondered and revisited.  It is refreshing in an increasingly skeptical and secular society to hear a message regarding fate and faith; destiny and the divine.  The cynical reader would say the book appeals to what people want to believe about life and destiny, but I think it rather reminds of truths that we all once knew, but have forgotten along our way.  Beautifully begun, patiently paced, and eloquently ended, The Alchemist inspires personal evaluation and leaves a taste of hope for life’s possibilities.  Overall  Rating is 5 out of 5 stars!


Content Review
 
VIOLENCE:  one mild instance

PROFANITY:  one mild instance

SEXUAL CONTENT:  none

MATURE THEMES:  none

RECOMENDED AGE GROUP:   16+

Violence consists of the report of wars, battles, and a hanging.  A character is robbed and beaten, but a detailed account is not provided.  Profanity includes one mild instance.  There was no sexual content.  No difficult, mature thematic material is present, but the book’s general themes would be most appreciated by readers 16 and older.  Because this is a great discussion book , it would be an excellent selection for a book club.  The Alchemist is a Squeaky Clean read for ages 16+.

This Review was Written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Reviewer

Shift
by Takumi Yamazaki


Publisher's Note:  It's not that you're lazy, and its not that you lack motivation. No, you have plenty of motivation, but it always seems to fade away just when you need it. The problem is not that you don't have motivation, it's that motivation doesn't stick around long enough. This book takes knowledge and inspiration from motivation specialists and distills it into something easy to understand. Thirteen exercises and seventeen techniques illustrate points to help you take the steps to keep, bring back, or find the motivation you need to make the shift into who you want to be.


Overall Review:  When it's time to make a change in our lives, or change our perspective, we often look to the self-help section of our local bookstore. Takumi Yamazaki is a “new” author in our American bookstores with his premiere of Shift. Yamazaki is a Japanese self-made millionaire with a few new perspectives on how to achieve your goals. Although a lot of his ideas are reminiscent of “The Secret”, he puts his own spin on how to look at obstacles in our path. The book was a very quick read, with at least half the book being blank pages in between chapters and stick figure diagrams. Each chapter contained exercises in the ideas to be brought out, and the end of the book was multiple chapters of “techniques.” The exercises are helpful, but the techniques leave a lot to be desired. The book definitely lacked substance in ideas and content, but did offer some thought provoking ideas. I couldn't say I came away enlightened, but the simplicity and speed I could finish the book left me with a nice reminder of my goals and desire to keep striving to achieve them.  Overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.


Content Review:
VIOLENCE: none

PROFANITY: none

SEXUAL CONTENT: none

MATURE THEME: mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 14+

This self-help book is a clean read for ages 14 and up, although geared toward adults. It's not squeaky clean since it does mention drinking and fantasizing, yet neither of those are meant to be offensive, just examples as the author is making a point.  This is a clean read for ages 14+.

This review was written by Amber
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by The Cadence Group for a review

Eat Free
No Gluten. No Sugar. No Guilt.
by Rhiannon Lawrence

Publisher's Note:  Created with the gluten-intolerant and diabetic in mind, this collection of gluten- and sugar-free recipes will leave you with delicious meals, desserts, and snacks - all made with fresh, organic, and whole ingredients - that are guaranteed to please your family's pickiest food critic. And the next time someone says, "You are what you eat," you'll take it as a compliment.


Overall Review:  I actually smiled when I took this charming book from the package!  The size and weight are just perfect, and the design, which includes full-color images throughout, was inviting and caught my interest immediately.  

At first I was a little disappointed with the fact that there were only a few recipes for each section.  It seemed a bit spread thin, with recipes for breakfast, brunch, eggs, sides, salads, beverages, entrées, desserts, toppings, and sauces.   However, as I began working as many of the recipes into my family's menu as I could over the next two weeks, I completely changed my mind.  I began to really appreciate the variety of recipes, which touched upon  all areas of cooking, as I gained new ideas and insights for gluten-free baking and cooking.  

My family (which includes my three children under 7) happily devoured EVERY SINGLE recipe that I made from this cookbook.  Need I say more?  Our favorite cooking recipes were: veggie frittatas, black bean fiesta salad, tropical smoothies, cream cheese frosting, southwest lentil soup, and spinach and feta-stuffed chicken. 

But let's be honest here--the true test for gluten-free cooking is baking.  After all, gluten impacts almost every single baking recipe available.  Gluten-free recipes typically involve replacing the offending wheat (or other) flour with a laundry list of ingredients.  This is why I don't bake gluten-free, and avoid gluten-free products.  I often wonder if the health benefits I gain from eliminating gluten from my diet are negated by the myriad of replacement ingredients needed to bake gluten-free.

So this is where I was completely stunned and impressed with this book: the baking.  The author begins her book
by introducing us to almond flour.  I'll admit, I have seen it in the store, but I had never heard of gluten-free baking using only almond flour.  The appeal of almond flour is considerable. The most important benefit of using almond flour is that it's a direct substitute: wheat flour for almond flour.  This is the simplicity that gluten-free baking has been searching for!  Almond flour is also filled with great health benefits, which include protein, omega-3 fatty acids,  and nutrients.

Now, if you're baking gluten-free, the expectation should not be an exact replica of your favorite foods, but a satisfying, flavorful product that can be enjoyed and savored.  I found that these gluten-free recipes were some of the best I have used!  The cookies and breads were a bit soft and super-ultra moist (the pumpkin bread was more of a pumpkin bread pudding!), but I'm not complaining at all!  We loved it!  The flavors were fantastic and my whole family enjoyed these breads and cookies.  

Simple, delicious, and true to whole foods, this collection of recipes goes way beyond gluten-free cooking.  It's a great way for anyone, from diabetic to foodie,  to expand their horizons while discovering fantastic, new recipes and approaches to cooking.  Overall Rating is 5 out of 5 stars!

This review was written by Melissa
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Cedarfort Publishing  for a review

Conversations With a Moonflower
by Christine Hall

Publisher's Note:  It all begins with a little flower. This tenderly told story is a beautiful reminder to appreciate the simple joys around you. The perfect gift for even the busiest mothers and friends in your life, this book is guaranteed to change chaos to calm and inspire all to look beyond the ordinary and see the extraordinary.


Overall Review:  If you are needing a reminder of your beauty and divine nature, take some time to have a conversation with a Moonflower! This unique way of conversing won't have quite the same meaning until you read this book, but by taking the time to read Converstations with a Moonflower by Christine T. Hall, we can each be reminded of these two great qualities! It just might inspire you to order your seeds and let this remarkable plant change your perspective on life. The author records multiple “conversations” and how each one changed her for the better, along with sharing her association and friendship with an Amish family. This is quick read, filled with uplifting messages, is sure to warm the heart of anyone willing to pause from their hectic life to read and reflect. The author even includes a website where you can receive free Moonflower seeds.  Overall Rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!


Content Review:

VIOLENCE: none

PROFANITY: none

SEXUAL CONTENT: none

MATURE THEME: none

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

Conversations with a Moonflower is squeaky clean. It is nothing but sweet uplifting messages even children would enjoy. Although meant for adults, the messages in this book can be appreciated at any age.

This review was written by Amber
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Cedarfort  for a review

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
by Michael Pollan

Publisher's Note:  The companion volume to The New York Times bestseller The Omnivore's Dilemma.  Michael Pollan's last book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, launched a national conversation about the American way of eating; now In Defense of Food shows us how to change it, one meal at a time. Pollan proposes a new answer to the question of what we should eat that comes down to seven simple but liberating words: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we can start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives, enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy, and bring pleasure back to eating.


Overall Review:  A delicious dish on the culture of food in America! "In Defense of Food" lives up to it's title.  Michael Pollan has written a compelling argument for not only WHY food needs defending, but HOW the everyday American can begin to make simple, yet profound, changes in the way we view food and make our food choices.  One might wonder why food even needs to be "defended", but as Pollan breaks down American attittudes and relationships with food, it becomes quite clear that we simply don't know what food is anymore!  His simple, thoughtful writing incorporates facts, history, nutritional insights, and observations (and often judgements) about "food science" in a down-to-earth, accessible way.  Any reader can easily understand and relate to the message of this book, which openly states that which we all already know, deep down inside:  if a food has to convince you of it's nutritional value, it probably has none at all.  As Pollan points out, the processed foods, with their bright, colorful labels are screaming their nutritional worth to us in bold print, while the produce section, full of genuine whole foods, is laid out silently.  With practical advice on how to make healthy food choices, this inspiring nutritional read has convinced me to make important eating changes--changes that I'm sure have my great-great-grandmother looking over my shoulder from heaven and smiling down at the food I'm choosing to put in my fridge and family's mouths.  Overall Rating is 5 out of 5 stars!


Content Review:

VIOLENCE: None

PROFANITY: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES:  None

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 16+

Not only a fascinating, life-changing read, but a definite Squeaky Clean Read!  The age group recommendation of 16+ is purely because of the subject matter, as ages 16+ would benefit most from this informational book.  This book is recommended as a Squeaky Clean Read for Ages 16+.

This review was written by Melissa
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer