Lynn Bowen Walker doesn’t claim to be a June Cleaver or Martha Stewart, in fact her title says it all.

Queen of the Castle: 52 Weeks of encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenge or just plain tire homemaker

Though admittedly not a contender for the homemaker of the year award, Lynn is my kind of mom. Someone who is not afraid to admit she may not have the cleanest house, but through her personal stories it’s easy to see her heart is in everything she does.  She never planned on writing this book, but after searching through parent books for the answer to a simply craft dilemma, she realized the shelves were loaded with how-to books, devoted to certain subjects.

These books begged all wanna-be perfect parents to read them, but she didn’t have to time to sift through hundreds of books. And like most busy moms, she didn’t need  to learn how to make her own cleaning products, or baking bread from scratch, what she needed was a “more encompassing, more inclusive book that recognized” she was more than just the family dinner wizard. That she was more that just the laundry guru. She needed one book to help in all areas. So she decided to write one instead which by the way she penned most of it in the car while waiting for her children to finish practices.

Lynn Bowen Walkers down-to-earth, writing style made me feel like I was sitting down with a good friend, sharing stories over coffee. She’s a real mom with practical tips easy enough to implement. She made me feel good about not being Martha or June, and that though I may not be a perfect mom, I could be a good, and dare I say it…a great mom.

Though the chapters are planned to be read once per week for the entire year, the table of contents makes it easy to find just what I’m looking for like the chapter on “Trippity Doo-Dah: The Family Vacation.” I’m supposed to read it in July, but since we’re on vacation now, I thought I better read it ahead of schedule. Whether I need a quick and fun holiday craft or recipe, tips for getting more organized, encouragement for the stress and busyness of family life, or fun quote or word of the day, Queen of the Castle has just what I need to make through the week.

It might be just what you need too!

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