"Married Mom, Solo Parent" Review & Giveaway

I know I have been MIA again and I apologize. I haven't any great or exciting excuses either. Life is crazy with six kids. It just is. No matter how I plan or organize or dream otherwise. Between the dance recitals and the 18 year old falling and breaking her nose and four children sharing the stomach bug with the Soldier and I the week before Christmas, I just haven't had time for anything except coping. 

Yes, I am showering and even leaving the house, just in case you were wondering.

I have kinda been keeping up on my free ebook page. If you have missed it with the new format, you can find it here.

If you have ever been by before, you will know I love to read. I enjoy doing book reviews and sharing them with my faithful readers by giving them away. However, I tend to lean toward fiction. Give me a good book (preferably set in Scotland or Ireland) that I can immerse myself in for a few hours - and escape the dirty house and whining children - and I am happy.

I am not as excited about parenting or 'self help' books. I dread picking up a book where some woman (who is perfect and so are her children, I know because she spends half the book telling us so) preaches to me on what I am doing wrong and how she wants me to fix it, or on the other side - a book where I may have to look deep inside and admit that I need to change and do things differently (gasp!). 

That is probably the main reason this book sat on my dresser for longer than I will admit...

From the publisher: Bookstore shelves are full of parenting resources for moms who are newly divorced or widowed. But where do moms turn if they feel like a single parent--but they’re not? Whether he is away on business, deployed in the military, or obsessing over a computer game, dad may not be available for a variety of reasons. Moms who parent in this situation still need help and don’t necessarily relate to the advice given in divorce recovery or single parenting resources.

Married Mom, Solo Parent is a common-sense, down-to-earth look at the struggles wives and mothers face when their husband is not actively involved in family life. Writing from her own experience as a married single mom, Carla Anne Coroy will help wives and mothers sort through their questions, such as: Can I do this alone? How do I raise kids to honor their father? How do I give my children a healthy perspective of marriage if they never see one in action? With practical suggestions, anecdotes, and biblical teaching, this book will encourage moms to see their position as a high calling, to find healing for their worries and frustrations, and to tap into God’s strength for help in facing the daily challenge of being a married mom, solo parent.

Read a sample here.

The Soldier and I have been married for almost 20 years, but he hasn't been a Soldier for all of them. In fact, he had a pretty successful job when he joined the National Guard and living the military life has been a major adjustment for all of us. One thing that didn't change a whole lot was him being gone. In his civilian career, he would be gone for weeks or months at a time working on projects. In fact, he missed the last four months of my last pregnancy, just coming home in time for the delivery. While I got big and round and parented five children, he was taking ferries all over Alaska and eating out with his coworkers every night. At that point, I really wanted to trade places... 

I agreed to review this book because a) I love to read; b) I thought it would be a great giveaway for my MilSpouse friends. I had no idea that I was 'chosen' to review this book because I needed it so desperately. 

Through the good, the bad and the ugly, Carla Anne Coroy takes you through step by step and asks (and answers!) the really tough questions that we are all afraid to ask. She isn't the perfect woman telling you what you should be doing, but the one willing to share her story - mistakes, hurts and all. 

With chapters like "Emotional Divorce", "Those Should Be His Chores!", "Discipline Divided" and "Give Me a Break", you will learn biblical ways to face the emotions and struggles that come with being a "Married Mom, Solo Parent". I really appreciated how everything Carla Anne tackles is backed by scripture (and not preachy). 

This book hit me hard. Carla Anne answered questions and addressed hurts I didn't even know I had. I went through emotions that I have been stuffing for a long time. I will be reading it again - this time with a highlighter - and taking notes. There are even chapters I will be reading with the Soldier.

If your husband is in the military and deploying or training for long periods of time or he works away from home a lot or even if he has just 'checked out' of his roles as husband and father, this book is for you. You won't regret reading it and you may just finish with a new perspective and a changed attitude. I did. 

Don't miss Carla Anne Coroy's website. You can even download a free journal and study guide. (I love free.) 

Now for the giveaway!

  

How to enter:

1. Main entry - Leave a comment letting me know you want to win! 
Note: If you just can't wait for the contest to end to get your own copy of this book, you can still be a winner. Go ahead and enter and if your name is chosen, forward me your receipt from Amazon or other retailer and I will send you an $10 Amazon gift card instead! 
P.S. I would love it if you would shop through my link ;)  Click here for the Kindle version of "Married Mom, Solo Parent" and start reading it now!

Bonus entries - You must leave a separate comment for each in order for it to count!

2. Like "Our Crazy Life" on Facebook (or if you already do, leave a comment letting me know!)

3. Share this post on Facebook - or any other Social Networking Site using the "Share the Love" buttons below the post. One Bonus entry per 'share', make sure to leave a comment for each entry! (P.S. You can share 1x a day for each site!)

4. Follow me on Google Friend Connect (or if you already do, leave a comment letting me know!)

5. Add my button to your blog (Worth two entries, leave two comments!)
 
6. Like Carla Anne Coroy on Facebook.

Make sure you leave a way to contact you, either by having your reply-to email address set or by leaving your email address in your posts.

Contest will end Thursday, 1/26/2012, at 10:00 pm CST and the winner will be chosen by a random number generator.

The winner will be mailed a copy of Carla Ann Coroy's "Married Mom, Solo Parent" via media mail.

*Fine Print: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review.

Linking up for Military Monday at Semper Wifey's!