Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Remodel Your Kitchen Without Going Bonkers or Broke by Jim Molinelli is the lay person's guide to a huge home improvement project armed with the expertise of an experienced professional. Molinelli applies a straightforward and comfortable directive as he walks readers through a five-part process when a decision is made to proceed with a kitchen remodel. These are broken down by part, the first being Clarify, in which a homeowner is reminded that they are in control of their project and told to have clear directives, with recommendations on how to prepare and be prepared. Consult is the stage of understanding who different industry experts are, their roles, and your role in the process. Choose gets you through all things relating to nailing down your project, remodeler, and all that occurs in between. The final two parts deal with saving money and the process through Molinelli's own expert eyes.

There is no question that Jim Molinelli is right when he makes the point of how important the kitchen is in a home. Remodel Your Kitchen Without Going Bonkers or Broke brings the 'hearth' to the phrase 'hearth and home' with a spectacular degree of information that sidesteps the usual fluff and pitches. The details span over thirty-five chapters before the book arrives at The Heart of the Matter, a chapter on selecting who you will hire and why. That's how thorough the guide is. Thirty-four chapters of information before you've even picked the person or company you'll be working with. The inset boxes called the Pro Tip scattered throughout offer wonderful bite-sized morsels with gems such as, “In all negotiations, the first one to name a figure loses.” I actually had a chuckle over this with my husband when he said this is a tattoo-worthy quote. Very, very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond: Volume 1: Guiding Principles to Welcome Rain into Your Life and Landscape by Brad Lancaster is an informative book that gives good insights on harvesting and cycling of water with other on-site resources such as sun, wind, shade, and community. Planet Earth will never run out of water even though farms and communities might periodically run out of fresh water. The living systems on Earth make sure the quality of water is not degraded. The book challenges readers to do the same in the areas where they reside and gives good techniques and strategies to help them go about it. Brad Lancaster provides readers with a simple series of integrated strategies for creating water-harvesting 'nets'.

The topic is relevant and the tips give diverse ideas to create a multi-functional plan that is suitable for each person's needs. Readers learn about the many benefits of rainwater harvesting by reading this book and they can see how water scarcity can be turned into water abundance. The colorful illustrations are captivating and they add to the appeal of the book. Brad Lancaster helps readers appreciate the value of rainwater and will also help convey water-harvesting ideas to landscape designers and maintenance workers if they are designing sites so that they know how to create and maintain water-harvesting earthworks. Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond is definitely a book to have on the shelf in times when water is scarce so that rain can be welcomed into life and the landscape successfully.

Reviewed by Erin Nicole Cochran for Readers' Favorite

Tour of Insanity: Manifesto for Better Home Design by authors Kelly Mitchell and Matthew Zakutny is a non-fiction book mixed with humor along the way. It describes the birth and evolution of what surrounds us in the everyday lives that we lead, from bathrooms to front yards, to garages and beyond. As modern people living in 2021, it is always important to know or have some idea as to how the world works around us, even if we didn’t play the part of inventor or architect. What you find in Mitchell and Zakutny’s book Tour of Insanity is a treasure trove of facts you would have never guessed brought to you in a way that makes you want to absorb it all like a giddy sponge.

Kelly Mitchell and Matthew Zakutny’s Tour of Insanity: Manifesto for Better Home Design made me laugh, made me curious, and most importantly made me feel like I learned something that was significant and that I could remember. Every page that I read made me want to get to the next and devour it. I think I was expecting a crazy amount of comedy throughout, which made me hesitate at first. But Tour of Insanity is the perfect balance of humor added to facts that I’ve ever come across. And the images used within took you back in time to the ’70s and into nostalgia, even if carpeted bathrooms weren’t recommended. The photos of garages that were used in the book were gorgeous and made me want to start my life over and do it better, so I could have one. One of the comedic bits that made me laugh was on page 12: “The evil of front lawns was handed down by Abraham Levitt (the first Karen) in the late 1940s." This is just a small “paint chip” (yep, I went there with a pun) of what lies in store when you turn the pages of Kelly Mitchell and Matthew Zakutny’s Tour of Insanity.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Are you thinking of redesigning your kitchen, but you have no idea where to start? I know that feeling. There are so many things to consider: design, layout, cost, cabinets, lighting, appliances, flooring, and the list goes on. There are lots of resources out there to help you consolidate your ideas, but perhaps the most comprehensive guide that will lead you carefully through the quagmire of complications that are sure to arise is Hal Braswell’s Nail Your Kitchen: The Detailed Design Guide For Hands-On Homeowners.

I love the innuendo of the double meaning in the word ‘nail’ in the title. That’s what caught my attention. But, when I sat down and started looking through the book, I realized there was a whole lot more to attract my attention. This guide is not only well organized, bright, and cheery with all the colored photographs, but it’s also thorough. Each part of the kitchen is discussed in great detail, beginning with something so many guides ignore: the importance of defining your kitchen to suit you and your needs, as well as your pocketbook. There is a detailed table of contents that directs the reader to specific sections of the book and each section is bulleted with comparative notes, useful sidebars, and suggestions “Inside the Design” and “In the Know”, sticking to a budget (always a key point to consider) and so much more. There are even worksheets to help you plan and implement the best design that suits you and your budget. Nail Your Kitchen is a book to study multiple times before, during, and even after the kitchen renovations are complete.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Remodel! Without Going Bonkers or Broke: Eliminate 3 Critical Mistakes and Save Thousands Using This Proven Step-by-Step Method is a non-fiction Home Improvement book written by Jim Molinelli. Molinelli is a residential architect who has spent the last twenty-four years in the remodeling industry. As an architect, he was often frustrated by the failure of contractors to provide his clients with results based upon the designs he created at costs within their budgets. He began to work directly with a remodeling contractor in a cooperative venture that gave him new insights into the estimation process. Remodeling is an exciting process that can give your home a new feel, help prepare it to be sold on the market, or expand it to fit your changing needs, but it can also be a nightmare and a money trap if you aren't careful. Just about everyone knows someone who's in the contracting business. It could be a relative, a coworker, a friend of a friend or a neighbor. Molinelli cautions readers to avoid those personal recommendations like the plague. Instead, he sets out step-by-step instructions for preparing your Project Packet, figuring out which type of design professional fits your needs, finding the best remodelers for the job, and being the boss of your project. He includes a list of horror story avoidance tips, action items, and a chart of Remodeling Licensing and Registration by State in his appendices.

Jim Molinelli demystifies the often-confusing home improvement process. When I started reading this book, I knew absolutely nothing about home improvement. As I read, I was excited to find I was actually learning quite a bit about the process. Molinelli gives the reader total control over what goes into the project packet and helps hone a fine sense for what to look for when it comes down to hiring the right professionals for the tasks at hand. I was amazed by the amount of preparation work that the homeowner can do beforehand, and loved how Molinelli changes the tenor of the process from the homeowner feeling at the mercy of the professionals to assuming the role of the boss who is in control of the project. He injects a bit of reality into the often complicated and time-consuming process that many home improvement shows make seem easy and fast, while he demonstrates how knowledge and preparation can help avoid the nightmare scenarios seen in movies such as The Money Pit. Molinelli's enthusiasm for the subject shines through on every page of this invaluable guide, and it's quite infectious.

Remodel! Without Going Bonkers or Broke shows how you can have fun planning your remodel, while maintaining some control over costs and time frames. Readers of this entertaining and informative guide will feel empowered to politely decline the offers made by friends and relatives “in the business” as they interview and eventually select the professionals they’ll hire. They’ll know they've gotten the best bang for the buck without sacrificing the quality of their remodeling project. This is a must-buy for anyone thinking of a home improvement project, no matter how big or small. Remodel! Without Going Bonkers or Broke: Eliminate 3 Critical Mistakes and Save Thousands Using This Proven Step-by-Step Method is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Feng Shui on A Dime: Affordable Feng Shui for Love, Wealth, Health and Success by Stephanie Liang makes Feng Shui accessible to readers, both monetarily and practically. What is Feng Shui? Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement. The book takes a different approach and offers simple and inexpensive solutions to make changes in the life areas we want to improve. The book also explores traditional fixing and more contemporary solutions. A few adjustments here and there will see love, wealth, health, and success flowing into everyone’s life. Through this book, readers will get to know how to correct blocked Chi, the life force that permeates through everything and opens up a free flow of energy between the self and the universe.

Feng Shui always fascinated me and this is a great book for all those who want to learn the art of Feng Shui. The author also discusses how the magic of Feng Shui works. The book increases awareness and helps one become their own Chi guide. Readers will become more observant of their surroundings after reading this book and, once they start making situational changes according to the suggestions given, they will see a considerable change in every aspect of their lives. All the tips and techniques are simple and can be easily incorporated into one’s life. The book will make readers aware of the energy circling in their environment and also how to listen to their inner Feng Shui consultant. I found the book useful in organizing one’s life and in activating the laws of attraction.

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

Are you feeling down? Does your energy seem to be weak and sluggish? Does your home feel dark or dirty despite its being clean? How to Create Positive Energy in Your Space by Kasi Kaye Iliopoulos is a helpful guide to cleansing and clearing your home and other areas. With so much discordant energy surrounding our homes, it can be hard to ascend to higher, more loving, healing frequencies of energy. How do you help keep yourself elevated in higher energy frequencies? Cleanse and unblock your home and other spaces of discordant energies and bring in light by following the simple instructions found in this book.

House cleaning is so much more than just doing the laundry and dishes. It requires giving away unused items, deep cleaning, organization, and auric cleansing. Each chapter is dedicated to a helpful practice or subject, making this book easy to navigate. With easy to understand concepts and simple steps to follow to protect and keep your energetic space clean, the reader will quickly gain confidence in energy work around their home and office. The author shows the reader how to grid their home with specific crystals, instead of just telling them. All of the author's advice is followed with detailed, yet simple and concise reasons to the reader that impart more understanding and confidence in their actions and new knowledge. This book teaches the reader energy cleansing and beyond!

How to Create Positive Energy in Your Space by Kasi Kaye Iliopoulos is an excellent little self-help book full of information, advice, and even a special recipe that allows the reader to instantly start in the right direction. This book has it all; clearing and claiming your space, protecting your home, chakra therapy, and so much more! I highly recommend this book to those that are ready to change their future by releasing old, stagnant energies and inviting and manifesting love, light, peacefulness, and prosperity into their lives and homes.

Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

Color Your Chakras by Susan Shumsky is a highly unique and informative interactive coloring book. I’ve seen many adult coloring books, but I have not seen one like this before. It is like getting two books in one, with one part information on the different chakras located in the body, and one part interactive coloring book. There is so much information on these pages! Each bit of instruction on the chakras precedes an intricate coloring page for your use. Within these coloring pages and instructions, the reader will find yin and yang, deities, doorkeepers to each chakra, hieroglyphics, meditations, and mantras. This will aid in memorizing the chakras and also serves as a fun way to use the colors and your own imagination.

While I chose this book, assuming it was an adult coloring book, I was pleasantly surprised at all of the information provided about chakras, the main energy centers in the body, and the lotuses. Author Susan Shumsky explains so many different energies of chakras that I could hardly believe it was so involved! There are chakras in your skull — who knew that? I also enjoyed the information about the deities, and especially liked the Color Wheel and the Wish-Fulfilling Tree. It was a brilliant idea to link a coloring book with the chakras! Color Your Chakras should be a welcome addition to any spiritual library, and I recommend the book to readers interested in chakras or those who would like to use their imaginations for coloring beautiful images while learning something new.

Reviewed by Rachel McGrath for Readers' Favorite

Starry, Starry Night by Dianne Burns is a wonderful collection of black and white pictures of stars waiting to be filled with colour and unique imagination. Only recently I discovered the concept of adult colouring books and, to be honest, I’m not sure if it is a new idea or something that is being re-introduced. What I love about the concept is that anyone can get something out of it. As children, we would colour for hours, using a variety of colours and techniques to bring a picture to life. Bringing this notion to the adult world releases creativity and, in many respects, allows for us to bring out our inner child, taking us away from the worries of daily life, letting us enter a world that, as children, we perhaps took for granted.

Starry, Starry Night by Dianne Burns offers a variety of different objects, all with intricate patterns that will keep users entertained for hours. Whether it is a project you start and stop, or spend time on until a page is completely coloured and complete, the outcome is individual. For users, it is purely about what they want to achieve out of their own endeavors. The author makes a statement at the start to ‘de-stress your life one amazing star at a time,’ giving her audience permission to set themselves free. The addition of small quotes throughout is a gentle reminder of life, imagination, and the beauty of appreciating things we may take for granted. A highly recommended book for any adult to keep on their shelf for when they most need it; whether it is something used frequently or on rare occasions, I am positive this collection will come in handy.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Watercolour Toolbox: Essentials for Painting Success by Karen Richardson is a useful guide to all painters and those who are learning to paint. The book guides you step-by-step with useful strategies and demonstrations. It speaks about problems that painters face while painting and, apart from being helpful to novices, the book is also helpful to experienced painters. The book guides you in a sequential manner and speaks about everything that a painter would love to know to improve their techniques and skills. The book covers extensively the right usage of colors, brushes, and good textures for paintings.

The book has eight demonstrations by the author which is really educational and useful. It gives useful tips to improve your techniques and widen one's perspective on how to handle the complexities of art. The examples will tell you how to avoid or fix the challenges presented while using watercolors. The tips to keep in mind before you start with the painting are very helpful. It helps you in planning your picture and how to go about it methodically. The book also tells readers about the classic design guidelines and traditional painting methods which will help them improve their craft.

I will recommend this book to all artists and beginners. The most common painting challenges faced by painters and the simple solutions offered by the author will help one enjoy painting. This 65-page tutorial is very helpful when it comes to improving your style.