When I picked up The Brave Art of Motherhood for the first time I wasn't sure what to expect but was gripped from the first few pages. Rachel is so down to earth that it feels like I am listening to a friend tell me about her life and trials.

When you read this book make sure you have a pen and highlighter handy. My copy is filled with colors, little nuggets of wisdom shining from the pages. The personal stories that Rachel includes throughout the book are relatable in so many ways and is comforting to know that we moms are not alone in this crazy thing called motherhood.

It's so easy for us women to lose sight of who we are as a person because we give so much of ourselves to our children but The Brave Art of Motherhood is a call to action! To face your fears and find yourself again while still being the best mom you can be. While it is helpful in so many ways it is also easy to read. You can fly through this book but there is so much wisdom within these pages I suggest taking your time. It is a wonderful read and an incredible resource! ( )

I have been a follower of Rachel's blog for 8 years now and she never disappoints to amaze me. Every post is inspirational and her new book is fantastic, I highly recommend this book and is a must read for any mother in any season. ( )

Three books have spoken deeply to my heart this year. One line in Bob Goff's Everybody Always keeps coming up to me. "What if we weren't afraid anymore?" I have lingered in Dr. Barry C. Black's Nothing to Fear. The Brave Art of Motherhood has been the third installment in my semester of God turning my heart upside down. It's not that I haven't been brave. I have done plenty of things that take gumption. The thing is that I have done those things through fear and they have caused so much pain to release. I picture myself packaging up presents, leaving them on doorsteps, and running. Maybe no one will know it was me. I want to be brave enough to bear my pain for the healing of others and greater glory of God.

This book grabbed my attention because of three words that I pray for regularly. Brave. Art. Motherhood. I come form the tribe of "I'm not equipped for this." Somehow, with no formal training, I am here. I have realized that desperation can very often lead to depth. I have realized how unequipped I am to mother and create. That has led my heart to try things and ask God for things that the equipped person would not ask for. It requires something extra. Creative engineering requires you to say that you are not like other people. You don't fit in. You are going a different way. Putting yourself out there like that feels painful.

God has prompted some complete changes in everything I am doing. He has been moving my heart to do new things in new ways. I move when he says to move. My trouble has come in the form of being stuck. The voices in my head and the voices out of my head tell me all of the reasons that I cannot do it. I can't see my way to the next step or I get lost in helping others and I cannot see my way back to the thing I desired to do. Then this.

Often in motherhood, my mind is always spinning and I can't think. Rachel didn't just write a book telling you not to be stuck anymore. She wrote a book telling you how to bravely hunt down your dreams and make them your reality. It's comprehensive and directional. Keep following the steps. Here are the steps. You can live again. You can quit blaming others for your failure. You can live out the life you are desperate to live. You can quit hiding and enjoy your life. I can't recommend it enough.
Rachel's story is powerful. Her trauma is relatable. Her help is needed. If you need help with any area of your life, I urge you to get it. If it is a business, a health change, debt relief, or simply not being afraid to jump in the pool, you'll find courage in the pages.

What do you want to be brave enough to do? This is your how to. ( )

Rachel Martin's book, The Brave Art of Motherhood, is full of gold nuggets and lessons. What makes her book standout to me is that she has given me fresh new ways of thinking about things. Gratitude is one of those things. I always thought that having gratitude was enough, but Rachel explains how to use it to propel ourselves forward (in a way I never thought about before). Her stories are real and raw and most touching.

An excerpt from her book that has stuck with me...."Can you hope? Just for a moment, for a second? It does not matter where you start." I loved the stories of her children, their trials and tribulations and things that they said that resonate deeply. One especially: "My mind keeps stopping me." Eli's swimming challenges hit me smack dab in my heart - and then what Rachel told him to help him self-conquer his fears.

There are so many examples like this throughout her book - the difference between having a belief and faith, the meaning of real friends (being one and having them), and the step-by-step lessons she gives to help us breakdown very emotional excuses into actionable steps to jump from our stuck places to the joyful things we want to do in life. Rachel's book is helpful not just for Mom's but for anyone wanting to push the reset button and get back on a path to a more happy, fulfilling life. Her writing is deeply personal and I appreciate her book. ( )

I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for writing a honest review. Upon reading the first chapter, I wondered if I should review this book, being I am a grandmother. By chapter 3, I did not want to stop reading the book; found myself cheering for Rachel, and by chapter 5 wishing this book was around 30 years ago when I needed it most. This book encourages the reader to remove their own mask along with giving helpful ideas for handling situations we find ourselves in as young mothers. I recommend this book to all young mothers. If you can not find the time to read, keep a copy on the back of the toilet. Do not laugh, there were years that that was the only way I found a little time and peace to read. Even as a grandmother, this book had a powerful impact on my life. ( )