I was so excited to request "We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook" after arriving back in Togo. Then I waited...and waited...and waited. Five months later (no joy!), a little brown packet arrived with my name on and this little book inside. Hallelujah! I read the book almost straight through, with a few tears and some laughter here and there as I could relate to much of the mother and daughter relationship detailed.

I enjoyed the structure of the book: a chapter of chatty life details and memories revolving around food written by either Johnson or Randolph with the recipes discussed inserted at the end of each chapter. I also loved the transparency that the ladies use in writing about their families and the feeling the book exudes. I was disappointed that I could use maybe a couple of recipes as international (and, I would imagine, supermarkets) do not carry the ingredients to make vegan meals. (Guess you have to be a fish and potatoes eater in Africa...or starve!) And I was greatly surprised and a bit disturbed at the all the discussion of and recipes for alcoholic beverages-I thought Zondervan would have had a higher standard than this. That being said, a good read, a few interesting recipes make for a recommendation for those would love to cook, especially vegan preparing ones.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from Booksneeze. All opinions are my own.

We Laugh We Cry We Cook a Mom and Daughter Dish about the Food that Delights Them and the Love that Binds Them By Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph is the latest read for me. I was delighted with this book. It made want my own daughter to share my cooking with. I laughed at the difference between these two women its like night and day. This book is a book written from the perspective of each. The recipes are yummy looking. I love the way that even though it is about the mother and daughter their lives they also share stories of loved ones past and in return these relatives live on through them and the recipes passed down. Becky is the mom and she might not be as organized as her daughter but she has that mother's intuition. She may even be all over the place at times but I found her fun. Rachel is the daughter and she finds her mom a bit of a challenge but loves her. Rachel herself is very organized and in control. Rachel is a vegetarian but her mom is not. I found the story of Becky taking her daughter on a trip to be so funny it made me laugh out loud when reading it. This is a good book. It is published by a Christian book company but I would have not known had I known that Zondervan was a Christian publisher. This was an easy ready for me and I look forward to making some of the recipes in this book. This book gets my 4 star rating. I did get this book from Book Sneeze for my honest review of the book. I suggest getting this book if you want to be entertained and learn a few recipes.

I had thought this was going to be a cookbook, and though it does have some recipes, mostly it is a book about mother and daughter team, Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph.

Becky and Rachel both provide some interesting reminisces about their lives together, and Rachel's life after she has married and started a family. Some are so funny that I could hardly read them I was laughing so hard. Becky's description of taking young teenage Rachel to Nashville, and Rachel's adventure at Babies-R-Us are just hilarious. They also include some really touching moments the two of them have experienced. Rachel's story of becoming a vegan, and how she has eaten since then, is really interesting. Of course, there are lots of memories from both Becky and Rachel that involve food.

There is one caveat I had with this book. In this day and age when drinking is so pervasive and dangerous, it was troublesome that drinking was referred to so often as a natural outgrowth of people gathering together. It is disappointing that a Christian book would portray drinking in such a positive light.

It is true, the Bible doesn't say it is wrong to drink. However, it does say it is wrong to get drunk. In my experience, people who drink rarely stop before they get partially or completely inebriated. After experiencing death on both sides of my family that was the direct result of alcoholism, I view alcohol as a poison—and a poor example when young people witness adults partaking of it in their families.

Although this is a quick read, the love Becky and Rachel have for each other, and their families, comes shining through. People who enjoy reading about other's lives—especially stories that include food—would like this book. I give it four stars.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

This book is full of funny and heartwarming stories as well as recipes. Rachel and Becky are both very talented and great writers. I was not comfortable with it's content and references of alcoholic beverages, secular movie and songs and slang words.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one day. This book is about a family and there love for each other and for cooking. The book shares heartfelt stories and recipes. I especially liked the reciepe for chocolate pie.

All it takes to cook the pie is milk, sugar, cocoa, flour, egg yolks, vanilla and pie shells and then it tells you step by step instrucstions on how to bake this yummy pie. I cannot wait to make it myself.

I didn't really see this book as a Christian book but a book anyone could enjoy and wasn't really that religious to me in nature.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.