The Reluctant Entertainer by Sandy Coughlin

Many women struggle with the idea of entertaining in their own homes. Perfectionism is engrained into many of us at a young age and continues to manifest itself in our adult lives. Author Sandy Coughlin invites all women who are reluctant to invite others into their homes to experience the freedom and joy of entertaining. Hospitality does not include the idea of being perfect, spending a lot of money or having to impress others. Coughlin shows that true hospitality and entertaining is about reaching out to those around us and opening ourselves to them. The Reluctant Entertainer also includes recipes, practical advice and tips to save money.

I appreciated The Reluctant Entertainer because I am a very reluctant entertainer. My husband's parents visit about twice a year and occasionally I will have a girlfriend over to hang out. I would never invite someone who I don't know well over for dinner. Coughlin spends a lot of time in the book talking about perfectionism and for good reason. Perfectionism is rooted in fear and probably a tremendous factor in the reluctance of many would-be entertainers. I appreciated how she also gave ideas about hospitality and entertaining outside of just inviting people into my house. Personally, I think the idea of taking a meal to someone is a lot more appealing then having guests over. At least it's a good place to start.

This book would make a great housewarming or wedding gift.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishing as part of their Blogger Review 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."