Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts

Friday, May 6, 2011

Book Review - Extra Lean Family

About the Book
"Living Extra Lean has allowed me to enjoy food more than ever, while maintaining my best health, and I want nothing less for my family or yours!" -Mario Lopez

Understanding that a long and healthy life starts at home, actor and host Mario Lopez carefully developed the Extra Lean plan with one simple understanding: what you eat affects those closest to you. As a proud new father himself, Mario is committed to helping his family start on the right foot when it comes to what they eat by applying the principles of Extra Lean to the household. And the first place to start is in the kitchen.

In Extra Lean Family, Mario shows readers how to use the vital resources from Extra Lean to broaden the spectrum of foods your family eats and how to enjoy food and maintain your best health by cooking healthy, quick, and delicious meals. You and your family will take charge of what you eat, control the quality and preparation of meals, and consistently achieve lean results with the guidance of Extra Lean Family. Includes:

  • Detailed food planning tools-including weekly grocery lists-to ensure efficient food prep to jumpstart the week and keep your health on track
  • More than 40 appetizing and exciting recipes that can all be prepared in 20 minutes or less
  • Dozens of simple and satiating snack options that can combat hunger between meals and keep your metabolism moving fast

This fool-proof plan also offers a food journal and nutritional guidelines for different builds and ages. Extra Lean Family will transform the way your family eats, achieve short and long-term health goals, and allow everyone to enjoy delicious food, without the guilt, for life.

About the Author

Mario Lopez is currently the host of TV's second-longest-running entertainment show, Extra, and MTV's highest-rated program, Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew.

My Take on the Book 
I am always looking for great tasting health meals for my family and this book is jam packed with them! What I loved most about the book was the way in which it was set up. Set up in weeks, you have direct control of the diet of your family and you know what each piece of the meal contributes toward in regards to their nutrition. Filled with tons of pictures, you are given a intimate look into every part of the meal with complete nutritional breakdown. Also, the meals are not so complex that only a chef could use it, instead it is written for the everyday person. You will be amazed at the amount of great tasting, easy to make meals that are in this book. You also will be amazed at the other small treasures that are shared within this book as well! A Great book for any family!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
 
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Book Review - Magickeepers

About the Book
On his thirteenth birthday, Nick Rostov discovered his destiny as a Magickeeper: a member of a family of magicians who fight to keep the evil Shadowkeepers at bay. As Nick and his stage magician father settle in to life at the Winter Palace, an opulent hotel in Las Vegas filled with Russian history, polar bears, a Siberian tiger, and real magic, Nick begins to learn about his own talent for magic and his new family.

In The Eternal Hourglass (May 2009) and The Pyramid of Souls (May 2010), Nick encounters artifacts that have been in the possession of Harry Houdini, Egyptian Pharaohs, Alexander the Great, P. T. Barnum, and Edgar Allen Poe. In the thrilling conclusion to the trilogy, Magickeepers: The Chalice of Immortality Nick must race against time to find an artifact that has passed through the hands of Shakespeare and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in order to save his father’s life.

Now Nick is on his way to England in search of the magical object that represents the very crux of the Magickeepers and Shadowkeepers struggle: magic is neither good nor evil—it is the soul of the magician who determines its value.

About the Author
Erica Kirov is not from a family of magicians, but she is from a proud family of Russians, and she grew up hearing stories of their lives there. In the last four years, Erica has published eighteen novels for adults. She has garnered rave reviews from US Weekly magazine (twice selected for the “Hot Book Pick”), Cosmopolitan, Kirkus, Women’s WorldAmerican Girl magazine, as well as the Chicago Sun Times and a  front-page spread in the Flair section of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Erica lives in Virginia with her husband, four children, three dogs, parrot, and her son’s snake.



My Take on the Book
Though I had not read any of the other two books in the series, I did not find myself lost in this series. I actually found this book to be a fun read, and one that is rich with Russian history (much of which I was not aware of prior to reading this). I shared the book with my daughter and she enjoyed it as well and now has asked me to place the other books on hold at the library. The plot is unique and fun and kept me engaged from beginning to end!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - My Parents Were Awesome

About the Book
Your parents’ lives revolved around you from Day One: from changing diapers through helping with homework, kissing boo-boos through dishing out dating advice, they’ve helped make you who you are today. But before fanny packs became their go-to accessory and minivans their car of choice, they were people, too! 

In a digital age where we can retake digital photos until they’re “perfect” and online culture embraces “epic fail,” the wildly popular website MY PARENTS WERE AWESOME (http://myparentswereawesome.com) bucks the trend by lauding the everyday heroes—parents—with vintage photos. Launched in 2009 by writer, comedian and editor Eliot Glazer, the online collection of old photos of parents before parenthood proves that parents were once young, fun, and effortlessly cool. The site became an instant hit, with features on NPR’s All Things Considered, Fox News, ABC News and more. And now Glazer combines the spontaneity and nuance of old photographs with stories by sons and daughters in a heartwarming collection of essays: MY PARENTS WERE AWESOME: Before Fanny Packs & Minivans, They Were People Too.

With intimate memories from Jamie Deen, Christian Lander, Laurie Notaro, and other acclaimed writers, comedians, musicians, and artists—MY PARENTS WERE AWESOME celebrates the hilarious stories of real parents: the mom and dad who traveled by VW bus to see Led Zeppelin for $1, the grandmother whose halter top and shorts belied her perfect demeanor, the father whose wanderlust passed down to his equally nomadic daughter.

A perfect gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or any time of year, MY PARENTS WERE AWESOME includes a special section where you can personalize the book with your favorite image of your parents and write down your own cherished memories.  With stories and photos that will warm your heart and make you laugh, the paperback edition of MY PARENTS WERE AWESOME reminds you to reflect, say thanks to Mom and Dad—and admit that, yeah, your parents were awesome

My Take on the Book
I loved this book in the fact that it shared so many great stories of sons and daughters of their parents. Especially as we get ready for Mothers Day , these essays were heartwarming and insightful. This stores made me think hard about my own experience with my own parents and what I would say if asked to contribute to this book. This book will both warm your heart as well as tickle your funny bones!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Book Review - Louie Morelli's Daughter

About the Book
Stella Romano's husband, Johnny, is gambling with her life.

When Johnny mortgages the Boca Raton mini-mansion gifted Stella by her rich daddy, Louie Morelli, he fully intends to pay off his loan-sharks. But Johnny blows the money in Vegas, and his nasty creditors seize Stella as collateral. In one terror-filled night, Stella's world is turned upside down.

While Stella struggles to stay alive, Louie and his faithful friend, Victor DeAngelis, launch a rescue mission. Stella's kidnappers are from Detroit, and in desperation Louie appeals to a man he doesn't even know, but who he is confident can help him.

Louie's Detroit connection proves cooperative and with a little help from longtime associate, Nathan Roth, Louie sets a trap for the kidnappers. From glitzy Palm Beach to the snowy streets of suburban Detroit, to the hot hills of Acapulco and narrow alleys of New Orleans, Louie's revenge is plotted and extracted.

When an innocent man gets in Louie's way and becomes the victim of a fatal "accident", bad things begin to happen. Louie will do anything to help his beautiful daughter and his mission soon changes from one of revenge to silencing adversaries. To protect his loved ones, Louie must commit one final murder. For this, he will need Stella's help.

My Take on the Book
This book is a page turner. As a reader you are taken on a journey where you must figure out where Louie's loyalties lie. You are also brought into a world of crime, where loan sharks will take your loved ones to settle a debt, not a word that I want to be meeting anytime soon. I have to say that this book was a fun and engaging read. While there were parts where I was simply flabbergasted by the audacity of the characters, I was drawn into the book, and I found it to be one that I could simply not put down.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Book Review - Insight



About the Book 
The disappearance of her father, combined with her sister’s strange gift, leaves a young girl feeling disconnected and vulnerable in Diana Greenwood’s moving drama, INSIGHT (Zondervan; $15.99; May 2011). After her father leaves their rural Wisconsin home and goes to war, never to be heard from again, Elvira Witsil is forced to share the house with her grumpy grandmother, oddly special baby sister, Jessie, and disgruntled mother, all without the reassuring presence of her dad. Though Ray Witsil left the family with little money and even less hope, his memory still looms over the broken family—especially for Elvira, who feels partially responsible for his departure.

Elvira never really accepted the sudden arrival of a new baby in the house but was always the one left with babysitting duties while her mother’s famous temper flared and her nosy grandmother meddled. It didn’t help that Jessie either refused to or couldn’t utter a word until she was four years old. And Jessie’s first words are ones she never could have known.

When Elvira discovers that Jessie is a gifted seer, both their worlds collide in a way she could have never imagined. For the first time, Elvira feels connected again to her father and to the sister she has never understood. But when Jessie uncovers secrets about the family’s past, secrets kept hidden for many years, her mother hastily packs up the family and takes them on a journey far from home. Along the way, Elvira embarks on her own personal journey toward self-forgiveness and faith.

INSIGHT is a book that lingers with the reader even after the last page is turned, woven tightly yet sensitively by a promising new name in young adult literature. Offering the compassionate story of how a parent’s love gone too soon crippled one girl’s journey to move forward, Greenwood masterfully details a story of redemptive faith.

About the Author
Diana Greenwood grew up with the Bobbsey Twins, Laura Ingalls, Huck and Tom, the Hardy Boys, Jo, Francie Nolan, and Oliver Twist. She tried to duplicate the adventures of her favorite characters by writing poems, stories, and scripts for summer performances in her backyard. Today, she still has those childhood editions on her bookshelf and spends her days writing stories of young people embarking on life-changing journeys. Diana makes her home in the Napa Valley, where she watches college football, volunteers at her church, and continues to devour books.

My Take on the Book
Talk about intense. This book brings out the harsh realities within one girls' life and what happens when a sister is born into it with special insights on what is to come. This book takes readers on a journey through the depths of loneliness and brings forth concepts of acceptance and love while taking the reader on a journey of discovery as well. A well crafted book and one that I would highly recommend to other readers!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
   
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Book Review - My Impossible Year

About the Book
 My Impossible Year  is a stunning coming-of-age novel by veteran author Mark Littleton. It is a love story shrouded by mystery that surrounds Christian college students who band together to fight a vindictive professor who wants to destroy all vestiges of faith.  When Tris, a college junior, suspects that his crabby and obnoxious professor is behind the overdose that caused his friend’s coma, he is driven to find out why. When the arch-liberal, tyrannical professor sets his sights on Brooke, Tris’s new love, he senses real danger and feels an urgency to uncover the truth – even if it leads him to places he never imagined!



About the Author
Mark Littleton is a graduate of Colgate University (B.A., 1972) and Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1977), and is a former youth pastor and pastor.  He speaks at both Christian and secular events and is available for speaking anywhere in the U.S., depending on the need and context.  

He is happily married to Jeanette Gardner and has four children: Nicole, Alisha, Gardner and Elizabeth. They all think Mark is the greatest father ever, though their opinions change depending on whether he has given them what they wanted for that day. The family have a dog named Zoe who is stupider than mud, a backup dog named Aussie, who’s quite smart but not smart enough to escape and find another family who will feed him better. They also have a cat named Frodo who hates Zoe and Aussie but loves everyone else. They used to have a hamster, too, but … well, you know what happens to hamsters

He has written for numerous publications including Reader's Digest,  The Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Evening Sun,  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Moody Monthly,  Today's Christian Woman, Discipleship Journal, Leadership, Sunday Digest, Power for Living, Zelos, as well as many others.

He is also the author of over ninety-eight books which have collectively sold over one million copies, including:

My Take on the Book
This is a powerful book that brings you into the life of the character within it. I was amazed at how well the author tied together both love and vindication (not always two things you see together in one place). The story flows well and you find that it is over almost before it has begun. I found myself wanting to read this, instead of feeling like I had to read this, which shows how engaged I was as a reader as well as how well written the story and the storyline was. While this is the first book that I have read from this author, ir will not be my last.


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Monday, May 2, 2011

Book Review - Help Wanted

About the Book
Music industry veterans Darlene and Dan R. Brock, co-founders of Forefront Records, home of five-time GRAMMY ® Award winning artist TobyMac, are proud to present The Grit & Grace Project. A company that is dedicated to helping women reach their full potential, merging two of the primary strengths innate to women, Grit and Grace, calling upon those strengths to find purpose as individuals, wives and mothers. On April 25th, The Grit & Grace Project will release their first book titled Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters, written by Darlene Brock.

 
Published in association with OakTara, Help Wanted is flavored with honesty, humor, compelling stories and creative solutions. It navigates the 13 jobs moms must accomplish in the dynamic, yet often challenging mother-daughter relationship to make the maximum difference in their girl’s life:
Coach
Creative Counselor
Time Manager
Media Director Academic Advocate
Professor of Gender Studies  
Relationship Counselor
Sex Ed Teacher
Financial Consultant  
Bodyguard
Communications Specialist  
In-Home Demonstrator
Military Specialist 
In talking about her new project the mother of two stated:  “This book is about what I learned - about the jobs you need to master, the advice from other women that helped me, as well as some realities about the life and culture we live in that informed my perspective. You can take on the most difficult job in the world – raising daughters  – and not only live to tell about it, but smile along the way.”
The 224-paged paperback will be available for $14.95 at stores nationwide. In addition, it will also be available at special ebook prices at www.amazonkindle.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and other digital download locations.
Known primarily as a publisher of fiction, OakTara’s new association with The Grit & Grace Project marks an increased move into selective non-fiction works.  OakTara was founded by Jeff Nesbit and Ramona Tucker, two veterans of the publishing world
About the Author

Darlene Brock is a motivated self-starter who, while raising her two daughters, found time to produce award-winning music videos, manage recording artists, promote concerts throughout the US and serve as the Chief Operation


Officer of ForeFront Records. Yet, when reviewing her varied accomplishments and successful career, she proclaims her most important and fulfilling job is being a mom.  



My Take on the Book
Help Wanted is a book that is a page turner! I found it to be fun, engaging and one that will make you look at your own mom in a whole different way. I know that I have always appreciated my mom and also my wife for what they do on a daily basis, but as a father, this book opened my eyes even further. As I get ready for mothers day I have to say that this book is a must read for any mother or anyone who has a mom. You will definitely appreciate what is shared and will find that this is something that you will want to share with others!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Book Review - God in the Obama Era

About the Book
Turn to this book for a careful contemporary exposition of Barack Obama’s religious beliefs -- and a long term historical appraisal of their relation to the faith of predecessor presidents.

The forty-fourth President’s term of office will not expire until two more years. So who are we living with? Is Barack Hussein Obama a man of Christian faith? His middle name (which he included when he took the oath of office) means blessing in Muslim tradition. Who have turned out to be his cohorts, his opponents, his enemies? Is he tolerant, intolerant, puffed up, confused?

The world must judge! Or is he perhaps (as charged) a paranoid, a racist, a devotee of Liberation Theology, a socialist, communist, Muslim or skeptic?

Historically, it seemed to be an open question of WHAT NEXT -- how long and who wins for his administration? In the 2010 mid-term national election Democrats suffered major losses as the House of Representatives passed into Republican control. Critics said that Barack Obama is already a one term president! What had become of his biblically referenced audacity of hope, they asked? The opposition leadership vowed to seek repeal of Obama Care, the President’s health care program. Who had the forty-fourth President of the United States turned out to be, friends and enemies speculated? Statesman, Hypocrite, Liar, Paranoid, Wise Leader, Prophet, Zealot?

To begin to answer our question one must consider how the first African-American President’s plans and policies related to those of his predecessors in office--Clinton, Kennedy, the Roosevelts, Lincoln, Jackson, Washington among others; how will future historians evaluate his personality and character? How is one to appraise his foreign policy, his priorities: war and peace, nuclear disarmament, medicare, recession, religious freedom? The fact is that some of his accomplishments have turned out to be substantial even though the high rate of unemployment throughout the land has hobbled his administration and destroyed much of his earlier popularity.

Barack Obama had campaigned for the presidency with great optimism and promise. He promised to end the log jam in Washington D.C., work for disarmament and peace abroad as well as to build racial cooperation and interparty cooperation at home. From the outset of his term in office the Republicans united against him, seeking to to bring him down and to block his program. Obama himself had come to the capitol pledged to foster cooperation across party divides. It did not work! Such was the continuing confrontation between a progressive idealistic Democratic President and his Republican traditionalist opponents. The country had its most intellectual president since Woodrow Wilson, but his careful judgments did not necessarily bring votes in the face of major unemployment. Of course, internationally the nation faced continuing warfare in the Middle East, now centered now in Afghanistan rather than Iraq.

About the Author
Niels C. Nielsen, Jr. is the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Philosophy and Religious Thought emeritus at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Rice is an independent university, neither a state supported school or a church sponsored institution. He was founding chairman of its department of religious studies from 1968 to 1990.

His B.A. degree is from George Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, and his B.D. and Ph.D from Yale. He taught in the Yale University Department of Religion before coming to Texas. His professional affiliations include the American Academy of Religion, American Philosophical Society, American Society for the Study of Religion, Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies and the Society for European Culture. His doctoral research at Yale was in contemporary theology. Subsequently he has written in the fields of world religions and religion in Eastern Europe; he traveled extensively researching in these fields.

Niels C. Nielsen, Jr.'s field of study and research is philosophy and religious studies. His text, Religions of the World is a widely used class book. His study of The Religion of Jimmy Carter had international sales, with Dutch and German translations. He has also written on Religion After Communism in Russia


My Take on the Book
I have not thought much about the religious affiliations of the Presidents in the past and how this affected their stances on many issues of the day. This book though gave the reader amazing insight into the lives and spiritual calling of our past Presidents and what that meant for them and for their overall US Policy decisions that they made while in office. While the book does not over all Presidents, it does take an intimate look at some of the best known of our US Presidents.

I have been reading the Biographies of our US Presidents and this book was an amazing addition that provided even more information than even some of the biographies that I have read this far.

We hear so much these days while listening to the news about the fundamentalist leaning of the US and their political power, so it was interested to see how in the past the Presidents balanced all of this.

This book was a great read and one that I could not put down. I am planning to share this book with another colleague who like me is reading the biographies of our Presidents as I know that he will love this as much as I. If you are interested in Presidential history, this book will open your eyes to things you would have never even considered in the past! read it today!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Book Review - Enlightened

About the Book
Alexis Randall is anything but a normal 16-year-old girl. Knowing that her curse can lead her to commit acts of extreme violence, she has vowed to live by one simple rule: Stay away from Normals. However, Alexis' clear-cut rule is tested by a chance meeting with one boy and an encounter that leaves another in a coma. As she struggles to suppress her feelings for the first and live with her guilt about the second, Alexis soon realizes that reality has a funny way of catching up with her.With engaging characters and fascinating plot twists, the first installment of THE ENLIGHTENED SERIES thrusts its readers into the wild and surreal life of Alexis Randall.



About the Author
 Allyson Richards is 17 years old and a first-time author.  She started writing her first novel when she was 15.

In the summer of 2010, Allyson worked with Joey Travolta and wrote the script for his short film camp project, Friday Night After the Movies. She's attended a conference at the University of North Florida, where she worked with Kristin Harmel in her critique workshop for YA fiction writers.
She was then unexpectedly invited back to this conference next year on a scholarship, awarded to her by the conference director, Sharon Y. Cobb. Later, she was hired by Mrs. Cobb to critique a screenplay she had written.

Allyson lives on a horse farm in Jacksonville Florida. When she's not working on her novels, she is out riding her horse, Gravity.

"Whatever problem I ever face in life--whether it be boys, friends or even writer's block--I always find myself at peace with a pad of paper, a pen, and Gravity by my side."

My Take on the Book
I have to be honest and say that for such a young author I was completely amazed at the depth of her writing. I would not have known that she was a first time writer if I had not been pre-disposed the the knowledge beforehand. The author has done a great job at building a world for her characters through rich description and quality character development. The book was easy to read and made me want to continue reading from the first to the last page. If this book is any indication to books that may follow, I believe that this author has a long career ahead of her!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
 
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Book Review -This is just exactly like you

About the Book
When Jack Lang impulsively buys a second house directly across the street from his own, his wife Beth has finally had enough. She leaves him—and their six-year-old autistic son, Hendrick—to move in with Jack’s best friend, Terry Canavan. Jack tries to tell everyone in his life that he’s okay, but no one believes him: Not his employees at Patriot Mulch and Tree in suburban North Carolina, not Beth herself, and not Canavan’s estranged girlfriend, Rena, who arrives on Jack’s doorstep to see how, and whether, he’s bearing up.

The morning Hendrick, who rarely talks to anyone at all, suddenly starts speaking fluent Spanish, Jack knows they’re in uncharted territory. But as he lets Rena further into his life, even while he wonders whether Beth is ever coming home, he begins to suspect that the world is far more complicated than he’d ever believed.

Jack’s attempt to navigate this new landscape—one of defunct putt-putt courses and karaoke bars, parenthood and infidelity—is the subject of this wise, witty, and large-hearted debut novel. As the adults change houses, partners and perceptions, Hendrick emerges from his shell in ever more unexpected and delightful ways to become, at times, the story’s center of gravity. Perry’s fresh and funny insights into marriage, autism, suburban ennui, and life’s occasional miracles are certain to captivate readers.



My Take on the Book 
What a fun read! This book was a bit strange at parts, even quirky, but it is definitely a book that was an easy read and one that I found myself plowing through. I read a lot, but still it can take me a little bit of time to get through the texts. What I found with this book though is that I wanted to read more and I wanted to find out what would happen next! The book is well written and portrays dysfunction in a very real way! In this book you get a bit of everything from marital upheaval to family ties you get to see and appreciate the complex web of relationships between the characters. The one thing I will say about this book is do not expect anything as there are turns where you least expect it!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Book Review - Annie Begins

About the Book
Annie Begins is the story of Annie Thompson, a brilliant business woman who doesn’t have the same success rate in relationships.  A whip-smart Harvard MBA, determined to set the emerging Internet world on fire and rise above her blue-collar beginnings, Annie is also a veritable sucker for charming, handsome men who want something from her.  So, when Annie’s ideal man announces his wife is divorcing him and designates Annie “the best listener he knows,” the sudden emotional intimacy and mixed signals are enough to disrupt Annie’s single-minded focus on work.

In pursuit of Mr. Tall, Dark, and Barely Available while juggling an intense work schedule, Annie is halted by a young cousin named April, newly diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, who makes finding a husband for Annie her dying project.  With the clear-eyed insight of a truly old soul, April handpicks a fiancé for her cousin, but he’s most certainly not who Annie would have chosen.  Only with the help of an unlikely matchmaker does Annie realize the wisdom of the little girl’s choice, which challenges every assumption that had driven Annie so hard in the first place, and reveals what she most deeply values in a man—and in herself.

Annie Begins features a feisty, slightly underdog heroine you will find yourself routing for from page one. This novel is ultimately a story of transformation—of a young woman who is finally able to let the people in her life help her to discover the best version of herself, rather than blindly striving to be someone wholly different.

Michelle Toth writes with pin-point accuracy about the dot-com world of the mid-90’s from the perspective of someone who experienced it firsthand.

Using her business background, she is available to discuss the radical changes that we have seen in business with the advent of the internet and the ramifications from the bubble burst that taught us all a huge lesson in the journey towards control.

Toth teaches at Grub Street in Boston and is currently lecturing on the rocky road of self publishing as well as the changes in the current publishing model. She can weigh in on these topics as well as the changing face of business and what we can learn from the past.

My Take on the Book
This book was a fun and engaging read. From the first to last page you are drawn into Annie's world. The author has done a great job here developing the characters within the book and helping you truly feel the emotions, concerns and everyday life moments with the characters. The plot was strong and it kept me reading. There were many parts in the story where I found myself chuckling to myself. The author did that good of a job making the characters real to the reader.

This was a strong fast paced book that was a fun and enjoyable read, and I would highly recommend it to all!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
 
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Book Review - 60 Miles from Salt Water

About the Book
Set against the lush lawns of an eastern prep school and the chapel bells of a small New England college, "60 Miles from Salt Water" follows three young men into their individual adult lives as they enter the fast track worlds of money, high society, and international finance, much to their own peril.

Bob Lane wanted to be a money manager and investment banker for many years. A chance social meeting brings him together with Texas oil tycoon Rick Davis and his family, especially the beautiful Jane Davis, whose college days are spent near Bob's college in New England. Boston, New York, and Los Angeles are stops on the way to success as Bob now lives in idyllic and romantic Malibu.

Bob and his new friend Billy Andrews become inseparable during school and college. Over time, Billy becomes enamored with the legal profession, especially litigation, through summer jobs at a major New York law firm. He becomes a strong family man, with two sons, and climbs to the top of his profession.

Jim Bellino, son of a pizza shop owner outside Boston, is a powerful, charismatic, scholarship student whose dyslexia and a bad knee eventually add up to scholarship jeopardy. A senior Boston commercial banker and alumnus gives Jim a break, and Jim takes full advantage of his bank training program.

Years later, in their separate lives in Los Angeles, New York, and Boston respectively, we learn of the lust for their women, love of their families, and experiences in the crucible of life that brings them back together and redeems the jeopardy that has involved them all.

"60 Miles from Salt Water" is a tale of greed, passion, and Wall Street chicanery. A wild ride into the lives of the high rollers, from the exclusive clubs of Boston and Newport, to the beaches of Malibu and the mountains of tax sheltered Andorra, with sex, intrigue, and the FBI.


My Take on the Book
Talk about fast paced and crazy. This book takes the movie Wall Street to the next level! What I liked most about this book was the fact that the author knows his stuff and you can tell it on every page of this short novel. With that being said you definitely are taken for a ride in this book, and you will definitely not be bored. I can say from the beginning to the end, you are taking on a ride through friendship, love, money and greed. What could be better!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.


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Monday, April 25, 2011

Book Review - A Dog Named Slugger

About the Book
The book, A Dog Named Slugger by Leigh Brill, is a true story about a woman who, at the height of her Cerebral Palsy symptoms, turned to a service dog organization where she was matched with Slugger, a highly intelligent, devoted and loving Yellow Labrador.  The story that follows is not just heart-warming and inspiring,  it also promotes a very worthy cause--the Service Dog Industry.  (All of Leigh’s proceeds from the book will go to the nonprofit St. Francis Service Dogs organization)


Lovable Labrador Gives Palsy Patient New Lease on Life


"I have cerebral palsy. I walk funny and my balance is bad. I fall a lot. My hands shake, too. That means I'm not so good at carrying things. And if I drop stuff, sometimes it's hard to just bend down and get it." I waited anxiously for the interviewer's response. She smiled. "It sounds like a service dog could be great for you."

So began Leigh Brill's journey toward independence and confidence, all thanks to a trained companion dog named Slugger. The struggling college student and the Labrador with "a coat like sunshine" and a tail that never stopped wagging became an instant team. Together, they transformed a challenge into a triumph, eventually inspiring and educating all whom they met.

Leigh Brill tells the heart-warming story of her life and lovable Yellow Lab in her best-selling memoir, A Dog Named Slugger (ISBN:  978-0-98432565-8)   The story begins near the end of Brill’s college years, when her Cerebral Palsy symptoms worsened and, in desperation, she turned to service dogs; canines trained to aid people with disabilities.  Leigh was instantly matched with big, lovable Slugger, who would not only pick up dropped pens and open heavy doors, but would pick up Brill’s life and open her mind and heart, helping her to find peace, love and even a career.

The book is written in a fun, easy-to-read style, with Slugger himself leaving the most indelible mark as an unforgettable character.  More than just a memoir, A Dog Named Slugger shines a light on the growing Service Dog movement, hopefully leading to more trainers, helper dogs and triumphant “Slugger stories” throughout the country and the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leigh Brill is a writer, speaker, and advocate for people with disabilities.  She is actively involved in organizations promoting the work of service dogs.   (www.LeighBrill.com)


My Take on the BookThis story was heartwarming. I have seen these amazing dogs in action in the past and was happy to have read the story if this amazing dog. If you love animals or wrk with them this book is one that you will want for your collection! 

What I loved about this story was the fact that the author does an amazing job to truly show the reader the love between dog and owner. You will be inspired and motivated and you will leave the reading of this story with a better appreciation for the work that these dogs do as well as the importance of continuing the training of dogs like Slugger into the future.

Outside of the story of the dog, it is also the story of its owner also and the amazing journey that she went through to lead her to Slugger. 

As mentioned this story will touch your heart and will make you want to do more to know the people around you.
 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions. 
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