Review # 287: Muck Blossoms by Juna Jinsei

Description: (from Amazon)

     Kathleen is a girl who learns as she transforms into a woman and raises her family on the wild Wyoming prairie that it is easy to get sucked into the stifling culture that erases one's individualism and true identity. She becomes aware that one has to learn how to maneuver within the realm of oppression to avoid torture and death. As her family grows she begins to realize her hopes and dreams from a happy childhood can blossom anew from the dust and decay of a broken home. As she faces grave consequences on a daily basis, Kathleen develops the insight to see that it is the struggles, suffering, and obstacles from which her patience, determination, and courage thrive and grow.

     Though she is a constant pawn controlled by the evil intent that surrounds her, and attempts made to smother her hopes and desires, Kathleen's strong will protects her from those who threaten to extinguish the flame of love and joy that reside within her heart. As a prisoner of happenstance, she fights to keep her sanity while protecting her children, until she reaches the point of complete uncertainty of whether or not she and her loved ones will actually survive in the dangerous lair of a beastly maniac.

Review:

     Muck Blossoms is a heart-wrenching, yet inspiring, story of the struggles faced by a young woman and her family on a ranch on the Wyoming prairie. The 1800's were a period of great change, but women were treated as property, and Kate was no different. The emotional circumstances surrounding Kate's story were sobering; the abuse, harsh conditions, grief, and violence she suffered made me glad that I was born over 100 years later, in a time of greater rights and acceptance. Kate's personality resonated with me, as I am sure it will with other readers. Her love of knowledge and family, as well as her perseverance in the face of adversity, added to the depth of her character. Many of the characters were well-developed and represented, but Kate and her father's interactions were some of the most abrasively affective. The plot holds plenty of  unforeseen twists, but also a rigid backbone. Once I started reading I couldn't stop, although some of the more violent scenes gave me pause. The descriptions were beautiful, and sometimes deadly, but the scenery added to the realistic quality of the reading. I appreciated the message that "love conquers all", and after reading and mentally experiencing Kate's trials, I believe it. I also agreed with the quote from the final page:

Only in service to others

 can you discover who you truly are

 and realize your full potential.

 When you learn how to give,

 you will know how to live.

A fitting ending for such an emotional and inspiring tale of a mother's strength and endurance against all odds - natural and man-made alike. Highly recommended!

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 286: The Upside of Down Times - Discovering the Power of Gratitude by Lisa Ryan

Description:

     Harness the Power of Gratitude One of the downsides of life is that we rarely have to deal with an overabundance of gratitude. Most of us tend to focus on the negative. We don't receive nearly as much acknowledgment as we would like, and we don't give as much recognition as others deserve. Now for the upside! When we learn to harness the power of gratefulness, we can make a major positive difference in so many areas of our lives, as well as the lives of those around us-and The Upside of Down Times is your first step toward making that happen.

Review:

     When I am in a good mood, I am surround myself with optimistic thought. I see myself and the world around me in a whole different light, and I am grateful for the life I have been given, and for the lives of those around me. But when my spirits are sitting low, I tend to dwell on the negatives, unable to focus on anything worthwhile to pump up my mood. These fluctuations are normal for most people; life is not always how we picture it. Fortunately, Lisa Ryan's The Upside of Down Times - Discovering the Power of Gratitude can help readers find the "silver linings" within their situations. In five chapters, Lisa describes how gratefulness can positively impact the major areas of life - in Self, Health, Others, and Wealth, (S.H.O.W. for short), as well as in business settings! Her ideas are easy-to-understand and implement in daily routines, and the results are quick, but long-lasting! Each chapter includes stories, examples, questions, exercises, quotes, research, tips and notes that help readers acknowledge the positives and focus on what they have, not on what they are lacking. Most people have a habit of seeking recognition, but not recognizing others as much as they should, and Ryan's methods take steps to fix that. I, for example, have started saying "thank-you" more often to the people who are there for me, and I get the appreciation I seek in return - an easy give-and-take. Overall, I enjoyed learning to share my gratitude and to be a more positive person, even when things don't go my way, and I recommend this book to anyone seeking the same outcome!

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author:

     Lisa Ryan, MBA, is a dynamic presenter who teaches us the immense power of gratitude in the corporation, and translates soft skills into hard profits. She focuses on employee productivity, customer retention and growth, and how these affect the bottom line.

     Ms. Ryan is the Founder of Grategy®, where she serves as Chief Appreciation Strategist. She is featured in the award-winning film, "The Keeper of the Keys" with Jack Canfield of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Marci Shimoff of The Secret and John Gray of Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus, and is the author of two books, The Upside of Down Times: Discovering the Power of Gratitude and With Excellence. Her audiences love her passion and humor, and the fact that they leave with specific ideas that they can apply immediately. Her second feature film, "The Gratitude Experiment" will be released in 2013. 

     Lisa customizes her programs to specific audiences across a multitude of industries. Her career background includes seven years in healthcare, ten years in the staffing industry, and eleven years in industrial sales.

     Gratitude Expert Lisa Ryan accomplishes the unusual result of higher profit through the application of soft skill training. By using her gratitude strategies, also known as "Grategies®," her clients apply these skills to encourage stronger individual and team performance, enabling a more positive work experience. In short, she teaches how to capitalize on one of the most basic (and inexpensive) tools on the shelf: the expression of gratitude for jobs well done.

     Lisa serves on the board of the Ohio Chapter of the National Speakers Association and is President of her Toastmasters International Club. She holds a Bachelor's Degree and an MBA in marketing. In addition to Grategy, she is the Cofounder of the Positive Thinkers Network.

To learn more about Lisa, please visit http://www.grategy.com

Review # 285: Unload Email Overload - How to Master Email Communications, Unload Email Overload and Save Your Precious Time by Bob O'Hare

Description: (book jacket)

Email steals too much of your precious time, doesn’t it? 

     Processing email takes way too much time because we never learned to manage it effectively. We are constantly interrupted, invest countless hours in it, re-read emails that languish in our inbox, store email we don’t need and suffer from email overload. Don’t you agree? 

     This book provides what you need to manage email, eliminate the overload and save your precious time. It will help you minimize interruption, overcome indecision and empty your inbox. It will help you organize priorities and manage time, so you can get your work done—at work. You can give up doing email at dinner and in bed. Good idea.

Review:

     Book reviewers tend to get a lot of emails - in the last five hours I have received twenty-seven review requests, three personal emails, and fifty-six spam emails - and that is only counting a single personal email, not my school or work email accounts. Thus why Unload Email Overload instantly appealed to me! There are some weeks that I am so fed-up with the contents of my inbox that I don't bother checking it, and when I finally do, I have about 1,000 emails (mostly spam), and no time to read or respond to any of them. As great as technology is, sometimes it can be a giant pain in the rump, instead of the ease and relief it should be. Bob O'Hare's tips on managing your inbox and saving time are easy to follow, and can help almost anyone with a growing email problem. In eight chapters, the reader can find several simple steps to a less cluttered email experience, including chapters on Personalizing, Processing, Sending, Grouping, Productivity, and Special Applications. I personally found the section on time management and productivity very useful for my own email problems, even though some of the tips were just common sense. This book is great for any level of email user, including: students, home office users, corporations, etcetera. Definitely something people in the tech generation need to read!

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author:

     Bob, as an engineer and computer scientist, developed computer communication systems and one of the first personal computers. After that career in digital technology, Bob did postgraduate work in organization development and founded Performance Improvement Technologies, Inc. With this company, Bob facilitates corporate change, coaches executives and provides professional development services. He emphasizes the human side of leadership.

     Concern by professionals and management about information overload, excess email, and productivity loss encouraged Bob to seek a solution for these issues. He researched the field and developed the MasteringEmail™ methodology to help knowledge workers, professionals, leaders and managers achieve the benefits of email without the burden. Bob wrote chapter eight of the book especially for upper management, to help them explore productivity issues that cost corporations millions of dollars annually.

     To help companies change email culture and apply the MasteringEmail™ principles, Bob designs and facilitates workshops and coaching sessions to meet their needs.

Bob and his wife, Carol, two married children and three grandchildren, live and work in the Philadelphia area.

Spotlight: New Astrology by Suzanne White

About the Book:

Once again, Suzanne White brings us her ingenious New Astrology - Predictions for the next 12 months. This exciting new book is offers lengthy, detailed, month-by-month horoscopes for every sign (Western and Chinese). We each have two signs – AN ANIMAL YEAR SIGN AND A WESTERN SUN SIGN. Suzanne White’s brilliant NEW ASTROLOGY™ is the fusion of both. With this amazing book, a Leo born in an Ox year will know what will happen to her all throughout 2013 as well as what will be going on in the life of her Scorpio born Goat sweetheart and for her kids, her boss, her family, her friends and her enemies. Suzanne White is the world renowned high priestess of Chinese and Western astrologies. She is always fun to read. And… she is uncannily accurate. This dazzling book offers readers over 100,000 words of crucial information about and forecasts for each and every astrological sign both Chinese and Western. Find out what’s in store for you and yours in the sultry, highly charged and charming WATER SNAKE YEAR 2013.

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | SMASHWORDS

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About the Author:

Suzanne White is an American author. She lives in France. She has been a college professor, a fashion model, a journalist, an interpreter, a novelist, a fireworks salesperson, director of a Parisian Couture boutique, an elevator operator, a shoe salesperson, a single mother and a simultaneous translator. In between she has written books. Lots of books. About Astrology. The New Astrology – a blend of Asian Animal Signs and Sun Signs. Suzanne’s readers have dubbed her “The High Priestess” of Chinese and Western Astrologies. 2013 NEW ASTROLOGY HOROSCOPES BOOK – CHINESE AND WESTERN PREDICTIONS FOR THE SNAKE YEAR 2013 IS # 1 ON AMAZON’S ASTROLOGY BOOK BEST SELLER LIST.

Visit the Author:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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Pump Up Your Book and Suzanne White are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card plus a paperback and e-copy of her book, 2013 Your New Astrology Horoscopes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Review # 284: My God, My Money - Finding Balance between Your Money and Your Faith by Judith Allwood

Description: (from Amazon.com)

     My God, My Money is a 40-day devotional guide which highlights some of what the Bible says about the subject of money, wealth and riches and how we can build or maintain a wholesome relationship with money. For the most part, our beliefs about money, wealth and riches are influenced by cultural, social or religious teachings. Unfortunately, some of these teachings create conflicts in our relationship with money. The very popular "Money is the root of all evil" is just one example. My God, My Money provides a context for the reader to reform his or her thinking about money based on biblical principles.

Review:

     I have been very lucky to review several excellent devotionals this year, and I believe that My God, My Money is my favorite! Judith Allwood's approach to a healthy relationship with God and personal finances is one that every Christian should read. Each daily devotional is about four pages long and includes scripture, a prayer, and questions for reflection on the day's topic of discussion. I found each passage to be well-researched and agreeably formatted; I was glad to see quoted scripture that is not common in run-of-the-mill devotionals. The sections on poverty, gratitude, giving, and ignorance were some of the more memorable daily readings. I had no trouble understanding what Judith was trying to convey, her genuine tone was evident throughout the whole book. Overall, I was quite satisfied after my 40 days had come to a close. I only wish that there had been more to take in. Highly recommended to all Christians who seek the Bible's advice on their finances!

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 283: Diabetes ABC by Dr. Sherry L. Meinberg

Description:

    Diabetes ABC is a simple overview of diabetes and related conditions written for both children and adults. It provide tips for parents, caregivers, neighbors, friends, children and teachers about living with, and controlling, diabetes; while inspiring communication, awareness, understanding, and empathy.

Review:

     I will admit, I was a little worried when I saw that Diabetes ABC was marketed towards readers of all ages, but overall, I was very happy with the book's unique set-up! Pages on the left catered towards children, with easy-to-read-and-understand text and colorful illustrations, while right pages contained a more specific adult version of the same topic. For example:

"U is for undiagnosed and untreated.

I didn't know anything was wrong with me. 

My parents didn't either. 

Now we know how to handle my diabetes."

This children's passage was followed by more in-depth definitions and tips for parents and other adults regarding diagnosing and treating diabetes. I found the content excellent for any age group, but especially for children under 13. The book teaches children to accept the disease and take care of themselves without fearing their own bodies - a very important part of growing up with the disease. The dual set-up also seemed  like a great way to get children and adults to interact and bond through shared reading experiences; undoubtedly fostering communication and understanding about the topic. The book covered many aspects including: blood sugar levels, diet and exercise, emotional turmoil, genetics, injections and medications, and taking responsibility, etcetera. I definitely recommend Diabetes ABC to all parents, schools, and children, but especially to those affected, or close to someone with the disease.

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Bostick Communications) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author:

     Dr. Sherry L. Meinberg is an educator, author, and speaker. She has been featured in both local and national newspapers; interviewed on radio stations, television, and cable shows; conducted workshops and inservices in various states, as well as being a guest speaker at numerous meetings, conferences, and conventions. She recently retired as a core adjunct professor and a student teacher supervisor at National University in California. Now, instead of being restricted to a single classroom, she teaches to the world, through her books. To date, she has been honored with 68 awards. This is her 9th nonfiction book. She is all about getting the word out, and raising awareness. states, as well as being a guest speaker at numerous meetings, conferences, and conventions.

Review # 282: The DNA of Gender Relationships by Stephen R. Champi

Description: (book jacket)

Bringing Eight Decades of Life Experience to the Male-Female Mystery! 

     The male-female relationship is the most natural, the most necessary, the most controversial, and the most talked-about interaction in the world. It is necessary for social and biological survival; it is the heart and soul of the human experience. In this concise yet thorough examination of the male-female relationship through history, octogenarian author Stephen Champi discusses the evolutionary arc of sexual and gender politics, from the appearance of mankind on earth all the way to the ways in which technology, science, and changing philosophies may impact the future of the male-female dynamic.

Review:

     Browsing through my emails one morning The DNA of Gender Relationships caught my eye. This fifty-four page presentation of  the evolution of Earth's male-female relationships sounded quite fascinating, as did author, Stephen R. Champi's personal exploration of the topic. For such a condensed book it was very well-researched and nicely formatted. I enjoyed the progression from the "origin" of man, to mankind's future; the sections on Core Components and Gender Differences were illuminating and thought-provoking. Unlike other books about relationships, The DNA of Gender Relationships focused on the origin and growth of the male-female relationship throughout time, not on trivial modern relationship practices. It was refreshing to read something scientifically-based about a topic that many people overlook -- relationships as the crux of existence. I almost wish that there had been more to it. Recommended to readers teen and older who wonder about the past and future of human relationships between men and women. 

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Bostick Communications) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author:

     Stephen R. Champi, a native of New Jersey, retired in 2005 from a law career that spanned over five decades. He is a former founder and managing partner of a mid-size law firm, and he also has served as a county prosecutor and judge. He now enjoys reading, writing, limited traveling and expanding his knowledge, understanding and appreciation for a dynamic and changing society in the new global world of the 21st century.

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