The New Book Review

This blog, #TheNewBookReview, is "new" because it eschews #bookbigotry. It lets readers, reviewers, authors, and publishers expand the exposure of their favorite reviews, FREE. Info for submissions is in the "Send Me Your Fav Book Review" circle icon in the right column below. Find resources to help your career using the mini search engine below. #TheNewBookReview is a multi-award-winning blog including a MastersInEnglish.org recommendation.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

An Alzheimers Memoir: Pathos, Humor, Helpful

Title: Somebody Stole My Iron
Author: Vicki Tapia
Publisher: Praeclarus Press (2014)
  
Learn more        
Paperback: 344 pages
Genre: Memoir
  • Family
  • Relationships
  • Aging
  • Eldercare
ISBN-10: 1939807077
ISBN-13: 978-1939807076
Purchase: Amazon Barnes and Noble Praeclarus Press
Available in paperback and Kindle editions

 
A WONDERFUL book!
Reviewed by Susan Zoucha originally for Amazon
 
My mother started having memory issues about seven years ago. I've read a LOT of books on Alzheimer's and dementia and I've gained a lot of knowledge. I've read so much in fact, that when I came across this book I was thinking...No thank you. I was feeling sort of burnt out on the whole topic. Vicki caught my attention with the perfect title "Somebody Stole My Iron." It made me giggle and right away I felt like Vicki SURELY must have met my mother.
 
Now for the reasons I love this book:
 
1. It's not like any of the many others I've read. It reads like a great novel that even people who are not dealing with disease will enjoy. (Vicki, you are an amazing writer. Stick with it.)
2. The tips are wonderful and I didn't feel like I was getting them out of a textbook.
3. It was the first book I've read that actually talked candidly about the not-so-sweet people that end up with this disease! I love my mom with all my heart, but she has never been the sweet little old lady we often hear about. She's opinionated and cranky and it's only getting worse.
4. I felt like I had my own personal support group. I was in my own place with a dear friend (whom I've never met, lol) who understood what I was dealing with. Invaluable.
 
I laughed, I giggled, I sobbed, I softly cried, and I learned a lot.
​ 
One last thing, I loved the list of “Dos and Don'ts” in the back of the book that Vicki shared. I ran copies for all seven siblings and for my dad and had them laminated. They are a great reminder, so don't miss them!  

About the Author:
 
Somebody Stole My Iron is the first book-length publication for author Vicki Tapia, who in a former life, wrote for lactation journals. She retired from her career as a lactation consultant to direct her energies toward full-time writing. She is currently at work on a new book, which will focus on women’s issues at the turn of the 20th century. 

Find Vicki on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection - Created by Lois W. Stern

Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection (Gifts of Compassion):
ISBN-10: 149594008X
ISBN-13: 978-1495940088
Genre:
Inspirational, Motivational, Non-fiction, Short Story Collection



EXPANDED AND REVISED 2018

_________________________________________



True Stories of Inspiration, Compassion and Love
By Gail Sobotkin
I have read each story and can honestly say I don't have a favorite. Each and every story touched my heart deeply. If you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world where people and animals are treated with compassion, kindness and love, where the human spirit rises up again and again to meet seemingly impossible challenges, where faith triumphs over despair, where young children and abused animals teach adult humans life lessons, where the homeless are treated with respect and compassion, you must read The Ruby Collection, an amazing anthology of 14 true stories that will inspire you to live your own life with an open heart--- despite, or perhaps because of, whatever difficulties you may face.
Compassion is a gift that keeps on giving; it changes the giver, recipient, and all those who witness the compassionate act. It makes the world a better, kinder place and when delivered with love, has the power to transform the globe one person, one animal at a time.
The Ruby Collection makes a great gift for children and adults. Treat yourself to a copy and buy one for your friends, colleagues and relatives. Ask them to read the book then pass it on to an institution such as a library, hospital or school so that the stories will be spread far and wide, planting seeds of inspiration, compassion and love.


Inspiring 
By Shauna L Bowling
Freelance Writer/Copy Editor
. . . a book of inspiration that uplifts the reader with each story. From human/animal spiritual connections to human/human connections, these true stories of courage, love, and strength are proof that good exists in the world. We can and do overcome the odds each and every day. If you have any doubts about the power of love, read this book. All it takes is one person to reach out to make positive changes in someone's life.
I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. It just may change your life!

Another Chicken Soup for the Soul
Warmly recommended, By Bani Sodermark
Reviewer for Book Pleasures and Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer
This is a feel good book documenting a collection of true stories that involve genuine empathy and kindness to other living beings including oneself. It arose out of a writing contest by an organization called "Authors Helping Author" and includes the best contributions that were submitted. The result is a very readable and well written book enshrined in the symbol of the ruby which stands for kindness and compassion.
That which is most appealing about this collection of stories is that the kindness shown at one instance of time is nearly always repaid in some way or other, forging deep and lasting bonds as the protagonists walk their life paths in tandem with one another. In some cases, they may experience a total reversal of a bodily malfunction as in the case of the first story, in which a man took care of a wounded eagle, unable to fly and nursed it to wellness. Later on, he was afflicted with cancer and he is convinced that dream conversations with his pet eagle, supplemented with chemo, was the cause of his total recovery.
A second story documents the success of a program called "Labs`n Life" in which dysfunctional children with learning and other problems are made to train Labradors. The interaction with these intelligent and loving animals, miraculously opens up these children and helps them integrate into the mainstream.
The theme of working with animals continues with the rehabilitation stories of Dusty the horse and Rae the dog who are restored to their playful selves and fulfil memorable relationships with their caregivers.
A few of the stories will touch you deep down inside. There is the erstwhile convict, Ray, who after years of confrontation with the bullying and sadistic warden of the penitentiary that he had occupied since his late teens, helped set fire to it. The warden was changed to one who had a record of successfully rehabilitating dreaded inmates and the whole atmosphere of the place changed as the convicts applied their energies to study and vocational training. There were no more incidents of arson or otherwise and our friend, Ray, after he was released was able to successfully land a job, get married and raise a family.
There is the holocaust survivor, who neutralized the actions of local politicians by going out with his own message of peaceful coexistence, ultimately reaching out to millions.
Another story that I will find difficult to forget is the story of a young African American black belt karate champion on the karate circuit, who it seems always acted rough if he or his team lost. It turned out that he had dedicated his life to saving children in the roughest quarters of Miami from a life of crime, by loading as many as possible into a van that was to take them to the tournament. If he did not win, he would have to borrow the money for the gas home.
There is the story of a former citizen of Rwanda, who returned to his homeland after the genocide and helped many people work their way out of poverty using his engineering skills and thus finding the way to his true calling. . . . 
Other inspiring stories include that of a young woman who appeared in the Guinness Book of Records after running seven marathons in seven continents. There is also the unusual story of window cleaners outside a hospital dressing up as children's heroes, e.g. Batman to cheer up children suffering from debilitating diseases.
The length of the manuscript is optimal, not too long, not too short.
This book, in my opinion, the best so far, in the Tales 2 Inspire series, created by Editor, Lois W. Stern. The storytelling is chiseled and evocative. . . .  One can never read too many of such stories, of seeing the way love and spirit redefine priorities and guide the human race out of black holes of its own making.

We Need More Love and Kindness
By Mommy to Twins
      Today, the news is full of negative stories. We need more positivity and compassion in our lives. In fact, the research supports that "extending compassion toward others biases the brain to glean more positive information from the world, something called the 'carryover effect.' And compassionate action--such as giving some of one's own earnings to charity--also activates pleasure circuits, which some people call 'the warm glow.'
These heartfelt stories of compassion, love, and kindness, help us to know that there are good people in the world who live their life with an open heart. They provide the necessary inspiration we need to live our own lives more compassionately. It reminds us that it really takes just one person to make a real difference in the life of another. These are stories that should be shared with everyone.

Warm Feeling
by Rod DiGruttolo
Published author, Group Leader for the Sarasota Writers Group 
       Tales of compassionate souls are always heartfelt even if they are something we do not see often enough. The Ruby Collection of Tales2Inspire presents a group of such stories that keep warm feelings bubbling in your heart for months to come.
From abused animals to frightened children, the gifts of human and animal alike jump off the page and embrace the reader. From the furthest corners of the world, injured eagles; horses destined for the slaughterhouse; a family dealing with the death of a wife and mother; children in hospital frightened while dealing with terrible pain and patients facing their fears, feel the compassion of people and creatures around them.
Fourteen stories of courage, compassion and love grace the pages of this wonderful tome. A must read for all.

Gifts of Compassion
By Michael Monji 
     Tree Whisperer, Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer
On a scale of 1 to 5, this series of Tales2Inspire books is a whopping TEN! This particular book will inspire you to never give up. The courage that these people showed is unbelievable. When you think time are tough for you, then you need to read this book. Your problems and worries will fade away. Now go out an buy all four books.

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POPULAR LINKS






BUY HERE

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----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Jamie August, Journalist Detective, Star of Mystery Series

TITLE: Ocean City Lowdown: A Jamie August Mystery
By Kim Kash
LENGTH: 204 pages, 60-80k words
GENRE: Mystery
AUDIENCE: Adult
PUBLISHER: Capri House/Amazon Kindle
Buy it on Amazon
Find it on Goodreads
Like it on Facebook
Follow Kim on Twitter: @kash_kim
Explore Kim's website: kimkash.com
 
 
Reviewed  by Lynne Hinkey originally for Underground Book Reviews

THE RATING
4.5 stars
 
 
THE RUNDOWN
Jamie August covers "happy things, local people doing good, the latest rattan furnishings..." and other lightweight stories in Ocean City, Maryland for the lifestyle section of the community paper: The Weekly Breeze. But she aspires to cover real news as an investigative reporter. When her editor assigns her to write about the grand opening of Bayview Preserve, the flagship community for Ivory Enterprises, Jamie might have her chance as she uncovers more than just some interior design tips.

Arriving at Ivory Enterprises headquarters, Jamie is introduced to Jonathan Ivory, the scion of Ivory Enterprises, who will be taking her on a tour of the luxury gated community. He's also a previous evening's nameless one-night-stand. While touring Bayview Preserve, he lets his true colors slip through his polished exterior, and Jamie suspects he's hiding more than just a wife from her. Before long, a trail of fires and dead bodies lead Jamie into the dark underbelly of Ivory Enterprises long history of kickbacks, payoffs, blackmail, environmental degradation, and murder.

Early on, the story is slowed down by a glut of details on Jamie August's trailer-trash inspired outfits - and she seems to have a costume change for every scene. This initially might undermine reader confidence that the heroine will be able to pull off any serious investigative reporting. Although she does manage to get herself out of some harrowing situations, she often relies on men to come to her rescue, weakening what's otherwise, a strong female lead character. The action really takes off about one third of the way in, and after that, Jamie - and the story - really come alive.

Ocean City during the cold and desolation of the off-season plays nicely as a backdrop for the action. This is the first in a series of books, so introducing the setting and recurring characters in the semi-isolation of winter leaves a lot of potential for future installments to stir things up during the excitement of summer in this popular tourist destination.

The crisp, clean writing, superb editing and complex conspiracies involving real-estate tycoons, arsonists, and corrupt academics and politicians, make Ocean City Lowdownan action-packed thriller. While it takes some time to hit full stride, Kim Kash has written a resourceful and determined heroine in Jamie August. Ocean City Lowdown is fast-paced, well-crafted, edge-of-the-seat crime thriller to add to the summer reading list.


THE RECOMMENDATION
Fans of well-crafted crime and detective stories will enjoy Ocean City Lowdown with its
wise-cracking, not-by-the-book investigator. Put away the notion that this book is aimed at female readers. Anyone looking for the mild-mannered lady detective usually found in G-rated cozy-mysteries won't find her here - Jamie August is no wallflower and has no problem using her sexuality to get what she wants. She can hold her own in the hardboiled detective tradition.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Story Circle Book Reviews "Tender Love Story"

Title: Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer's love story
Author: Marianne Sciucco
Author's Web site link: http://mariannesciucco.blogspot.com
Date of release: April 22, 2013
Publisher: Bunky Press
Genre: Contemporary, romance
ISBN: 0989559203
Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook on Amazon, iBooks, Nook, Kobo, iTunes, and Audible
Purchase links:
Paperback.  Kindle. iBooks. Kobo. Barnes & Noble.

Reviewed by Lee Ambrose originally for Story Circle Book Reviews
Blue Hydrangeas is, by far, the most tender love story I've read in a very long time. While not a "happily ever after" love story, Blue Hydrangeas is sure to be one you will ponder for some time after you have finished reading it.
 
The subtitle is "an Alzheimer's love story." But while the book tackles the reality of life with Alzheimer's (for the person diagnosed with it as well as the friends and family members coping with it) Blue Hydrangeas is not just another book about Alzheimer's. It is a tale of a woman whose whole life has been up-ended by her disease. It is a tale of the man who loves her deeply and wants nothing more than to stay with her at their home for the rest of their days. It is a tale of close family members and friends who want to help but are often at a loss to know what to do or how to help. And, perhaps most importantly, it is a gentle reminder to confront the past, face the future and live each and every moment to its fullest.
 
After 50 years of marriage, Jack and Sara Harmon have shared many celebrations and crises but none as encompassing as the disease which is slowly taking away Sara's memory and personality. They have had children and lost one to an unfortunate drowning accident on the Cape. They have welcomed countless people into their successful bed and breakfast establishment and enjoyed serving their guests with comfort and hospitality. Jack has had a successful career as a pharmaceutical rep. Sara has enjoyed success as a local artist whose paintings are seen all over the Cape Cod area. Now, she doesn't remember the daughter who drowned, even when seeing pictures in her treasured photo albums. There are times when she doesn't recognize her grandson. Before her keys were taken away, there were incidents where she'd leave to drive ten minutes to the market for one item and return more than two hours later with nothing in hand. Many are the mornings when Jack awakens in the wee hours to the sounds of pots and pans clanging in the kitchen and discover Sara in the process of "making breakfast for our guests"—even though the bed and breakfast has been closed for years and there are no guests. Life is anything but what they'd hoped it would be when they planned for their later years together.
 
Sciucco has written a poignant tale that embraces the good times, celebrates the importance of family and reminiscing, and brings to light the deeply painful struggles a caregiver goes through, trying to be realistic yet honoring promises made to a then-healthier spouse. The author very deftly uses the techniques of reminiscing as key elements in her story: Time spent going through photo albums so that Sara can relate her memories of the persons and events. Drives down familiar roads. Daily routines that bring order into an otherwise chaotic life. And all of it done with tenderness, compassion, honesty and integrity. She has captured some of the real-life hardships for those with the disease, as well as for their caregivers.
 
Jack promised Sara that they would stay together forever at their lovely Cape Cod home, Blue Hydrangeas. But Jack's health issues can no longer be ignored, and after nine years of caring for Sara, he must admit that it is sometimes an overwhelming task. When the time comes for him to place Sara in a care facility, a spur-of-the-moment road trip brings the story full circle, unites the family in a plan that will honor the health and emotional needs of both Sara and Jack, and leaves the reader feeling the power of a love story well-told.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marianne Sciucco is the author of  Swim Season, coming  2015 and Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer's love story. Learn more about her at
Adventures in Publishing Website and Get a free PDF of her short story "Ino's Love." Find her on Twitter where she enjoys tweeting about my writing life. Check out her Amazon page.
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Arrgh! Pirates in Paperback, Hardcover and E-book!

Title: Arrgh!
Author: Stacey R. Campbell
Illustrator: M.S. Corley
Date of Release: Nov. 1, 2014)
Genre: Middle Grade / Adventure
Publisher: Green Darner Press (November 1, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-0988478442
(282 pages)
ASIN: B00MX7ATRM
 

 
Reviewed  by Marlan Warren originally for L.A. Now and Then 
 

"Arrgh!" is a true treasure: Five not-easy lessons on the high seas. Stacey R. Campbell's Kidnapped-by-Pirates tale is greater than the sum of its title.
 
This Coming of Age Voyage takes off like a cannon blast when a runaway orphan finds himself forced onto a cargo ship by pirates posing as merchant seamen, and gathers momentum with inventive action until its gratifying conclusion.
 
Thirteen-year-old Christopher has escaped from an orphanage to search for family members. Ironically, he is nabbed off the street by two pirate thugs who pass him off to the ship's captain as a relative. Threatened with death if he does not pretend to be mute, Christopher enters a world of repressed silence—broken only during moments when he can communicate with Leo the Attack-for-Hire Mouse who comes to his assistance as a kind of life coach. The trained and certified Leo sets about teaching the timid youth Five Life Lessons.
 
Campbell deftly melds fantasy with reality; excitement with education; and classical storytelling with contemporary sensibility that honors Friendship, Family and Literacy.
 
As in "Peter Pan," there is a line between non-adult and adult perceptions and abilities. When Christopher is befriended by the Captain's twelve-year-old daughter Lucy, it turns out that she can also understand the talking animals who come their way because she is not an adult. And when the duo find themselves stranded on an island, they revel in it as a paradise where they can do whatever they want without adult interference.
 
In a world where many are illiterate, Lucy begins to crack the mystery of Christopher when she sees him reading books from her father’s library.
 
Herein lie the expected dark moments and violence of the genre. However, Christopher and Lucy achieve their victories through The Power of the Plan—hopping from plan to plan as their fates shift.
 
The biggest lesson comes to Christopher when he must stay on the island without Lucy, and subdue the pirates with only the assistance of animal helpers. He comes out of it with this newfound truth: "I was never alone."
 
Young readers will be enthralled by the vivid imagery that makes up the swashbuckling action sequences, as well as the evocative sights and smells of this time period. A Glossary of Nautical Terms opens the book. Lessons include such vintage practical gems as how to manage a galleon in a storm. M.S. Corley's beautiful vintage-style illustrations would be at home in the earliest editions of any classic pirate tale.
 
How does it end? Here's a hint: Lesson Number Five brought tears to my eyes.
 
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Learn more about the review Marlan Warren at Roadmap Girl's Book Buzz
 
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Inspirational Author Review Inspiration Self Help Book

Title: Control Your Now
Author: Sharon Salvaggio
Author Website: http://sharonsalvaggio.com
FB fan page: https://www.facebook.com/smcgannsalvaggio?fref=ts
Book trailer
ISBN: 978-1-62854-342-1
Genre: Self help

"This pocket sized book is full of great ideas, tools and
exercises that anyone can use to help them control your now. I
enjoyed reading as the author provided simple but effective
elements throughout the book."


Reviewed by: Teresa Morrow


Sharon Salvaggio  is a life coach that shares her philosophy
that we as individuals can "control our now" through gentle
understanding and patience with life's ups and downs. As a
former corporate financial officer, Sharon takes her business
and personal experiences and threads them into her work as a
coach, speaker and author.  In her latest book, Control Your
Now, she integrates her philosophy and chronicles what she has
learned through various practices such as Accountability and
Allowing Success. She believes that everyone is responsible for
how they deal with their own lives. She briefly lived in Belize
in 2002 for 3 months. Sharon currently lives in Florida with her
husband Steve, their kids and her dog, Apollo.

Sign up to receive free report "10 ways to Control Your Now" at
SharonSalvaggio.com.

Submitted By:
Teresa Morrow aka The Author's Cheerleader
http://teresamorrow.com 
Working with spiritual authors to get their unique message out
to the world. She is also host of "Inspiration Nation Radio"
http://blogtalkradio.com/inspirationnation, Sharing Inspiration through the World of Words, and an
inspirational author, blogger, poet and author of 'Life Lessons from the Heart'
and 'Healing from Broken Trust: A Journey of Transformation'

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Book Review: Fresh Look at Business Leadership

Title:   Hanging the Mirror: The discipline of Reflective Leadership

Book Website/blog:  http://www.hangingthemirror.com/

 

Authors: Alan Scheffer, Mark Scheffer, Nancy Braun
ISBN:  978-1-60047-758-4
Reviewed by Kirkus
Genre/Subject: Leadership, Management, Organizational Development
Soft cover, 171 pages
Available from:  Book website, Amazon, Barns and Noble

KIRKUS REVIEW

Three management consultants take a fresh look at business leadership in a work that will enlighten and inspire.

 
These three debut authors have crafted an impressive book, one that is highly readable, instructional and humanistic in its approach to leadership. The title is derived from a client comment that the authors’ company “pushed each of us to hang a mirror and really take a look at what we saw.” The premise that leaders need to be “reflective” to be effective is played out in finely tuned, well-organized chapters that move through topics including motivation, vision, recognition, involvement and communication. The authors’ keen insights, enhanced by liberal use of authoritative sources, pervade each chapter, offering leaders much to ponder. The authors ask provocative questions—“To what extent do leaders use their authority for employees or onthem?”—and raise deep issues: e.g., “Only when self-reflection incorporates the views and perceptions of others, only when we reach beyond our own beliefs and expectations, can it be said that we have truly hung the mirror” and “The hard reality is that many of us do not really value the thinking of others and do not believe that it can improve our own.” Wisely, the authors devote the majority of the book to self-reflection, guiding readers with relevant examples, sound counsel and end-of-chapter questions. Still, the authors broaden their concept to demonstrate how a reflective leader can help create a reflective organization. They concentrate on the leader’s responsibility to build organizational unity by “defining the culture to which they aspire” and by paying attention “not only to their own effectiveness, but also to the effectiveness of each leader within their scope of authority.” The authors come full circle in the final chapter, “Living the Reflective Life,” in which they describe some of the key characteristics inherent in living a reflective life: “Only through reflection do we become everything we could be.”

Deftly written and researched, perceptive and relevant; an important addition to leadership literature.

 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Book Review: Imagine a Universe on the Edge

  • Title: Rarity from the Hollow
  • Author: Robert Eggleton
  • Web site link: www.lacydawnadventures.com
  • Genre: Nontraditional SF/F, Cross-Genre
  • ISBN: 9781907133060; 1907133062
  • Name of Reviewer:  Bryan Zepp Jamieson  
  • Journal: The Electric Review, A Universe on the Edge
  • Publishd 2012 by Doghorn Publishing
 
Reviewed by Bryan Zepp Jamieson originally for Electric Review.net


Lacy Dawn is a little girl who lives in a magical forest where all the trees love her and she has a space alien friend who adores her and wants to make her queen of the universe. What’s more, all the boys admire her for her beauty and brains. Mommy is very beautiful and Daddy is very smart, and Daddy’s boss loves them all.

Excerpt

Lacy Dawn, the eleven year old protagonist, perches precariously between the psychosis of childhood and the multiple neuroses of adolescence, buffeted by powerful gusts of budding sexuality and infused with a yearning to escape the grim and brutal life of a rural Appalachian existence. In this world, Daddy is a drunk with severe PTSD, and Mommy is an insecure wraith. The boss is a dodgy lecher, not above leering at the flat chest of an eleven-year-old girl.

Yes, all in one book.

Rarity From The Hollow is written in a simple declarative style that’s well- suited to the imaginary diary of a desperate but intelligent eleven-year-old – the story bumping joyfully between the extraordinary and the banal.

The central planet of the universe is a vast shopping mall, and Lacy Dawn must save her world from a menace that arrives in the form of a cockroach infestation. Look again and the space alien has made Daddy smart and happy – or at least an eleven year old girl’s notion of what a smart and happy man should be. He has also made Mommy beautiful, giving her false teeth and getting the food stamp lady off her back.

About the only thing in the book that is believable is the nature of the narrative voice, and it is utterly compelling. You find yourself convinced that “Hollow” was written as a diary-based autobiography by a young girl and the banal stems from the limits of her environment, the extraordinary from her megalomania. And that’s what gives Rarity From The Hollow a chilling, engaging verisimilitude that deftly feeds on both the utter absurdity of the characters’ motivations and on the progression of the plot.

Indeed, there are moments of utter darkness: In one sequence, Lacy Dawn remarks matter-of-factly that a classmate was whipped to death, and notes that the assailant, the girl’s father, had to change his underpants afterward because they were soiled with semen. Odd, and often chilling notes, abound.

As I was reading it, I remembered when I first read Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle” at the age of 14. A veteran of Swift, Heller, and Frederick Brown, I understood absurdist humour in satire, but Vonnegut took that understanding and turned it on its ear.

In the spirit of Vonnegut, Eggleton (a psychotherapist focused on the adolescent patient) takes the genre and gives it another quarter turn. A lot of people hated Vonnegut, saying he didn’t know the rules of good writing. But that wasn’t true. Vonnegut knew the rules quite well, he just chose to ignore them, and that is what is happening in Eggleton’s novel, as well.

Not everyone will like Rarity From The Hollow. Nonetheless, it should not be ignored.
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Purchase Links:







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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Linguistics Professor Recommends Historical Fiction Novel


Title: Sydney's Story
Author: Eileen Clemens Granfors
Word Joy Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
250 pages
Buy: Paperback or Kindle



Reviewed by B. A. Goodman, Ph.D., originally for Amazon


A Great Literary and Historical Contribution


 
With this book, Eileen Granfors has managed to transport us with words and imagery to the bedlam that was 18th century England and France. She has also managed to show us the events within this context that happened to young Sydney Carton that explain his actions in the Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities. As a teacher, I would hold this volume up as required reading for all students after reading A Tale of Two Cities, to inspire them to think and write beyond the page of a single story. Having developed this entire history of Sydney Carton with only the slightest hints from the original about Carton’s upbringing reveals Ms. Granfors’ excellent research and dazzling imagination as Sydney grows from an abusive childhood to rebellious teen and finally, the loving hero of Luci Manette and of those who love the original Dickens’ book. Taking on modern tones, Ms. Granfors wisely incorporated themes of domestic abuse and domestic equality as well as the eighteenth century’s discrimination against the Romany people.


ABOUT THE REVIEWER
 Dr.  B. A. Goodman has a PhD is in Educational Linguistics. She is teaching multilingual education at Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education in Astana, Kazakhstan.




----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Tales2Inspire ~ The Sapphire Collection

TALES2INSPIRE ~ THE SAPPHIRE COLLECTION

Timeless Memories 


Title: Tales2inspire ~ The Sapphire Collection

Subtitle: Timeless Memories

Publisher: Lois W. Stern for Tales2Inspire®


Authors: Lois W. Stern plus winning authors: Tom Eliopoulos, Ashley Howland, Jenna Ludwig, Mary Romero, Sharon S. Johnson, Maurice Nadjari, Mark Newhouse, Janice Emeneau, Micki Peluso, Pauline Hager, Rod DiGruttolo, T. H. Everingham, Mort Laitner, Susan C. Haley


Genre: Anthology of inspiring true stories

ISBN-13: 978-1499539516
ISBN-10: 1499539517
ASIN: B00MER58YA

Page count: 127

Price 
Paperback: $11.25
Kindle: $4.99

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REVIEWS

A READERS FAVORITE 5 STAR REVIEW  By Mamta Madhavan 
. . . a collection of insightful & inspirational stories (to) help bring about positive changes in the minds of readers. These stories will move the hearts of readers with their personal experiences . . . helping to change one's perspective. The author's idea of bringing different writers together to share their inspirational & motivational stories . . .  gives varied echoes to the stories, (each with) an individual voice revolving around the human spirit & the conditions that prevail in human minds. Gives readers a sense of hope and peace. 

LIGHT AND HOPE
By multi-published author, Russ Heitz
     This is a time of 24-hour TV newscasts. It is a time of screaming headlines and explicit videos. Whether it is the latest slaughter of innocents or the most catastrophic of natural disasters. Whether the images are of starving babies or dying epidemic victims. The tragedies and pain and suffering that we are confronted with every day are sometimes overwhelming. And because of this unremitting onslaught we sometimes forget that there is another side to this ongoing biography of the human race. Not all of its events are horrendous. Not all of its members are monsters. Not all of its behaviors are deplorable. And not all of its thoughts are centered on darkness. On the contrary, there are glimmers of light and goodness scattered everywhere, in all directions. But they can be seen only by those who look carefully and watch with patience.
     The writers of these little Sapphire Edition essays are those kinds of careful lookers and patient watchers. Their stories are varied; their experiences run the gamut. Maybe it's a dog with a goofy grin or a cardinal plunging through an evergreen. Maybe it's a lost but rediscovered letter. Maybe it's a calamity that did NOT happen. Maybe it's a gift that only a grandson can give to a beloved grandfather. Or maybe it's a birthday card that carries warm memories for years afterwards, both for the sender and for the receiver.
     These are the kinds of positive human experiences that are illuminated by the essays in this small but overflowing collection. Each piece has its own message of inspiration. Each piece has its own way of delivering that message.

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES THAT ENRICH THE SOUL AND NOURISH THE MIND
by William Engels 
     Tales2Inspire - The Sapphire Collection: Echoes in the Mind by Lois W. Stern certainly delivers just what it promises from its title -- inspirational stories of universal appeal that enrich the soul, nourish the mind and offer us valuable lessons about living a fulfilling life. This book contains a collection of fourteen non-fiction stories written by authors from a wide range of backgrounds, including different educational levels, religions and geographical regions. But despite these differences, all of the tales deal with common themes that connect us all with each other: serendipity or destiny, spirituality, religion, cherished items that remind us of our heritage ("Just A Pickle and A Chair," written by Editor Lois W. Stern), lost opportunities, new beginnings, the importance of bringing joy to loved ones and devotion to animals and understanding how they help to make people's lives better.
     Additionally, these stories contain valuable lessons for all of us. In "What is Life," Melissa Noel shows us how to overcome incredible adversity and hardship with courage, perseverance, hope and faith. In "Doorways," Susan C. Haley demonstrates how to learn from the challenges presented by confronting and conquering grief and other obstacles. In "At Least Nothing Bad Happened," Janice Emeneau teaches us the importance of positive thinking as a way to improve the quality of our lives, even our health. Finally "In All That Glitters...," Maurice Nadjari shows by example how following a path of morality, honesty and integrity is an effective way to live a free and independent life.
I highly recommend this book. I found it uplifting, encouraging and comforting because it confirms to its readers that they are not alone in dealing with these common human experiences

MEMORABLE THREADS IN THE FABRIC OF LIFE
By Bani Sodermark: an Amazon VINE VOICE and Book Pleasures reviewer
     This book is a collection of memorable incidentby ordinary people with a flair for writing. Editor-cum-author Lois Stern, has in this connection, presented an assortment of stories that "echo in the mind" as these moments are relived over and over again. Some of the contributors are published authors in their own right, others are less well known. The common ground between them all is their passion for the written word.
     The first story "Hand of Destiny" tells of an incredible coincidence in the life of an ex fighter pilot in World War II. Then there is the story of an amazing dog, who was successfully used by his mistress as part of her school management program. Meaningful contact with family members who have passed on is provided by two of the authors, while the editor herself tells the story of a chair with a history. Another moving story, which struck a personal chord is about the memories stirred up by a cup of hot chocolate and how it helped ease discord in parent-child relationships.
     Next comes the story of an attorney who "fought hard to hold on to the things that were of most value to him while investigating the greatest heist in American history. A motivational speaker mentions two close calls and how she survived to tell the tale.
     A son of a Holocaust survivor recalls how reticence prevented him from finding out the truth of his mother's experiences until it was too late. In another story, the author acknowledges the powerful effect of a grateful smile while traveling in foreign climes. Yet another tells the story of a friend with learning disability who overcame incredible odds in order to establish herself in society.
     There is also the heartwarming story of a young boy who plots a secret treat for his grandfather.
     The writing in each of these anecdotes has been painstakingly chiseled to near perfection. Each story is accompanied by one or more photographs and a paragraph about its author. . .  it is clear, that the text has been put together with care and artistry, making it a truly pleasurable read for a lazy summer day.
5

BY LINDA MARIA FRANK
Host of the LTV Show: The Writer’s Dream, Author of the Annie Tillery Mystery Series
     In this latest of Lois W. Stern's "Tales 2 Inspire” collections, we again come to know about the incredible resiliency of the human spirit, and the intricacies of the human mind. Such stories of the individuality, yet common themes of the human condition do inspire. For those of us who find ourselves questioning the conditions of the world around us, Stern's "Tales2Inspire" series gives hope. If it's time for you to find a peaceful place to nurture your own dreams, take comfort in this series. Read, enjoy, and feel good.

5
WOW, GET THESE BOOKS
By Michael Monji, the "Tree Whisperer”
Amazon VINE VOICE Reviewer
Wow!! The author has done a fantabulous job of bringing heart warming stories to life. She has brought together authors that have stories that will make you say how grateful you are for the things and loved ones in your life. You need to read all four books in the series to truly appreciate what each author has to say.

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Lois Speaks About Tales2Inspire®


Tales2Inspire
® was a kernel of an idea that I started in 2012 which has grown to proportions even I didn’t dare to envision. My innate curiosity about potentially fascinating human interest stories was the spark that ignited this idea, but it was the confused state of traditional publishing at that time that propelled me forward. Tales2Inspire® delivers exactly what it promises as both an ‘Authors Helping Authors’ project and a contest. Winners get their stories published in print, as e-books, and some even in video formats, with their names, headshot photos, and mini-autobiographies included. Then I spread the word about the winners and their stories on my blogs, social media and monthly newsletter. FREE to enter, this is a great competition for talented newbies and seasoned authors alike.


Click here to learn more about Lois and her Tales2Inspire® 

Authors Helping Authors project/contest at:

Spend some media marketing time with Lois at: 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tales2inspire

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tales2inspire2


POPULAR LINKS




BUY HERE

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----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.