Self-Help Awareness Guidebook Offered by Janet Nestor

Title:  Nurturing Wellness through Radical Self Care: A Living in Balance
Guide and Workbook
Author:  Janet Nestor
Author Website: http://mindfulpathways.com
Publisher: Balboa Press (November 29, 2012)
Twitter: @janetnestor
ISBN/ASIN: B00AIO3JFG
Genre: Self help/wellness

Reviewed by Teresa Morrow originally for Amazon


In this book, author Janet Nestor brings to the reader a simple overall and balanced approach to the subjects of wellness and self care. Having been through some trying and overwhelming times in the past couple of years (and I'm sure I'm not the only one)I learned the hard way about the true important of self care and wellness for ourselves. It's truly hard to help a loved one when you don't take care of what your own mind body and spirit need. In her book, Janet offers a guidebook that takes the reader though different things that can help you incorporate self care and wellness into your life.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janet's career has been varied, yet all aspects seem to complement each other. She first studied sociology and psychology with the intent of becoming a LCSW working with troubled, institutionalized teens. Instead, to complete her undergraduate internship, she began to teach special needs elementary students, and then continued doing so for the next several years. Janet worked as a graduate assistant at James Madison University while she studied Diagnostic Prescriptive education and then spent several years in public school resource rooms and later independent schools for autistic like, behaviorally challenged adolescents. Janet worked at Wake Forest University in Athletic Academic Counseling as a support professional and learning specialist, a job she truly enjoyed.  While working at Wake Forest University, she began part-time work at Prodigals Community, a residential program for chronic addiction recovery.  Janet directed their GED program for residents completing their high school requirements and also directed their family support programming. During these busy years she became a reiki master teacher and etheric healer. Her heart was already leading her in another direction and soon after leaving Prodigals Community she began graduate school (again), this time in mental health counseling. The rest is history. In 1999 she began her private counseling practice and continued with clients until February 2012 when she moved to Missouri and
then to Annapolis, Maryland.  Today her career is divided between writing, workshops, and the wonderful people who work with her via Skype and telephone. She has clients from all over the United States, concentrating on personal empowerment and positive living via various Energy Psychology techniques, Mindful Lifestyle Training, Soul Detective work, energy healing and cognitive and insight oriented discussions. As a therapist she specializes in Trauma, Mood Disorders, Anxiety and Panic Disorder, Women’s Issues, Stress Reduction, and Chronic Physical Illness. Janet also has spent two wonderful years writing articles for Sibyl E-zine for women and currently contributes to Aspire magazine; Flourish Over 50, a website for women; Self-Growth.com as an expert in Positive Psychology; and beginning a relationship with IBoomer, a website for baby boomers.


SUBMITTED BY

Teresa Morrow is also known as The Author's Cheerleader, Promotion Manager for Spiritual Authors & Speakers and author of Life Lessons from the Heart available on Smashwords and  DISOWNED: A Journey of Transformation from Abandonment to Healing, available as an e-book on Amazon. Learn more about her at http://www.teresamorrow.com.

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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.

Perfect Book for Learning to Tie a Tie

 

 

Title of Book: Learn To Tie A Tie With The Rabbit And The Fox
Author: Sybrina Durant
Illustrator:  Donna Marie Naval
Author Website: http://www.sybrina.com and http://pinterest.com/sybrinad/learn-to-tie-a-tie-with-the-rabbit-and-the-fox/
Youtube book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiyIoftP2yg
ISBN: 978-0-9729372-1-4
Formats Available: Soft Cover Print and Ebook
Price: $14.95
Publication Date:  2012
Genre of Book:  Children’s Fiction – 5 to 10 Age Group

Reviewed by Michael Luchies  originally for his blog.

“Why Knot?  Benefits of Teaching A Child How To Tie A Tie”. 

As someone who attends countless conferences, seminars, and business related meetings, I am expected to dress professionally while representing my company and myself with class and style. With over 10 years of experience in entrepreneurship and the corporate world, I somehow have still not mastered the skill of tying my own tie.

 Whether from the frustration of failing over and over or laziness of learning a new skill because I am dependent on technology and other people to fix all of my problems, my lack of being able to tie my own tie is quite embarrassing. I can write a 50 page business plan, deliver an hour long presentation, and write in-depth articles, but cannot master a piece of fancy fabric.

After watching an endless supply of YouTube instructional videos and trying to read how-to blog posts on tying ties, I have decided to turn to a children’s book to gain another skill and finally relieve myself of the worries that come from asking my wife to tie my ties for me before every conference and meeting I attend.

 I am turning to the book ‘Learn To Tie A Tie With The Rabbit And The Fox.’ I must be honest, although I am not ashamed to learn from children’s books because they explain how to accomplish things in a language that anyone can understand and follow along with – this is a skill that I want to learn not just for myself, but to pass down to my future children.

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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.

One Gay American Gets World of Ink Review

Title of Book: One Gay American

Author: Dennis Milam Bensie

Author Website: http://dennismilambensie.com

 Publisher: CoffeeTown Press

ISBN-10: 1603811532
ISBN-13: 978-1603811538
Price $13.95

Publication Date: September 2012

Genre of Book: Memoir

Heat Level: LGBT

 

Review provided by: World of Ink Network

 

 

 

About the Book:

 

Dennis Milam Bensie is One Gay American. Born in the 1960s and raised with traditional values in Robinson, Illinois, Bensie desperately wanted romance, a beautiful wedding, and a baby to carry on the family name. He denied his sexuality and married a woman at nineteen years old, but fantasized of weddings where he could be the bride. The newlyweds "adopted" a Cabbage Patch Doll and ironically witnessed a Cabbage Patch Doll wedding (a successful fundraiser staged by a local women's club) where the dolls were granted the type of grand ceremony off-limits to gay couples.

In search of his identity as a gay man, Bensie divorced his wife and stumbled through missteps and lessons that still sting his generation: defending against bullies, "disappointing" his parents, and looking for love in gay bars, bath houses and restrooms. He helped his straight friends plan their dream weddings and mourned his gay friends dying of AIDS.

Although true love has not yet come his way, Bensie has learned to love himself. Bensie is the author of the much-lauded memoir, Shorn: Toys to Men, which recounts his battle with paraphilia. One Gay American tells the rest of his story and draws parallels to gay history, decade by decade, with newspaper headlines and quotations. Bensie is the gay neighbor that you either love or hate. Either way, he's got a lot to say and says it with no apologies.

 

EXCERPT:

My first real kiss from a man was from a stranger in the library restroom. As we stood in the bathroom stall, the handsome, dark-haired guy looked me in the eyes, cupped

my face in his hands and softly kissed me. He was much taller and more muscular

than I. We were the only men in the room and he picked me up in a big bear hug and

lifted me until my feet were actually dangling off the floor. He kissed me again and

looked at me. No one else in the bathroom had ever really looked at me.

I felt love for the first time. Real love … ever so brief. The stranger made me feel whole.

All the other guys I had seen in the restroom were focused on genitalia, but this man

saw me as a man with a face and a heart. I had waited my whole life to be

romantically kissed by a man. In that moment my life changed. I could finally be who I

wanted to be. It was such a significant event in my life, and I was sad that it had taken place in such a depressing place.Was this the best I could do? My first romantic kiss in a seedy public restroom? I didn’t even know the guy’s name.

Most of these guys were just looking for quick sex. If I wanted a partner, where would

I find him? Carbondale wasn’t exactly a Mecca for secure gay men.

I just had to have faith in myself and be patient. I was twenty-two, in my sexual prime.

Did I have to wait for love to come to me? Shouldn’t I go out and look for it?

I knew I probably wouldn’t find it in the library restroom or the gay bar. However, it

would only take one guy just like me. If he existed in Carbondale, then surely we would

find each other in the only gay spots in town.

While I was being hugged and kissed, we both heard the sound of Keys entering the

restroom. My kisser released me and fled. My feet were back on the ground. I

remained in my door-less stall. Keys walked by, as I had seen him do dozens of times,

and took his place in the stall next to mine.

I never saw my kisser again.

I left the library bathroom not knowing if Keys had ruined the opportunity of a lifetime

or saved me from myself.

 

BOOK TRAILER:

 http://youtu.be/MdE8s4mMnP0

About the Book:

An honest tell all story about looking for love, wanting a family and coming out as America discovered its own Gay community throughout the last 40 years. Dennis not only shares about the struggles he faces as a Gay American, but also the heartache, struggles and joys of all those who are Gay Americans as they come out to not only family and friends but to their country. Dennis highlights each chapter with the different headlines or political highlights of the Gay Community in American helping us all realize every American has rights and should be treated equal no matter their race, religion or sexual lifestyle.

 

About the Author: 

Dennis Milam Bensie grew up in Robinson, Illinois where his interest in the arts began in high school participating in various community theatre productions. Bensie’s first book,  Shorn: Toys to Men was nominated for the Stonewall Book Award, sponsored by the American Library Association. It was also a pick in the International gay magazine The Advocate as “One of the Best Overlooked Books of 2011″. The author’s short stories have been published by Bay Laurel, Everyday Fiction, and This Zine Will Change Your Lifeand he has also been a feature contributor for The Good Men Project. One Gay American is his second book with Coffeetown Press and it was chosen as a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the Indie Excellence Book Awards. He was a presenter at the 2013 Saints and Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans. Dennis lives in Seattle with his three dogs.

You can find out more about Dennis Milam Bensie, his memoirs and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/lhtvxyt

 

To learn more about the World of Ink Tours visit http://worldofinknetwork.com

 

----- 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.

Kirkus Indie Reviews Memoir

Title of Book: Betty's Child
Author: Donald R. Dempsey
Author Website: http://bettyschild.com
Genre: Personal Memoir
ISBN: 9780988439016
Formats: Trade paperback and e-book
Reviewer's Link: http://tinyurl.com/qy5uho9

 

Reviewed by Kirkus Indie

 

A highly visual debut memoir from Don Dempsey spanning his pre- to early adolescent years in urban Ohio

Dempsey illuminates the steep uphill scramble he had as a young man in a bad neighborhood. The memoir opens cinematically on a night of petty stealing, which escalated to the sort of theft that exposed young Donny to violent retribution. Donny attempted to guard himself, his younger brothers and his canine companion, Benji, from the string of hothead men his mother—the eponymous Betty—welcomed into the family’s rotating rental houses. In addition to fending off soul savers from the church Betty attended in order to run her scams, Donny turned down invitations to participate in crime more difficult than theft. Most of the book’s sequences—a teacher’s good-hearted but ultimately futile efforts to defend Donny from a bully—efficiently reveal the wit and determination, not to mention anger, that helped Donny survive.

Neither alarmist nor self-pitying, the memoir sees Donny through mounting losses of his sense of safety, his friends, his sanity-saving dog and his proximity to his brothers. While this account certainly couldn’t be called feel-good, it also isn’t altogether bleak. Early in the book, Donny poses a question to himself: “Would I wind up toothless, clueless and broke because of heredity—or because of where and how we lived?” Determined not to consider either factor an excuse, as a preteen boy he decided that, despite his abuse and neglect, he would choose better for himself.

 

By turns heartrending and humorous, the book’s main events are accompanied by resonant dialogue that reveals the speakers’ natures. Distinguishing his from similar accounts, Dempsey’s discipline as a writer lends the real-life tale the feel of a fictional page-turner. In scene after vivid scene, Dempsey presents his inspiring true story with accomplished style.

 

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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.

University Professor Reviews Award-Winning Historical Romance

The Sandoval Sisters' Secret of Old Blood

Sandra Ramos O'BriantAuthor's Web site: www.thesandovalsisters.com

Genre: Historical Romance

ISBN: 978-0615615103

Published by La Gente Press, 2012

Available in print and e-book

 

 

Reviewed by Dr. Michele Shaul, Professor, Department of Foreign Languages Queens University of Charlotte originally for http://www.writing.ie/

 

 

Sandra Ramos O’Briant’s debut novel The Sandoval Sisters’ Secret of Old Blood won Best Historical Novel and Best First Book at the 15th annual ILBA, 2013.  The story sets the stage for a fascinating series about Anglo/Hispanic interaction in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the struggle to control the Santa Fe Trail.

The author introduces the Sandoval sisters Oratoria, Pilar, and Alma who are independent and resistant to the restrictions placed on women in that place and time. Each controls her own destiny, making unconventional choices and always standing by family and friends.

Told in the sisters’ voices, the reader learns of each woman’s loves and losses and follows them on their trail to the end of the novel when the sisters need to come together to preserve their lands and livelihood from the new legal system that threatens the patrimony of many in what is now the Southwest United States.

Oratoria, the eldest, is not a sister by blood. Purchased at age five for the price of a bag of flour, Oratoria was originally Estevan’s gift to his lonely sixteen-year-old bride. Oratoria becomes a family favorite and indispensable to them all, truly integrated as a family member. She is the keeper of the old diaries that provide insight into the Sandoval heritage as well as instruction on cures and spells. She raises her sisters, making sure they are educated and independent thinkers. She is there when they need her and sacrifices herself to protect their livelihood.

Headstrong Alma, determined to not marry her father’s choice for her, runs off with the love of her life (Bill) only to discover once they arrive at his family home that she really does not know him as well as she thought. Cultural clashes between her Spanish background and his Anglo family, clashes with his domineering, mean spirited mother and betrayal by a woman she believed was her friend present the reader with an interesting read and better understanding of the climate of the times and the challenges faced by those who married across boundaries.

The youngest sister Pilar is more of a free spirit than the other two sisters yet she is most suited to marriage to Alma’s rejected elderly suitor, Geraldo. Because of his patience and maturity, Geraldo provides Pilar the blessing of love but more importantly, independence and autonomy. Pilar is able to fend for herself (and others) upon his death. She is more than up to the challenge presented by being one of the landed, moneyed families of the region.

Woven among the stories of love and life is eroticism, mystery, witchcraft, folktales, superstition, political intrigue, corruption, violence, and told with a fluid style that grabs you from the first page and leaves you hungry for more at the end.

About the Author

Sandra Ramos O’Briant‘s work has appeared in numerous journals.  A complete list of her work can be found at www.thesandovalsisters.com

 

 

 

 

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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.

Nutrition Newsletter Reviews New Diet Book

Title: The Food Is My Friend Diet

Author: Ruth Frechman, MA, RDN, CPT
Author Website: www.ruthfrechman.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ruthfrechman
FB fan page: www.facebook.com/thefoodismyfrienddietbbook
Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of1qpEuUJ4U
ISBN: 978-0984597918
Genre: Diet/Health
Winner 2012 NIE Award

 

Reviewed by Colleen Sloan, RD, LD/N for Nutrition 411 – Where Health Care Professionals Go for Information

Did you know that we all make “food friends”? Some of our “food friends” are good for us and others are not the best choice. The Food Is My Friend Diet teaches readers how to make “good food friends,” such as fruits and vegetables, and curb emotional eating by developing new ways of coping. This book is full of science-based guidelines for weight control and physical activity, written in a fun and interactive tone.

The Food Is My Friend Diet is a perfect combination of healthy lifestyle counseling and comic relief, with the help of comedian Jackie Fabulous. Jackie provides a unique perspective on the program and shares her experiences that the reader can relate to on an individual level. The Food Is My Friend Diet takes the reader on a 30-day journey through 30 educational and inspiring chapters. Each chapter ends with a “check-in” tool, where Ruth summarizes the chapter and encourages the reader to take action by setting a goal.

This book is a must-have for anyone looking for a real-life solution to weight management.

 

 

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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.

Inspirational Doggy Tale Gets Five Big Stars

Title:  Through Frankie’s Eyes: One woman’s journey to her authentic self, and the dog on wheels who led the way

Author:  Barbara Techel
Web site:  www.joyfulpaws.com
Genre or category:  Inspirational memoir
ISBN:  978-0-9800052-9-5
Order Your Copy Today!
Five star review

 

Reviewed by Paulo Levi originally for Amazon

While reading Through Frankie's Eyes, I was frequently reminded of Harold Kushner's now classic essay, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Frankie the dachshund became disabled through no fault of her own, much less of her guardian Barbara Techel's. But as Kushner points out in his book, we humans seem to have a need to view such events either as punishment for something we have done (or failed to do) or as destiny's cruel way of letting us know that our faith in God and in ourselves is being tested. Although Techel experienced the full impact of these feelings at first, she was able to transcend them through her determination to help Frankie overcome her disability, and through Frankie's own example in retaining the will to live the life of a happy and loving dog no matter what. In the process of adjusting to Frankie's new circumstances and to the changes brought about by them in her own life, Barbara Techel found her own calling in helping others through her work with special needs children, the elderly and the terminally ill, always with Frankie at her side as a therapy dog.

These may sound like the ingredients for a sad story, but this is definitely not the case. In fact, Through Frankie's Eyes is a celebration of the power to overcome and of the sheer joy of being alive. Techel's heartfelt and readable prose conveys a sense of forward motion, from the uncertainties in her own life and in Frankie's initial prognosis to a newfound serenity and an enduring sense of purpose. Read this book, and you will not fail to be moved and inspired by it.

 

About the Author

Barbara Techel is an award-winning author and advocate for dogs with IVDD and dogs in wheelchairs. Her book was an Indie Excellence Finalist Award 2013!  Sign up for her newsletter and receive her e-book free:  For the Love of Animals, A Collection of Short Stories
Become a fan on Facebook of National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day & help her honor and celebrate all dogs in wheelchairs and the lessons of love, hope and joy they teach us.

 

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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.