Category: reviews

Love and Marriage: Cartoons About Imperfect People Managing Their Most Important Relationships by Art Hartz Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Art Hartz takes readers on a humorous journey through cartoons to showcase the ways in which human nature and the culture we live in contribute to relationship issues in the book “Love and Marriage: Cartoons About Imperfect People Managing Their Most Important Relationships”.

The Synopsis

Problems with dating and marriage are often about nothing, which can be funny if they don’t involve you. Fortunately, you are not involved in the problems shown in this book so you might enjoy the humor. Also, fortunately, you probably have had similar problems so that you will relate to and understand many of the cartoons. The problems presented are not the big ones with names like infidelity, money, illness, or booze. They are the little ones without names that can happen many times a day to couples who are doing well. No books or psychological counselors worth their salt even deal with problems at this level. However, the problems are annoying, and as long as they’re around we might as well make lemonade out of these lemons and have a good laugh and maybe a little more insight.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This was a genuinely hilarious and insightful comic book anthology delving into relationships and sexual attraction. The varying styles of comic illustrations and the adult-driven, “Sunday newspaper feeling”, aesthetic of the book itself made the lessons and insights the author gave feel more light and relatable. The fast pace of the book and the rich atmosphere that the blend of illustration and witty dialogue brings to the narratives made this collection fly by.

For me, the great thing about this book stemmed from the author’s commentary on not only relationships and sexual attraction in general, but the social commentary and everyday social lessons that people have to learn as they live their lives. From the ways in which men and women are judged physically to the unnecessary character flaws that some people will put up with as opposed to politeness and caring personalities, the author explores these themes and lessons in a humorous and charming way through these illustrations, making this book’s message feel truly impactful.

The Verdict

Captivating, engaging, and thoughtful in its approach, author Art Hartz’s “Love and Marriage: Cartoons About Imperfect People Managing Their Most Important Relationships” is a must-read collection of comics and relationship humor. The fast pace of the read itself and the spirit the author is able to relay to keep the insights and lessons fresh on the page were memorable to read and really helped elevate the themes found in this collection overall. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

After retiring from a career as a medical researcher, Arthur Hartz worked with a team of artists to produce a series of cartoon books, the Slings and Arrows of Mundane Fortune. Slings and arrows in the title of this series refers to the daily attacks most people face on their self-esteem and relationships. From a distance these attacks are interesting and often funny. Four books have been completed with cartoons and aphorisms grouped according to the sources of the slings and arrows:

1. Winners and Losers, Heretical Cartoons About the American Religion of Winning

2. The Autumn Years, Cartoons from the Front Lines of the Battle Against Aging

3. Love and Marriage, Cartoons About Imperfect People Managing Their Most Important Relationship

4. Friendship, How Hard Can That Be

The talented artistic team for the series of cartoon books includes Aleksandar Jovic from Serbia, Mike Wolfe from Salt Lake City, and Heroud Ramos from Peru. Hartz describes what he wants, the artists draw what they like, and then they work it out — amicably.

Dr. Hartz was born in Baltimore; raised in Farmington, New Mexico, and worked in medical schools in Milwaukee, Iowa City, and Salt Lake City. Currently he and his wife, Ellen, live in St. Louis. He enjoys his grandchildren and talking to people in Latin America who can tolerate his Spanish.

https://mundanefortune.com/

https://twitter.com/arthur_hartz

On Learning to Heal: Or, What Medicine Doesn’t Know by Ed Cohen Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

In author Ed Cohen’s “On Learning to Heal: Or, What Medicine Doesn’t Know”, the author highlights the struggles of his life and the ways in which we can look past medicine itself as the only means in which to find healing in one’s life. 

Advertisements

The Synopsis

At thirteen, Ed Cohen was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease—a chronic, incurable condition that nearly killed him in his early twenties. At his diagnosis, his doctors told him that the best he could hope for would be periods of remission. Unfortunately, doctors never mentioned healing as a possibility. In On Learning to Heal, Cohen draws on fifty years of living with Crohn’s to consider how Western medicine’s turn from an “art of healing” toward a “science of medicine” deeply affects both medical practitioners and their patients. He demonstrates that although medicine can now offer many seemingly miraculous therapies, medicine is not and has never been the only way to enhance healing. Exploring his own path to healing, he argues that learning to heal requires us to desire and value healing as a vital possibility. With this book, Cohen advocates reviving healing’s role for all those whose lives are touched by illness.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This was truly a thought-provoking read. The author does a spectacular job of finding just the right balance between his own personal experiences with Crohn’s Disease and living through the AIDS epidemic as a young gay man in the 80s with the more clinical applications of bridging the gap between the art of healing and the practice of medicine. The way the author approaches the topic from both Western and Eastern methodologies and practices was refreshing to see, as the work done in this book helps to find common ground and showcase the importance of healing itself in the world of modern medicine in a natural and engaging way.

The vast wealth of knowledge with the emotional core of the author’s own backstory and history and the moral, philosophical, and of course medical themes that the book engages with made this a compelling read. The intellectual and spiritual connections readers make to the author’s story and the insight they gained as a result of both their own personal work and the necessity their ailments brought was relatable, as I myself struggle with several autoimmune disorders and know the hardships that follow when modern medicine fails to combat the pain and struggles that follow. 

The Verdict

Memorable, thoughtful, and enlightening, author Ed Cohen’s “On Learning to Heal: Or, What Medicine Doesn’t Know” is a must-read nonfiction book on health, gender studies, and the study of physical ailments and diseases. The captivating personal stories the author shares and the depth of emotions that they bring up in the reader ebb and flow so smoothly with the dynamic information the author shares in regard to healing itself, making this one fantastic book to read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Ed Cohen is Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Rutgers University and author of A Body Worth Defending, also published by Duke University Press. He hosts a therapeutic practice for people interested in healing: healingcounsel.com

On the Sly: A Sylvia Wilson Mystery by Wendy L. Koenig Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A local bar owner becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation when the body of a former police officer is found inside her locked bar, and she must launch her own investigation to determine who the real killer is before they begin attacking those closest to her in author Wendy L. Koenig’s “On the Sly: A Sylvia Wilson Mystery”.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Sylvia Wilson, a bar owner in St. Louis, Missouri, arrives at work to discover the body of an ex-police officer in her locked bar. The police focus on her as their primary suspect, so she decides to launch her own investigation into the dead man and his accomplices. But when the killer sends her clear messages that she and her loved ones are on his radar, she knows it’s just a matter of time before someone ends up dead. 

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This was a tense and gripping thriller. The author did a wonderful job of layering the mystery as the protagonist peeled back each layer slowly and built the heavy atmosphere up for the reader to get lost in. The drama and adrenaline that the author was able to infuse into the narrative helped elevate the shocking turn of events as each clue in the case led to more confrontations for the protagonist, both with the police investigating her and the killer she was investigating in turn. 

The core of this novel’s plot came from the rich character dynamics at play and the atmospheric settings that brought St. Louis to life on the page. The way each character played off each other, and the protagonist’s troubled past mirroring that of the killer in a lot of ways, kept the mystery alive and engaging on the page, and allowed the imagery of the author’s writing to keep the story feeling very cinematic in quality, almost as if it could be a drama series on HBO.

The Verdict

Captivating, thought-provoking, and entertaining, author Wendy L. Koenig’s “On the Sly” is a must-read mystery thriller you won’t want to miss. The twists and turns in the narrative, as well as the gripping character growth and heartfelt emotional weight of the protagonist’s past tying into the narrative, will have readers eager for more from this incredible author. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Wendy Koenig is a published author living in New Brunswick, Canada. Her first piece to be printed was a short children’s fiction, Jet’s Stormy Adventure, serialized in The Illinois Horse Network. She attended University of Iowa, honing her craft in their famed summer workshops and writing programs. Since that time, she has published and co-authored numerous books and has won several international awards.

Website: http://www.wendylkoenig.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/WendyLKoenig

http://twitter.com/wlkoenig

Instagram: http://instagram.com/wendylkoenig

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Eu39SZ

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75689995-on-the-sly

Advertisements

Excerpt from “On the Sly”

I moved to the front again, checking shadows before dodging into them. Reaching the door, I leaned into it, listening. Silent as a ball of cotton. The key slid smoothly into the lock and turned. I eased open the door. Watched and listened for any movement or noise. Nothing. I slipped my arm in and turned on my lights. The alarm was already off.

Mayhem erupted from my backyard as my dogs snarled and threw themselves at the sliding glass door with angsted fervor. I hadn’t let them out there. Maybe Aaron had stopped by. But the dogs were clearly upset, and they wouldn’t be if it had been my brother who’d visited.

Even if there was a noise, I wouldn’t hear it over the violent ruckus. I sidled into the room. Nothing but my blue furniture and beige carpet. Through the glass door, I saw Ruffles was foaming and standing stock still. When he moved, it was with the stiff-legged, high-toed, movements of a mechanical being. His upper lip was curled completely over his nose and the resulting sound came through the glass like an outboard motor. I’d never seen him so livid, and I honestly wondered how he could breathe like that. 

Satan was throwing herself at the door again and again, as if she were a small missile that would weaken and eventually punch through the glass. I could picture the trauma her body experienced every time she made contact. If I didn’t do something fast, she would be covered in bruises, maybe even broken bones. 

Something had upset them so much that even my presence didn’t calm them. Moving quickly through my home, I cleared all the rooms; no one was hidden anywhere. Then, I put the safety back on the gun, set it down, and went to focus on my poor dogs. I pulled out the rod I kept in the track. That’s when I noticed the dark brown handprint on the sliding door.

Unless I missed my guess, that was dried blood.

I pulled my cellphone and dialed Eccheli. It took him a long time to answer, and he didn’t sound too happy, but his sleep-cracked voice got animated the moment I explained what had happened.

He said, “Don’t touch anything. We’ll be right there.”

“My dogs might be injured. I need to go out there and check them.” Satan had calmed a little, but she still paced the window in agitation. Ruffles was standing stock still, growling.

He hesitated. “Do you have kitchen gloves?”

“I have painter’s gloves.” Actually, I didn’t. But I did have some of the gloves the police left behind at the bar. Close enough.

“Perfect. Go out to them, don’t let them in. We’ll get there right away.” He disconnected. 

I probably was working my way back up Johnson’s ‘person of interest’ list with this middle of the night phone call. Nothing to be done about it.

When he’d said they’d get there right away, he wasn’t kidding. I’d managed to find my gloves, put them on, and had only been outside a few minutes. I was sitting in the soaked grass, trying to calm a frantic Satan so I could inspect her for injuries when my cellphone vibrated against my thigh.

Eccheli asked, “We good to come in?”

“Yeah, we’re out back.”

The minute the front door opened, Satan became all claws and teeth and twisted out of my arms. She threw herself at the glass door, ballistic missile at work again. As for Ruffles, I was used to his snarls, but the intensity of the one he gave at that moment scared me. 

I watched Eccheli and Johnson as they entered my house. Saw how he noticed my Colt Python on the counter, pointed it out to Johnson, and how she nodded and pocketed it. I certainly hoped she was going to give that back; it had cost me a pretty penny. 

As the two detectives cleared the house, again, flashing lights of an arriving squad car ricocheted off the back fence of the yard. I would probably be as popular in my neighborhood as a scorpion. At least there was no siren.

Mr. and Mrs. Detective returned to the front room. Eccheli leaned close to the glass, studying the handprint. Johnson stared out the glass at me and pointed at the door handle. When I shook my head, she pulled out her phone and called me. “How are the dogs?”

I shouted over the violence of growls and barks. “Ruffles has no injuries, but I can’t get Satan to hold still to check her!”

“Want me to call animal control to tranq her?”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to do that to my dogs, but I didn’t foresee Satan letting me check her any time soon and that bloody handprint scared me. I nodded to the woman staring out at me, feeling somehow like a traitor.

In the Shadow of a Dark Star: Godwinks and the Search for a Golden Thread by Brent R. Mekosh Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Brent R. Mekosh shares a wonderful collection of essays and vignettes to explore the various cultures and experiences he had in his travels in his book “In the Shadow of a Dark Star: Godwinks and the Search for a Golden Thread”.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

If you were to pick one that matters the most, is it the journey or the destination?

What happens when you think you can outsmart your soul? After a decade of amassing success on the cutthroat floor of the New York Stock Exchange, a disillusioned trader sets off on a global journey for answers that can’t be found intellectually. This story is a collection of 50 vignettes that share the most vulnerable and redemptive experiences of his travels, and what it means to find a home.

In this book, you will learn:

  • Not all who wander are lost, but sometimes you need to get lost to find the answers you seek.
  • The ways to know thyself and its overall impact in finding genuine happiness.
  • There are times you must look into the shadows to find the beauty in life.
  • Deeply profound human experiences are universal and transcend race, politics and other distractions.
  • Life often gives you exactly what you want if you ask for it.



This is for anyone who is a traveler at heart and those who are interested in exploring the wonders of the world, learning different cultures, and pondering upon human experiences. Buckle up and get ready for a book that will take you all around the world! To find out more, grab a copy now!

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This was a compelling and powerful read. The author does an incredible job of bringing honesty and depth to the essays in which the narrative of his travel adventures came to fruition. The emotional depth of the novel really stuck out to me, as the book honed in on the author’s emotional experiences and showcased the fullness of what travel is really like. For so many, all we see and hear is the glamour and allure of traveling to other countries and seeing the world, but to witness the author’s first-hand accounts showcases the wellspring of emotions that arise as these cultures are explored, from the sense of curiosity that comes from exploring these nations to the fear and loneliness that comes from the unknown. 

The heart of this book rested on both the author’s honest style of writing and the powerful themes and issues the author touched upon throughout the book. The author’s travels often highlighted powerful and vivid images of the hardships and struggle the people of these nations faced on a daily basis, and became the tapestry from which the author’s own personal struggles and growth stemmed. The book touched upon themes of racial divide and the impact racism has on countries years after its supposed elimination, while other chapters honed in on the delicacy of life and death itself as he witnessed the mass cremation ceremonies of India. Yet it was the author’s use of personal interactions with locals in these nations that really made the story feel alive on the page.

The Verdict

Compelling, thought-provoking, and engaging, author Brent R. Mekosh’s “In the Shadow of a Dark Star” is a must-read nonfiction book on travel and personal development that will resonate and inspire many readers. The powerful imagery in the author’s writing style and the emotional heart of this travel adventure book serves to showcase the gritty work that goes into discovering yourself through the travels we share, and that through adversity and hardship can paradise truly be found. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Brent Mekosh is a former member of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2006, Brent left New York and backpacked for a year across Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, and Southeast Asia. Today, Brent is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional and Certified Investment Management Analyst®. He lives in Phoenix with his wife Paige and their children Nicholas and Arden. Brent also enjoys trail running, camping, playing the guitar (badly), and reading lots of history.

Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year by Vincent Traughber Meis Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young man must navigate life as a Black teen while growing up with two dads and questions about his heritage in author Vincent Traughber Meis’s “Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year”.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Colton is on a quest to meet his surrogate mom who might help him navigate being a Black teenager in today’s America. The woman who gave birth to him is Black. His dads are not. His diverse community of family and friends includes lots of LGBTQ+ people, though his first love is a girl of mixed race like him.

Colton’s dads reluctantly introduce him to his birth mother, but she doesn’t turn out to be person he hoped for. On his journey of falling in love, nearly losing one of his dads, and confronting a racist cousin, he learns about love, non-traditional families, community, and what is important in life. The biggest challenge of all is something he discovers about his birth, causing friction with his dads. But like every difficulty in his life, the love of his dads ultimately carries him along and lifts him up.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This was a powerful and well-written LGBTQ+ YA Drama. The author did an incredible job of layering the narrative with heart and thoughtful plot points that touched upon many of the issues still facing our society today. The rich descriptive nature of the scenes not only brought the reader into the settings perfectly but made the story feel alive on the page as if reading a script for a play at times as the narrative played out. 

The heart of this narrative was definitely the thought-provoking themes and passionate character development that went into the story. The struggles that this cast of characters endured all showcased the unique hardships that certain groups of people still face in a prejudiced society, from the protagonist’s struggles to understand his heritage and how to live life as a black man, to the struggles of LGBTQ+ parents who try to navigate these difficult paths with their children and so much more. The dynamics of the characters as they struggled through these events felt realistic and captivating to behold, heightening the drama and emotions that the reader felt.

The Verdict 

Heartfelt, emotionally driven, and thought-provoking, author Vincent Traughber Meis’s “Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year” is a must-read LGBTQ+ YA Drama that readers won’t be able to put down. The shocking struggles these characters must endure and the all too familiar relatability of the issues that these characters face will resonate with many readers, and the captivating scenes that showcase the protagonist’s evolution over time will make this one story readers won’t be able to forget. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

In the 1980s and 90s Vincent Meis published a number of pieces, mostly travel articles, but also a few poems and book reviews, in publications such as, The Advocate, LA Weekly, In Style, and Our World. His travels have inspired his five novels, all set at least partially in foreign countries: Eddie’s Desert Rose (2011), Tio Jorge (2012), and Down in Cuba (2013), Deluge (2016) and Four Calling Burds (2019). Tio Jorge received a Rainbow Award in the category of Bisexual Fiction in 2012. Down in Cuba received two Rainbow Awards in 2013. Recently stories have been published in two collections: WITH:New Gay Fiction and Best Gay Erotica 2015.

https://www.vincentmeis.com/

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in America by Louis K. Lowy Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

SPECIAL NOTE:

This is a bit of an unusual aside to make in my reviews, but I felt compelled to add this as this review has become somewhat of an emotional and surprising one. I have worked with this incredible author several times over the last few years and was contacted a few months ago by him to review his latest book. Unfortunately, I did not know that when he did so, it would be the last time I heard from him. 

It has come to my attention in the past week that author Louis K. Lowy has passed away at the age of 71. I had no idea that he had been battling an illness for some time and unfortunately has passed before I could share this review with him. He was a truly kind and encouraging author in this community, who I was not only thrilled to be able to work with as a reviewer and admirer of his work but who also supported my own ventures into the world of writing and was one of the few people I could consider a friend in this field. 

I wish I’d had the chance to get to know him more, but I am honored for the times we were able to speak and work together. So this review is in memory and honor of Louis K. Lowy, a beloved author who will truly be missed.

The bizarre and bloody tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde continues long after the conclusion of the classic Victorian tale by Robert Louis Stevenson as the captive doctor and mad killer soon make their way to a still growing America in author Louis K. Lowy’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in America”.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

It can now be revealed that the evil and violent Mr Edward Hyde – alter ego of London’s physician Doctor Henry Jekyll – did not die at the conclusion of the classic, Victorian-era case documented by Robert Louis Stevenson. Instead, this malignant criminal not only continued to plague Britons, but soon after set his ambitions for mayhem for other nations; and so headed for the United States.Follow this story, from bustling New York City to the balmy realms of Florida, where the goodly Jekyll feels the curse of his other personae more than ever before. Witness the tale of Hyde’s influence and monstrous acts increasing and Jekyll soon realising that if he cannot find a way to resolve his bizarre duality he will be forever lost, and the suffering and bloodshed he will have been responsible for having loosed on the new, bright world of America will be a horror unparalleled. For Hyde is a man who can never be caught by authorities as he hides within the form of his maker, and holds that maker’s life to ransom.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This was such an incredible follow-up to an iconic gothic horror classic. The settings of this novel were the first things that really captured my attention, as the story began in a classic Victorian-era London setting and kept the atmosphere of the classic, and then slowly over time shifted to a more early twentieth-century vibe when exploring the world of America and early moving picture studios, making it feel like a few noir elements were mixed into the story. The visceral nature of Hyde’s crimes and attitude was just as powerful as they ever were, and the way the story explores the criminal investigation that arises from those crimes kept me invested in the story.

Yet the heart of the narrative, as it was in the original, was the duality of Jekyll and Hyde. The desperation each feels in their mission to be rid of the other and the twist on their new connection that the author explores in this book was great to see as a new chapter of the mythos of Hyde came to life. The continuation of the experiments so Jekyll may be rid of Hyde for good leads to some unexpected outcomes, and the inclusion of a love interest that bridges the gap between the gothic nature of this original story and the updated noir storytelling was powerful and engaging to read, making the whole book feel quite cinematic in its delivery. 

The Verdict

Entertaining, chilling, and mind-bending, author Louis K. Lowy’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in America” is a fantastic gothic horror meets noir thriller novel. The twists and turns in the narrative and the explosive finale will leave fans delighted as the story of this iconic horror literary figure gets a fresh breath of air that feels much needed. The author’s passion for this book and the atmospheric way in which it is written made this one book I didn’t want to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Louis K. Lowy’s stories and writings have appeared in numerous public­ations including Coral Living Magazine, New Plains Review, The Florida Book Review, Ethereal Tales, Bête Noire Magazine, Pushing Out the Boat, The Chaffey Review, and The MacGuffin Magazine. He is a recipient of the Florida Individual Artist Fellowship. His humor poem “Poetry Workshop” was the second place winner of the 2009 Winning Writers Wergle Flomp Contest. 

http://www.louisklowy.com/

http://tinyurl.com/Louis-on-Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/louis_k_lowy/

Unlock Your Creativity: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Inspiration and Developing Your Imagination by Ron Pacer Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Ron Pacer takes readers on a journey to discover the ways in which you can tap into your inner creativity and bring your imagination to life in his book “Unlock Your Creativity: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Inspiration and Developing Your Imagination”. 

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Unlock Your Creativity: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Inspiration and Developing Your Imagination is an essential handbook for anyone looking to tap into their inner creativity and bring their imagination to life.

You will learn:

✓How to explore new environments and experiences, keep a journal or idea notebook, learn from other creative individuals, and use prompts and exercises to stimulate creativity.

✓The essential skills for developing the imagination, such as learning to think outside the box, using the power of visualization, practicing brainstorming and free association, and experimenting with different mediums and techniques.

✓How to overcome creative blocks, including understanding and identifying the causes, using mindfulness and relaxation techniques, seeking feedback and support from others, and taking time for self-care and rejuvenation.

Whether you are an artist, writer, teenager, adult, or simply someone looking to unleash their creative potential, Unlock Your Creativity: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Inspiration and Developing Your Imagination is the ultimate guide to unlocking your full creative potential and achieving personal growth.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This is a quick yet well-developed read. The author does a remarkable job of capturing the essential lessons and tools that someone would need in order to find that creative spark just waiting to be lit. The way the author writes is great here, as it speaks to everyone and not just the select few established writers in the world through technical terms and practices. Instead, the generality of the author’s writing allows for broad approaches that keep it light and fun, yet impactful all at once.

The passion for which the author writes and the emphasis on imagination’s role in the creative process were what really stuck out to me about this book. The lessons that are taught and the guide itself are built upon the idea of the reader’s imagination is the playground of sorts that helps creativity thrive and grow, and that has always been the case for me as a writer, so getting to see this concept come to life on the pages of this book were great to see.

The Verdict

Informative, imaginative, and engaging, author Ron Pacer’s “Unlock Your Creativity” is a must-read nonfiction book and guide on creativity and creative development. The knowledge and information gained through this book are equally measured against the passion and heart for which the book was written, and the emphasis on imagination highlights the power that creativity has in all aspects of life. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

Dealing with Teen Anxiety: A Simple Guide to Overcoming Anger, Depression, and Low Mood in Young People with CBT by Maggie & Renee Lovange Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Authors Maggie and Renee Lovange take readers on an intimate and personal story of the relationship between a mother and her daughter during the daughter’s teen years in an effort to showcase how parents can relate to and parent a teen child through the angst and anxiety that life brings in the book “Dealing with Teen Anxiety: A Simple Guide to Overcoming Anger, Depression, and Low Mood in Young People with CBT”. 

Advertisements

The Synopsis 

Do you want to get your teen out of their room and back into your life? If you feel you are losing control, then keep reading.

According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, up to 44% of students reported having symptoms of depression and anxiety.

If you have parented teens, you will know how challenging it can be. Today’s teenagers are experiencing a whole new raft of difficulties, and their anxiety levels are enormous.

This book shows a way through the storm. Using practical examples and a clear description of cognitive behavioural therapy techniques, Maggie has set out the hows and whys of maintaining communication, helping teenagers believe in themselves and successfully overcome anxiety.

Maggie and her daughter, Renée, have written this book from their own experience. A fierce love of her teen and a determination to push through all the difficulties led Maggie to challenge her parenting style, change her approach, and learn about the best psychological method to help both herself and her daughter.

Renée’s contribution throughout the book brings the dialogue to life, giving a valuable perspective.

This book shows how the most difficult relationships between parents and teens are salvageable and can lead to a bright future.

In this book, you will discover:

  • How to get inside their thoughts to understand their anxiety
  • Why do teenagers react this way
  • How the teenage brain works
  • Application of cognitive behavioural therapy in everyday life
  • How what makes us feel happy makes us addicted
  • How to help your child be happy and confident
  • What are teens think but do not want to share with us?

If you feel everything you do is in vain – punishment, praise, explanation – this is exactly the book that will help you understand why this is no longer working and how to change it without giving up your principles.

Maggie and Renée restored harmony in their family – YOU CAN DO IT TOO. Just scroll up and click the Add to Cart button.

BONUS – downloadable help worksheets

For your convenience, we have made additional pages to this book available for free download so you can print them out.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This was a very well-written and informative read. The authors did such an incredible job of showcasing the balance of knowledge the reader will gain from this book with the emotional weight of the experiences they shared together to get these lessons learned. The way the authors highlight the paths that both a parent and the teenager must take to find one another again and find that understanding between them was such a profound moment to get to in the book.

For me, the heart of the book rests in the author’s presentation of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and the way the authors analyze the reasons behind this change in the relationship and where the anxiety stems from. One of the initial thoughts the author shares really feels profound in its delivery and relatable: your child is no longer your child, but your teen. Almost as if the child you knew has become a completely different person, understanding and accepting this notion really can help the process of finding some common ground and helping the person you care so much for find help in their anxiety and stress. The way the authors outline these CBT techniques with very emotional memories made this a beautiful and educational read.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, captivating, and engaging, authors Maggie and Renee Lovange’s “Dealing with Teen Anxiety” is a must-read nonfiction book on parenting and relationships between parents and their adult teen children. The short yet powerful read, accompanied by helpful worksheets and journals to help work through these techniques, made this such an incredible book, and the unique perspective the authors take as both the parent in the relationship and the former teen in the relationship give this book both legitimacy and honesty that other readers will be able to relate to. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Hi, I’m Maggie.

My name is Maggie Lovange, and I am an M.S. in mathematics, graphic designer and author. But what makes me proud are my three wonderful children.

Why my work will be helpful to you

I have experience raising children, not just as a stay-at-home mom but as a working mom. I was a single mother with my first child. I am the parent of a stepson, and of course, I am familiar with the problems when two parents raise children. The experience I gained, the issues I faced and the final result I achieved are helpful.

In today’s informational world, we are overwhelmed by a lot of information. Very often, the information you can find about a problem needs to be more consistent or made up. I am a mathematician, and my logic is very highly developed. On the other hand, I love reading and discovering new concepts and ideas. What I do is find the connections between different scientific studies and explain them in a way that is practical and easy to understand. A great example of this is cognitive behavioural therapy – which is complex. It took me about three months to research it and find different sources to be able to explain it as something utterly applicable in every person’s daily life.

Of course, being an author and a mother is not always easy. There are days when I feel like I am pulled in a million different directions. Seeing the impact that my writing has on others is the most rewarding thing I could ever ask for. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

As my children grow older, I know that new challenges and topics will require my attention as a writer. But I am ready for whatever comes my way. Writing is not just a job or a hobby for me; it’s a calling. It’s a way to connect with others and make a difference in the world.

Writing a book is not easy, but the rewards are immeasurable. And as a mother, there is nothing more satisfying than knowing that you have positively impacted your child’s life and the lives of others.

http://maggielovange.com/

https://www.facebook.com/miminiki1234

Eamon: Book 1 from Queen of the Flightless Dragons by Martha Carr Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A young woman running a taco truck discovers a world of magick and dragons and must fight interdimensional demonic entities to save the world in author Martha Carr’s upcoming Kickstarter novel, “Eamon: Book 1 from Queen of the Flightless Dragons”.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

A girl in a taco truck who finds some dragons & fights interdimensional demons in Austin, Texas.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This was a unique opportunity for me as a reviewer, as not only is this book not released yet, it’s not even available for preorder yet. The author has an upcoming Kickstarter starting for this book, and let me just say, readers, are not going to want to miss out on their opportunity to support this book.

This book had everything that fans of urban fantasy, sci-fi, and epic fantasy could ever ask for. Dark magic assassins, inter-dimensional prison systems, family drama, and of course dragons. The rich mythology and world-building that the author built was so fun to read, as the author honed in on this wonderful balance of real-world settings and daily life with out-of-this-world fantasy storytelling and classic tropes in the genre like the hidden world within the world. 

For me, the heart of this book rested in the character development the author had and the rich mythology that was developed. The wit and charm of protagonist Willow and the family history and drama with her grandfather and mother were great to get lost in, as were the politics and drama within the magic community such as magical “borrowers” and the distrust that exists within their world. These seemingly small yet powerful character traits and moments made the larger-than-life threats and forces that they faced more connected for readers to enjoy.

The Verdict

If Guardians of the Galaxy or Star Wars were to mesh with The Magicians and The Witcher, you would be left with “Eamon: Book 1 of the Flightless Dragons” by Martha Carr. The twists and turns in the narrative and open-ended ending will have readers eager for more from the author and this new fantasy series, and the blend of humor and dark gritty magical storytelling made this a compelling read, so be sure to sign up for the upcoming Kickstarter for this amazing book and help support a brand new fantasy series you won’t be able to put down. 

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

I started writing at 30 years old with a newborn and a fresh divorce. I had tried everything the way my family wanted me to do it – and I saw where that got me. I was a successful stockbroker who dreaded every day of work. I just couldn’t picture myself still in that chair at 60. Well… Here I am at 63 and boy, am I glad I walked away.


Sure, the money was tight for a long time but when I look back at the past 33 years here’s what I see: Stringer for the Washington Post, national columnist with 4 million readers a month, contributor to almost every major news outlet, co-creator of the Oriceran Universe, author of best-selling UF series, The Leira Chronicles – and now a newbie on Kickstarter with a great book. Like I said, this book is for all of us who find the courage to just be ourselves on any given day and want to make the most of it. Over and over again. More adventures to follow.

https://marthacarr.com/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marthacarr/eamon-book-1-from-queen-of-the-flightless-dragons