I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Piers R. Blackett, along with Annah Otis, shares his mother’s artwork and the experiences and periods of time in which they were created in the book “Felicity, Art, War and Peace”.
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The Synopsis
Felicity, Art, War and Peace: This is the inspiring story of an English-born artist, who, born in 1911, lost her father in the first world war. Her school years were in Italy, where her Scottish mother owned a tearoom, and where she began her art education. She married a British army officer and accompanied him to India where she attended art school. But further education was cut short in 1939 by tumultuous war years followed by two years in Germany while her second husband, Rupert, a close friend of Tommy her first husband, served in the British Army of Occupation. Both men were wounded, Rupert severely and Tommy fatally. Then, a move to South Africa in 1948 resulted in relative peace, her style evolving from classic realism to include more impressionistic representation of her subjects. After moving back to England in 1972, her work was twice accepted for exhibition by the Royal West of England Academy. She remained intent on capturing movement, expression, and communication among domestic and wild animals, and birds. The Slimbridge Wetland Centre, as well as her own garden with her ducks and rabbits, provided an ideal environment for inspiration. Missing her 100th birthday by only a few months, her century-long story captures all that her life and commitment to art encompassed, making an enduring impression on children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends who in many ways have contributed to preserving her memory.
The Review
Yet another amazing and well-written biography that captured both the emotional connection the authors had to the subject of the book and the lifetime of experiences that their lives comprised. The century of history that Felicity’s life experienced was so well documented and infused both hope and passion into events and experiences that were both inspiring yet terrifying at times. The authors did an incredible job of not only sharing a wealth of information but showcasing the importance of finding one’s community to thrive and grow, something that is so important to one’s mental and emotional health.
The heart of this book rests in both the personal experiences and lifetime of events the authors brought to life for Felicity and the beauty of the art from Felicity and the importance of the themes that each art piece and associated memory brought. The honesty and passion of the authors writing and the heart found in the amazing pieces of art that the writers featured from Felicity brought a depth of connection to Felicity as a subject and as a person that the reader is able to make.
The Verdict
Brilliantly written, heartfelt, and engaging, authors Piers Blackett and Annah Otis’s “Felicity, Art, War and Peace” is a must-read biography about a strong, inspiring, and artistically creative woman who impacted her family and the world around her. The heart and emotion that the authors emote in this book’s writing and the wealth of information were so inviting to read about as a reader, and those who come to learn about Felicity and her life will not want to put this book down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Piers Blackett, a retired professor of pediatrics, was born in England during World War II and grew up in South Africa where he graduated as a doctor at the University of Cape Town. Pediatric residency and specialty fellowship were completed in New York and Toronto. During a career of specialization in endocrinology including metabolism and genetics at at the University of Oklahoma, he authored and co-authored medical publications including book chapters. His first book outside the medical field, “Felicity. Art War and Peace”, a biography co-authored with Annah Otis, was published in 2023.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Paul E. Doutrich shares a thought-provoking and engaging look into the life of his uncle Don Malone as he lives and experiences the momentous events that shaped the American 20th century in the book “The Many Adventures of Donnie Malone”.
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The Synopsis
The Many Adventures of Donnie Malone takes readers into the events that helped shape the American twentieth century. They begin when sixteen-year-old Donnie gets caught up in the patriotic swirl of World War I. Enlisting in the U.S. Army, he becomes a pilot during the deadly days at the end of the fighting.
The stakes in Donnie’s life are just as high after the war. He wrestles with wealthy investors and powerful politicians who have designs on his air delivery business. He is hired to drive a cab for an ambitious mobster and works at assorted dead-end jobs until he bumps into the man who taught him to fly, American ace Eddie Rickenbacker, and it changes his course.
Later he befriends detainees in a Japanese internment camp, becomes enmeshed in labor struggles, and dodges McCarthy agents. During the Vietnam era, having seen enough war, Donnie helps several young men avoid the draft by flying them to Canada.
Woven throughout Donnie’s adventures are the threads of a rich family life, and contentment even in times of travail.
The Review
This was such a powerful and engaging read. The author did a remarkable job of making the tone and quality of the writing feel almost homey as if you were sitting in the room with Donnie and listening to him retell these stories with passion and heart that only a close relative could. The emotional connection the author made between his uncle and the events of his life was significantly felt throughout the book and elevated the storied life he led.
What struck me about this book was the amazing balance of personal storytelling the author found with the historical aspect of the setting and backstory behind the stories themselves. As a history buff, getting to see this firsthand account from the author’s uncle and how these pivotal and shocking moments from the 20th century occurred was incredible. The heart behind these stories and the personable way the story was told added depth to the experience and connection the author’s uncle had to the last century of American history.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and engaging, author Paul Doutrich’s “The Many Adventures of Donnie Malone” is a must-read biography and nonfiction read that blends biography storytelling with history at its finest. The passion and memorable way the author connected readers to his uncle’s stories and the relatability of the American narrative for many people will resonate with a large audience and make this one book you wouldn’t want to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Paul Doutrich is a professor emeritus of American history at York College of Pennsylvania where he taught for thirty years. He now lives on Cape Cod in Brewster, Massachusetts.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and Dr. Manish Sethi take readers on a journey of self-discovery as the book outlines how to live a fully balanced and holistic life through constant improvements to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being in the book “The Art of Holistic Living: The Balancing Act: Career, Family, and the Self”.
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The Synopsis
Go far in all your life’s goals and endeavors!
The following descriptors collectively make us distinct:
Body, mind, career, family, social circle, thoughts, beliefs, and aspirations.
What if all areas of our lives were truly blossoming?
What if we could live a wholesome, balanced, and holistic life?
The only way to achieve that is to become a better version of ourselves, with a mindset of continuous improvement.
The topics covered in this book are diverse:
Mental Health
Physical Health
Healthy Habit formation
Mindfulness and Spirituality
Being more efficient in 24 hours
Work-life Balance
Communication
Career Growth
Parenting
This book started as notes for myself. After studying and practicing different aspects of healthy living for the past 20 years, I realized an apparent gap in the teachings of all those topics; this book highlights that gap and an underlying connection among different principles.
The Review
What immediately stuck with me as I read this book was the way the author was able to connect very pointed and specific ideas on self-improvement that are found in many books on this subject by using a more general and holistic perspective. One of the most challenging things a person can come up against is life itself getting in the way of self-improvement. From an overwhelming workload to conflict within our relationships and ailments of both the mind and body, there will always be obstacles preventing us from achieving our innermost goals.
The relatability of the author’s writing style and the multi-pronged approach to the guide itself on growth and change in our lives was brilliantly presented within this book. The honesty and clarity with which the author delivered his message and the experiences that informed his views were thoughtfully crafted and showcased the wealth of knowledge this book presents.
The Verdict
In-depth, passionately written, and engaging, author Dr. Manish Sethi’s “The Art of Holistic Living” is a must-read guide on balancing our lives and improving our own selves. The balance of the author’s work in matters of spiritual, physical, and mental health was greatly emphasized in this book and the depth of information that the author is able to bring to such a short yet powerful read made this one enlightening experience. If you haven’t already done so, please be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
MANISH SETHI, PHD, lives a life of inquisition and exploration. His desire is to learn how to live a holistic life with a balance of career, family, and self.
His research, personal experiences, and thoughtful interactions in the spiritual realm have guided Manish to understand the deeper meaning of faith, mysticism, career and ambition, healthy mind and body, family, and even materialism. He understands that a fulfilling life consists of finding a balance between various facets of life and integrating these diverse concepts to become a more wholesome individual.
What began as personal notes of inspiration on his journey to becoming a better person today than he was yesterday, Manish has provided a resource full of concepts to assist the reader on a path to greater learning and deeper understanding.
Manish lives in North Carolina with his wife Mona and two daughters, Anika and Anaya.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Judy Haveson steps forward to share the emotional journey of her life, from the author’s childhood to the birth of her son, and how she has come out on the other side through a series of losses and painful experiences in order to keep on living her life to the fullest in the book “Laugh, Cry, Rewind: A Memoir”.
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The Synopsis
Growing up in 1970s and 80s suburban Houston, Judy Haveson is funny, sarcastic, and fiercely loyal, especially to her family, friends, and big sister, Celia. When she suffers a series of unimaginable traumatic events, her seemingly idyllic childhood comes to a halt, changing her life forever.
In Laugh Cry Rewind, Judy takes readers on her journey of self-discovery, sharing funny, touching, and heartbreaking stories from her childhood all the way to the birth of her son. Her experiences serve as a reminder that while life is not always fair, ultimately, the choice to surrender or keep on living is ours. Her message to others who have experienced loss or tragedy is this: stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. Let life go on, and good things will be waiting for you on the other side of the pain.
The Review
As an older brother, the first and most important thing that stuck out to me was the deep-seated bond the author shares with her older sister. The emotional pull of their story and how her sister influenced her both in childhood and in the years following the tragedy in her life was haunting yet beautiful at the same time. The hopeful tone the author tries to bring out in their narrative was great to see, as it helped by acting as a guiding light out of the darkness that threatened to consume the author in the wake of this tragedy.
The themes of love, loss, and hope were strong in this book. The way the themes blended into the author’s story and kept shining through in natural ways was remarkable to read about. The balance in the author’s personal story set against the backdrop of the 70s and 80s, as well as the honest and personable way of writing the author utilized, made for a compelling and engaging story that readers won’t be able to get enough of.
The Verdict
Poignant, heartfelt, and emotionally driven, author Judy Haveson’s “Laugh, Cry, Rewind: A Memoir” is a must-read nonfiction book. The sense of history and culture through the author’s own background and the rich setting of her life helped elevate this personal story of growth and hope in the wake of tragedy and kept me as a reader emotionally invested and connected as an older brother to a truly remarkable sister myself. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Judy Haveson is a proud Texan who will never lose her southern charm or accent and uses both when the situation absolutely calls for it. Her one-time dream of becoming a journalist was shattered when a professor suggested she pick a new major due to her penchant for obsessive conversation. He claimed she’d be an editor’s nightmare because she wrote as she spoke and never stopped talking. This led her to a career in public relations. Judy’s fixation with reading books and stories about other people’s lives inspired her to write her debut memoir. She currently lives in The Hamptons with her husband, Adam, son, Jack, and beloved Yorkie, Toby.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Antoniella Del Vecchio shares an easy-to-follow yet comprehensive guide on how to improve yourself and gain a better understanding of what is happening around them emotionally in the book “Shine Baby Shine, 7 Steps to Energetic Self-Empowerment”.
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The Synopsis
SHINE, BABY, SHINE 7 Steps to Energetic Self-Empowerment is an easy-to-read, easy-to-follow self-help book which allows the reader to gain understanding and awareness of what is happening within them emotionally, as well as energetically. There are integrative strategies and exercises that the reader can utilize to become stronger and healthier emotionally and spiritually. Reading the book and following the steps will facilitate change to help them raise their self-esteem, feel happier and motivated so that they can enjoy life. Following the Energetic Self-Empowerment program is so easy, so effortless, that they will feel surprised at how much they will accomplish, regardless of where they start. Self-transformation can be exciting, easy, highly effective, and quick!
The Review
Right off the bat, I truly appreciated the author’s honesty and heartfelt tone throughout the book. Immediately the author shares with readers that this self-help book is a workbook not meant to replace medical or psychological needs, which is so important in these types of books as so many people may confuse self-help with replacements for medical or psychological help they may need. The blend of energy work and emotional support that the author’s work promotes was great to see come to life on the page.
The step-by-step guided work that the author outlines in this book was both easy to follow and thoughtful in its approach. The way the author was able to hone in on both physical and emotional aspects of life that could impact our emotional state or well-being was insightful, and the balance of personal storytelling of her own life experiences with the guided work she put into place will help keep readers invested in the work itself.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, engaging, and well-written, author Antoniella Del Vecchio’s “Shine Baby Shine, 7 Steps to Energetic Self-Empowerment” is a must-read self-help and personal transformation book. The heartfelt delivery of the author’s personal story and experiences when developing these steps will help balance out the reader’s own emotional journey working through these steps themselves, and the book itself speaks to a large number of different people to help guide them on their emotional and often spiritual journey to self-improvement. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Antoniella Del Vecchio attended Marist College for a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Long Island University for a master’s degree in mental health counseling. Antoniella is also certified as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor, her area of specialty for the last ten years. She is a licensed mental health counselor in New York, and a licensed professional clinical counselor in California, with a specialty in substance abuse from the state of California. Antoniella is currently working with the military to help alleviate symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and patterns of addiction. She also has a private practice in La Jolla, California, where she works with people from all walks of life. Antoniella feels that everyone has the right and deserves to live a happy, empowered life. Everyone has their own innate gifts and skills that deserve to be expressed and celebrated according to their truth. With that in mind, Antoniella has created a signature program, Energetic Self-Empowerment, which will allow for individuals to reach their full potential in a compassionate, gentle way. Antoniella’s focus is to help those who are willing, to find their voice, their joy, and their personal power with no apologies. Antoniella lives by the motto ‘don’t talk about it, be about it’. She is now offering her program to the public for the first time. The method she developed and followed to reawaken her self-empowerment is now available. She promises that you, too, will feel a powerful shift in your own life in an easy, simple way that will help you stand in your own power while feeling happy, vital, and alive.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The true story of a man blind from birth and the extraordinary bond between him and his guide dog that allowed them to survive one of American History’s most horrendous tragedies comes to life in authors Michael Hingson and Susy Flory’s “Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero”.
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The Synopsis
Faith. Trust. Triumph.
I trust Roselle with my life, every day. She trusts me to direct her. And today is no different, except the stakes are higher. Michael Hingson
First came the boom the loud, deep, unapologetic bellow that seemed to erupt from the very core of the earth. Eerily, the majestic high-rise slowly leaned to the south. On the seventy-eighth floor of the World Trade Center’s north tower, no alarms sounded, and no one had information about what had happened at 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001. What should have been a normal workday for thousands of people. All that was known to the people inside was what they could see out the windows: smoke and fire and millions of pieces of burning paper and other debris falling through the air.
Blind since birth, Michael couldn’t see a thing, but he could hear the sounds of shattering glass, falling debris, and terrified people flooding around him and his guide dog, Roselle. However, Roselle sat calmly beside him. In that moment, Michael chose to trust Roselle’s judgment and not to panic. They are a team.
Thunder Dog allows you entry into the isolated, fume-filled chamber of stairwell B to experience survival through the eyes of a blind man and his beloved guide dog. Live each moment from the second a Boeing 767 hits the north tower, to the harrowing stairwell escape, to dodging death a second time as both towers fold into the earth.
It’s the 9/11 story that will forever change your spirit and your perspective. Thunder Dog illuminates Hingson’s lifelong determination to achieve parity in a sighted world, and how the rare trust between a man and his guide dog can inspire an unshakable faith in each one of us.
The Review
The authors delivered a truly moving, compelling, and inspiring memoir. The visceral details of the harrowing experience both Michael and his guide dog Roselle had trying to navigate that stairwell and escape the towers that horrific day is chilling and haunting to read about, and is something that many readers around the world will be able to identify with as many experienced the fear and confusion that the news brought from that traumatic day.
The heart of the narrative lies in the bond between Michael and Roselle, as well as the emphasis the authors put on faith and trust as a whole. Whether it is the faith that Michael put into Roselle that day and throughout their lives as a whole or the faith in his belief system that gave him the confidence to face life’s struggles head-on, the theme of faith runs deeply through this book.
Now I will say I had the pleasure of reading another book on this man’s life story, and you can read my thoughts on that here, but what made this version of his story shine in a different light than the first one was the emphasis the authors put on showcasing blindness as a whole and trying to move readers to look beyond the “handicap” of those who are blind and see the people they are instead, which gave a nice balance to the rest of the events portrayed in this book.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, inspiring, and hopeful, authors Michael Hingson and Susy Flory’s “Thunder Dog” is a must-read memoir and nonfiction book on faith, trust, and loyalty like no other. The emotional connection between Michael and Roselle, as well as the importance of understanding blindness and the connection people make with either their pets or in this instance, their guide dogs, and the shocking details of an experience few could ever put into words made this one book you won’t be able to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
When the World Trade Center was attacked on 9-11, it was as though the world stood still. It was a day that captured our full attention. Michael Hingson and his Guide Dog Roselle were on the 78th floor of Tower One that day, and were able to make their way to safety and survive the attack. The duo was immediately thrust into the international spotlight, becoming well-known representatives of the strength of the human/animal bond and a living example of the powerful partnership that exists between a blind person and their Guide Dog. In 2002 Michael joined the Guide Dogs for the Blind team as the National Public Affairs director, to share his story throughout the world on behalf of the school. In June of 2008 Michael left Guide Dogs to form The Michael Hingson Group to continue his speaking career as well as to serve as a consultent for corporations and organizations that need assistance with Inclusive and Diversity training as well as adaptive technology training.
Michael Hingson is available for speaking engagements, public appearances, consulting and training contract positions and media interviews.
In his own words:
I lived through the 9-11 tragedy and have much to say about my experiences leading up to and escaping from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Since that day, I’ve traveled the world with Roselle and her successors; at first to help people heal and hope, and now, to help them find meaning and purpose. As a blind person living in today’s world I want people to see that while there are many different kinds of people, each with their own different gifts, we all can live and work together if we choose to open our minds and hearts and become a more inclusive world. There are positive lessons to be learned from every tragedy, and 9-11 is certainly no exception.
Because I am blind, I have a unique perspective. Because I believe in the power of partnering with my Guide Dog, I can speak from the heart about teamwork and trust. I’ve been a guest numerous times on Larry King Live, have been interviewed on Regis and Kelly, and have appeared on the CBS Morning Show – but I’m looking forward to my next big engagement: as the featured speaker at your event.
I promise to bring my faithful friend and guide dog, Africa – she has her own fan club! If it weren’t for our ability to work together as a team just as I Roselle and I did on 9-11, my story would be much different and I probably would not have learned the lessons I now can pass on to audiences throughout the world.
The events of September 11th changed the world, and they certainly changed my life. There’s something about almost losing your life that makes what really matters in life crystal clear. I left my successful 27-year career in high tech computer sales and management to travel the world speaking about the importance of teamwork and trust in our professional and personal lives.
I would like to bring my story to your audience at your next event or meeting and help you make it a memorable and rewarding experience. And you will have the satisfaction that any dollars you spend will not only cover my speaking fees, but will help others like myself enjoy the independence and companionship that comes from a partnership with a Guide Dog.
Susy Flory is the New York Times bestselling author or co-author of fourteen books. A graduate of UCLA, she has a background in journalism, education, and communications. She loves reading and writing stories about unforgettable people who are living lives of adventure, courage, hope, redemption, and transformation.
She first started writing at the Newhall Signal with the legendary Scotty Newhall, an ex-editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and a one-legged cigar-smoking curmudgeon who ruled the newsroom from behind a dented metal desk where he pounded out stories on an Underwood Typewriter.
Susy’s first book, Fear Not Da Vinci, was co-written with Gini Monroe with contributions by Ward Gasque, and published in 2006. Other books include So Long Status Quo: What I Learned from Women Who Changed the World (Beacon Hill, 2009); Miracle on Voodoo Mountain (with Megan Boudreaux, Harper Collins, 2015); and The Good, The Bad, and the Grace of God, with Jep and Jessica Robertson (Harper Collins, 2015).
Susy’s runaway bestseller, Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero written with Michael Hingson, hit the New York Times bestsellers list in both hardcover nonfiction and e-book nonfiction the first week of release. Thunder Dog has also been adapted for the stage, optioned for film, and translated into over 15 languages, including German, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, and Chinese.
Her most recent book. The Sky Below, is the story of astronaut Scott Parazynski, the only man every to fly in space and summit Mount Everest. She just finished up Desired By God, a book with Van Moody, pastor of the Worship Center in Birmingham, AL, about a God who yearns for a vital and passionate relationship with us.
Susy is a member of The Authors Guild, Inspire Christian Writers, and INK Creative Collective. She’s a 2017 recipient of the Pacesetter Award from Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, and now directs the West Coast Christian Writers Conference in the San Francisco Bay Area and her startup, Everything Memoir.
A breast cancer survivor of four gnarly surgeries, Susy celebrates life by chasing great stories in places like Cuba, Haiti, Turkey, Israel, and her own backyard. She’s written with celebrities, heroes of the faith, athletes, explorers, and the girl (and boy) next door She loves riding a crazy ex-racehorse named Stetson, hiking in the High Sierras, and skiing black diamond runs whenever she can.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Kim Lengling returns with new first-hand accounts from a collection of strong and faithful women to share their stories of what grace means to them in the book “When Grace Found Me: Real-Life Stories of Women of Faith Volume Two”.
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The Synopsis
Have you ever felt unworthy?
The women of this book did not come together by accident. The stories that are shared within these pages are transformative, inspirational, and all of God.
Women from around the world who have persevered, triumphed and now thrive.
The roads travelled may have been hard, but our father God was and is with each of us every day. We can overcome and bloom into who God meant for us to be.
We use our stories and testimonies to shine a light on others. You will be blessed by taking the time to read this book, and who knows, one of the stories within may be the exact story that you needed to read to provide that light for your own path.
You are blessed, loved, and a masterpiece. Never forget that!
The Review
The author continues to bring readers an intimate and inspiring collection of stories from women who showcase the power that grace can have on a person’s life. The way the author is able to hone in on the emotional impact that grace has had on each of the women included in this collection by allowing the women’s voices to shine in an authentic way was brilliantly done. The relatability of the women and their stories will immediately grab the reader’s attention as they naturally bring their stories to life.
Again, while I may not be religious myself, I found the way the author approached the theme of grace and faith to be heartwarming, as the author allowed the natural progression of each woman’s story to showcase how natural, everyday life and major life-changing events alike could make an impact on a person’s life and bring people to a place where faith is needed to help drive their lives forward in a positive light.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, engaging, and relatable, author Kim Lengling’s “When Grace Found Me: Real-Life Stories of Women of Faith Volume Two” is a must-read book on faith and personal growth from a Christian perspective. Faith-based readers will thoroughly enjoy the book’s stories and find heart and hope in the women who bring their personal tales to life on the page. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Kim coordinates and is the lead author on a collaborative 3-book faith series, When Grace Found Me, with additional collaborative efforts to come in 2021. She is the mother of one grown daughter and has a rescue dog named Dexter.
Her writing showcases her faith and her emotional interpretation of nature and life and what it can teach us as we traverse this journey.
Kim has been writing since 2004 as a writer, author, and freelance writer. She is a co-author of two published books and one soon to be published in 2021.
To learn more or to purchase a signed copy of any of Kim’s books, please visit www.kimlenglingauthor.com
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Shai Tubali adds to the ever-growing collection of books under the Llewellyn’s Complete Book series with a look at how meditation can be used to live a happier and healthier life while reducing stress, decreasing pain and so much more in the book “Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Meditation: A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Techniques for Calming Your Mind and Spirit”.
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The Synopsis
Free Your Awareness and Awaken Your Energies with 35 Worldwide Meditation Techniques
Enjoy a healthier and happier life with reduced stress, decreased pain, improved sleep, lengthened attention span, and fewer age-related memory problems. The key to these and other benefits? Meditation.
Appropriate for practitioners of all skill levels, this new addition to Llewellyn’s Complete Book Series features thirty-five fundamental meditation techniques from traditions around the globe, including one unique method of author Shai Tubali’s own creation. These include:
– Zazen (Classical Zen Meditation)
– Qigong Standing Meditation
– Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Body Scan
– Taoist Inner Smile
– Osho’s Mystic Rose
– Japanese Forest Bathing
– Sufi Whirling
– Gurdjieff ‘s “I Am” Meditation
– Christian Prayer of the Heart
– Islamic Dhikr
– Hindu Aum Meditation
– Sikh Kirtan Kriya
– Jewish Hitbodedut
– Ramana Maharshi’s Self-Inquiry
– Tantric Hindu Kriya Yoga
– Tibetan Buddhist Dzogchen
Shai presents each technique with its historical background, cultural context, potential benefits, and clear instructions for practicing it at home in a non-appropriative way. You will explore the fifteen purposes of meditation and the role of chakras. You will also learn how to align your mind and body, open your heart to love and compassion, use the hidden powers of sound, and more. This comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide introduces the magic of meditation in a way that is experiential, practical, and deeply researched. Every page encourages you to take your journey into the world of meditation further than ever before.
The Review
This was quite a comprehensive and engaging read. The author did an incredible job of capturing a cohesive and easy-to-understand book that spoke to both beginners and advanced meditation students alike. The way the author was able to find the right balance between writing in a more authoritative and knowledgeable voice and the voice of someone who is able to relate to the reader’s history and interest in meditation as a whole kept me engaged with this book.
The heart of this book for me had to be the emphasis the author put on showcasing a wide range of meditation techniques from different cultures and backgrounds, as well as the focus on identifying trauma and the troubles in life that give us a purpose towards meditation as a whole. While not only used in trauma, the spiritual and mental effect that meditation can have on a person has always fascinated me, and the detailed way the author brings this to life on the page was great to read. This, combined with the different backgrounds and cultures surrounding the different meditation techniques the author explores made this a well-rounded and insightful read.
The Verdict
Captivating, engaging, and thoughtful, author Shai Tubali’s “Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Meditation: A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Techniques for Calming Your Mind and Spirit” is a must-read nonfiction book and guide on meditation. The thought-provoking and spiritual nature of the book will keep readers invested in the subject matter, and the approachability of the author’s writing style will have readers eager to absorb and utilize the knowledge the author is imparting. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Shai Tubali is an international speaker, author, and spiritual teacher. He is one of Europe’s leading authorities in the field of chakras and the subtle body and has published twelve books. Shai also serves as an academic researcher at the University of Leeds and has developed several meditation-based therapeutic methods. Visit him online at ShaiTubali.com.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and counselor Hagai Avisar takes readers on a journey to understand what truly “masculinity” is and how it can be used not to control but to love and care for one’s family in his book “The Good Husband: How to Use Your Masculine Strengths to Benefit Your Family”.
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The Synopsis
If you feel confused and disempowered in your marriage, with the same arguments over and over, then The Good Husband is tailored for you. It will show you how to be at your best as a husband and father:
Follow a solid roadmap that taps into your masculine strengths. Apply the tools and exercises to start living out the four blueprints (archetypes) of your masculine identity: King, Lover, Magician and Warrior.
Get practical solutions to highly troubling problems such as lack of sex, angry partner, threats of divorce, disempowering your fatherhood and more.
Make your wife feel happier and closer to you by realising what she really needs from you when she raises young kids, and responding wisely to these needs.
Discover how you can get better responses to your important needs for purpose, appreciation, respect, and sex.
Your masculine power is your responsibility, not your privilege. Once you discover how your masculinity is a force for LOVE in your family, you will be inspired to use it confidently to benefit your family.
Written by a highly experienced psychologist and couple therapist, The Good Husband is packed with knowledge, insights, and strategies that are based on research, state-of-the-art marriage counseling, and decades of clinical experience.
The Review
As someone who has always felt a calling towards a more feminist frame of mind, I have always been wary of people who use the term masculinity to hide behind a mindset of control and lack of emotions in relationships. I respect everyone’s own perspective, and in that spirit wanted to delve into the author’s book and experiences with an open mind, and I am glad I did. The author did an incredible job of crafting a book and guide that showcases how a man can hold onto the things that he connects with that he feels make him a “man”, while also finding the balance to understand the feminine perspective as well.
The research and thoughtful approach the author had to this subject was both emotional and well-founded. The way the author not only identified the traits and aspects of masculinity that are important to understand but gave voice to the women’s perspective on these traits and why they are important to maintaining a relationship as both a spouse and parent were wonderful to see illustrated. The way the author was able to not only draw upon these experiences and lessons but show how to implement them into our daily lives made this a very compelling and enthralling reading experience and made for the perfect way to start out 2023 for those looking to improve upon themselves.
The Verdict
As someone who has always hoped to find a way of tearing down old ideas surrounding masculinity and instead finding a way of making masculinity healthy and in balance with femininity, I was pleasantly surprised and inspired by this book. Author Hagai Avisar’s “The Good Husband” is a must-read self-help and relationship-style nonfiction book and the perfect way to start out the New Year. The informative and insightful way the author was able to relay these lessons and the engaging way the author was able to connect readers to these experiences made this a brilliant story to get lost in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Avisar is an Israeli-born psychologist and couples therapist who has been in practice since 1987. Avisar moved from Israel to Melbourne, Australia with his Aussie wife and two kids in 1997.
With his passion to support young families, Avisar has specialized over the years in helping couples with their relationship issues. As an enthusiastic educator and therapist, he provides unique perspectives and effective solutions through counseling and workshops.
In recent years Avisar has developed an interest in helping men with their relationships. He says “There is an ever-increasing gap between the high expectations from family men and the poor support and empathy they receive from society. Public attacks on masculinity and men certainly don’t help these men”. Responding to this gap Avisar published in 2022 his book The Good Husband in which he offers married men guidance on how to use their masculine strengths to benefit their families.
Avisar has initiated and supported various social projects for parents and families. As an adoptive parent himself, he set up a network for adoptive families who raise children of Ethiopian origin.
