The Complete Bankruptcy Guide

This is a well thought through information book.  This gives both the consumer and small business owner much to consider concerning the possible need to apply for bankruptcy.  The author lists the pros and cons associated with bankruptcy, giving the individual detailed information for them to make an educated decision.

This book talks about what may lead up to filing for bankruptcy and what one needs to consider.  It also gives in fine detail the different types of bankruptcies that is available to help the individual move forward in life and get out from a debt that is unbearable.  It lists what one must do to file for bankruptcy and/or the possible need to have a lawyer do the paperwork for you.  There is the discussion of creditors calling and once the paperwork is filed that collection activity must cease.  There is also the discussion of what to expect during and after filing for bankruptcy.

This is book that anyone who is in dire financial debt should consider reading to at least know what could be available to them.  It isn't a get rid of debt quick plan rather a well documented book that gives detailed information concerning what one needs to consider concerning bankruptcy.

This book was provided by reviewthebook.com for my honest review.

5 of 5 stars.

The Rainbow Stick Boy

This children's book is a description of how people in society tend to place people into sections of society based on how they look or what family they come from.  This is fairly typical in the world as many are placed into a category based on their color, race or beliefs.

This boy was soon discouraged and hurt by the names that people would call him and the fact that he looked different than the others around him.

One day while going for a long walk, he found a girl named Rae who became his friend.  Later she gave him a stone that hung around his neck and one day he slipped on a rock and broke the stone and things from then on changed.  You will need to read the book to find out the exciting adventure of this young boy and how his life changed after the stone broke.

This book was provided by the author for my honest review.

5 of 5 stars

The Courtship of Two Doctors

Author Martha Holoubek Fitzgerald gives a terrific view into the life of two young medical students studying to become doctors.  She shares how they met, how their gaze into each others eyes caused a spark that soon developed into a flame.  They were soon separated because of medical school but through letters and limited communication they continued to court and share with one another causing their love to grow ever deeper each passing day.

Their letters shared what was going on during their week while at school.  They talked about their teachers, peers, family and other things that interested them.  They saw a love that continued to increase and the separation only made them want to be together even more.  They shared the ups and the downs wanting to be involved in each others life to the fullest.

Their families were supportive of them and continued to bless them as they focused on both their vocation and romance.  After much waiting they began their journey as a married couple and continued to reach out and help others in body through their vocation.  This book is filled of letters between beloved Joe and Alice as they share their undying love for each other.
This book was provided by JKS Communications for my honest review.

4 of 5 stars

God Loves Broken People

Author Sheila Walsh does a marvelous job of displaying the love of God to those who are wounded and broken in this hurtful world.

She helps the reader to understand that whether you are a young or mature Christian you will face various trials and broken moments within your life.  While the believer changes God's love for them never does.   

She shares how there is nothing that a believer will face that God isn't prepared for and ready to help in the time of need.  He never runs from trouble so the believer should run to Him rather than away when these moments occur.

There are great thoughts for the individual reader as well as for small groups.  Also included is a Bible Study section in the book that corresponds with each chapter.

This is a definite 5 of 5 stars and must read for every believer.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

How To Listen To Your Children

Author DeEthel Horton writes a very interesting book on how an adult can learn from looking at and listening to their children.  From a infant to adulthood the sounds, cries, noises, etc... that a child makes will help a parent tell what is going on within that child.  Is the child angry, hurt, upset or happy may depend on the sound that comes from them thus letting the parent know what is happening.

She has a section within the book on how hate, tolerance, love and self-control determines many of the insights that one receives as an adult to how the child is feeling.  There is a need for full time parenting as the child needs much love, nurture and understanding while in these so important years.  

There is a view that DeEthel shares that I found to be very important.  She says concerning a bad family life that it shows without a word being spoken.  It shows in three ways:  "1.  Hurt is in the face, 2. Tremble is in the voice and 3. Tears are in the eyes."  This is something that adults would be wise to take time to look for.  How many times has an adult looked at a child wondering why they are acting the way they are when in reality they may be seeking help for the hurt they are experiencing.

While a very short 30 page book it is a very thought challenging book for a parent to be reminded that one must take time for their children and invest within them in a positive manner, because soon they will have their own children to raise.

This book was provided by Dorrance Publishing Company for my honest review.

4 of 5 stars http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?dorrance+7XZRvv+index.html

God Made me Pick Up Underwear

This is a very rewarding book that details the life of Orlando U. Javien, Jr. as he discovers new adventurous in the growing of his faith.  Orlando had many rewards as far as earthly treasures are concerned.  He had a fine home, cars, job, wife, children, etc... but his spiritual faith was stale at best.  One day he felt the need to explore this part of his life as he knew that he was far from where he wanted and even more importantly he should be.  As he began to search out his need to learn more about God and fill this intense hunger, he learned of a men's prayer meeting group that was the seed to began to change his life.  He found an urgency to get rid of the things that wasn't making him truly happy and focus on God and the things that would make Him pleased with his life, knowing it would improve the quality of his life.

Orlando and his wife Beth didn't communicate well.  Orlando felt that by providing more that he was doing his part, yet Beth wanted him and his attention.  She desired for Orlando to talk and spend time with her more than just having the resources to buy new things.  She desired for him to spend time with the children other than just having them in the same room while he watch television. 

Soon Orlando began to see that the things that had him hooked in life were destroying him and his relationship with his family.  He made some radical choices and soon involved his wife, men's group, etc... into his life in a greater degree to hold him accountable and to keep him honest.  Over time, he began to see a great improvement of how he learned to communicate with Beth and his children.  He focused more on them rather than what was on the web and television.  He learned that having the bigger house wasn't as important as having a loving, caring home.

If you desire to learn more about the faith and how one can become stronger and deeper in their love for God, this will be an enjoyable read for you.

5 of 5 stars.

At The Gates of Walhalla

Kurt was a very knowledgeable officer who participated with the United States Custom's Office trying to cut down the drugs and illegial money coming into the states.   This book provides insight into the drug cartel and how they have invaded Mexico, the US and Canada.  While there is a great discussion about these three locations and how the drugs and money travel back and forth there is also the element of a person's life and what goes along with this type of job.

While this wasn't the type of book I normally read I did enjoy the parts where the drug raids occurred.  When they would capture a truck at the border and how they would inspect it using dogs, and various forms of equipment was very good reading.

4 of 5 stars.

Possum Squat: A Tall Southern Tale

Author Lucianne DeLong provides the reader with a very entertaining children's book from the deep ol south.  

She has unique characters who share both grief and kindness with each other.  With a whole lot of "Bless their hearts"...

there includes individuals who meet, marry, have jobs, grow a home and live a life of opportunity together.

Some wanted to flee town, while others encouraged companionship and unity.  There is much to be learned from

Preacher Pope and his desire for everyone to get along.  When the people work together there is a much happier 

place to live and raise one's family.

This is a well illustrated book, filled with vivid imagination.  I believe children as well as parents alike will enjoy

this fine form of entertainment.  When the longing for deep southern talk is needed this is the book to fill that desire.

5 of 5 stars

Small Business Rules

This is both a very entertaining (with the cartoons) and rewarding (with the detailed information).  I really enjoyed reading this book and learning new things that should be included to make a small business successful as well as being reminded of things that I already knew but are very important. 

Author Matthew Dickerson discusses the importance of having a proper attitude, getting out of one's comfort zone and using your own products as just a few of the many rules that one needs to follow to have a thriving business.  I found each rule to be important and feel that new and existing business owners will find this a rewarding read.

This book provides great insight to remind the business owner that they are ever competing for business and one can never become too relaxed.  We should be careful what we say as most of the time someone will repeat that and it will cause of harm if it is of a negative form.  This would be a great tool to use for a weekly business meeting.  Each rule is short and to the point.  It would be a great jump start to have positive communication among the leaders/employees as well as to cover so many of the necessary topics that a manager/leader would need to cover.  Also, this would be a great investment for a small business leaders/young chamber leaders group to purchase and use to have a form of positive learning discussions at their meetings.

I look forward to finding more resourceful material from this author and learning from his nuggets of wisdom.

This book was provided by reviewthebook.com for my honest review.

The material was great, but somehow the print was blurry.  I have no way of knowing if this was the only copy like this or if all of the books look like this.  For that reason I would give it 4 of 5 stars.

My Not So Ordinary Life

Author Christine Rice takes the reader along the journey of her life.  She begins when she was a very young child and describes the anger and hurt of her parents marriage and soon divorce.  She was with both her mother and father throughout her growing up years and experienced many life changing moments.  

While in school she found a strong desire to read and later to write.  She was very good in her studies and most of the teachers took to her as a gifted student.  She didn't find friends easily as she was introverted and stayed to herself.   As she got older she decided that she needed to get out and experience life on her own rather than what she was learning in school.  She left living with her father and went to her boyfriend.  They got an apartment, enjoyed drugs, drinking and parties.  Soon she goes into the school and withdraws herself  becoming a high school dropout.  Later she earned her GED and quit her retail job.  She soon took another job and with frustration soon quit it as well.  Later she moved out of her boyfriend's grandmothers house and moved back in with her father.  In and out of this home and she was on her own, living in a car, etc....  What a life of ups and downs she was finding herself to be in.

She later found herself to be so depressed she tried to take her life.  She battled with this depression and drug use for a long time.  One day it dawned on her that she must quit the drugs or die.  She did and began to live.

After many additional events Christine found herself enrolled in school getting a degree in English so she could be a professional writer.  She is now enjoying that dream.

Author Christine Rice provided this book free for my honest and personal review.

4 of 5 stars

Can I Get An Amen?

Sarah Healy does an fantastic job of exploring the funny side of life in Can I Get An Amen? Healy’s story line is very rewarding and I was captivated from the very beginning until the very end.

The main characters involved within the story are Ellen, her sister Kat and brother Luke. These children have many characteristics among them that are typical of many modern day families. Ellen grew up in church being told what not to do, hearing about all the rules and regulations that she must abide by. Later in life she gets divorced when she is declared to be infertile. Kat gets pregnant while in high school and is sent away to her aunt’s to have the baby without anyone knowing. Luke is gay and creates conflict for the church-going family, forcing his parents to learn how to respond. Speaking of the parents – they try to portray the perfect couple yet things seem to fall apart within their lives, both financially and emotionally.

When Ellen finally meets the man of her dreams, she is shocked to find out the truths about him that send her running the other way. With all the ups and downs that the book presents, readers will find many situations they can relate to. You will want to follow Ellen along on her journey and share in her adventurous ways.

Can I Get An Amen? also includes discussion questions as well as a conversation with the author. These two additions are a great asset to the book and the story within is humorous, enjoyable, witty and entertaining.

The Hungry Washing Machine

This is a very entertaining and enjoyable children's book.  It had me laughing, especially at the postman being eaten as well as the joy on the little boy's face as his school books were being eaten.

I can certainly understand how the little boy's imagination can get carried away and then when he finds out the washing machine is safe, there stares at him the dryer.  I wonder if there will be another book to describe this adventure?

The illustrations are very good and enjoyable as the reader follows the story.

5 of 5 stars

Dangerous & Delightful

This is a story of organized crime located in Kansas City, Missouri.  While many may feel that the Mafia are long gone, author D.B. Reynolds in his book, "Network of Killers" leads the reader along paths that prove otherwise.  There are many examples of the River Quay and the Teamsters and how these groups impacted the city life.  

The author also shows how the Galluccio family soon took control of many of many of the businesses in the area and dominated all that happened.  The businesses that opposed them, they soon put out of operation, many in a very unfriendly way.  There is the importance of standing with your family and what happens when one strays from the fold.  The Mafia made their own rules and expected everyone else to follow them.  They were inside the government and had many of the political figures in their pocket.  There wasn't anything they couldn't do if they wanted to.  They had an uncanny ability of turning thousands of dollars into millions through their way of conducting business.  Perfection within their operation was expected and less than that often brought death.  

FBI agents were murdered and seeing that happen is a costly experience for one's life.  Follow the author's trail as he leads the reader along many adventures found within the pages of this book.

This is mature read as there are very lifelike examples of the Mafia which include: porn, prostitutes, murder, drugs, etc....

If you enjoy crime, action and a hint of mystery then you will enjoy this book.

4 of 5 stars

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Personal and Executive Coaching Business

Authors Kristie Lorette and John Peragine have put together a very detailed and well organized book on how to open and operate a Coaching Business. I found their book to be very understanding and a must read for someone who is considering being a personal or executive coach.  Two of the chapters deal with the timing of starting this type of business as well as what type of coach you would want to be.  There is a great amount of energy spent in helping the reader know what type of coach they would like to become.  If someone is too general in their description, then someone else who is more specific will get the job.  Find out what you are good at, like to do and then go in that direction. These two issues are very important as to the success that one would have within this field.

There is information on how and where to set up one's office, how to create a business plan and establish client fees.  The authors also reminds the readers of the importance of getting the business legally structured correctly while discussing the various options available.  

When starting this type of business one must realize there is a great amount of time spent in securing the client.  However, also realize there is time involved during the process of working with the client as well as after the meeting as you prepare for additional coaching sessions.  

There is also much needed information on how to secure new clients and maybe even as important how to keep them.  So many new business owners focus on the growth then forget those who they already have on board and we are reminded to take care of those who have already joined our business and they in return will take care of us.

There is also a list of coaching schools and organizations and a bibliography for additional research and reading.

The extra nice part that the authors have included is a CD-ROM that contains all the forms within the book as well as a editable business plan.

This book was provided by reviewthebook.com for my honest review.

5 of 5 stars

Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey

This is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn more about chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.  This is more than just a medical book giving health definitions, it is a story of a lady who has battled both of these illnesses and have found ways to make her life better in the midst of pain.  

We see in the beginning of the book that after living for a few weeks in a fog that the author was determined to get her life back.  She made an appointment with the doctor and stated she was done with the pills and her physician stopped seeing her.  One thing she learned was to not depend upon a doctor, rather she sat out to read, listen and learn more about what was going on within her body and found ways to try and improve the symptoms.  Being positive and never giving in to the pain was paramount in finding ways to beat the intense level of pain.

Chapters 7 - 11 are very helpful and insightful.  It is here that she has some major transformations and begins to look beyond just the pain in search of something that would help her improve. She later declares that having these two issues within her life caused her to focus on what was really important in life.  She has learned how to spend her time and energy wiser. 

Later in the book there are summaries and strategies given that are a great resource.  The author also includes a place for the reader to write their own issues down.  Having a journal and recording what is happening to the individual is so important in knowing what to do to bring about healing.  

There are also sections for:  Medications and Supplements as well as a Resource Guide listing websites of help groups.  This is a very well written and insightful book.  it is easy to read and understand without getting bogged down in deep medical language.

I was provided this book from reviewthebook.com for my honest evaluation.  4 of 5 stars.

Kick The Clutter

Clutter is a problem for many people.  Papers being misplaced, looking for keys at the last minute while rushing out the door, and other things that cause families stress levels to increase.  This book deals with confronting the issue rather than burying it hoping it will go away.

The author suggests making a schedule of how one can go about attacking the clutter within the house.  There is one great message here from Ms. Black.  She says:  "Make a schedule that fits YOUR needs and how YOU work."  This could truly be a make it or break it concerning conquering clutter.

There is a list of organizing skills to help the reader move forward in making their house clutter free.  The author also breaks down each room within the house giving ideals of how to best handle those problem areas.  When learning how to remove the clutter one builds motivation, reduces stress and other great benefits that makes their home a much happier place.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking to better improve their living conditions.

5 of 5 stars

Amazing Story of Perseverance

This book provides valuable insight into how a stroke effects someone; physically, mentality, emotionally and spiritually.  While the book shares what may happen to the body, such as signs that one is having a stroke, it goes much deeper than that. 

Michael experiences a stroke while asleep, yet the purpose of writing this book is to encourage and empower the person who has experienced having a stroke, to not give up but rather to press on to full recovery.

The author shares three great things that the reader certainly needs to capture while reading this book.  They are:  

"1) My faith in God,

 2) My love for my wife and daughter, 

 3) The sense of wonder and the heart of a child."

Michael's rebuilding process involved many things, but one was a journal of which he kept his daily thoughts, activities and results in.  He set a date that he wanted to get out on the golf course again and began to work toward that date.  Even if the doctor's, nurses, etc... thought he was silly for sitting such a quick date, he wouldn't be side-tracked, rather he stayed focused on what he desired to achieve.  He refused to get depressed and allow doubt to cloud his mind.  Even when the doctors told him, he might get depressed and that was normal, he refused to believe it and chose to ride above the clouds of negativity.  He used laughter, jokes, humor in a very unique way to keep himself and others around him far from being depressed.

There is a heart warming story of how Michael was asked to participate in the 2002 Winter Olympics as a support runner for the torch relay.  While I don't want to give away any of the story for the reader, just know that it is well worth reading the book for this one story included.

There is a bonus section in the e-book by Michael's wife Victoria.  She shares how she encountered the death of her father and 30 years later feeling many of the same emotions as her husband had a stroke and the uncertainty that came with it.  While all their married life Michael was her rock, she now began to encourage and push Michael on as he went through intense rehabilitation.  Victoria encourages spouses to be there for each other and not bail out on them when the going gets rough. 

 

There is also an exercise section within the book that will help anyone who has encountered a stoke.

This is definitely a 5 of 5 star book.

From Berkeley with Love

Very entertaining short story.  If you like action, crime and suspense you will enjoy this book. 

I found it a pleasure to follow along with Investigator Keirstad as he leads the reader down a

path of adventure and excitement.  

I would have liked for the book to have been longer, fleshing out the existing story and/or

adding additional cases for the investigator to resolve.

4 of 5 stars

Executive Wisdom

I received this book today from author Reynier Lezcano and I can honestly say it is a gem of truth and encouragement.  

I read it all from beginning to end without ever stopping as I was so engrossed in what Mr. Lezcano had to share.

You will find strength for life, encouragement to replace sadness, hope to replace restlessness, and direction to replace

a sense of loss.  For those who are looking for wisdom in leadership this is the book for you.  You will not only find

it to be a book to read through and learn truths, but one you will want to read again and again, allowing the nuggets

of wisdom to linger deep within your mind.  This is much more than a book with simple answers for ones questions, or

a step by step manual, rather it is truth shared to allow one's mind to expand and grow.

A true leader becomes stronger when they learn and grow from deep within.  This resource allows each one to learn 

more of these truths.

5 of 5 stars