Soaring Above Co-Addiction, by Lisa Ann Espich

Are you involved with a drug addict or an alcoholic? Do you know someone who has an addiction to something so strong that it is messing up your lives? I have a solution for you, a book by Lisa Espich, Soaring Above Co-Addiction.

Her story is like most people who are in a relationship with a person who has an addiction problem. You are very stressed. People wonder where your love comes from and why it is so strong for a person who seems to be ruining your life. But one of the differences is that she was able to overcome it and find a way to better herself and make her marriage work. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't easy, but she made it work.

In, Soaring Above Co-Addiction, you learn how to rise above all your problems and come out a better person. Lisa Espich shows you how to deal with your situation by doing a couple of different exercises. For instance, the visualization exercise. With this particular exercise, you picture yourself attached to the addict with a rope. Every time he moves somewhere, you go with him. You either picture yourself being tugged by the addict forever or you picture yourself cutting free. Another thing she teaches you is how to look out for yourself. If you think better of yourself, you will become a better person. In this exercise, you wake up in the morning and give thanks for all the good things in your life. A third one is affirmations and finally keeping a journal. I really like the one about keeping a journal. I believe that writing is great therapy. Of course, these are just a couple and there is a lot more to learn from reading this book.

The purpose of this book is to show you that you can survive. You can make it to the silver lining at the end of the cloud. It is not going to be easy, but it is achievable. It will help you learn how to pick up your head and deal with the situation you are in. You can, and will triumph.

This is a great book, if you couldn't tell by now. I highly advise one to read this book if you are going through or dealing with someone with an addiction. Even if you know someone who is going through this very thing, reading this book will give you a better understanding of what he or she are going through and how you can help them.

Thanks to Lisa Ann Espich for allowing me to read and review her book.

SEAsoned - A Chef's Journey with Her Captain, by Victoria Allman

Author: Victoria Allman

Categories: Travel, Cooking

Publisher: NorLightsPress

Number of Pages: 200

Book Size: 6 X 9

ISBN: 978-1935254-37-9

Official Release Date: January, 2011

Have you ever turned the television on and seen one of those shows where they have a cook on a yacht while traveling? Have you ever thought how fun that would be if it were me? Well, Victoria Allman, author of SEAsoned - A Chef's Journey with Her Captain, was able to experience that very thing.

When reading this book, you will be taken on a trip in a yacht with rough waters and falling dishes, doors swinging open and shut and people not able to stand. These aren't the things that people think about when they picture themselves working on a yacht. Another thing would be the different attitudes you encounter when people come aboard, some pleasant, some not so pleasant.

Another thing I really liked about the SEAsoned - A Chef's Journey with Her Captain, is how there are recipes all throughout the book. The recipes at the end of the chapters go along with a meal in that particular part of the story. This really excited me because I could actually get into the book even more by trying the different foods that she prepared. Some of the recipes that I am excited about trying are Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins, Chocolate Chiffon Cake, Angel Hair Napoli, and Salmon Tartar. Not only are there recipes listed, she also includes a culinary glossary toward the end of the book.

One thing that I have to make sure and mention is her writing style. She is a very descriptive writer, which makes you feel as though you are right there on the trip with them. I enjoyed her writing so much that I am going to go out and purchase her other book, Sea Fare - A Chef's Journey Across The Ocean, which also includes recipes.

This is a very enjoyable story and I would suggest everyone to read it. SEAsoned - A Chef's Journey with Her Captain kept me engaged from the beginning to the end.

I thank AME Virtual Book Tours and NorlightsPress for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

The Mountains Bow Down, by Sibella Giorello

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson; 1 edition (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595545352
ISBN-13: 978-1595545350
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches

{Click to purchase book}

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Everything's going to work out. Time away always makes things better . . ..

That's what FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon believes as she boards a cruise to Alaska. A land of mountains and gems and minerals, The Last Frontier is a dream destination for this forensic geologist who's hoping to leave behind a hectic work schedule and an engagement drained of romance.

But when a passenger goes missing and winds up dead, Raleigh's vacation suddenly gets lost at sea. The ship's security chief tries to rule the death a suicide, but Raleigh's forensics background points to a much darker conclusion: Somewhere on board, a ruthless murderer walks free.

Engulfed by one of her toughest cases yet, Raleigh requests assistance from the FBI and receives her nemesis-perpetual ladies man Special Agent Jack Stephanson. As the cruise ship sails through the Inside Passage, Raleigh has five days to solve a high-profile murder, provide consultation for a movie filming on board, and figure out her increasingly complicated feelings for Jack-who might not be such a jerk after all.

And that's only her work life. Family offers even more challenges. Joined on the cruise by her mother and aunt, Raleigh watches helplessly as disturbing rifts splinter her family.

Like the scenery that surrounds the cruise ship, Raleigh discovers a situation so steep and so complex that even the mountains might bow down.

MY THOUGHTS:

I really enjoyed the book. It kept me intrigued from the beginning to the end. At first I did not realize that it was the fourth book in the Raleigh Harmon series, but after finding out, it has made me want to read the rest of them. Sibella Giorello's style of writing had me visualizing everything while I was reading. It actually felt as though I was there. I am not one who tends to read mystery type books, but was glad I was able to read this one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sibella Giorello grew up in Alaska and majored in geology at Mount Holyoke College. After riding a motorcycle across the country, she worked as a features writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her stories have won state and national awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. She now lives in Washington state with her husband and sons. Find out more about Sibella and her other books at her website. http://www.sibellagiorello.com/

Sibella’s celebrating the release of The Mountains Bow Down by giving away a Cruise prize pack worth over $500.00!

One Grand Prize winner will receive:

A $500 gift certificate toward the cruise of their choice from Vacations To Go.

The entire set of the Raleigh Harmon series.

To enter go here!

Then tell your friends. And enter soon - the giveaway ends on 4/1! The winner will be announced at Sibella’s Raleigh Harmon Book Club Party on FB April 5th, 2011! Don’t miss the fun – prizes, books and gab!

Thanks goes to Litfuse Publicity for providing me with my complimentary review copy.

Lily Hates Goodbyes, by Jerilyn Marler

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: CreateSpace (March 8, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 146096070X

ISBN-13: 978-1460960707

Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.2 x 0.1 inches

Do you have a child who has to deal with a parent coming and going because of a job? Whether it is because they are a Truck Driver, in the Military, or an Airplane Pilot, they have gaps in being at home. Does your son or daughter have a hard time dealing with it? Well, if so, I have the perfect book for them. Lily Hates Goodbyes, by Jerilyn Marler and illustrated by Nathan Stoltenberg is about a little girl who has to deal with her father being gone all the time.

Lily is a little girl who doesn't quite know how to deal with the fact that her father isn't always around. Sometimes she gets angry and sometimes she is just plain sad. Because he is in the military, he isn't able to be at home with them like she wants him to. So, she has to learn different ways to deal with all her feelings. For instance, she draws pictures for him, punches pillows to get her frustrations out, keeps track of how long it will take him to come home with a calendar/sticker project, and creates songs for him on their piano.

This book was created to help your child realize that having these feelings is okay and that there are different ways of dealing with them. It also shows the parent how to use the book in order to help the particular child deal with their feelings.

When my daughter got home from school and saw this book, she immediately picked it up and started to read it. She didn't put it down until she was done. I asked her what she thought about the book and she told me that she really liked it. She actually sat there and told me what the book was about, from beginning to end. I honestly believe the simplicity of the storyline and the great illustrations kept her engaged in it.

If you have a child who doesn't quite understand how to deal with a parent's infrequent absents, then Lily Hates Goodbyes is the book for them.

I thank Jerilyn Marler and Bostick Communications for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

Music Videos and Performances From The Twilight Saga Soundtrack: Vol. 1

Can I say AWESOME!? I don't know if that is politically correct when writing a review, but that is the word that comes to mind when thinking about the Music Videos and Performances From The Twilight Saga Soundtrack: Vol. 1 DVD that I was given the opportunity to review. I never thought that I would jump on any part of the "Twilight" bandwagon, but I guess I have. Does that make me a Twilighter? Probably not, which is fine. I guess you can say that I have jumped on the Twilight music bandwagon, if they have one.

To have a DVD that focuses mainly on the music/musician of a film is ingenious. I hadn't heard half of the songs on this DVD, so it was purely musical for me. I got to enjoy them for who they were and what they brought to the films vs. enjoying them for the sake of the films. I also liked how most of the performers set their songs against backgrounds that had something to do with the films instead of having clips of the films all throughout their videos. I felt like this made it easier to focus on the artists themselves rather than focusing on the clips from the films.

There are twenty different songs collected from the three Twilight Saga soundtracks and two bonus songs. My all-time favorite song would have to be "What Part of Forever" by Cee Lo Green. Coming in close would be "Eclipse (All Yours)" by Metric. Some of the other songs that I like were, "Solar Midnite" - Lupe Fiasco, "The Violet Hour" - Sea Wolf, and "All I Believe In" - The Magic Numbers & Amadou & Mariam, just to name a few. The DVD is approximately 100 minutes long and has a special feature that lets you continuously play it repeatedly like a regular CD.

Yes, I think that everyone should own this DVD. Even if you are not a Twilight fan, you will still enjoy it. I highly enjoyed it the first time I listened to it (listening to it right now) and will continue to enjoy it every time I put it in my DVD player. So I implore everyone to go out and purchase Music Videos and Performances From The Twilight Saga Soundtracks: Vol. 1 for their collection. Trust me you will not regret it.

I thank Shelby K. (42West) for giving me the opportunity to review this DVD.

What The Heart Sees, by Kathleen Fuller

I am a really big Kathleen Fuller fan. So when I was given the chance to review her book What the Heart Sees, I was truly thrilled. Not only do I get to read one story written by her, but also I get to read three all in one book. In this book, she has put a collection of Amish romance stories together.

The first story, A Miracle for Miriam, is about a girl who is young and in love and then has it all taken away from her. That is what happens to Miriam. As a child she has a crush on Seth who one day humiliates her and causes her to harden her heart when it comes to men. As time goes by, Seth moves away and spends time with some English friends. While there, he gets involved in an accident, which causes him to change mentally and physically. When Miriam sees him years later, she notices the changes. But is it good enough for her to let go of the past and move forward with him?

The second story, A Place of His Own, is about two good friends and on tragic moment. Josiah moves away without saying good-bye to Amanda. Years later, he returns to the community a different person. Amanda wonders what has happened to her friend from years ago. Why is he so bitter? Then a barn fire erupts and the community comes together, which has Josiah come to a realization about them.

The third and final story, What the Heart Sees, is about a man name Christopher who is angry from the accident that left him all alone and without a fiance. And after a downward spiral, he enters into a five-year bann. Later he decides to go home where he is reunited with Ellie, who was left blind from an accident of her own. Can they let go of the pains from the past and move forward into the future?

The book also has a couple of Amish recipes in the back that you can try. Can I say Cream Cheese Brownies?

What the Heart Sees is a really great book and if you love Amish books, you will really love this one. Kathleen Fuller is a really great writer and I think everyone should read it.

I thank Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Life Ready Woman (Thriving in a Do-It-All World), by Shaunti Feldhahn & Robert Lewis and Book Giveaway

How many of us feel because we are women in a modern world we have to try and do it all? I have to say, a lot of times I feel that way. At times I feel as though if I am not doing it all, I am not successfully living my life. Question, does it really have to be this way? Shauntie Feldhahn and Robert Lewis wrote a book called The Life Ready Woman: Thriving in a Do-It-All World. In their book, they have come up with a great way to show you how it is possible.

Women have come a long way. Before hand it was in the kitchen making food and taking care of the kids. Then things changed. We were given the ability to vote, join the army, hold public office positions, etc. In The Life Ready Woman, the authors state that life happiness doesn't necessarily come from all we accomplish in life but rather the way we open our lives up to God and let him guide us where to go.

The 3 things that stick out the most for me are the 5 common issues that bring about problems for women, the 3 types of core callings, and Faith Step #2. I also really love how they have biblical quotes to go along with their theories and points. There are stories in the book that make you realize that you are not the only one. What is really high on my list are the sections where you can interact with the authors of the book.

Book Giveaway!!!!

In order to give one of my readers a chance to enjoy and learn from the book as I did,  I am giving away a copy of The Life Ready Woman.

For a chance to win this book, please leave a comment as to why you would like to read this book. The giveaway will be closed on March 7, 2011, with the winner announced and emailed on March 8, 2011. Please leave your email address, or you will not be entered in the giveaway.

Not only am I giving away a book, but MomLife Today is having a Weekend To Remember giveaway, which can be entered bellow.

To enter click one of the icons below then tell your friends. Winner will be announced on March 2nd on the MomLife Today website.

Thanks to Amy of the Litfuse Publicity Group for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Vidal Sassoon The Movie

Vidal Sassoon's impact is so profound in so many ways, even forty years after his revolution, he is inarguably the most important person in hairdressing, ever. He is the ultimate hero. His life serves as an extraordinary inspiration to millions of people, reminding them what is possible with the right commitment and passion.

                                                     -Michael Gordon, Producer

A feature documentary spanning 80 years of revolution in culture, as told through the life of one extraordinary man, VIDAL SASSOON THE MOVIE is the revealing and inspirational story of how one man changed the world with a pair of scissors.

A true rags to riches tale, the film traces Sassoon’s path from a London orphanage to international success and celebrity. It follows Michael Gordon, founder of the haircare company Bumble and bumble, as he sets out to document Vidal's life in a richly visual book. Sassoon's story comes alive as the design of the book unfolds.

Living through war and poverty, the seeds of his future are spawned as young Vidal becomes driven to rise above the circumstances of his birth. Spurred by his mother’s dream that her son would find success as a hairdresser, Sassoon apprentices in a local salon. “I made up mind, if I was going to be in hairdressing, I wanted to change things.” Through tireless hard work and commitment, he struggles to modernize the old-fashioned world of hair; with modern architecture as his inspiration, Sassoon focuses on geometric shapes and angles that literally changes the way women look, and ushers in the social revolutions of the 60’s. Salons, schools and products follow all over the world, and his tag line, “if you don’t look good we don’t look good” becomes a defining cultural touchstone.



With an added emphasis on his inspirational drive, VIDAL SASSOON THE MOVIE shows Sassoon to be not only one of the great innovators of our time, but a cultural life force as relevant today as ever.

Phase4 Films will release VIDAL SASSOON THE MOVIE on February 11, 2011 in New York; February 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, and other markets nationwide in late February and March 2011.


Thanks to Kenneth Rosenstock (42west) for giving me the opportunity to post this information.



Mubu & Mu-Mu (The Little Animal Doctor), by Peter Alexander

Mubu & Mu-Mu

The Little Animal Doctor

(click to proceed to website)

I really love reading children's books. I am sure you have read this before, but I do. I was given the opportunity to read and review a book called Mubu & Mu-Mu. I must say, after reading it, I was glad the opportunity was given.

Mubu is a little girl who lives in Thailand with her mother and grandfather. Most of her life is filled with fun and adventure. She spends most of her time playing with animals, running through a forest, etc. The one thing she likes the most is the she has been able to take certain animals under her wing and raise them as her own.

One day, Mubu's grandfather went into the forest to look for some herbs and came back with a gibbon. It was hurt and needed to be taken care of. So her grandfather instructed her on what to do. Of course, like most little kids, she did not listen to his three rules and almost got hurt along with the gibbon.

This story teaches children what happens when they don't listen to adults and how important it is to follow rules. It also shows them about life in another country.

The art in the book is also just as great as the story. The colors are vibrant and kind of pop of the page. The detail is right on point, which also helps to draw you into the story. Another wonderful aspect of this book is the little synopsis and pictures of Mubu as a child and all grown up.

I say people should own a lot of books because I love reading, but I really think this one is one that all kids should own.

I thank Bostick Communications and Kennebec Entertainment LLC for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob (Blue Ocean Bob Discovers His Purpose), by Brooks Olbrys

THE ADVENTURES OF

BLUE OCEAN BOB

(Click title to go to website)

I am a big fan of children books. I try to collect as many as I can for my daughter to read. I love to read. I am trying to get her to become one of those kids that love to read also. So far, I am proving to be successful.

This book is a great book. First, the story is written in the form of a poem. This makes it easy for kids to read and a great way to keep them interested because of the flow. Secondly, the illustrations are magnificent. They are brightly colored and percisely drawn. They pop out of the book as though they are real and not just a drawing that someone created. Thirdly, and most important, is the story. It lets children know that no matter what, they can achieve whatever they put their minds to.

Bob is a young boy who wants to figure out what he can do in life. Even though he lives on a beautiful island, he figures there is more to life than what he sees. His friend and companion, Xena - a bird, is concerned about him and the adventure he is about to take. But no one can change his mind and he sets out on this adventure. After asking a couple of sea creatures some questions, he makes up his mind about what he wants to be.

If you want to teach your child about believing and achieving a dream, then you should add this book to their bookshelf. I thought it was wonderful and think that anyone can learn a lesson from it. My daughter loved reading it and enjoyed looking at the pictures too. I highly recommend this book for every child to own.

Thanks to Brooks Olbrys for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Left At The Altar, by Kimberley Kennedy

Have you ever been humiliated, embarrassed, or even ashamed? If you are a woman (I guess even a man), being left at the altar is one of the worst feelings that you could possibly go through. Luckily, I can say that it has never happened to me, but for Kimberley Kennedy, that became a life story.

Kimberley's story begins like most others. She was raised in a traditional family. Of course there were typical problems in her family like most others, but she got through them. After college, she met who she thought would be the love of her life, on a blind date. This was the guy she was going to marry and she was determined to make it happen. After sometime, her fiance started to act different. He started to find fault in everything that she did. A big hint that she didn't pick up on, was her engagement. She was asked for her hand in married out of an argument. But even so, this was still her knight in shining armor. And so the planning began, which led to the downward spiral of her life.

Left at The Altar is Kimberley Kennedy's book about how to deal with rejection whether it comes from divorce, dating, or even her, like marriage. Her goal in writing this book is to be able to help other women understand that they are not alone and don't have to feel the pain of rejection forever. She has ways of helping them heal and move forward in their life by not staying in that same painful place. There is a section on the Five Stages of Grief, diagrams, and different quotes and antidotes. She also relies on God throughout the book to help people understand that it is not the end of the world and that there IS life at the end of the tunnel. There are also other people's stories that help you understand that you are not the only one.

I feel like this is a book that everyone can benefit from. Anyone going through any kind of issue can take this book and remember that they are not the only one going through it. Everyone should include this book on their bookshelf.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

Precious Moments Storybook Bible

Just about everyone has a Precious Moments book in their house. I know when I was younger, we had the coloring books. I remember sitting on the floor with my father and sisters and picking a favorite page to color. Well now I have found a Precious Moments Bible.

This is a really great Bible for the younger generation (the ones that can't quite keep still). At the beginning of the Bible, they have a lot of neat fill-ins to commemorate different things. Like most Bibles, there is a family tree to fill out. This is great to look back on when you are older. They also have a Church record page for when you get baptized, etc. It also comes with a favorite things page. As you can see, it is filled with a lot of pages to fill out and look back on later in life.

The actual Bible part is broken down in four different parts: Favorite Classics, Words of Praise and Wisdom, More Stories of Faith, and Songs and Prayers.

Favorite Classics: Stories that we all grew up with presented in a way that a young child can understand. Stories like Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, etc.

Words of Praise: This is a section that has different Bible verses accompanied with inspirational words.

More Stories of Faith: In this section it has even more stories that go along with favorite classics.

Songs and Prayers: This section has a lot of the songs we learned when we were young. As you teach them to your child, it will take you down memory lane. I know that is what happend with me. It also has the prayers that most kids are taught to say when they are young. Now you can teach them to your children!

This Bible is done in different pastel colors. The pictures are adorable also. I think that everyone who has a young child should get this book or at least get one for someone else with a young child.

I thanks Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to review this book.