Dad of Divas' Reviews: March 2014

Monday, March 31, 2014

Book Review - The Smart Girl's Guide to God, Guys, and the Galaxy

The Smart Girl's Guide to God, Guys, and the Galaxy
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About the Book
The Smart Girl’s Guide to God, Guys, and the Galaxy melds spiritual and practical advice with humor—a winning combination as you’re trying to navigate the ups and downs of life with grace and confidence. You’ll be encouraged and challenged with sound, biblically-based advice equipping you to stand up for your faith and live the Christian walk every day. . .plus, you’ll encounter some fun, common-sense tips along the way.


My Take on the Book
I really enjoyed this book and can see that any teenage girl would find entertaining and educational. Each of the sections were easy to use and had some great resources and information that it worked to share with the readers. While a lot of the information is too old for my own daughter, in a few years I know that she would love reading this too. The book was straight forward and talked about important topics for teenage girls. One of the things that I liked was that the advice was connected to biblical passages to allow for the girls to find their way with God as they find their way through the ups and downs of their teenage years. The book was powerful and would be a great gift for any teenage girl!


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DVD Review - Saint Seiya: Sanctuary Classic Complete Collection

Saint Seiya: Sanctuary Classic Complete Collection
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About the DVD
The story follows five mystical warriors called the “Saints” who fight wearing sacred armors, the designs of which are derived from the various constellations. The Characters have adopted as their destined guardian symbols, and empowered by a mystical energy. The Saints have sworn to defend the reincarnation of the Greek goddess Athena in her battle against the other Gods who want to dominate the world.


My Take on the DVD
While I had never watched this series in the past, it reminded me of some of my favorite cartoons from the 1990's. This was a well written series, filled with drama, adventure, great characters and villains you love to hate, This set was totally complete and to be honest I am about half through and am still loving it. The series also has some great mystery as well as mythology and more. I was impressed also with the animation and how it drew me in as a viewer and I think that you will be impressed as well!


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Book Review - What to Talk About: On a Plane, at a Cocktail Party, in a Tiny Elevator with Your Boss's Boss

What to Talk About: On a Plane, at a Cocktail Party, in a Tiny Elevator with Your Boss's Boss
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About the Book
Homo sapiens have been speaking for hundreds of years—and yet basic communication still stymies us. We freeze up in elevators, on dates, at parties, under Dumpsters. We stagger through our exchanges merely hoping not to crash, never considering that we might soar. We go home sweaty and eat a birthday cake in the shower.

But no more. With What to Talk About you'll learn to speak—fluently, intelligently, charmingly—to family, friends, coworkers, lovers, future lovers, horse trainers, children, even yourself. This hilarious manual, written by two award-winning authors and illustrated by legendary cartoonist Tony Millionaire, is tailor-made for anyone who might one day attend a dinner party, start a job, celebrate a birthday, graduate from school, date a human, or otherwise use words.

What to Talk About is not rocket science, but it is a lot like brain surgery, in the sense that is terrifying, risky—and could change you forever.


My Take on the Book
Have you ever walked into a room, met people and completely been at a loss for words? Whether it is in a room, an elevator, a lobby or anywhere else, this book gives you a ton of starters that you can use in any of these situations and more. The book also gives you a ton of ideas on how to best approach the situations and the people in those situations. The book was easy to read and simple to implement, but the book also was an amazing resource that you can take anywhere you go to give you a ton of tools to be able to help you to be more confident and comfortable in practically any situation.


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Book Review - My Name is Bob

My Name is Bob

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About the Book
Inspired by the heartwarming true story of James Bowen, and his New York Times Best Seller A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life, this picture book explores the familiar tale from a different point of view...Bob's!

James and Bob are the best of friends--everywhere James goes, Bob the cat goes with him. But life wasn't always so happy for the scarf-loving tabby. In My Name is Bob, we learn what Bob's life was like before he found James. After his world was suddenly turned upside down, Bob found himself living alone on the street. His search for a new home ended when he met James, a street musician who needed Bob just as much as Bob needed him. Both children and adults will love this story of true friendship and second chances. A moving and uplifting tale (tail!) that will melt your heart.


My Take on the Book
This was a beautiful book with a wonderful story that will have you coming back for more. As a cat loving family, my whole family loved this story and as a parent I loved the message of friendship between Bob and James. The story reminded me some of the story of our youngest cat and how she was found on the street as well. All-in-all this was a wonderful story that is family friendly and one that your kids will be asking you to re-read over and over again.


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Book Review - Ideals Mother's Day


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About the Book
A new Mother's Day edition of the beloved tradition, Ideals.

Loyal readers are drawn to Ideals magazine for its celebration of life's most treasured moments. Now in its 70th year in publication, the compilation of prose and poetry continues its legacy of inspiration and comfort for readers.

This new Mother's Day issue celebrates motherhood with heartwarming stories about and by mothers, poetry and quotations that will warm the hearts of mothers, and recipes to enjoy or share. The text is accompanied by beautiful, full-color photographs and fine art reproductions. Readers will love this Mother's Day issue of Ideals, a perfect gift for mothers and those who have been 'like a mother.



My Take on the Book
This is a wonderful book with a ton of great ideas to make Mothers Day memorable. I have read through other Ideals before and each is unique and special. Filled with beautiful images as well as writing, poetry and more. I was very impressed with the overall publication and know that any mother would
love this for themselves just as my wife loved this for herself.



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DVD review - The Good Witch's Garden

 The Good Witch's Garden
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About the DVD
Catherine Bell (“Army Wives”) and Chris Potter (Hairspray) enchant in the Hallmark Channel Original Movie, The Good Witch’s Garden, arriving on DVD April 22 from Cinedigm.

Return to Middletown in this sequel to The Good Witch, part of an ongoing story following the magical Cassie Nightingale (Bell). Settling into Grey House and continuing her romance with the town Sheriff Jake Russell (Potter), Cassie still is a suspicious figure to the townspeople. Working both to fit in, and to turn Grey House into a bed and breakfast, Cassie is surprised when a stranger declares he is the legal owner of the house. Suddenly left without a home, Cassie struggles to find her place in her new city.

Originally airing on The Hallmark Channel in 2008, The Good Witch’s Garden is the second chapter in the ongoing series, the latest of which, The Good Witch’s Destiny, premiered as #1 cable program of the day among women 25-54, with nearly 3.9 Million unduplicated viewers, boosting Hallmark Channel to rank #1 in prime time (Source: The Nielsen Company, October 21 - October 27, 2013). The movie is produced by Whizbang Films and Executive Produced by Frank Siracusa, Orly Adelson and Jonathan Eskenas. It is directed by Craig Pryce and written by G. Ross Parker, based on characters created by Rod Spence.


My Take on the DVD
My wife and I have been watching these movies since they first came out. While the movies are not big box films and the actors are not as well known as in some movies, but the writing in this and in all of the movies is powerful and the underlying themes are ones that we always enjoy watching and sharing together. I love the magic that was shared in this story. You get to be spellbound by Cassie and how she weaves her family together as well as the town of Middleton too. If you have never seen this movie or any of the series of movies, you should as it will leave you with a warm heart and wanting more in the end!


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Saturday, March 29, 2014

Book Review - Impact: Great Leadership Changes Everything

Impact: Great Leadership Changes Everything
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About the Book
For more than 25 years, organizational psychologist and management consultant Dr. Tim Irwin has worked with thousands of leaders in well-known global companies. He knows most leaders work for recognition and advancement and they want more challenge and responsibility. He’s also found this to be true: Most of us want to make a positive difference through our work and to have our lives count for something more than simply making a living. We want to make an impact.

Yet when we look around our organizations, we don’t see many leaders who have real impact. We see them just managing the daily rat race. Somewhere along the line, many began working for money instead of for meaning, for status instead of for a lasting legacy.

In Impact, Irwin identifies the principles and beliefs that lead to great leadership—ways in which you can grow and thrive and be trusted by others. Learn how to be the kind of leader that motivates others in meaningful work and great accomplishments and what you can do to stay on track so you avoid a path of personal destruction so many leaders go down today.

Accessible, humorous, and engaging, Irwin’s latest book shows you how to live the vision you began your career with and then finish strong for a lasting impact, the hope of every great leader.

About the author:
Dr. Tim Irwin, the author of the New York Times best-selling book Impact: Great Leadership Changes Everything, has been a confidante to thousands of global leaders. He is a favorite guest of Hugh Hewitt and is being featured on a number of Christian radio programs. Irwin sees one central issue anytime a leader “derails”—he believes they have a defect in their “core”, which Irwin says goes beyond the overused term “character”. His new book, Impact, addresses this and gives actionable ways leaders can protect themselves, and better serve their organizations—especially crucial for those of us who serve in ministry and are walking a Christian walk.



My Take on the Book

As a student of leadership I am always looking for new ways to not only learn about leadership for myself, but also for ways in which I can engage my own staff and help others in honing their own leadership abilities. This book was well written and very practical in nature. I was impressed with the way in which the author uses easy to understand examples to engage the reader on numerous leadership examples so that you gain a better understanding of your own inner leadership abilities. The author explores key impact points that impact a leader's core which makes complete sense to me.

On a different note, I believe that this book also has great relevance to the way in which I want to be able to raise my own girls to help them to become better leaders in their own lives'. While I know this book is still beyond their reading comprehension, I know what I have learned can be translated in my words, actions and deeds so that they can start walking a similar path that will help them in the future.

This was a great book that I would highly recommend to one and all!


"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.


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Book Review - Kids Are Weird: And Other Observations from Parenthood

Kids Are Weird: And Other Observations from Parenthood
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About the Book
As he's shown in his previous hugely popular books, Jeffrey Brown has a real gift for finding humor in quirky yet universal truths. Now the bestselling author of Darth Vader and Son and Vader's Little Princess brings his witty comic observations to terrestrial parenting in this perceptive book celebrating the more surreal moments of raising a child. In charming colorful panels, Brown wryly illustrates his fiveyear- old son's take on the world around him, from watching TV ("Elton John looks pretty in that shirt") to playing with toys ("This truck can survive on very little water") to odd requests ("Don't feel happy at me"), capturing the sweetly weird times that mothers and fathers everywhere experience with their own curious, pure-minded kids.



My Take on The Book
As a parent I can say that Jeffrey Brown has definitely captured many of the memorable moments that I know that I and many of my fellow parents have experienced. The short snippets that are shared are funny and insightful and for me were a ton of fun to read with my wife. My kids wanted to read with me, but I do not think that they really understood the humor in many of the scenes. On top of the humor and the relevance, the author also does a great job at illustrating the book to really draw the reader into the book. Whether you already know Jeffrey Brown's works or not, you will come to enjoy him and will want to read more from him in the future after reading this.

Book Review - The 39 Clues: Unstoppable Book 3: Countdown

The 39 Clues: Unstoppable Book 3: Countdown
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About the Book
The 39 Clues is unstoppable! The bestselling series returns with an adventure spanning four explosive books and a website that places readers right in the action.

Confidential until May 2014!




My Take on the Book
We have been 39 Clues fans for years and my oldest daughter is always on the lookout for the next installment so you can bet that she was uber excited to receive this. As always you get amazing characters in these books and this one did not disappoint. You get to see your favorite characters again as well as get introduced to some new ones too. On top of this, the book is filled with mystery, adventure and suspense, all rolled into one. For me, as a parent, I love to see my daughter getting so excited about books and knowing and seeing how this book sparked her passion for reading, I am more than willing to let her read this or any of the series!


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Book Review - How To Speak Baseball

How To Speak Baseball
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About the Book
This handsome guide to the language of baseball decodes the amusing, clever phrases that pepper commentary about the sport. Packed with witty explanations of everything from "duster" and "rubber arm" to "up the elevator," this ballpark lexicon plays on a nostalgic love for the national pastime while covering ground from baseball's beginnings to today. This humorous mix of definitions and anecdotes is the perfect gift for both lifelong baseball fans and rookies working up the ranks.



My Take on the Book
With baseball season almost upon us, this was the perfect book to get be back into good form as we get ready for another year. I have been a baseball fan for many years and feel that I am pretty fluent in the lingo, but this book allowed me to see that in fact I did not know everything, and instead, I still had some to learn. So whether you are a new or old baseball fan, this book will definitely teach you new things or dust off the knowledge that you may have forgotten along the way. This is a great book for any baseball fan!


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Thursday, March 27, 2014

Cut the Rope Triple Treat - Now on Nintendo 3DS

Cut the Rope Triple Threat

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About the Game
Triple The Om Nom, Triple The Fun, Triple The Dimensions!

Cut the Rope Triple Threat

From the hugely successful Cut the Rope series, use the laws of physics and gravity to feed candy to the cutest green monster in the universe, Om Nom, in a captivating puzzle frenzy with Cut the Rope: Triple Treat!

Cut the Rope Triple Threat

Three full games in one! Cut the Rope (original), Cut the Rope: Experiments, and Cut the Rope: Time Travel

Game Features

  • Packed with over 650 levels
  • Over 50 hours of gameplay
  • Challenge your friends through online leaderboards
  • Perfect your rope cutting skills with your Nintendo 3DS stylus


Cut the Rope Triple Threat


My Take on the Game
I have always enjoyed this game on my Android phone, but usually I was limited to the game itself and found that this game was just as fun on my Android, but there were so many new levels that were included (never-ending it seemed). I found that my kids and I had a ton of fun and we actually took this on a road trip with us and the kids were playing it non-stop for almost the full three hours and they never stopped - talk about a great game! I found the controls to be intuitive and the kids loved being able to use the stylus with the game itself. All-in-all this was a ton of fun for the whole family!


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Book Review - Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Falcon Takes Flight

Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Falcon Takes Flight
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About the Book
Steve Rogers, known to the world as Captain America, continues his affiliation with S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury and the Avengers. But Steve struggles to fit in the modern world and now his past will come back to haunt him...

A fully illustrated 32-page leveled reader (Level 2), packed with stickers, retelling a key scene from Marvel Studios' upcoming film, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which releases in theatres in summer 2014.


My Take on the Book
Tomas Palacios has written a chapter book about Captain America. This book is written for older children.

The reader will learn in the first chapters how Steve Rogers became Captain America. As the story continues you will become involved in his opportunities to fight for freedom in various situations.

The chapters give you specifics about his friends and enemies. You will meet the Black Widow. There is a segment that discusses how he was frozen for 70 years and then returned to life in the 21st century. At that point of course he had new challenges in his fight for freedom.

The chapters are full of details and written well. The author included photographs from a movie about Captain America that the reader will enjoy seeing.

If your child enjoys the super hero stories, I believe this book will become an adventure they would enjoy reading. It is a page turner for the reader.



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Book Review - Big Book of Kids' Birthday Cakes

Big Book of Kids' Birthday Cakes
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About the Book
To give kids the perfect treat for their special day, look no further than this fun, fabulous collection! Inside you'll find both much-loved and exciting new recipes that include everything from cupcakes and popcakes to animal cakes, adventure cakes, and the famous “Train Cake.” Even though each artful creation will elicit oohs and aahs, they're all really easy to prepare. Some even begin with mixes, so it's simple to bake the happiest birthday ever!


My Take on the Book
Do you love to bake , make cakes, and cupcakes? Do you like to prepare your own birthday cakes for your family and friends? If you do , you must check out this book.

The photos and step by step directions will assist you into creating cakes you may have only imagined you could bake. The specific ingredients to make each cake are listed on each page.

Some examples of cakes are: animal shapes, vehicles, game cakes, and more. There was even a chocolate chip cookie ice cream cake. It looked delicious!

In the back of the book you will find a huge reference area of cake recipes, frosting recipes, pans and equipment, and how to cut shapes using photographs. The authors included a chart of American measurements and the metric measurements appropriate to the ingredients listed.

I feel this book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to create cakes and cupcakes.



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Book Review - World of Reading: Mickey & Friends Huey, Dewey, and Louie's Rainy Day

World of Reading: Mickey & Friends Huey, Dewey, and Louie's Rainy Day
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About the Book
It may be raining outside, but that won't stop Huey, Dewey, and Louie from having fun! From painting and games to building an indoor fort, kids are sure to love the innovative ways Huey, Dewey, and Louie enjoy their day.


My Take on the Book
This story has so much fun in it to read aloud or independently with your child. Huey, Dewey, and Louie love to visit their Uncle Donald. He has toys and snacks and he will play with them. Unfortunately when the boys arrive there is a rain storm brewing and Uncle Donald just wants to relax and read his paper.

The boys involve Uncle Donald in playing games. Finally the boys find other activities which show their creativity. Finally the rain stops and the boys escape outdoors.

The story could replicate a typical day with your children: inside due to a storm and trying to find activities that are fun to do indoors. It is funny and I believe your child and you will enjoy reading it.



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Book Review - Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier
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About the Book
Steve Rogers, known to the world as Captain America, continues his affiliation with S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury and the Avengers. But Steve struggles to fit in the modern world, and now his past will come back to haunt him...

Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier continues the big-screen adventures of Super-Soldier Captain America, as he battles with modern times and villains that threaten the safety of his country...and even the world!



My Take on the Book
This story for young readers has a lot of action. There is Captain America, Black Widow, and a new friend who becomes EXO-7 Falcon.The super heroes must defeat Bucky who is hurting people.

There is an exciting fight and ending. Bucky escapes which may lead you to believe he will show up in another story in the future.

The book includes two pages of stickers of the characters in the story.



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Book Review - World of Reading The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Fully Charged

World of Reading The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Fully Charged

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About the Book
This fully illustrated 32-page leveled reader (Level 2) retells a key scene from Marvel Studios upcoming film, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, releasing May 2014. Plus, it includes two sticker sheets!






My Take on the Book
This story for grade 2 not only has the story of Spider-Man but includes two pages of stickers of the characters in the story.

The reader learns about Peter Parker (Spider-Man), his girlfriend, and Max who becomes Electro after an unfortunate accident in the lab. Spider-Man defeats Electro and sends him to jail.

If you have a young reader who enjoys the super hero stories, you may want to check out this book as one your can read to him/her or they could read independently.



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