Book Review - Bravely

About the Book

What if you had one year to save everything you loved?

ONE PRINCESS. Merida of DunBroch needs a change. She loves her family―jovial King Fergus, proper Queen Elinor, the mischievous triplets― and her peaceful kingdom. But she’s frustrated by its sluggishness; each day, the same. Merida longs for adventure, purpose, challenge – maybe even, someday, love.

TWO GODS. But the fiery Princess never expects her disquiet to manifest by way of Feradach, an uncanny supernatural being tasked with rooting out rot and stagnation, who appears in DunBroch on Christmas Eve with the intent to demolish the realm – and everyone within. Only the intervention of the Cailleach, an ancient entity of creation, gives Merida a shred of hope: convince her family to change within the year – or suffer the eternal consequences.

THREE VOYAGES. Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of epic journeys to kingdoms near and far in an attempt to inspire revolution within her family. But in her efforts to save those she loves from ruin, has Merida lost sight of the Clan member grown most stagnant of all – herself?

FOUR SEASONS TO SAVE DUNBROCH – OR SEE IT DESTROYED, FOREVER.

Check out Bravely on Amazon!

My Take on the Book
What I loved about this book is it really took you into what life would have been like in Medieval Scotland. While I thought it would be more of a Disney-related story, and while it is connected, the story is bittersweet and opens the future for more possibilities. The book is beautifully written, and the author has done a wonderful job of drawing in the reader with vivid imagery and solid character development. You will love seeing Merida as a bold woman, but the story really shows you more depth and perspective when it comes to Merida and the woman she is becoming.

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Audiobook Review - The End of College

About the Book
From a renowned education writer comes a paradigm-shifting examination of the rapidly changing world of college that every parent, student, educator, and investor needs to understand.

Over the span of just nine months in 2011 and 2012, the world's most famous universities and high-powered technology entrepreneurs began a race to revolutionize higher education. College courses that had been kept for centuries from all but an elite few were released to millions of students throughout the world - for free.

Exploding college prices and a flagging global economy, combined with the derring-do of a few intrepid innovators, have created a dynamic climate for a total rethinking of an industry that has remained virtually unchanged for a hundred years. In The End of College, Kevin Carey, an education researcher and writer, draws on years of in-depth reporting and cutting-edge research to paint a vivid and surprising portrait of the future of education. Carey explains how two trends - the skyrocketing cost of college and the revolution in information technology - are converging in ways that will radically alter the college experience, upend the traditional meritocracy, and emancipate hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Insightful, innovative, and accessible, The End of College is a must-listen and an important contribution to the developing conversation about education in this country.


My Take on the Book
As a college administrator myself this was an interesting "read". I found the book to be one that did not hold a lot of surprises to me. However, I will say that for someone that has not worked in this realm it will be an eye-opening experience. The author has done a great job at laying out many of the challenges and realities of college today. By doing so readers are given the opportunity to make better choices for their college decisions in the future!

You get a bit of higher education history, educational change and reform, as well as the current state on higher education today. All of this and the author's predictions make the read an engaging one!

I have to say that I do not agree with everything that was said, but is more philosophical than anything else.

All-in-all this was an interesting read, and definitely one that will open the eyes of many!

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Book Review - Goosebumps Most Wanted Special Edition: Trick or Trap

About the Book
The infamous, Most Wanted Goosebumps characters are out on the loose and after you. Just in time for Halloween, a super special edition!

It's Halloween and that means time for trick-or-treating. And scary parties. But this year things are taking a turn for the terrifying. Scott and Amanda throw a bash at an old haunted house. There won't be any treats, only traps. Traps for a few bullies that are always bugging them at school. What could possibly go wrong? How about a haunted house with a mind of its own? A house that would rather play its own tricks and set its own traps...



My Take on the Book
Another spine-chilling tale for young adults to read and share with their friends. After reading this, you get to start looking at some of the big, spooky houses in your own town in a different way and wondering whether they too have secrets, and a mind of their own. This was a great book that will leave you on the edge of your seat and will keep you guessing throughout until the very end.


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Book Review - Around the World: A Colorful Atlas for Kids

About the Book
A lively illustrated introduction to the countries of the world and the seven continents, this bright, playful atlas gives inquisitive readers just enough information to whet the appetite for exploration. Sprinkled with imagery that picks out a country's unique essence --like the giant squid and penguins of Antarctica, and a dragonfly-shaped kite from Vietnam's International Kit Festival--and trivia that informs, this atlas makes a great gift for curious kids.



My Take on the Book
Even though this lovely book is directed for children, an adult will enjoy sharing this book with the child. So much to see and discuss and learn. 

The illustrations were very detailed and child friendly. They were colorful. 

The reader had an opportunity to browse each page illustrating a continent or country or group of countries. The illustrations labeled cities, volcanoes, mountains, and there were people, plants, animals and even more interesting facts on each page. 

The text gave specific information to the reader and it coordinated beautifully with the illustrations. 

There was so much to read and explore. This book is a resource for children. I see it being used over and over again. Have fun exploring our world with your child.

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Book Review - Sticker Stencil House

About the Book
The world belongs to youngsters in this book full of gorgeous buildings just waiting for them to add their personal stamp. Anything goes, and the only rule is: there are no rules! Stencils help them draw interesting details into each home, including these rooms with a view:

• Castle
• French Country House
• Island Villa
• Spanish Colonial Home
• American Gingerbread House
• Farmhouse
• Mountain Resort Chalet, and more

Over 500 stickers of people, pets, furniture, and more help children decorate their homes in any way they choose. From grand great rooms in a castle or a chalet with a snowy mountain view, to a city townhouse or a modern family home, Sticker Stencil House puts little ones in charge. It's a wonderful way to stoke creativity and provide hours of thoughtful, stimulating fun.




My Take on the Book
This book is an activity book for children. It contains over 500 stickers to use on each of the pages that contains a different kind of house. The stickers are used to fill in the furniture, people, plants, and miscellaneous items. Just think of your home whether it is a house, apartment, cottage, etc. Think about what is inside and outside the home. 

To assist the reader, each sticker page has a corresponding "house" page so the child will know which stickers are to be used for which house. Each house is different so the child will be able to see the differences as the stickers are placed.

This book will provide hours of enjoyment for you child. Once the child has completed a page or two, why not enter into a discussion about the houses and how they are the same and different.


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Book Review - Open The Doors To You

About the Book
What do you think of when you see a door? Doors can lead to many places. An open door means welcome. An open door can mean an opportunity to learn something new, meet new friends, and try new activities. Each door opens to a part of you. Each door opens to a part of you. Each door opens to all the possibilities of YOU! In this unique and comforting book, young readers will walk through many metaphorical doors and explore all the different aspects that make up each of our lives: family, neighborhood, charity, friendship, education, creativity, sports, and nature. Open the Doors to You offers a gentle and playful way to expand a sense of self-awareness in children, building resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence. Which door would you like to open first?



My Take on the Book
As I read Casey Rislov's book, it made me reflect about all the "doors" in my life from childhood to adulthood. Casey assists the reader to venture into not only the physical doors one goes through and what is behind each of these doors, but the doors that lead to opportunities. For example: going through the door into your home brings you to your family, security, and love. Your school door brings you to opportunities to learn , react with others, and explore your interests for the future. Now the doors of imagination can take you to your interests , a new invention, a cure for a disease, and the sky is the limit. The door to yourself may help you to understand your wants and needs. 

I felt this is a wonderful book to use with children. Discussing all the doors in their lives and the importance of each one to them . Is the child bold or timid? Does the child like solitude or adventure? How do the doors change as one grows older?

Allie Strom's illustrations fit perfectly with Casey Rislov's text.


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Book Review - The Complete 101 Collection

About the Book
The whole leadership course in one volume from the world's top leadership guru.

John C. Maxwell's best-selling 101 series of briefcase-sized leadership books has helped more than one million people become better leaders. Here in one volume is everything you need to start your successful leadership journey. Think of The Complete 101 Collection as a crash course?or rather, an entire semester?of leadership fundamentals to help you reach your potential in these areas:

• Attitude 101 Attitude is contagious, so make sure your team is catching the right one.
• Self-Improvement 101 To improve your life, improve yourself.
• Leadership 101 No matter who you are, you can lead?and lead well.
• Relationships 101 Great leadership is built on great relationships
• Success 101 Success may look different for each person, but the principles remain the same.
• Teamwork 101 Talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships.
• Equipping 101 Leaders with an equipped team possess an edge that will help them win.
• Mentoring 101 Multiply your impact by increasing the number of leaders on your team.

My Take on the Book
I have read a number of John Maxwell books in the past and he continues to prepare leaders from an early point in their career with this book. What I liked about this book was that it really made the principles of leadership that the author is sharing tangible and easy to understand and implement. While some of the concepts in this book are common sense, you get to really delve a bit deeper through thought and reflection and then follow up with change strategies that will allow you to be a stronger leader in the end. I was impressed with the breadth of topics covered, and believe that this is a great first book for any early career leader in training. There are many other books that the author has written that I think would complement what he is sharing here, as this gives a solid foundation to start from!



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Help Bring Vanishing Ink : A Novel With Illustrations to Life #dadchat

Vanishing Ink is a hardcover novel about a lazy, washed-up magician who will soon be chosen to save the world from disappearing.

We've all seen a film, read a book, or even heard an oral story that changed our lives. I've studied the structure of many of these classic stories and I've written Vanishing Ink to hopefully stand among them. Several reviewers have had a sneak peak of the entire story and you can read their impressions on the back cover:

What is Vanishing Ink?
It's a 207 page novel about Von Gold, a lazy, washed-up magician. He wishes he could snap his non-magical finger and change the world. But the mistakes of his past haunt him, tainting his hope of ever succeeding again. He’s about to be separated from his cozy bed, the people he loves, and yes, he ends up sleeping in the town dump. As his own life crumbles, so does the world around him. Pieces of the world literally start disappearing. He thinks he’s seeing things, but he’s about to find out that the beings who created this world have chosen him - a lazy illusionist - to save the world. Von Gold’s transformation from lazy and washed-up to what he ultimately becomes will both inspire and delight.

You can preview the book online at scottwiser.com/VanishingInk, where the author is currently releasing 2 pages every day. If he reaches $100,000, he'll release the whole thing at the end of this campaign and you won't have to wait any longer to read it.

You can support the Kickstarter campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scottwiser/vanishing-ink-a-novel-with-illustrations

About The Author
Scott Wiser is a character animator for film, games, and (story-driven) commercials. His ultimate goal is to develop feature films with stories that change lives. Traditionally, he believes books are the perfect place to start to achieve his dream! The first book he self-published received some positive reviews, but he knew he could do much better with Vanishing Ink, so he put in the intense study and years of work to make it happen.

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Dan Stevens records Iliad and Odyssey audiobooks

English stage and screen actor Dan Stevens, best known for his portrayal of Matthew Crawley on Downton Abbey, is set to narrate a new and exciting production of the Fitzgerald translation of The Iliad and The Odyssey for Macmillan Audio. The new programs will go on sale in August 2014, just in time to be included in fall 2014 classroom curriculums.

Robert Fitzgerald's translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey are the best-loved modern translations of the greatest of all epic poems. Since 1961, Fitzgerald’s translation of The Odyssey has sold more than two million copies, and it is the standard translation for three generations of students and poets. Of the many translations published since World War II, only Fitzgerald's has won admiration as a great poem in English.

Macmillan Audio is delighted to publish the new audio editions of these classic works. Fitzgerald's supple verse is ideally suited to the story of Odysseus' battle epic and long journey back to his wife and home, and the melodious narration of the incomparable Dan Stevens succeeds in further electrifying the story. Homer's tale of love, adventure, food and drink, sensual pleasure, and mortal danger is brought to life for English speakers with this perfect combination of translation and reader.

The Iliad and The Odyssey are part of an oral tradition, and although people have been reading them for centuries in written form, audio is actually the original method through which to enjoy these works. In a clear, controlled, and authoritative voice, Dan Stevens brings listeners back to the original method through which Homer’s stories were meant to be absorbed. His narration makes these complex and intricate verses easy for students to comprehend, making them ideal for inclusion in classroom curriculums and study-guides. The programs will be available wherever audiobooks are sold in stores and online.

Here is a clip from this great recording - http://www.pillowarmy.com/The_Odyssey-clip.mp3


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Pat Boone reading a beautiful Christmas story for children called Little Star

The book has won the Mom’s Choice Award for best Seasonal Children’s Book of the Year, and has been endorsed by the National Day of Prayer Committee, as well as Catholic, Protestant and even secular leaders from across the world.

It is a true Christmas classic, and tells the story of the first Christmas in a way that all children can understand. It also teaches a universal message about the meaning of love, sacrifice, and the dignity of all human beings. Best of all, the video is completely free of charge and children of all ages love to watch it.





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Book Review - Own It!

About the Book
The movie Grace Unplugged tells the story of Grace Trey, an ideal Christian teenager who is also a phenomenal singer. But when she is pushed into the “real world” at the tender age of eighteen after getting the music break of a lifetime, her faith is put to the test.

Own It mirrors the film by asking what it means to really “own” your personal faith rather than just automatically following in the footsteps of parents, friends, or other influencers. Best-selling authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco help readers understand what to do when faith meets real world challenges.

Without solid beliefs, poor choices are likely to follow. You must take the time to really know who you are, who you are becoming, and who God made you to be. It's your personal faith . . . own it!

About the Author
Michael and Hayley DiMarco are the prolific and award-winning writers of over forty books, with two Christian Book of the Year Awards for Youth and dozens of bestsellers for both teens and adults including The Big Picture, The Fruitful Wife, Die Young, Over It, Mean Girls, God Girl, God Guy, God Girl Bible, and God Guy Bible. Hayley has been a featured speaker at Women of Faith, Precept Women's Conference, Faithlife Women, and MOPS International, while Michael has been a ministry consultant and speaker for some of the largest organizations in the US and is currently serving as the Minister for Young Adults and Leadership at their church in Nashville, Tennessee.




My Take on the Book
This was a great book that makes you stand up for the faith that you have and understand why you have it and where it came from. Once you understand this it makes you step forward and do what you need to do to make sure that you really are living the life that you should be living and not just going through the motions. The book allows you to question and understand what motivates you and your faith and helps you to better know how you can be the Christian God wants you to be.

This book truly makes you think deeply about what you are doing or can do to own your faith. It is a powerful book that will grip you and compel you to read even more with each page that turns.


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Book Review - The Turncoat: Renegades of the Revolution

About the Book
They are lovers on opposite sides of a brutal war, with everything at stake and no possibility of retreat. They can trust no one—especially not each other.

Major Lord Peter Tremayne is the last man rebel bluestocking Kate Grey should fall in love with, but when the handsome British viscount commandeers her home, Kate throws caution to the wind and responds to his seduction. She is on the verge of surrender when a spy in her own household seizes the opportunity to steal the military dispatches Tremayne carries, ensuring his disgrace—and implicating Kate in high treason. Painfully awakened to the risks of war, Kate determines to put duty ahead of desire, and offers General Washington her services as an undercover agent in the City of Brotherly Love.

Months later, having narrowly escaped court martial and hanging, Tremayne returns to decadent, British-occupied Philadelphia with no stomach for his current assignment—to capture the woman he believes betrayed him. Nor does he relish the glittering entertainments being held for General Howe’s idle officers. Worse, the glamorous woman in the midst of this social whirl, the fiancée of his own dissolute cousin, is none other than Kate Grey herself. And so begins their dangerous dance, between passion and patriotism, between certain death and the promise of a brave new future together.

About the Author
Graduating from Yale with a degree in Classics and Art History, Donna Thorland managed architecture and interpretation at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem for several years. She then earned an MFA in film production from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. She has been a Disney/ABC Television Writing Fellow and a WGA Writer’s Access Project Honoree, and has written for the TV shows Cupid and Tron: Uprising. The director of several award-winning short films, her most recent project aired on WNET Channel 13. Her fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Donna is married with one cat.

My Take on the Book
This is the type of book that you can simply get lost in! The book as a little bit of everything within it from action to romance to intrigue and desire, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end, and makes you continually question what will happen to the characters in this book by the end of the book. The characters themselves are well constructed and the relationships between the characters are solid and well developed. While I had never heard of this author in the past I have to say that I was impressed with her writing style and know that she definitely will be continuing to find that her readers follow for additional books will come in the future.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - The Cross in the Closet

About the Book
Timothy Kurek, raised within the confines of a strict, conservative Christian denomination in the Bible Belt, Nashville, Tennessee, was taught the gospel of separation from a young age. But it wasn't long before Timothy's path and the outside world converged when a friend came out as a lesbian, and revealed she had been excommunicated by her family. Distraught and overcome with questions and doubts about his religious upbringing, Timothy decided the only way to empathize and understand her pain was to walk in the shoes of very people he had been taught to shun. He decided to come out as a gay man to everyone in his life, and to see for himself how the label of gay would impact his life. In the tradition of Black Like Me, The Cross in the Closet is a story about people, a story about faith, and about one man's "abominable" quest to find Jesus in the margins.

About the Author 
Timothy Kurek, a Portland, Oregon based author and speaker is tackling some of the front burner issues of our day. His unrestrained style of immersion lends a uniquely empathetic perspective, engaging his audiences with empathy, humor, and refreshing candor.

My Take on the Book
I am always a sucker for a good ethnography, and in this book, I have to say that I was quite impressed to see how well he was able to change his existence to truly get immersed in a whole new culture. What was great about this was that he was able to come to a much stronger understanding of what a gay man goes through in his day to day life. For any heterosexual this would be a complete change to their daily existence and I appreciated not only the fact that he went though this, but also that he shared his experience with the readers of his book. The book was eye-opening and the topics that are raised will challenge all readers. I highly recommend this book to all!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - I Miss My Pet: A First Look at When a Pet Dies

About the Book
This new title in Barron's A First Look At series encourages kids of preschool through early school age to understand and overcome problems that might trouble them in social and family relationships. Written by an experienced psychotherapist and counselor on a level that is always understandable to younger children, this book seeks to promote positive interactions among children, parents, and teachers. Thoughtful text is supplemented with child-friendly color illustrations on every page. A two-page How to Use This Book section for parents and teachers appears at the back of each book. In I Miss My Pet, younger children who lose a beloved puppy, kitten, or other pet are introduced to the idea of death. They are encouraged to understand that sadness is a first important step in the process of emotional healing, after the death of a loved one.

My Take on the Book
If you are a parent, grandparent , or teacher, I feel this is a resource book for you to use when a child in your life loses a pet. It's beautifully written in language even the youngest child will be able to understand.

Pat Thomas included a section at the end of the book called "How To Use this Book" and an additional list of resources. I think you will find these helpful in helping your child with the loss of a pet.

I am going to encourage my family to retain a copy of this book. I hope you will seriously consider this book if you have a pet.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Show Time

About the Book 
Future viewing audiences have become totally desensitized to violence and entirely dependent on sensation to escape their boring workaday lives an addiction nurtured by the media with graphic portrayals of war and crime and with so-called reality programming. Now, TV execs in pursuit of the only things they care about higher ratings and bigger paychecks have created the ultimate reality show: Seven people, each bearing the scars of his or her past, are deposited on an island in the middle of Lake Superior. Given some bare necessities and the promise of $400,000 each if they can endure, the three women and four men risk death by starvation or freezing as the Great Lakes winter approaches. The island is wired for sound, and flying drones provide the video feed, so everything the contestants do and say is broadcast worldwide. Their seven-month ordeal is entirely unscripted, they can t ask for help or they forfeit the prize, and as far as the network is concerned the fewer survivors the better.

My Take on the Book
If you are a fan of reality television, this book will bring you smack dab into the middle of an amazing new reality show that places people into immensely horrific conditions and encourages them to survive. The book is raw and uncensored and you will get a little bit of everything within it. From sex to violence, to the cold reality of the Northern Michigan climate and natural wonders that surround the Upper Peninsula. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. There was so much action and intrigue and you really can not guess what will happen next until you get to it. This was my kind of book and I highly recommend it to all!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Faith and Other Flat Tires: Searching for God on the Rough Road of Doubt

About the Book 
At age twenty-one, Andrea Palpant Dilley stripped the Christian fish decal off her car bumper in a symbolic act of departure from her religious childhood. At twenty-three, she left the church and went searching for refuge in the company of men who left her lonely and friends who pushed the boundaries of what she once held sacred. In this deeply personal memoir, Andrea navigates the doubts that plague believers and skeptics alike: Why does a good God allow suffering? Why is God so silent, distant, and uninvolved? And why does the church seem so dysfunctional? Yet amid her skepticism, she begins to ask new questions: Could doubting be a form of faith? Might our doubts be a longing for God that leads to a faith we can ultimately live with?

About thher own journey and how it ree Author
Andrea Palpant Dilley grew up in Kenya as the daughter of Quaker missionaries and spent the rest of her childhood in the Pacific Northwest. She studied English literature and writing at Whitworth University. Her work as a writer has appeared in Rock and Sling, Geez, and Utne Reader, as well as the anthology Jesus Girls: True Tales of Growing Up Female and Evangelical. Her work as a documentary producer has aired nationally on American Public Television. She lives with her husband and daughter in Austin, Texas.

My Take on the Book
This was a well written book that looks at one woman's journey into the unknown realm of her own spirituality. What I loved about the book was the way in which she makes you ask yourself the same questions that she struggled with, making you start your own journey as you read about her own. The book was honest, funny and offers a straight forward appraisal of her own journey and how others can learn from her own struggles. The book also allows you to (as I mentioned) examine your own spirituality without being preachy, and writes in a way that allows any and all to understand and comprehend the message that is being shared. Overall, this was a great story that I would share with anyone, no matter where they are in their own journey.


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Competency-Based Interviews

About the Book 
Why do certain people get selected for the best jobs, and what causes other qualified candidates to be rejected? Recognizing change and being able to adapt to it—earlier than others—increases the probability of winning.

Understanding how human resources professionals approach interviewing and hiring can give candidates an advantage throughout the interview process. Knowing what the interviewer is looking for will provide an edge in any interview. Competency-Based Interviews, Revised Edition: How to Master the Tough Interview Style Used by the Fortune 500s can help give readers that edge. Competency-Based Interviews features the most current information about competency based interviews.

One of the key abilities that will help in managing a career is learning how to interview more effectively. Interviewing well is critical to being successful. Competency-Based Interviews will show readers how to be more successful by:

• Recognizing the changes in interviewing that are being implemented at most sophisticated organizations.
• Understanding what today’s interviewers are looking for. 
• Emphasizing how your competencies match the employer’s needs.
• Developing a plan to ensure top performance in every critical interview. 

More than half of the Fortune 500 companies and other major organizations all around the world are now using competency-based systems to help select employees. Competency-Based Interviews will give readers a new and better strategy to interview more effectively and improve their chances of getting that dream job.


About the Author 
Robin Kessler is currently president of The Interview Coach, a human resources and career consulting firm based in Houston, Texas. She has more than 20 years experience improving interviews, resumes, presentations, and organizational communications as a human resources professional, consultant, career coach and adjunct professor. Robin is the author of Competency-Based Resumes, the first book to teach people to write their resumes considering the competencies employers are looking for, and Competency-Based Performance Reviews. She received her BA and MBA from Northwestern University. 


My Take on the Book 
With more and more companies using competency based interviews to find the ideal candidates this book opened my eyes to what to expect in these type of interviews. For anyone that is going through the interview process, this book will definitely open your eyes and make you feel more comfortable and ready for the overall interview process. It also allows you to get inside of the mind of the interviewer and helps you to get the job that you always dreamed of!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - The Six (The Gateway Chronicles, Book 1)

About the Book 
Darcy Pennington hates her life. She is an insufferably average teenager with no real friends, crushing social anxiety, and an indescribable sense of not fitting in anywhere. A change in her dad's job forces her to attend Cedar Cove Family Camp the summer before her eighth-grade year, and Darcy once again finds herself on the outside of a social circle of teenagers, with her only advocate being an awkward girl named Samantha Palm. The only problem is, Darcy has no desire to be friends with her, but as the hostility from the other teenagers increases, she decides to return the friendship. When Darcy begins to experience strange magical occurrences, she comes to believe she's either losing her mind or on the brink of a discovery that could give her purpose in life. After unwittingly stumbling through a magical gateway to a new world called Alitheia, she convinces Sam and the other four teenagers to travel there with her, and despite their earlier hostilities toward her, they eventually concede leadership of their small group to Darcy. Once there, they learn the "arrival of the Six" was prophesied hundreds of years before, and that they must expel an ancient evil from the land. In the end their lives, and the fate of Alitheia, will hinge upon Darcy. Will she have what it takes to fulfill her mysterious purpose? Or will she fall prey to a deadly foe?

About the Author
K.B. Hoyle is the author of The Gateway Chronicles, a six part young adult fantasy series. A wife and mother of three, she has been a classical educator for the past five years, and holds a History degree from Winona State University. She finds inspiration for her stories in travel, family, teaching and her own childhood.

My Take on the Book
For a book aimed at middle school students, this book was a fast and fun read that kept me engaged from the beginning to the end. The book itself was fantasy, but the world that the author has developed is quite vivid and real. While I cannot say that I liked all of the characters personally, as Perry was a bit conceited, they were still fun and ones that I was drawn into appreciating even more as I read further into the pages of the book. The only thing that is sometimes hard in this book is that you do not always get to know as much about the characters as you would have liked to because of how the story was told (from Darcy's point of view). I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and know that your child will as well!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Adam Orser

About the Book
Adam Orser seems to be a regular guy, leading a fairly successful life in Toronto as a psychologist with a loving girlfriend, Jazmin.

But there is nothing ordinary about Adam.

Fate interrupts his planned marriage proposal, and a serious car accident thrusts him into a metaphysical reality behind a deep coma that holds his physical body in check. Through an advanced system of training and evolution created by the celestial realm, Adam is called to a dangerous mission with profound implications for the world he knows, and life and death consequences for one missing nine-year old girl, who is no ordinary kidnapped child. Fantastical forces are at work on both sides of the veil between the world we recognize and those yet to be discovered.

Destiny compels Adam to freely choose the part he will play in a no-limits competition between good and evil. Questions of existence, causality, and truth converge as Adam struggles to find his way back to Jazmin and a life that will never be the same.

About the Author
Daniel Armand lives in Toronto Ontario. His inspiration behind Adam Orser - Chronicles of Evolution originated during the summer of 1983, after a near death encounter offered an incredible insight into the obscured aspects of life, love and the progression of the human spirit.

Daniel is currently working on the next novel of the Adam Orser saga. ''I truly hope this novel will help inspire readers all over the globe, to embrace their spirituality. It is through clarity of mind and understanding that we may one day 'bloom' into harmony and unlock our limitless potential.''

My Take on the Book
This was an amazing book that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Full of action and mystery, you will continuously wonder what is coming next and what is going to happen to the characters. The author does a great job at character development and develops a world in which you can touch and see the environment, making the story that much more real. I, for one, am looking forward to the next novel in this series and I believe that you will be saying the same thing once you read this as well!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Thomas Jefferson Lessons From a Secret Buddha

About the Book
Of course, Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence. But, according to Suneel Dhand, M.D., Jefferson also authored medical and well-being advice back in the eighteenth century that seems as modern as what today’s physicians and wellness experts tell their patients.

How did Jefferson have so much valid information about eating a wholesome diet, the importance of exercise, de-stressing and even keeping a positive attitude? In his new book, “Thomas Jefferson: Lessons from a Secret Buddha” (Mindstir Media, 2012), Suneel Dhand reveals the story of Thomas Jefferson’s friendship with a wise, mysterious sage from a remarkable Eastern civilization nestled in the Himalayas. This one crucial facet of Jefferson’s life has remained hidden up till now, only recently uncovered from the archives. Through a series of letters exchanged with his advisor, Jefferson became devoted to timeless well-being teachings that helped shaped him and his future.

“These health and wellness practices that Jefferson adhered to are wonderful examples of holistic medicine, combining modern advice with ancient Eastern beliefs,” says Dr. Dhand. 

About the Author 
Dr Suneel Dhand is a practicing internal medicine physician with an interest in health and wellness education. He completed his internal medicine residency in Maryland, and then worked in Massachusetts up until 2012.


He is the author of two well-being books; High Percentage Wellness Steps, and his just released book, Thomas Jefferson: Lessons from a Secret Buddha.

When he is not working in the hospital or writing, Suneel enjoys traveling, running and playing tennis.

My Take on the Book
I have read a few biographies of Jefferson and never have I seen reference to Buddah in connection to Jefferson. With this in mind I was intrigued to read this short book to see if what I did not see made the man any less mysterious. What I loved about the book was that they author intertwined the writings of Jefferson as well as letters from a Buddah that he interacted with in his day (among many other letters and writings) to illustrate his points. The author writes in a clear, engaging style that draws you into the story itself and compels you to read further. While I do not know whether the book completely de-mystified the man who was Jefferson, the author did add a new layer of mystery to him (at least for me that is). If you enjoy learning about our past Presidents and what makes them tick, this book adds some interesting components to the discourse on this well known President!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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