Facing Demons Book Review

This is one of the best books I've had the privilege to review in awhile! At 186 pages it's a quick easy read while also being extremely thought provoking. The main characters consist of a racist gang-member, a child prostitute, an African refugee, a thrill seeking rich kid and the man who is determined to save them, both from themselves and from the cruelties each has endured.

Honestly, it's rather difficult to find the right words to tell you about this book, without giving away too much information. It is written in a very straight forward way with no sugar coating. It's broken up so that it's told from each characters point of view and the tone of the book really lets you get a sense of how they each feel. It's a wonderful book both for adults and teens. It gives just enough details without being overly graphic. Actually, now that I'm finished with it, my friends 13 year old daughter is going to read it.

The author, Ashley Sanders is currently working on prequels to this book where he goes into greater detail on the lives of these characters. I sincerely hope I get the chance to review these as well and I would also love to see him write a follow up book following their paths to recovery.

You can follow the author here at...

http://bazzavswild.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.ashleysanders.com.au/ 

http://www.facebook.com/authorashleysanders 

https://twitter.com/#!/ashleysanders84 

The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life Book Review

I've really been falling behind on my reading lately which also means I've been slacking on my book reviews! So I figured I better get to it.

This time around I read The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life "How to get through life's holes without getting stuck in them!" By Judith A. Belmont, MS and Lora Shor, MSW.

The first thing that caught my interest about this book was definitely the title! Comparing our lives to swiss cheese with all it's many holes seemed like an intriguing metaphor. And very accurate too! Without the many holes of varying shapes and sizes, swiss simply would not be swiss.The same is true for each of us. It's the "holes" or challenges that we face that makes each of us unique.

We spend so much of our lives dwelling on the past and all of the woulda, shoulda, couldas that many times we fail to realize all of the amazing things that we do have in our lives or the things that we could have if we just let go of the past and paid attention. The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life uses different cheeses to relate to our lives, with all their many different tastes and textures. Filled with lots of quotes and handy little tips offered by The Swiss Wiz and The Swiss Cheese Fairy, this book is a wonderful and entertaining way to come to terms with life's many disappointments and also a guide to turning those roadblocks into successes!

"When one door closes another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."

-Alexander Graham Bell 

With chapters titled...

Fondue can never turn back into a block of cheese...

No whine with the cheese, please!...

Living whole despite the holes!...

Smile and say cheese!...

Just to name a few, this book is a must read for anybody!



Book Review

OK, it's time for another review of an awesome book! Do you all remember the last one I did for In the Belly of Jonah?  No? Well then go check it out. I'll wait. See, now you want to read it don't you?! You should, it was a good book. But you know what, this one is even better. Lot's Return to Sodom is the second book in the Liv Bergen series. This time Sandra Brannan introduces us to the terrifying world of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and one of the most feared biker gangs, Lucifer's Lot. Once again, Liv is thrown into the middle of not one, not two, but THREE murder investigations! Possibly four even! The last one being her own if she doesn't hurry to solve these heinous crimes. But the reader isn't the only one who will be kept on their toes. Our favorite FBI agent Streeter Pierce is back. Or as Liv thinks of him Agent Adonis. This happy reader thinks there is definitely some romance in the future for these two! If you're in the mood for a fast paced, can't wait to see what happens next, book to read then this book is for you! I can't wait to see what's in store next for Liv.

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In The Belly of Jonah Book Review

When I saw nothing else but this title my first thought was that it was going to be about the Biblical account of Jonah and the whale. Then I read the back of the book.

"Then she heard the squeak of a knob turning, and the hose on the beach wiggled to life with a hiss. Her heart raced and her mind willed herself awake. She sat erect, fighting gravity to keep her head from lolling toward her chest. He was coming toward her again, the hose hissing near his feet. Her instincts told her to run, but when she moved to stand, her legs were too heavy to pull from the water. Her arms too heavy to throw a punch. It was hard enough just to breath."

Wow, definitely not what I expected! But in a good way. From the very beginning this book draws you in. It keeps you guessing and turning pages as you greedily follow Liv Bergen and the FBI team who are scrambling to catch the twisted de Milo murderer. Sandra Brannan has a way of really letting you into the character's head. You can almost feel the adrenaline that's running through their bodies with each new discovery. You can see the wheels turning in the mind of the monster, plotting his next move. This is definitely a must read and I can't wait to get my hands on Brannan's next book featuring Liv, Lot's Return to Sodom.

Bonding Over Beauty Book Review

I just read the most amazing book! It's called Bonding over Beauty. "A Mother-Daughter beauty guide to foster self-esteem, confidence, and trust." It's written by Erika Katz who since the age of 3 months old has lived her life in front of the camera, appearing on the cover of Babytalk magazine and appearing in numerous commercials as well as films. But most importantly, she's a mom too.

Bonding over Beauty covers so many topics that are difficult for both mothers and daughters to cope with. And she does it in a way that not only lets us inform our daughters but gives us the tools and the opportunity to become closer to them. Erika covers how to bond over

• Hair
• Caring for skin
• Makeup & Brows
• Hands & Feet
• Getting rid of unwanted hair
• Puberty & Hygiene
• Nutrition & Fitness
• Aromatherapy
• Getting her ready to be away from home 

At the end of each chapter there are simple and fun activities for you to do together No matter how old your daughter is, or any other special young lady in your life, this book is a must read. Not only is it informative on ways to help your daughter through these womanly rights of passage but there's plenty of tips in there that can be useful to us moms too. I can't wait to go shopping with my daughter so that we can try out some of these bonding activities. Go grab yourself a copy of Bonding over Beauty and get ready to pamper your daughter while opening up the lines for some great conversations!