Thursday, May 18, 2023

FORBIDDEN

FORBIDDEN (Forlorn, #4)FORBIDDEN by Gina Detwiler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A YA Fantasy Novel of Spiritual Warfare and Epic Adventure...

Gina Detwiler's latest book, "Forbidden," the fourth installment in her FORLORN series, is a thrilling young adult fantasy that delves into the subject of spiritual warfare between angels, demons, and humans. The story follows Grace Fortune and Jared Lorn, who has escaped from prison and are on a perilous journey to the spiritual realm, the Other Side, to reunite with their family. But their journey is fraught with danger as they battle against the fallen angels known as the Watchers, led by Azazel, who have taken control of the real world and subjugated all nations to their will.

Detwiler's writing is top-notch, and she excels in blending fiction and fantasy, seamlessly integrating humans with angels in a spiritually oriented-plot. Her characterization is excellent, and she creates relatable and compelling characters like Grace, who is witty and spiritually inclined, and Jared, who is strong and resilient. The plot is imaginative, and the pacing is perfect, with enough action, suspense, and twists to keep the reader engaged until the end.

"Forbidden" is a superb book that will appeal to both young adult and adult readers who love fantasy, spiritual themes, and a good dose of suspense. It's no surprise that the book won the 2023 Christian Indie Book Award for speculative fiction. Highly recommended.

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The Business Scaling Blueprint: Building a Foundation to Grow Your Brand

The Business Scaling Blueprint: Building a Foundation to Grow Your BrandThe Business Scaling Blueprint: Building a Foundation to Grow Your Brand by Tony DiSilvestro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A must-read guide to creating memorable customer experiences and growing your business...

Tony DiSilvestro's "The Business Scaling Blueprint" draws on his extensive experience as a mentor to CEOs and entrepreneurs worldwide, as well as the founder of over thirty-one businesses. DiSilvestro emphasizes the importance of mindset and creating memorable customer experiences when scaling a business, and he provides a step-by-step guide on how to do so, covering topics such as branding, systemization, training, delegation, customer service, and risk-taking. Throughout the book, DiSilvestro shares relatable stories of his own successes and failures, and his coaching style provides practical and useful information that can be implemented right away. This comprehensive guide is recommended for anyone looking to grow their business and provide their customers with an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended.


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Thoughts from the Big Chair: A Leader’s Guide to Digital Transformation

Thoughts from the Big Chair: A Leader’s Guide to Digital TransformationThoughts from the Big Chair: A Leader’s Guide to Digital Transformation by Russell Haworth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unlocking the power of digital transformation...

In "Thoughts from the Big Chair: A Leader's Guide to Digital Transformation," Russell Haworth delivers a valuable guide for senior leaders and board members who seek to understand and capitalize on digital technologies to grow their businesses. The book offers a strategic roadmap, leadership tips, and advice on culture, workflow, and security concerns, using language that is easy to comprehend. Haworth's extensive experience as a tech leader is evident throughout, and his passion for digital transformation is infectious. This is a must-read for anyone interested in leading a successful digital transformation initiative. Highly recommended.

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Make Way For Lucy Mckay: How To Achieve Cooperation From Your Children In Ridding Head-Lice

Make way for Lucy MckayMake way for Lucy Mckay by Ilan Gruenwald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Cooperative Approach to Conquering Head Lice!

“Make Way for Lucy McKay: How to Achieve Cooperation from Your Children in Ridding Head Lice” by Ilan Gruenwald is a charming and educational children's book that tackles the common issue of head lice. Through engaging rhymes and relatable characters, children are taken on a journey to learn about the challenges of lice and how to effectively work with parents or kindergarten teachers to prevent and treat them. The book's combination of entertainment and information makes it a valuable addition to any child's reading list. Inspired by personal experiences, the author provides insights into the discomfort lice infestations can cause and aims to change parents' anxious reactions to this problem. By presenting the life cycle of lice in a simplified and entertaining way, the book encourages cooperation between parents and children in addressing head lice. Originally published in the author's native language and met with great success, the book has been translated into English while preserving the rhythmic flow of the story. With contributions from the author's wife and children, “Make Way for Lucy McKay” is a heartfelt resource that offers both entertainment and practical guidance for families dealing with head lice.

“Make Way for Lucy McKay” stands as a testament to the power of storytelling and the potential to transform adversity into triumph. It serves as a beacon of hope, empowering parents and children to face lice infestations together, and fostering cooperation and understanding along the way. Join Lucy McKay on her extraordinary journey as her tiny voice resonates with the hearts of readers young and old, inspiring a newfound perspective on these microscopic creatures that once instilled fear. Discover the power of unity and cooperation within the pages of this remarkable book, an invaluable addition to every child's reading collection.

Special mention also goes to Adi Portal (Gruenwald) for the excellent illustrations that children will love. Very highly recommended, and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Monday, April 24, 2023

Midlife Momentum: Entering the Second Half of Life With Confidence and Optimism

Midlife Momentum: Entering the Second Half of Life With Confidence and OptimismMidlife Momentum: Entering the Second Half of Life With Confidence and Optimism by Miriam Matzner Kenan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Surviving and Thriving the second half of Life – a must-read!

Midlife is a time of many transitions. Shifting hormones may produce hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss, insomnia, and mood swings. Our growing realization of life's impermanence leads to taking stock of our lives successes and failures, how they've compared with what we expected, and what's next. We will be faced with our parents aging, ourselves aging, numerous relationship changes, leaving work, resuming work, and multiple situational influences which may destabilize our sense of self and well-being. In this excellent book, you'll find suggestions on how to cultivate good health, mind, body, and spirit, something I believe is paramount to surviving and thriving in all that midlife brings. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.


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Razor Free - The Mind-Body Method of Natural Hair Removal by Shlomit Karni

Razor Free - The Mind-Body Method of Natural Hair RemovalRazor Free - The Mind-Body Method of Natural Hair Removal by Shlomit Karni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

‘I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows.’ - Janette Barber...

Shlomit Karni’s “Razor Free” is a mind-body method of natural hair removal using a holistic approach that incorporates both mental and physical practices. It is based on the belief that hair growth is affected by both the body and mind, and that the two must work together to achieve optimal results. This mind-body approach to permanent hair reduction or growth is certainly a gentler alternative approach to conventional hair removal and growth methods. The author maintains that making an initial investment of time and energy pays off in the long run.

Five stars for a fun and interesting read. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.


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The Passover Haggadah for Kids: A Fun, Activity-Packed Haggadah for Curious Children With Games, Jokes, Coloring Pages, and More (Jewish Family Passover Collection) by Milah Tovah Press

The Passover Haggadah for Kids: A Fun, Activity-Packed Haggadah for Curious Children With Games, Jokes, Coloring Pages, and More (Jewish Family Passover Collection)The Passover Haggadah for Kids: A Fun, Activity-Packed Haggadah for Curious Children With Games, Jokes, Coloring Pages, and More by Milah Tovah Press
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fun and educational Passover Haggadah for kids...

The Passover Haggadah is a special book that is read during the Passover Seder, which is a special meal that commemorates the Jews' exodus from Egypt. For children, it can be difficult to understand the many parts of the Haggadah and the significance of the Passover holiday. “The Passover Haggadah for Kids” by Milah Tovah Press is designed to be engaging and fun, while also conveying the important traditions and lessons of the holiday. It's a great way to get children excited about Passover and help them connect to their heritage. With word searches, coloring sheets, jokes, riddles, and other activities that are in the spirit of Passover, this educational activity book comes highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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