The Life Organizer by Jennifer Louden

The Life Organizer by Jennifer Louden is an essential book for people of this generation to read to help organize their life, but also to get on the path to the life they want to live. Take some time out of your super busy schedule to reorganize your thoughts, and see life in a much more fulfilling way.

Book Description

“We all yearn to have time for personal needs and creative dreams — after all, this is our life to make the most of. And we all know how hard it is to remember what really matters. With distractions from jobs, aging parents, and children — not to mention women's perennial fear of being labeled “selfish” — following our own desires and dreams can become ever more elusive. The Life Organizer aims to help you shift your focus, augmenting traditional goal setting with the ease that comes from steady inner listening and mindfulness. It will become your trusted companion — and maybe the most important book you'll ever own.” – The Life Organizer

My Thoughts

I really like that you can do these exercises quickly and effectively. You can do them in the morning before work, while getting ready for work (or school), etc. I also think that focusing on just being alive, and realizing that hey we are here not just a slave to our machines and screens is something that I think too many people are losing sight of. I am also a big “To Do” lister. The ways to categorize these tasks is also helpful. Not everything is a “have to do”!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and think that so many people could benefit from reading it and doing these exercises. I highly recommend it for everyone to read!

* Thank you to the publisher of The Life Organizer, New World Library, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson

Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson is a historical novel set during World War I. During the time where women had limitations placed on them from the time they were born, it was especially felt by the upper class women, such as with the main character in this story. Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford is a woman ahead of her time, and longs for independence and the simple things in life, like marrying a man for love – and not for titles or riches that her parents think is best for her.

Book Description

“In the dark and dangerous days of World War I, a daring young woman will risk her life to find her destiny,

Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford wants to travel the world, pursue a career, and marry for love. But in 1914, the stifling restrictions of aristocratic British society and her mother’s rigid expectations forbid Lilly from following her heart. When war breaks out, the spirited young woman seizes her chance for independence. Defying her parents, she moves to London and eventually becomes an ambulance driver in the newly formed Women's Army Auxiliary Corps—an exciting and treacherous job that takes her close to the Western Front.

Assigned to a field hospital in France, Lilly is reunited with Robert Fraser, her dear brother Edward’s best friend. The handsome Scottish surgeon has always encouraged Lilly's dreams. She doesn't care that Robbie grew up in poverty—she yearns for their friendly affection to become something more. Lilly is the most beautiful—and forbidden—woman Robbie has ever known. Fearful for her life, he's determined to keep her safe, even if it means breaking her heart.

In a world divided by class and filled with uncertainty and death, can their hope for love survive...or will it become another casualty of this tragic war?” – Somewhere in France

My Thoughts

Somewhere in France is a truly beautiful novel that the author did an excellent job weaving together. As someone who enjoys historical settings and novels, I really liked this book. The main character is someone who you cheer on and as a reader, you really want her to find her place in life, and be happy. However, this is written in a setting with war and devastation surrounding her, so it may not happen as you intended.

I found myself reading this book for longer periods than I had intended because I wanted to know what happened next. It is truly a perfect mix of historical romance that not many authors could pull off. There will be moments of joy, tears, and sadness, but it all pulls together to make for an excellent read! Fans of this genre and of shows such as “Downton Abbey” will definitely like this too.

* Thank you to the publisher of Somewhere in France, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Road to Reckoning by Robert Lautner

Road to Reckoning by Robert Lautner is a novel set in the early pioneer America era. It is written with such detail that you get the feeling like you are there, and seeing it play out, without overdoing it.

Book Description

“Twelve -year -old Thomas Walker has never left New York City. His father, a traveling salesman hoping to earn money by selling Samuel Colt’s recent invention, the “Improved Revolving Gun,” takes young Thomas with him on the road. But even the world’s first true revolver cannot save them from danger, and what starts as an adventure soon turns into a nightmare.

Thomas soon finds himself alone, and must rely on his own wits, courage, and determination, as well as a wooden replica of the Colt revolver, to protect himself. Luckily, an encounter with a surly ex-ranger, Henry Stands, leads to an improbable partnership, and the two set out in perilous pursuit of vengeance. That is, if they can escape the thieves who lurk around each trail, river, and road—and who have already stolen so much from Thomas.

In the spirit of The Sisters Brothers and True Grit, this spare, elegant, and emotionally resonant story conveys, through a boy’s eyes, a beautiful father-son story, as well as the fascinating history of how the birth of the revolver changed the course of violence in America. Road to Reckoning offers a window into the history of the American West and the heart of a boy yearning for love.” – Road to Reckoning

My Thoughts

Road to Reckoning is a beautifully written coming of age story. Thomas Walker is the type of character that you truly want to succeed and accomplish, even if it is vengeance. This story is sad, adventurous, and compelling with every turn of the page. The characters will stay with you long after you finish, and don’t be surprised if you want to read it for longer periods of time than you originally intended.

Although I loved the story, I especially have to give the author props on his fine attention to historical detail and setting. This is my favorite part of the book, and makes me want to read more that the author has written. He shows what a great writer he truly is with his fine use of detail.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves a good story.

* Thank you to the publisher of Road to Reckoning, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Birthing a New Civilization by Diana Cooper

Birthing a New Civilization by Diana Cooper is a look at the current transition of humanity towards 2032. That seems like a far ways off in our futures, but it really is much closer than we think. Spiritual teacher Diana Cooper shines in this book to help get people on the right path for the next 20 years.

Book Description

“In Birthing a New Civilization Diana Cooper takes stock of where humanity stands in its evolutionary development looking at the current transition towards 2032. This fascinating forecast highlights the new spiritual energies entering the planet and bringing shifts to economic, political, and climatic arenas. Further predictions are offered for individual countries and include a time frame for this massive transition, anticipated to last until the Earth moves fully into the fifth-dimensional frequency in 2032. From what to expect to how to prepare, this exciting exploration serves as guidance for the next 20 years, allowing readers to attune themselves to the spiritual forces on the horizon and prepare themselves to ascend into the 5th dimension.” – Birthing a New Civilization

My Thoughts

Birthing a New Civilization is a very interesting book that for me is more of a guide to seeing how things could be. Diana Cooper covers “The Golden Ages”, the year 2012, 33 cosmic portals, cosmic pyramids, the environment, the economy, countries around the world, and much more.

With books such as this, I don’t just believe everything the author says because she (or he) writes it for us to read. I take what I hold to be true to myself, and leave the rest. If you do this too, there many things in the book that will speak to you, while other subjects may not. For instance, I don’t think orbs in photos are spiritual beings all the time, often it is just moisture or dust, or bugs. However, some people might see it as more. I also can’t get on board thinking that Barack Obama was an Atlantis priest in a past life, as well as many other things mentioned in the text.

Although I didn’t agree with a lot of what was written, I did find this book to be a good spiritual book that I think many people will enjoy for years to come. The overall message is good, and fans of Diana Cooper will definitely love this book.

* Thank you to the publisher of Birthing a New Civilization, Findhorn Press, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wendell Black, MD by Gerald Imber

Wendell Black, MD by Gerald Imber is about a police surgeon that unwittingly ends up in the middle of a big international drug smuggling ring, involving people he wouldn’t have normally suspected to be capable of such activities.

Book Description

“A New York City police surgeon finds himself in the middle of an international drug-smuggling ring—or is it an even more dangerous conspiracy?

After a heart-thumping drop in altitude on a flight from London to New York, NYPD police surgeon Wendell Black is called on to try to save a woman who has gone into cardiac arrest. He's just carrying out his duty, but his aid places him at the center of an international drug-smuggling investigation.

As Black, and his English girlfriend, Alice—a knockout beauty and a surgeon to boot—digs deeper into the activities of the drug ring, he begins to suspect that a number of British doctors are involved. And when one of Alice's colleagues is brutally murdered and Alice suddenly disappears, the NYPD starts looking to Black for answers. His search peels away rings of conspiracy that expose a shocking threat to the nation.” – Wendell Black, MD

My Thoughts

Wendell Black, MD is the author’s debut novel. It features Wendell Black, MD, a plastic surgeon that the NYPD uses. The author has a considerable amount of knowledge on the topic, because he is also a surgeon that the NYPD uses. I thought that this would make it a more interesting book, but it kind of… didn’t. It seemed more of a chance for the author to take his career and make a character based off of himself, and make it more thrilling.

I found this book to be good, but not exactly that captivating. It took me about two weeks to read it off and on. I usually read a book in less than a day that really interests me. The characters and plot are good, but it often went on for longer than it needed to in certain areas. I think if it was cut down a bit more, it would have been much more readable.

I can see how some people would definitely enjoy it, but for me it was just an average read. If the subject of the novel interests you, give it a try.

* Thank you to the publisher of Wendell Black, MD, Bourbon Street Books, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Taste of Apple Seeds by Katharina Hagena

Book Description

“When Iris unexpectedly inherits her grandmother's house in the country, she also inherits the painful memories that live there. Iris gives herself a one-week stay at the old house, after which she'll make a decision: keep it or sell it. The choice is not so simple, though, for her grandmother's cottage is an enchanting place, where currant jam tastes of tears, sparks fly from fingertips, love's embrace makes apple trees blossom, and the darkest family secrets never stay buried.” – The Taste of Apple Seeds

My Thoughts

The Taste of Apple Seeds is a wonderfully descriptive book about family, secrets, love, and the spirit which binds it all together. The author is excellent at setting the stage and describing the scenes, but that is really the best part of it all, at least for me.

I was excited to read this book because it seemed like it would be such a good story. However, after about halfway through, I was still mildly bored with what was going on. Nothing that happened was really a shocker, and the main character, Iris was uninteresting. I couldn’t get involved in the book or cheer on the characters.

* Thank you to the publisher of The Taste of Apple Seeds, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Target - Big G New Cereal Flavors

Cereal is one of my family’s favorite things to eat for breakfast. It is tasty, and fast and easy to make before running out the door to work or school. We also like it as a snack, so getting a variety is essential so we don’t get sick of any certain flavor too quickly.

When I found out that General Mills was going out with new types of some of our favorites, I was really excited. I knew my family would appreciate some more variety into their breakfast routine, and if your family also enjoys their cereal, I’m quite sure that you’ll also enjoy the added variety these new types bring to your table.

We tried out these 3 new Big G cereals:

*  Multigrain Cheerios Dark Chocolate Crunch

*  Fiber One Protein

*  Chocolate Toast Crunch

As someone who used to seriously enjoy Cinnamon Toast Crunch when I could eat it (I can’t have wheat anymore), I was truly bummed I couldn’t try this one for myself. However, my family all agreed how delicious it was and probably enjoyed taunting me on this. They also found the Cheerios Dark Chocolate Crunch to be equally as delicious. However, they preferred to eat these cereals at night in place of a dessert. The Fiber One Protein cereal was their overall favorite and is now the number one go-to cereal for breakfasts in my house.

If you want to try some (or all) of these new cereals, I definitely recommend for you to do so. Go to http://www.cheerios.com/ and get a Cheerios coupon for buy one and get one free that you can get and use until February 15^th.

“Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.”

Dark Chocolate Multigrain Cheerios

My family loves their Cheerios. They also love chocolate. When I got the chance to get them a box of the new Dark Chocolate Multigrain Cheerios, I was thrilled. This would be the best of both worlds for them, and something they could eat for breakfast that was almost like dessert.

Although I can’t eat it because it has wheat in it, my family really enjoyed this new cereal. They said that it is a perfect balance of multigrain and chocolate, but it needed a bit more of the “crunch” that was in it. Overall though, they really liked it and will definitely be buying it in the very near future for breakfast and late night snacks.

Try it for yourself. Go to http://www.cheerios.com/ and get a Cheerios coupon for buy one and get one free that you can get and use until February 15^th.

“Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.”

A Million Steps by Kurt Koontz

A Million Steps by Kurt Koontz is an inspiring book about how going on a walk in a different country can change your life. Koontz walked 490 miles in Spain. He was so inspired by his travels that he wrote this book, which if you are unable to make this walk for yourself, is definitely the next best thing!

Book Description

“Kurt Koontz thought he was well prepared for his 490-mile walking trip on the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain. He was fit and strong. He had a good guidebook and all the right equipment. His pilgrim passport would grant him access to the shelter of hostels along the way. But all that, however helpful, did not begin to encompass the grandeur of his external or internal adventure. A Million Steps climbs over the high meadows of the Pyrenees, quests through the unceasing wind of the Meseta, and dances in the rains of Galicia. While following the yellow arrows that mark the route, Koontz also navigates through his personal history of addiction, recovery, and love. With outgoing humor and friendliness, he embraces the beauty of the countryside and joyful connections to other pilgrims from around the world. Part diary, part travelogue, A Million Steps is a journey within a journey all the way to the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela and beyond.” – A Million Steps

My Thoughts

A Million Steps is part travelogue and part journal. It features the author’s story of his journey, connections he made along the way, and photos that show you how cool his trip really was. The pictures sadly are not in color, but is still one of my favorite parts of the book.

This journey of the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain is spiritual, and quite physical. I wouldn’t suggest trying to just get up and do it. You’d need to prepare and definitely have the right equipment and be in physical shape to do so. If you do plan on going on this journey, this is definitely a book you want to read before you go. You’ll get tips, and be inspired even more to go on this spiritual path.

* Thank you to the publisher of A Million Steps, Publisher, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Let Your Body Speak by Ewald Kliegel

Let Your Body Speak by Ewald Kliegel is a spiritual way to heal your body. This book features color illustrations and meditations to guide your body to heal your ailments on a spiritual and physical level.

Book Description

“Featuring stunning colour illustrations of the energy of human organs and other body parts, this book is perfect for anyone interested in learning about the self-healing properties of the body and the psychic, emotional, and physical elements central to existence. The book provides a deeper understanding of the wider psychological function of each organ, including eyes, hands, hips, knees, shoulders, spine, and teeth, and explains how they act in concert within the body. The illustrations further enhance how to receive the message of each organ on an intuitive level, and a chart of healing crystals corresponding with each organ brings further information on how to interact with the organs energetically.” – Let Your Body Speak

My Thoughts

Let Your Body Speak is an intuitive book to use that can help some of your aches and pains you may be experiencing. Each major organ has a colorful illustration, meditation, and corresponding mineral or crystal that may be used to help your body speak to you. I like the integrative approach and found this book to be small, but pack a big punch.

As someone who is in the medical field, I cannot say that this book should only be used if something is feeling off about your body. I do however think that medical treatments and spiritual treatments or meditations can work very well together, and books such as this is an excellent way to try it for yourself. I definitely recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of Let Your Body Speak, Findhorn Press, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.