So you want to start running....AGAIN

About the Book:

So You Want to Start Running…AGAIN! is Jeff Stevenson’s first venture into the realm of authoring a book. Jeff says that he has many passions, but with the exception of his family, he has not experienced one thing that he is truly passionate about until he started running again. “I am not an expert but I liked running in High School, after I graduated and got, what I called domestic, I stopped running all together. Running was one thing that I was naturally good at in the athletic arena.”

In January 2011, Jeff began running again, something he had not done since he was in high school, 25 years ago. At the age of 45, he is not alone in his quest to get back into shape. So You Want to Start Running...AGAIN! is packed full of running tips that will inspire and motivate, many of the tips Jeff used to start him on his journey. This booklet is designed to jumpstart a persons desire to be more physically fit in their lives. As you read about Jeff's personal experiences you will find extremely helpful tips and be inspired to start or restart running... AGAIN! Enjoy Jeff's journey from tired to 10K.

About the Author:

Jeff lives with his family in Boise, Idaho. He has a beautiful wife and 3 wonderful kids. After a long term layoff from running, Jeff recommitted himself to getting healthy and rekindled his love for running.

In high school, Jeff ran track for Carterville High School in Carterville, IL. It really was the only sport he felt like he was built for. At 64 inches tall, Jeff had very strong legs and when he ran not too many could keep up with him. During high school, he only ran sprints and for the longest time he believed he wasn't built to run distance or anything beyond a quarter mile.
At age 30, when Jeff entered the Army he was required to run 2 miles in under 15 minutes. After 14 weeks of training, he ran 2 miles in 14:04 - a personal best. Today Jeff runs 6 miles in just over 1 hour. Roughly, 10 sustained minutes per mile. This may not be very fast for some, but for Jeff it is an unbelievable personal achievement.

Jeff continues to run and log his success on runnerslog.com. He inspires and motivates others to get moving. "Do this for yourself and only yourself. You'll feel good about any progress you make!"

My Review:

I am not a runner, and never have been. However, my husband has been a runner off and on throughout our marriage. Reading this book Jeff Stevenson reminds me of my own husband.

Mr. Stevenson gives sound advice, to make sure you first see your doctor before starting any type of running. I liked how honest and frank Mr. Stevenson was in this book about the hard work, and how to log distance, eat healthy, set goals, warm ups and cool downs, and there was also a chapter on not becoming discourage.

I found this book (its really a pamphlet) to be extremely helpful, and shows that it is never too late to start a program. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to start running again. The book is motivational and has many resources for various helps throughout.

Sandie

Ravens Song

A few months ago I was privileged to read the first novel Echoes of Savanna and review the novel. I loved the novel and when I had the opportunity to read Raven's Song I jumped at the chance to continue reviewing.




About the Book:
The next generation has come into its own. Raven, Savanna’s impulsive, impetuous daughter has begun her own epic journey. Raven was born in a time of turmoil and war. She decides her calling in life is to be a soldier. Sacrificing the shelter and security of Haven, Raven puts herself at risk to save others. She finds herself in perilous situations and thrust into the role of leadership despite her own misgivings. The Siren’s Song of Haven is continuously singing to her. She could be safe, protected, sheltered and warm if she returned to Haven and its stone walls. But, is it her destiny to live in the walls of Haven, or is there another destiny in store for this child of Haven?



About the Author:
Lucinda Moebius grew up in the mountains of Idaho and Eastern Oregon. Her mother taught her to read when she was four years old and since that time books have been her constant companions. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English Teaching, a Master’s in Educational Leadership and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education. Lucinda supports her writing habit by teaching High School and College. She currently lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, stepson and their dog and cat.

Find me on Facebook: Lucinda Hawks Moebius


Website: http://www.lucindamoebius.com/

Buy on Amazon: Echoes of Savanna: http://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Savanna-Parent-Generation-ebook/dp/B006RM66QM/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_2

Raven’s Song: http://www.amazon.com/Ravens-Haven-Generation-Novels-ebook/dp/B006YJ92GO/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_2

My Review:
One of the endearing things I love about Raven, is her ability to be smart, kind and resourceful. From the first book I read when she was a little girl, she has always been a favorite. In the case of Raven all grown, picks up where Raven left off in the novel Echoes of Savanna. Raven had gone into the military, she has chose a life away from Haven the one home she has known and where her family still resides. Haven is a safe place, a place of refuge from the ongoing storms surrounding the United States at the time.

In this novel Raven is deployed with the military, where she finds several avenues to help children. Her mother sends her many supplies from Haven, which she saves to help others. There are so many times in Raven's experiences that I was tense just waiting to see what happened. She is one lady that lived a full life. Once Raven returned from the war, her life became facinating and filled with suspense. Raven became involved in a community that she was spying on, and her experiences there made me keep turning pages through the night.


Raven, finally had an opportunity to confront Emily, the woman who worked for her mother for years and stole her mothers embryo's. I thought that this story line was not only facinating, but it brought back many memories and emotions I had not considered. Raven was one strong women, she handles a gun as well as any man I know.


Raven's Song is a wonderful novel and I recommend this to anyone who loves an adventure. You do not need to read Savanna to follow along, the transition into its own novel is wonderful. Lucinda Moebius is a wonderful story teller, I would read any novel she wrote. I appreciate the opportunity to review this novel, and to have an opporutnity to continue following the story. I recieved this novel through a free promotion on Amazon, and read this via my Kindle app on my cellphone.


Sandie

Intro to Army Life

About the Book:
Intro to Army Life
Intro to Army Life: A Handbook for Spouses and Significant Others Entering the Army Lifestyle was created to encourage, educate and inspire those entering the army culture. No one hands you a guidebook when you enter Army life; you either have to learn the hard way or stumble upon resources on your own…until now. Intro to Army Life gives you the tools and resources necessary to make your transition into the Army lifestyle easier, less stressful and more fun. You don’t have to learn the hard way—all the information you need is here, ready to help you make the transition. Along with engaging personal narrative and stories, Intro to Army Life includes:
• Army hierarchy and social structure• 15 tips for dealing with a deployment• Perks of a military ID• Top 25 Army acronyms• Military discounts and how to find them• Top 10 resources for military children• Fun facts, such as where the term “military brat” originated• …and much more!

Intro to Army Life is an excellent resource for the individual reader or for companies promoting educational resources for the U.S. Army.

Category: Resourse, Military Life, guidebook
Page Count: 176 pages
Publisher: Aloha Publishing
Price: $ 10.95 soft cover, $ 2.99 e-book


About the Author:
Allison Mewes became an army spouse one week before her husband left for a three week Annual Training and then deployed for a year to the Middle East. While he was away, she wrote this book. Her experiences as a newlywed entering the army lifestyle, along with the humorous things that happened along the way, inspired her to help other military spouses and significant others make the transition into army life.
She owns Blue Bamboo Project Services and works as a project manager/event coordinator. Allison and her husband live in Boise, Idaho.

My Review:
I was given this book via Media Guests to review, I was not paid for my review and these are my own words.

I am an Army Wife of 32 years, a dependent daughter of an Army Warrant Officer for my whole life. So between the two I have had 50 years of experience with the military lifestyle. My father and husband are now retired; so I was anxious to read this book so that I could see what Mrs Mewes had to say. I consider myself a seasoned Army wife, and looked at the book with a critical eye.
What I found was a wonderful resource for any company commanders wife to pass out to newly married solders or families that are new to the military lifestyle. When my husband was a company commander 20 years ago in Hawaii, we had so many new wives that were on the island, I wish I had then this resource to help explain what these women should expect.
This book is written in gender neutral, for our "be all you can be Army", which is pretty awesome. However, my husband was an Army Ranger Infantry Officer and there were not any women that worked with him. That is why I refer to my desire for resources for the wives, because I never had to deal with male spouses.
This book was full of information that was easily accessible from other places, rank charts, uniform pictures, chain of command, and branches of the service among other things; however, this book is wonderful because it has everything compiled into one place. Mrs Mewes also gave a list of the top 25 acronyms, I tested myself before I looked at the answers, even after 12 years retired I still remember what these mean. Overall, this is a book filled with information for military families to use as a resource. I honestly believe that every company commanders wife should have a stack of Intro to Army Life ready to pass out. I would even venture to say that every ROTC across the US should have this books handy for the girlfriends/wives to either purchase or hand to them to learn.

I agree that being a military spouse or significant other is not for the faint of heart, there is a huge responsibility today, with soldier being placed in harms way, the spouses are expected to take on a greater responsibility.

This book/resource will help one navigate the experience and enhance the experience just because knowledge is power. I enjoyed reading this book, there is humor throughout. I supposed just little phrases that I had remembered from our military days, like "suck it up", "if the army wanted you to have a wife they would issue you one"and of course my favorite because my soldier said it more than I ever thought humanly possible Hooah!
I recommend this book with a 5 star rating!
Sandie

The Lover and The Madman: Memoirs of Joe K.

About the Book:
Touched by the light in his eyes, the spirit in his heart, and the inspiration of his words, Joe K will take you on an unforgettable adventure. You will laugh when you want to cry, love when you want to hate, and keep going when you want to quit. In time your life is different for knowing him and you don’t even know why.
The Lover and The Madman, is a book of self-discovery and philanthropy, of sexual awakening and globe-trotting. It’s the story of a man who has touched and helped so many, and here he has shared it with us, another gift.

About the Author:
Joe K. shows what beauty there is in loss and what victory there is in surrender. Through his personal experiences Joe shares a peaceful message of faith, hope, and recovery in the twelve steps.
From his idyllic childhood in the ranching and mining towns of the Pacific North West, Joe’s life takes him to the glittering nightclubs of the 1960′s where his career as a performer brought his great success, and where his very personal journey began. From gutters and flophouses of San Francisco to the luxury resorts of South America, Africa, Europe and Asia, Joe shares his exciting journey to spiritual and personal awakening and finding self-acceptance and love.
Today Joe is retired and makes his home in Boise, Idaho where he spends his time with his 2 dogs, large family, and many wonderful friends

My Review:

The Memoirs of Joe K is a book full of life. From the first page to the last, this book is filled with stories about the life that Joe lived. I love to hear about people and know them, this book is full of description. One thing that I can say is that Joe lived life to the fullest.

This was a good read; however, if you are a person that does not enjoy reading something in journal form, then this is not the book for you. If you enjoy being uplifted, reading about the adventures in the life of one person then this is absolutely the book for you. If you read this story with an open heart, you will come out a better person than you started!

I was given a free copy of this book from Media Guest this was for my honest review and I was not paid for a positive review.

Sandie

Sasha, Extraordinary Dachshund

About the Author:
CJ Adams wrote this memoir to let all animal guardians know there are many healing options available for their treasured pets. During her research she began the process of healing from the loss of Sasha and now begins a search for her next little friend. CJ is honored by those that honor Sasha’s memory by reading their story. CJ is happily married to Mel, and lives in Boise, Idaho.

About the Book:

CJ Adams pens a warm and entertaining tale of life with an exceptional dachshund. A friendship that endured paralysis and a cure through acupuncture and holistic medicine. You will enjoy every page of this heartwarming journey through the lives of the very precocious Sasha; the devoted, but not too smart Miniature Pinscher/Chihuahua mix, Squirt; the enduring pack-leader and CJ's husband, Mel; and CJ, the woman who loves them all with every fiber of her being. All animal lovers understand that each pet that comes into our lives is special but that sometimes you are blessed with an extraordinary animal. For CJ that was Sasha. This memoir is about a cycle of life involving family, friends, paralysis, other pets, aging and loss. When faced with the possibility of euthanizing a 4-year-old Sasha, a desperate CJ turns to holistic veterinary medicine and acupuncture to save her Extraordinary Dachshund and learns how to use this "alternative medicine" to complement traditional veterinary medicine. Be prepared to laugh out loud, wonder and learn something new. ENJOY!!

My Review:

I found the story of Sasha, Extraordinary Dachshund to be a fun, happy read. My family had a cute little black dachshund growing up so I knew how lovable these sweet dogs can be. This story did not disappoint as it brought back so many memories of my own dog.

Ms. Adams has an incredible love for dogs and the book talked about all the dogs she has had over the years. However, Sasha was interesting in that she didn't like go to out on the rain and snow, which my dog did not like to do it either. I loved how Sasha had such a warm relationship with her veterinarian Dr. Dawn.

This story is about all the good times with Sasha, and what her life was like in her later years. This is a heart warming story of ones love for an dog that is not only a dog, but a family member. If you love animals, love good stories, love to laugh and enjoy this book. I recommend the book and hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Ms. Adams has a way of telling a story that makes you want to be the owner of Sasha. These personal stories allows the reader to take a glimpse into the lives of one family and how extraordinary life can be with a pet like Sasha.

Sandie

Full Tilt

This is the second book in the trilogy for the Rock Star Chronicles and Christian thriller. I recieved a free copy of this e-book from Media Guests for my honest review. I was not paid for a positive review.

About the Book:
Full TiltWhat Good Can Become of Psychotics, Meth Users, or the Mob?
In this sequel to Dark Star, rock star Everett Lester is eager to share the redeeming power of Christ’s love with the world through his music. But reaching his family in their twisted lives is another issue altogether. His gambling-addicted brother, Eddie, and the rest of his deteriorating family greet Everett’s attempts with disdain and hatred. When the Mob gets involved, dangerous threats become a haunting reality. And when Eddie’s son, Wesley—who blames Everett for his brother’s death—hooks up with psychotic Tony Badino, the two meth-using antichrists will stop at nothing to bring Everett down and secure his demise!

About The Author:

Talented storyteller Creston Mapes graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1983 with a BA in magazine journalism. Since then, he has written for major corporations, colleges, and ministries. He has written for Coca-Cola, TNT Sports, Focus on the Family, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and The Urban Alternative. His stories have been featured in magazines including Private Colleges and Universities, In Touch, Leaders for Today, and The Hockey News. Creston makes his home in Georgia.

My Review:

I was supposed to have this book finished in December, and then again on January 5th. But I am glad I took the time to read the whole book because this book was such a great story, of good and evil.

I do not usually read any books that are thrillers; I only agreed to read this book because it had a "Christian" voice. I am usually scared of my own shadow after any type of book or show on television that has suspense.

This book was FILLED to the brim with suspense. I loved the story of Everett and Karen Lester; and how they came to be a couple, and in this second book became powerful partners. In this book Everett is trying to help his brother and his family. This book took so many twists and turns.

The ending of this book was a POWERFUL testimony to me and others that take the time to read this trilogy. I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and took the time to read these first two books. I will be thinking about these characters for weeks to come. I can not wait to read the third and final book in this series.

The author Mr. Mapes wrote a believable story of a family. This book by Mr. Mapes was well written, easy to follow and is the type of book you do not want to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, every word on the page. I highly recommend this book as a follow up to Dark Star. You can read one book without the other, though to understand the full story it is best to read both books. This book was awesome!

Sandie

Humbug: A Christmas Carol

I was given a copy of this book to read for an honest review. Media Guests supplied me with the book. I was supposed to have my review done on December 19th, however, we went on vacation and the book sat on my office desk as we drove to Phoenix. I'm sorry for the late review.

About the Book:

Winterton is a frozen town with frozen hearts and frozen people. A magical humbug that attracts the magical reindeer of Santa is brought to the town of Winterton by a little orphan girl. The warmth of the little girl and the magical music of the humbug bring Santa, the reindeer and Christmas back to Winterton

About the Author:

Lee Baker is the president of Sandman Studios, a visual effects and animation company and has taught courses at UCLA Extension, Loyola Marymount University and the University of Utah. He is the author of the illustrated books “Humbug, A Christmas Carol” and “Beau and the Beanstalk,” and now his latest thriller “Speed of Light.” Lee lives in Utah with his wife and five children.

My Review:

This morning, I sat down and read this book with two of my granddaughters. One is five and the other one is ten. Both were captivated by the story. They had questions and comments about the book, the graphics and the overall story.

What my girls and I realizes was that the graphics were so amazing, the girls believed that the people in Winterton were COLD. As we read through the story, it started to warm our hearts. The girls cheered when the Humbugs were singing and brought Christmas to the town.

I think my favorite was the forward by Ebenezer Scrooge, I started giggling while reading the forward. Overall, this story was cute, and heart warming. It showed my girls how to keep Christmas in our hearts. I would highly recommend this story for any family.

Sandie

Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol

I was supposed to read Dark Star earlier in December; however, I was unable to finish reading the book. We went away for Christmas and the road trip was the perfect time to read Dark Star. The series Rock Star Chronicles is a Trilogy.

About the Book:

Everett Lester and his band, DeathStroke, ride the crest of a wave to superstardom. But the deeper they become immersed in fame, wealth, and power, the more likely they are to be swallowed alive by the drugs, alcohol, and discontentment that have become their only friends. Everett is headed down a perilous road of no apparent return when he’s charged with the murder of his personal psychic. The only hope he can cling to comes from Topeka , Kansas , and the letters written by a prayerful young lady who lives there. Consistent and persistent, the notes cut straight to Everett ’s empty heart, offering a fulfillment he’s never grasped before. But what if he’s found guilty of murder? Will he recognize the spiritual battle that’s raging for his soul?

About the Author:

Talented storyteller Creston Mapes graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1983 with a BA in magazine journalism. Since then, he has written for major corporations, colleges, and ministries. He has written for Coca-Cola, TNT Sports, Focus on the Family, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and The Urban Alternative. His stories have been featured in magazines including Private Colleges and Universities, In Touch, Leaders for Today, and The Hockey News. Creston makes his home in Georgia.

My Review:
When I first received Dark Star, I had a difficult time starting the book. Once I picked the book up to read on our vacation over the Christmas holiday, I found I could not put the book down. I read an e-book, via my computer and phone. I read in the car on our two day trip to Phoenix, I read at night when I did not have any television to watch. I found I read via my phone every chance I got.
The story of Everett Lester was a unthinkable life, his life had so many twists and turns it was hard to keep up. The story flipped back and forth from his current trial, to his rock and roll days, the story would change mid paragraph. I found much to my amazement that this was an effective way to tell the story of Everett’s life. The story was in Everett’s voice as he was writing his own story.
The story had drugs, alcohol, violence and Jesus all wrapped into one story. It was a crazy idea that worked well. I had a difficult time wanting to read of such hatred towards Christ, but in the end the good versus evil proved to be the kind of a story one would picture a wealthy rock start life to include. I was taken in by this story and highly recommend this book.
This book is a trilogy; I am starting the second book tomorrow and looking forward to the new book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to push through the dark in this book to find the light.
I was given a copy of this book from Media Guests for my honest review, I was not paid for this review and the words are my own.

Mystery of the Puzzle Bones

I recieved a copy of Mystery of the Puzzle Bones from Media Guest for an honest review, this review is in my own words and I was not paid for my review.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Mystery of Puzzle Bones is a story about four 12-year-old boys that find a secret hideout and skateboard spot in an unused sewer between their subdivisions.But something is leaving a strange Puzzle of Bones in the Boardunders club house.Something wants to lead them deep down into the sewers – into Hidden Town.
A place that doesn’t want to be found and people who will do anything to protect their secret. Suddenly the danger becomes extreme as they are running for their lives. Who can they trust to help them?One of the boys, Caleb, is a Christian who shares his faith and trust in Jesus which helps lead one of the other boys to the Lord as they go through the perils of the story.

About the Author:

T.A. Smith has been a non-denominational bible teacher in maximum Security Prisons, Juvenile delinquent centers, Rescue Missions, and Youth Groups for over 15 years. He has traveled from the Yucatan to working in fisheries in Alaska. As a ‘Guys study teacher’, he searched for a hard-hitting action adventure series that actually included thoughts and discussion about God. He wanted real discussions that he actually heard men and boys talk about in his classes over the years. Finally, he simply sat down and started writing stories for the guys he knew – and they asked for more stories which has led to a dozen popular tween/teen adventure books.
To read more about T.A. Smith and his adventure books visit http://www.christianactionadventures.com/
My Review:

When I first received my copy of Mystery of the Puzzle Bones I gave it to my nine year old to read. He took the book and read it, I had a hard time finding it because he took it to school to read during his free reading time. As he and I discussed the book and how we felt about it we both agreed that the book had some tense places and yet it was an awesome story of faith in Jesus and the power of prayer. We enjoyed this story, I saw we because I value my nine year olds opinion as he loves to read.

I would highly recommend this book for children and adults. This story although was a mystery it was a good mystery, it has moments that got my heart racing and then the peace that comes from knowing the danger had passed. I would not recommend this book for children that are just new readers unless the parent is available to read it along with them or answer questions because it is a little tense. However, it is a good book, well written, well thought out and the adventure keeps the reader from wanting to put the book down. I suppose that is why my nine year old took it to school.

I would love to read more book from the author.

Sandie

Holy Stable: Celebrate the Miracle

I recieved a free copy of Holy Stable from Media Guest, I was not paid for my review and this review is in my own words.

About the Book:

Holy Stable: Celebrate the Miracle, restores the tender joys of the season! Discover how sharing the gift of Jesus’ love blesses relationships, as you enjoy the magic of children’s narration, original music and song. Mary and Joseph’s devotion to God and sublime caring for each other will bring you to experience the story of Baby Jesus’ birth as never before.
Holy Stable is more than just a Christmas “play”! It has everything an actual pageant has and is a perfect highlight to our Christmas season!

Holy Stable brings about inspired memories, the play adapts for a few participants or a larger group and for use with or without your own vocal talent. Harp, wooden flute and violin instrumentals come with and without vocals and narration and are coordinated with the innovative script, including tips, which are offered to you as a downloadable bonus gift at http://blog.holystable.com/.
About the Author:

Heidi is a mother of eight and first time author. Her long held interests in studying scripture, benefiting relationships, drama, music, artistic expression and nurturing love came together in this multi-media experience. She’s an avid reader and writer and has conducted children’s music and participated in choirs for many years. With the desire to create more cherished Christmas memories and promote a deeper connection to the Savior, Heidi produced Holy Stable: Celebrate the Miracle…Story, Music, Nativity Play.

My Review:

Holy Stable is a beautifully wrapped gift for anyone or it could be a wonderful Christmas tradition for any family. This is a beautifully illustrated story, one we all know so well. Yet, this particular book can be done in several ways. The story could be acted out, there is music and narration, and there is a story to read. My family has decided on Christmas Eve we will use the narration to act out the story. This book is something families will treasure for generations. This DVD/Book set will enhance any gathering from small to large with the beautiful story of the Savior.

Sandie

Beyond Myself: Reclaiming Your LIfe After Sexual Abuse

This is a tough subject to talk about for most people, and even harder to move away from. I saw this book when it came on tour with Media Guests and wanted to read it because I am in my graduate program for Marriage, Family and Child Therapy. If beleived that I might be able to use this book as a resource in my professional library.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Beyond Myself: Reclaiming Your Life After Sexual Abuse is an educational resource to explain to victims, support people, therapists, law enforcement, judiciary officials, and people from all walks of life about the devastation caused before, during, and after sexual abuse and sexual assault have occurred. This book will also offer insight as to how and why a predator chooses his/her victims, and why their perpetration must be stopped.
Designed for teen and adult survivors of sexual violation, Beyond Myself will enable the reader to capture the courage to stand up against this often-deadly epidemic. Along with this book and its companion materials (Beyond Myself music CD and study guide), victims will learn to let go of victimization and restore their mind, body, and soul without the baggage of sexual abuse.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yvonne Rousseau brings twenty years of experience analyzing and researching the worldwide impact of sexual abuse and violence. She has extensive experience as an advocate for victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, assisting men, women, and children through the different stages of healing. Yvonne has done presentations on the process of recovery from sexual and physical violence, offering an innovative technique for victims, treatment providers, clergy, and law enforcement personnel to take an active role for individual, familial, and societal recovery.

To read more about Yvonne Rousseau visit her website at: www.beyondmyselfrecovery.com

My Review:

I read Beyond Myself with the hope that I might be able to use the book in my professional library. Ms. Rousseau put much research and experience into each page of this book. How does one say that they "enjoyed" a book about reclaiming your life after sexual abuse? However, I did find great power in each page. I read and learned about the steps that a person who has gone through this experience would have to work through.

The one thing that I did like that this book offered was a study guide and a CD to help the counselor work with clients or a client to just order the study guide and CD to work on this alone. I do find great power in resources and at the end of this book a list of resources are available.

I cannot imagine what it is like to be sexually abused, nor do I ever want to have that experience. This book will help the person who has gone down this road to rebuild and reclaim one's life. There are six steps and each step has a powerful message, each step gives hope.

I found much hope in this book; I found that this book was a book that I would put in my professional library. I will order the study guide and CD so that I have this resource available to clients. The book had a quote at the beginning that resonated with me it states:

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face...we must do that which we think we cannot." Eleanor Roosevelt

What a powerful quote, what a powerful statement of hope. This book will give the reader hope.

I appreciate this opportunity I had to review Beyond Myself. This review is my own words. I was not paid for a positive review.

Sandie

Common Denominators For Sucess: 7 Universal Formulas to get the Results You Want

In the last few years I have tried to align myself with people and tools that allow me to be the best person I can be. When I saw that this book was on the blog tour for Media Guests, I wanted to read this, it resonated with me in some ways. Because I am always looking for ways to improve I hoped that this book would be exactly what I wanted to read. I was given a copy of this book to review, my review is my own words, I was not paid for this review.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

For centuries people have searched for the underlying elements of lasting success that would produce results in every aspect of life. Kenny J. Anderson has devoted 20 years of research to uncover these 7 Formulas, in his book Common Denominators For Success.
Whether you are looking to pursue a lifelong goal, increase your ability to connect with others, be in optimal health, maximize your use time and money, increase the profitability of your company, or create a dynamic workplace, these seven timeless principles will uncover the answers that will allow you to reach your potential and turn your personal and professional ambitions into reality.

Ordinary people throughout all eras of time, have achieved extraordinary results as they have applied these seven powerful formulas, but now is the time for you to live your dreams and get the results you want.

About the Author:

Kenny J. Anderson has traveled the world discovering the Common Denominators For Success in both corporate and personal excellence. Anderson has tapped into some of the most brilliant minds around the globe to help corporations and individuals discover their blueprint for success.
Anderson discovered his own success as an entrepreneur in the fields of finance, real estate, and as an inventor. As a financial advisor, Anderson has consulted individuals and companies throughout the U.S. on wealth management. In the field of real estate, Anderson created his own development company, and has contributed to over one hundred million dollars of closed real estate transactions. As an inventor, Anderson patented an idea for an athletic shoe, which later evolved into his company, Leaper Footwear LLC. Since 1998, Leaper has licensed its patent to some of the largest companies in the world.

Today, as an international consultant, speaker, and author, Anderson continues to share the formula for success to companies and individuals around the world. Recently, Anderson completed a World Tour, traveling 55,000 miles in 50 days, to 15 countries and 6 continents, interviewing leaders in the areas of business, sports, entertainment, and government. He now shares this knowledge and experience to help companies and individuals achieve their own success.

My Review:
How many self-help books does one need? How many does one actually read? For me, I try to find ones that speak to me, there are many on the market, but for me personally, I want to read ones that are realistic to where I am in my life and what I hope to gain from reading a specific book.

Common Denominators for Success is just the type of book that called out to me. When I received this book, I quickly grabbed my pink highlighter and sat down to read. This book was not only a wonderful read, it was easy to follow, it made total sense, and the formulas are actually doable. I found that this book was so full of amazing information that I went online to order a copy for my son and his wife, and for a couple of other family members. Common Denominators has seven universal formulas to get the results that YOU want, and then it has five core values.

How often in your life have you ever asked for a blueprint for success? How often have you told one of your children that they didn't come with an owners manual, we just are working through life by trial and error. Well, now you have a blueprint for success. This book provides powerful tools that are easy concepts to understand and apply in life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a change, anyone who would like to realize his or her best potential. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a positive journey. The Author, Kenny Anderson, not only does he invite the reader to experience this book, he invites the reader to participate by practicing these formulas and values. I will keep this book in my professional office for my clients. This book is one of the best "self-help" type books that I have read in years.
On a scale of 1-10, I would give this book a 10! Thank you for the opportunity to read such a powerful, life changing book!

Sandie

My Salon Doll Contest Giveaway!!!

What every girl would want for Christmas, these dolls look for fun and are so inviting. My girls have looked over the blog, the videos and are begging for these for Christmas.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT:

Brynn, Malaree, KendreyWhat Ever you can Imagine, You can Create. Wow, My Salon Doll’s Really Great!
A young girl and her doll quickly develop a fast and lasting friendship. This new relationship will provide hours of creativity, imaginary play, dress up and YES hair styles.
My Salon Doll delivers a real treat! Uniquely designed, each doll is manufactured with real human hair. Their hair can be curled with a curling iron, straightened, crimped and blown dry. What ever you can imagine you can create.
My Salon Doll’s are vinyl; this design makes it possible to join her best friend everywhere… places like the pool, sprinklers, or tub are no longer off limits. Every moment with My Salon Doll is memorable and enjoyable. Another fun feature from My Salon Doll are her pierced ears, making it easy to add glam with real earings and other accessories.

Currently My Salon Doll has three dolls available Brynn, Malaree, Kendrey with a rapidly expanding product line. Each girl has her on personality, hobbies, and talents. The adventures are just waiting to begin! While exploring the website, visit the Styles and Smiles link. This is a fun place where you are taught different things like styling your My Salon Doll’s hair, special techniques, and safety tips. Styles you can recreate on your own hair!

My Salon Doll is hosting a Christmas giveaway.Enter to win a your very own, MY SALON DOLL.The First and Original Doll with Real Hair.

TO PARTICIPATE: For a chance to win you must complete the following three (3) steps below between November 7, 2011 and December 15, 2011 to qualify;

Step 1: Visit www.mysalondoll.com and get to know the three different dolls: Brynn, Malaree, and Kendrey. Then decide if chosen, which doll you’d like to win.

Step 2: Send an email to contest@mysalondoll.com with your first name, last name, email address, doll of your choice, and share where you heard about the contest.

Step 3: “Like” the My Salon Doll Facebook page

CONTEST DATES: The contest will be active from November 1, 2011 through December 15, 2011.

GIVEAWAY RULES: Open to USA and Canadian residents, age 18+ to enter, one entry per household. Winner announced on Facebook on December 16, 2011. No purchase necessary. Thanks for entering and good luck! Winner selected through random.org and notified by email.
Blog, Tweet or Share on Facebook about the giveaway and be entered twice in the contest. Make sure you leave a message on the My Salon Doll facebook page letting us know that you’ve done this.

A Gentle Thief

I am very excited to have had the opportunity to review A Gentle Thief for Media Guests. This book was sent to be to review in E-book form. The review is my own words. This E-book was such a wonderful read!

About the Book:

Maddie Johnson loved Shakespeare. Unlike everybody else she knew growing up, she seemed to understand him, enjoy him, more with every reading. It was partly because of this love that she drove from her home in rural Pennsylvania to college at Southern Utah University, home every summer to the Utah Shakespearean Festival. It was partly that, and partly the desire to get as far away as possible.

Maddie thought being in Utah would help her forget, that the stark beauty of the scenery and the power of the metaphor would be enough to clear her. They weren’t.

In her freshman year, she met and, after graduation, married a much older man, Robert Able, the first person Maddie had ever known who understood her love of Shakespeare.

At 21, Maddie felt too young to be married. At 23, she felt too young to be divorced.
Maddie was found dead on New Year’s Day, clutching a gun to her chest. Everyone assumed she committed suicide. Everyone except her father.

A Gentle Thief is Maddie’s story, and that of her father and the young attorney he hires who becomes devoted to him and the truth of his cause.
A Gentle Thief is a book nearly 20 years in the making, inspired by a case the author worked on while a lawyer.
About The Author:

Amanda Dickson is a radio announcer, author, newspaper columnist, and speaker based in Salt Lake City. Amanda earned her B.A. in English and her Juris Doctorate at the University of Utah. She practiced law for a brief time before returning to her first love of radio. Amanda taught Mass Communication Law at the University of Utah, becoming a favorite professor among the students. Amanda published her first book in the fall of 2007, Wake Up to a Happier Life. Her second book, Change It Up, came out in October of 2009. Her new book, Friends for Life, is due out in January of 2012. Amanda is married and the step-mother of three children. She is also the indulgent mother of two children.

My Review:
This book was a fascinating book, made me feel part detective, part attorney while reading the story. I found myself so engrossed in the book that I was unable to close it down. Last night I fell asleep reading in on the couch and woke up at 2 am with my laptop on my lap and my neck hurting.

A Gentle Thief is a book that will hold anyone’s fascination with mystery. The story was well written, page after page was filled with great detail, I almost felt like I knew the characters. While reading the story it would flip from Sophie the attorney, to Maddie the young girl who was murdered. The mystery takes so many turns, just when I "thought" I knew who did it, I was introduced to more reasons why someone else would want to kill Maddie. With the whole mystery revolving around a young attorney who was put on the case to have the state Medical Examiner change the case from suicide to a homicide. I won't give you the ending of the book, you'll have to read the book to find out which it was and if the attorney was able to help the grieving father change the medical examiners mind.

The story had so many twists and turns, but what I loved most was what Sophie found along her journey, what she had not expected. This was a heartwarming story, a mystery, a tender book, a sad book, a story that made me as a reader stop and think more than I could have expected.

I completely without reservation recommend this book as one of the best books I have read in a long time. This book held my attention, it was fun, easy to read and easy to follow the storyline. I completely enjoyed the story!

Sandie

The Last Confederate Battle

When I saw this book on the book tour I wanted to read it. This past summer my family had the wonderful opportunity to go to Pennsylvannia where we went to many historical sites. Early in my marriage my husband and I lived in the South, Savannah, Georgia and Columbus, Georgia, where we found many historical sites to visit. I have always loved history, my father is some what of a historian and has passed that love for history to his children. This book although it was a fiction, it weaved historial facts and detail throughout. Given that I am a proud American, and come from a long line of a Military family you'll know that this was a story I wanted to read.

ABOUT THE BOOK: History records that the last battle of the Civil War was fought on the red clay soil of the Rio Grande River at Palmito Ranch, near Brownsville, Texas. That battle took place in mid-May 1865, more than a month following General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Virginia. There are factual accounts of skirmishes that took place long after Lee’s surrender. The historical attention to detail is highly accurate giving the reader a front row seat to life before, during and after the Civil War.
The Last Confederate Battle brings to light the perspectives from both sides, revealing the positive and negative natures of men. Conflict within our own country is remarkably described through the writings of John Cline; the main characters of this multifaceted story come to life as real historical experiences are interwoven into each page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Following a twenty five year career in both the enlisted and officer corps’, John Cline retired from the U.S. Navy as a Limited Duty Officer (Mustang) in July 1993 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was the director of the Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services until he retired in 2005.
He has a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Workforce Education and Curriculum Development from Southern Illinois University, and a Master of Art degree (M.A.) in National Security Studies; Homeland Security and Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (140th Session), and was nationally certified by the National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management and the International Association of Emergency Managers. He is an avid Amateur Radio Operator with the call sign W5USN. John and his wife Pat have three children and four grandchildren

My Review:
This book captured my attention from the start. I hated putting the book down when I had to do something or go somewhere. The books story line is captivating and draws the reader in quickly. The historical detail is done with a great deal of effort. Though I would expect nothing but that from a military man! Mr. Cline writes in a way that I found to be easy to read, which is something that is important to me, because some books write WAY over my simple head.

I loved this book, the story made me think of going to see the historical sites this summer and knowing that family did fight against family. Standing on Gettysburg this summer I realized how austere the terrain was, I think about the soldiers in the south and how poor most were. I think about how these soldiers do not have the gear or equipment that soldiers today have available.

The beginning of this book, when Andy walks into the plantation and decides to restructure how he runs the plantation, was awesome. I knew I would love the book from that point on! Because I love a good love story, I found that to be an excellent part of the book, something that was unexpected and yet made the story oh so much better for me! I am a true romantic at heart and this book found me loving that part of it! This book will appeal to a variety of readers. I highly recommend this book.

I was given a copy of this book by Media Guests for an honest review, the review is my own feelings and thoughts, I was not paid for this review.

Sandie

The Greatest Patriot

I have always loved history, and a great story is always something I am attracted to reading. I was born while President Kennedy was in office, and therefore, all I know I've read or was taught in school. Although this book is a fiction, there was a bit of the "conspiracy theory" that attracted me, my sister had a friend who worked in the hospital where Kennedy died, and said that there was a wing of the hospital that was blocked off, and only the Kennedy's and certain others were allowed to go to, she believed the president had lived, but was in a state he could not continue as president. So, you see this book intrigued me from the start.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Greatest Patriot is a thought provoking spin on the history of the last five decades that leaves its readers with a serious case of “What if?”
What would the world look like today had John F. Kennedy actually died in November of 1963? What was so compelling that the President of the United States found it essential to fake his own death? Where did he hide for the following 48 years and how did he shape the world we know today? The Greatest Patriot isn’t another ‘conspiracy’ theory but a fiction that relies on historical fact and creatively twists those facts to form a most intriguing story. Secretly sequestered on a Greek island, Kennedy continued to shape major world events from the political fall of Khrushchev to the demise of the USSR and even the rise of Barack Obama.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dan Sullivan was raised in La Grande, Oregon, a small town nestled in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon. He spent his younger years exploring the mountains and wilderness around La Grande creating wonderful adventures along the way. After graduating from Oregon State University he worked for three years in Seattle and Portland, Oregon before quitting his job and spending three months backpacking around Europe in 1990. Upon returning from Europe, Dan moved to Boise, Idaho where he went to work in the Real Estate industry.
He earned his Scuba Dive Master certification and spent years traveling to destinations such as Fiji, Belize, Mexico, and throughout the Caribbean. Dan and his wife Amy enjoy the incredible natural wonders of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest with their two children.
To read more about Dan Sullivan vist his website at: www.thegreatestpatriot.com

My Review:

This book is an easy read, full of history. Although this book is fiction, I felt like I was in the middle of real life while I read it. The book flips between the 1960s and Present day, where a wonderful man Hal Rumsey tells a story to Washington Post writer Mike Mahoney. I found myself being tense as I anticipated what might happen, anxious to get back to reading as soon as my kids were at school. I had a difficult time putting this book down. I was captivated by the story that Hal Rumsey told and the twists and turns that would alter the American history as we know it.

The book is a wonderful read, if you do not mind flipped between present day and the 60s the information in the book seemed plausible and enjoyable to read. The book took some turns that I was not expecting and in the end all I can say is that Hal Rumsey is the hero in my book! The fact that John F. Kennedy gave up his life for his country is one of the greatest sacrifices anyone could make. This fiction was a wonderful read! I highly recommend it. There was some language in the book; however, given the circumstances this language was not out of place.

This book was sent to me to review, I did not promise a positive review. I reviewed the book for Media Guests and appreciate the opportunity to do so!

Sandie

If My Body Is a TEMPLE, Then I Was a MEGACHURCH

The title of this book caught my eye and when I saw that it was available to review I jumped at the chance. I have often felt a little mega as well. For years my husband and I had a little family joke, that I was wearing our food storage. All good Mormon’s have a year supply of food. I absolutely have always had a year’s supply; however, in recent years I have been wearing that food storage on my hips, my thighs, my butt…you get the picture.
About the Book:

If My Body Is a Temple, Then I Was a Megachurch: My journey of losing 132 pounds with no exercise!
IF THERE’S ONE THING that’s guaranteed, it’s that you will bust a gut reading comedian Scott Davis’ hilarious yet poignant story about how he lost 132 pounds without any exercise. Spiced with his trademark comedy and self-deprecating humor, Scott serves up a dose of reality about the correlation between the state of our hearts and the location of our waistline. Scott explores the spiritual depths and practical steps to losing significant weight and shows how you can adopt a healthy lifestyle too.
Whether you need to lose 150 pounds or five pounds, Scott’s hilarious memoir will not only make you laugh but it will also equip you for your own journey to a happier and healthier you.

About the Author:

Scott Davis is a comedian, singer and entertainer. He received Christ at the age of sixteen on July 10, 1979. He graduated from Liberty University where he attended on a full scholarship for traveling with the Light Singers. While working toward his degree in cross-cultural studies, Scott traveled across the U.S. and to ten foreign countries.
Scott’s ministry has continued in the U.S. and abroad since his graduation in 1984. He has appeared on Mark Lowry’s videos and has written comedy for Mark while under contract with Word Records. For a year, Scott appeared weekly on the national television show, “The Mark & Kathy Show,” with Mark Lowry and Kathy Troccoli. Along with his weekly appearances, he has been a guest on numerous religious and secular radio and television broadcasts, including an appearance with comedian Dennis Swanberg on Swan’s Place.
Today, Scott conducts GET REAL national conferences with the nation’s top speakers and musicians. He also presents music and comedy concert events.

My Review:
As I started to read this book, the first thing that became extremely clear to me was his use of the bible and since I am an extremely spiritual/religious woman, this was something that struck a chord with me. Right from the start Scott suggests that if our bodies are our temples, then why would “I” treat them so poorly. That statement slapped me in the face and made me sit up and think. I stopped all reading and considered exactly what that meant to me as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I have hid wrappers before, I am sure that most people who are overweight have some sort of a stash that nobody knows about. I however, never keep my stash in my house, I always eat the evidence first and I’ve been known to stop at the gas station to throw garbage away. In this book Scott talks about hiding wrappers in the trash and moving trash to cover over the wrappers. I know this hit home for me. There is a line in the book that has a definite meaning its talking about not being your own person (like the apostle Paul) only this time it’s because food is a barrier. He said “Same with me when it comes to food. I’m not my own. I’m enslaved”. Yes, I certainly can see how someone’s life to feel that way, enslaved to food. I’ve often said to others that food is to me what alcohol is to an alcoholic. This is just the same thing worded different.

This book parallels scripture, mixed with humor to illustrate an ordinary life that had extraordinary consequences. Scott, made some seriously valid points on weight loss that takes forever, as a person who has much to lose, this is something to help one lose motivation in a hurry. I love how he states that he wants to feel himself shrinking so his confidence goes in the other direction. Scott talks about golden nuggets, advice to live by.

The best part of this book, was how easily it is for someone to relate to, anyone who has ever have an issue with weight could identify with some if not all of what Scott went through. This is a fun read, a clean read and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to consider weight loss.

Sandie

What are YOU Thinking?

I saw this book on the Media Guest Tour Here and I wanted to review it since I have three children still at home. I love children's books so this book just sounded like something I needed to read. Not only did I read this book, I sat down with each of my children and had them read the book to me and then we talked about the book. I was given a copy of this book and the words expressed in this review are my own.

About the Book:
Our thoughts, be it positive or negative, determine who were are and what we become. That is why helping our children understand the power of thoughts from an early age is essential.

Studies show that children with negative thoughts are more likely to give up; they lack confidence and motivation. One the other hand, children who think positively take on their life, they overcome challenges they are more enthusiastic, and driven. Author, Valerie Achley, illustrates the power of our thoughts in the award winning book, What Are You Thinking? This book introduces children to the law of Attraction. Beautifully illustrated with fun characters and humorous situations, this amazing creation teaches the power of the mind and the importance of wisely selecting our dominate thoughts.

"What Are You Thinking?" will inspire creativity, confidence, goal setting, gratitude, and How to turn a bad day around! Parents can use this book as a spring board to discuss healthy vs. unhealthy "thinking habits" with their children.

About the Author:

Valerie Ackley graduated from college with a degree in Business Management and worked eight years in the telecommunications industry before becoming a fulltime homemaker to her five sons.

After attending a seminar by Leslie Householder, author of The Jackrabbit Factor, Valerie gained a better understanding of the effect of our thoughts have on our experiences. Valerie had a strong desire to introduce these principles to her sons.

The idea of "What are You Thinking?" was born when she was unable to find any similar products for children. She hopes this book will be a tool to open a discussion between parents and children regarding the power of the mind, and the importance of wisely selecting our dominate thoughts. Valerie has seen her children benefit from applying these principles. She believes this book, with the delightful and humorous illustrations created by Lori Nawyn, will empower children and parents to enjoy the endless rewards of positive thinking.

Valerie lives in a beautiful valley at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah with her husband and five sons.

My Review:

The day I received this book in the mail, I sat down with my five year old, and we read the book through about four times. She loved the pictures and hearing the story. She kept asking me for a few days after, hey what are you thinking? I then gave this book to my ten years old and she read the book through. After she read the book we sat down and talked about how she felt about the book. She stated that the book has a good message, she especially liked the dialogue of the little animals, she also believes this book is something that kids should read and remember. I next gave the book to my nine year old that read the book and said that he loved the pictures and to him the story had a good message, he said that more kids need to read this book. He asked if they have the book at the library at school, because he wanted his friends to read the book.

My thoughts on the book are that this book was well written and illustrated. At first I thought that the pages were a little too busy, but after looking at the book through my children's eyes I started to glimpse what they saw in the illustration and the pages written.
The messages in this book are real, and needed. I loved the light bulb, the idea of a light bulb represents thinking and then it says "just like a bug is drawn to a light..." That is exactly how this epidemic of negative thoughts.

This book was wonderful, the pages were well illustrated, some were busy to me, but my grandchildren loved the illustration, which went hand in hand with the message. As the book states "you decide what you are going to focus on" this is a powerful message to children!
Sandie

Velwythe: Resurrection of the Mind

Although Velwythe was not a book that would usually be in my genre, I wanted to read it so that I could expand my horizons so to speak. I was given a free copy of this book to review from Media Guests Here. The views expressed in this review are my own words. Thank you Media Guests for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.


About the Book:
His mother vanished. His father killed himself. Vaan, now 21 has no friends, no money, no family, and no hope. All his dreams have vanished. Unable to escape the horror of his own memories, his life has been in stasis.
But with a bit of luck and a bit of effort Vaan manages to make his first real friend since childhood. Duncan, a man who has watched the growing railline destroy his entire home city, was disowned after denying his birthright.
Vaan and Duncan become fast friends with troubled pasts. Now, with Duncan's help and the encouragement' of a local priest, Vaan decides his life has remained in a quagmire too long. Only by selling his house and everything he owns will he have a chance to become a wandering scholar.
Every year around the FreePort Solstice Festival (and his birthday) Vaan has terrible nightmares of his father's chronic pain. But the night before the festival Vaan has a dream unlike any before. He wakes up thinking he has gone blind-but it isn't just that, he can feel something cold pawing at his head as though it is absorbing his very thoughts.
After the horrible dream, leaving FreePort isn't just about getting an education. Ellred, a local priest, tells Vaan there could be more to his non-dream than he could ever imagine. But the only way to figure any of it out is if duncan agrees to travel with Vaan to the very place Duncan can never return. And on their way to Alpine, Vaan's encounter with a small militia forces him to question his understanind of humanity and the very reality he thought to be true for so many years.
But Velwythe is more than just the story of Vaan and Duncan. Visit Here the website for Velwythe to explore the world Vanna and Duncan explore,, participate in the story by communicating with the characters, vote on issues that will change not only the future books but the entire world and much, much more. No book has been so complete and so accessible. Velwythe, not just a book, a whole new world.

About the Author Bonn Turkington:

With a background in classical philosophy and a love of video games, a new author brings an original idea to the overstocked book isle. Bonn Turkington, was always intrigued by the interactive environments of video games and RPG's, but also enjoyed the intellectual feasts of Greek and Russian Philosophies. This mix laid the foundations for a unique vision of a fantastic world.

Bonn Turkington has opened the series to his fans, encouraging them to participate in the story development. Readers can vote on issues described in the available book, Velwythe: Resurrection of the Mind, as if they were citizens of the fantastic realm via the books website, http://www.velwythe.com/ This will change the enviorment around the main character, forcing him to deal with political and social fluctuations just as anyone in the real world would have to. There is also an open invitation to artists and writers who are interested in a chance to have their work recognized through working with the site and publishing company.

My Review:

Velwythe is as I stated earlier, not something I would ordinarily read. I read the synopses a few times before I decided I would like to try reading this book. I will admit that I had an extremely difficult time getting into the book. As I started the book, I considered a few times just giving up on the book. I took it everywhere I went and found I would rather make a phone call and talk to someone, than read the book.

As I started to move through each chapter I realized that this story was so deep, and complex that it was not something one could simply light read. I started to become more serious about the book and found that I started to enjoy the book as the chapters passed. I enjoyed the relationship that Vaan had with Duncan. I do not know if I was more excited that he had someone in his life because I felt so sorry for how lonely he was or if it was just nice to have another character that was solid. Vaan was an interesting character who in my professional opinion has issues with separation anxiety.

I felt sad when the Festival came, and how sad that made Vaan. It was a good idea that he sale everything and get away from there. The memories of his parents in his house seemed to haunt him. This was a good book, I am glad I did read it. I can not say that I loved this book, but I did like the book. I think its a great read for someone who enjoys a deep book and has the concentration level to devote to reading. Vaan is a great character and I would recommend this book! This book was Volume One so there will be more books coming in the future.

Sandie