Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Mid-Career GPS

 

Inside the Book

Your Mid-Career GPS

Title: YOUR MID-CAREER GPS: FOUR STEPS TO FIGURING OUT WHAT’S NEXT
Author: John Neral
Publisher: LLH Publishing
Pages: 281
Genre: Job Hunting/Business Mentoring and Coaching

BOOK BLURB:

Are you considering a career change but doubt yourself or get easily overwhelmed by the entire process?

Are you a mid-career professional ready to level-up, but unsure of what steps to take?

What if there was an easy and supportive way to plan your next career destination?

Your Mid-Career GPS will guide you to create your own professional roadmap so you can find the job you love or love the job have. John Neral, Certified Professional Coach, will help you strategically position yourself in the marketplace while teaching you how to leverage your unique skills from a place of value and service for any organization.

Learn how to prepare, position, and promote yourself as you create a tactical and strategic plan by building Your Mid-Career GPS. Let this book be your guide to answer many of the current questions you have about creating your next advancement opportunity.

PRAISE

“This book is for those of you who feel like you know everything and nothing about what’s next, you can’t fathom writing yet another cover letter, and you wonder “why bother” when it comes to updating your résumé. If you are feeling alone on this journey, bring this book, and all of the insight and tools it contains, along with you. You will have John’s company along the path and you will be one step closer to finding your way!”–Natalie Siston, Best-selling author of Let Her Out: Reclaim Who You Have Always Been and Founder, Small Town Leadership

“John expertly guides readers through the trials, tribulations, and common pitfalls of mid-career professionals and managers. He also provides information on the effective career strategies and mindset needed to be successful. This book is a must read if you are looking for professional support and could use a career GPS! — Porschia Parker Griffin
Founder and CEO of Fly-High Coaching Millennial Coaching Institute

“LinkedIn is the most powerful tool to help you network, build professional relationships, learn, search for jobs, and much more. I always say if you are not on LinkedIn you might be left out. Your Mid-Career GPS provides valuable tips and guidance to help you navigate LinkedIn and start growing your network and create your next advancement opportunity.”— Rhonda L. SherLinkedIn Specialist, Author, Speaker

“I picked up this latest book after enjoying John Neral’s previous book, SHOW UP – Six Strategies to Lead a More Energetic and Impactful Career. In Your Mid-Career GPS, John Neral provides clear, actionable steps to put his six strategies into play quickly and effectively. I really enjoyed his conversational writing style as well. As a mid-career professional, I love that my cohort is the focus of his attention and expertise. He demonstrates throughout the book that he knows the benefits mid-career professionals bring to an organization and his thoughtful observations and exercises will help anyone define their professional value and market not only their skills but themselves. Reading and employing the strategies in this book can position you to be a more valuable resource to your current employer or challenge you to spread your wings and find your next, great career opportunity. The underlying message is one of empowerment and encouragement and that’s a message everyone can benefit from.”Victoria A. Bourgeois

__________

BUYING INFORMATION

Your Mid-Career GPS xxx bl

is available at:
amazon button

__________

Your Mid-Career GPS 7

MEET THE AUTHOR

John Neral

John Neral, MA, CPC reawakens, energizes, galvanizes, and innovates the mind think of employees, corporations, associations, and systems. A celebrated executive/career and professional development coach and in-demand, mindset-shifting public speaker, John’s professional walk included a 25-year career in education and a longstanding corporate consultant for Fortune 500 giant, Casio America, Inc. He now leads John Neral Coaching, LLC, one of the most progressive, mindset-shifting professional and organizational coaching and public speaking firms in the U.S. He is the author of Your Mid-Career GPS – Four Steps to Figuring Out What’s Next and SHOW UP – Six Strategies to Lead a More Energetic and Impactful Career and the host of “The Mid-Career GPS Podcast.”

As a Master Practitioner in the Energy Leadership Index, John’s experience has made him an impactful and valuable coach to his one-on-one and group coaching clients and organizations. With Energy Leadership™, John identifies where people perform at their optimal levels and when they are under stress. Combining the Energy Leadership™ principles, a client’s workplace strengths, and their “unique professional value,” John helps his clients create their career GPS so they can take action toward achieving their professional and personal goals.

A former church organ prodigy, John is an avid traveler–having sojourned to 5 of the 7 continents, a professional bowler and the winner of a Professional Bowlers’ Association Regional Title (2010), and a game-show fan, having appeared on previous episodes of GSN’s Chain Reaction and Make My Day. John is happily married and lives with his spouse and their rescue cat, Amy Farrah Meowler (named after the Big Bang Theory character), in the heart of Washington DC’s Dulles Technology Corridor, Tysons Corner, VA.

You can visit his website at https://johnneral.com or follow him at TwitterFacebook and Goodreads.

 My Review 

Mid-Career GPS was an interesting Job Hunting/Business Mentoring and Coaching book. As someone who is about to enter the work force for the first time I found this book to be a valuable resource, to help me plan out my career path and plan.

Thursday, December 16, 2021

GINGERSNAP SNATCHER by Vicky Weber

 Picture

Picture

Book Details:

Book Title:  Gingersnap Snatcher by Vicky Weber
Category:  Children's Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 32 pages
Genre:  Children's 
Publisher:  Trunk Up Books
Release date:   December 2021
Formats Available for Review: print-softback USA, e-book (PDF)
Tour dates: December 7 to December 17
Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for everyone.
Book Description:
​​
Abuela made cookies to eat after school. The gingersnap kind, just the thought made us drool! We rushed home excited. We opened the door…The cookies were missing - just CRUMBS on the floor! Can you help the kids crack the case of the GINGERSNAP SNATCHER?

Buy the Book:
Amazon
(scheduled release Dec 2021)
Picture
Meet the Author:

Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. As a Puerto Rican author of Taíno descent, she strives to create picture books that are fun, engaging, and educational. All her current titles are based on her background in music education or her heritage. While she has taught a variety of grade levels, primary level education is where her passion lies. It has long been a dream of hers to teach children through the magic of books and she hopes you love reading her works as much as she loved writing them.

connect with the author:  website twitter ~ facebook ~  goodreads ~ instagram

My Review
 Gingersnap Snatcher by Vicky Weber began when Abuela made cookies yet only crumbs were left when the kids went to eat them. Who snatched the cookies? That one question started the young detectives off on their case of the missing cookies. This was a great kids book great for young children.



My favorite time of day…
Mornings are always crazy. We wake up, rush around, and shove breakfast down while
multitasking because otherwise, us parents don’t get breakfast. I change the baby, get
her dressed, make her formula for the day, get everything organized, feed her, pack for
daycare, and get myself ready.
And then the day begins. The baby plays and learns while my husband and I work. We
come home and the craziness continues: cooking, cleaning, eating, the list goes on and
on.
But then, my husband takes our daughter upstairs while I make her a bottle. And from
the kitchen, I can hear him read to her.
I will love you till the cows come home from a trip to Mars through skies unknown, in a
rocket ship made of glass and stone... I will love you till the cows come home. (Kathryn
Cristaldi)
I go upstairs and see her nuzzled there on his chest, entranced by every word. I see
him smiling down at her, pointing out the pictures on each page. They both look up
when I walk in, and in the calm of the evening, I join in too.
And that is my favorite moment of the day.

Mother's Love: Animal moms and their babies by Diana Aleksandrova

 MOTHER'S LOVE by Diana Aleksandrova



Book Details:

Book Title: Mother's Love: Animal moms and their babies by Diana Aleksandrova
Category:  Children's Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 32 pages
Genre:  Children's Book
Publisher:  Dedoni Books
Release date:   November 5, 2021
Formats Available for Review: print-hardback USA, e-book (PDF)
Tour dates: November 26 to December 17
Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for everyone.
Book Description:

A mother’s love is like the air;
you may not see it, but it’s there.

A mother’s love is universal; and yet the way each species shows its love is unique.

In a cloud, I’ll build a nest.
For you, I want the very best.
My love is fierce and very bright.
It makes the world feel safe and right.

Mother’s Love is a lyrical celebration of the unconditional bond every mother has with her child. The book is written from the point of view of ten different animal moms, ranging from elephants to eagles and depicts the various sides of motherhood, including joy, resilience, and sacrifice.
Author Diana Aleksandrova
Meet the Author:

Born and raised in Bulgaria, Diana Aleksandrova moved across the ocean in pursuit of the American dream, only to realize that her dream was not limited to any one country, or even continent. Rather, it was within her all along.

Diana finds joy in creating stories that make kids of all ages laugh-out-loud, open up their minds and hearts, and let their imaginations run freely.

“Books are our tickets to adventure. They let us explore fascinating places, and join charming heroes, crooked villains, and magical creatures through unforgettable journeys. My job is to create the itinerary.”

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ twitter ~ instagram ~ goodreads

My Review
Mother's Love: Animal moms and their babies by Diana Aleksandrova was a very cute and sweet kids book. The word choice was perfect for a young audience and the pictures were simply adorable. I liked the way the author portrayed a mother's love in this kids book.

Verdaderamente Poderoso by Dr. Rosa Romero

 Verdaderamente Poderoso by Dr. Rosa Romero


Book Details:

Book Title
:  Verdaderamente Poderoso by Dr. Rosa Romero
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 124 pages
GenreReligious Book (spanish)
Publisher:  Mascot
Release Date: December, 2021

Tour dates: December 7 to December 17
Content Rating:  PG.
Book Description:

Allow the powerful word of God to transform your life, changing your daily routine through your thoughts and the way you speak. In order to live according to truth and wisdom, you have to learn to reason yourself. With an important and simple message, Verdaderamente Poderoso will help readers find their purpose in life. Identifiable from beginning to end, the book is based on real testimonies that will touch the depths of one’s soul.
Buy the Book
Mascot
Amazon B&N
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Romero, is a great woman of God, multifaceted with a doctorate in human letters, mother, businesswoman, ideology instructor, certified master coach, Pastor and Prophet who has been obeying God’s will with her husband Pastor Fredy Gonzales. Since 2015, they have served as Chief Ministers at the Christian Church Unity Life El Reyno de Dios para las Naciones in the Manassas area.

connect with the author: goodreads

GIRL WITH A GUN

 GIRL WITH A GUN (an Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee


Book Details:

Book TitleGirl with a Gun (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 316 pages
Length: 9 hours, 24 minutes.
Genre:  Historical Mystery / Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  Bosque Publishing
Release date:   April 2020
Formats Available for Review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (MOBI for kindle, EPUB, PDF)
Tour datesJan 10 to Feb 4, 2022
Content Rating:  PG + M: Mature themes, mild swearing
Book Description:

She’s on the rise to fame and fortune, but her sudden notoriety comes with some deadly consequences.

Annie Oakley thrives as a sharpshooter in the Wild West Show. Finally, she has a chance to save her family’s farm—and make her dreams come true.

But her act misfires when she discovers her Indian assistant dead in her tent. Uncovering a shocking secret from her assistant’s past, the girl with the gun believes it’s murder. Determined to find the truth, she ruffles some horse feathers, making enemies along the trail.

​But, when her prized gelding is stolen, Annie realizes she might have been the target all along.

Can Little Miss Sure Shot save her equine friend and find the killer before everything she’s worked for is destroyed?

​If you like a cunning mystery, a feisty heroine, and a fast-paced plot that keeps the pages turning, you’ll love this wild ride with the iconic Annie Oakley in the saddle.
Buy the Book:
Audible Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Autor Kari Bovee
  Meet the Author:

When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her action-packed novels. Bovee writes the award-winning Annie Oakley Mystery Series and the Grace Michelle Mystery Series, and has more ideas than time for many, many more.

Connect with the author:  Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram
Pinterest
My Review
I personally found that Girl with a Gun (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee to be a well written and well narrated audio book. This was the first one I decided to listen to from the series and I have to say that it has left me excited to read/listen to more from this author and series. I especially liked Annie Oakley as she made the book for me!

Monday, December 13, 2021

THIS IS HOW I SPELL GRIEF

 

Inside the Book

This is How I Spell Grief

Title: THIS IS HOW I SPELL GRIEF: A GUIDE TO HEALING FROM LOSS & FINDING FULFILLMENT
Author: Erik Lewin
Publisher: Jeffrey Park Press
Pages: 126
Genre: Self-Help/Narrative/Nonfiction

BOOK BLURB:

Erik Lewin shares how he turned the profound loss of his mother and father into life-changing growth, with intimacy, warmth and humor. He offers a no-nonsense, commonsense way to create your personal path to acceptance of your loss.

Lewin became an expert in his grief experience twice over, encouraging readers to find their own way, as no two lives or losses are the same. He eschews expert opinions and general analyses of grieving in favor of common sense, letting you know you are not alone in how you’re feeling. He shares how he turned his loss into an impetus to personal change. A former criminal defense lawyer, Lewin is now a full time writer and standup comedian.

This Is How I Spell Grief takes a counter-intuitive approach to self-help; there are no eight simple exercises to get over it. Instead, you gradually learn to address grief on your own terms, to make true and lasting peace with your loss.

PRAISE

“Generous, intimate and deeply personal, even funny at times. I believe this book will help readers work with their own grief.” – NOAH BRUCE, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director, Salinas Valley Medical Clinic

Outstanding work. Everything I felt about my father’s recent death and my best friend’s death 14 years ago was articulated in this writing. It truly is a wonderful tome on helping one to manage their grief after the death of a loved one.” – Philip Peredo

“This is the book that I wished I had many years ago when first confronting the passing of my father. The author expertly navigates all of the issues that one encounters when grieving. It’s a remarkable book in that even for those who think we have a handle on their grief, the author helps us understand new ways to engage with grief. It’s definitely not a self-help book, but I found it much more profound and valuable.” – AKF

 

__________

BUYING INFORMATION

This is How I Spell Grief xxx

is available at:
amazon button

__________

This is How I Spell Grief 7

MEET THE AUTHOR

Erik Lewin

Erik Lewin is the author of three books – This is How I Spell GriefAnimal Endurance, and Son of Influence – as well as numerous essays published in Ponder Review, GNU Journal, David Magazine, Real Vegas Magazine &Literate Ape. Erik is also a stand-up comedian who performs in clubs and venues around the country. He formerly practiced law as a criminal defense attorney in New York City and Los Angeles. He is at work on a new one-man show loosely based on This is How I Spell Grief.

Erik lives in Las Vegas with his wife and their furry pets.

Visit his website at www.eriklewincomedy.com or connect with him on Facebook and Goodreads.


My Review

THIS IS HOW I SPELL GRIEF was a very educational book. As a psychology graduate I found the author method of approaching grief to be well reasoned, useful, and informative. This is a book I would recommend for anyone suffering from any type of loss in his or her life.

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Blind the Eyes: A Dystopian-Gothic YA Urban Fantasy by K.A. Wiggins

 BLIND THE EYES by K.A. Wiggins


Book Details:


Book Title:  Blind the Eyes: A Dystopian-Gothic YA Urban Fantasy by K.A. Wiggins
Category:  YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 300 pages
GenreUrban fantasy, crossover to dystopian, paranormal, contemporary fantasy, gothic and post-apocalyptic.
Publisher:  K.A. Wiggins (Imprint: Snowmelt & Stumps)
Release Date: June, 2018

Tour dates: November 26 to December 17
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M. No on-page sex, low romance, minimal bad language, underage drinking, significant fantasy violence, scenes containing emotional manipulation, depression, and (light/brief) physical abuse.
Book Description:

A haunted teen outcast and her snarky ghostly best-frenemy outwit enforcers, monsters, and the scars of the past in a race to take expose a deadly conspiracy and escape a bloody end. A lush, award-winning debut to a captivatingly eerie YA Urban Fantasy trilogy. Discover a labyrinthine, post-climate-collapse dystopian Vancouver overrun by monsters and magic in this intricate and startlingly original journey of discovery, restoration, and revenge.

It's hard not to be a little obsessed with survival when your only "friend" is an unruly ghost and the wrong thought could get your soul devoured by eldritch horrors. Haunted 17-year-old outcast Cole wants nothing more than to hide her forbidden fascination with the monster-taken and blend in with the (dreary) scenery. Her plans for a peaceful life take a turn for the deadly when a mesmerizing stranger and his dangerously tempting offer drive her into the middle of a grisly conspiracy.

But Cole hasn't yet uncovered the biggest secret of all, and it might just have something to do with the mysterious threads tugging her into horrifying visions—not to mention the shimmering boy at their dark heart. Uncovering the truth will cost her dearly as she fends off scheming enforcers, dreamjacking ghosts & soul-sucking nightmares in a desperate quest for survival and retribution. Can she escape the scars of her past and expose the lies before she's the next to die?

Blind the Eyes is the first book in a lush and labyrinthine trilogy of paranormal-meets-gothic-dystopian YA Urban Fantasy filled with glittering underworlds, delicious-and-deceptive strangers, and facing down the voices in your head. This slow-burn fantasy with an edge leads readers on a captivatingly unexpected journey of self-discovery, reclaimed identity, and conflicted sisterhood for those who like a little sparkle with their monsters (it glistens so nicely on all the blood.) Fans of post-climate-collapse dystopias, monsters-and-magic, and genre-bending dark fantasy will love this award-winning series starter in a complete and 100% binge-ready trilogy.
Author K.A. Wiggins
Meet the Author:

K.A. Wiggins (Kaie) writes award-winning speculative fiction for young people and adults that explores the tangled webs of society, environment, and identity through intricate, dreamlike tales of monsters and magic.

Her debut novel was a Page Turner Awards 2020 Book Spotlight Prize winner and a Barnes & Noble Press "20 Favorite Indie Books of 2018," kicking off a celebrated and recently completed YA Urban Fantasy trilogy set in a gothic-dystopian post-climate-collapse Vancouver. Her short fiction has appeared in small press anthologies, genre magazines, and in translation for international audiences.

She's also the President of the Children's Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia society, co-founder of marketing and business services consultancy The Creative Collective, and a creative writing coach with the Creative Writing for Children society, and was recognized in the 2021 Arty Awards, taking first place in Literary Arts category.

connect with the author: website twitter facebook pinterest instagram goodreads

Thursday, December 9, 2021

GALLANT: THE CALL OF THE TRAIL by Claire Eckard

 Picture

Picture

Book Details:

​Book Title:  Gallant: The Call of the Trail by Claire Eckard
Category:  Young Adult Fiction (Ages 13-17), 300 pages
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Mill City Press
Release DateSeptember 2021
Formats Available for Review: print- Softback (USA), e-book PDF
Tour dates: November 22 to December 10
Content Rating:  PG-13 : It’s a saga about love, relationships, personal growth and adventure, set against a backdrop of endurance racing. A strong middle grader/pre-teen could read it.
Book Description:

A gripping journey of a young girl and a foal who are raised together in The Valley of Hearts Delight. Gallant and Gracie have a special bond, rarely seen between a human and a horse. Separated by a bad accident when Gallant is five, each gets a second chance of happiness pursuing the long-distance sport of endurance riding, neither knowing they are leading parallel lives. Will Fate bring them together again? Gallant’s arch nemesis, The Almighty Flash, threatens to destroy all that Gallant has worked for. His misguided ambition and greed, developed at the hands of an abusive owner, has created a darkness in his soul that turns to blind fury when his endurance career is threatened.
Picture
Meet the Author:

​Award winning Author Claire Eckard combines her love of writing with her passion for animals to create memorable children's books that are fun to read, but also include valuable life's lessons. Claire grew up in England and moved to Hawaii in her early twenties where she married her husband of thirty-four years. Together they raised two sons, Mitchell and Matthew. Claire is inspired by her two Granddaughters Mila and Ella, as well as the beautiful backdrop of the Arizona mountains where she lives. Claire has a farm full of animals, and has spent many years as a board member and volunteer of her local animal shelter.
 
Connect with the author:  Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ goodreads

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

NO GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE

 

Inside the Book

No Good About Goodbye

Title: NO GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE
Author: CT Liotta
Publisher: Rot Gut Pulp
Pages: 308
Genre: YA/Coming of Age/LGBT/Adventure

BOOK BLURB:

Fifteen-year-old Ian Racalmuto’s life is in ruins after an embassy raid in Algiers. His mother, a vodka-drunk spy, is dead. His brother, a diplomat, has vanished. And, he’s lost a cremation urn containing a smartphone that could destroy the world.

Forced to live with his cantankerous grandfather in Philadelphia, Ian has seven days to find his brother and secure the phone—all while adjusting to life in a troubled urban school and dodging assassins sent to kill him.

Ian finds an ally in William Xiang, an undocumented immigrant grappling with poverty, a strict family, and abusive classmates. They make a formidable team, but when Ian’s feelings toward Will grow, bombs, bullets and crazed bounty hunters don’t hold a candle to his fear of his friend finding out. Will it wreck their relationship, roll up their mission, and derail a heist they’ve planned at the State Department?

Like a dime store pulp adventure of the past, No Good About Goodbye is an incautious, funny, coming-of-age tale for mature teens and adult readers. 308p.

PRAISE

“So many treats are in store for the discerning reader of CT Liotta’s brilliant YA novel NO GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE. There’s a diverse array of multi-racial/cultural characters, organized criminals with complex political goals underway, and keystone-cop humor/blunders often sparking from the evergreen enchantment of a push-pull romance between two young people, neither of whom have yet decided to identify as ‘gay.’ Rich with often realistically crude boy lingo, NO GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE is an utterly charming teenage LGBTQ falling-in-love adventure while simultaneously rocking an international crime storyline.” – C.S. Holmes, IndieReader

★★★★★ “Sharply observed and sarcastic as hell, CT Liotta’s debut is the gay teenage spy thriller we have long needed.” -Matt Harry, author of Superkid and Sorcery for Beginners.

★★★★★ I found this YA spy novel to be an utter delight! Fast-paced and witty, we traverse the globe with Ian, who just lost his mother and is charged with stopping a war with China. All the while he’s 15, enrolled in a High School from hell in Philadelphia and struggling with his identity. The author offers his own particular take on the importance of friendship and found family. He also very cleverly features different viewpoints, so the reading experience never feels stale. Honestly, I did not know what to expect going into this story – I however finished it converted into a fan! – Thomas S., Netgalley

__________

BUYING INFORMATION

No Good About Goodbye xxx bl

is available at:
amazon button

ALSO AVAILABLE AT:

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-good-about-goodbye-ct-liotta/1140173005?ean=9781955394024

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/no-good-about-goodbye/9781955394024

__________

No Good About Goodbye 6

MEET THE AUTHOR

CT Liotta

 

CT Liotta was born and raised in West Virginia before moving to Ohio for college, where he majored in Biology. He now uses Philadelphia as his base of operations. You can find him backpacking all over the world.

Liotta takes interest in writing, travel, personal finance, and sociology. He likes vintage airlines and aircraft, politics, news, foreign affairs, ’40s pulp and film noir. He doesn’t fear math or science, and is always up for Indian food. His favorite candy bar used to be Snickers, but lately it’s been 3 Musketeers. He isn’t sure why.

He is author of Relic of the Damned!Death in the City of Dreams and Treason on the Barbary Coast!

No Good About Goodbye is his latest book.

Visit him on the web at https://www.ctliotta.com.

Sign up for Liotta’s newsletter at https://ctliotta.substack.com.


My Review

NO GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE by CT Liotta was a 308 page  YA/Coming of Age/LGBT/Adventure that made for an explosive read. At first I thought I would find the book too young for me, but I quickly found that the age of the characters did not take away from my enjoyment of the story in the least. This is one of those rare young adult books that can be truly enjoyed by both young adults and adults!