Billy

• Rated 5 stars

“There is not one man in the world that understands what a woman is thinking, let alone how to apologize to her when you have done something wrong. Author Karen Field Bolek has written an interesting book titled How to Apologize to Your Woman . . . So that she won’t use it against you in the future to help us men to apologize. She shows the reader how to use simple step-by-step methods for delivering a thoughtful apology, so no more lying, just be honest. To give a meaningful apology you have to really mean and feel what you are saying. You must also understand what you are apologizing for. Also taking in consideration your wife’s/girlfriend are feeling about what you said or done to cause the difficult situation in the first place.

The book is much more than just learning how to apologize correctly, as you’ll learn that honest and communication can improve your relationship. Men shouldn’t be afraid of apologizing as it will make your relationship stronger.

When I read the title How to Apologize to Your Woman, I instantly signed up to review it. The author has gone to an incredible amount of research to create this thought provoking self-help book that all men can benefit from. Actually, I think that pastors, marriage councilors, and psychiatrists would enjoy reading about the relationship tools that the book provide and may even use them in their sessions. Overall, a great read. ”

Billy wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I am a cat lover, so when I saw the title Purr-fect Recipes for a Healthy Cat: 101 Natural Cat Food & Treat Recipes to Make Your Cat Happy, I had to review it. Author and fellow animal lover Lisa Shiroff takes you through the basics, which provides great information for new cat owners, like what a healthy cat looks like; a cat’s natural diet; cat friendly foods; and foods that are dangerous. You’ll also get a brush up on the current trends of the commercial pet food industry, where you’ll learn what and what not to buy for your cat.

Chapter four takes through your cat’s eating habits and you’ll learn about raw versus cooked meat, and making changes to your cat’s diet. Chapter’s five through 8 will inform you about natural cat care; going green with cat care; what toxins to avoid; learn about your cat’s health conditions; tips to getting your cat to eat; and learning the basics of being a personal chef to your pet.

Finally, we get chapter nine that gives you 101 tasty recipes for you to make for your cat. Like: chicken liver balls; autumn harvest treats; carrot cake for cats; braised rabbit; oats and beef loaf; scrambled eggs; braised steak; crab cookies; and many others.

Every cat owner will enjoy reading Purr-fect Recipes for a Healthy Cat. There are recipes that will make a great snack or dinner for your feline. There are even a few meals you can share with your cat. There are a few recipes for dairy tolerant cats and cats with diabetes. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and I plan on making a few treats for my cats.
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Billy wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Unexpected Paul Tracey gets a call from his most recent stepmother who informs him that his ex-major leaguer father, Warren Tracey, is dying of cancer. His relationship with his father has been very distant since his parents divorced when he was in his early teens. Knowing that his sister doesn’t want anything to do with their father, Paul takes it upon himself to go visit him, but first he makes a quick stop to Calico Rock to try to find Joe Castle.

    In the summer 1973, the Chicago Cubs rookie Joe Castle came out of nowhere and shocked the Major League Baseball fans as he hit home run after home run. Warren Tracey followed Joe Castle vigorously, even keeping a scrapbook full a newspaper clippings and autographs, so you can say he was a big fan. Warren also was a fan of the New York Mets, as his father was a starting pitcher and a major alcoholic with some anger problems. On August 24, 1973, the Cubs were playing at the Shea Stadium with Warren as the starting pitcher. Warren was in one of his foul moods that will forever change the life of Joe Castle.

    Calico Joe is a departure from John Grisham’s normal lawyer/mystery genre, focusing on America’s favorite pastime, baseball. There is no mystery here as the plot focuses on Warren Tracey who is going through memory lane as he traveling to see his father one last time, hoping to talk him into apologizing to the great Joe Castle. The story is heartbreaking and realistically written, mixing in real people, events, and places with fiction. Baseball fans will particularly enjoy the time travel back to the 1973 season. The book is a fast read, being just under two hundred pages. Overall, I thought it was a sweet but heartbreaking story, which I can easily see being made into a Hallmark movie. With Father’s Day just around the corner, Calico Joe could make a great gift.
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Billy wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“   When I saw the book request from author Mark Rayner for his book Pirate Therapy and Other Cures, I had to laugh and at the same time I wondered what Pirate Therapy was. Mark Rayner has a website/blog skwib.com where he publishes flash fiction, in which some of those stories have made it into this book. I don’t read very many humor books, so I was skeptical about reading Pirate Therapy and Other Cures.

    The author has collected some of his best flashes for this edition, which are hilarious tales that will put a smile on your face. You’ll learn what happens when a worldwide virus turns it’s victims into clowns; learn about the strange mythology of unicorns; learn about what high fiber foods you should be eating (if you are a cyborg); find out how Batman really feels about his Justice League of America team; learn the history of Groundhog Day; and learn ten great facts about Canada.

    I planned on reading a few stories from this book in between other reviews, but I ended up reading Pirate Therapy in only a few days. Mark Rayner is obviously a talented storyteller with a wide sense of humor. I got a few laughs reading about William Shatner’s Inaugural Speech as President of the United States as it sounded just like the actor. My favorite was the very short flash “I’ve just spilled really hot coffee in my lap - is this what they mean by global warming?” as it has coffee in the title. I am not giving away any spoilers, but I’ll just say it’s not about coffee.

    Overall, I enjoyed laughing and reading Pirate Therapy and Other Cures. The book could make a great birthday gift for someone or just a coffee table book for your family and friends to look at.
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Billy wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“ Before there was Facebook and Twitter, there was a thing called talking - actual face to face communication. In the book How to Start and Make a Conversation you'll learn how to talk to anyone in thirty seconds or less. You may think this is easy and just text somebody, but in the competitive business world, or just life in general, good communication skills are required.

The book's target readers will be mostly shy men and women who have a hard time getting up the nerve to talk to someone, but it can easily be used by students, teachers, business owners, etc. The author quickly takes you through the basic reasons of why conversation is important in our society. There are many reasons why someone can struggle with communications, like social anxiety, fear of rejection, self-esteem, etc. Throughout the book you'll learn about how important body language is; speaking to a stranger in thirty seconds or less; how to make small talk; how to leave a conversation; communicating at work; making friends; the romantic art of conversation; and learning how to communicate in the social media world. 
 
This book sparked my interests because I have always been a shy person and, for the most part, avoided small talk. At a social or family event, I would just to into the other room and avoid the conversation. How to Start and Make a Conversation is a great read for shy people, or anyone who wants to brush up on their social skills. There are many helpful tips to get a person through an awkward situation, including starting conversations/small talk at work (even learn how to talk to your boss) and even starting a meaningful conversation on a first date. If you are having any sort of trouble communicating, need to brush up before that big job interview, or are just looking for topics to discuss on a date, then I would recommend this book. 
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Billy wrote this review Friday, April 20, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 3 stars

“ With an original title, Princess Alessa, the Frog War, and a cool cover to go along with it, I was very eager to jump into this young adult fantasy. I was looking for a quick read in between reviews, and, well, I was shocked to find out the book was over four hundred pages. There is nothing wrong with a four hundred plus length. Some of the best books for children and young adults are way over it.

We, the readers, journey into a land called Gracbog, where the Princess Alessa has a strange encounter with a talking frog, Erwin, from a gypsy circus, warning her that the High Priest was plotting to kill her father the king. Of course, this is to throw the kingdom off as the frogs, yes I said frogs, starts a war with everyone.

There are many characters throughout the novel and they are all easily likeable. The plot is fast-paced and easy to follow as well. The author has created a weird world with Swamp Warlocks, talking frogs, and a strong mythology. Despite the word lengthy, I never felt that the book was epic, as the book’s target audience is probably middle grader graders, for me I wanted descriptions that are more detailed. There is an enough action and quick dialogue to keep you turning the pages. The last half became a bit confusing at times with too many new characters. Overall, I enjoyed reading about the frog war. If you like fantasy or fairy tales, you might want to try this.
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Billy wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“ After midnight, Dr. Luke Findley of St. Andrew, Maine gets an unusual patient, murder suspect Lanore Mellvare. A young man’s body had been found in the nearby woods along with “Lanny”. As Luke attends to this young woman, who the police said looks “pale”, which is probably due to the cold Maine temperatures, Lanny begins to tell the doctor an unbelievable tale. The man’s body that is now in the morgue is none other than the body of Jonathan St. Andrew, which cannot be true as no St. Andrew has been alive for a few hundred years.

Pleading for Luke to help her escape, Lanny continues her story which starts in 1811 and talks about her admiration for the town founder’s son, Jonathan, despite her father’s and brother’s hatred for the St. Andrew family. You see St. Andrews were quite wealthy, while everyone else struggled to get by. Secretly, and despite being a few years younger, Lanny develops a friendship with Jonathan that later turns into a fling, one that results in her pregnancy. Lanny tries to hide her situation from her family. Jonathan becomes engaged to another very young girl, an arrangement made by his father. With nowhere else to turn, Lanny tells her parents of her pregnancy. Her father is furious and embarrassed. The decision is made that Lanny will be sent to Boston to live at a nunnery, in which the baby will be given up for adoption.

Lanny's life completely changes as she arrives in Boston. She is instantly swept into a wealth man’s, Adair, odd group, where in time she becomes Immortal. She now has riches beyond her wildest dreams, but the only thing she can think about is her beloved Jonathan.

The Taker is a stunningly haunted tale that will stay in your thoughts long after you have read the last word. From the first paragraph, I was swept into this creative world of Lanore “Lanny” Melvare. This is not a sweet love story; this is a very dark and twisted love story. Despite what you might think, Lanny is not a vampire, she is just an immortal, which was forced upon her. The good Doctor Luke Findley is a lost soul and caught up into the dangerous world that Lanny has created for herself. The Taker is a blend of the Interview with a Vampire, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The narrative is wonderfully written as is the plot. The paperback edition that I have reviewed includes a sneak peak of the upcoming sequel, The Reckoning. The Taker is a beautiful read and I recommend it to all readers.”

Billy wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Addiction and depression can consume anyone, even us writers. From Modern History Press comes a bold new book Writers on the Edge, where 22 writers speak about their own addiction and dependencies. Editors Diana Raab, award-winning memoirist and poet, and James Brown, author and Professor of English in the M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing at California State University, San Bernardino, has complied together memories, poetry, and essays by contemporary authors who bring a new truthful edge with the world of addiction.

Writes on the Edge is bravely written from first-person narratives from authors/writers such as Rachel Yoder; Chase Twichell; Sue William Silverman; Linda Gray Sexton; Stephen Jay Schwartz; Scott Russell Sanders; Molly Peacock; Victoria Patterson; Gregory Orr; Perie Longo; David Huddle; Ruth Fowler; B.H Fairchild; Denise Duhamel; Anna David; Maud Casey; Margaret Bullitt-Jonas; Kera Bolonik; and Frederick & Stephen Barthelme. Each segment deals with the author’s addiction, from drugs and alcohol, to sex, gambling, food, etc.

Each author in Writers on the Edge passionately and emotionally wrote their true story. There is heartbreak, honesty, and courage in every written piece. I recommend it to all writers & readers.
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Billy wrote this review Sunday, April 1, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“ Picking up where book one left off, we find Meagan and her magical horse, Promise, barely escaping being executed for witchcraft in 1616 Western Europe. Promise takes her back in time, this time landing on a ship, but not just any ship. They land on the Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortés’s ship in the year 1519 where Meagan becomes in charge of taking care of the captain’s horse. Then, Promise takes her to the court of Louis XIV of France, the Sun King, where she poses as a stable-hand. Last, the Great Horse takes Meagan to Regency, England in 1816.

The Legend of the Great Horse series is unlike any other horse series written for young adults. Just like book one, the author has gone to great lengths to add historical accuracies to this fantasy tale. Young readers will find the time traveling horse to be interesting, but there is so much more to young Meagan’s quest. You will learn about the hardships that horses went through in each period that Meagan visits. In addition, you will learn fun fact about historical figures like Louis XIV and Hernan Cortes. There are some scenes of violence in The Golden Spark especially during the Spaniards’ battle with the Aztecs, that some horse lovers may not care for, but as I said, the author is going for historical accuracies. I would have to say my favorite part of the book was the amazing descriptions of the foxhunt during Meagan’s visit to England. Both fantasy and history readers will enjoy reading about The Great Horse. I recommend it to everyone.
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Billy wrote this review Saturday, March 17, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Growing Up Ziglar is by author Julie Ziglar Norman, the daughter of the writer and motivator speaker Zig Ziglar. In this motivational and inspirational book, Julie tells us her life story. Obviously, one would think living in the Ziglar household she would be the perfect daughter, following by the rules, but just like everyone else, she is not perfect. In the book, you will read about her trouble marriages, what is like to be a single parent, and finally finding God’s grace and forgiveness.

When I received this complementary copy from Summerside Press/Guidepost, I did not know what to think, as it was not my normal read. Late one night, and since the book is under 200 pages, I picked up the book and started reading about Julie. Honestly, I have never heard of the Ziglar family before, and after a few chapters, I was hooked. Julie has been through many rough patches in her life and you instantly feel for as she struggled to find grace. There is a lot of heartache, but there are also moments of joy and happiness through Growing Up Ziglar. I recommend the book to all.
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Billy wrote this review Saturday, March 17, 2012. ( reply | permalink )