BLOG TOUR: Charlie's Girl w/Daniel and Mary-Helen Foxx

About the Authors

Mary-Helen Foxx retired in 2009 after a long career in public education with the Peoria Unified School District where she worked primarily in library services and IT.
She has written widely on genealogical topics and has authored four books on the histories of prominent Southern families. Mary-Helen was also a contributing editor for three years with Georgia Genealogical Magazine and has won awards for her writing.

Daniel Foxx is professor emeritus of history at Ottawa University in Phoenix and has been published in various academic and historical journals. He is the author of I Only Laugh When It Hurts (reissued by Pelican Publishing Company, Gretna, LA, 2009).
His latest book, Nathan Bedford Forrest: In Search of the Enigma with Eddy W. Davison (Pelican, 2007) was a National Book Awards nominee, received the 2008 Arizona Book Award for biography, and was finalist for the 2008 Independent Book Publishers Association Benjamin Franklin Award.

About the Book

By the time fourteen-year-old Rosalind arrives in Grayson, South Carolina, she’s spent nearly her whole life in the foster care system without a family, without a past, and without a home.

But the sudden discovery of a long-lost grandmother and a house full of mementos from her father’s childhood isn’t quite the happy ending Rosalind was hoping for. Instead it’s just the first step in uncovering the secrets from her past and maybe even the key to her future.

Set in the 1960s, this unique novel breathes life into a forgotten era and illustrates how much you can discover from your own family’s history. Perfect for readers of all ages, it’s a story you won’t soon forget.

Visit the Authors' website at: http://www.charlies-girl.com/

REVIEW: I've Been Called the B* Word . . Now What Do I Do? by Dr. R. Kay Green

Date:                          11/29/12

Title:                           I’ve Been Called the B* Word . . . Now What Do I Do?

Author:                       Dr. R. Kay Green

ISBN 13:                      978-0-9858901-0-0

Pages:                         216

Publisher:                   RKG Marketing Solutions

Cover:                         Electronic Review Galley

Rating:                        4 Stars

 At some point in time, whether you’re in up management, a field worker or a business owner, if you’re a woman you’ve been called the B word—if not to your face, certainly behind your back. In this book, author Dr. R. Kay Green gives less attention to the derogatory “B” word and shows women how to associate themselves with more positive “B” words. Let’s face it, women have to work harder to get ahead in business more than ever, and it’s refreshing to associate women with “B” words like believer, brave, bubbly, bold, bright, and a ton of other positive descriptions of themselves.

This book gives tips on how to go from good to better and how to change your way of thinking. Many women do not succeed because of fear and it is important not to buy into that fear. You must have a game plan and set goals to get to where you need to go. One also must understand that just because something doesn’t go right the first time, or if you fall down, you must take notes, learn from those lessons then get back up and try a different approach. Try until you succeed.

Finding your niche is important, because when you find yourself being everything to everybody, you’re setting up yourself up for failure. But, when you find something you’re truly good at and that you truly enjoy, you are well on your way to success. The tips in the book are invaluable—branding, networking, vision, purpose, authenticity, and strategy.

Many of these chapters spoke to me, but one struck a personal code. Dress for the Career You Want, Not the One You Have. This is so true. Whether you know it or not, you’re branding yourself when you don’t even think you are. If you’re dressing drab for a job that you absolutely hate, you’ll remain stuck. Even if you don’t like your job, picture yourself in your successful position and dress for the occasion. We succeed when we feel good about ourselves and dressing the part can help. It is also important to remember if you’re going to wear a tailored suit, you must don a tailored attitude.

In addition this book touches on topics that every B woman must stay on top of in today’s competitive markets. These topics include technology, social media and getting in tune with the younger generation. These things along with all the tips described in this book help to keep you relative, competitive, marketable and successful.

I love books such as these that help women to become successful and this is definitely one that that I will purchase for my self-help bookshelf to refer to now and for years to come. 

REVIEW - The Lost Stones by Paul Rimmasch

Date:                 1/3/13

Title:                  The Lost Stones

Author:               Paul Rimmasch

ISBN 13:             978-1599558875

Pages:                192

Publisher:            Bonneville Books

Cover:                 Electronic Galley

Rating:                4 Stars

Ammon Rogers grew up a Mormon but wasn't a believer. He's a veteran of the Iraq war. After the war, he wanted to reconnect with his religion. He enrolls at Brigham Young University where he studies religion and physics. During his religion class, he asks what appears to be an innocent question. His professor introduces him to an archaeologist by the name of John. Will Ammon get the answer to his question?

When I first started reading this book, I was concerned with completing it. It started out a little slow. Once it picked up, I was unable to put it down. I was intrigued with the history. Character development was great. Ammon was an inquisitive student whose question even piqued my interest. You're given enough information to keep you on edge and wanting more. If you enjoy a good adventure, this is definitely the book for you. JLH

REVIEW - Where's Leopold? Your Pajamas Are Showing by Schmitt, Michel-yves

Date:                 12/12/12

Title:                  Where’s Leopold? Your Pajamas Are Showing

Author:               Michel-yves Schmitt

ISBN 13:            978-1467708715

Pages:                40

Publisher:           Graphic Universe

Cover:                Electronic Galley

Rating:               3 Stars

Leopold doesn’t want to go to school, and with the exception of his underwear, he wakes up invisible. His big sister, Celine, doesn’t believe it fully until she’s accused of eating her mother’s cake—that was actually eaten by the invisible Leopold.

Together, Leopold and Celine use his super power to play pranks on the kids at school. However, Celine is left looking silly and crazy. Leopold, then begins playing pranks on his family and having fun in the process.

I realize that this is book #1 in the Where’s Leopold series, but I was a bit confused at the way the book ended. The illustrations were okay and at 40 pages, this book is an easy read. I did like the activity at the end of the book that challenges its reader’s attention to detail, memory and concentration. And, even though this book ended abruptly, it is a good thing that the author introduces book #2 at the end. 

REVIEW: It's My Company Too! by Thompson, Benedetto, Walter and Meyer

Date:                 12/15/12

Title:                  It’s My Company Too!: How Entangled Companies Move                                                                        Beyond Employee Engagement for Remarkable Results

Author:               Thompson, Kenneth; Benedetto, Ramon; Walter, Thomas; Meyer Molly

ISBN 13:             978-1608323968

Pages:                280

Publisher:           Greenleaf Book Group

Cover:                Electronic Galley

Rating:               4 Stars

I found this book to be refreshing especially since we seem to live in a world where corporate employees are nothing more than scripted robots. I currently own my own business, but can remember the days before corporate greed had come out of the shadows and into the forefront of successful business. I worked for businesses like Charles Schwab, West Capital and Household Financial. In the beginning, all were large companies that put employees first. I have not worked for Schwab since the late 90s, but West Capital was eventually bought out by Midland and now another company, and Household Finance was bought out by HSBC Finance, who as of late has received bad exposure in the press. In the case of both Household and West Capital, the companies made drastic changes after their acquisitions.  Companies who made their employees feel “at home’ and had once awarded and showed their employees appreciation were now replaced by “one-size-fits-all” scripts and bottom line ultimatums.

It’s admirable that John Stack knew the value of engaging and “entangling’ employees. I believe that one of the many reasons companies fail today is because they seem to forget about the happiness of their employees. They fail to remember that without employees, their companies would not exist. If employees do not feel that they have anything vested in the company or if their company devalues them, they are not going to put their best foot forward. Companies will find more unhappy employees, which will, in the long run, kill their bottom line. Unhappy employees may steal from their unappreciative company, or they may call in with more sick days, or give terrible customer service.  When a company invests in an employee’s best interest by providing skill and developmental training and implements trust and values, what they are doing in essence is creating a better, more successful company.

I recommend this book especially for small business owners and entrepreneurs, but I also challenge large corporations to implement the advice given in this book. I think once we start producing happy employees, we will do what it takes to produce happy customers, which in turn, will help a company’s bottom line. This book is an excellent blueprint for business success.

Be Still & Know Virtual Book Tour w/Cassietta Jefferson

About The Book

Bitterness and deception always manage to find their way to the surface. Be Still & Know is a novel about finding love after devastating heartbreak and the challenges of learning to trust again.

Kai Bennett never believed that she was worthy of love. Too many years of being mistreated left her bitter and uncertain of her own self-worth. Finding validation in men, money, and trinkets, she has little use for a man becoming a permanent fixture in her life. That was until she met Alvin. What starts as a game of cat and mouse quickly develops into something Kai is unsure she is ready to handle.

Alvin Reigns discovered long ago that in love, there were no happy endings. He had fallen in love once, and vowed to never again allow any woman that much control over his heart. Kai Bennett was an unexpected surprise who made him want to believe in the possibility of a happy ending. After many years of self-preservation, Alvin is unsure if he should trust Kai with his heart.  How will Alvin and Kai learn to trust and create their own happy ending?

About The Author

Cassietta Jefferson is a contemporary Christian author, publisher, and blogger. She is the newest Editor in Chief for Journey, the For My Sister Friends newsletter, and the founder of Virtuous Ink Publishing. She has a passion for reading and writing, and seeks to provide her readers with the best in contemporary Christian literature. Cassietta is currently preparing for the release of a collection of short stories as well as the much anticipated follow up to her first novel.

Author Website

http://www.virtuousinkpublishing.com/author-cassietta-jefferson.html

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MsSetta

Trailer:  

Links to purchase the book:
E-Book http://www.amazon.com/Be-Still-Know-Novel-ebook/dp/B0071GXATY/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354406526&sr=1-3&keywords=cassietta+jefferson

Paper back:  http://www.amazon.com/Be-Still-Know-A-Novel/dp/1478206403/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1354406526&sr=1-3

Uncovered Virtual Book Tour w/ Shenette Swan

About the Author

Shenette Swann Jones is a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but will always claim Memphis, Tennessee, as her second home. Coming from a family of talented singers and musicians, music has always played a first role in Shenette’s life, but writing would always remain her most treasured gift among her other talents. When Shenette wasn’t singing or choreographing a dance routine, she would escape to her many journals or poetry clubs, and eventually even a newspaper staff or two. From music to writing, her passion for life shines in every multifaceted direction she takes.

Today, Shenette is a motivational speaker, a community activist, an incredibly diverse vocalist, and a new novelist. The year 2010 saw Shenette’s first published work in “Home Again; Stories of Restored Relationships”, a heartwarming anthology by award winning author Wanda B. Campbell. Since then, Shenette has perfected her craft as a writer in order to produce her first novel, Uncovered. When she isn’t blogging, journaling, or creating another story, Shenette enjoys taking an aggressive stand in the community against domestic violence and sexual assault. She also advocates strongly for youth education rights and racial relations within her community.

After 13 years of marriage and two wonderful sons, Shenette is thoroughly excited to return to writing full-time and hopes to use her imagination as a tool of inner healing, self-reflection, and a great source of entertainment for others.

About the Book

After 5 years of marriage, Minister Stephanie Hall's patience wears thin with her husband's disinterest in sexual intimacy. With her desire for closeness and attention causing her faith to plummet, Stephanie fights an inner struggle of beauty and self-acceptance as her desperate need to be adored grows out of control...

Markus Hall wishes his past would go away, but the haunting events of his childhood years keep him distant from his wife Stephanie, and her constant requests for sex only push him away and remind him of the very things he’d rather forget. When his boss calls upon Markus to tutor his stunningly gorgeous daughter for her college classes, he can’t resist such a tempting offer, feeling needed and important each time the beautiful tutorial student looks into his eyes...

Suspecting that the relationship between her husband and the Indian beauty is more intimate than it seems, Stephanie decides to take matters into her own hands: weary with prayer, she abandons her faith and finds gratification in the arms of Matthew King, a church member’s husband...

With Markus and Stephanie's healing seemingly too far to reach, they both find themselves searching for anything that resembles true love; however, in the pursuit of their new passion, the troubled spouses soon find themselves uncovered in a bitter storm of infidelity. Will this God fearing couple return to their faith and mend their brokenness...?

Purchase the Book Online at:

Amazon.com

BarnesandNoble.com

Book Trailer:

http://youtu.be/N21aWSQ6bU0

For More Information

Visit the author online at:

www.shenettejones.com

www.facebook.com/AuthorShenetteSwannJones

View the blog tour schedule at:

http://tywebbinvirtualevents.com/ 

REVIEW - My Two Uncles by Jeff Rivera

Date:                   1/13/13

Title:                    My Two Uncles

Author:                Jeff Rivera

ISBN 13:              Smashwords Edition

Pages:                 Unknown

Publisher:             Jeff Rivera  

Cover:                  Electronic

Rating:                    4 Stars

Bestselling author, Jeff Rivera writes a children’s book that addresses a very real and touchy topic in the world today. With more acceptances of alternative lifestyles and the people they affect, little is addressed about children affected by same sex unions and relationships. My Two Uncles addresses this with a display of love and innocence of children.  The underlying message to children is that it is okay to accept people for who they are and that it’s okay to be different.

My Two Uncles is an easy read for children of various ages and is accompanied with vivid illustrations depicting the love of children, uncles and parents. I would have loved to see God mentioned somewhere in the title and I would love to see a version or a separate title from the viewpoint of the author’s nieces and nephews. I have no doubt this book will be a great hit.

Betsy Schow Finished Being Fat Blog Tour

ABOUT THE BOOK

Not everyone can win the race, but everyone can finish it.

Find the strength to conquer even your most daunting goals in this inspiring account of one woman’s journey to the life of her dreams. It all started the morning Betsy Schow woke up ten pounds heavier than the month before and surrounded by the clutter of halfhearted projects and discarded hobbies. She decided she’d had enough.

What followed in her quest to wish away the extra 75 pounds around her middle accidentally changed her life for good. Using her Philosophy of Finishing, Betsy snowballed her efforts from weight loss into a bucket list of seemingly impossible dreams. Now she’s here to share the simple secret to her incredible success.

Whether your goal is losing weight, running a marathon, cleaning out the basement, or all of the above, this informative book will teach you how to achieve more than you ever thought possible without sacrificing your sanity or your sense of humor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After many years of unhappiness and being unpleasantly plump, Betsy Schow found her way to weight loss success and a better life through the Philosophy of Finishing. She shares it all in her first book, Finished being Fat – available January 2013 from Cedar Fort Inc. Her adventure inspired her certify in yoga and fitness so she could help others achieve their goals. You can find her running around the mountains of Utah, chained to her laptop, or wrangling two small children.

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment in the comment section for the author and automatically be entered into a drawing to win a FREE copy of FINISHED BEING FAT! 

VISIT BETSY AT

WWW.BETSYSCHOW.COM

REVIEW

Date:                          1/3/13

Title:                           Finished Being Fat: An Accidental Adventure in Losing Weight and Learning How to Finish

Author:                       Betsy Schow

ISBN 13:                    978-1462111251

Pages:                      144

Publisher:                  Cedar Fort

Cover:                       Electronic

Rating:                       4 Stars             

            In her debut title, Finished Being Fat, author Betsy Schow claims not to be a role model or an expert on losing weight or running a marathon. However, I found this book to read somewhat like a self-help book. This is actually a good thing and I think it was clever on the part of the author and her publishers, Cedar Fort, to choose January at the release date for this book as many are making goals to get fit and to lose weight.

            Betsy’s tale is realistic as it shows the ups and downs, and seems to portray more downs than ups as she struggles along her journey to lose weight. She inspires readers to find their methodical “thud” and get Finished Being Fat.

            One unique twist to this book is that many books of this type, although inspiring, aren’t completely realistic in that Betsy includes eating right and exercise, but includes that she is not perfect. Many authors of books of these sorts will share how they lost the weight and what they ate, but fail to really talk about their struggle during the process. Rarely do you see these types of books talk about how the subject slipped off the wagon, ate a Krispy Kreme donut and got back on.

            In addition, for those readers who have had added “run a marathon” to their bucket list, this book inspires them to do it and finish it, regardless of how you finish it. At the end of the book, the author gives ten items on her so-called bucket list. With the exception of the weight loss and running a marathon, I’d love to see a follow up book as she achieves the other items on that list. 

Call for Authors and Industry Professionals