The Tools

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Author:  Phil Stuzz, Barry Michels  
Publisher:  Random House
Pages:  288
Genre:  Self Help
Source:  BEA










Goodreads:      A groundbreaking book about personal growth that presents a uniquely effective set of four tools that bring about dynamic change in the present and impart a greater understanding of the depth and complexity of the human condition over the longterm.
 
The Tools addresses the most common complaint patients have about psychotherapy: the interminable wait for change to begin. Barry Michels, an LA-based therapist, was frustrated by his inability to bring his patients faster relief from the issues that plagued them. He found a mentor in Phil Stutz, a psychiatrist who years before devised a methodology that arose from a similar disenchantment. The traditional therapeutic model sets its sights on the past, but Stutz and Michels employ an arsenal of tools–exercises that access the power of the unconscious and effectively meet the most persistent problems people face–and the results are electrifying. Stutz and Michels are much sought-after–a recent profile in The New Yorker touted them as an “open secret” in Hollywood–and treat a high-powered and creative clientele. Their first work, The Tools transcends the typical self-help genre because of its paradigm-changing material, the credibility of its authors, and the instant appeal and empowerment of its message.




Ope’s Opinion:  This is not my usual genre.  It was a nice change of read.  You should read it, take what helps you from it and leave the rest.  It is definitely a different perspective on therapy.  There were good examples of people who the therapists helped.  Parts of the book were interesting and parts drug on and lost my attention.  

Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.

                                               

                                                FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 
                                   I received one copy of this book free of charge from BEA. 
                       I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                              book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                         

Collateral

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Author:  Ellen Hopkins
Publisher:  Atria Books
Pages:  496
Genre:  Poetry
Source:  Atria Books

Goodreads:  Written in Hopkins’s stunning poetic verse style, Collateral centers on Ashley, an MFA student at San Diego State University. She grew up reading books and never dreamed she would become a military wife. One night she meets a handsome soldier named Cole. He doesn’t match the stereotype of the aggressive military man. He’s passionate and romantic. He even writes poetry. Their relationship evolves into a sexually charged love affair that goes on for five years and survives four deployments. Cole wants Ashley to marry him, but when she meets another man, a professor with similar pursuits and values, she begins to see what life might be like outside the shadow of war.

Collateral captures the hearts of the soldiers on the battlefield and the minds of the friends, family, and lovers they leave behind. Those who remain at home may be far away from the relentless, sand-choked skies of the Middle East and the crosshairs of a sniper rifle, but just the same, all of them will sacrifice a part of themselves for their country and all will eventually ask themselves if the collateral damage caused by war is worth the fight.



Ope’s Opinion:  I was not able to finish this, so I am not reviewing or rating it.   I do believe this book deserves a shout out, even though I didn’t finish it.  The story seemed like a good one that needed to be told.  I just couldn’t get past the format ( verse ) of the writing.


Rating:  None



                 FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 
      I received one copy of this book free of charge from Atria Books Galley Alley. 
      I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
            book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                        

Private Arrangements

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Author:  Brenda Jackson

Publisher:  Harlequin Kimani
Pages:  224
Genre:  Romance
Source:  BEA

Goodreads:     No man has ever tempted her like this…Nikki Cartwright can’t believe Jonas Steele—the Jonas Steele—has chosen her for a high-profile marketing venture. It could make her career. But when she remembers the kiss they once shared, a kiss so intimate it sent their desire skyrocketing from simmering to blazing, Nikki knows she must guard her heart against the seductive Phoenix playboy as if her life depends on it.

Jonas has no problem making their professional relationship personal. With the beautiful and talented photographer within his reach, he can erase her from his system once and for all. From a whirlwind Las Vegas affair to jet-setting across four continents, this Steele discovers getting Nikki out of his system is easier said than done, and now he wants her to belong to him heart and soul—as the woman of his most passionate fantasies.



Ope’s Opinion:  I enjoy reading about the chemistry between two single adults, but I like a story with it.  This book had little to no story.  It was all about how much the two characters wanted each other.  There was very little conversation.  I kept reading thinking there might be something more to this book.  I have another book by Brenda that I don’t think I will be reading.  I will pass it on to a friend who might enjoy it.

Rating:  Two Chairs – I may have one friend who might like this book.





                                            FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                                                            I received one copy of this book free of charge from BEA. 
                                                               I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                                                           book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                        

One Good Friend Deserves Another

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Author:  Lisa Verge Higgins
Publisher:  5 Spot
Pages: 352
Genre:  Chic Lit
Source:  BEA

Goodreads:  
 HOW MANY OF THESE DATING RULES HAVE YOU BROKEN?

1. Choose Your Own Man
2. Make Sure Your Friends Approve
3. No One-Night Stands
4. Trust Your Instincts
5. Never Make the Same Mistake Twice
6. After a Break-Up, Wait Six Months Before Dating Again.

Dhara, Kelly, Marta, and Wendy have been the closest of friends since college. So close, that after a series of romantic disasters, they bond together to create Rules of Relationships to keep their hearts safe.

Years later, the rules seem to have worked . . . until Marta discovers that her hot boyfriend is married, Kelly begins a risky love affair, Wendy inches closer to a pre-marital infidelity, and, most shocking of all, Indian-American Dhara suddenly agrees to an arranged marriage.

Hearts are about to be broken and the bonds of friendship are tested. Is it possible to find true love, when you’re breaking all the rules?



Ope’s Opinion:  When you start to read this book – take the first couple of chapters slow.  There are a lot of people to get to know and a lot of information in the beginning.  After that, you will not want to stop reading!  It is a wonderful story of real friends.  All four them are in each others business, but only because they care and want to protect each other.  If you are fortunate enough to have friends like these, share this book with them and celebrate that friendship.

Rating:  Four Chairs – I  like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.




             
                           FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                                   I received one copy of this book free of charge from BEA. 
                                          I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                                   book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                         

The Summer My Life Began

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Author:  Shannon Greenland

Publisher:  Speak
Pages: 250
Genre:  Young Adult / Contemporary
Source:  Chic Lit Is Not Dead
Goodreads:   A great summer beach read filled with sunshine, cooking, and—of course—romance!

Elizabeth Margaret–better known as Em–has always known what her life would contain: an internship at her father’s firm, a degree from Harvard, and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is, it’s not what she wants. So when she gets the opportunity to get away and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em learns that her family has some pretty significant secrets. And then there’s Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn’t. Naturally, she can’t resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels that for the first time ever, she is really living life on her own terms.


Ope’s Opinion:  You think you know where this book is going from the beginning, but surprise – you don’t!  It has wonderful turns you just won’t expect.
  
                                      I have two daughters ( grown now ) I would have recommend this book for them to read as young adults.  I am going to suggest they read it now too!!   It has no inappropriate language or scenes in it.  It kept my attention through the whole book.

                                     Just a wonderful, easy, enjoyable read.



Rating: Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.


                                FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                                I received one copy of this book free of charge from Chick Lit Is Not Dead. 
                                                I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                                        book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                        

The Good Woman

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Author:  Jane Porter
Publisher:  Berkley Trade
Pages:  368
Genre:  Woman’s Fiction
Source:  BookSparks

Goodreads:  Is it possible to leave it all behind? 

The firstborn of a large Irish-American family, Meg Brennan Roberts is a successful publicist, faithful wife, and doting mother who prides herself on always making the right decisions. But years of being “the good woman” have taken a toll and though her winery career thrives, Meg feels burned out and empty, and more disconnected than ever from her increasingly distant husband. Lonely and disheartened, she attends the London Wine Fair with her boss, ruggedly handsome vintner, Chad Hallahan. It’s here, alone together in an exotic city, far from “real” life, that Chad confesses his long-standing desire for Meg.

Overwhelmed, flattered, and desperately confused, Meg returns home, only to suddenly question every choice she’s ever made, especially that of her marriage. For Meg, something’s got to give, and for once in her life she flees her responsibilities—but with consequences as reckless and irreversible as they are liberating. Now she must decide whether being the person everyone needs is worth losing the woman she was meant to be.




Ope’s Opinion:  I think this book needs to be divided into three parts.
                              
                                       The first part grabbed me.  It was about the sisters, their relationships with each other and their parents.  I was into this part of the book.

                                      The second part was about Meg going to London.  At this point I felt like I was reading a script for a soap opera.  It did not even feel like the same author was writing this part.  I almost put it down at this point.

                                     The third part was about family again.  This time Meg’s family.  It was very dramatic, a little more realistic then the middle part of the book.  I felt like a lot of loose ends were not tied up by the time the book was finished.




Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.




                                   FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                          I received one copy of this book free of charge from BookSparks . 
                              I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                       book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                        

Twelve Months

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Author:  Steven Manchester
Publisher: The Story Plant
Pages:  324
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Source: The Author – Steven Manchester

Goodreads:  Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full.

A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, TWELVE MONTHS is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.



Ope’s Opinion:  I would actually give it three and a half chairs ( I just don’t have a half of a friend! ).
                                     
                                      This book was very well written.  It was not as sad or morbid as I thought it could have been.  It was nice to see how one man would handle knowing his limit of time left with the people he loved and the people he wanted to influence.  

                                      Twelve Months, made me stop to think about how well I took care of those who have already left this earth.  Was I as supportive as Bella was?  Did I allow them to do what they needed to do so they could leave in peace?  It also makes me think  – what do I need to do now,  instead of waiting?

                                      I think this book will be with me long after I pass it on to other people. ” Leave more then you take”  is the best quote from the book.


Rating:  Three Chairs – I like this book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.



                                    FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                                              I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author. 
                                                      I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                                             book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                        

Alice Bliss

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Author:  Laura Harrington
Publisher:  Penguin Books
Pages:  320
Genre:  Young Adult
Source:  Bird Bash










Goodreads:   Tomboy Alice Bliss is heartbroken when she learns that her father, Matt, is being deployed to Iraq. Matt will miss seeing Alice blossom into a full-blown teenager: she’ll learn to drive, join the track team, go to her first dance, and fall in love—all while trying to be strong for her mother, Angie, and her precocious little sister. But the phone calls from her father are never long enough. At once universal and very personal, Alice Bliss is a profoundly moving story about those who are left at home during wartime and a small-town teenage girl bravely facing the future.


Ope’s Opinion:  IF I were to suggest this to a young adult to read, I would highly recommend the parent read it first.  This book is deeply emotional.  

                                      I am usually not a fan of books written in diary form.  However, this book is an exception.  First, diary books in my opinion are choppy.  The story in this book flows from one entry to the next.   Second, I usually don’t enjoy the diary because it tends to be only one persons emotions.  This book explored the emotions of all the characters.
                                      This is what I would call a heavy book.  It deals with difficult situations, that are hard to read.  It is believable, which actually makes it harder to read.




Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.






                            

                 FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

      I received one copy of this book free of charge from Bird Bash. 
      I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
            book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                        






Bill Warrington’s Last Chance

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Author:  James King
Publisher:  Penguin Books
Pages:  304
Genre:  Literary Fiction
Source: Bird Bash

Goodreads:   “Part road odyssey, part coming-of-age tale, King’s novel achieves the exact right balance of humor, redemption, and reconciliation.” –Booklist

James King’s acclaimed debut novel is a rich multigenerational saga that soars with compassion and insight into the pain and joy of family life. Confronted with a diagnosis that threatens his most cherished memories, Bill Warrington-a monumentally stubborn ex-Marine-hatches a daring scheme to grab the attention of his three grown children and patch up their differences. April, his fifteen-year-old granddaughter, wants nothing so much as to become a rock star on the West Coast, making her the perfect-and perfectly willing-abductee on a cross- country trip. With the panorama of America as its backdrop, their adventure becomes an unforgettable journey of discovery and atonement.




Ope’s Opinion:  Maybe my difficulty  with this book, had nothing to do with the book.  I had a “Bill” in my life, who was difficult and cranky.  He had little respect for other people.  This Bill reminded me of him too much to enjoy his journey.

                                    I kept reading because I did like some of the other people in the story.  

Rating:  Two Chairs – I may have one friend who might like this book.

                            


                              FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                                     I received one copy of this book free of charge from Bird Bash. 
                                           I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                                    book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
                                                        

Better Than Chocolate

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Author:  Sheila Roberts
Publisher:  Harlequin MIRA
Pages:  400
Genre:  Women’s Fiction
Source:  BEA  

Goodreads:   Sweet Dreams Chocolate Company has been in the Sterling family for generations, ever since Great-Grandma Rose literally dreamed up her first fabulous recipe. But now it looks as if they’re about to lose Sweet Dreams to the bank—and that would be a disaster, not only for the family but for the town of Icicle Falls, Washington. Can Samantha, the oldest daughter and new head of the company, come up with a way to save it?After Samantha does some brainstorming with her mother and sisters, inspiration strikes. They’ll have a chocolate festival! Time’s running out, but the Sterling women are determined and the town’s behind them, so everything’s bound to go smoothly….

Or not. Events seem to be conspiring against Samantha, and her mother’s attempts to help aren’t helping. To make matters worse, the fate of her company is in the hands of her archenemy, Blake Preston, the bank manager with the football-hero good looks. It’s enough to drive her to chocolate. But Blake’s also enough to convince her that (believe it or not) there’s something even better than chocolate.

Ope’s Opinion:  This book was so cute!  I just enjoyed reading it.  It was relaxing and an easy read.  I would like a sequel to this book.  I want to know how Samantha’s sisters lives grow and change. I also want to hear about her mother making it on her own.
                             At the beginning of each chapter the mother had some wise words.  It added a nice touch to the book.
                             If you are looking for something quick, easy and light – this is a great book for you.
                           

Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

                                               

                       FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection: 

                                                 I received one copy of this book free of charge from BEA. 
                                       I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the
                                              book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.