RebeccasReads

Confessions of a Real Estate Mini-Mogul

James Pockross
Samson Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780979695100
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (1/09)

Have you been interested in learning more about the subject of real estate investing?  Does it seem that every book you open on the subject is so technical and formal that you are barely able to get through the opening pages without either being lost or bored out of your mind?  If so, then “Confessions of a Real Estate Mini-Mogul:  How to Succeed in Real Estate Despite Ghosts, Pitbulls, Annoying Tenants, and the Government” is definitely the book for you!  I never thought that I would say this about a book classified into the Business/Real Estate Investing category of books, but James Pockross’s book is a true page-turner.  I absolutely enjoyed it from cover to cover and found it very difficult to put down.  Every aspect of the business is set out for you in a very easy-to-read format, and it is full of interesting examples illustrating the main points being made. 

The book is divided up into three parts:  “My Story,” “Lessons from the Street,” and, finally, “Ruminations from the Mind of a Mini-Mogul.”  One of my favorite parts of the book was the first section, “My Story.”  I truly enjoyed reading about the author’s real life experiences in the field of real estate investing.  He shows how a regular person starting with almost nothing was able to become successful and I found his story to be very inspirational.

The second part of the book explains the various aspects of the business including certain financial considerations, analyzing whether or not a property is a deal, how to find a deal, tips on negotiating, and how to determine whether or not to sell a property once you own it.  Once again in this section, Pockross uses true-life examples and effectively gets across every point that he is trying to make.  He is able to simplify even the most complicated aspects of real estate investing.  

In the last section, Pockross shares with us his tips on how to make money in real estate, how the government can both positively and negatively affect real estate investing, and the pros and cons of partnerships.    

All of the information throughout the book is presented in a very straightforward, simple to understand manner.  I highly recommend “Confessions of a Real Estate Mini-Mogul” to anyone thinking of investing in the real estate market.  Not only is the book jam-packed full of helpful tips and useful information, but this unique work also has an element of humor and is a very entertaining read.

Divinely Inspired

Jerry J. Pollock
Shechinah Third Temple (2009)
ISBN 9780981721255
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (1/09)

Having previously read Jerry Pollock’s book, “Messiah Interviews,” I was very interested in going back and reading his first work, “Divinely Inspired:  Spiritual Awakening of a Soul” to gain more insight into the biographical events that I found so interesting in the second book.  Once I started reading “Divinely Inspired,” I literally could not put it down.

In the Prologue, Pollock states that the purpose of the book is not to be an autobiography but to be about spiritual change.  I, however, think that the book fits neatly into both categories.  The first part of the work focuses more on the memoir aspect whereas the second part is more focused on spiritual change.

I found Pollock’s childhood and adult life to be very intriguing and I applaud him for the courage and strength that it must have taken to put his life experiences down on paper for the world to read.  As a child, Pollock was not shown love by his parents.  One particular incident that sticks with me is him as a young child at his first wedding.  He saw other children dancing with their mothers and so he went over to his own mother who was already out on the floor, and indicated that he would like to dance with her.  She spun him once, let him go, and then ignored him for the man she was dancing with.  Left standing in the middle of the floor alone, he was overwhelmed with sadness and feelings of being unwanted.  These types of instances were a common occurrence in his childhood.

As an adult, Pollock suffered with severe depression, anxiety, paranoia, and mania.  He describes a pretty frightening chain of events that occurred in his life during this time.  To find relief, he tried many things including medication, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and Primal Therapy.  Of these, the most success came from Primal Therapy.  “The aim and principal of Primal Therapy is to feel the hurtful feelings and sensations of early childhood and birth.  The repression or nonfeeling of these feelings triggers stored suffering and pain, because essential needs of the fetus, infant, and child are not met.  Feeling and reliving the pain causes the pain to disappear, and frees us from a life of neurotic behavior that otherwise robs us of the essence of who we really are.” (p.150)

Watching Pollock’s personal spiritual journey and growth was very fascinating and inspirational. His spiritual insights presented in the Epilogue of the book are also very thought provoking.  Once again, as with “Messiah Interviews,” I enjoyed the stimulating discussion surrounding The Ten Commandments.  I think that anyone can benefit and take something away from “Divinely Inspired:  Spiritual Awakening of a Soul” and I highly recommend it!

The Fortress of Darkness

Patricia Perry
PublishAmerica (2007)
ISBN 9781424180974
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (1/09)

“The Fortress of Darkness” by Patricia Perry is the second novel in her “Quest” trilogy of books.  This installment is set two hundred and fifty years after the events in the initial book, “Quest for the Source of Darkness.”  I have not had the opportunity to read the first book in the trilogy, but once I got into this second book I found that the story stood alone on its own very well.  The Prologue of the book is jam-packed with information laying out the current state of events in the land.  While the multitude of information crammed into the two-page Prologue may seem overwhelming to one who has not read the first book, once you begin the first chapter everything begins to fall into place and make sense.

One of my favorite parts of “The Fortress of Darkness” definitely was the cast of main characters.  The main players are an unlikely group including elves, dwarves, a Herkah, and a demon, who while on missions of their own became united to try to destroy Emhella, a Vox (one of the highest forms of demons) who had been collecting magic in order to open the underbelly of the land.  “The land below is sterile.  It is nothing more than rock, molten lava and sulfurous vapors.  It would smother the living and allow all the demons to inhabit the land.” (p.84)  It was interesting to see the different personality traits, qualities, and interactions among the many races in the group. 

I think that my all-time favorite character in Perry’s book was May, a fist-sized spider, and the demon Sara’s companion.  Although I am not a big fan of spiders in real life, I loved each and every situation into which May was incorporated, such as protecting Sara and playing a part in Sara’s first interactions with Clay and August.  May was such a unique and interesting part of the book; you can’t help but to love her!

“The Fortress of Darkness” is a page-turner!  It is filled with action and adventure and once you are drawn in you will be left wanting more.  I look forward to reading Perry’s final book in the “Quest” trilogy!

The Woman in The Wing

Jean Sheldon
Bast Press (2008)
ISBN 9780972354165
Reviewed by Sandie Kirkland for RebeccasReads (1/09)

The Woman In The Wing is a mystery that follows the adventures of Charlotte Mercer and other members of the WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilots) during World War II.    This organization, made up entirely of women, was loosely attached to the Air Force and did routine flying missions within the United States, such as delivering planes to new locations, or towing targets for gun practice, so that male pilots in the Air Force would be freed for fighting missions overseas.  The women in the WASP were not considered full service people, and had no benefits such as medical insurance or even money to cover funerals when a woman died during a mission.  Still, women flocked to serve, as opportunities to fly and serve the country were rare.  Charlotte, know as Char, is crushed when weeks from getting her wings, she encounters an Air Force Major who refuses to pass her for graduation unless she performs sexual favors for him.

When Char refuses, she is taken off the flying rotation and given an alternate assignment.  She is assigned to work undercover in a plant that builds aircraft and has been experiencing sabotage and accidents.  Char is to room with an FBI agent named Ellie, and they work at riveting plane wings while trying to discover the spy responsible for the problems.  People start to die, both plant employees and women pilots, and the book revolves around the investigation until the spy is captured at the book's climax.

This book is recommended, both for mystery fans and for those interested in World War II history.  While I'd heard of the stereotype of Rosie the Riveter, and the work these women performed, I had never heard of the WASP, and the women who served their country in this fashion.  I found the history as interesting as the plotline, and welcomed the chance to learn more about a time that helped lay the groundwork for the women's liberation movement in the next generation.

ReBecoming: The Way of Opportunity

J.R. Maxon
Dassana Press (2009)
ISBN 9780981520155
Reviewed by Tina Avon for RebeccasReads (10/08)

As I was reading this book, I kept getting the weirdest feeling: that the author knew me personally and had decided that he would write a book just for me.  That is the kind of feeling you get when you read ReBecoming: The Way of Opportunity.  For one thing, I was hugely surprised that the author was male, as his main character is a female.  Maxon does a wonderful job of writing from the female point of view, which is, in my opinion, extremely rare, especially considering the sensitivity and insight found in this book.

The novel is in essence about a woman, Diana Archer, who knows that she "should" be happy, but is clueless as to how to do that.  She therefore embarks on a journey through all kinds of adventures in order to figure out how to find the happiness that seems to be so close and yet still eludes her.

Its difficult to write a synopsis of this book, because this story is so much more than any synopsis could describe.  Through every sentence, imagery and emotion, there is a hidden message, an opposing point of view and a promise of something more.

Indeed, many people today have all the elements they need to feel contentment and yet they are unhappy.  The challenge for all of us is to find a way out/around/through the day-to-day mundane events that get us down, and reach for a different way - in fact, believe that there is a better, softer way.  Some would call it spirituality.

In this story, our main character Diana is asked to open her heart and listen to her inner guide to blot out the obvious and look for the beauty.  As always, the Universe always gives us what we need (if not what we want), so to this end, she is sent a guide who gently points her in the direction she needs to start her voyage.

Diana slowly, but surely comes to believe in a power that is greater than she is, but also in the fact that there is beauty, joy and contentment in her everyday life, if she is willing to put away her habitual ways of thinking (that are limiting and play on the mind), and is willing to open herself up to the joys around her, she will find the joy and contentment that she is seeking.

This book is unusual, in my opinion, because although the storyline is basically presented as a novel and actually reads a little bit like “chick lit,” it somehow manages to blend all of these elements with a deep spiritual connection and creates the core of the book.

Yes, this book is absolutely about finding your spirituality, but it’s also an explosion of joy at your life or the promise of what it can be! My mother always says, "Life is what you make it." We basically have all the tools we need, if only we are willing to use them.

I really loved this book.  It made me sad, happy and willing to work even more on my spiritual side.

Awakening Consciousness: A Girl’s Guide!

Robin Marvel
Loving Healing Press (2008)
ISBN 9781932690804
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (1/09)

“Awakening Consciousness: A Girl’s Guide!” by Robin Marvel is Book #4 in the “Growing With Love” series of books published by Loving Healing Press.  In this unique book, Marvel aims to promote awareness of self and encourage children to become more in touch with their spiritual side.  The information is presented in a straightforward, hands-on manner that would be very easy for a preteen or teenager to understand.  The workbook style format of the book helps to reinforce the points made and aid in the reader’s comprehension and retention of the subject matter at hand.

In the Note at the beginning of the book the author states that “There is a shift taking place in our world and Universal Awareness will prevail.  As parents we have the opportunity to guide our children to a path of true awareness.  Children are the future and by adding metaphysical teachings into their lives we can guide them towards seeing the big picture.”

The short lessons present information relating to a variety of different areas including auras, chakras, meditation, aromatherapy, dreaming, crystals, and angels.  Each of the teachings strongly promotes reader participation, which I think truly drives home the points being made.  For instance, in the section in which chakras are discussed, there is first an introduction in which a general definition is given as to exactly what a chakra is.  Then, Marvel goes on to provide descriptions of all seven existing chakras.  The next page has a matching exercise where the reader is to match the named chakra to its corresponding color.  Following that, there is a space for the participant to draw a body outline and label each chakra.  Finally, the remaining pages in the lesson focus on keeping all of your chakras healthy by exercising each and every one of them.  Movements to do this are explained in detail, along with photographs showing actual children doing them.

“Awakening Consciousness: A Girl’s Guide!” provides easy, interactive, and fun activities that any child will definitely enjoy and effectively learn a lot from.  Marvel’s workbook is a great tool to help our younger generation explore deep within themselves, increase awareness, and encourage spiritual growth.

Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill

Alice and Brian McGowan
Storey Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781603420426
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (12/08)

“Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill” by Alice and Brian McGowan provides information on “how to grow and overwinter 165 tender plants.”  After a little bit of history about the authors and their beginnings, the book dives into an explanation as to just what a tender perennial is.  Being new to gardening, I found this explanatory section helpful to establish a foundation of knowledge on the subject.  A tender perennial is “a plant that, though hardy in its original habitat, will not survive the winter outdoors in the climate of the gardener.” (p.14) 

Also in the first section is a discussion about the origins of different perennials and how they come from all over the world.  It makes sense to think about where a plant is originally from in order to determine how it would be best to grow it and keep over the winter.  I find it fascinating that (with the right care) you can have plants originally from different parts of the world growing right in your very own backyard.

The authors state that only growing hardy plants, while it “simplifies gardening activities,” does put a limit on the options available to you and then they go on to present reasons as to why you should try tender perennial gardening.  In order to successfully do this you need to be aware of the variety of ways that you can overwinter your plants.  Different types of plants will do best in certain circumstances.  For instance, citrus plants like areas that are cool with bright light, whereas dahlias prefer areas that are dark and damp.

Although I found the first half of the book to be very interesting and came away with a lot of knowledge about plants, I really enjoyed the second half of the book, which examines the various types of tender perennials available, and includes pictures, design ideas, and information on how to overwinter each of them.  There are so many pretty and different varieties of tenders available that I am truly inspired to give overwintering a try.  “Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill” provides so many useful tips and instruction that I am sure I will be referring to it often on my quest to beautifully landscape my yard!   

The Bible Salesman: A Novel

Clyde Edgerton
Little, Brown and Company (2008)
ISBN 9780316117517
Reviewed by Sandie Kirkland for RebeccasReads (12/08)

Henry Dampier can't believe his luck.  Here he was, meandering along selling Bibles in the rural South, and he meets an honest-to-God FBI man.  More astonishing, this FBI agent, Preston Clearwater, wants Henry to work with him, taking down a stolen car ring.  All Henry has to do is drive the stolen cars from one point to the next, do everything Clearwater asks without question, and never tell anyone what he is doing.  Henry can't believe his luck.

As the book progresses, Edgerton fills in Henry's prior life.  His father was killed when Henry was a baby, and his mother left him and his sister with relatives.  He grew up surrounded with family: Aunt Dorie, Uncle Jack, Uncle Samuel, his cousin Carson and sister Catherine.  Family and religion shaped his life.  As he moves around the South, Henry meets new people.  Marleen is his first serious love, and the Finley sisters welcome him into their home.

But, all is not well.  In his new life with Clearwater, Henry starts to realize all is not quite right.  There are strange men who seem unlikely to work for the government, night trips that can't be mentioned, and soon the work progresses from taking cars to taking safes from houses.  Along the way, Henry keeps his sweetness but starts to question and put hints together.  The book builds to a revelation of murder and resolution.

Edgerton is a master at portraying Southern life.  This book illustrates life in the South in the time period from the 1930's to the late 1950's, that last generation before television, electricity and cars became commonplace.  Family and religion made up a large part of most people's lives.  People lived close to the land, growing gardens, hunting and fishing.  Moral codes were rigorous and enforcement was a community affair, where your neighbor was as likely to correct a child as the parents.

The other strength of the book is character development.  If the reader is from the South, they immediately recognize the characters, as they grew up with people who were just like the ones Edgerton describes.  The description of food, entertainment, religious beliefs and attitudes towards life are familiar, and the book feels like coming home and slipping on comfortable clothes.  This book is recommended for those looking for reading entertainment and a fond look back to another time.

The Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do

Mark Sanborn
WaterBrook Press (2008)
ISBN 9781400073061
Reviewed by Andrey Bilko for RebeccasReads (12/08)

The main point of “The Encore Effect” is to inspire readers to achieve all of the set goals and become the best, not average or good, at whatever it is that he or she is doing, whether it is performance at the job, home, or anywhere else. The book makes you stop and think about your own performance: why is mediocrity often perceived as enough?  Why not strike for the top, for the best of the best? The only thing stopping us from achieving the best results is ourselves. If something goes unplanned and not as preferred, we try to find excuses and put the blame on something or someone else. Why not take the responsibility and blame for the lack of achievement, and learn from the failure in order to improve for the future? Not many individuals can achieve excellent results without failing first, learning from their mistakes, and improving for the future. “The Encore Effect” shows examples of famous people, who are considered the best in their fields, but who also failed quite a few times before achieving those heights.

“The Encore Effect” compares everyday life situations to performances. It does not hurt to pretend like you are an actor, performing in front of an audience, hoping to grab your audience’s attention and change someone’s life, while doing it. Actors, musicians, and other performers achieve excellent results through vigorous practice, over and over again. And many life situations are not any different from musical or theatrical performances. Most of the time, it is very beneficial and almost necessary to practice, in order to achieve the best results. It is necessary to set specific goals and practice before whatever it is that you need to do, whether it is a sales call or a date with a loved one. Practice is what gives people an extra edge, allowing them to become professionals and experts at what they do. It has been shown that gaining expertise at something requires 10,000 hours of practice (see recently published “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell). Practice, practice, and more practice, while knowing specific and realistic goals, is all that is needed “to achieve remarkable performance in anything you do.”

If you could not tell from the previous paragraphs, I found the book really inspiring, a text that makes you reconsider your own behavior, making you strive for excellence. In addition, this book has a lot of inspiring Christian commentary, which was no interest to me, but I am sure, is interesting to many. Overall, I recommend reading this book to everyone; it is a simple, quick read.  In some cases, it may be considered common knowledge, but it does not hurt to remind yourself of such common knowledge once in a while. Sometimes, it is just too easy to forget.

Playing With Fire: Whining & Dining on the Gold Coast

Thomas G. Schaudel
Legwork Team Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781604813623
Reviewed by Tina Avon for RebeccasReads (12/08)

I love memoirs, especially those that explore the underbelly of common everyday places that I might visit.  Its funny: when I walk into most restaurants, things look so peaceful and the proprietors and the patrons seem so "normal," yet, when I read a book like “Playing with Fire”, I can't help but wonder just how nutty people really can be.

Playing with Fire is an entertaining, crazy, hilarious memoir based on Thomas Schaudel's experiences in the restaurant business, and what a business it is.  From cheap patrons to downright scary food stories, this book will keep you laughing, scratching your head, and wondering, "Wow, did that really happen?”  Some of the stories just seem so "out there" to me, but I can just imagine them actually happening.  Like I mentioned earlier, the restaurants I usually visit all appear quite normal, but who knows what is going on in the kitchen while I am enjoying my meal?

This memoir is written in a very down to earth manner and you can tell that Schaudel tells it like it is, there is no sugar coating going on here, which, I must admit, kind of scares me at times.  Maybe it IS true that if my waiter gets mad enough at me, he or she will really spit in my food!

I read this book in a few days and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Of course, now I can never really look at my restaurant dining experience in quite the same light, but I will be VERY nice to everyone involved and be sure to leave a nice, BIG tip.

This is a great, light, wonderful read.

Enlightened Soups: More Than 150 Light, Healthy, Delicious and Beautiful Soups in 60 Minutes or Less

Camilla V. Saulsbury
Cumberland House Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781581826647
Reviewed by Tina Avon for RebeccasReads (12/08)

I am a finicky cook. I have very specific requirements when it comes to cookbooks and recipes:  I don't like recipes that take too long (if I get tired just reading the list of ingredients, then I know I will not be making that recipe); I don't like recipes that require too many pots and pans and, of course, the recipes must be extremely easy to prepare  - impressing everyone around me and making them think that I have just spent hours and hours slaving in the kitchen, when I know that I was lucky enough to find a great recipe book that just makes me look like a wonderful cook!!!!

Well, the Enlightened Soups cookbook is the perfect answer!  Its absolutely freezing here in my part of the world, and I can think of nothing better than a wonderfully hot, homemade soup to warm me up.  This cookbook offers over 130 different types of soups - each one containing only healthy ingredients and requiring a minimal amount of time in the kitchen.

I love the way the book is sectioned off, either by groups of food such as poultry soups or seafood soups then further broken down by "soups by total time" with the longest taking 60 minutes to make.  There is also a handy little section at the back detailing the vegan soups, the low-cal soups, the spring and summer soups, as well as a table of contents with the soups listed alphabetically.  This is probably one of the best-referenced cookbooks I have ever used.

As for the recipes themselves? Well, I have not been able to work my way through the entire 135 recipes yet, but I have tried a total of 10 so far and each and every one of the recipes have been wonderfully easy to make and extremely easy to eat!  The directions are easy to understand and the ingredients used are common to everyday kitchens.

Soups always make me feel secure and content, and this cookbook is an absolute treasure!  The only little thing I would have to mention is that I really like accompanying photos in my cookbooks and this book has a few shots at the beginning of the book but that's it.  It would have been nice to have some pictures to go with the actual recipes.

Other than that little comment, I loved this cookbook.  Perfect for a cold, wintry day

ZOOM: The Global Race to Fuel the Car of the Future

Vijay Vaitheeswaran and Iain Carson
Twelve (2008)
ISBN 9780446698665
Reviewed by Andrey Bilko for RebeccasReads (12/08)

For those who expect this book to solely focus on cars, and most importantly cars of the future, I have some bad news; this book does not exactly cover future cars. The main idea and purpose of the book is to make readers aware of the situation that America and the rest of the world is in due to our dependence on foreign oil, how we all got to this point, and what steps can be taken in the near future to try solve our current problems, like greenhouse gases and climate change. 

The book covers a brief history of the automobile industry, which was very interesting (at least to me!). It talks about the oil companies, OPEC, and also our continuous “blood for oil” policies, which were originally started by FDR. “Zoom” spends time discussing the situation with China and India’s arrival at the global stage with hungry desires for cars. It is just hard to imagine how much damage countries the size of India and China, with populations of over a billion each can do, as more and more people in these countries are able to afford and buy a car. However, both nations have shown major interest in alternative fuels, realizing the upcoming environmental damage. The book uncovers artificial governmental policies that actually ended up hurting the American goal of “going green” and exposes big oil companies’ and Detroit’s lobbyists in D.C. It is just amazing to see how counterproductive the government has been in some cases. Alternative fuels, like ethanol, hydrogen, and natural gas are also discussed, showing how non-efficient American corn-based production of ethanol is.

The authors want to make the reader beware of the current situation that we, Americans, and the whole world is in, having to alter our current habits of spitting out carbon dioxide left and right. Everyone needs to realize and take a stand for the environment and oil-independence. And the last chapter of the book gives clear insights into what every person has to do in order to stand up for the environment and change current governmental policies addressing the automotive impact on the environment.
The book is well written, very easy to read and follow. In some cases, repetitive material is present, which I thought was unnecessary. Overall, a great read to get more understanding about how oil and cars work in our society and what impact they have on our lives. “Zoom” is a great opportunity for all young adults and adults to further educate themselves on the current energy situation and make their voices heard by pressuring the government into changing current environmental protection rules, especially the ones concerning cars.

Again, the main purpose of “Zoom” is to discuss various alternative fuels, which will help America and the world to rid themselves of foreign oil dependency, stimulating local economies by making alternative fuels locally, reducing the environmental impact, and simply starting a new automotive revolution, thinking outside of the internal-injection engine.

Life After Genius

M. Ann Jacoby
Grand Central Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780446199711
Reviewed by Jeneke Lesak for RebeccasReads (12/08)

M. Ann Jacoby’s first novel, “Life After Genius,” is a shining example of pure writing from the heart.  Just as I am sure Jacoby adored writing every last sentence, I enjoyed indulging in her words. 

“Life After Genius” is a coming of age story about a mathematical genius, a boy named Mead who will graduate college at the young age of eighteen.  He is working to prove an important theory in the math world, The Reimann Hypothesis, and has come closer than anyone ever has to proving it.  He is befriended by another student, someone of a charismatic, but desperate nature.  Mead is constantly battling himself whether this guy is his enemy or his best friend.  The book opens up where Mead has run away from college just days before graduation under the pretense that he is tired of being a genius and is ready to work for his father at the family business, a funeral home. 

But, there is a greater reason Mead has come home; he, however, is not ready to divulge this to anyone, not even himself.  Each chapter offers a small morsel to satisfy just the tiniest bit of those burning questions.  Will Mead solve the Reimann Hypothesis?  Will he go back to school to graduate?  Why exactly did he leave in the first place?  And will he ever stand up to that overbearing and controlling mother of his? 

This novel is witty, smart, and well researched.  Each character is carefully developed.  It is truly amazing how Jacoby was successfully able to enter the psyche of such a unique, young boy at the threshold of adulthood, and she did so with conviction.  Conflict is a central theme throughout with this character and throughout the book: life and death, truth and lies, reality versus imagination.  To make it appealing, Jacoby touches on serious issues such as death and lunacy in a slightly comical way: dark, but not too dark. 

The family unit is a significant aspect of the novel.  Here is an example of Jacoby’s style that, in one paragraph, explains the family dynamics so completely: “Mead’s mother looks pleased.  Her husband and son are fighting.  A split in the seam of their male bond has begun to show; a fissure in her husband’s all-too-compliant acceptance of their son’s return home has begun to open.  Her look says: I may once again have a shot at getting things to go my way.”

I whole-heartedly recommend this book to, well, pretty much anyone who enjoys a good read.  “Life After Genius” holds the same exciting and enthralling elements of any great mystery/suspense novel.  You can certainly count on me keeping an eye out for Jacoby’s next book!

Designer Plant Combinations: 105 Stunning Gardens Using Six Plants or Fewer

Scott Calhoun
Storey Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781603420778
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (12/08)

I decided to read “Designer Plant Combinations” because I recently moved into a new house, just finished putting in a lawn, and now want to do some much needed landscaping.  I am pretty new to the whole gardening thing and had no idea which plants would look good or work well together.  When I saw Scott Calhoun’s book showing 105 gardens each using six plants or less I thought that I would surely get some inspiration, and I was correct!

One of Calhoun’s main goals in writing “Designer Plant Combinations” as stated in the introduction “is to simplify and demystify some of the planting design process by breaking it into comprehensible chunks of two to six plants.  These chunks, while not a full-blown garden design, are a way to start using plants in your garden in an inventive fashion.” (p.11)

The book is divided into six sections:  Perennial Partners, Masses of Grasses, Annual Acquaintances, Accent Plant Associates, Ground Cover Groupies, and Buddies for Woodies.  One of my favorites in the Perennial section is the “Dry-Garden Harmony” which combines ‘PS Harlan’ bush clematis, ‘Maynard’s Gold’ yarrow, Star of Persia, and Alpine Skullcap.  It is such a beautiful combination of blue, yellow, and purples.

Each page in the book gives the plants’ names, pictures, and then a few sentences of information about each including the size that the plant grows to and the hardiness zone that the plant is appropriate for.  On the opposite page is a larger photograph showing the combination design of all of the plants together.  Also included on each page is a designer tip.           

Due to the hardiness zone that I am in (Zone 4, bordering on Zone 3) there are a lot of combinations that I am not able to use, but I liked looking at the pictures and learning about the different plants.  I did find one simple combination that I am definitely going to incorporate into my landscaping and that is the ‘Blue Spire’ Russian Sage and the ‘Coronation Gold’ yarrow.  I love the bright color combination and I especially love that it says that “if there was ever a great combo for the beginning gardener, this is it; success is very nearly guaranteed with these two hardy and reliable plants.” (p. 62)  Just what I need! 

“Designer Plant Combinations” provides many pretty and unique combinations of plants that are not overly complicated.  The photographs are inspiring and the information provided alongside is very useful.  I recommend this book to anyone looking for new planting ideas, both to experienced gardeners and to inexperienced gardeners alike. 

Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other Natural Remedies for the Entire Family

Rosemary Gladstar
Storey Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781603420785
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (12/08)

“The terminology of plant medicine changes through the ages, different systems evolve depending on climate and costume, and various plants rise and fall in popularity, but the core truth remains the same:  Herbalism is an effective, natural, and inexpensive system of healing readily available to every human who chooses to use it.  We have eons of human experience to prove it.”  (p. 2) 

This book begins with an overview and history of herbalism.  Gladstar tells us that, despite what we may hear, there is no miracle drug or cure-all for life’s woes.  We must live a healthy well-rounded life to start with by exercising, eating a well-balanced diet, getting adequate rest, and reducing our stress.  Her addition to this familiar list is the usage of herbs on a daily basis to maintain wellness.  She then lists for us various superfoods, herbs, and recipes, and explains the benefits of each to our everyday health.   

What follows next is information on “taming stress and anxiety,” “home remedies for everyday ailments,” “recipes for radiant beauty,” and individualized sections for children, men, women, and elders.  At the end of the book there is an A to Z guide listing different herbs and explaining their benefits and uses.  

One of the most interesting areas for me was the skin-care routine that Gladstar recommends. In it she details a once or twice monthly five-step program that includes miracle grains, an herbal facial steam, a facial, tonic astringents, and a facial massage with cream.  It sounds very good for my skin and also very relaxing.  I will definitely be trying that one!

I also think that the elderberry syrup in the children’s section sounds like something that I would love to try for my boys.  Apparently this syrup is the “most popular herbal cold remedy in Europe” (p. 190) and it also is supposed to taste good.  All it consists of are blue elderberries, water, and honey.  In the winter season with two young children I can surely use this!

 “Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health” is very comprehensive and provides recipes or herbs for almost any situation that you can think of.  The instructions are simple and easy to follow.  Gladstar’s book would make an excellent addition to any family’s home reference library.  It is full of useful and useable information!

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Pocketbook Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams

Deepak Chopra
Amber-Allen Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9781878424600
Reviewed by Tina Avon for RebeccasReads (12/08)

You have a pretty good chance of reading an excellent book, if was written by Deepak Chopra. He is one of those people that actually make me feel more calm and serene just by reading his words of wisdom, and I believe that, unlike some other spiritual writers, he actually practices what he writes.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is a tiny book that packs a lot of wisdom. Chopra has tackled a subject that is close to many of us - success - but rather it’s more than just success at work (i.e. promotions, etc.) it is about feeling successful within yourself, and in order to get there you have to find and discover your spiritual side. This is much easier written than done: we, as human beings, do not naturally tend to favor our spiritual side.

However, this book manages to meld the spiritual side and the success of having a happy, serene life.  Each of the Spiritual Laws is clearly outlined and I particularly love the one about giving and receiving and equating it to love. Actually, Chopra associates all of his spiritual laws with love and its wonderful.

This book is a quick read, but is full of interesting, challenging and absolutely riveting truths.

The Lace Reader: A Novel

Brunonia Barry
Willliam Morrow (2008)
ISBN 9780061624766
Reviewed by Sandie Kirkland for RebeccasReads (12/08)

Salem, Massachusetts is the home of the Whitney family.   Whitney women are known for their strength, their eccentricity and their ability to read the future in lace.  There is Eva, the matriarch, who lives in Salem, reads lace and runs a tearoom.  May, her stepdaughter, is an agrophobic who lives on an island in the harbour, where she has devoted her life to helping battered women, many of whom live there while putting their lives back together.  Emma, Eva's daughter, also lives on the island, blinded and brain-damaged after a beating by her husband, Cal.  May's daughters were twin girls, Towner and Lyndley.  Lyndley committed suicide when she was seventeen and Towner left town, seeking a new life.

As the story opens, Eva has gone missing and Towner returns home, drawn by this family crisis.   Towner seems to be the catalyst that causes old relationships and secrets to reemerge.  Cal Boynton is back in town where he has reinvented himself as a religious leader of a cult-like following.  A young girl, Angela Rickey, who is pregnant with Cal's child, also disappears.  Towner's old love, Jack, is still in town and anxious to resume their relationship.  In addition, a town policeman, Rafferty, also falls in love with Towner.  Towner starts to untangle the mysteries that have haunted her life.  Why did her twin commit suicide in front of her and Jack?  What is the fixation that Cal has with the Whitney women?  Towner slowly reveals the truth, sometimes reading lace to find patterns.  The book rises to a page-turning climax where the truth that has formed this family is finally revealed.

The Lace Reader is a compelling and satisfying read. It explores the issues of sexual and physical abuse.  The mindset of those who enter cults is investigated.  Suicide and mental illness are other themes, along with lost love and the yearning to hide in the past.  While it covers depressing material, the book is not a depressing one overall.  Rather, it leaves the reader with a message of hope and the realization that the truth must be faced in order to lose its power to skew lives.  Not easily forgotten, this book is recommended for all fiction readers.

The Grandfather of Possibilities: Inventor – Entrepreneur – Athlete

Arlene Klein
Arlene Klein (2008)
ISBN 9780965091510
Reviewed by Dr. Michael Philliber for RebeccasReads (12/08)

There are love letters, and there are works of love. Arlene Klein has given us a work of love with “The Grandfather of Possibilities: Inventor – Entrepreneur – Athlete”. This little, 98-page piece, is truly an inspirational biography about the author’s husband, Ron Klein. There is no doubt that Arlene Klein adores her husband, and there is no doubt that Ron Klein is a brilliant and resourceful man.

Better than any stone memorial or statue, Arlene Klein has skillfully written of the achievements of her husband, bringing out the radiance of his can-do attitude, his inventiveness, his love for her, their children and grandchildren, their Wilshire Terriers, and life itself. “The Grandfather of Possibilities: Inventor – Entrepreneur – Athlete” is a short read that would take the average person no longer than two hours to accomplish, but it will be a fun, stirring, uplifting two hours.

 If you’re looking for a break from the plastic novels, depressing news journals, and brain-crushing technical material, then I would recommend taking a short jaunt into the peaceful waters of “The Grandfather of Possibilities: Inventor – Entrepreneur – Athlete” for a little R and R for your soul. And the next time you use your credit card, you’ll happily remember Ron Klein, and his sunny “Yes I can” outlook. Thanks Arlene.

Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World

Darius Graham
BookSurge (2007)
ISBN 9781419673405
Reviewed by Jeneke Lesak for RebeccasReads (12/08)

“Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World” by Darius Graham is an inspiring compilation of stories about thirteen highly motivated individuals who take volunteer work to the next level.  Either driven by a personal experience or by sheer passion to help those in need, these people set out with a mission to take matters in their own hands and “be the difference.”

These stories show how it is really possible for people of all walks of life to be able to make a difference in any chosen population, whether it be running a community health clinic in Uganda or bringing a voice of hope to an unlikely place, like the neighborhood laundromat on the “bad” side of town. 

This book is for anyone who has ever had the desire to be of service to our fellow humankind.  It reminded me of my own experience in rural Guatemala, a country where poverty is a way of life for most people, access to clean water and medical resources not always available, and alcoholism a norm in the indigenous communities.  There is so much work to be done out in our world, as there is in our own backyards.  This book shows a spectrum of projects in action around the world set into motion by these selfless and generous people.  It also proves we do not need huge (if any) financial backing to make a grand difference in improving the situation of someone in need.  The true meaning of altruism is expressed repeatedly throughout the book, with these people putting their entire beings into their cause to ensure that their programs work and will continue to succeed. 

There seem to be some editing issues, such as the word “that” repeated three times in one sentence.  The writing style is straightforward, but sometimes a little too average; however, the messages of hope and new possibility in the stories outshine any concerns one might have about the writing.

Graham offers a moving and encouraging bit of work. Reading this book has certainly stirred a desire within me to make a difference in my own community.  There is a section in the back with a listing of all the organizations mentioned, and another section of resources for those who want to be that difference.  Also, a portion of the proceeds of this book will go to the charities of the individuals that Graham has introduced to his readers.  More reason to grab this book, when you know it is benefiting some extremely noble causes! 

Drop Dead Delicious: A Maggie and Odessa Mystery

Jill Brock
BookSurge Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781439220344
Reviewed by Tina Avon for RebeccasReads (12/08)

Okay, I will admit it right off the bat! I am one of those people who fall in love with a book (partly) because of its cover.  So, of course, the first thing that hit me about the book Drop Dead Delicious was its delish cover!  It put me in the perfect frame of mind to read the book.

Now, to give you the ingredients for this book: half a cup of mystery with equal parts fiction, add in a huge dash of humor and a sprinkling of “chick lit,” mix it all together, and you get a delicious read!  Drop Dead Delicious is actually the second book featuring Maggie & Odessa (I have not read the first, but I plan on getting it).  You don't actually have to read these in order, so it was easy to dive right into this storyline.

Odessa and Maggie have both decided to put their former lives behind them and do something entirely new.  Maggie now finds herself an aspiring P.I. who is determined to learn all she can from an old "pro" who prefers to spend all his quality time at the casino.  Odessa, on the other hand, now has an aspiring career as the master of the desert table at her family's restaurant - she is also on an eternal quest...to find the best cake out there! (Now, this is a challenge I can stand behind!!).  However, bad news is back in town: that's right, Odessa's former swindling ex-boss is back and he once again manages to drag Odessa AND Maggie right smack in the middle of a murder.

"Oh my god this book is hilarious!" was my first thought as I read through the first chapter.  I loved the line where Odessa gets into a bit of a shouting match with a mistress in a hotel room as the mistress threatens:  "Hey, I know Taebo" and Odessa replies: "I just know plain old kick ass, so back up, lady." Loved it!  This book is full of funny exchanges.  Part of what I enjoyed so much, is that even though the characters and the plotline are funny, the book never goes into cartoonish or impossible situations.  There is a difference between funny and ridiculous, and author Brock obviously kept this in mind while writing this book; she manages to never cross that line.

What I also loved about this book is the undercurrent of affection and friendship that you can feel between Odessa and Maggie throughout. Although both main characters are extremely different on many levels, they share a deep love and respect for each other that I found added greatly to the book.

As for the mystery aspect of this book, the plot was interesting and easy to follow, with smart dialogue and just enough twists to make it difficult to figure out "who did it.”  To be honest with you, I enjoyed reading about the characters and the situations so much, that the mystery side of the book was just an added bonus for me.

I finished this book in 3 days and I was sorry to see the end.  Now, the real question is (and I won't reveal the spoiler: did Odessa manage to find THAT perfect cake?) you will have to read the book to find out; my lips are smeared with cake...