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Showing posts with label self-help. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-help. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

REVIEW OF IT WRITES ITSELF BY S. RAULINO

 It Writes Itself: A Travel Guide to Writing Fiction by S. Raulino, is a wonderful writers guide that can assist the beginner to the most seasoned writer make their writing better. The book covers key points important in writing fiction and takes you on a journey of discovery. 
The topics covered are:
    It Writes Itself: A Travel Guide to Writing Fiction
  1. Why do you write and for whom.
  2. Getting to know your characters.
  3. Using your senses, point of view, language and voice. (Essential for the development of the story)
  4. Architecture (The things around you including textures, shapes,speed and other things) and Nature (What do you see outside and can it make a better story)
  5. History and Culture. ( Makes the story believable)
  6. Situations, actions and plots.
  7. Now how to put it all together, and building the story.
  8. Rewards of writing. What do I get from writing and sources of inspiration.
  9. Writers block, opening up to new ideas and knowing when it is time to stop writing and take a breather.
Read an excerpt here

Visit the author's site

My thoughts-

I have always loved to write and I have written a few short stories and a novel. There are times that I get very frustrated because I ran out of ideas and stopped writing.  The book has helped me overcome my writer's block and continue writing. The author's writing style was relaxed and I did not feel that I was reading a boring textbook. The exercises were easy to follow, useful and you do not have to follow them in order. After reading the book, I feel that I have learned a little more about creative writing and how I can make my writing better. So if you want to jump start your writing, read the book and hey.. you never know you may end up with a bestseller.




Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

GIVEAWAY OF THE BOOK FIT FOR LIFE BY H. AND M. DIAMOND

Fit for LifeIt's the program that shatters all the myths: FIT FOR LIFE the international bestseller that explains how to change both your figure and your life. Nutritional specialist Harvey and Marilyn Diamond explain how you can eat more kinds of food than you ever ate before without counting calories...and still lose weight! The natural body cycles, permanent weight-loss plan that proves it's not only what you eat, but also when and how, FIT FOR LIFE is the perfect solution for those who want to look and feel their best. Join the millions of Americans who are FIT FOR LIFE and begin your transformation with:
* The vital principles that bring you permanent weight loss and high energy
* The FIT FOR LIFE secrets of timing and food combining that work with your natural body cycles
  • The vital principles that bring you permanent weight loss and high energy
  • The FIT FOR LIFE secrets of timing and food combining that work with your natural body cycles
  • A 4-week meal plan, menus, shopping tips, and exercise
  • Delicious recipes and more.

Thanks to the Hachette Book Group I am able to give away 3 copies of the book.

Open to USA AND CANADA ONLY
No PO Boxes
Prizes will be sent by the publisher


TO ENTER CLICK HERE


Extra entries :
Follow via Google connect +3
Follow via twitter +2 (@ginger_high)
Tweet about the contest+2 
GIVEAWAY OF THE BOOK FIT FOR LIFE BY H. AND M. DIAMOND http://bit.ly/dyRQKV #giveaway@blogmania2010 ends 8/16
Grab my button +2
Blog about the contest +2
Follow me on Facebook +2  ( melissa.BooksRUs)                         
Please do not enter via comments.     


 Thanks for entering my contests!!

Contest ends 8/16 at 12mn Eastern

Friday, July 23, 2010

REVIEW OF THE GRAD'S GUIDE TO CHOOSING WELL BY TH1NK

 
The Grad's Guide to Choosing Well: Wisdom for Life on Your OwnThe Grad's Guide to Choosing Well: Wisdom for Life on Your Own explores tough issues and temptations teens and young adults will likely face as they head out for life on their own while offering truth, hope, and inspiration rooted in biblical wisdom.
Using Proverbs 3:5-6 as a foundation for making choices and setting priorities in daily life, this excellent graduation gift encourages young people to seek God’s will, set priorities, and have a deeper relationship with Him. The casual, easy-to-read approach helps them understand the power of the decisions the make today and the impact those decisions can have on who they will become.

About the Author- 

TH1NK is a straightforward, no-fluff, honest approach to books (fiction and nonfiction), Bibles, and Bible studies. TH1NK produces honest (sometimes blunt), relevant, and innovative resources that interact with Scripture to challenge and inspire the hearts of a new generation of truth-seeking disciples of Christ. TH1NK speaks to the independent thinkers of this generation without hype or gloss but with substantive truth to motivate individuals to live out their faith as disciples of Jesus.

My Thoughts-

This little book covers many important topics that include choice, friends, roommates, faith, money and other useful topics. The information presented was concise and included real life stories to help you understand the road ahead after you graduate college. Although I have two more years before I graduate high school,the information presented will be very useful now. There are many challenges that a teenager is faced while in  high school and the book can help you choose the right path to take in life. This is a great gift for any high school or college graduate.







Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book by NavPress for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

Monday, June 14, 2010

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF RETURNING INJURY BY BECKY DUE



Join Becky Due, author of the suspense novel , Returning Injury: A Suspense Celebrating Women’s Strength, as she virtually tours the blogosphere on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book.


Returning InjuryIn Returning Injury, Rebecca is trying to recover from an abusive relationship with Roy. He had stalked and attacked her. He was eventually caught and placed in prison. She meets and marries a great man Jack, who is very successful and gives her everything a woman would want. When Roy is released from prison, she does not tell her husband and allows him to go on a business trip. She decides to stay home alone and she keeps herself busy working on some PR information about abused women for a friend. Strange things begin to happen and she fears that Roy has returned. Does Roy return and  is she able to face her fears and move on? I guess you have to read the book to find out the answers to those questions.

About the Author-

Becky Due, like the main characters of her novels, spent many years running from her life, looking for love, crying a little and laughing a lot along the journey of finding herself.
Through writing, Due found her passion. She is the author of several books and is currently working on her next novel. Happily married she and Scott live in Colorado, Florida and Alberta, Canada with their two "kids" Buddy the Cat and Shorty the Pug.

Author's  Website-

Trailer-


My Thoughts-
 There are many problems that everyone may face in their lives and abuse is very common in society today. The storyline shows that every person who has experienced abuse can overcome their fears and move on with their lives. The book was well written and was full of suspense, emotion, love and hope. This is a great book for anyone who has been abused and I especially liked how the author incorporated the PR work into the story.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF THIS IS WHY YOU'RE FAT BY JACKIE WARNER

This Is Why You're Fat (And How to Get Thin Forever): Eat More, Cheat More, Lose More--and Keep the Weight Off

According to Jackie Warner, "Being fat isn't your fault; staying fat is." In her book This is Why You're Fat, she shows you how to lose weight and inches quickly without depriving yourself and doing grueling workouts. There are behaviors that make you fat and with Jackie's core principles you can learn to make you thin forever:

1. ADD TO LOSE- With her 2-week jump start you add foods to your diet and no food is forbidden.

2. CHEATING IS ALLOWED- After you eat clean for 5 days, you can indulge in anything you want over the weekend.


3. FAT IS NOT THE ENEMY- She says that sugar makes you fat and you should have no more than 9 grams of sugar.


4. SKIP THE CRUNCHES- They only make you build muscle under the fat. It is important to find the best and fastest way to burn calories, tone muscle and increase your metabolism for rapid weight loss.


5. LESS (EXCERCISE) IS MORE- You do not have to spend hours working out. Give her 20 minutes and you will see results.


So if you head to the gym, follow Jackie's advice:


Gym Etiquette


If anybody knows about proper gym etiquette, it’s me. I own a gym and have to constantly stay on top of my staff to follow the rules. A lot of clients tell me that they’re intimidated by gyms because they feel they don’t know how to use the equipment or feel they are out of place, in the way. Part of feeling comfortable in the gym is knowing the rules of a gym.
I’ll clear up a few of these for you, so you can go into any gym with confidence.

✱Learn the proper operation of equipment. If you’re unsure of how something works, ask for assistance.


✱ Pick up after yourself. Put your weights away. The next people in line don’t want to hunt around for the weights they need or, worse yet, try to remove the weights you left out.


✱ Allow people to “work in.” Many people do multiple sets on the weight machines, then sit on the equipment during their recovery time. If someone is waiting to use the same machine, the proper etiquette is to allow her to work in or do her set while you recover. So do your set, get off, and let the other person work in.

Don’t be shy about asking someone if you can work in, either. However, don’t work in if there are already two people waiting to use the same equipment.


✱ Don’t drop weights. Not only is dropping weights dangerous for your toes, but it damages the equipment and the floor. The rule of thumb is: If you can lift it, you can put it down gently.


✱ Observe time limits on cardio equipment. Some gyms have time limits (usually thirty minutes) on the cardio equipment (treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, and so on), especially during peak hours. If you see people waiting around to use your type of machine, be especially conscious of the time limit.


✱ Wipe your sweat off the equipment. Gyms are notorious places for spreading nasty germs like staph infections, so practice good hygiene. And always lay a towel on the equipment to protect yourself.


✱ Don’t disturb other gym goers. The gym can be a great place to meet other healthy
people. But don’t be too chatty. You are there to work to intensity. Stay focused on
your goals.


MY THOUGHTS-

There are many diet books out there and so called miracle pills on the market. But do they work? In the book, she talks about balance in your body chemistry, and hormones. She explains what foods will help you to maintain the balance so you can lose that unwanted fat. She says that the biggest culprit is sugar. Most of us eat too much sugar every day. The author supplies all the tools to help change the way you look at food. She also says that exercising is an important part of losing weight. There is a section in the book that explains all of the exercises and how to do them correctly. I have joined a gym with my mom and it has helped me stay motivated but you can do them at home. There is a section in the book with some recipes to help you get started. I recommend this book for anyone who wants some motivation to get started.

Check out the article posted on the AOL fitness site.

The book even made it to the New York Times Best Seller List this week.

AND NOW FOR THE CONTEST-

Thanks to the folks at Hachette Book Group I can giveaway 3 copies of the book-

US or Canada only.
No Po Boxes.
Prize will be sent by the publisher.


ALL ENTRIES IN ONE COMMENT PLEASE AND LEAVE AN EMAIL.


+1 entry for a comment
+3 entry for Google follow ( Google Connect on right)
+1 for sharing on facebook ( use share button below)
+1 For following me on Facebook (melissa.gingerhigh)
+1 entry for Twitter Follow @ginger_high
+2 for tweeting about the contest(please leave link to be counted)
Win a copy of This is why You're Fat by J Warner #Giveaway from @ginger_high Enter here http://ow.ly/1JRcs Ends May 26th
+3 entries for blogging about contest (post link)
+2 For grabbing my button- Please leave the link to the site to be counted.

Contest ends May 26th at 12mn Eastern




Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book by the Hachette Book Group for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

GIVEAWAY AND REVIEW OF THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY BY TONY LITTLE

AND THE WINNER IS DR. BILL SMITH.

There's Always a Way: How to Develop a Positive Mindset and Succeed in Business and LifeIn the book There's Always a Way: How to Develop a Positive Mindset and Succeed in Business and Life,  Tony tells us about his life story. We always see Tony with his Ponytail and shouting "You can do it" but his life has not always been easy. He had run-ins with the law and his mother sent him away to live with his uncle. While he was there he became a successful body builder. His whole life changed when he had a car accident. He had numerous surgeries and his body building dream was put on hold. He was in the worst shape and he gained over 50 lbs. He had to change his life. He is living proof that you can always achieve what you want in life.

In his book he explains:

  1. Tony explains how to use fears and insecurities to sharpen one's selling game and build self-confidence.
  2. Tony demonstrates dynamite secrets for self-motivation, overcoming negativity, and thinking out of the box.
  3. Tony explains how to build a positive mind set, create a buzz, exploit humor, find a niche, set goals, ask the right questions, close the sale, make the customer into a star, achieve peak selling performance, and turn oneself into a lean, mean selling machine.
  4. Having grown his business in a tough market, Tony explains how to stand out in these down times.
My Thoughts-


When I started to read the book, I thought that this was just another book by a celebrity. Boy was I wrong. I had seen him on TV and he always had such energy. In reading the book I found out things about him I did not know. The book was well written and I enjoyed the photos. There was a wealth of information that can help you succeed and the information was presented in an upbeat way. That is what I would have expected from Tony. I recommend this book to everyone to help you make a positive change in your life.


AND NOW FOR THE CONTEST-

Thanks to the author and SSA public Relations I am able to give away a copy of this great book.

TO ENTER- PUT ALL ENTRIES IN ONE COMMENT AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL


+1 entry for a comment
+3 entry for Google follow ( Google Connect on right- it pays to follow me)
+1 for sharing on facebook ( use share button below)
+1 For following me on Facebook (melissa.gingerhigh)
+1 entry for Twitter Follow @ginger_high
+2 for tweeting about the contest(please leave link to be counted)
+2 entries for blogging about contest (post link)
+2 For grabbing my button- Please leave the link to the site to be counted.

Contest ends on May 2 at 12mn Eastern


Thanks for reading and good luck-



Disclaimer: I was given a free book from SSA Public Relations for my honest review. I was not compensated for my review.
Thanks to the Product Review Place for listing this opportunity on their blog.

Friday, April 16, 2010

REVIEW OF WAKE UP BY MICHELLE PEARL

Wake Up! You're Probably Never Going to Look Like That ... How to be Happier, Healthier and Imperfectly Fit

In Wake Up! You're Probably Never Going to Look Like That . How to be Happier, Healthier and Imperfectly Fit the author Michelle Pearl talks about her experiences with weight loss. She had suffered with being overweight most of her life and she learned how to overcome it. The book talks about calories, weight loss, plastic surgery, eating disorders, pills and other interesting topics. She discussed some "Myths" of weight loss and how some programs may be teaching people the incorrect way of losing weight. I did find that there were some negative comments about other weight loss programs in the book. Whether they are true or not everyone has their own opinions. Throughout the book there are testimonies from people who were able to overcome obesity and get fit. I found the book interesting and there was a wealth of information.


The book has three objectives: To teach us about some of the mistruths about weight loss that we are constantly being bombarded with, to give realistic advice on how to lose and keep off the weight and finally to encourage you to have realistic body expectations to help you succeed. There are no exercise or diet programs to follow in the book but the author provides the tools to help you lose weight. There are charts and tips to help explain what the author is saying and the book was easy to read. There is information that everyone could find useful. Check out the authors website where you can download customized  dance fitness videos to help with your fitness journey.



Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the author and Westwind Communications for my honest review. I was not compensated for my review.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

REVIEW OF HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR BY HUNDREDS OF HEADS



How to Survive Your Freshman Year (Hundreds of Heads Survival Guides)I graduated from college twenty six years ago but I can still remember my first day. I was only sixteen when I started college and I just started to drive. If I  had read the book, How to Survive Your Freshman Year (Hundreds of Heads Survival Guides) my life would have been easier. Although I never went away to college (I lived 2 miles away), I still remember being scared to death. Most of my friends went away to school and I had to make new friends. The professors were not as forgiving if you missed an assignment and I learned that quickly in my freshman year. This is a survival guide and includes tips from hundreds of college students who went through the transition. It covers topics such as freshman orientation, laundry, what to pack, dorm life, money, dating, parties and how to balance studying with sleeping. I remember staying up till three in the morning cramming for a big test. I was tired the whole day. The book contains little snippets of advice that can make a difference in your college life. Some of the advice given all of us could benefit from and there was some that could get you into trouble like getting a fake ID to get into the hip parties. I understand that all college students will experiment with different things and you cannot be with them all their lives to help them. sometimes they have to figure it out on their own. Hopefully the book will help them along.


"The workload in college is like shoveling snow. If you do a little bit every day, you'll get by. If you wait until everything piles up, it becomes a impossible task."


I have to admit; I have let things pile up and the advice given in the book can make your life just a little bit easier. If you know someone going to college in the fall get them a copy of this great book. They will love you for it.
The website http://www.hundredsofheads.com/ is loaded with information about personal health, family and home and other useful topics. Check it out.




Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book by The Cadence Group for my honest review. I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF EAT THE COOKIE...BUY THE SHOES BY J. MEYER



Eat the Cookie...Buy the Shoes: Giving Yourself Permission to Lighten UpThe book Eat the Cookie...Buy the Shoes: Giving Yourself Permission to Lighten Up by Joyce Meyer gives us permission to lighten up and enjoy life. Engrained in our culture is the belief that unbending discipline is the only sure way to success. You must go to the gym five times a week, never order the dessert, and don't even think about buying that dress you keep staring at in the store window. Breaking from such a regimented lifestyle is a sign of weakness, right? Wrong!-and Joyce wants to tell us why... 

Though setting rules in our lives are important, it's just as important that we break them from time-to-time. Structure is a powerful tool, but when diverging from your own goals is seen as catastrophic, it can have a hugely negative effect on us. Balance is a core value in life and every once in awhile we deserve to indulge in a guilty pleasure or two. So don't feel bad about straying from your goals every once-in-awhile and in fact, embrace it: eat the cookie and buy the shoes.
To be released April 13, 2010

Visit Author's website.
Listen to an Excerpt-.


My thoughts-

I have always felt guilty to buy something for myself. The book wants us to celebrate life and have fun. In the book, the author discusses many reasons why we should celebrate. We have all made mistakes in our lives, and the book says that we should not dwell on the past and move forward. She uses scripture to show that we are allowed to celebrate and be happy. There is a chapter in the book that encourages us to rest and give our soul a vacation by changing your attitude toward life and say a prayer. I have been very stressed in school and the book has helped me to learn to relax and enjoy life. I found the book enjoyable and easy to read. She used examples from her own life to show us that being disciplined is an important part of life we have a right to relax and celebrate.

AND NOW FOR THE CONTEST

Thanks to the Hachette Book Group, I am able to give away 5 copies of this book.

The contest is only open to the USA and Canada only.
No P.O boxes please.
The prizes will be sent by the publisher.

TO ENTER- PUT ALL ENTRIES IN ONE COMMENT AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL

+1 entry for a comment
+2 entry for Google follow ( Google Connect on right)
+1 for sharing on facebook ( use share button below)
+1 For following me on Facebook (melissa.gingerhigh)
+1 entry for Twitter Follow @ginger_high
+2 for tweeting about the contest(please leave link to be counted)
+2 entries for blogging about contest (post link)
+2 For grabbing my button- Please leave the link to the site to be counted.


Contest ends Thur April 22 At 12mn Eastern





Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the Hachette Book Group for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review,

Friday, March 26, 2010

REVIEW OF THE UNDERVALUED SELF BY E. ARON, PhD

The Undervalued Self: Restore Your Love/Power Balance, Transform the Inner Voice That Holds You Back, and Find Your True Self-Worth
Do you have self-esteem issues and feelings of self-worth? Then The Undervalued Self: Restore Your Love/Power Balance, Transform the Inner Voice That Holds You Back, and Find Your True Self-Worth can help you to overcome these issues. Elaine Aron follows up her bestsellers on the highly sensitive person with a groundbreaking new book on the undervalued self. She explains that self-esteem results from having a healthy balance of love and power in our lives. Readers will learn to incorporate love into situations that seem to require power and deal with power struggles that mask themselves as issues of love. From the bedroom to the boardroom, her strategies will enable us to escape feelings of shame, defeat, and depression; dissolve relationship hostility; and become our best selves. With Aron's clear, empathetic writing and extraordinary scientific and human insight,THE UNDERVALUED SELF is a simple and effective guide to developing healthy, fulfilling relationships, and finding true self-worth.

My Thoughts-


I have had problems with self-esteem all my life and I have learned to compensate for them. Some people fall into a hole and cannot get out. Dr. Aron wrote a book that was easy to read and concise. She used real-life examples to explain the topics covered. She provides activities in each chapter to evaluate yourself. The chapter that I liked the best was called "The six Self-Protections We Use to Deny Low Rank." The chapter explains that we all try to protect ourselves from shame and self-worth. There is a self-assessment tool to find out what devices we use to protect ourselves, and explains each of the self-protectors in depth. I recommend this book to everyone. We all could use a little help in our lives once in a while.




Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Little Brown & Company and the Hachette Book group for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review