Reviewed By Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

A mother depicts the joys and trials she experienced in the first few years of motherhood in the poignant memoir I Love You More Than Coffee by Melissa Face. When Melissa and her husband saw the two pink lines on the pregnancy test stick, they were ecstatic. After running through the gamut of nausea and swollen ankles, Melissa and her husband's highly anticipated baby son came into the world. However, the beautiful fantasy she had created while waiting for his appearance didn't become a reality. Instead, their new life was utterly unlike anything she had anticipated, and she was too tired to change it. With the soiled diapers, the dirty bottles, and the smelly burp rags overtaking their home, compounded by the lack of sleep, Melissa's well-organized life takes a back seat. Their exquisite new baby, who she loves most dearly, is draining the life out of her. How does she cope? And most importantly, will she ever regain the momentum her life once held?

Nostalgic and endearing, I Love You More Than Coffee by Melissa Face is a delightful memoir of a woman's journey into motherhood. Well written, it is an enjoyable narrative that begins with her first pregnancy and travels through her second baby's addition to the family. Filled with charming and lovable baby quips and mishaps combined with her motherly common sense responses, it is a heart-warming story depicting the deep love of a mother. A beautiful tribute to motherhood, it realistically captures some of the not so easy moments that produce our most precious memories. Full of wisdom, charming anecdotes, and sensible ideas, it would make the perfect accompaniment to the newly pregnant mother's Bible, Heidi Murkoff's What to Expect When You're Expecting. New and not so new mothers will find this satirical introduction to motherhood enjoyable and delightfully entertaining.

Reviewed By Renee Guill for Readers' Favorite

Business Success Secrets: Entrepreneurial Thinking That Works by Tamara Nall, et al is a business book that talks about what it is like behind the scenes of an entrepreneurial business. They explain what each business is and give a link to their website if they have one. They ask the same questions of many business people to find out what they did with their business. Tamara Nall asks questions about how they started their business and what their mindset was like and how they dealt with disasters, such as the Coronavirus Lockdown.

I liked that Business Success Secrets by Tamara Nall interviewed many types of people. It showed that anyone can start a business, not just a certain type of person. I liked that she asked the same questions of all of them and got a lot of great answers in return. I liked that Tamara described what their business was and gave a link to it. My favorite question was the one about how they dealt with disasters like 9/11 or the Coronavirus Lockdown. I loved how they all told us how they started the business and why they started it. I thought it gave a lot of great advice on what to do, and what not to do as well. Not many people think of what not to do, so that was refreshing to see. It gives you a lot of hope and makes you realize that anyone can start a business, not just a college graduate or someone who is rich, for instance. If you are thinking of starting a business, then this is a definite must-read.

Reviewed By Randy B. Lichtman for Readers' Favorite

As I write this review in January 2021, we continue to experience the terrible circumstances brought to us by the pandemic, COVID-19. In spite of our individual differences, so many similarities are brought to light in the powerful anthology of memoir articles contained in Voices from the Pandemic, compiled by Headline Books and edited by Don Helin. The book contains a variety of authors with different professional backgrounds including health care professionals, entertainers, teachers, writers, administrators, and so many more. In addition, the writings of seven student authors who are currently experiencing school online in 6th grade are just as important, as these experiences will be memorable in their future educational experiences.

So many common experiences are here, such as working from home, entertainers not able to work, students and teachers working online, people unable to get simple grocery items such as toilet paper, health challenges, loneliness, experiencing and viewing the death of patients, and families not being able to be with their loved ones as they lose their lives from Covid-19. These are only a sample of the issues expressed so personally and sensitively throughout the book in diverse voices. They remind us that we are not alone and that others are going through some of the same challenges we are—and some are having very different ones. Together the book paints a tapestry of life in the Covid-19 world from different people, perceptions, professions, ages, and backgrounds. Many of the writers have published articles, short stories, and books while many are expressing their personal experiences to help themselves cope and understand their own situations in this collection of memoirs.

After the pandemic ends and life becomes more “normalized”, these memoirs will become even more valuable as we look back and see what we lived through, how we survived, and how we have been impacted in a post-pandemic world. Pandemic history is still being written at the time of this publication. Voices from the Pandemic, compiled by Headline Books, and edited by Don Hein stands as a testimony to the courage of ordinary people as they survive one of the most challenging times in their lives. I continue to be very moved as I reflect on stories I read from this remarkable anthology. There are so many personal and sensitive stories that make this volume a monument to all who have lived through this extremely challenging time for all of us. An excellent book to remind us of how we are surviving during this unique time in our lives and the resilience that will bring us into the next stage of our lives.

Reviewed By Cassie Widjaja for Readers' Favorite

Ancient Sky Watchers & Mythic Themes by Julie Loar is an absolute must-read for those interested in astrology, astronomy, and mythology. Having studied metaphysics intensively for twenty-five years, Julie is widely regarded as an expert in her field. For two decades, Julie's insanely popular astrology column has appeared in the Atlantis Rising magazine. As the first in a two-volume anthology, this volume contains forty articles that originally appeared in issues of Atlantis Rising magazine from 2001 until 2019. Categorized by topic and not chronologically, these articles explore Greek gods, ancient civilizations, prophecies, zodiacs, the latest discoveries in astrophysics, and much more.

I have always loved learning about zodiac signs as I found it interesting to reflect on the similarities and differences between my personality and the archetype of my zodiac sign, Taurus. Hence, you can imagine my delight when I first came upon Ancient Sky Watchers & Mythic Themes. I fell in love with how well-researched the book is. Though I learned a lot about past events and myths, it never felt tedious, and I enjoyed reading this book. Julie Loar has done a remarkable job of explaining each topic clearly and concisely. Though each chapter discussed a different subject, the book came together as a cohesive whole. I also greatly appreciated the formatting of the novel, which made it easy to read. My favorite chapter had to be 'Children Of The Gods: Sky Gods And Human Destiny' because I was struck by how ironic it was that men would worship gods who were much so like themselves in all their flaws.

Reviewed By Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

Journey through the heartwarming, heartbreaking, and heart-healing stories of Solo Moms in the inspiring Solo Parenting book, We Got This (Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor) edited by Marika Lindholm, Cheryl Dumesnil, Katherine Shonk, and Dominica Ruta. The term Solo Mom is, in itself, empowering. Being a single mom indicates that one's status is incomplete. Being a Solo Mom indicates that this momma can do it on her own without the help of a mate. While having another parent around is wonderful and can be quite beneficial, it isn't necessary, and sometimes can be detrimental to both mother and child. Follow the experiences of seventy-five women along the path of solo-parenting as they learn to face hardships, joys, and fears on their own, and as a community. Learn how to navigate divorce, death, and even dating, through humorous, if sometimes raw recounts, by actresses such as Amy Poehler and Evie Peck, best-selling novelists, Solo Moms, and Solo Mom advocates. Diverse and authentic, these stories serve to remind the Solo Mom to pause and forget about what everyone else thinks or says, and just enjoy being a mom.

Discover the joy of unconditional love and support through seventy-five stories in We Got This. This book, through a collection of stories, poems, and essays, shows the reader the good, the bad, the ugly, and the extraordinary beauty of being a Solo Mom. Yes, she struggles. But she can overcome whatever hardship she faces because she has a reason to struggle, to barely ever sleep, to stay up all night worrying; she's a mom and her kid(s) are worth every tear she sheds, every premature white hair, every internal battle she must fight. The best part, she doesn't have to go it alone. There is a whole community of Solo Moms that are ready to support and encourage each other, to teach each other how to fight for what is theirs and empower them to remember who they are and why they are fighting through exhaustion and paralyzing fear. As Solo Mom, I feel that this book is the perfect read for the Solo Mom swimming in the uncharted seas of parenting alone. If, as a mother, you feel lost, alone, or abandoned, this book is a must-read.

Reviewed By Bernardo Salcido III for Readers' Favorite

Inspired Wisdom Word Search: Yoga for the Brain by Cristina Smith and Rick Smith is a well thought out and implemented combination of inspiration and brain enhancement. Its design is simple - to provide relevant and helpful self-reflecting stories and pair that with a word search that has the reader finding keywords from the same story which precedes it. After reading, and then completing the word search, the reader reveals one more hidden message that sums up the entire section. This style, including various pictures, continues fluidly throughout in order to create this anthology. Additionally, the stories within draw upon experience from the perspective of a range of authors - ages 16 all the way up to 80 - and the stories provided come from a mix of topics including a letter from Santa to the deep science of epigenetics.

What Inspired Wisdom Word Search: Yoga for the Brain does, it does very well. The blend of puzzle and inspiration is a great combination of personal motivation and brain advancement through two distinct activities. The readings are well written and provide uplifting and spiritual support regardless of the topic. Cristina and Rick have selected excellent pieces of work that avoid repetition while still providing meaningful and personal content. Then, of course, there are the fun word search puzzles with the added bonus of increased brain function and providing mental peace. Coming from the Guinness Record Holder for greatest memory, the journey through the pages of Inspired Wisdom Word Search is more than an exercise in brain capacity; it is a pleasurable and rewarding journey into the reader's truest self.

Reviewed By Randy B. Lichtman for Readers' Favorite

What would it be like to be in a room and be able to interview 70 entrepreneurs and leaders, with an average of 25 years of experience, from a large variety of industries, and discover the important lessons they have learned through mentoring and being a mentor to others? How much knowledge and wisdom would be available to you and how much could you grasp in a day? It would be difficult to remember all the amazing information you learned, but what if you could take your time, learn from each of those people, and apply them to your own life and business. Good news. You will be able to take your time and enjoy learning the lessons at your own pace. What you have in one book is truly amazing and inspiring. The book is Supreme Leadership Mentors: Top Entrepreneurs’ Greatest Business Strategies by Alinka Rutkowska. It is amazing to gain valuable information in this anthology of articles from entrepreneurs about starting a business, cash flow, building and maintaining teams, business, and personal challenges, building a culture, and so many important areas of entrepreneurship.

The entrepreneurs were well selected and the various articles were well written and edited. It contains lessons so beautifully told through the eyes of the entrepreneurs including their ups, downs, and business episodes where they expressed tremendous gratitude after receiving valuable advice from a variety of sources. Often the lessons of people mentoring others were based on the mentoring they received and enjoyed paying it forward. The book is divided into 6 sections, often containing multiple forms of mentoring with the stories focusing on mentoring from and to families, coworkers, clients, older or younger employees, and a host of book recommendations that influenced their lives. I would suggest reading slowly through each interview, take notes, and reflect on how the lessons can be utilized in your own life and business. You will meet so many interesting individuals and often find their visit was too short and wished they could speak about their experiences even more than in this volume.

This anthology of entrepreneurial mentorship is truly amazing and inspiring, and I loved reading it, finding it to be exceptional, worthwhile, and full of heart. If you are interested in improving your life, business, and relationships, I highly recommend reading Supreme Leadership Mentors by Alinka Rutkowska.

Reviewed By Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

An amazing compilation of photography, poetry, drawings, narratives, real-life events, and more, Her World: Creative Collections by Her Place Any Region brings together the thoughts and experiences of women from different parts of the world. The collection is divided into six categories: dejection, survival, hope, healing, salubrity, and love. I Will Never Allow is a poem in the first part, dejection. It carries a passionate message of growth and setting limits: “I will never allow your darkness to dim my light. I will allow my growth to help you blossom.” In Some of You May Know, Lorelai Vilandre shares her struggle with depression and her healing journey in healing, the fourth part of the collection. Exploring light-hearted discussions such as childhood memories and tough topics like cancer, the compilation will resonate with many women.

I loved that Her World is not only restricted to prose but includes photography and art that brighten the pages and that add to the messages. The collection is extensive and opening a new page felt like I was moving to another engaging experience. I also liked that the collection involves the perspectives and experiences of women from different parts of the world. The similarities and unity in their thoughts and experiences were other amazing aspects of the work. The collection also discusses important topics such as sexual abuse, anxiety and depression, ADHD, childhood trauma, and more in a sensitive way. Her World by Her Place Any Region is a vast and inspiring collection that brings attention to crucial issues. It also contains special moments and incredible insight.

Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

“Be strong.” “They are in a better place.” “They wouldn’t want you to be sad.” These are several consoling expressions that people hear every time they are grieving. The question is: Are these what people who have just lost someone precious to them want to hear? Breaking Sad: What to Say After Loss, What Not to Say, and When to Just Show Up by Shelly Fisher and Jennifer Jones is a book that explores the themes of loss and grief and proposes a path towards healing. In this book, the authors share powerful insights and advice on how to effectively help anyone grieving from loss, indicating what is appropriate and what needs to be kept to oneself. In this book, readers will understand when they need to speak, when they need to be silent, what they can say, and when they just need to be there, quietly.

Shelly Fisher and Jennifer Jones have written a book on a subject that is very sensitive, helping readers understand what it takes to be experts in being there for anyone who has lost someone. The book features stories from people who have suffered loss, including Montel Williams, Olivia Newton-John, Scott Hamilton, Giuliana Rancic, Valerie Harper, and others. It is filled with practical advice and tips on understanding loss, the different kinds of loss, and what to do when someone loses someone dear to them. Breaking Sad: What to Say After Loss, What Not to Say, and When to Just Show Up is a book that offers readers the wisdom needed when with people suffering from loss. Intelligently written and filled with steps to deal with loss.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Firsts: Coming Of Age Stories By People With Disabilities is a nonfiction anthology edited by Belo Miguel Ciperiani. Ciperiani lost his vision when he was 27. He grew up looking forward to his weekly trip to the library where he would pick up a new selection of audio books. Popping the first one in his Discman for the bus ride back home, he’d forget his surroundings and get lost in the newest story. One thing in particular bothered him; that was the depiction of disabled characters in those stories. It seemed as though the failings of those characters were intricately linked to their disabilities. The nonfiction memoirs he read were equally unsatisfying as they were generally written by people who had beaten the odds and regained their sight, hearing or the use of their limbs. Ciperiani gravitated to writing in part in reaction to his efforts to find writers who could share the experiences of the disabled. This book is the result of his call for disabled authors to share their coming of age experiences. Out of the hundreds of submissions he received, he selected the eleven stories that are found here.

Firsts: Coming Of Age Stories By People With Disabilities is one of those rare books you want to never end. I lost myself in each of the stories found within this collection. Heidi Johnson-Wright’s short story, Life with Lexie, is the perfect opening tale; one that anyone, able-bodied or not, would have a hard time not relating to. Heidi’s life went pear-shaped when she was nine years old and rheumatoid arthritis left her totally dependent upon a mercurial and ill-tempered mother, until that day when she went off to college. Once I had begun reading Johnson-Wright’s story, I was hooked into reading each of these marvelous and inspirational stories. I met amazing people; some were autistic, others blind, still others suffered from debilitating PTSD. In The Hearing Child, Kevin Souhrada shares his world as a second-generation deaf man. His story reveals the community and support systems that were so much a part of his upbringing, his culture. In Sleeveless at Least, Teresa M. Elquezabal defies the medical establishment’s grim prognosis on her chances of ever walking again after an accident because her love of tango will not let her surrender.

In each rite of passage, there’s a hero. His or her voice speaks persuasively and with such strength. They share their frustrations, their moments of self-doubt and insecurity, but overall there’s the shared exhilaration of reaching for that first and getting it. Each story captures the human experience so eloquently and with such power. I’d love to see more of the submissions that editor Belo Miguel Ciperiani received for this collection and hope he’ll consider publishing a second one. Yes, these stories are that good. Firsts: Coming Of Age Stories By People With Disabilities is most highly recommended.