Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Parts, Pieces and Aspects of a Frozen Mouse: Book 2 is a nonfiction memoir written by A.J. Mouse. In her first book, the authors shared the experiences of the 10 alternate personalities of Mouse, an eight-year-old with Dissociative Identity Disorder. The first alternate, Peter, was born when Mouse turned 4. Jade, who is one of the authors of these books, was created when Mouse was 11 years old. That was also the time when Mouse froze and stayed in what the alternates call The Deep. In this book, A.J. Mouse continues documenting the changes taking place since Anne, the newest alternate, was created. This book is co-written by Jade and Anne, whose journals and emails form the basis of the manuscript.

Book 2 is every bit as enthralling as the author’s first one, Alternatives to a Frozen Mouse. That book was a memorable and mind-expanding look at Dissociative Identities, but it was primarily a beautifully written and perceptive memoir. Parts, Pieces and Aspects continues that story fluidly and eloquently; it also answers questions I had about several of the alternates. While it’s been some time since I read the first book, I immediately felt as though I were back at ease with Jade, Anne, and the others. I appreciate each of these alts in ways that it’s hard to express, and their bond of affection and care for the eight-year-old Mouse is endearing and real. I’m also a Southpaw and felt an instant kinship with the iconic Peter and deep respect for his innate guardianship of the other alts and willingness to endure real pain for them, but I’d be hard pressed to say any of these alts weren’t people I’d want in my life as friends. My biggest regret in reading this book is that it ended, as all books do, and I’ll be watching for the next installment in this memoir. Parts, Pieces and Aspects of a Frozen Mouse is most highly recommended.

Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Value Trap: Theory of Universal Valuation by Brian M Nelson is a relevant book for investors, breaking ground for readers who want to understand stock pricing and how to beat the next financial crisis. That sounds daring, but reading this book offers convincing arguments, facts, and analysis of the author’s theory of universal valuation and how investors can use it to leverage on the bubbles that occasionally shake the financial markets. In this book, the author provides “the variant opinion that may have saved investors tons of money” and offers guidelines and a framework for savvy investors.

Brian Nelson is former Director of Methodology at Morningstar and President of Investment Research at Valuentum and he brings more than fifteen years of work and research to this book, articulating brilliantly and confidently on a variety of topics, to wit, the philosophy and potholes in the stock pricing game, the sensitivity of value and the volatility in prices, the duration of value composition, and a lot more. The author introduces new concepts and talks about behavioral valuation and the theory of universal valuation while exploring ways that the reader can use them to make informed choices when investing in the stock market.

This book invites readers into dialogue and discussion about some of the troubling trends in stock investment management business and proposes a path that enables readers to invest with confidence. Brian M Nelson is an expert in his field and confidence is conveyed in his writing, as well as interesting stories filled with valuable lessons and references that add credibility to his claims. Here is the one book that every conscientious investor should read; it is informative and very accessible and packed with knowledge, insight, and wisdom.

Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

A Last Survivor of the Orphan Trains is a work of memoir non-fiction penned by co-authors William Walters and Victoria Golden. This inspiring tale takes a deep and personal look into the life of William Walters, who was one of the thousands of orphans loaded onto trains from the East Coast of America with the idea that they would find a better life in the emerging West. For William, aged only four years old in 1930, life was far from ideal when his new family turned out to be cruel and abusive, setting him on a path that would see him travel through decades of hardship before he could finally achieve his own version of the American Dream.

This is a powerfully emotive story, inspiring and motivational in its message that keeping going and being resilient pays off, even when the world is unspeakably cruel. Author Victoria Golden works well with William Walters’s story, and the two together make an epic and detailed journey through the Depression, the Second World War and almost right up to present day history as William’s life unfolds. Golden provides additional research into little-known facets of American history, mirroring the issues in today’s fostering system to show that people are far from perfect and the system always needs more work done to ensure that orphans are safe and cared for. Despite his terrible experiences, William’s own inner strength and belief in a better future make him an admirable hero against the odds. A Last Survivor of the Orphan Trains is an excellent memoir, highly recommended.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

My Time to Shine: The Story of the Fabulous LCB is a nonfiction memoir written by Glenn Leonard, Joe Coleman, Joe Blunt, and J. Michael Willard. Glenn Leonard, Joe Coleman, and Joe Blunt grew up in the same Washington DC area. While their mothers wanted them to concentrate their vocal gifts on singing in the church choir, the three boys found harmonizing on street corners and eventually in groups to be a logical extension of their craft. The sixties was in many respects a turning point for music, a perfect storm for talented singers who were willing to put in the work to make music their livelihood. The three seemed about to hit it big when the record company they had hooked up with put the project on hold. Glenn Leonard was eventually signed on by The Temptations and was the lead singer for that group through much of the seventies and eighties. Joe Coleman sang with The Platters for two decades as well as establishing himself as a songwriter and a playwright. Joe Blunt won Sony’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his decade spent performing with The Drifters. The three are now back again, singing together as LCB, and while they still sing the classic hits that make everyone stop and remember, they’re also adding on new classics as they continue playing together.

My Time to Shine is delightful reading indeed. Learning about each of these performers, who gave us so many songs as we were growing up, is illuminating and powerful. And while older boomers may get the most out of this marvelous work, I doubt there’s anyone out there who hasn’t stopped to listen to the songs these three men sang. I loved learning more about the Drifters, the Platters and the Temptations and the way legacy groups such as these differed from other groups. I also found Willard’s interleaving of the stories of Leonard, Coleman, and Blunt gave the reader a seamless and moving account. The photographs included work quite well at refreshing the memory, as well. As I reached the part of the book that concerns their new group, I couldn’t resist going to YouTube and watching their introduction to the group. Reading My Time to Shine left me feeling enriched by the experience. It’s well written and has heart. My Time to Shine: The Story of the Fabulous LCB is most highly recommended.

Reviewed By Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

With the hustle and bustle of life today, everyone is always looking for ways to get things done quickly. Did you know that being organized in anything from your job and career to your personal life can actually save you a lot of time, money and effort? In this awesome book, Top-To-Bottom Home Organizing by Professional Home Organizer Caralyn Kempner, you will learn everything to help you become organized. In this book you will discover that organization is a process. This process takes a lot of time to undo what you've been doing, so don't rush it. It also takes an intentional mind to begin the process in order to not only begin but to complete the tasks. “Mostly, people don’t know where to begin or how to approach organizing. This book helps to guide you through various organizational tasks by breaking down each task into manageable steps that can be spread out over time,” says Caralyn.

This book is for anyone, whether you are looking to organize your garage, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom or home office. You can begin at any section or chapter that is important to you because each is self contained and stands on its own. I enjoyed this book for so many reasons but a few essential things to help streamline the process that stood out were: Illustrations to help you to visualize the results; Top Organizational Tips; Best practices for home organizing; Simple instructions that anyone can follow without feeling overwhelmed; Organizational Challenges; Types of hangers, closet organizers, and shelving; Cosmetics Tips.

With a book of this magnitude, it displays the essence of your mind because if your mind is cluttered then your home becomes that as well. A clean mind creates an element of clarity, balance and peace. For me, if things are organized then I am able to locate things quickly, become efficient and avoid buying stuff that I already have but didn't know that I had. The book also gives the feeling as if Caralyn is there with you, walking you through the process and then leaving you with some systems on how to maintain all of the hard work that you have put into organizing your home. Even if you are downsizing or live in 500 square feet, this book is ideal for you. That's not all. Caralyn has dedicated other resources to keep you to stay up-to-date on the latest advice and other how-to's on home organization. If you want to see a change, improve and declutter your home. It's important to add this book to your library.

Reviewed By Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Once and Future Queen: Guinevere in Arthurian Legend by Nicole Evelina explores the origins of one of literature's most legendary queens. Arthur's wife and queen of Camelot has seen several changes which are often interpreted as a result of the time period. Diving into the myths and literature, Evelina explores Guinevere in every connotation from adultery to witchcraft to her role as a feminist icon. The author is well-known for her own Guinevere trilogy, which explores her personal perspective on the queen and the hope to see more recreations of the character in the future. The Once and Future Queen gives an in-depth and well-researched look into the role Guinevere plays in the story of Arthur and Camelot, as well as her role as queen, a woman, and an individual. Nicole Evelina is clearly passionate about the topic and brings to light several aspects of the legendary queen's evolution over time. It's an intriguing concept to see such a notable character, mostly known for either her relationship with Arthur or her affair with Lancelot, as her own independent character.

Guinevere's original conception often had her as an one-sided character that was there to betray Arthur through her affair, and her tragic love story with Lancelot. Her personality has evolved through various facets, which include traits such as being selfish, docile, self-centered, and passionate. The examples are clearly laid out with Evelina providing equal time exploring each source material. Her character has been tinkered with over time, which often depended on whether the writer was a man or a woman. T.H. White painted her as a “bitter shrew” while readers found Lavinia Collins' portrayal of her in Guinevere: A Medieval Romance to be “selfish” and one that “ruined lives.” In older tales, Arthur is perceived as a “god-like” king so he wants Guinevere to be “perfect” and to embody what are referred to as Victorian ideals - qualities such as being pure, angelic, fertile, and supportive. Instead, the queen is often the opposite, painted as barren, brash, vain, and jealous. The Once and Future Queen fully explores Guinevere as her own person and is perfect for those readers that love Arthurian legend.

Reviewed By Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

VUCA: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity, these four factors dictate the current business world’s form according to Carolyn Swora in Rules of Engagement: Building a Workplace Culture to Thrive in an Uncertain World. In this book, Swora discusses how people react to the changing scene in their jobs. In many cases, employees become more and more disengaged as pressure continues to mount. In such a case, Swora proposes looking at the four factors (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) as reminders of the situation we are in. She also looks into the concept of psychological contracts, how to succeed because of being mindful of employees’ needs, and she delves into the difference between output and productivity, and the importance of considering the culture of an organization. One important feature in the book that stood out for me was the importance of collaboration over competition. These, however, are just tidbits. The book contains much more.

Rules of Engagement by Carolyn Swora stands out from so many other books focused on the business world. In this book, there are many unique viewpoints proposed by the author. One particularly interesting discussion in Rules of Engagement is the use of the VUCA factors, not as a combined systematic model but as a nudge towards understanding our behavior and not becoming controlled by industrial factors. In this regard, Carolyn Swora also explains the importance of dealing with issues as they arise and not waiting for the storms to pass as they will be succeeded by other storms. Also, the importance of growing leaders and not just employees was another fascinating perspective. The practical examples were a great plus too. Ultimately, I got so many takeaways from reading Rules of Engagement. Any other reader interested in the topic will definitely learn from Carolyn Swora's expertise.

Reviewed By Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

The Joy of Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide to Healing From Addiction by Michael McGee is a book whose theme and well-delivered message could potentially guide anyone with an addiction to recovery. Dr. McGee provides a method that has been tried and tested by many other patients he has worked with. Many have been restored and reformed from their past lives through dedicated effort and will. In The Joy of Recovery, twelve (12) steps, which the author calls ‘touchstones of recovery’, are discussed. Interestingly, the author’s main message is that of love, the love of an addict for themselves and those around them. He urges the reader to cultivate self-respect and get inspired by the joy of recovery. His tone throughout the book is that of love and a deep understanding of what addicts go through. At some point, Dr. McGee states, “Not one of us wants to be alone, destitute, and solitary. We need one another to exist and to evolve. Alone, we stand no chance.”

I loved the unconventional approach that Michael McGee takes in The Joy of Recovery. He is not only focused on helping the addict recover from their addiction, he also takes them on a journey of self-love. He also appreciates that the hold an addiction has on the addict is not just physical and emotional; it goes deeper to their spiritual side. Another great aspect of the book is that it is written for all; those suffering from an addiction and those affected by it either through relatives or friends. He gives the addict’s guardians, friends or family tips on how to handle an addict. Michael McGee points out the mistakes people make in handling addicts and the tell-tale signs of identifying addiction. The Joy of Recovery also contains useful illustrations and quotes that helped me better understand the message being conveyed by Dr. McGee. Simply put, The Joy of Recovery is a masterpiece.

Reviewed By Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite

When I read Stop the Slip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls by Thom Disch, it wasn’t just as a book reviewer who might look at the format, the content, the clarity of the narrative, and the marketability of the book. I read it from two other perspectives: a retired senior manager of an organization with hundreds of employees engaged in heavily blue-collar work; and as the step mom of a small child. In the first case, I’ve read a few safety plans in my day and spent money on training and equipment to provide the safest workplace possible. In the second, I had to explain to a giggling eight-year-old that the funny videos on a popular television show that featured real people slipping, falling, tripping, and all manner of other potentially injurious or even deadly activities, wasn’t really something to laugh about. What about the people who didn’t submit videos because they weren’t chuckling over what happened to them?

Whether your interest is for the workplace, the public space, or your personal home and family, Stop the Slip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls by Thom Disch will inform and educate you. Disch covers the topic from soup to nuts in a compact but very detailed, understandable, and engaging narrative, complete with data, graphs, and charts. If you aren’t used to those, don’t let them scare you off. The statistics are sobering. Real life stories are sprinkled throughout, and for all that the topic is a serious one, Disch injects some humor now and then. Highly recommended. This is an extremely important topic for us all.

Reviewed By Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

The Un-Prescription for Autism: A Natural Approach for a Calmer, Happier, and More Focused Child by Janet Lintala is a wonderful tool for parents, guardians, and teachers handling kids with autism, a book written by a professional in the field, and the founder of the Autism Health center. This book offers non-medical tools that can dramatically transform the lives of children with autism. In this book, readers will learn to understand the underlying conditions affecting the behavior of autistic kids, determine the best protocols to apply to them, and correct the disregarded health conditions with probiotics, digestive enzymes, anti-fungal, and other treatments. The explanations are so clear that they provide a wealth of knowledge to readers.

It is interesting to notice how the author weaves personal experience, the most recent research in the field, and her clinical expertise into this informative book to provide clear answers to readers with children who are autistic. Janet Lintala’s voice is both sympathetic and eloquent, charged with authority and confidence, and the reader has the clear feeling that they are dealing with an expert in the field, someone writing from their own intimate experience with autism. The language is accessible and it flows beautifully. Readers will enjoy the manifold examples that are provided, the convincing facts that corroborate the author’s insights and practical advice. The Un-Prescription for Autism: A Natural Approach for a Calmer, Happier, and More Focused Child is an invaluable tool to help readers successfully deal with autism in kids and the protocols and solutions offered tackle the underlying issues behind this condition painlessly.