Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Energize Your Retirement: Stories of Passionate Pursuits is a non-fiction book written by Christine Sparacino. The author conducted a series of interviews with retirees and seniors who have hobbies, interests or pastimes that make their lives meaningful. Each interview covers that person’s interest, how they got involved in it, and the approximate cost for a beginner. Sparacino interviewed people who were involved in outdoor activities: star-watching, bird-watching, hiking, beekeeping and mushroom gathering; volunteer services: serving as an ombudsman, mentoring children, working with the National Park Service, and helping seniors craft the best Medicare coverage; motoring: traveling the country on motorcycles or in an RV; and arts and crafts: sculpting, writing, craft-beer brewing; still others spoke of dancing, doing triathlons, playing softball, raising service dogs and skeet-shooting. Each chapter also includes resources for interested readers including associations, clubs, and literature.

There’s something for everyone in Energize Your Retirement: Stories of Passionate Pursuits. Author Christine Sparacino’s guide to an exciting retirement is actually an introduction to fun and often profitable dream-jobs and hobbies -- you know, the kind of fun thing where you’re warned not to quit your day job. Well, if you can, or already have, quit that day job, you’re ready for this book. While some of the pursuits were not my cup of tea, there were a good number that had me giving serious consideration on how to add them into my life. The interviewees are all interesting and accomplished folk who've become experts on their passion and freely share their experiences, tips and encouragement. I love the outdoors and sports, and was pleasantly surprised to read that while I’ll probably never be able, or want, to do an Ironman Triathlon at my current level of conditioning, I could do a Sprint Triathlon with just a bit of prep. The sculpting chapter also answered a lot of questions I’ve had about that art form. I’d recommend this book not only to retirees and those approaching that time, but also to anyone who’s wanted more from life than working their job and going home to a meal and TV. Energize Your Retirement: Stories of Passionate Pursuits is chock-full of fabulous alternatives that are within most people’s reach, and it’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Cheryl Schopen for Readers' Favorite

Many of us see people celebrating their 100th birthdays on the news, and we wonder how they were able to reach that age and still look healthy and active. Age to Perfection: How to Thrive to 100, Happy, Healthy, and Wise by Walter N. Gaman, Judith K. Gaman, and Mark J. Anderson will tell you just how to do that. From eating right to exercising to having the right outlook on life, this book will fill readers in on the known and not-so-known secrets to living to 100. Readers will not only get advice from the doctors and health professionals who wrote this book, but they will also receive tips from living centenarians on how to live a long and happy life.

When I received Age to Perfection, I sat down and told myself that I would read a chapter or two before bed. Before I knew it, it was past midnight and I had read over 100 pages. This book is filled with fascinating facts and tips that everyone should know about. I was constantly telling my husband and other family members about everything I was reading because I realized how significant this information can be, and I want us all to live long, happy, and healthy lives together. Gaman, Gaman, and Anderson do an excellent job of presenting this information in an organized and well-written way that people of all ages and backgrounds can understand and relate to. I may be in my 20s, but I am so happy that I got the chance to read this book because it not only gives me a great outlook on how to live my life, but it also gives me an idea of how to raise my daughter. I recommend this book to EVERYONE. It’s never too early or too late to turn things around and begin your journey to a better life.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Love Mindset (An Unconventional Guide to Healing and Happiness) by Vironika Tugaleva is the story of the author's spiritual awakening. She speaks about her transformation into an inspiring and positive spiritual teacher after a long mental health problem. The author says the root cause of all the problems prevalent now is that we are all deprived of love. We do not know how to get love or what love is, and we are constantly searching for it. Health problems, broken relationships, anger, violence, and low self-esteem rule our lives. In the midst of turmoil, this book comes as a breath of fresh air. It shows us how to have a peaceful life filled with long-lasting happiness.

The book is very inspiring and will motivate any reader who is going through a bad phase in life. The book teaches you how to reach out to people, the purpose of life, and the power of love. The author's approach is profound and refreshing. The book also motivates you to look inwards and transform yourself into a happy person. Her trials and tribulations shared in the book also give you the confidence to find peace in your life.

The book can be used as a spiritual guide during times of sadness or problems in life. It is a powerful book that will take you on the road to healing your life. The author has emphasized the importance of love and empowering our lives with love.

Reviewed by Samantha Rivera for Readers' Favorite

Life in Half a Second is a story of you, but not in a traditional sense. This is the story of how you can turn your life around and, instead of just surviving, you can actually live. If you’re like most people, then there’s something, anything, that you’ve always wanted to do but just never got around to doing. Well, this book is all about helping you to reach that goal and that dream. Matthew Michalewicz has created a book that gives you the steps and the action plans to not only set the goals you want to achieve, but to actually achieve them as well.

Reading this book takes practically no time at all and yet the advice and tips that you’ll get from it will definitely last forever. I know that even the first few pages served as a wake-up call to me. Life in Half a Second is about just that, the half second that you have to live your entire life in a way that makes you happy. Each of the doors to success was easy to understand and each door has activities that will help you to practice and understand them even better. I'm setting goals for myself for the first time in many years. Now I know that believing in myself and setting those goals is what’s going to allow me to achieve them. For the first time in my life, I'm not going to let anything ‘more important’ get in the way of doing what I want with my life.

Reviewed by Danita Dyess for Readers' Favorite

Ladies finding true love is like ordering a meal in a restaurant? According to Olivia Engelstein, a happily married 40-year-old woman, mother and author of “Order the Man of Your Dreams: A Tasty Recipe to Find Love,” the process is the same. You look over the menu (or make a list of desirable traits), tell the Love Waitress what you want and wait for the Love Chef (higher power) to prepare you a delectable meal – the man of your dreams. So why are there so many love-starved women? They fail to appreciate their own self-worth. Engelstein says that you must accept yourself as a wonderful person regardless of past mistakes. Recognizing your value is key to wearing a symbolic, golden cape that radiates your positivity, confidence and openness that results in healthy, long-lasting relationships.

This book exceeded my expectations. The cover had a cheery, 1950’s flavor and the girly graphics contributed to the theme. Engelstein succinctly delivered her insightful message through 108 pages of practical, step-by-step tools. The pace was fast. The author’s sagacious wisdom and experience in the relationship and dating niche was evident; she really knows her stuff. Engelstein, the love coach, has also written “Mate Seeking – True Love Collection: Order the Man of Your Dreams” and “Your True Self – Practical Guide #1 of Order the Man of Your Dreams.” “Order the Man of Your Dreams” is highly recommended for women of all ages.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Author and life coach Toneal M. Jackson encourages readers to press onward despite their circumstances. She uses the acronym A.B.O.V.E. to help people to cope with adversity in a better manner.

A – Adversity -- We all face adversity in our life: death, loss of income, broken relationships, to name a few. Each individual must decide whether they will allow the storms of life to defeat them while others are willing to learn and grow stronger.
B – Belief – When faced with adversities the author leans on God. Her belief and her faith bring her strength.
O – Overcoming – Anything worth having is worth the effort it takes to receive it. In fact, I believe that you appreciate the victory more because of the effort exerted.
V – Venture -- Few of us like change but without it life becomes stale and we will never reach our goals or potentials.
E – Emotion – Strong negative emotions cause us to react in ways that are out of character; those same emotions also dame us physically and emotionally.

Toneal M. Jackson’s style is easy to read and understand. The author has included poetry and discussion questions to further impact the reader. The questions at the end of the chapter will allow each reader to ponder their reaction to adversity. The poetry is well done; from the friend to love and questioning why, to our perception her poetry stirs the readers’ soul. "Inspiration From A.B.O.V.E" may be a tiny book with only 45 pages but, the message within these pages makes this a very special book.

Reviewed by Darin Godby for Readers' Favorite

Authors Charmaine Hammond and Debra Kasowski help the reader navigate along their destination with a fabulous book entitled "GPS Your Best Life: Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style". This is a great book on helping the reader understand how not to allow circumstances in life detour one from one's main purposes of life. Everyone is traveling along life's journey and getting side-tracked is quite possible, but the authors give tremendous insight and wisdom on how to stay focused and move forward in a grand fashion. One chapter deals with dreams and how they seem to be the fuel to your engine. Everyone needs dreams and a drive to move in the direction where they have placed their goals and ideals. There is also great wisdom shared in the chapter entitled 'Roadblocks, Detours and Potholes.' Everyone will face these types of situations within their lives; however, what they do with them is what changes the course of the journey.

When difficulties come one's way, there is the choice to be detained by the circumstances or overcome them and become the person you were designed to be. There is also the beautiful point shared, that one must celebrate along the journey by "gratitude, giving and gifting." When we express thankfulness, give of ourselves and give gifts we become a person others desire to be around. This is a very insightful and well-written book. It is a book that any reader should find strength, encouragement and support from. I would quickly recommend it.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

"Your Soul’s Gift" by Robert Schwartz is memoir, self-help, and philosophy bound together as one book. Schwartz begins his book by sharing some things from his early years. He was severely and emotionally abused by his mother but he says: "I planned this abuse before I was born.” Schwartz believes that before we are born our soul plans our tribulations in life. He believes that in order to “evolve” or grow beyond actions from past lives we must in some way suffer to pay the price. The purpose of writing this book is to make others aware of Schwartz's philosophy. In each chapter we meet a person who shares their story with us. In chapter 3 we meet Rebecca Valentine. Seven years previously she suffered a miscarriage. Rebecca’s story is sure to bring tears to the reader’s eyes. She had never forgiven herself for losing the baby. On a similar topic the spirit guides discuss abortion with Schwartz. They assure him that sometimes souls change their mind. “All abortions are done with the consent of the soul associated with the fetus.” One of the next topics covered is pets. Schwartz asks the spirit guides what role pets play in the preplanning of a person’s life. Marcia shares her memories of her pets and what a difference they made in her life. It is Schwartz's hope that the stories within the pages of this book will assist you in learning that it is alright to love you, to forgive others, to understand the purpose behind suffering, and to like you.

While I may not agree with parts of Robert Schwartz's theory, I admire his gift of writing. Schwartz is a very talented author. He manages to express his passion with mere words. Only very few have that ability. This is not Schwartz's only book on this topic. Schwartz offers hope and encouragement to his readers and that is the main merit of his book.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Rajappan begins his book "The Illuminator: Access to Universal Intelligence" with an introduction in which he discusses “feeling good in moments of pressure.” He stresses that we should not allow situations surrounding us to control the way we feel. As we delved farther into the book we learn about our inner voice. Too often we deny or ignore that voice as it attempts to direct us. A large part of changing is learning to let go of the past. If we hold on to past hurts we will stay miserable. Many are willing to place blame on fate rather than their own decisions. While Rajappan calls the inner voice our intuition I see it as the Holy Spirit. The author’s purpose in writing this book is to assist the reader in “evolution” or change. He wants to see others grow, mature, develop and progress. He points out that evil and negative thoughts often come up in situations of love, such as if you love someone and they do not return that love. In Chapter 11 Rajappan discusses the effect negative emotions have on our health. From personal experience I can attest that he is correct in his assessment. A person can become physically ill from depression, jealousy, and hatred.

"The Illuminator" is a small book with only 50 pages. The information that lies inside shows influence from the author’s culture. While the author and I do not agree on everything, I do see great wisdom in this book. "The Illuminator" is written much like a work book. The end has space for recording coincidences. At the end of each chapter the reader will discover a rule that will assist in a journey towards change. Although this book is small in size, it is large in perception.

Reviewed by Jean Brickell for Readers' Favorite

This is the most amazing book. At first thought, it didn't seem to apply to me as I no longer work in an office but delving into it I realized it was for everyone. Not only does the author explain how to handle a dispute by resolving it in a polite but firm way, but she describes the home work that must be done to be on top of things. As well as job-related negotiations, there are tips for the everyday world like medical situations, phone bills, disputes with hotels and airline. Disputes with internet companies such as ebay are also included. There is a chapter on complaints: if all else fail and where to go for help? A glossary is included to understand all the different negotiation terms.

This book is as necessary as a dictionary to each personal library. With this book in hand a person will have an upper hand in negotiation of any type, business, personal relations, disputes with bills and reservations mishandling. The personal relations might include spouses and/or ex-spouses. This book will tell you what to say, how to say it, how to conduct yourself so that you will have the upper hand and get the results that you want. It even tells you what to do if you don't get the results that you want. I found "How to Negotiate Like a Pro" to be not just an interesting book but one that will provide invaluable help.