Reviewed by Katherine Williams for Readers' Favorite

A Dress the Color of the Sky by Jennifer Irwin is a romance novel featuring Prudence Aldrich, also known as Prue, a woman who is having a hard time navigating her life. Under the control of her abusive husband, Nick, Prue copes with her pain through various addictions. After having several dangerous sexual encounters with strangers, Prue realizes she is not at fault for her emotions, and checks into Serenity Hills rehabilitation center. There, she discovers who she truly is as a person. She comes to understand that the abuse she has endured her whole life, including her childhood trauma, does not define who she is. She learns that she is here on this earth for a reason, and that it is okay to allow herself to heal and become free from the chains of all her negative experiences.

A Dress the Color of the Sky is a raw, emotional and compelling novel that will help you understand just how resilient victims of trauma can be. Prue is a character you will come to love and admire by the book’s finish; her self-destructive behavior is hard to stomach, but you will cheer for her as she learns to love herself for who she is. Jennifer Irwin’s writing is inviting; the plot goes into a considerable amount of depth that will stick with the reader; her characters are well-rounded and the dialogue is light and witty but heavy when needed. The pacing is just right, and overall the narrative flows nicely and does not seem to miss a beat. This is not your typical romance novel; it is so much more and manages to cover tricky themes like sex addiction in a thoughtful manner. I suggest this book to anyone who wishes to learn more about abuse victims. This book teaches you that no matter what you have done in your past, you are person who is worthy of unconditional love.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

If you decide to read The Hammer: Why Dogs Attack Us and How to Prevent It by Bryan Bailey, here’s some advice:

1) Keep a pen and paper beside you at all times to make notes.
2) Suspend all your warm, fuzzy feelings for dogs in general, and especially about that four-legged buddy of yours who devotedly follows you everywhere, curls up in bed beside you every night, or cutely begs to be picked up the minute you sit down.

Bryan Bailey is about to turn your beliefs that the handsome German Shepherd you trust will protect you, or that your sweet little Yorkie you love to cuddle would never bite you, let alone kill you. And he chooses to do that by shocking you with several heartbreaking stories about folks whose lives were ended or shattered by The Hammer…an aptly chosen word to describe the swiftness of a deadly dog attack. These moving stories, including a very frightening one of Bailey’s own which prompted the writing of this book, are shared before the author expounds on and explains what and why the attacks happened. These stories, and Bailey’s explanations, are the author’s plea to dog lovers to wake up: man’s best friend can very suddenly become his worst enemy.

At the beginning of The Hammer: Why Dogs Attack Us and How to Prevent It, the author lists many pages of names and dates for victims of a fatal dog attack. As he tells us, “Since 2005, over 400 Americans have been killed by dogs, and each year, nearly 4.5 million suffer from bites that require emergency room visits.” He cites many other statistics and when you read the stories and his explanations, the staggering numbers make sense, but are far from comforting. But Bailey’s purpose isn’t just to frighten readers into awareness that beloved Fido’s aggressive tendencies are generic, dating back to his ancestors, wolves. He tried to do that in his previous excellent book, Embracing the Wild in Your Dog. If you read that, as I did, and didn’t come away more convinced you could be attacked by your pet, perhaps The Hammer will hit you over the head with its horrible realities. But, more importantly, what you will take away from this book is enlightenment, knowledge pet owners need to protect themselves, their children and anyone else who might suddenly find themselves faced with your pet’s sudden aggression:

Step 1: NEVER assume a dog will allow you to take anything from it without a fight.

Step 2: ALWAYS walk away from the fight.

Step 3: NEVER assume that you will win the fight.

Sage advice. Following the devastating story of a little girl killed by her grandma’s dog when she fell off her grannie’s lap to retrieve a bit of cheese, an attack which the grandmother herself survived but might not have as she desperately tried to save the child, Bailey states: “Dogs are clueless of our good intentions whenever we try to take something harmful away from them that they wish to eat.

Bailey will remind you of the folly of thinking that only big dogs can kill you: “Of the 74 dog bite fatalities that occurred in the U.S. between 1966-1980, two of the dogs involved were a Dachshund and a Yorkshire terrier.” Surprised? You will be surprised, shocked, disturbed by everything Bailey shares in this very important book. But if you keep your mind open and make notes on The Hammer as you read, you are more likely to remember his advice the next time your pet growls or turns lifeless, staring eyes on you, or your grandchild, or a friend: a hammer-like attack from that pet might be imminent. The life you save by reading this book could be your own, or that of someone you love dearly.

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

Honestly, I only read this book because I was a little murky on what consulting even is. I felt there was a piece of the puzzle that I must be missing and The MECE Muse by Christie Lindor seemed to be a book where I could find out everything that I needed to know about consulting in one organized reading. At least that’s what the subtitle implied: 100+ selected practices, unwritten rules, and habits of great consultants. This is one of those rare occasions where you get exactly what the book cover says you will. I learned everything that I need to know about consulting and, if you want to know more about this form of work, I can’t think of a better place to start than with this book.

The first thing any book must be that is going to teach us something is well organized. This is a huge area and there is a lot to learn. Christie Lindor does a great job of breaking this intimidating subject down into easily managed parts that can be absorbed much easier than the whole topic. That’s because she does such a great job of breaking the subject down. If you want instant proof of this, just look at the table of contents. Once things are organized, you must have good writing to make your points effectively and, again, this is an area where Christie Lindor excels. The writing is great. It fits the tone of the subject matter and author attitude perfectly. I don’t know why you are considering buying this book, but all I can tell you is that if you buy it, it is money well spent.

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.

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 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 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 Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Gifted Storyteller: The Power is in the Story You Tell by Gregg Korrol is an inspirational story. Michael did everything he thought he should do for a successful life. He had a good job, he had money in the bank, friends and a few decent dates too. It wasn’t all he expected it to be though; something was missing. That was until he walked into a bar, hoping beyond hope that tonight would be the night he met someone special. That fateful night he met Jeannie. Jeannie is about to change Michael’s life forever when she introduces him to the Gifted Storyteller. Jeannie is the woman who will introduce us all to our inner Genie, the storyteller within us who gives us the power to change our lives, the way she did with Michael.

The Gifted Storyteller: The Power is in the Story You Tell by Gregg Korrol is one of the stories that make you sit back and consider your own life, look at it in a new light and assess whether the place you are now is the place you truly want to be. Gregg Korrol has written a truly inspirational story, a tale that makes us explore our lives and minds, and makes us think more clearly about everything we have done or will do. It is written in motivating language, it flows well and it is, to be honest, riveting. We all need encouragement in our lives, we all need that little push every now and again to wake us up and make us smell the coffee, as it were. If anyone is looking for that push, this is the book to do it and I defy anyone who reads it not to reflect on their own lives. This is exceptionally well written and I enjoyed every page of it.

Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

In this age of heightened psychic understanding and awareness, animal communication and its practitioners have gained both increasing credibility and respect. Consequently, a genre previously devoted to the afterlife of humans has expanded to include the afterlife of animals, and in her book titled on this theme, Karen A. Anderson brings to the ranks of Dr. Doolittle successors a variety of uniquely warm and pleasing stories regarding our furry pets and friends. In a rather condensed and anecdotal format, Ms. Anderson offers examples of afterlife communication precise and detailed enough to comfort any semi-skeptical reader, such as passed-over cats and dogs helping to solve cold case murders, as well as reassuring interactions with human family members who have also transitioned to the other side.

The description of the afterlife dimension, as told by the deceased animals in Karen A. Anderson’s The Amazing Afterlife of Animals, is fully compatible with that related by such famous mediums and psychics as John Edward and Annie Kagan, and one will feel quite uplifted by their revelations. Ms. Anderson pays due respect to these, her predecessors, including an authenticating Foreword by the author of The Afterlife of Billy Fingers by Ms. Kagan. Such anointing and referral by an illustrious author in this genre should calm any reservations an interested reader might have regarding Ms. Anderson’s contribution. And while this book does leave one wanting a bit more information and background on the stories and their interpretations, a bit more storytelling as it were, these marvelous snippets are truly quite unique, and they are as fun to read as they are too quick to end.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection in the Medicine of Light is the second book in the Called into Life by the Light Series by Bernard Fleury, a book with a content that is aptly captured in its title. In this book, the author explores the connection between mind, body, and soul and how mastering this connection can ensure inner peace, harmony, robust health, and fullness of life. Having experienced the phenomenon of light in its diverse forms, the author began a journey which would lead him to uncover the treasures in light and its healing energy. In this book, the author explores a new way of diagnosis and treatment for a variety of illnesses, sharing with readers powerful medical concepts related to light, the place of the eyes as the windows of the soul, and a lot more.

This book discusses modern medical procedures that use light and advanced devices to diagnose and treat different kinds of illnesses. The methods used in the modern treatments are less invasive, more accurate in diagnosis, and most effective when it comes to actual treatment, which has no life-threatening effects. This is one of the first medical books I have read that offers methods combining science and a holistic approach to treatment in a stunning manner. There is a spiritual as well as a philosophical aspect of this book that readers will enjoy as well. The book is well-researched and offers surprising discoveries about the energy of light, which comes primarily from the sun and is present in different life forms. This isn’t just a book for people seeking to be cured of an illness, but one that proposes a path to general wellness and wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection in the Medicine of Light is informative, a book that explores the mystery of life from a fresh and unique perspective. Bernard Fleury’s book is a gift for those who want to experience life deeply.