Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Reluctant Messenger: Tales from Beyond Belief: An Ordinary Person’s Extraordinary Journey Into The Unknown by Candice M. Sanderson is a fascinating book about the epic, life-changing journey of the author while being a conduit for spiritual messages. This book reveals the story of incredible tales from beyond belief that invite us to consider that we are actually more spiritual than physical. Apart from unfolding her own personal journey, the book shares the messages received by Candice, copied straight from her journals and transcribed from her recordings. The cosmic patterns, communicating with spirits, and the awareness that true life is timeless and formless will make you wonder about what exists beyond this universe.

The book is a must-read for readers who are curious to learn more about spirituality, awakening, and enlightenment. The author’s perception about human consciousness and spiritual understanding are both profound and insightful and will give readers a different spiritual journey. The author’s experiences are proof of the indelible link that exists between the two worlds. The book gives hope to readers about how dreams can open doors to these magical realms filled with boundless ideas which will help to bring positive change for all humanity, and sometimes the valuable lessons that can be learned through these dreams can be enriching.

I found the book enlightening and I thought it makes a good read for all those who are planning to embark on a spiritual journey. The author’s words and experiences will make readers reflect, contemplate, and introspect as they seek for answers to their questions and ponder about the spiritual dimensions that exist.

Reviewed by Randy B. Lichtman for Readers' Favorite

If you are looking for more flexible opportunities where you can work at home, all I can say about The Work at Home Training Program by Bethany Mooradian is WOW! This book is an amazing resource for learning about the many opportunities you can explore to work as an independent contractor from home. The book presents many legitimate part-time work opportunities that can be explored in lieu of a full-time career working directly with an employer and warns in-depth against the many dark forces that are looking to scam you and take your money and time. Best of all, it is presented in a tone of frankness with a fun sense of humor, where the author also shares the mistakes she has made to warn you against making the same ones. With a very diverse background, there is a reason she refers to herself as the Queen of the Random Job.

Part I: Techniques of Scammers and Common Scams actually is a combination of identifying scams and identifying real opportunities. The key is to sensitize the reader to properly getting all the facts and then determining whether it is a scam or not.
Part II on Making Money focuses on specialized areas such as Making Money as a Market Research Participant, Merchandiser or Demonstrator, Mystery Shopper, Online Guide, and for selling “Stuff Cluttering Your Life.” Each section contains important information on things to consider and then giving specific information on websites and resources available. Part III talks about Flexible Jobs: At Home or On-Site, going into finding the job, applying and interviewing, working as a home-based employee, and includes important information regarding working with temp agencies and the government as well as special resources for veterans and those with disabilities. The information presented is well informed and provides a perspective with ways to move forward in finding additional information. Part IV: The Business of Business provides important aspects of starting your own business including business licensing, non-competes, taxes, insurance, independent contractor responsibilities, marketing, and other important topics.

It is only an introduction to these matters and there are many books on starting your own business which will provide a great deal more. However, the point of the book is not to provide everything you want to know about all these topics, but to start you off in the right direction. Finally, the list of resources and links is amazing. For anyone looking to work part-time in their own venture and wanting to find out how, I highly recommend The Work at Home Training Program by Bethany Mooradian. The listing of resources alone is amazing and can provide a starting point for any person looking to change their work life to a career from home. A WOW from this reviewer!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Surviving the Firehouse is a work of non-fiction and an educational work by author Mauro Porcelli, who gives his real life experiences over in the self-described ‘A Rookie's Guide to Surviving the Firehouse and Fire Department Life. After twenty-five years of experience in this field, Porcelli appreciates the severe impact that the initial demands of firefighting work have on the young and the new to the profession, often ending their careers before they have really begun. In this collection of stories, advice, anecdotes and personal reflections, Porcelli provides his book as a ‘mentor’ to new firefighters, helping them complete their first year through many different aspects of the job.

I think this book is a wonderful idea, and I found it to be tremendously well written from an authenticity standpoint. Mauro Porcelli writes as though he’s having a direct conversation with you, giving that mentor feel to the text, but those thoughts are also very well organized and easy to discuss, topic by topic. Not only does the book cover the traumatic details and expectations that newbies may have within their job, but it also goes deep into the camaraderie, office politics and practical struggles of day to day life in the firehouse itself. From a standpoint of community, communication and people skills, there’s a lot that anyone could learn from this text, firefighter or not. Overall, I would certainly recommend Surviving the Firehouse to be read by both rookies to the workplace and old hands alike, so that a rounded experience and shared knowledge could be had by all.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

The Financially Independent Millennial: How I Became a Millionaire in My Thirties by Rick Orford is a nonfiction business book written for millennials, a book that teaches readers ground-breaking tricks to reach financial freedom before they become forty. In this book, the author explores what it means to be poor and how poverty can become an instrument, a tool that propels readers towards wealth. The author shares insights and tips used by those who have been successful and offers fresh takes on how to succeed in the real estate business and what it takes to build and sell a business. There are also insights and advice on how to successfully invest in the stock market.

Rick Orford has written a book filled with actionable steps that readers can take to create wealth, take control of their cash flow, and determine the best way to increase their business. From being smart in borrowing money to spending like the rich, the author fills the pages of this book with a lot of wisdom and insight, and while it focuses on unveiling opportunities for financial growth, it also warns readers against habits that hinder their financial growth. The writing is simple and the voice is bold. This book is filled with personal stories. I was hooked when the author said: “I’ll share my successes and failures, what I learned along the way, and what did and didn’t work. This will illuminate the path I took to gain financial independence. My unique selling point is that I've been where you are.” The Financially Independent Millennial: How I Became a Millionaire in My Thirties offers a lot for readers who want to grow their wealth and gain financial freedom.

Reviewed by Amanda Rofe for Readers' Favorite

A Chicken in the Wind and How He Grew: Stories From an ADHD Dad by Frank South is a non-fiction memoir recounting the nerve-wracking life of Frank South, off-Broadway playwright, long-time television writer, and producer. He explains, in his own inimitable style, how he deals with life-changing health problems including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), hypomania, myriad other co-morbid disorders, and alcoholism. Husband and father of two, he shares the overwhelming challenges faced by himself and his family. The power of love and strong family bonds see them through, as well as providing a better understanding of ADHD and other mental health issues.

Frank South is a superb raconteur. His writing contains warmth, humor, and originality. Words roll out of the book like an express train, hardly allowing you time to catch up. To say this is an honest account would be an understatement. To describe it as a mental health memoir makes it sound boring. It is funny and deeply profound. I often felt like I was reading a compelling novel. Frank has a way of expressing exactly how he feels that is not only insightful but also entertaining. I love the way the book flits back and forth in time, providing flashbacks of his childhood. He includes many pivotal moments in his life, showing us his workings out on the way. A Chicken in the Wind and How He Grew blows opens the lid on mental illness, confronting the issues and making them far more accessible. I enjoyed this book very much and have no hesitation in recommending it.

Reviewed by Dawn Weaver for Readers' Favorite

The modern American family tends to struggle with the balance between home, school, work, and activity demands. The distractions caused by ever-connected screens make the problem worse. The Well-Balanced Family by Dr. Robert Myers has the answers to help restore balance and teach families to connect in healthy ways. Beginning with outlining the problems seen in our modern families, Dr. Myers then offers a clear plan to help resolve common issues, restore family connectedness, and instill fun and meaning into the times family members share. Complete with guidelines, charts, and ample suggestions adaptable to any family, he covers such topics as family meetings; screen-time limits; types of parenting; healthy parent, child, and sibling relationships; physical activity and fitness; organization and much more.

I cannot say enough good things about The Well-Balanced Family by Dr. Robert Myers! I have three grown children and two that are almost grown. Although we have used many resources as they have grown to help us improve our parenting, I truly wish this book had been available years ago. Do you have a child that cannot seem to get enough screen time? This book teaches you how to address it in a healthy, affirming way to help your child realize the effects and learn to make healthy choices. Do you need help handling sibling rivalry, couch-potato syndrome, or family togetherness? This is the book for you! It presents clearly defined, obtainable objectives and gives you hope that, no matter how far from balanced your family is, the answer is here!

Reviewed by Randy B. Lichtman for Readers' Favorite

Merrick Rosenberg has authored a very interesting illustration of personality style theory in The Chameleon: Life-Changing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has a Personality or Knows Someone Who Does. There are many theories and adaptations of the four personality styles and tests to determine the styles, and one of the most known is D-I-S-C, representing Dominant—Influential—Steady—Compliant. As the author states in the introduction, in spite of the fact that he would teach classes on the DISC theory, people would have difficulty remembering a D from an S, and it was difficult for participants in his seminars to remember. So, he decided to use animals for a memory system and used the animal interactions for readers to remember the styles. He created an Eagle (who was brought up with doves) to represent the Dominant, a talkative Parrot for Influential, a Dove for Steady, and an Owl for Compliant (the analytical personality).

The book is a set of stories that bring personalities in contact with other personalities, and by observing these animal interactions, we begin to understand better how our personalities intersect with others and how we can improve our interactions with each other. At the end of each chapter, the author brings in the chameleons (a master and his pupil) who often are invisible observers, to teach us something about the lessons involved. A summary page of lessons learned ends each of the stories. Issues such as accepting yourself and your style, the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone, creativity, encouraging people to examine how their information is communicated, reframing, and giving and receiving positive feedback are among many very good life lessons well demonstrated in the book. I highly recommend reading The Chameleon: Life-Changing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has a Personality or Knows Someone Who Does to better fully understand our own personality styles and those of others we need to interact with each day.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Lessons from the Frogs I've Kissed by Krystal Kolnik is an honest and straightforward book chronicling the author's not-so-pleasant experiences with the men in her life. Her relationships and personal experiences with various men will resonate with many readers and will help them look at their relationship patterns and see where changes need to be made. Romantic relationships can be romantic, passionate, and interesting, and the author's experiences will make readers delve into their relationships with the men they date and look at the signs to see if their relationships are healthy and if their lifestyle choices are also healthy and happy.

The author takes readers into her personal life and gives a glimpse of the unhealthy and toxic relationships she has experienced. Her dating patterns, abusive relationships and her struggles as a single parent are all useful to readers when it comes to helping them move forward on their personal journey. Her tips are invaluable and will also make readers aware of how narcissists operate. It is definitely a good book because it tackles a topic happening around everyone, and her honesty while speaking about her life is endearing. Reading this book is a good journey for readers on the lookout for longlasting love, peace, and happiness. For all those readers who are dealing with negativity in their relationships, this book will give a good insight on how to handle it and deal with it so that they can finally break free from domestic abuse.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

To the Moon and Back: A Childhood Under the Influence by Lisa Kohn is a gritty memoir of abuse. At an early age, Lisa was exposed to abuse, including cocaine, even received from a judge. It just seemed natural for a child who had no other values as an alternative. Now entrenched in a cult in New York, founded by the self-proclaimed messiah, Sun Myung Moon, Lisa Kohn and her brother, Robbie, found a point of reference. But the sense of belonging that the cult gave her soon metamorphosed into a struggle to break free from it. Follow her story to discover powerful lessons on inner freedom and self-conquest.

Told in a strong and convincing voice, To the Moon and Back: A Childhood Under the Influence is a story that reflects the author’s honesty and courage. While Lisa Kohn tells readers an engaging story, she also sprinkles it with insights and reflections that are illuminating and filled with wisdom. Here is an example: “As a kid you misinterpret the nasty things that happen to and around you, and you somehow believe you’re to blame. As a young adult I internalized this more and more.” The writing is engaging, with scenes that are focused, characters that are emotionally and psychologically rich, and commentaries that explore elements of the setting and the dynamics of family.

The conflict is introduced at the very beginning of the narrative: “My brother says that we were raised by wolves. I don’t always agree with him, but I don’t have a more accurate description of our upbringing.” Lisa notes that a friend of hers pointed out how wolves raise their young with more structure than her parents gave them. The conflict develops at different levels and crystallizes in the internal conflict in which the author makes hard and difficult choices. This book has powerful lessons for people trapped in a life under the influence, a story filled with love and hope.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Extended Hand by Marti Eicholz follows a woman’s quest for meaning and happiness. In this memoir, the daughter of a preacher — a man with a great sense of control over his family — tells her story and shows readers the constraints of love, her inability to nurture herself, because, like most of us, she yearned for acceptance. In retrospect, she takes readers on a journey that has powerful psychological implications, exploring how our need to please others and to gain approval can lead to our not being able to live a life of our own. In this narrative, she shares her fears, her struggles, and the epiphany that turned her life around. From declaring bankruptcy to finding inner freedom, Marti Eicholz explores her humanity and, in her story, she unveils the mistakes that stop most people from allowing the wellsprings of life to flow from the center of their being.

This is a moving memoir that follows an interesting journey to some of the most meaningful lessons in life. The author explores how our faith can become a limitation to exploring who we truly are and reaching deep within ourselves to claim our freedom. There are significant moments in this memoir and I enjoyed the connection the author has with Robert, the man she’s come to love and who helps her discover the beauty of love. Self-discovery, the freedom to love and be loved, family and friendship, and the quest for happiness are among the themes that are written into this story. What I loved most about The Extended Hand is the author's ability to take a retrospective look at her life and identify lessons and universal truths that compel readers to look at their choices in life and respond to the question: Am I living my life or am I living a life designed for someone else? The writing is atmospheric and the relationships are beautifully explored. A story that is both an eye-opener and a revelation.