Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Perpetual Paycheck: 5 Secrets to Getting a Job, Keeping a Job, and Earning Income for Life in the Loyalty-Free Workplace by Lori B. Rassas is a self-help book for those who are looking for a financially secure future. This is a book for everyone, regardless of what stage they are at in their career. The author shares information and secrets that will help people find jobs that suit their aptitude, do better at their job to score a promotion, solidify their job, and even switch between industries with ease. The author shares five approaches that can help people get what they want in their career. She provides ideas that can be applied to any person, any industry, and any job. With this book, the author believes you can have the secure future you need.

Ed Robertson is a smart narrator. While his enunciation is great, it is the way he delivers the narrative that made this audiobook enjoyable for me. He takes his time to make sure the audience understands the concept and allows them to digest it before moving on. He adds life to the already interesting narrative and that is the biggest compliment I can give him. Before reading this book, I had no idea what a loyalty-free workplace is. This is a highly educational book, one that shares a lot of information that is very helpful and empowering at the same time. The ideas and tips Lori B. Rassas provides are realistic and easy to adopt in the real world. She doesn’t just give you the advice to follow; she tells readers why it is important, how it works and what you will get out of it. The Perpetual Paycheck is very easy to listen to! I think it will prove to be a great help for newbies.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

French author Guy Blaise states that: “The most tolerant people that I know, both in America and in France, are gay...people in same-sex relationships care more for each other at a level that would embarrass heterosexuals.” No books I’ve read give more credibility to those statements than Never Turn Your Back on the Tide by Kergan Edwards-Stout. While it was the sub-title suggesting I’d be reading about a lying, psychopathic wannabe-murderer that caught my attention, it was the emotions experienced by the principal character, Kergan, in this disturbingly beautiful autobiography that really spoke to my humanity.

Without putting a label on it, Kergan knew at a young age that he was gay. He wasn’t unhappy about it, but as he matured, entered the showbiz world, and learned first-hand how many others in all walks of life and at all levels of their businesses and careers were just like him, he also became increasingly aware of the intolerance toward gays. He watched sadly as his closest gay friends succumbed to Aids, one of whom, Shane, became his partner for several years before dying. It was Kergan’s depiction of this particular relationship that showed how people in same-sex relationships do indeed care more for each other “at a level that would embarrass heterosexuals.”

Unfortunately, the level of caring in Kergan’s next relationship with “Eyes”, the “lying psychopath,” was strictly one-sided. It took years for Kergan to wake up to the truth and by that time, he and Eyes had adopted a son. While the years Kergan spent with, and later, without Eyes, were heartbreaking for him, what a wonderful, caring single father Kergan became to not just one, but two adopted sons who might otherwise not have had any chance of a good life. Never Turn Your Back on the Tide is a touching and eye-opening read. The style is laid-back, easy to follow; the tone is compassionate, sincere, and honest. These are the kinds of books that need to be written...the autobiographies, the memoirs...if ever the world is to better understand and become more tolerant of the differences between each and every one of us. Thanks for writing this wonderful book, Kergan Edwards-Stout.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

Living Among the Dead: My Grandmother’s Holocaust Survival Story of Love and Strength is written by Adena Bernstein Astrowsky. Mania Lichtenstein, affectionately known as Bubbie, was a Polish Holocaust survivor. Mania/Bubbie was a young Polish Jew when WW2 began. She and her family were sent to labor camps where they endured horrific treatment and living conditions. No-one in her family survived, but Bubbie was a prisoner for three years; hungry, malnourished, sickly and traumatized by the nightmare she was living. She eventually managed to escape with other Jews. The group survived in the woods until the war ended, and Mania married one of the prisoners. They emigrated to the United States to start a new life, refusing to live in Eastern Europe, a reminder of the horror they had endured.

Adena Bernstein Astrowsky often wondered why she had never met her maternal relatives. Bubbie was reluctant to talk about her past, but with encouragement, she spoke of the Holocaust that changed her life forever. Adena began to understand why her father often took her and not his older daughters with him whenever they visited family and specific places of interest. Adena became even closer to her grandmother because of the heartbreaking and unforgettable memories shared, both verbally and in her journals. She continues Bubbie’s ancestral traditions and customs, and this memoir is a dedication to Mania "Bubbie" Lichtenstein. It includes excerpts of Bubbie’s writing and poetry, photos, and other historical information about the Holocaust. I found Living Among the Dead: My Grandmother’s Holocaust Survival Story of Love and Strength very emotional and poignant. The imagery was so clear and expressive and I admired Bubbie for her strength and spirit. Every Holocaust survivor has a story to share. I was glad to be given the opportunity to learn about Mania “Bubbie” Lichtenstein and other Jews who perished in WW2.

Reviewed by Ashley Tetzaff for Readers' Favorite

Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV has done it again! In his work, The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance: A Comprehensive Collection of Time-Tested Principles of Wealth Management, the author lays out a thorough study of principles relating to finance and economics. The book has three main parts. Part One is for the more scholarly, who would like to know the background of what Dr. Criniti has studied, how he defines some of the main terms he uses, and what the possible benefits and limitations are to this work. Part Two lays out Dr. Criniti’s top 218 Principles for Economics and Finance. There are categories like Business, Debt, Ethics, Investing, Personal Finance, etc. and there are several principles under each category. Principles like: “If you have the option, eliminate the difficult clients for maximum efficiency” and “Simplifying your product or service has strong marketing appeal” and “The more risk you take, the more you can lose or make” and about 215 more like that. Each principle has a paragraph or two explaining the rationale behind the sentence in detail. Part Three is essentially a summary of Part One, plus the bibliography, index, and other appendixes.

Part One was extremely interesting to me and reminded me of my research for my Master’s degree (terminology and limitations and qualitative versus quantitative and other lovely terms which are very thrilling when you have worked with them), but if I didn’t have that background, I’m not sure I’d have had a clue what he was talking about half the time. Which is why Dr. Criniti wisely mentions in the introduction that those not interested in that aspect could just skip to Part Two. Part Two is very easy to read and understand and is so good! Each principle is about half a page but has the wisdom of half a century in it. I read each principle thinking “oh yeah, I’ve seen that proven” and “yep, that is how I interact with businesses, so I suppose that is how other people would interact with mine.” Each principle seems so simple, and yet is so profound. Part Three is a summary of Part One. If you can’t wade through Part One, read Part Three for the essential nature of it. But Part Two is the absolute must-read section of the book. I don’t think I will ever forget this book. The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance is now one of my top ten favorite books ever!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Quarantine Cookbook is a nonfiction cooking/food guide written by Beth Carter. The author’s comic muse has been hiding from her lately and making writing her typical literary fare, humorous women’s fiction, and romantic comedy rather more difficult to pen. And since she’s been actively cooking and posting her recipes and pictures online, Carter decided that the best thing she could do to help others get through the pandemic was to share her favorite recipes, many of which were handed down to her from family members. Most of them are perfect for those evenings when the pantry is somewhat barer than it could be, in fact, a number of them need only 5 ingredients or less -- and the ingredients are often staples most can find lurking in the pantry or freezer. Carter offers recipes for everything: appetizers, breads (that are easy to make!), salads, sides, soups, entrees, desserts, and even snacks. In her appendix, she includes Non-Stir Crazy Activities, Six-Word Memoirs on Quarantine Life, and an assortment of entertaining quotes on food.

I am always intrigued when a new cookbook comes my way and was particularly eager to read Beth Carter’s The Quarantine Cookbook. As she promises, her recipes are delightfully free of long lists of arcane and hard-to-get ingredients, and most of them are not involved and arduous undertakings. Her savory recipes are brimful of bright, healthy vegetables, and her desserts likewise feature generous helpings of fruit. Lest this scare away some readers, don’t let the thought of peppers, bananas, and berries cause you undue concern; this collection features generations’ worth of comfort food. Her Sausage Balls sound incredible and are incredibly easy to make. Beth’s Famous Baked Beans artfully creates a masterpiece one might expect to have taken hours on a hot stove, and Taco Lasagna is not only intriguing but again simple to prepare. While many have their own favorites and handed-down recipes for comfort food, Beth Carter has something for everyone in her cookbook. The ingredients are clearly and simply specified and the instructions are easy to follow and delightfully brief. The Quarantine Cookbook is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Mediterranean Functional Lifestyle: Creative Recipes for Healthy Diets by Nikos Ligidakis is a gift for anyone who wants to eat and stay healthy. This book brilliantly showcases the old adage that “we are what we eat.” The author shares more than 250 original recipes for healthy dieting, designed for people who are focused on elimination diets, gluten-free diets, vegetarian, vegan, and many more. The author shares information about and provides a cooking philosophy and diet mostly shaped by what the earth provides. It was not about one particular food with unique benefits but rather eating mostly plant-based, nutrient-dense foods and limited amounts of meats. Insights into the Early Hippocratic doctors establish a strong connection between their eating habits, their diet, and the Mediterranean diet. In the preface, Helene, the wife of the author, starts by telling readers their experience with the elimination diet and how they eliminated sugar, alcohol, dairy, eggs, corn, and gluten for three weeks. By the end of the third week, they lost weight and had much more energy. This book contains their secrets.

I have read many cookbooks and have consulted them when I badly needed to cook, but The Mediterranean Functional Lifestyle is a treasure trove that doesn’t just teach readers how to cook, but also how to create healthy meals. Readers will understand the nutritional value of fruits, vegetables, nuts, spices and herbs that are presented in this book. Nikos Ligidakis shares his creative ways of cooking and presents recipes that are clearly described and with easy steps to prepare them. These recipes include healthy foods like arugula, artichokes, beets, broccoli, cabbage, capers, carrots, cucumber, mushrooms, and many others. This book will not only keep those who use it healthy, but it will increase their strength levels and overall wellness. I enjoyed the creativity when it comes to the recipes, the fluidity in expression, and the strength of the writing. I also loved that while the recipes are easy to prepare, the author has done a great job of researching the biological and health properties of the spices and the foods. A gem of a book that is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

I’m going to go out on a limb here and tell you that The Pale-Faced Lie by David Crow is one of the most enlightening and entertaining true stories I have ever read. Crow’s memoir of what it was like being raised...if one can call it that...as a Cherokee amongst the Navajos was impossible to put down. His ex-con father, Thurston, was a master manipulator, a child and spouse abuser, and the last person deserving of the love and loyalty David and his siblings gave him. But then, when you live in fear of both physical and mental abuse, it’s amazing how resilient you become and how much you can take. David took a lot of abuse, but sadly, not just from Thurston. His small stature and huge insecurity made him the target of classmate and community bullies. But despite the abuse, David had a wild, naughty, yet somewhat endearing capacity for pulling pranks on everyone, from his peers to his teachers. Thurston encouraged this naughtiness in him and David would do it, hoping that his father might just love him a little better. All it really achieved was having Thurston make David an unwilling accomplice in his criminal activities.

Crow’s accounts of these pranks are often hilarious. You can’t help but smile, even though what he and his younger brother pulled off bordered on vandalism and was often dangerous. Thanks to the occasional adult who recognized what David was living with, and the heights to which David could rise once away from his father’s nastiness, David came out on top and today enjoys success as do, surprisingly, his siblings. Talk about rising from the ashes! The Pale-Faced Lie is impossible to capture in a short review. The storyline and the characters are unique. The style is simple and straightforward. Every page brings new action and excitement, delivered with easy dialogue and sincerity. If you’re looking for an absorbing and touching read during this time of physical isolation, grab The Pale-Faced Lie today.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Rotors in the Sand by Don Harvel is the true story of the investigation into a CV-22 Osprey accident in Afghanistan in 2010. Follow the investigation crew as they try to figure out why the Osprey fell from the sky, for no apparent reason. The aircraft was on a midnight mission to drop a group of Rangers near a target when the accident happened. More than 100 interviews were conducted by the investigation team as they tried to find out what went wrong. They scoured the aircraft wreckage, looking for answers. Was it a mechanical fault? Pilot error? Engine malfunction? Were the crew told to keep their mouths shut? This is the true story of one of the USAF's most controversial accident investigations, revealing truths and details about what caused the accident, the 16 survivors, and the four casualties.

Rotors in the Sand by Don Harvel is a stunning story, totally compelling reading, grabbing you from the first page. Many accident investigation stories are long, drawn-out affairs that you get lost in; this isn’t. This is concise and to the point, easy reading, and engaging, written in a way that anyone can follow and understand, military or otherwise. Truth is often hard to find, especially in situations like this, when you know that things are being covered up and true heroes are being thrown to the wolves, just to save a higher-up skin or two. This reads very much like a novel even though you know it is fact. It is a fascinating insight into what happened that fateful night and, more importantly, what happened afterward, and why the families of the fallen and the survivors have had to wait so long to find out what really happened. Great book. You’ll enjoy it whether you are interested in the military or not.

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Written for a vast audience in the corporate sector including employees, entrepreneurs, team leaders, and business leaders, The Growth Quotient by Suram is an informative guide about growth, efficiency, preparedness, effectiveness and more. Chapter two of the work discusses how growth can be maintained and achieved in the context of ever-changing technological trends. Other topics discussed in the section include managing public personality/reputation and the aspects that contribute to a stable career. The fourth chapter discusses the external world and explains topics relating to communication, building relationships, client satisfaction, and others. Other chapters discuss broader topics divided into specific sub-topics and they include self-awareness, conflict resolution, digital trends, and data interpretation.

When reading Suram’s The Growth Quotient, the infographics, psychometric tests, and charts were useful in helping me grasp the information contained in the book. Anecdotes and illustrations make the content interesting. This is further enhanced by the inclusion of engaging questions. In a world that is constantly changing, Suram provides practical tools that help in the process of growth. Various platforms that have revolutionized different industries, such as Canva, are discussed. The messages contained are encouraging such as why and how to get rid of unfounded fears or how to minimize weaknesses by working on and adding to strengths. Others are informative and unique such as the discussion on why it is important to filter information that gets to the mind as the mind does not have its own filter. The Growth Quotient provides useful business strategies for persons in the corporate world.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know by Richard James Rogers is a simple and insightful manual that gives interesting and useful tips on how to create a good working relationship with students and to bring out the best in them. It is important for teachers to effectively deal with the dynamic interplay of many factors in a student's life so they have effective classroom management. This book gives good suggestions and techniques and how to apply them so that it is easy to deal with students. This guide will teach readers how to find their own methodology in dealing with students. Teachers require certain habits to create changes and improvement to become outstanding teachers and this book is a great help.

The tips and advice shared by the author are simple and can be practiced easily. The personal stories and experiences help readers connect with the author's words. This is a great book for teachers who are struggling when it comes to forming a positive relationship with their students and making their classroom sessions more engaging. The illustrations are useful when it comes to understanding what the author is trying to convey. Question Time is good for reflecting on the topic and the author has made the book interactive so that readers can also participate in the methodology discussed while reading. The use of illustrations and exercises make it a fun read without sounding too preachy and difficult. It is definitely a relevant book for all teachers who want to hone their craft.