Book Review – Unprotected Love

Unprotected Love – Murder on the docks of Manhattan

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author: John F. Rooney
Format: Kindle, Paperback

Late night on the docks of Manhattan, they find him, carefully laid out, hands crossed, peaceful, and very dead.  A close examination of the body finds something usual hidden in his mouth – a condom.  Unfortunately, this is not the first victim to be found this way.  All are male hustlers and all have the same condom calling card.  A serial killer has been born.  NYPD special ops is called in and Denny Delany, one of the city’s best is put in charge of the case.  He reaches out to sex crimes but intra-department politics start to hamper Denny’s progress.  As he battles his own alcoholic demons, the bodies pile up and Denny wonders if his lack of progress is by design.  Could the perpetrators be within and if so, how can protect his career as well as his life?

Unprotected Love was my first read of Rooney’s Delany series.  Rooney has a knack for storytelling.  His characterization, settings and plot all work together to create strong hooks keeping the reader engaged.  His style and voice are a little different than the average read which took me a chapter or two to tune my ear to.  As with most mysteries, the fun is taking the clues provided and trying to jump ahead and solve who the murderer is.  Rooney does a good job at throwing a couple of red herrings in the mix hear and there and had me guessing then second guessing most of the way.

I also found the details of how the relationship between “John’s” and “Hustlers” interesting from a psychological perspective.  This detail and the backstory of Denny and Molly gave the work a real and edgy feel.  More mystery then thriller, Unprotected Love is an entertaining read.

Book Review – The Road to Grafenwohr

The Road to Grafenwohr – One of my favorite Patterson Novels

Rating: 5 of 5 stars, TMBOA Recommended!

Author: Edward C. Patterson
Format: Kindle, Paperback

Traveling to his unit in post war Germany, Quincy Summerson finds the locals, their heritage, language, architecture, and culture fascinating.  They too, find him of great interest given the unique birthmark displayed prominently on his cheek which legend portends it to be a harbinger for both great evil and good.  Quincy’s journey takes him further and further into heart of Bavaria as visions begin to plague him.  As they increase in frequency and violence Quincy learns he has been called not just to serve the United States but an even higher purpose.

Readers may be initially turned off by the title of Patterson’s latest work.  But I must say, this was one of my favorites from him.  Patterson takes his expert prose and characterization skills and infuses them into an intriguing setting of a young man stationed in Germany during the height of the cold war with an eclectic group of roommates where everyone prays to avoid reassignment to Vietnam—except for one man.  Sprinkle in some fantasy elements and Patterson has created a genre I’ve not previously experienced but very much enjoyed.

The plot is very tight and the storyline moves.  If you already are a Patterson fan, I think you will definitely enjoy The Road to Grafenwohr.  If you’ve never read him and you are looking for something different, give this one a try – you won’t be disappointed.

Book Review – In The Shadow Of Swords

In the Shadow of Swords – Arabian Fantasy

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author: Val Gunn
Format: Hardcover

Pursued by an assassin, Hiril Altair races to stay alive long enough to reach sanctuary and deliver the evidence – evidence that will prove the world and their Sultan are not what they had believed.  Steps from success he encounters the half-jinn kingslayer Ciris Sarn whose blade quickly ends Altair’s life as well as any chance for the truth to be known.

Val Gunn’s In the Shadow of Swords starts fast immediately grabbing the readers’ attention.  The Arabian setting is engaging, the mystery involving their world unsettling and the motivations of a cursed assassin drive the plot forward.  The mysticism, exotic local, and fast paced passages are the strengths of this novel.

Gunn’s chapters are quick snippets of action and jump from one character to the next.  At times, it feels a bit like changing television channels after only getting a short piece of the story.  During the first half of the book, it was a little difficult to follow what was happening and with each chapter and character I found myself wondering who I should be cheering for as they all seemed like bad guys hunting one another for a purpose that was not clear.  Fortunately, at the half way point in the novel, these motivations and independent threads start to come together and the action builds to its ultimate climax and resolution.

Gunn builds and interesting and complex world and while this story in itself is complete, its ending leaves the door open for future adventures.

Book Review – The Device

The Device – Captivating!

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author: Patrick Skelton
Format: Kindle, Paperback

Tormented by guilt after the death of fiancé, John Timmons lives life in a fog retreating to his mountain cabin after work comforted only by his dog Spencer.  While out hiking, a reflection catches his eye and he spots a small object sitting on a log in a nearby river.  After a torturous journey down a ravine, he retrieves the object.  It is mostly unremarkable but is engraved with the strange phrase “Project Daf Yasfhat”.  From this moment forward, John’s life and those around him are never the same.

Patrick Skelton’s “The Device” is a gripping tale that captivates readers with very subtle science fiction elements.  Like all good directors or story tellers, it is what Skelton doesn’t tell you in the narrative that keeps the reader guessing where it is all leading.  Who is the mysterious man that appears throughout all of John’s life like a guardian angel?  What really happened to John’s biological parents?  What is the unnatural affliction to sound John has?  Most of all, what is the device?

“The Device” takes place in the near future and Skelton extrapolates from today’s government actions what might be the resulting healthcare and environmental regulations and their impact on our lives and personal freedoms.  The results are written so matter of fact that this makes them even more chilling.  This a fast moving and entertaining read especially given the kindle price.  I look forward to more from this author.

Book Review – Bad Spirits

Bad Spirits (1-5) – Nonstop Action!

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author: DV Berkom
Format: Kindle

Waking to find herself on the dirt floor of a corrugated steel building, Kate Jones grabs her backpack full of money intent on finding her way back to the United States.  Unfortunately, a Mexican drug lord named Salazar is just as intent on finding her, retrieving his stolen money, and making her pay for ever having left him.   Is there anyone she can trust?

DV Berkom’s Bad Spirits is a fast paced action packed novella which reads like a nonstop high octane movie.  Each chapter moves at breakneck speed.  The heroine, Kate, barely has time to take a breather before finding herself in another impossible situation and back on the run.

While there was the occasional deus ex machina moment, I didn’t care.  I finished it in one sitting and felt exhausted when I did!  This was a fun read and I look forward to more from Berkom.

Book Review – Darlin’ Druid

Darlin’ Druid Title aside – this is a great book!!

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Author: Lyn Horner
Format: Kindle

After surviving the great Chicago fire, Jessie Delvin is haunted by visions of her future—a future she is compelled to find forcing her to leave home and join her brother’s journey west to find her destiny.  But the Wild West turns out to be just that and Jessie’s sharp tongue and fine feminine figure attract the attention of far too many brutish men.  Fortunately, Captain David Taylor, a Texan cattle rancher turned soldier saves Jessie from the clutches of a particularly unsavory character.  Immediately Jessie and David are passionately attracted to one another, but neither is what they other really wants—or so they think…

I’ll admit I was completely thrown by the title of this book.  If for some reason you are as well, “fuhgeddaboudit”!  This is an engaging, page turning, can’t put it down, don’t know where the time went, read.  In fact, when I received Horner’s book I had already started Steig Larsson’s “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest”; having finished the first two books in Larsson’s series I was anxious to complete the third.  But I picked up Horner’s book and frankly the pace was so much faster and the book more engaging that I put best selling Hornet aside in favor of finishing Horner’s book.

The characters, love triangle and compelling plot line compete with the best in this genre.  This is a full force romance novel with some unique twists that readers are sure to enjoy.  I encourage readers to give it a try.  You won’t be disappointed!

Book Review – The People’s Treasure

The People’s Treasure – Ushering in World’s End

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author: Edward C. Patterson
Format: Kindle, Paperback

Having believed Nick Battle to be lost forever in The Dragon’s Pool, the china hands from Italy, China, New York and San Francisco find themselves inextricably brought together after experiencing separate supernatural events.  Is it possible to repair Nick’s fractured chi and bring him back to the mortal world or will their actions instead usher in the end of the world?  Conflicting warrants and logic versus loyalty battle it out in this fourth installment in Edward Patterson’s epic Jade Owl series.

In The People’s Treasure Patterson’s engaging style and unique voice once more entertains readers with this fantasy series.  Weaving together important questions of the human condition – learning to live with loss, doing what feels right versus what might seem logical, putting family first, following a higher calling -  along with an epic fantasy involving supernatural relics, this tome moves along quickly holding the readers interest.

Parallel stories between Rowden Gray’s American team and the Chen family’s fall from grace in China eventually converge.  The concluding battle for the future of the world and Nick’s soul sets up the final installment in the series Under Her Hem.  Fans of the Jade Owl Legacy will find this a must read.

Book Review – The Angel and the Brown-Eyed Boy

The Angel & the Brown-Eyed Boy – Hope at World’s End

Author: Sandy Nathan
Format: Paperback
A good book elicits an emotional response while being read; Nathan’s book haunts the reader long after the final page is turned.  In Angel & the Brown-Eyed Boy two dying worlds fight for survival, their futures dependent on a revolutionary and an angelic otherworldly dancer.  Nathan shows us a future Earth whose indifferent citizens and uneducated politicians have allowed their fears to rule them believing everything they are told even in the face of the reality around them.  It is world not that many heartbeats away from our own, making the premise chilling.
Hope lies in the few who stand and fight for their beliefs, but they must do so in secrecy.  Clandestine operatives in the government are ever watchful of the citizenry, quashing dissension immediately; people literally disappear in the middle of the night never to be heard from again.
Angel explores a number of themes crossing political and cultural boundaries.  Should one put their faith solely in their leadership?  What about following orders—are there lines that should never be crossed even in support of one’s country?  When does one stop trying to change the system from within and instead become a revolutionary?  And what of family—what does one do when one’s own family members believe in something diametrically opposed to one’s own beliefs?  How far does a person go to save themselves, their friends, their family, and their world?
This future world is dark and disturbing a pre apocalyptic malaise covering the Earth similar to the movie Children of Men.  Is there hope?  Yes, Jeremy and Eliana are the key.  But to what end?  Future volumes of the tale will tell.

Book Review – Blood Opal!

Blood Opal – The Curse of the Blood Opal!

Rating: 5 of 5

Author: Carole Sutton
Format: Paperback
Tags: crime fiction, murder, mystery, Cornwall, Goodreads author
After a long day at work, Pug Germaine returns home only to find it in complete disarray.  Convinced her husband has tossed it during one of his more and more frequent foul moods, she cautiously searches for his whereabouts only to find him in the arms of another woman both of them covered in blood—murdered!  Horrified she contacts the police and soon learns not only has he been cheating but he has leveraged all of their assets on bad investments.  In a heartbeat, she’s lost everything—her husband, home, and business.  Determined to start anew, she sails off.  But Pug’s troubles are only beginning.  Her husband’s killers haven’t found what they are looking for and they are convinced Pug has it.

In Blood Opal, Carole Sutton once again demonstrates her prowess in creating rich characters, describing beautiful settings, and formulating an engrossing and complex plot.  So drawn was I to her unlikely heroine Pug, that I easily felt her fears and frustrations and wondered as she did who to trust.  The legend of the Blood Opal and its curse and back story were fascinating and with the prodding from Celeste—Pug’s friend and confidant—one can not help but wonder if there is some truth to the curse as death  follows in its wake.

Sutton’s knack for storytelling quickly engrosses the reader in this well crafted murder mystery and doesn’t let go until the final page is turned.  Fans of this genre should quickly add this to their shelves.

Book Review – Slow Love

Slow Love a Polynesian Pillow Book – Take Your Time and Enjoy One of Life’s Treasures!

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Author: James N. Powell
Format: Paperback

Imagine waking to the soft sounds of gentle waves rolling and crashing along a white sandy beach, crystal clear water, and food plentiful within a hands reach as a warm breeze caresses your skin.  For some this sounds like a perfect vacation where one can unwind, relax, and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  But what if this wasn’t a vacation?  What if this is where you lived?  Imagine a society raised isolated in paradise—no influence from the outside world and all around is beauty and the requisites for life are easily attained.  Without the day to day struggles for survival, life for early Polynesians was one to be savored and not rushed.  So too was their lovemaking.

In Slow Love, James Powell does a masterful job at interweaving Polynesian myths with reality taking the reader on a journey through history of their land and society both before and after the influence from Western Europe.  Throughout this journey, Powell informs on the techniques and benefits of taking one’s time while making love the Polynesian way.  I didn’t expect but was pleasantly surprised not only by the rich cultural history provided by the book, but also the scientific explanations involving neurochemical reactions that can practitioners can benefit from leading to deeper, closer and lasting love between partners.

Powell’s writing is fluid, refined, and engaging.  Readers may find not only their views on lovemaking altered but perhaps their view on life as well.

Book Review – Libertas

Libertas – An Epic Journey into Roman Hispania

Rating: 5 of 5, TMBOA Recommended!

Author: Alistair Forrest
Format: Paperback, Kindle

High atop the Iberian Peninsula Mountains in the small somewhat forgotten village of Munda, young Melqart struggles in his sword play practice against the much larger and athletic Arsay.  Though boys will be boys, their early conflicts of brain versus brawn escalates as the two boys age.  Arsay becomes increasing jealous of Melqart who along with the help of a young girl – Leandra – ingeniously trap and kill wild bore for their village infuriating Arsay.  As the tension grows between these two, so does the faraway conflict between generals warring for control of the Roman Empire; Munda suddenly finds itself a very strategic location for these generals.  Melqart, Leandra, and Arsay’s lives are never the same as they all struggle to find their way in a rapidly changing dangerous world.

Alistair Forrest’s novel, Libertas, is an epic journey through Roman controlled Hispania in the First Century BC.  Forrest develops the characters, their desires, their motivations, and all that they are forced to give up as a result of the world events that so disrupt their lives.  One wonders what life would have been like in this quite small mountain village had the bloody Roman civil war not occurred.  Clearly their lives would have been much simpler and less painful, but would they have reached their potential for leadership, ingenuity, love, honor, and in some cases evil?  In this way, Forrest subtly explores a truism that it is in the times of genuine hardship and struggle that one’s true self and character comes forward.

I enjoy historical fiction probably for the same reasons I enjoy traveling.  Both immerse one in the local culture, an experience which greatly impacts one’s view of the world and as such broadens the mind.  Libertas was such a journey for me.  For those who enjoy this genre you will not be disappointed!

Book Review – The Merry-Go-Round

The Merry-Go-Round – Opposites Do Attract but do They Stay Together?

Rating: 4 of 5

Author: Donna Fasano
Format: Kindle

A year after being financially ruined by her husband Greg, Lauren Flynn goes to court to fight for a divorce he will not give her.  The court not only grants her request, but to make up for her financial losses she is also awarded Greg’s only asset, a worthless plot of land complete with a rundown barn.  Unfortunately, Lauren’s expectations of moving forward with her life are quickly dashed when she learns the barn houses not only a merry-go-round in disrepair, but her ex-husband who would be otherwise homeless.  Soon Lauren’s life is much like the carnival ride, going backwards, going forwards, and most of the time just going in circles.

Donna Fasano’s Merry-Go-Round is an easy beach read about one woman’s search for happiness.  Her main character, Lauren, has unfortunately built up in her mind what she thinks her life should be like – much like one would build a resume for a career – versus understanding and admitting to herself what truly makes her happy.

I will admit that I didn’t understand why Lauren wanted to divorce Greg.  His hardware business does fail causing them financial difficulties and he doesn’t tell her until it is too late.  But he seems like a great guy.  He treats Lauren well, plans romantic surprises, can fix just about anything, is selfless, good looking, and is constantly helping others.  On balance, he seems like a great catch.

Oddly enough, my favorite characters were not Lauren and Greg; rather, Lauren’s father Lew and her co-worker Norma Jean resonated with me.  In many ways the evolution of their relationship was more endearing than the tumult between Lauren and Greg.  They both have the wisdom and confidence that comes with age and their honesty with others and themselves was refreshing.

Fasano also does a good job building romantic tension throughout the book keeping the pages turning which made for a very enjoyable read.  I look forward to her next offering!

Book Review – Cyber Writers and the Zebra of Life

Cyber Writers – An African Adventure Tale for Young Readers!

Rating: 4 of 5

Author: Karen Kostlivy
Format: Paperback

Being a pen pal is fun and young Mason Witt joins a group called Cyber Writers to connect with other kids around the world.  One day, however, he learns from his African friend Lutalo that his village is dying due to the theft of their magic Zebra.  Wishing he could some how help out his friend, Mason suddenly finds his world around him melt away to be replaced by thick forests of the African jungle.  Don’t worry Lutalo – Mason is here – help is on the way!

In Cyber Writers, Karen Kostlivy takes young readers on a fun and entertaining journey to Africa where talking animals and magic arrows help our young heroes track the thieves and save their village.  Mason learns, as should all children, the value of friendship, teamwork, and frankly exercise!  Running through the forest, climbing trees, shooting arrows, all requires strength and stamina and Mason learns his time in front of the TV or playing video games has left him a little soft unlike his African friend.  He also learns that his exploring adventures to be much more fun and rewarding than anything he experiences in front of a television.

Kostlivy has created an interesting premise in Cyber Writers.  One that I’m sure lends itself to future interesting volumes for young readers to enjoy.

Book Review – Amsterdam 2012

Amsterdam 2012 – Thought Provoking Alternate Future Reality

Rating: 4 of 5

Author: Ruth Fransisco
Format: Kindle

Carefree and making their way across Europe, Peter and Anne meet a group of locals in Amsterdam willing to show them around to the various sites and galleries.  Finding their guides fun and engaging, they agree to accompany them to their home in the outskirts of town and enjoy dinner, desert, and new guests who arrive during their stay.  As the alcohol flows and the night drags on, Peter and Anne agree to spend the night in the Amsterdam couple’s old windmill recently converted to a guest bedroom.  After a restful and relaxing sleep, the young couple make their way to their guests house to help clean up and start breakfast.  Inside, they find their hosts brutally slain bodies.  What follows is a harrowing escape from Europe that will not only change their lives, but the course of the world.

In Amsterdam 2012, Ruth Fransisco paints what I would call an alternative reality of a potential future sequence of world events.  Similar to the assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand which started World War I, Fransisco shows how these slayings in Amsterdam begin the start of World War III except this time, it is a war of Islam versus the rest of Europe and the United States.  I can understand the comments from some reviewers regarding the unlikely series of events or the speed upon with the Jihadists can take over so much of the world.  But this is why I call this an alternative reality.  Fransisco is hitting readers over the head with hyperbole of some of the potentially politically correct leanings of this country and how far it could take us if we aren’t home watching the store.

Do I think events could unfold as described?  No.  Do I think the book is thought provoking and compelling?  Absolutely.  Those who like a more subtle approach may not enjoy this read and would not find the United States to be so willing to embrace such radical cultural indoctrination.  Having said that, Clavell’s book “A Children’s Story” frightening shows how easily and quickly it is to change beliefs.  My estimate is this book will polarize readers but all will come away thinking.

Book Review – Primal Wound

Primal Wound – Engaging, Compelling, Disturbing…

Rating: 5 of 5: TMBOA Recommended

Author: Ruth Fransisco
Format: Kindle

A naked, pregnant, teenage, American Indian girl is found floating face down – dead; detective Val Piccard is brought in to lead the case.  As the investigation unfolds, the pieces don’t add up.  The young girl, though she had a troubled past, was clearly on the path to recovery and making a life for herself.  Piccard finds dead end after dead end while trying to uncover who would commit such a brutal murder.  Was it just fate?  Could it have been simply her being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Across town, Cecily Scott desperately tries to save her father who is in dire need of a kidney transplant.  After having herself tested to see if she is a match, she learns the shocking truth – not only is she not a match, but genetic tests confirm she isn’t even related.  Thus begins her journey to find her biological parents.

Ruth Fransisco Primal Wound is a compelling read of two interweaving stories lines.  Clearly the reader knows that these arcs must at some point intersect – but how?  Fransisco expertly gets the reader into Cecily’s head in her quest to find her biological family.  She slowly shows us how Cecily step by step goes from investigating, to stalking, to interfering, and how all of it could seem quite reasonable as events escalate as the chapters unfold.  Frankly, I could not turn the pages fast enough.

While some actions seem a bit out of character for Cecile, I think this was Fransisco’s point – that the primal wound she endured is so embedded in who she is she isn’t even aware of its impact. The ending was definitely satisfying, but I enjoyed the slow buildup of tension and the unraveling of Cecily’s psyche.  Primal Wound is a gripping, compelling, and disturbingly good tale.

Review – The Skinny On: The Art of Persuasion

The Skinny On: The Art of Persuasion – I’m Convinced!

Rating: 5 of 5: TMBOA Recommended

Author: Jim Randel
Format: Paperback

What I like about Jim Randel’s The Skinny On books, is that they are like hiring an excerpt consultant to come and spend a couple of hours teaching from their extensive research and experience, all for the price of a couple of cups of coffee.  Written in a power point type fashion with wonderfully simple but effective and well illustrated characters, Randel teaches through fictional case studies.  Peppered throughout these studies are the wisdom of experts who have been well researched and quoted by Randel along with an extensive bibliography for those wanting to delve deeper.  Usually when I attend a conference or listen to an expert speaker, I consider it well worth my time if I can learn one new factoid or item that I can put into practice.  While I have read a number of the references Jim uses in his books, I still found multiple take-aways to use going forward making reading The Skinny On books well worth the time.

In The Skinny On: The Art of Persuasion, Randel uses the example of selling real estate as a way to teach the art of persuasion.   However, the ten rules presented apply to all persuasive settings.  While one can be successful in the short term with false sincerity, the true key to persuasion is integrity and truly understanding what the motivations of the party you are attempting to persuade.  In order to master this skill, one needs to learn to be observant.  Randel uses the phrase “Think big ears, big eyes, small mouth” in order to drive home the importance of really “hearing” the other person through all your senses than talking the to death to drive home your point.  In fact, Randel warns not to go to far once you’ve already persuaded someone – know when to stop talking.  He provides a nice anecdote of a real estate deal almost lost when the persuader didn’t know when to stop.

A few other items he highlights are that people want to be consistent.  In other words, it may be easier to have people agree to small incremental items than going for the big sell all at once.  Once you have someone agreeing with you, the process to move along the “sale” becomes much easier; for this Randel uses a story where people eventually agreed to have giant signs placed in their yard asking drivers to be careful while driving.  Frankly, I found this result fascinating.  The discussion on creating a sense of reciprocity was interesting; while I knew of this concept, I think it may be one of the most powerful opportunities in any persuasive undertaking.  Finally, being persuasive isn’t about manipulation but truly understanding the motivations of others and aligning yours and their agenda together to achieve a collaborative end result.

Regardless of the methods you use, Randel’s book contains a lot of information packed into a small and engaging package.  Perhaps not all ideas will resonate with everyone, but there is so much good content here, everyone will gain a key take-away or two.

Review – The Skinny On Willpower!

The Skinny On: Willpower – Literally, Where There is a Will There is a Way!

Rating: 5 of 5: TMBOA Recommended

Author: Jim Randel
Format: Paperback

What I like about Jim Randel’s The Skinny On books, is that they are like hiring an excerpt consultant to come and spend a couple of hours teaching from their extensive research and experience, all for the price of a couple of cups of coffee.  Written in a power point type fashion with wonderfully simple but effective and well illustrated characters, Randel teaches through fictional case studies.  Peppered throughout these studies are the wisdom of experts who have been well researched and quoted by Randel along with an extensive bibliography for those wanting to delve deeper.  Usually when I attend a conference or listen to an expert speaker, I consider it well worth my time if I can learn one new factoid or item that I can put into practice.  While I have read a number of the references Jim uses in his books, I still found multiple take-aways to use going forward making reading The Skinny On books well worth the time.

In The Skinny On: Willpower, Randel uses an example of eating properly (fewer marshmallows!) and losing weight to impart lessons regarding willpower.  Given the number of dieting books, exercise videos, and overall size of this market, use of this example should resonate with many readers.  Randel reiterates common lessons with respect to willpower which include goal setting.  Important in this exercise is the specificity of the goals – how much, by when, etc.  Generic goals – be happier – eat better, etc. are prone to failure because there isn’t anything objective to hold oneself accountable to.

Of even greater interest to me, however, was Randel’s focus on preparing for challenges.  Inherent in needing to exercise willpower is the fact that one’s will will be challenged.  For example, in dieting, one will be challenged with emotional stresses that could trigger unhealthy eating – before setting off on a new goal, one needs to anticipate what the potential challenges to the goal and one’s will will be and create a “willpower plan”.  The idea is to think through these future stresses and how to manage them before they happen.  By making a plan before the issue comes up, one is able to effectively plan a response and practice this response before the challenge comes.  This way, when the eventual challenge comes the stress of the challenge itself does not break one’s will and success is easier to obtain.  Randel provides some research suggesting that this practicing improves one’s willpower similar to training a muscle in athletics or the mind in intellectual pursuits.

Finally, I enjoyed the discussion on self discipline.  Randel’s writes “self discipline is about doing things today that may not be your first choice for the pleasure of experiencing bigger and better things tomorrow.”  Well said.

Regardless of the methods you use, Randel’s book contains a lot of information packed into a small and engaging package.  Perhaps not all ideas will resonate with everyone, but there is so much good content here, everyone will gain a key take-away or two.

Review – The Skinny On: Time Management

The Skinny On: Time Management – Practices What It Preaches!

Rating: 5 of 5: TMBOA Recommended

Author: Jim Randel
Format: Paperback

What I like about Jim Randel’s The Skinny On books, is that they are like hiring an excerpt consultant to come and spend a couple of hours teaching from their extensive research and experience, all for the price of a couple of cups of coffee.  Written in a power point type fashion with wonderfully simple but effective and well illustrated characters, Randel teaches through fictional case studies.  Peppered throughout these studies are the wisdom of experts who have been well researched and quoted by Randel along with an extensive bibliography for those wanting to delve deeper.  Usually when I attend a conference or listen to an expert speaker, I consider it well worth my time if I can learn one new factoid or item that I can put into practice.  While I have read a number of the references Jim uses in his books, I still found multiple take-aways to use going forward making reading The Skinny On books well worth the time.

In The Skinny on: Time Management, there were a number of items that resonated with me.  First off is the idea of inertia, that is to say an object at rest stays at rest which is why it is many times easier to do nothing because it takes so much effort to get going; but one can also take advantage of inertia in that once something is moving it tends to stay moving.  Therefore, getting things done becomes much easier once one gets started.  One of the keys to getting started is when creating to-do lists is to not just list the item to get done, but also the first few key steps that must be taken to accomplish the task. In this way, it is much easier to begin a to-do item because most of the energy required to start is the forming of the action steps, especially the first, to be taken.  That way when one gets to the fourth or fifth item on the list for that day, instead of staring at the item and thinking through how to attack it – which likely includes remembering what the item was to begin with, it’s implications, etc. – one skips all these steps because that work has already been done and the first few actions to be taken are already there!  On a related note, the author quotes an interesting statistic that one immediately increases their efficiency 25% just by creating a to-do list because of the focus it provides.

The idea of batching similar work is also good because it forces planning, increases focus and as a result increases efficiency; Randel quotes “effective beats busy every time”.  Lessons on prioritization are also good.  What has worked for me is to use index cards for to-do lists: one to-do for each card.  This way I can list the item, its key action steps on the left side of the card, and status on the right side.  Each morning I take my list of index cards and prioritize them in order of greatest importance and impact.  When each one is done, I collect them in an every growing pile of accomplishments which provides positive reinforcement and feedback in the short term (which helps to keep inertia) and for the bigger items these finished cards serve as reminders of what I’ve accomplished when writing my self review at performance cycle time.

Regardless of the methods you use, Randel’s book contains a lot of information packed into a small and engaging package.  Perhaps not all ideas will resonate with everyone, but there is so much good content here, everyone will gain a key take-away or two.

Review – Run for your Life

Run For Your Life – Alligators and Seniors: A Surprisingly Charming Story!

Rating: 4 of 5

Author: P.B. LaSalle
Format: Paperback

Having witnessed the brutal alligator attack and subsequent death of his best friend, Anthony Lucas devoted his life to understanding their habitats, behaviors, and interactions with humans.  Years later, Lucas – now a doctor – travels the world both studying and lecturing on the dangers of cohabitating with these animals.  Recently, some strange goings-on in a Florida mobile home park for seniors have drawn the attention of the residents as well as Dr. Lucas who comes to both investigate and educate the park’s members.  What is in store for all is mystery, adventure, and even possibly – romance.

P.B. LaSalle’s book Run for Your Life took me a bit by surprise.  Given its title and opening chapters, I thought this would be a bit of an action adventure B-movie type of novel with a crazed alligator terrorizing a mobile home park.  Instead what I found was a charming story of senior residents and the culture surrounding their Florida lifestyle.  There is the lonely but helpful widowed handyman missing his departed wife, the attractive but self conscious woman struggling to manage the affections of two men, the world traveling famous doctor, the couple always meant for one another but never together, and so on.  The presence of an unwanted alligator in their mobile home park is the catalyst that brings all of these personalities together.  But the story is really about the residents – their struggles, their desires, their lifestyles, and the relationships that grow and evolve with the events that have drawn them together.

Run for Your Life is a charming story to be enjoyed as a quick vacation read.  You’ll connect with its characters while wondering what could happen to one or more of these lovely people as the wayward alligator threatens their community.

Review – The Month of Zephram Mondays!

The Month of Zephram Mondays – A Great Story with a Great Message to Young People!

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Author: Leslie A Susskind
Format: Paperback

Being the sons and daughters of the King of Zephram would seem to have its privileges – that is unless your different.  Life for Tom, Lizzie, Ned and Nell – the young princes and princesses of the kingdom – was a daily challenge because of their difference.  You see they are the only citizens in the thousand year history of their kingdom to not have any magical ability at all – nothing – they couldn’t even learn to levitate a piece of paper!  Their friends made fun of them and their father would not accept their affliction forcing multiple magical tutors on them in an attempt to train them out of their condition.  But what no one realized is that because they could not do magic, they had to learn other ways to manage life – learning to cook and be independent was something they had to do to survive without special gifts.  And while it set them apart from the rest of their people, it also might be the one thing that saves them all!

Leslie Susskind’s debut novel The Month of Zephram Mondays is an entertaining book which teaches kids tolerance, acceptance, and that one need not be special or a superhero to in fact be a hero.  These lessons are taught in a kid friendly fashion and in subtle ways through the fun and exciting adventures and experiences that the foursome encounter.  What I really enjoyed about the book is how the children came to understand for themselves that saving their family and kingdom was something they could do all on their own.  They didn’t need an army of helpless and hapless soldiers, they had the skills and the smarts all their own to save the day.

It is rare these days to read an engaging and enduring story for young people that involves the everyday hero and can make kids both escape into a fantasy world yet be able to relate with characters that are very much like themselves – not wizards, vampires, shape shifters, spies, spider people, Olympians, or super geniuses.  Just good everyday kids doing what is right.  This book is a great addition to the juvenile reader’s (9-12 year olds) library.  They will enjoy the fun story, and look forward to the future adventures of these very non-magical but special none-the-less royal quadruplets.