Wait for the Rain ~ Book Review

Title : Wait for the Rain

Author: Maria Murnane

Pages : 272

 
About Author-
Maria Murnane is the bestselling author of Cassidy Lane , Katwalk ,Perfect on Paper, It's a Waverly Life, Honey on Your Mind and Chocolate for Two.
 
I received a copy of  'Wait for the Rain' for the review purpose. Today I finished last chapter of the book and sharing my view here.

This is a story of Daphne White , lady who will be turning forty in a few days. As you all know, most of us especially ladies are in quest for the fountain of youth.  We celebrate our birthdays but after certain age we panic with each birthday. Same happened with Daphne White, she dreaded accepting the fact that she is turning forty. She divorced 2-3 years back, her husband is getting remarried; her daughter is occupied in her own world . She is a stay-at-home mom who regrets her decision of sacrificing her job for the sake of her family.

Then enters KC and Skylar, Daphne's friends. All of them plan a trip to Caribbean island to celebrate their reunion. Author has very beautifully portrayed beach and island scenes. She has explained scenes in such a real and vivid manner, that I want to go to some nice beach for vacations, want to rent a beach home , and want to drink mango sangrias and smoothies.

I really liked some sayings in the book like -
'Forty is the new black', 
'Power naps are the fountain of youth'  (page 146)  ,
'Don't waste time fussing over things that don't mean squat.'(page 236)

I really enjoyed reading this book, characters are so lifelike that you can relate with them. KC's passion for fitness, Skylar's workaholic nature, Daphne's feelings as s stay-at-home mom ; you can easily relate with these characters.

I liked Maria's style of writing. Maria's style of writing coupled with her lifelike characters has made this book completely different.

Wait for the Rain is available on Amazon .

Book Review- The Brandful Workforce: How Employees Can Make, Not Break Your Brand

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Title : The Brandful Workforce

Author: Julia Gometz

Pages : 184

Buy this Book  

  About  Author:  

Julia Gometz is a former Wall Street mediator and human resources executive at JetBue Airways. She has collaborated with colleagues at Fortune 500 companies, government entities , and non profit organizations. Gometz is multilingual and an accomplished international speaker. She recently founded The Brandful® Workforce, a company that provides expertise to organizations on how a workforce can work “for” the brand, rather than “against” it. 

Synopsis:

A Brandful Workforce is a workforce that works FOR your brand, not against it. This book is a practical “How-to” guide for organizations who genuinely want an authentic brand, both inside and out. Companies need to engage more than their customers in evolving their brands. The workforce is the missing link to, not just -successful branding – but success period.

Even if you have a brandful workforce, this book can show how to keep it that way. In addition, find out how to attract brandful employees and how you and your employees can become brandful. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Review:

I liked the title of this book - The Brandful Workforce. We talk about brands, wear branded clothes and are very brand conscious, but we normally ignore the importance of work force.

Author has explained and shared her real life corporate experiences in this book. She has explained how employees can help in making a brand and how can you hire employees who can promote your brands.

I really liked her style of writing. She has shared real life examples to explain brands and workforce concepts.I could connect with her examples like Trader Joe's Business Model. Why customers are attracted towards variety of products available in stores. I always had that feeling but never tried to understand the business model behind it. Author has explained their business model very well. I also liked chapter #5 on swags. Swags help employees in promoting a brand. I personally like collecting swags like pens, notepads, coffee mugs with  company name or logo on them. Swag helps in making company name a household name. Author's examples of Oreo Erasers and UPS toy trucks shows her detailed study and research about marketing strategies of different companies.

She shared her personal experiences of working with JetBlue Airways. Julia's style of writing coupled with her real life examples has made this book completely different. I really enjoyed reading this book. I came to know about business models of many companies. I would recommend this book to both employees and employers.

Disclaimer- I received no monetary compensation for this post. I got a signed copy of book for review purpose.Opinions expressed are 100% of my own and not influenced by anyone.I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book Review: Happy Beginnings: How I Became My Own Fairy Godmother

(Buy this book by clicking Book Cover)

Title: Happy Beginnings: How I Became My Own Fairy Godmother

Author: Lorena Bathey

Pages: 200+

About Author:  

After writing her memoir, Happy Beginnings: How I Became My Own Fairy Godmother in 2005 Ms. Bathey found new story ideas and characters introducing themselves. 

   

Her first novel, Beatrice Munson, the story of suburban women who have lost  their happiness began her foray into the world of the novelist. Today she has two other novels in the market and at least five more in her writing queue.

Synopsis:

Here is the story how Lorena Bathey started over after her fairy tale of  marriage failed after eleven years. With the stunning declaration made by her husband that he was leaving, she began a journey where she learned loving, loss, friends, and vodka were the roadmap to finding herself.

This is a very open and honest account of how Lorena Bathey struggled to find her inner fairy godmother after being made to start over again. She uses humor and insight into the world of the late thirty divorcee that will bring chuckles, guffaws, or tears.

Lorena's story is her own but one many women are experiencing. She stopped waiting for her own fairy godmother and took the wand into her own hands.

My Review:

I like reading real life stories or stories which can be an eye opener. Recently I got a copy of book named Happy Beginnings for review purpose. In this book Author has described her real life account of how she gave her life a fresh start after getting divorce.

I enjoyed reading this book. Author has explained real life situations in such a vivid manner that it made me think about love and life. I was thinking how a person feels when his/her partner just casually say that I want divorce after spending so many years together. You are left with only two options in this case. First one is to cry and wait for some miracle to happen. Second one is to give your life a new start i.e. Happy Beginnings which Lorena Bathey followed. Author has shown that instead of waiting for some miracle to happen, you have to take that magical wand in your hands.

Lorena shared her personal experience of dealing the divorce. She beautifully captured her emotions,feelings and courage in this book. I truly believe that life never ends and you should keep going.

I really enjoyed this book and learned so many things. Lorena's style of writing coupled with slight humor has made this book completely different.

This book is a must read for all ladies especially those who are going through breakups or divorce. This book will help in motivating and giving strength.

Disclaimer- I received no monetary compensation for this post. I got a signed copy of book for review purpose.Opinions expressed are 100% of my own and not influenced by anyone.

*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Macabre Tales by Tony Thorne -Book Review

(Buy this book by clicking Book Cover)

Title: Macabre Tales

Author:Tony Thorne

Pages:146

 
Synopsis:
"A collection of weird and wonderful, quirky tales for all readers, to chill and entertain. But none of them could really happen... could they? The contents include: Shape Shift – Some things are not what they seem. Brain Wave – Time for a medical tale."

About Author: 
"Tony Thorne has the mind of a scientist and the soul of an artist. His science and technology are correct, his extrapolations wonderful and ingenious. But then- surprise ! A blackness may descend- or a brilliant flash of black humour."

My Review:
Macabre Tales is a collection of hypothetical, scientific and theoretical short stories. Author has observed some daily life events and written speculative stories on that. Each story is entertaining and full of suspense. e.g In Dead Ringer, a dead body takes revenge by a phone call.Slimming Plan story is full of suspense,thrill and depicts a murder case. Each story is short and to the point.Author has proved his out-of-the box thinking skills. His imagination coupled with scientific knowledge has made this book totally different.

The stories are so interesting and the characters are so vivid that I could not stop my temptation to complete a story after starting  it and once one story was finished, I was tempted to read the next. I really enjoyed this book.It is one of my favorite reads.Each story fits in the context and really does a perfect job of hitting every angle you can think of.This book is a must read for people having interest in science fiction, speculative and hypothetical reading. I would recommend this book to everyone.

Disclaimer- I received no monetary compensation for this post. I got a copy of book for review purpose.Opinions expressed are 100% of my own and not influenced by anyone.I am in no way liable for any injuries that may result because of  use or misuse of product. If you are buying this product, please make sure to check directions of usage, ingredients and side-effects if any on website page. Any claims about material or data taken is from website.

Courtesy Bootcamp Book Review and Giveaway

(You can buy this book by clicking Book Cover)

Title: Courtesy Bootcamp™: A not-so-gentle reminder to live by The Golden Rule

Author:Anthonette "Colonel" Klinkerman

Pages: 57

About Book: Handy little book for the not-so-refined in your life.Quick reference guide to remind us of manners and etiquette.

About Author:

Anthonette Klinkerman, CEO – Chief Etiquette Officer – of Colorado, USA. Anthonette has taught middle school Language Arts and at a community college, and now teaches at an alternative high school.  She entered the public speaking circuit in 2009, which she actively continues today, and since then, she authored a book: Courtesy Bootcamp – A Not-So-Gentle Reminder To Live By The Golden Rule. It is her belief that we can all learn how to revive those common courtesies that are becoming all too uncommon. She will be sharing some common courtesy reminders that will help make our lives, as well as the lives of others around us, easier.

My Review:
This book reminds us about all common courtesies that are becoming uncommon. I personally feel very good when someone greets me nicely saying "How are you?". Some simple words like "Thank You", "Welcome", "Sorry" make significant change in any conversation.These words help in creating a positive environment.

Author has described some real life situations with humorous touch.She covered many areas like grooming , office etiquette, greeting people,shopping,attending guests etc. 

What I liked most:
I liked the point she made about people leaving shopping carts anywhere. She does it in a comical way saying it takes around 45 seconds to put shopping cart back to proper place and milk will not spoil in matter of 45 seconds.

Author has given various examples from daily life to remind us about courtesies. This book comes in a category of books which we should chew and digest. I liked this book and chewed it. Now, I will never forget these common courtesies in my daily life. I would recommend this book to people of any age.

Win Here:

One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of  Courtesy Bootcamp book  by Anthonette Klinkerman. Giveaway is open worldwide and ends 03/02.

Good Luck and you can enter here to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer- I received no monetary compensation for this post. I got a copy of book for review purpose.Opinions expressed are 100% of my own and not influenced by anyone.I am in no way liable for any injuries that may result because of  use or misuse of product. If you are buying this product, please make sure to check directions of usage, ingredients and side-effects if any on website page. Any claims about material or data taken is from website.Sponsor is responsible for shipping of prize.Freebies in Mailbox is not responsible for any lost or missed package.

A Frog in Grandma's Cup - Children's Book Review and Giveaway

Book Author -  Renate A. Moore 

About Author - After working at various brokerage firms and a non profit organization, Renate A. Moore retired from corporate world to pursue the greater challenges and rewards of raising her two children.She also followed her longtime passion of writing children's books. Renate believes that if we allow ourselves to listen to the imaginations of children, perhaps our world can be a better place.

Book Synopsis by Author-
"For an adventurous journey with some of the world’s critters,read “A FROG IN GRANDMA’S CUP” and you will experience laughter and suspense. Find out what happens when Grandma Louise moves from the city to the country and her world is turned upside down when one morning a frog jumps into her coffee cup. This is just the beginning of her adventures in her new surroundings. One after the other, an assortment of country creatures creep, crawl and slither her way. Not only do they disturb her quiet country life but also make her wonder if moving there was a good idea after all. Will she give up her dream of living in the country and head back to the city? Will she see that challenges are often opportunities disguised as creepy, crawly and slithery creatures? In this gentle humours story find out about her series of adventures and how she learned to try new things."

Book Review:
I saw this book cover on a website and liked it so much.I asked Renate if she can give me a chance to review her book. 

 

Main character of this book is Grandma Louise. She moves to country side in her retirement from the city. This book shows her experiences in her new home. She met with various animals like frog, snake etc.

Initially she was afraid and didn't like any interference in her home. But later she decided to make everyone her friend. I gifted this book to a friend's son and he likes colorful pics in this book.

This book is a good read for small kids. Book has colorful pages and very detailed description of country side living. Its good for learning perspective as well, as book tells how you can accept new challenges in life. 

Price of this book is $11.99. You can buy this book at author's site here.

WIN HERE:-
Renate is giving a copy of same book- A Frog in Grandma's Cup($11.99) to a lucky winner.
Giveaway ends 12/31 and is open in US and Canada only(Age must be 18+). 
Good luck and you can enter here to win: 
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Disclaimer- I received no monetary compensation for this post. I got a book for review purpose.Opinions expressed are 100% of my own and not influenced by anyone.Sponsor is responsible for shipping of prize.Freebies in Mailbox is not responsible for any lost or missed package.