Baby Boomer Reflections: Eighteen Special Years Between 1946 and 1964 Author: Fred Arnow Reviewed for the NABBW by Anne Holmes All Baby Boomers share a cornucopia of iconic memories. Among them: We remember where we were when we heard that President Kennedy had been shot. In fact, many of us recall that our schools called assemblies once the story broke, and we all watched the rest of the news unfold via a black and white TV in the school gym. We were all in disbelief and shock, of course. Speaking of televisions, if you’re a Baby Boomer, you certainly recall watching your family’s... Read More

GOLD: How To Go From Lost To Found, Awaken Your Inner Power, And Discover Your Midas Touch Author: Vicki Lynn King Reviewed for the NABBW by Anne Holmes Why does it seem that certain people get all the breaks while others struggle? Is it just luck, or is there something else to consider? Vicki Lynn King takes you on a journey to find the answers to these questions and more. Find out how to move past your current life circumstances and create a life you will love living! “An inspirational and motivational book. Easy to read and great exercises to get you started to fulfill your dreams. As... Read More

One Chance, One Moment: Book One – the Mandy Story Author: Judith Kohnen Reviewed for the NABBW by Anne Holmes Renowned singer/musician Garry Danzlo has decided to live a life of seclusion after a debilitating car accident destroys his musical career. Guilt-ridden and stubborn, he wants no part of the holistic nurse his sister has hired to rehabilitate him. He’s determined to get rid of her, just as efficiently as he has done when sending all the prior nurses packing… But he hasn’t counted on the determination of spunky, fun-loving nurse Amanda Fields. She is determined to stay.... Read More

Cleopatra: A Life Author: Stacy Schiff Reviewed by Anne Holmes for the NABBW This is an amazing, “can’t put down” type of book. Something I’d never have anticipated, since it’s a biography of a person who lived and reigned Egypt at least thirty years BC. So huge credit goes to author Stacey Schiff, who not only did her own research for this book, but writes of Cleopatra in a very compelling way. Consider, for example, the opening paragraph to the first chapter, titled, “That Egyptian Woman:” “Among the most famous women to have lived, Cleopatra VII... Read More

The Time of My Life: A Righteous Brother’s Memoir Author: Bill Medley with Mike Marino, Foreward by Billy Joel Reviewed by Anne Holmes for the NABBW I’ll avoid the temptation to report that this is a “righteously good read,” but I will promise you that this is an incredible memoir, full of soul and inspiration. Bill Medley, obviously one half (with his late partner Bobby Hatfield) of the pioneering “blue-eyed soul” group, the Righteous Brothers, tells a story that packs a punch. It’s more than just his personal recitation of their many iconic musical hits. But... Read More

A Woman with (No) Strings Attached: A Memoir Author: Lucie Novak Reviewed by: Anne Holmes for the NABBW Another “slice of life” autobiographical tale, this one is an unusual and explicit memoir of one women’s journey to sexual enlightenment. Author Lucie Novak tells readers at the outset that for much of her life, she had found physical activities such as skiing (“… and I am a very good skiier.”) far more exciting than sex. In fact, she writes, at age 58, having lived with a lifetime of boring, conventional sex with her husband, she had actually convinced herself... Read More

Rainbows Over Ruins Author: Susan Sherayko, Foreword by Noah St. John Reviewed for the NABBW by Anne Holmes This book opens with an arresting personal crisis: Author Sherayko writes of how she came home from work one evening to discover more than a mere catastrophe. What she found when she turned the key in the door of her beloved 1930s era Los Angles home – a home which was literally built into a mountain – was a literally life altering event. Her three dogs greeted her, tails wagging, and surrounded by mud, as more mud literally drooled down the stairs while water dripped from the... Read More

By Gretchen Asher, Special for the NABBW As owner of BeFab Skin Care, I have a passion not only for creating stellar products, but also to educate women about anti-aging products, ingredients, skin care science available today and what to look for in products for your needs. This is the first article of many that will build on this foundational bit of information. Understanding skin care products can be very confusing and frustrating. Especially for those of us beyond our early/mid 40s when we begin to experience surprising changes in our skin due to peri-menopause/menopause and we start to see... Read More

By Natalie Caine, MA, for the NABBW Think about all those special life milestones and events: Wedding, Graduation, New job, New parenting, A new grandchild, A relocation, Even a new day — All these are happy changes. And behind your smiles and raised glasses, there are people standing up for you. Supporting you. They believe in you. They give to you because they want you to understand that you matter. They want you to have bricks under your feet. They want you to feel hugged. We forget to visit happy memories as moon light to help you stand, over and over when you collapse, and when... Read More

By Kerry Baker for the NABBW Learning a second language has the same benefits to the brain as programs for purchase, such as Lumosity. New, often free tools make learning a new language easier and much more fun. Last year, in pursuit of re-invention and to preserve my next egg, I decided to move to Mazatlan, Mexico. While Spanish is not required to live here, I love the language and began its study in earnest after being away from it for 30 years. In addition to the greater ease in navigating my new environment, I was delighted to read evidence that learning a second language  protects your brain... Read More