Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy\’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back Author: Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent http://http://heavenisforreal.net/ Reviewed by: Anne Holmes for the NABBW This is the true story of Colton Burpo, son of a small town Nebraska pastor who -at age four, during emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix — slips from consciousness and enters Heaven. The book is narrated by his father Todd and is available in instantly downloadable Amazon Kindle format. Colton survives his surgery and soon begins talking about the fact that he briefly died and went to... Read More

Emerging Voices Author: Laurel D. Rund http://essenceoflaurel.com/ Reviewed by: Anne Holmes for the NABBW Emerging Voices is a compilation of Laurel D. Rund\’s original artwork and inspirational poetry that speaks to the many faces of loss and/or life transitions. Written after the death of her husband, Laurel says the book’s purpose is to encourage the reader to record her own thoughts and feelings. Which is why the book includes a unique feature: blank journal pages after each selection. There are 14 poem-artwork pairings here, which deal with some of the hardest moments in our lives,... Read More

Author: Ronda Del Bocciowww.ThePeaceSeed.com Reviewed By: Anne Holmes This is a small seed of a book. But like any seed, it has power to grow into something much larger. Reading it, I was reminded of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. If you are not familiar with that prayer, it begins, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon: where there is doubt, faith ; where there is despair, hope where there is darkness, light where there is sadness, joy… In The Peace Seed Del Boccio shares the story of mythologist Joseph Campbell\’s... Read More

Author: Linda K. Thomaswww.grandmaslettersfromafrica.blogspot.com Reviewed By: Anne Holmes Linda Thomas has a favorite phrase, “Quaint I ain’t,” which certainly describes the stories she tells her granddaughters in this book, a chronicle told in letter format, of the four years she and her husband spent in Africa as missionaries. Linda begins by telling us that all she ever wanted was to live a quiet, secure life in a little white house with a picket fence and a rose garden. She figured that when she grew old, she’d be the kind of woman who knit blankets for her grandbabies while sitting... Read More

Author: Tracy Lynn Harp Reviewed By: Georgia Richardson Tracy Harp has written a lovely, short book of poetry inspired by real life experiences including the good, not so good, and sometimes even the hurtful. As you read each page, one can feel the emotional roller coaster of emotions that gave birth to each poem, yet it shows that drama, love, and even the mundane belong. Clearly, this writer evolved over time, moving through life first owning then capturing each experience. The results are wisps of life and the lessons it allowed. I felt a connection with the personal insight and morals offered... Read More

Author: Lori Quarantawww.aneurysmsurvivor.com Reviewed By: Melinda Cianos A portion of the proceeds from this book go to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation which, in and of itself, is an extremely good reason to purchase it. Lori Quaranta\’s harrowing experience is detailed in God\’s Funny That Way and is a tribute to the spirit of survival, the grace of God, the loving support of friends, and the wonders of modern medicine. Ruptured brain aneurysms claim 90% of their victims so it is no small miracle that Quaranta survived. She moves the reader from the moments just before the rupture... Read More

Author: Judy Masseywww.babyboomerangst.com Reviewed By: Melinda Cianos Seems before you know it you are treading the well-worn path to old age and the travel spurs more than its share of reflection. Freelance writer, Judy Massey, offers the thoughts of notable personalities like The Dalai Lama, Margaret Atwood, John Lennon, Woody Allen, to name a few in her compilation of wise and truthful revelations. Author H.G. Wells turned a phrase or two on the experience of aging: “We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and a mystery.”—and... Read More

Author: Suzanne Willis Zoglio, Ph.D.www.tickleyoursoul.com Reviewed By: Melinda Cianos When it comes to finding “passion, purpose, and peace,” some of us can use all the help we can get. I am a huge fan of materials that assist with this; I am always on the lookout for innovative ways of approaching the subject, maybe through a new angle, or fresh wording that serves to open my eyes just a little bit wider. Suzanne Zoglio, organizational psychologist, draws from the wisdom of notable healers, like Drs. Deepak Chopra and Andrew Weil, to create a diversified approach to the search for... Read More

Author: Corrie Woodswww.womansfieldguide.com Reviewed By: Georgia Richardson Living an exceptional life begins with one\’s state of mind. Enter Corrie Wood\’s book, The Woman\’s Field Guide to Exceptional Living – Practical Steps for Living a Big, Bold, beautiful Life. Chosen as a Mom\’s Choice Awards® 2009 Silver Recipient for its contribution to the family-friendly adult book genre, and specifically, Women\’s Issues, The Woman\’s Field Guide to Exceptional Living offers readers solid instructions and motivation for breaking down the wall of limiting beliefs... Read More

Author: Music for the Soulwww.musicforthesoul.org Reviewed By: Melinda Cianos To the battered in spirit, mind and body comes More Beautiful, a gift to help with healing. The CD/DVD set is being offered by Music for the Soul, an organization developed to offer emotional support to those struggling through life’s hardships; More Beautiful is specifically for those waging a war against breast cancer. The message of hope is clear; it combines with the acknowledgment that the road is tough but that its navigation is possible to ensure success. For the loved ones of those suffering through breast... Read More