Judi McCoy makes your wishes comes true with this book!
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So many times the heroines in romance novels are slender, willowy little things who would blow away with the first puff of wind. Not author Judi McCoy's main gal! In her debut novel, "I Dream of You," the main character Madeline Winston is a tall, buxom woman with some meat on her bones! At last, someone the majority of the romance-reading population can identify with!
"I Dream Of You" is based on the classic story of finding "a genie in a bottle." Maddie Winston is determined to save her family's floundering computer chip manufacturing company. She has big plans for success, but lately everything has been going against her. Someone is sabotaging her company, and on top of everything, her fianc has run off with another woman. Worn out and heartbroken, Maddie retreats to her grandmother's bed and breakfast in the Florida Keys to rethink her life. Walking along the beach, she finds a bottle floating in the surf. As she polishes her treasure, the top pops off and smoke rises, forming into a handsome hunk who has no explanation for his perplexing presence other than an offer to grant her every wish. Could this be the answer to all her problems? You have to read "I Dream of You" to find out.
If you like books that will make you smile, has an interesting plot twist and wonderfully romantic fairy tale endings, Judi McCoy's book will certainly fit the bill.
Sharon Galligar Chance
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I just finished reading the book I Wish You Enough: Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments One Wish at a Time by Bob Perks. This is a small gift book containing several anecdotes that are meant to inspire us to make the most of life's precious moments.

The book begins by Perks describing an encounter he had at an airport with a gentleman who is saying good-bye to his daughter. The author overheard him say to her "I wish you enough" as they were parting ways, and this stirred his curiosity. He was touched when after asking what the words meant, the man gave Perks the wishes that had been handed down his family from generation to generation:

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

From that jump-off point, Perks proceeds to relate several anecdotes around each individual line of wishing. Each section of inspirational stories begins with the wish set against the backdrop of a beautiful photograph with the prose printed against a background that ties in with the graphic theme set for the wish. As far as the stories themselves go, each story is touching and inspirational in its own way - several of them even caused me to tear up a bit! There are several reminders of how God loves us and uses His people to do His work and spread His love, as well as several nuggets of wisdom to take to heart and remember as we go about our days. My favorite of these nuggets was "God feeds the smallest bird, but He doesn't throw the food into the nest. That is why He gave them wings."

The book was wonderful and I enjoyed taking in each one of the inspirational anecdotes that Perks relates. This would be a fabulous gift for that friend who is down on life and needs a lift or reminder about how God is working to make the world around us wonderful, or maybe to someone who just needs an ounce of hope.
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My aunt is very successful & once recommended this book to me. She told me she made a list of goals she wanted in life & forgot about it. Later on, she stumbled across the list & she had attained most of her goals without realizing it. Because I respect her so much, I bought it & read it enthusiastically.

I consider myself to be a very successful person (i.e. I'm very happy in life & with my career). I read this book a couple of years ago & attribute it to my current success. I'm re-reading it now to get further ahead in life (a house & money!). I bought copies for all my family last Christmas & have recommended it to all my friends too.
My favorite thing it states is that your subconsious mind can't tell if your conscious mind is telling the truth. Ever have a dream so vivid you can't remember if it really happened? If you keep telling yourself you're thin, rich, a non-smoker, or whatever your goal is, eventually your subconsious mind believes it & works to make it happen. Obviously it is not that simple, so go read the book!
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As a children's book author myself, I love this book. I'm sending it to my Granddaughter for years of enjoyment. It's about a little girl's wish coming true.  I recommend this book to any child, girl or boy, because it teaches children their wishes can come true if you pursue them  What was apparent to me in reading this book is the love Sara's Grandmother has for her.  Great job Deborah Boyd.  I look forward to your next book.
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I feel fortunate to have come across this kindlebook that is Secrets of A Former Fat Girl by Lisa Delaney because her story is both motivational and realistic. Please understand that Im very intuitively and rationally aware that I am blessed with a wonderful husband and a job that pays me handsomely for the type of work that I do. Additionally, I am an American born female who is blessed to have the privilege of living in whatever state I desire and intend within the United States regardless of my economic/career situation. However, I have recently figured out that healing certain areas where I needed to have more intent and decisiveness have helped me successfully go from 217 pounds to the 170s where I am currently and continuing to be more decisive in various areas of my life are key to getting thinner even with being blessed with a sweet husband and a good job. I feel blessed to have come across Lisa Delaneys memoir because she generously shares how eating what she wanted and she even gave the amount of exercise she put in to achieve her ideal body goal. Even knowing this helped me lose some weight this past Friday as Delaney helped me realize that I could walk less miles than I realized by tweaking certain eating and lifestyle habits. Delaney is also honest with the blessing of her social life, and other aspects of her life. For the parents out there Delaney also shares how she balanced family life aspects with her weight loss goals. As with other people who have purchased Delaneys kindlebook I also like the visualization secrets she included to line up with weight loss goals/ideal body dreams.
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As a devoted reader of Tammy's blog rowdykittens.com, I was so excited when I learned earlier this year she was coming out with this book! I devoured it cover to cover and think it is a book that has wide audience appeal and should be on everyone's reading list (no matter where you are in your quest to simplify and find more happiness in life you'll pick up something useful and insightful from this book). As a New Yorker, I am constantly caught up in the hustle and bustle of city life(talk about advertisements in your face!) and this book was a gentle reminder of the many ways we can find joy, simplicity, and happiness even in the places you might least expect it. I will be headed to the YMCA this weekend for a swim, joining my fiance for a long walk in Central Park, and writing a few overdue thank you notes. Thank you, Tammy, for your words and and inspiration!
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I know I'm not alone--a wife and mom who CRAVES order and calm and simplicity in my home and life. I don't want to be in a perpetual rush, I'm sick of clutter, I want to make time for the things (and people!) that truly matter. The beautiful cover of this book drew me in, and the author's warm, delightful and funny tone kept my attention to the very end. I devoured Living Simply in less than two days, and I only let myself read a chapter at a time (as a reward for accomplishing things that needed done around my home!). I immediately started putting Joanne's advice into practice, and I'm already seeing results! I'm reading through it again, underlining and starring all the things I want to remember for always! You'll find a kindred spirit in Joanne! This book is a gem!
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This is a great book by Kristi Watts.  I highly recommend this book.  It will minister to the reader as Kristi shares her working through her husband abandoning her and her son, losing her high profile job, financial difficulties and how God brought her into a deeper relationship with Him as she "talked" the Word to herself and the depth of the Word in her that became life and healing to her!  She gave me great hope that in any situation as we stand on and believe the Word of God and speak the Word of God, we truly do find real happiness!  Loved this book and love this girl!
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Is the story of Cinderella just a fairy tale?  Do dreams really come true? As adults, we may think that dreams and fairy tales are just for the young.  In this book, Beth Jones shares inspiration for women to realize that God can make their dreams come true! By sharing from her heart, genuine and transparent stories from her own personal experience, and solid knowledge from the Word of God and other research, Beth has struck a chord in the heart of a woman.  We all dreamed as children about being a mother, a doctor, a lawyer, or more.  We all may have realized as we grew that life didn't necessarily meet the expectations we may have had in those early life dreams.  We may have even forgotten what our dreams were.  It's not too late to dream again.  Beth reminds us that Cinderella dreamed even when life looked dark and dismal and her dreams came true.

Beth shares with readers the foundational truths that God has plans for our lives, and He wants us to dream and strive to reach goals in this journey.  Beth gives practical tips for learning how to dream again and pursuing those dreams.  I highly recommend this book to any woman who is feeling lost or misguided in her life.  Learning how to dream again and seek God's guidance can bring such great fulfillment and joy to your life.  Thank you, Beth, for showing me that I can dream again!
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My five year old daughter, Olivia, loves Hawaii.  When I saw the illustrations of this book, I knew I had to buy it.  To my delight, the writing was even better than the illustrations!  Judi Zucker and Greg Young know how to take the reader on a magical, whimsical journey.  I would recommend this book to every parent who wants their children to smile in delight as they read this book to them.  I was so impressed with the writing that I googled Judi Zucker and found out she was quite an accomplished writer with five books on health and nutrition under her belt.  Apparently, she is a twin and with her twin, Shari, she has co-Authored several books.  You must check out their web site out, www.doubleenergytwins.com  I actually bought their latest book called, The Ultimate Allergy-Free Snack Cookbook, because Olivia has a dairy and wheat intolerance and all the recipes delicious.  Being a vegetarian I was thrilled that the recipes are all meat and sugar-free too.  No wonder she used the name Banana in this book!  I am banana's over it!  Thank you!
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This is the type of book that will make you appreciate what you have in life and will lift your spirit and inspire you to do more with your life than you are right now! The underlying theme of this book is a message of hope that God can provide. The book was easy to read and what I loved most about the book was the fact that the stories were short, and as a reader you could easily read a few of these in a short sitting to make the book an easy one to get through. I found the book to be a compelling read and one that I did not want to put down. It is not be easy to endure the lemons, but the lemonade that comes is definitely sweet!

I definitely recommend this to anyone that wants to be inspired, as the book will open your eyes and help you to redefine the way in which you are not only living your life, but the way in which you view your life!

*I received a copy for review - all opinions are my own*
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Some books grow on you . . . such was the case with

PULL YOURSELF UP BY YOUR BRA STAPS by Jeanne Bice, creator of the

Quacker Factor.

For those not familiar with the company, it is a clothing firm

that is one of the most popular lines sold on QVC . . . you

won't find a lot of specific information on how the company

got to be so successful; rather, you'll get some homespun

advice on life, in general . . . and several heartwarming stories

about how Bice managed to overcome some of the adversaries

in her life.

By the end of this brief book, you'll have a smile on your

face . . . as the author points out in the Afterword, there's a

recipe to follow to help you get there with one key point

being to:

Be happy

Choose to be happy. Happiness is a decision you make,

not an emotion you feel. Always find the joy in the day. What

comes out of your mouths is what we live. Nobody's perfect; enjoy

who you are!

I also liked the following sentiment that Bice shared:

Today I wish upon you ordinary miracles . . .

A call from an old friend

A great parking spot

when you go shopping

The fastest line in the grocery store

Green lights all day

Your favorite 50's song on the radio

to sing along with

A day of peace . . . happiness and joy
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I love Jordan's story, as I relate to it myself. I love the fact that Better Than Beach Money is a quick read, but full of true stories and great practicals. I love Jordan's point about writing down your dreams on page 40: "Most of the time they won't happen according to your plans. You must write them down...Let go of the outcome and trust the process. Your dreams will be born at the perfect time." What did I like least? There are some grammatical errors in the book (very few overall), but I'm just mentioning this because this is a brand new book and this is a review. Once again, the stories make this book very powerful. I also love your last point on page 95 about "the most fulfilling experience in your life happened because of a person you met?" This is so true. If it wasn't for Chris stopping me on campus in 1993 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cold contact, I don't know what direction my life would have taken (and I wouldn't have been led to meeting my future wife in 1995 if it wasn't for Chris). And if it wasn't for Chris and subsequently a future close friend in Seattle named David, I probably wouldn't have become involved in the amazing network marketing industry. Thank you, Jordan!
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What a joyful fun book! Do you have a sister? Are you a part of a family? This well-written book is for you. Do you have to be a Republican? No! This book so transcends the divisions of politics. (Are there a few references? Of course, I mean Jenna and Barbara ARE the daughters of a former president. HA!) This is a fast read that will touch your heart and make you want to forge sweeter relationships with your own family. Win-win!
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I loved this book!!!!

Rising: (Saga of the Setti) is a quick read. But please don't equate "quick read" with something that has no depth.  The way Judice writes gives you the feeling that the characters might be the same kids that live down the street.  Everyone knows them or went to school with someone just like them. They are run-of-the-mill teens with run-of-the-mill teen problems, feelings and emotions --- coupled with a few superhuman abilities, how could you go wrong?

Judice's villains are written equally well.  There is a certain detachment to the characters, yet their descriptions are so detailed that you can practically smell them.  However, by the end of this book you are left with a lingering feeling that you will get to know them on a more personal basis.

Judice also captures some of the day-to-day overhanging stress that comes from living in an area prone to hurricanes.  Anxiety, fear, and excitement play equal parts. Doom and destruction is churning away in the Gulf and who knows what the outcome will be.

This was such a fun and clever book to read.  A complete page-turner.  I didn't want to put it down and couldn't wait to pick it up again.  I just hope we don't have to wait too long for Part 2.  I could easily become a big, big, BIG fan.
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Jen Beck Seymour writes about what most of us only dream about. Faced with the frustrations and pitfalls of modern American life that plague us all, Jen and her husband (aka, The Bug Zapper) decided to do something about it. In this book, Jen candidly shares the very real hopes, dreams, and challenges that led them to move to Costa Rica in pursuit of Pura Vida...the pure life. The book is filled with honest experiences and helpful hints for others who might consider doing the same. More than anything, the book is an affirmation that we all have choices in life. We only get one shot at it...make it count!
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This book inspired me to laugh, love and believe in Hard Choices!