Book Review: When SHMACK Happens by Amber Neben

All of us face obstacles in life. Let When SHMACK Happens by Amber Neben equip and encourage you during life's toughest moments.

Neben is an international decorated cycling champion with victories in 11 countries and multiple UCI Category 1 stage race wins to her credit. When SHMACK Happens chronicles the role faith has played in her life as she has met challenges on and off the bike. From unexpected medical issues to equipment failure to major crashes, follow Neben's journey to succeed by placing her life in the hands of God.

I'll be the first to admit sports autobiographies don't usually capture my attention. But this isn't your typical sports autobiography. While you might find stories from athletes that thank God in the opening or closing pages of the book, Neben's entire focus is how her faith has provided hope and peace despite the numerous setbacks she has faced. She gives credit to placing her life in God's hands for the successes she has achieved. Neben is a 2x Olympian, 2x World Champion, 2x Pan American Champion and 2x National. A list of her Race Wins is included in the final pages of the book. Each chapter is headlined by applicable verses from Scripture and the reader is treated to numerous black and white photographs.

When SHMACK Happens is a powerful book that will inspire you to trust in the Lord for all things, no matter what comes your way.


Paperback: 172 pages
Publisher: Neben Px4 (March 18, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0991303008
ISBN-13: 978-0991303007

I received a copy of this book from the author. The author's publicist has paid me to promote this book through a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. This fee did not include any type of review. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenge:

Book Review: Renewal "Anytime" 10 Day Detox by Lisa Consiglio Ryan

Looking for a detox program that you can perform anytime? Lisa Consiglio Ryan's book, Renewal "Anytime" 10 Day Detox can help. This book will empower you to "re-balance" your body to help you achieve optimum health.

Renewal "Anytime" provides step-by-step instructions to help you achieve your goals. From pre-cleansing instructions, to questions about detox, to a menu containing whole foods (including recipes), to post-cleanse instructions, this book can simplify your detox.

The most impressive thing about Renewal "Anytime" is the sheer number of recipes included. Not only are there the recipes from the menu, but also supplemental recipes and bonus recipes. You're also not limited to only juices. This is a whole foods program with recipes that seem delicious and easy to make. Busy moms like me can appreciate the included shopping list. I'm eager to try out the entire program now that we're back from vacation.

File Size: 632 KB
Print Length: 118 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00F0RCZTW

I received a digital copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenge:

Book Review: A Nation Under Judgment by Richard Capriola

A Nation Under Judgment is a thought-provoking look into what it means to be "one nation under God."

Our country's Pledge of Allegiance contains the words "one nation under God," but have we strayed away from this vision? And if so, what might the consequences be? A Nation Under Judgment by Richard Capriola views the social issues America faces through a Biblical lens. Policies dealing with hunger, homelessness, marriage, protecting the environment, child abuse, and more are examined to see if these policies are aligned with God's view.

Filled with statistics, quotes, and Scripture, A Nation Under Judgment definitely allows you to see that our country's direction might not be what our Founding Fathers had in mind centuries ago. It also helps the reader realize how far we've come from using the Bible as our guide in shaping the country's policies. What I enjoyed most is that the author doesn't come across in a heavy-handed manner. Yes, he makes you think; but everything is posed as a question, with statistics and quotes opening up the way for the reader to compare the policies of this country to what the Bible says. This isn't a book that offers solutions, as much as it is one that encourages the country and its leaders to turn their focus back to Godly principles.

A Nation Under Judgment is a well-researched, intriguing book that inspires the reader to consider what direction they want their country to take. It uses the Bible as its guide, not a political agenda. Every concerned citizen should read this book.

Paperback: 238 pages
Publisher: Mill City Press, Inc. (April 3, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626527679
ISBN-13: 978-1626527676

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenge:

Book Review: Buffy and the Heroine's Journey by Valerie Estelle Frankel

An engaging look into the heroine's journey as the Chosen One comes to you from award-winning author Valerie Estelle Frankel.

Buffy and the Heroine's Journey takes the reader through Buffy's journey from movie Buffy through to the Season Eight comics (which I knew nothing about) discussing this heroine's journey as the Chosen One. Similar in some ways to the epic journeys of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, but so different in other ways as Buffy goes from high school to college to adulthood and the various feminine archetypes in the early and late seasons. As the back cover states, "Buffy blends 1990s girl power and the path of the warrior woman with the oldest of mythic traditions." This is the focus of this in-depth study into her character.

As a fan of the Buffy the Vampire series and its spin-off Angel, I was eager to read this book, especially after enjoying Frankel's books on Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Frankel deeply explores Buffy's journey. How she fought against the patriarchy. How unlike other heroes who went it alone, she builds a team who help her battle evil throughout the series. It explores Buffy's relationships with her mother, her sister, each of her friends, her romances with Angel, Riley, and Spike, and her father-daughter type relationship with Giles. This book delves into Buffy's relationship with other slayers like Kendra and Faith, and her role as she trains potential slayers to prepare for an epic battle.

This is an academic look at a cult favorite. It's deep. It's intense. But it's worth the time to read it. I found Buffy and the Heroine's Journey by Valerie Estelle Frankel totally fascinating and am glad to add it to my Buffy collection.

Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: McFarland; 1st edition (February 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786467924
ISBN-13: 978-0786467921

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenges:

Book Review: Pressed Pennies by Steven Manchester

Pressed Pennies by Steven Manchester is a story of starting over and second chances.

Rick and Abby grew up and fell in love, but when Rick's family moved away they were lost to each other for years. When they reunite unexpectedly at a friend's party, sparks fly. But things are very different now. Rick has just ended a loveless marriage and Abby has fled with her eight-year-old daughter, Paige, from an abusive marriage. Abby needs time to focus on rebuilding her life and making better memories for her young daughter. How does Rick fit into that life, if at all?

Pressed Pennies is a sweet, romantic tale of two people reconnecting after many years apart. They meet again after their failed marriages and try to spend time reconnecting. The problem is Abby's daughter, Paige, whose acting out threatens their relationship.

Manchester writers a deeply romantic, nostalgic, and richly descriptive tale. Told from various points of view--Abby's, Rich's, and Paige's--the reader gets a chance to see things from all three characters' sides, which I feel is unique. This helps the reader connect with Paige more than in a typical romance novel where the actions of the rebellious child are shared merely from an adult's point of view. It therefore, becomes, just as much Paige's story as Abby's and Rick's. Manchester does an excellent job of giving the reader a glimpse into what is going on insdie each characters' head.

The style is a blend of long passages and short snippets where the points of view change. Email exchanges between Abby and Rick give this novel a contemporary feel, while Rick's overly romantic nature comes as a pleasant surprise--both to Abby and the reader.

My one disappointment is that Paige seemed more like a teenager than the eight-year-old she is supposed to be. Even though she celebrates a birthday over the course of the story, her actions, and especially her manner of speaking come across as that of someone years older. As a person who has young girls at home and is surrounded by pre-teen girls on a regular basis, it nagged me the whole time. Definitely not enough to ruin the story, but I kept wondering how this would have altered Abby and Paige's relationship if Paige were portrayed more authentically.

If you're looking for for an intensely romantic story that touches the heart, Pressed Pennies will be for you.

Paperback: 355 pages
Publisher: Story Plant, The (May 13, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611881358
ISBN-13: 978-1611881356

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenge:

Book Review: The Education of George Washington by Austin Washington

The Education of George Washington is a refreshingly different take on the Father of Our Country.

Austin Washington, great-nephew of George Washington, has written an engaging and lively account of our first president providing insight that can only be gained by a relation and years of research. Debunking long-lived myths and focusing on a little known book that helped to shape the character of an American hero, Washington digs deep into who George Washington was and the influences that made him a great man and natural born leader.

If you are looking for a dull and dry academic biography on America's first president, you won't find it in The Education of George Washington. What you will find is a book that entices even those not truly interested in reading about history to pick up a biography on one of America's most influential historical figures. The author spends a good deal of time putting George Washington's life and actions in the context of the world in which he lived: how Washington's life was impacted by the death of his father; how living in rural Virginia led him to develop a certain mindset and talents; and what living in America during those early years was like. The book captures the everyday dangers of Colonial America that modern readers can tend to forget.

A unique aspect to The Education of George Washington is that the author connects the reader to the Father of Our Country by talking about how Washington's character developed and how the reader can also develop an equally fine character. In essence, this is not only a biography, it's to some degree a self-help book.

Washington's love of history shines through on every page. And though his style is more witty and clever than one might expect from someone with a masters degree and who has performed postgraduate research that focused on Colonial America, it is exactly his ability to connect with modern readers that makes this a winning book worth every penny spent on it. I would read it again in a heartbeat if I had the time.

Highly recommended.


File Size: 5744 KB
Print Length: 354 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1621572056
Publisher: Regnery History (February 10, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00EXCAJFC


I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenge:

Book Review: Steam and Stratagem by Christopher Hoare

Roberta Stephenson is the daughter of the "Father of Railways." Practically raised in the engine works and educated at a private academy, she makes a fine candidate to become manager and designer at her father's steamship yard on the Clyde. Britain will depend on Roberta's expertise to help them thwart Napoleon's latest invasion plan.

Steam and Stratagem by Christopher Hoare blends steampunk and romance in one fascinating story. Hoare's trademark for crafting strong heroines serves him well in this story set in 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars.

A chance encounter between Roberta Stephenson and Lord Bond leads to the Stephenson Engine Works being considered to build steam powered rams for the Admiralty. Roberta is soon drawn into the world of intrigue, while her personal life gets more complicated by the attention of three suitors.

Having never read steampunk fiction before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. In some ways, Steam and Stratagem is a Victorian era Tom Clancy book. It's filled with details of ships, cannons, iron plates, and more. The romance aspect of the novel takes a back seat to the intrigue and ship engineering. This might shift a bit in future novels of the series, but in this first book, I was seventy percent into the novel before Roberta began considering these potential suitors. There are hints of the romance prior to that, but not much.

While I don't think steampunk fiction will ever be a favorite of mine, Hoare's writing--which I've enjoyed in the past--remains solid and his female characters sharp. I can't say I cared for Lord Bond, much, but perhaps there are some surprises coming in future installments. Holmes and Worthington were entertaining, and I would like to see more of them.

If you're a steampunk fiction fan, you'll want to check out Steam and Stratagem.

Paperback: 326 pages
Publisher: Tyche Books Ltd. (November 27, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0991836979
ISBN-13: 978-0991836970
ASIN: B00GXHPMOS


The publisher sent me a digital copy of this book for review. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I have read this book for the following challenges.

Book Review: The Mommy Diaries: How I'm Surviving Parenting without Killing Anyone by Dallas Louis

Take a humorous roller coaster ride along with Dallas Louis as she shares the ups and downs, the joys and the trials, the embarrassing moments and the frightening moments of parenting three young children in  The Mommy Diaries: How I'm Surviving Parenting without Killing Anyone.

While Dallas and her husband, Jeff, knew they wanted to kids, God proved He has a sense of humor by sending them three children in the span of twenty-six months. Oh joy!

In The Mommy Diaries Louis shares many of the moments that make parenting such a blessing, while sprinkling in several of those times you pray your kids move out soon. With humor and good, old-fashion Texas gumption, Louis talks about sleepless nights, body changes, broken bones, family vacations, troubles at school, and the challenges of keep husband and wife time sacred.

In some ways this book reminded me of Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession by the late Erma Bombeck. Louis finds the humor in everyday life and makes you feel better about your own similar struggles. You'll buy this book because you hope someone, somewhere understands what you're going through. You'll enjoy it because it's funny watching all this mischief happen to someone other than you.

Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Anomalos Publishing LLC (May 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0983621667
ISBN-13: 978-0983621669

I've read this book for the following challenges:

I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

Book Review: Little House, Long Shadow: Laura Ingalls Wilder's Impact on American Culture by Anita Clare Fellman

I began reading Little House, Long Shadow: Laura Ingalls Wilder's Impact on American Culture in November 2012. It's a book I purchased from Amazon, and as with all things Laura Ingalls Wilder, I had to give it a shot.

While admittedly, I didn't care much for the earlier chapters, overall it was a satisfying read. Fellman discusses everything from a possible political agenda in the books, to the Ingalls family being racist, to how Wilder's memories created a different than reality version of frontier life, to current events during the writing of the books, to the continued impact Wilder has on modern society, and beyond.

Fellman didn't leave many stones unturned. The book is structured so the beginning two chapters are really about Rose and Laura and their collaboration. By chapter 3, Fellman is on to the discussion of how Wilder viewed her stories and how her memories might have been different than reality. The final four chapters show how the books are used in the classroom and at home, and then move into "The Little House Books in Public" and "The Little House in American Politics." Chapter 6 shows how Wilder has become a part of our heritage and the last chapter talks about Lane' views, the New Deal, Ronald Reagan, libertarians, and how "mainstream" values are associated with the Little House books.

I didn't agree with some of what Fellman had to say, but overall she provides an even-handed glimpse into Wilder's persistent impact on American culture, which is what she set out to do. I would have liked some historical photographs, but other than that I was satisfied. I'm glad to add this one to my Laura Ingalls Wilder collection.


Hardcover: 360 pages
Publisher: University of Missouri; 1st edition (May 21, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0826218032
ISBN-13: 978-0826218032

I purchased this book from Amazon. This review/discussion contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

For a more in-depth discussion on this book, you can visit:

Part One - http://lauralittlehouseontheprairie.blogspot.com/2012/11/little-house-long-shadow-book-discussion.html

Part Two - http://lauralittlehouseontheprairie.blogspot.com/2012/11/little-house-long-shadow-book.html

Part Three - http://lauralittlehouseontheprairie.blogspot.com/2012/11/little-house-long-shadow-book_10.html

Part Four - http://lauralittlehouseontheprairie.blogspot.com/2012/11/little-house-long-shadow-book_20.html

Part Five – http://lauralittlehouseontheprairie.blogspot.com/2012/12/little-house-long-shadow-book.html

Final Discussion – http://lauralittlehouseontheprairie.blogspot.com/2014/01/little-house-long-shadow-book.html

This is the fourth book I've read for the following challenges:

Book Review: Virtual Book Tours: Effective Online Book Promotion From the Comfort of Your Own Home by Jo Linsdell

If you're an author who is considering online book promotion, you need to pick up a copy of Virtual Book Tours: Effective Online Book Promotion From the Comfort of Your Own Home by Jo Linsdell.

This book will teach you what a virtual book tour (VBT) is, how to organize one, how to promote it, and how you keep the buzz going for your book once your VBT is over. It provides information on such important topics such as:

• The type of blog stops,
• Knowing your target audience,
• How to be a good guest,
• What promotional materials you'll need to put together,
• Internet radio, podcasts, and web TV hosts,

and more.

As someone who has coordinated virtual book tours for more than six years, I'm happy to endorse Linsdell's book. It provides a wealth of helpful information in a conversational and easy to understand style. Links to a variety of online resources are included. 

Before you plan your first virtual book tour, or even if you've planned one before and would like to brush up on the ins and outs of promoting your book online, pick up a copy of Virtual Book Tours: Effective Online Book Promotion From the Comfort of Your Own Home by Jo Linsdell.

Product Details: Kindle

File Size: 384 KB
Print Length: 83 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00ELNAQ92
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Purchasing links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ELNAQ92 (Kindle)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Virtual-Book-Tours-Effective-ebook/dp/B00ELNAQ92 (Kindle)

http://www.amazon.ca/Virtual-Book-Tours-Effective-ebook/dp/B00ELNAQ92 (Kindle)

Product details: Print

ISBN/EAN13: 1492920932 / 9781492920939
Page Count: 122
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Trim Size: 6" x 9"
Language: English
Colour: Black and White

Purchasing links:
https://www.createspace.com/4472870 (Print)

Jo Linsdell is a best selling author and illustrator and internationally recognized marketing expert. She is also the founder and organizer of the annual online event "Promo Day" (www.PromoDay.info) and the Writers and Authors blog (http://WritersAndAuthors.blogspot.com). To find out more about Jo and her projects visit her website www.JoLinsdell.com.

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18340947-virtual-book-tours

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/428511413928514

This is the second book I've read for the following challenges:

I received a digital version of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

2014 100+ Book Challenge

The 2014 100+ Book Challenge is being sponsored by Freda's Voice.

GUIDELINES:

1. Create a post, but list as you read, either a blog or GoodReads, somewhere she can see it, and leave your URL to that post in the Linky below.
2. Read some books. Any books. No limit in pages, even the phone book counts if that is your fancy. Just read!

Prizes might be available. I'll update this post if prizes are added.

Each month a new Linky will be posted to list your reviews.

You can find my a complete list of titles already in my TBR Pile at http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/p/2014-tbr-pile.html but I might add a few books here and there throughout the year.

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Welcome to 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge!

We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up..

Join the Bookish team on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! And there are PRIZES!!! :D

GUIDELINES:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014.
2. Anyone can enter! You don't have to be a blogger, as long as you review the book you've read! (On your blog, Amazon, Random Buzzers or Goodreads/Shelfari!)
3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Short stories and novellas are OK, too! Only books released in 2013 and earlier! NO  2014 ARCs and 2014 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2014 TBR PILE Reading Challenge. (If you don't have a blog, post about it on Facebook or Tweet!)
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2014, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
8. On the 20th of each month they will post a wrap-up post on BOOKISH. Every wrap-up will have its unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. The giveaway will be open until the next wrap up post goes up! (i.e. the entire month)
9. If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - they will be checking ;) 
10. December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a GRAND PRIZE giveaway. 
11. You don't have to follow Bookish Blog to join the challenge, but you do have to follow them to be entered in giveaways! 

LEVELS:

(How many books you're planning to read for this challenge in 2014.)

1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - First Kiss
31-40 - Sweet Summer Fling
41-50 - Could this be love?
50+ - Married With Children

I'm choosing 31 - 40 Sweet Summer Fling, but hopefully I read more. You can find a complete list of books in my TBR Pile at http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/p/2014-tbr-pile.html

For details on how you can join this challenge, visit http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/2013/10/2014-tbr-pile-reading-challenge-sign-ups.html