Review of Trespasses Against Us by Christian M. Frank

Allie is new to John Paul 2 High and her new friends are patient and helpful about explaining the Catholic religion to her. She struggles to adjust and this gives readers the opportunity to learn and do some soul searching about their own morals.

Allie’s new boyfriend George has a best friend named Celia and their relationship is tested as the dynamics are changed. Celia is the principle’s daughter, who is viewed as a perfect Catholic and often feels left out.

A stalker remains an ongoing problem for Allie, causing fear and disagreements amongst the friends on how to handle it. Should they keep it a secret and handle it themselves or call the police?

The Struggle Against Peer Pressure in High School

Catholics are taught to be celibate until marriage as are many other religions and cultures. This Catholic high school's students are portrayed as being less sexually active than the public school, but that’s not necessarily the reality of all Catholic schools. 

The struggle against peer pressure is real however and Trespasses Against Us portrayed that effectively. Other issues touched upon were how to forgive under difficult circumstances and the dangers of being consumed with anger and vengeance.

Trespasses Against Us is a well written suspenseful tale for teens struggling with the pressure to become sexually active. It offers common sense reasons why it’s not a good idea and may help open up dialogue with parents.

Sophia Institute Press sent me a complimentary copy of this book for me to review.

Fat Flush For Life Detox Diet Plan

Fat Flush For Life by Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS is a very detailed weight loss system that includes a detox diet plan, workout routines and supplement suggestions.

There’s interesting information about why “fat flushing” works, which I was originally a bit skeptical about. It does make sense that your metabolism will speed up if your liver isn’t clogged with toxins.

"Time" magazine named Fat Flush For Life one of the top 10 new diet books. I found the menu plans and slow cooker recipes particularly helpful and look forward to trying some of them out. The focus on nutrition and health rather than just weight was refreshing.

Read more..

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Cookbook for Kids

The recipes in Wheat-Free Gluten-Free Cookbook For Kids are easy, gluten-free and dairy-free with picky children in mind. Some of the wheat-free recipes are so easy children could make them.

 People with celiac disease have problems absorbing gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. The more that gluten is ingested, the more the small intestines are damaged. The good news is that if children with celiac disease stick to a gluten-free diet, their intestines can heal.

One of the most fun and easy recipes in Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Cookbook For Kids is for chocolate peanut butter cups. We also enjoyed the caramel popcorn. I didn’t have corn syrup, and it still turned out fine.  I actually bought this book for my daughter because it’s hard to find child friendly gluten-free recipes.

Connie Sarros did a good job of making sure snack favorites were covered for children needing wheat-free alternatives. Read more...

Far From the Land: An Irish Memoir

Far From The Land is a story about Thomas J. Rice and the struggles of an Irish farming family in the 50s. 

Rice’s alcoholic father took off and left him to become the man of the house. He left school because the headmaster was also an alcoholic and he was babysitting more than he was learning anything.

An old and respected neighbour eventually spurred him on to leave Ireland by saying, “If I were young agin, I’d get the hell outa here an’ make a something’ o’ meself”. The inspirational message throughout Far From The Land was despite the odds, if people are determined enough, they could overcome obstacles and make their dreams come true.

I recognized many of the Irish names in Far From the Land from friends and family in Newfoundland and Ontario as many of our ancestors emigrated from Ireland to Canada. It would probably be fascinating for anyone to read Rice’s memoir and learn more about Ireland's culture.  Read full review

Angels of a Lower Flight by Susie Scott Krabacher

Susie Scott describes her emotional, entertaining and sometimes heart-breaking journey from Playboy centerfold to humanitarian in Angels of a Lower Flight.

She’s not your typical Mother Theresa type, but she’s brave and determined to help children in Haiti. I admire Susie Scott because although she’s tough and had a violent background, she didn’t let that stop her from caring or making a difference.

She was also able to write this memoir so skillfully that you could picture what she was describing and feel the pain as well.

When Susie Scott was finally happily married, she felt the need to do more and set out for Haiti with her friend Gary where about 80% of Haitians live in abject poverty and the unemployment rate is more than 70%.

 Most thought she was crazy and she had a hard time finding a driver to take her there, but Susie made a beeline for the poorest most dangerous area. Known for its violence and gangs with the reputation as the worst slum in Haiti she headed to Cité Soleil.

After a couple rough starts and rip offs from “vagabonds” as they call con men in Haiti, she managed to get a feeding center and schoolhouse built with the help of her husband Joe, brother Mark and several tattooed, muscled and sometimes stoned gang members in Haiti.

They named it "The Mercy Center" and after seeing so many bodies, bullets and machetes, Susie grew tougher. Her brother Mark’s death may have given her a strange strength. Sick of being approached with guns she started saying, “If you’re gonna try and scare me, at least cock the dad-gum thing.”

Wanting to do more, she began volunteering at an understaffed public hospital in Port-au-Prince encountering abandoned, neglected, disabled and malnourished children. Many of these disabled children are abandoned because of a widespread belief system that such a child is a curse, but Susie Scott embraces them recognizing the familiar wounded look in their eyes from her own childhood.


All profits from Angels of a Lower Flight go towards helping children in Haiti. It is a deeply moving story Susie Scott bravely shares that will leave you forever changed.

Angels of a Lower Flight: One Woman's Mission to Save a Country . . . One Child at a Time

The Good Person Guidebook

The Good Person Guidebook begins by exploring ethics and how they pertain to character in the workplace and home.

How to balance competition with cooperation, sharing with greed and quick fix solutions with long-term plans are discussed with interesting insights.

 There is a spiritual aspect to maintaining good ethics. Dr. Richard Bayer shows how Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism agree on many ways on how to be a good person.

Virtues

Virtues help answer what actions to take in challenging circumstances. It’s much easier not to be swayed by peers if you have spent time planning long-range goals that match your ethics, virtues and character. The virtues of courage, justice, prudence and temperance are explored among others.
Opportunities

It is not as tempting to bite on the next offered opportunity if it doesn’t fit into a solid long-term plan. The author points out how everyone is offered opportunities all the time but that doesn’t mean people have to jump on them.

If new opportunities don’t match with your long-term goals, it will only delay or even stop them from being fulfilled.

Economic Ethics


Economics and ethics are not always combined in business but it works out better for everyone when they are. Some businesses go after what they want regardless of how it affects others.

Many businesses do consider others using good ethics and manage to run their businesses successfully. The Good Person Guidebook: Transforming Your Personal Life clarifies good business practices including examples of how other companies protect human dignity

There is sound advice on how to deal with difficult situations with employees while still maintaining their dignity. This is important for several reasons. One is that if people leave on bad terms, it creates bad vibes throughout the company and morale falls.

 One of the most helpful parts of the book give simple instructions on how to maintain the focus on long-range goals once they’re clarified.

When the direction headed is clear with long-term goals, it also becomes easier to help others while advancing in the direction desired.

About Dr. Richard Bayer

Dr. Richard Bayer is the official spokesperson and Chief Operating Officer of The Five O’Clock Club. He’s had numerous guest appearances on shows like CNN, The Today Show and more.

Presently he resides with his wife in Manhattan and works as a professor at Bayview Prison, helping to empower and prepare women for their release.

Debut Horror Novel Damnable

Damnable is Hank Schwaeble's outstanding debut thriller. With a seamless combination of suspense, romance, mystery and horror, there's something for everyone.

The suspenseful thriller Damnable begins in New York, with interrogator Jake Hatcher imprisoned and tormented by staff and cellmates. When the call from his mother leads to his early release, he’s relieved but confused and begins to investigate immediately.

Read more: Review of the Thriller Damnable: Debut Novel Full of Horror and Suspense by Hank Schwaeble

Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed By Marc Blatte

Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed is written in a unique voice that is fast, dangerous, disturbing and hilarious at the same time. It's like a hip-hop version of Sin City.

Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed is Marc Blatte’s first mystery novel that’s also dubbed as hip-hop noir.

There are hip-hop artists struggling throughout the book that show the seedy side of New York. It takes a bit to get used to the street talk, but it has a certain rhythm that grabs a reader’s attention.

Read more: Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed by Marc Blatte: Debut Mystery and Hip-Hop Noir Novel