Month: April 2008

memoir

Accidental Cowgirl

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Mary Lynn Archibald
Publisher: Cloud Lake Publishing
Genre: Memoir
ISBN: 978-0-9787054-0-4
Pages: 228
Price: $19.95

Author’s website
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Have you ever thought life would be simpler if you just chucked your 9-to-5 job and bought a few acres in the country? Whether the thought is fleeting or you’re in the midst of a full-blown mid-life crisis, you have to read this book first, before you do anything you might regret.

Carl and Mary Lynn bought Twin Creeks Ranch with the idea of puttering around the farm and relaxing as they approached their golden years. But what they didn’t anticipate was just how much work they had unwittingly signed on for. Oh, and of course, the cows. They had bought a ranch.

Accidental Cowgirl shares the good, the bad, and the ugly times from their twelve years as ranch owners. Mary Lynn Archibald writes with humor as she shares the many trials they faced, battling the leaky roof and the endless plumbing problems.

She also shares the warmth and community of living on the side of a mountain with others who are managing to survive in sometimes harsh conditions. You can feel the love she and Carl have for their land, the cows, and the lifestyle they wholeheartedly embraced.

In the time they owned Twin Creeks Ranch, they discovered hidden reservoirs of talent and a strong will to overcome anything life handed them. The author shares her fears of living alone at the ranch, the excitement of new life when calves are born, and the sadness of death. And ultimately, she shares the pain of finally letting go.

Rarely do I find a book so enjoyable that I savor it in small nibbles, like fine chocolate. Accidental Cowgirl is such a book. Mary Lynn Archibald brings this mountain alive, and by the time you finish reading her incredible story, you’ll find you’re reluctant to ever leave Twin Creeks Ranch.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

home

Easy Green Living

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Renee Loux
Publisher: Rodale
Genre: Home Reference
ISBN: 978-1-59486-792-7
Pages: 396
Price: $25.00

Author’s website
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It’s easy being green… if you know where to begin. None of us consciously make the decision to harm the planet, yet many of our day to day household choices do exactly that. Easy Green Living points out the reasons why we need to change, and gets us going in the right direction.

Many common household cleaners contain chemicals that not only hurt the environment, but can do considerable harm to our bodies. The exact nature of these chemicals is explained, and alternative products are suggested that can do the job in a safer manner. And if you’re into “do it yourself” cleaning products, there are recipes to make almost anything out of simple and safe ingredients like white vinegar and baking soda.

The author also focuses on other common household products like cosmetics, bedding and furniture, which contain harmful chemicals, and provides safe alternative choices to those toxic items. And using energy efficient light bulbs and appliances is encouraged, so we can all use less natural resources.

Although I’ve been semi-green for more than ten years now, there were many things Renee Loux pointed out that were new to me. After reading Easy Green Living, I’m now totally convinced that I can’t continue being partially committed to this lifestyle, and I’ll be using this book as a reference in making the switch. Our health and Mother Earth’s depend on us all going green.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

romance

Designed For Passion

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Francine Craft
Publisher: Kimani Press
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 978-0-373-86057-9
Pages: 248
Price: $5.99

Author’s website
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Widow Melodye Carter has turned her clothing boutique into a success while raising her rambunctious twins by herself. Deeply hurt by her late husband, she has sworn off men and marriage. Believing that her voluptuous curves make her unattractive, she’s convinced she’ll be alone for the rest of her life.

Detective Jim Ryman remembers the plus-size beauty from his youth, and he can’t help the fires of attraction that burn through him when he sees her again. Melodye’s husband’s death has now been declared murder, and Jim has been assigned to investigate it, bringing them into close contact. But he is also dealing with demons from his past, and a failed marriage that ended in his wife’s accidental death.

Though they want to remain just friends, passion consumes them as they become closer than they planned. And their match-making grandparents scheme to see them happily married. But Melodye first needs to stand up to her mother’s and sister’s unkind comments about her weight, and both women’s determination to keep her down.

Jim is a knight in shining armor for his lady, as he supports Melodye and encourages her to blossom in her own light. And Melodye allows Jim to share his deepest feelings and process the grief he still feels about his late wife. This heartwarming story reveals their growth, both as individuals and as a couple, which will surely lead them to a lifetime of happiness together.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

self improvement

I.M. Heart

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Sue P. McDaniel, PhD
Publisher: Alternatives
Genre: Self-help
ISBN: 978-0-615-16178-5
Pages: 112
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
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If you long to really live your life, but somewhere along the way you’ve forgotten how to feel, I.M. Heart will show you how. This charming line-drawn heart character will lead you through the many feelings you face, and will guide you in feeling them fully.

These feelings include pain, fear, love, and connection to spirit and others. Gently and lovingly, this little heart shares some experiences that create the feelings, and how he/she has learned to live with them.

Filled with “I am” affirmations, I.M. Heart reassures us we’re okay just as we are, and that we’re becoming even better. Feelings are the way we get in touch with ourselves and create a more dynamic and joyful life.

There are no “shoulds” in this book, and you won’t be made to feel guilty for anything. Instead, you’ll be coaxed to consider small changes and new possibilities to enrich your life. The positive energy in I.M. Heart will uplift and encourage you on your journey.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Cake Thief

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Sally O. Lee
Publisher: Booksurge
Genre: Children’s
ISBN: 1-4196-8392-6
Pages: 32
Price: $17.99

Author’s website
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A peculiar little boy named Clarence likes to steal all the cakes in his neighborhood. Wearing his mask, he sneaks into homes and steals them from their stands. But one day he receives a surprise. When he lifts the cake cover, he finds an invitation addressed “to the cake thief” to attend a party. But he needs to bring a cake.

Knowing he can’t bring one that he stole, he gets to work baking his own cake. When it’s done, it’s just as wonderful as the others, and he goes to the party, no longer needing to wear his mask. And since he now knows how to bake his own cake, he doesn’t need to steal them anymore.

This is a charming tale of a misfit who finally finds a way to fit into his community. Sally O. Lee also illustrates the text in vibrant and colorful oil paintings. Combining lyric prose and whimsical illustrations, The Cake Thief is sure to delight children of all ages.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Astro Socks

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Leigh M. LeCreux
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-595-46375-6
Pages: 75
Price: $9.95

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Chris has always known he could do anything he set his mind to do. But when baby sister, Rachel, comes along, he finally encounters a problem he can’t solve. Why do her socks always come off her feet, and how can he fix this for her?

After spending the afternoon working on the puzzle, he sends an email to NuPont to ask a question. His email sparks a chain of events that lead to unusual and wonderful surprises.

Chris is a smart kid, and it’s great to see him approach a problem looking for a solution. He doesn’t rely on others to solve it for him. But this solution seemed to come out of nowhere for him. He simply asked a question and found himself in the middle of patent paperwork declaring him an inventor.

While I think this story was wonderful in concept – that kids have the ability to do anything they want to do – I didn’t feel Chris put enough effort into solving the problem. I’d have loved to see more research and even a special sock design submitted before he was approached for a patent.

Also, there were many typos in the text, and the foreword, introduction, and testimonial statements of classroom students detracted from the actual story, which should stand on its own. With a little tweaking, Astro Socks has great potential, but it’s just not quite there yet.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Squirrel, the Worm and the Nut Trees

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jimmie Powell
Illustrated by: Bobbi Switzer
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1326-3
Pages: 42
Price: $15.95

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Mr. Worm and his friends are determined to keep Mr. Squirrel and his family from getting any nuts. The worms have covered the nuts in webs and they’ve all rotted. Now Mr. Squirrel needs to come up with a plan to get his nuts before Mr. Worm can get to them each year.

Though his plan is not particularly clever, he and his family are able to outsmart Mr. Worm and get their nuts. And Mr. Worm is never any wiser.

This story has great potential as a problem-solving attempt by a family of squirrels. But the solution is very ordinary, and the problem itself is puzzling. Why did the worms want the squirrels to starve? No answer is provided.

The brightest contribution to this story is the illustrations by Bobbi Switzer. Cheerful and colorful, these delightful squirrels come alive in their forest habitat.

Reviewer: Alice Berger