Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
inspiration, self improvement

Your Daily Walk With the Great Minds

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Richard A. Singer, Jr.
Publisher: Marvelous Spirit Press
Genre: Self-improvement / Inspiration
ISBN: 978-1-61599-114-3
Pages: 252
Price: $19.95

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Those who desire success have learned that starting the day off on a positive note sets the tone for the rest of the day. One way to achieve this is by reading inspirational material.

Each day, Your Daily Walk With the Great Minds provides a meaningful quote from some of the great teachers, both past and present, along with a meditation regarding the subject presented. A question is also posed for personal journaling. These are meant to help us think about our own life and how we could make it better.

Although the subject matter of this book is good, I felt it lacked a personal touch. The author shared none of his own experiences, and also provided no examples of others who have used its guidance. Stories of others’ successes, or even failures, when following the advice given would have had a much stronger impact on me.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

short stories

Sudden Flash Youth

Bergers Book Reviews


Editors: Christine Perkins, Tom Hazuka, Mark Budman
Publisher: Persea Books
Genre: Short stories
ISBN: 978-0-89255-371-6
Pages: 224
Price: $12.95

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Remembering the days of our youth can bring us joy or tears. Sudden Flash Youth is a compilation of some of the best flash fiction focused exclusively on childhood.

This book features classic gems like The Flowers and What Happened During the Ice Storm, and newer ones like Between Practice and Perfection and The Quinceañera Text. And there are a few edgier pieces focused on teen pregnancy, bullying and violence, that may have been a part of our past we’d prefer to forget.

Bold, brief stories capture the innocence of our childhood, as well as the darker sides of teen behavior. Most readers will relate to at least a few of these well-crafted tales. An enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

The Sandburg Connection

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Mark De Castrique
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-59058-941-0
Pages: 250
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
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Sam Blackman and Nakayla Robertson are partners in investigation – and in love. While they are tailing Janice Wainwright, believed to be faking her back pain in a medical lawsuit, Wainwright falls from a mountain and is killed. Blackman and Robertson, as well as some of the local police, question that it was an accident, and a new investigation ensues.

As they dig deeper into the case, new elements of Wainwright’s research emerge, and one more death follows – this time clearly not accidental. Justice comes with a price, and the killer is finally stopped.

This fast-paced and enjoyable murder mystery pulled me in right from the beginning. I enjoyed the relationship between these two detectives, as they bantered light-heartedly throughout the investigation. And I thought the ending was fitting for a book that takes place in the South. I highly recommend The Sandburg Connection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, memoir

Embracing the Gray

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Mark A. Hollingsworth
Publisher: Wheatmark
Genre: Memoir / Christian
ISBN: 978-1-60494-417-4
Pages: 248
Price: $18.95

Author’s website
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Mark A. Hollingsworth has lived a full and exciting life. Spending time working with major rock bands over the years has allowed him to get to know them and the music business. But his most important contacts have turned out to be the Christian folks he was fortunate to meet.

In Embracing the Gray, Hollingsworth tells of his struggles with his faith after several of his friends died. But after some time of soul-searching, he returned to his Christian roots with a new vigor. Hollingsworth then worked with Compassion International, a Christian organization that helps by connecting families in the US with impoverished children in other countries through a sponsorship program.

It’s refreshing to see a person with strong Christian faith admit that there were dark times in his life when it was difficult to believe in God. But God was true to him, and brought him back into the fold when the time was right. I highly recommend this wonderful memoir.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Mallory the Forgetful Duck

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Elaine Allen
Illustrator: Kelli Nash
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4069-7
Pages: 40
Price: $16.99

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Schiffer Books

Mallory has forgotten where she left her eggs. As she flies around the lake, she discovers eggs in other nests, but none are hers. Finally, she realizes she hasn’t yet laid her eggs, and when she does, she knows she’ll never forget where they are.

In this charming picture book, nature scenes are beautifully illustrated by Kelli Nash. Kids will enjoy reading about Mallory’s confusion as she hops from nest to nest, searching for her own. And once she does lay her eggs, they will discover that a mom’s love is the very best kind.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Murder in the 11th House

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Mitchell Scott Lewis
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-59058-950-2
Pages: 250
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
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David Lowell runs an unusual detective agency – he uses atrology to predict certain events, and to understand the motives of those he’s investigating. When his daughter, Melinda, comes to him about a legal case she’s working on, Lowell jumps right in to help.

Melinda is defending a bartender who is accused of murdering a judge. All evidence points to her guilt, but Melinda doesn’t believe she did it. Asking too many questions puts their lives in danger, when they start to get too close to the truth.

Murder in the 11th House is the debut novel of Mitchell Scott Lewis. It’s a well-crafted murder mystery, with a satisfying conclusion. My only small complaint is that David and Melinda are a little too perfect. I’ll be looking forward to seeing their humanness in future books. Overall, this one is a winner.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

self improvement

The Skinny On Success

Bergers Book Reviews


Author:  Jim Randel
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Self-improvement
ISBN: 978-0-9818936-9-4
Pages: 204
Price: $14.95

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Why is it that some people are more successful than others? Is it possible that there is a formula for success? If there is, are you willing to read all the books written on the subject to find out what it is?

Jim Randel, author of The Skinny On series, has done the hard work for you. In The Skinny on Success, he brings us the best ideas on how to become successful, shown in stick-figure drawings. We meet Billy and Beth, who each have encountered a problem in finding success. Randel counsels them with wise advice pulled from some of the best success books written.

This Skinny may look like little more than a comic strip, but this powerful little book takes about an hour to read and is packed full of helpful information. Sure, you could read all the books listed in the bibliography if you want to be successful, but why not save some time and pick this one up instead?

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health

Healing Touch

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Dorothea Hover-Kramer
Publisher: Sounds True
Genre: Health
ISBN: 978-1-60407-452-9
Pages: 384
Price: $16.95

Healing Touch Program
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Western society relies on traditional medicine for almost all its needs, but there are alternative healing modalities that can complement what our doctors do for us. Some healing can be done by using touch. Healing Touch describes one method of hands on healing.

Using real-life examples, author Dorothea Hover-Kramer shows us how we can use Healing Touch(HT) in our own lives. Beginning with the history of HT, she provides evidence of the effectiveness and safety of this method. Then she shows us hand positions and several methods of performing HT. Finally, she explains how a practitioner is certified and how to go about setting up a practice.

While HT is similar in some ways to other hands on healing techniques, the training is more intensive and the outcomes have been measured, to some extent. If you’re looking for a hands on healing method you can practice at home, this book provides all the information you need. I highly recommend this helpful guide to Healing Touch.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

education

Off to Class

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Susan Hughes
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Genre: Education
ISBN: 978-1-926818-86-3
Pages: 64
Price: $12.95

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Where is your school? Is it a traditional building with classrooms and teachers? Not everyone goes to school the way we do. Off to Class shows us some of the more unique schools around the world.

In India, one school meets on a train platform. Children in Canada can go to school online, while living in other countries. In China, some students go to school in a cave. And many places offer mobile schools to reach out to kids who couldn’t attend school otherwise.

According to the United Nations, every child has the right to an education. Without it, there is little hope for him to ever escape the poverty he’s living in. Kids will find reading Off to Class enlightening, and will hopefully have a new appreciation of how lucky they are to be going to school when so many others can’t. I highly recommend this interesting and eye-opening book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, education

Bertie Bumble Bee: Troubled by the Letter “b”

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: K.I. Al-Ghani
Illustrator: Haitham Al-Ghani
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children / Dyslexia
ISBN: 978-0-7643-3993-6
Pages: 44
Price: $16.99

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Schiffer Books

Bertie Bumble Bee is excited to be going to school. But once he’s there, he discovers he has a problem. He can’t tell his b’s from his d’s. When his classmates start making fun of him, Bertie doesn’t want to return to class.

Luckily for Bertie, his mom has a simple solution to his problem. Once she shares it with him, he never has trouble with b’s and d’s again.

In Bertie Bumble Bee, kids learn about dyslexia. They find out how it affects the ability to see letters, and what they can do to compensate. Parents are also provided with a guide to help their children master the alphabet and phonics.

Reviewer: Alice Berger