Windows of Gold

Author: Marianne Mitchell
Publisher: Rafter Five Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9673497-1-8
Pages: 126
Price: $9.95

Author’s website

Are you looking for great bedtime stories to read to your kids before you tuck them in for the night? Windows of Gold is a collection of twenty short stories, many of which first appeared in Highlights for Children. Told in folk tale style, these delightful stories will entertain your children for many nights to come.

Some of these charming tales take place in the southwest, with such colorful characters as Coyote, Rabbit, and Puma. Another has mysterious purple footprints left at the scene of secret acts of kindness. The title story demonstrates that not everything is exactly as it seems. And there’s the occasional troll and leprechaun to captivate the reader.

Marianne Mitchell is a master at telling folk tales. These vibrant stories come alive, and invite you to journey through foreign lands and magical places. You and your children will definitely enjoy the ride.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Happy For No Reason

Author: Marci Shimoff
Publisher: Free Press
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 978-1-4165-4772-3
Pages: 336
Price: $24.95

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Are you truly happy from the inside out? If you’re like many people, you might say you’re happy, but is it only because things are pretty much going the way you like them? And what if your life isn’t perfect right now? Marci Shimoff believes it’s possible to be happy no matter what your circumstances are, and this book will show you how.

Research has shown that we all have a certain level of happiness that we seem to feel comfortable at. This set-point is partially genetic, but we have the ability to change the rest. By following the seven steps presented in this book, we can better control our happiness set-point and learn to be happy for no reason.

Marci Shimoff interviewed what she calls the Happy 100 to discover their secrets to staying happy in every circumstance. These steps outline their experiences, with deeply moving personal stories to demonstrate them in action. Fun exercises are also provided on how to use these steps in your own life.

The positive energy of Happy For No Reason is contagious. Marci Shimoff is one of the teachers featured in The Secret, and it’s obvious she lives what she teaches. If you want to be happy for no reason, you’ll find this book to be an inspiring and valuable guide.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park

Author: Paul Mullen
Publisher: Orange Frazer Press
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1-933197-30-2
Pages: 146
Price: $12.95

Author’s website

Michael “Fuji” Powers is the last of the Powers brothers to have a chance to play for the Withamsville-Tobasco Cardinals C Ball team. He’s always dreamed of playing his championship game at Great American Ball Park and hitting a home run there.

But before he has the chance to hit a historic home run, he has some obstacles to overcome. First he has to make the team. And once he does, he has to deal with being teased as one of the two rookies. Fitting in isn’t as easy as he thinks, and he needs to learn how to stand up for himself to prove his worth to one of the team’s best players.

Fuji is growing up quickly, and he’s suddenly aware of the feelings he has for Cathy, who has always been a tomboy he’s played baseball with. Cathy shows interest in someone else, and Fuji realizes he wants her to be something more than a friend.

Mr. Powers always instilled a strong desire in his sons to succeed, but sometimes Fuji feels pressure to be perfect for his difficult-to-please father. But Fuji learns a lot about his father’s life during the course of this book, which ultimately brings the two closer together.

Fuji is a typical twelve-year old boy, playing baseball, getting into mischief with his friends, learning about family values and experiencing his first crush on a girl. He’s a likable boy that kids will relate to, and will want to see succeed. And his crowning moment of glory will leave the reader feeling proud to have spent time with him.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Sweet Georgia Brown

Author: Cheryl Robinson
Publisher: New American Library
Genre: Women’s Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-451-22228-2
Pages: 376
Price: $13.95

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Georgia Brown loves her man, Marvin, and she wants him to succeed in stand-up comedy. Although she’s forced to be the main breadwinner of their family of four, she does what she can to help him live his dream. But what she doesn’t realize is success often comes with a price.

Marvelous Marvin finally makes it, landing a lucrative position with the 102 Hitz morning show. His humorous style is a huge hit, but most of his jokes are aimed at his sweet wife. Poking fun at everything from her weight to their lovemaking, he will stop at nothing in humiliating her.

Living with Marvin’s big ego isn’t all Georgia has to contend with. She’s also forced to accept his illegitimate daughter when the girl’s mother dumps her with Georgia. And Marvin isn’t being true to his wife, and he doesn’t mind sharing his exploits with the world on his morning show.

When Sweet Georgia Brown is offered an opportunity to retaliate in her own morning show, she jumps at it. But she can’t help but be true to her own nature, no matter what the station is hoping she’ll do.

Readers will cheer for this wonderfully uplifting woman, who only wants those around her to be happy, but must finally choose her own happiness. She’s a great role model for any woman who finds herself in a situation where she’s being taken advantage of, and ultimately must say, “Enough!” Georgia finally has the courage to stand up for herself, and she does it in a positive and empowering manner. Way to go, Sweet Georgia Brown!

Reviewer: Alice Berger