Working Successfully with Screwed-Up People

Working Successfully with Screwed-Up People

by Elizabeth B. Brown

About the book (from the publisher):

Let’s face it. Some people just don’t listen, don’t care, and aren’t willing to compromise. And you probably work with some of them - the incomprehensible supervisor, the person in the next office who chats more than works or the customer who, by the way, isn’t always right. For all those you come across at work who drive you crazy, there’s a solution.

Working Successfully with Screwed-Up People offers healthy ways to have good working relationships with those around us. Author Elizabeth B. Brown covers everything from daily annoyances to serious workplace issues. Brown, the bestselling author of Living Successfully with Screwed-Up People turns her insightful eye to the workplace, showing readers how they can get along with and work successfully beside the people who drive them up the wall. “It doesn’t take two people to change a relationship in the workplace,” says Brown. “It takes one—me!” Her expert advice will help workers in any profession learn how to be unflappable, imperturbable, and unflustered when dealing with the difficult people in their workplace. The majority of our waking life is spent at work.  Don’t let difficult people drive you crazy.  With Brown’s help and encouragement, you can make the changes that will improve your work environment and enhance your life

The title of this book grabbed my attention right away. Who hasn't worked with people who drive us up the wall, or make us think there is no way to get along with them? Elizabeth B. Brown offers practical solutions for figuring out how to work with these people in a loving way, and without losing your mind. I enjoyed reading this book, and I think anyone who works anywhere - so, that would be everybody! - would benefit from reading this, even just to use as a reference guide for the future.


About the author:

Elizabeth B. Brown is a teacher, speaker, and the author of the popular Living Successfully with Screwed-Up People. Her books offer practical helps for healing hearts, as well as tools to turn around ailing relationships. She offers hope and suggestions that shine light in the chaos swirling around difficult life issues. Elizabeth assures you that you can find JOY, in spite of curves life may throw at you. When dealing with someone who causes your emotions to spin, she assure you that the person who is obtrusive, uncooperative, and unreasonable chooses his behavior. You, also, can choose - choose to be unflappable, imperturbable, and unflustered. Elizabeth has provided workshops on grief around the country. "Today," she laughs, "the seminars are on a much lighter subject - SUPS, an unfortunate label our emotions scream when we are trying to be heard, appreciated, or seek cooperation with a difficult person in our workplace or family." The great news is through her books and seminars, you can find tools to free you to find humor, joy, and freedom in the midst of relationship strangleholds or life tragedies. Find out more about Elizabeth B. Brown at http://www.elizabethbbrown.com/.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

After All

After All

by Deborah Raney

About the book (from the back cover): 

Eighteen months after the tragic Grove Street Fire took the life of her husband, David, and four other heroic firefighters, Susan Marlowe thinks she's finally beginning to heal.

But then she discovers that David carried a secret to his grave. A secret that changes everything she thought their marriage had been. For the sake of their sons, can Susan forgive the unforgivable?

Andrea Morley lost her closest friend in the fire. But she has no right to mourn him. Instead, she must forever grieve in silence—because her dearest friend was someone else's husband.

Peter Brennan carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. As Hanover Falls' fire chief, he was responsible for the brave firefighters who lost their lives that awful November night.

Can he ever shake the feeling that he should have somehow prevented the tragedy?

As he tries to rebuild the team at Clemens County's Station 2, it seems he might find comfort in the arms of the woman he least expected.

I loved the first two books in this series, Almost Forever and Forever After. I am happy to say that After All is a great ending to this series. Some situations got resolved that I wasn't expecting, and I enjoyed reading about the characters from the other books. The one thing that bothered me about the book was the cover. I thought Susan's eyes looked strange. But that was easily resolved, as I didn't have to look at the cover for very long when I had it open! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading Christian inspirational fiction, with a bit of suspense. I rate this one a "5."


About the author:

Deborah Raney is a bestselling novelist whose books have garnered multiple industry awards including the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel from Excellence in Media, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, sed light on the ravages of Alzheimer's disease. The novel inspired the highly acclaimed World Wide Pictures film of the same title and continues to be a tool for Alzheimer's families and caregivers. Deborah is on faculty for several national writers' conferences and serves on the advisory board of the 2500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization. She has written more than 20 novels, and her recent Hanover Falls Novels series is published by Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Glass Road Public Relations. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Sixty Acres and a Bride

Sixty Acres and a Bride

by Regina Jennings

Publisher's description of the book:

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay. Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside. She can't help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention. Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable, and Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future.

My take:  

This is one of those books that took me a little while to get into, but once I did, I really liked it! I enjoyed the parallels to the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz (one of my favorite stories, by the way), and also enjoyed the development of the characters. I liked Rosa's spunk and daring behavior in a town that was full of gossips. She really did have the same courage and perseverance that Ruth did.

I think this book would make a great movie! Maybe someday? I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction. I rate this a "4."

About the author:

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English. She has worked at The Mustang News as well as Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She and her family make their home outside of Oklahoma City. This is her first novel.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

The Messenger

The Messenger

by Siri Mitchell

From the back cover:

Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith...until her twin brother joined the Colonial cause and ended up in jail. She longs to bring some measure of comfort to him in the squalid prison, but her faith forbids it. The Friends believe that they are not to take sides, not to take up arms. She is not allowed to visit him, even if she were able to secure a pass. Jeremiah Jones, a Colonial spy, needs access to the jail to help rescue men important to the cause. Upon meeting Hannah, a plan begins to develop. Who would suspect a Quaker visiting a loved one? But Jeremiah is unprepared for Hannah, her determination to do right, to not lie. How can one be a spy and not lie? Hannah, in turn, is surprised by Jeremiah...for the way he forces her to confront her own beliefs, for the sensitivity and concern that he shows her despite the wounds he still carries. 

Try as I might, I could not get interested in this book. I tried 4 or 5 times to latch on to some part of the book that would keep my interest, but to no avail. I was disappointed, because I have read and loved several of Siri Mitchell's contemporary fiction novels. I had high standards for this book, because I loved The Cubicle Next Door and Moon Over Tokyo. In these novels, her style of first person writing, excellent characterizations, and descriptions kept my interest the whole time. The Messenger seemed to drag, and I couldn't relate to Hannah or Jeremiah. I felt little to no emotion from Hannah's character (this might be the Quaker part of her character, but I didn't care for it). I also found it difficult to jump from Hannah's thoughts, to Jeremiah's thoughts, and back.Though it pains me to write a negative review, I will not let this keep me from reading Siri Mitchell's books in the future. And honestly, I think it might just be my personal preference. I am sure someone else would love reading this book. From now on, though, I think I will stick to her contemporary fiction.



About the author:

Siri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi. Her tenth  novel, The Messenger follows prior Bethany House releases: A Constant Heart, Love's Pursuit, She Walks in Beauty, and A Heart Most Worthy. She Walks In Beauty won the inaugural INSPY award for Historical Fiction in December 2010. Three of Siri's novels, Chateau of Echoes, The Cubicle Next Door, and She Walks in Beauty were Christy Award finalists. Love's Pursuit was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Forever Faithful: The Complete Trilogy

Forever Faithful: The Complete Trilogy

by Karen Kingsbury

This book is a compilation of Karen Kingsbury's Forever Faithful series books - Waiting for Morning (which I reviewed last year), A Moment of Weakness, and Halfway to Forever. The first book Waiting for Morning, tells the story of Hannah Ryan, who loses her husband and daughter in a car accident. A Moment of Weakness is the story of Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman, and Halfway to Forever wraps up the series with Hannah, her new husband Matt Bronzan, and Jade and Tanner's story.

I really enjoyed this series. I had read A Moment of Weakness a time or two before, but had never read Halfway to Forever, mainly because it sounded kind of depressing. I have to admit the book was pretty depressing until the last few chapters. But I still enjoyed wrapping up the series and finding out what happens to Hannah, Matt, Jade, and Tanner. The only other criticism I have is the weight of the book itself. While it might seem like a good idea to package 3 of Karen Kingsbury's books into one, it wasn't very practical for carrying, and holding it for long periods of time was not comfortable (ideally I like to have a book that is easy to hold and "curl up with").

I would give this series a 4. But if I had to individually rate the books, I would give Waiting for Morning a 5, A Moment of Weakness a 5, and Halfway to Forever a 4.

About the author:

After graduating from college in 1986 with a degree in journalism, Karen became a full-time reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Her first book, Missy’s Murder, was based on a murder story she covered in Los Angeles as a reporter. She sold a version of the story to People magazine in 1989. A New York agent read her People story and asked her for a book proposal. The book hit stores in 1992. She then wrote three more true crime novels. Next she wrote four collections of answered prayers and miracle stories before transitioning to inspirational fiction in 1998.

Her first novel, Where Yesterday Lives, was a real challenge for Karen to get published. Although publishing companies said they liked the story, they were not sure what to do with it since it didn’t contain foul language and had no sex scenes. Finally, the Christian publishing house Multnomah, published her novel and gave her a multi-book contract. Her books made a real connection with contemporary romance fans. Since her first novel, Karen has written more than 40 faith based novels, many of which have hit #1 on national lists. There are more than 15 million copies of her award-winning books in print.

Dubbed by Time magazine as the “queen” of Christian fiction, Karen receives tens of thousands of letters from readers who say that Karen’s fiction has dramatically changed their lives. These letters and e-testimonials of improved marriages, spiritual awakenings and new found hope have enabled her to formally trademark her work Life-Changing Fiction™.

Karen lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Don. They were married in June, 1988 and have six children, three of whom were adopted from Haiti. You can read her Adoption story. 

They celebrate their faith daily by laughing, loving and living life to the fullest. You can contact Karen atmoc.yrubsgniKneraK@neraK.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Baroness

Baroness

by Susan May Warren

Yes, this is another book review I wasn't required to write! But since I did a review on Heiress, the book that preceded this one, I thought I should follow up on my excitement for the series! I certainly wasn't disappointed with this second book!

Baroness picks up a few years after Heiress left off. It jumps into the stories of Lillie Hoyt (daughter of Esme Price Hoyt) and Rosie Worth (daughter of Jinx Price Worth). The two girls are 19 years old and on a vacation in Paris in the Roaring 20s. When Paris becomes more a place for broken hearts for the two girls, Lillie ends up trying to go back home to Montana and Rosie goes back to New York City.

Like the first novel, I found myself not wanting to put this one down - though, I have to admit that I liked the style of Heiress a little better. Again, I found myself drawn to the way Susan May Warren created her characters so "real," with faults just like you and me. I am really hoping she writes a third novel - though I have looked at her website and Amazon and haven't found a title or synopsis yet! I definitely recommend this one!

About the author:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.

Heiress

Heiress

by Susan May Warren

It's not often that I review a book for which I wasn't required to write a review. But this book was so good, I feel like I can't not write a review! This one has been on my list for some time, ever since it came out back in September. I love all of Susan May Warren's books and I didn't want to miss this one!

Esme Price is a debutante heiress whose father owns the New York Chronicle. Her father wants her to marry the wealthy Foster Worth. She wants to marry for love, which she doesn't feel for Foster. Jinx (Jacqueline) Price is Esme's younger sister, forced to put off her debutante status until Esme gets married. When circumstances arise that allow Esme to get out of marrying Foster, what will she do?

I absolutely loved this book. I loved and hated that the book was cut up into chunks that featured Esme at one point and Jinx at another. Just as I was getting caught up in what was going to happen to Esme, it was back to Jinx's story! But this really is a good thing, and a great way to sweep the reader up into the story. Susan May Warren really does an outstanding job creating her characters and making them come to life.

I was halfway through the book when I knew I was going to have to buy the second book in the series, Baroness. I did, and it is on my Kindle, waiting for me to start it!

I give this book a "5" and can't wait to continue reading this series! My friend Becky wrote a review of the book too. You can read it here!


About the author:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.