Review of The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford

Kids don't have to wait until they grow up to make the world a better place! The newest Kathie Lee Gifford book empowers children to find unique ways to make a difference in the lives of those around them.

The Gift That I Can Give is a heartwarming story that shows how all children can do something today to make a positive impact on others. From simply being kind to giving a loved one an extra-big hug to cheering for a friend, this story will inspire children with countless ways to show God's love. They'll want to read it again and again.

The Gift That I Can Give:

• highlights big gifts and points them back to God, like the ability to sing, play sports, and dance
• encourages quieter gifts as well, like encouragement, empathy, gratitude, kindness, and sharing God's love
• is a great bedtime story, grandparent story, or encouraging story to a child who is struggling.

Kathie Lee is a trusted voice who feels like a friend for countless people. With her strong faith, enthusiasm, and playful writing, she appeals to young hearts and encourages them with the message that no one is too young or too small to share their gift with others.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**
I was drawn to the book right away because of the absolutely darling little girl on the cover who looks just like one of the little ones I used to watch every week pre-pandemic. All of the children and all of the illustrations are absolutely darling.

The little girl knows that God has given her a special gift and she is trying to figure out what that gift might be. Through rhyming verse, she suggests different ways that she might be able to share this gift with others, and I would say that all of them qualify. So this book is teaching kids how to spread God's love every single day.

It really is a super sweet book that I recommend adding to your bookshelf.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Intentional: How to Live, Love, Work and Play Meaningfully by David Amerland

 

The last couple of years have been quite stressful for all of us. And a lot of us are looking to lead more intentional and purposeful lives as a way to help relieve some of that stress. Author David Amerland is here to tell us how in his new book Intentional: How to Live, Love, Work and Play Meaningfully. He's also sharing an excerpt with us and his writing routine. Be sure to check out the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Live your life the way you want to. Manage stress better. Be more resilient and enjoy meaningful relationships and better health. We all want that. Such life leads to better choices, better jobs, loving romantic partners, more rewarding careers and decisions that are fully aligned with our aims.

What stops us from getting all that is the complexity of our brain and the complicated way in which the external world comes together. The misalignment between the internal states we experience and the external circumstances we encounter often leads to confusion, a lack of clarity in our thinking and actions that are not consistent with our professed values.

Intentional is a gameplan. It helps us connect the pieces of our mind to the pieces of our life. It shows us how to map what we feel to what has caused those feelings, understand what affects us and what effects it has on us and determine what we want, why we want it and what we need to do to get it.

When we know what to do, we know how to behave. When we know how to behave we know how to act. When we know how to act, we know how to live. Our actions, each day, become our lives. Drawn from the latest research from the fields of neuroscience, behavioral and social psychology and evolutionary anthropology, Intentional shows you how to add meaning to your actions and lead a meaningful, happier, more fulfilling life on your terms.

Read an excerpt:

Whether we realize it or not, we all feel the need for this kind of guidance that gives us a deep sense of purpose. Because we are born physically helpless we have evolved to latch onto and work hard to understand our immediate environment and the people around us. This makes us, as we grow older, intensely pro-social. At the same time it provides us with a ready-made set of expectations, rules and guidelines to guide our behavior that arise from the collective behavior of those around us.

That behavior is the culture we experience and the traditions we abide by. The problem with this is that rather than defining for ourselves what is important to us we accept that which is given to us. That which is given to us is rarely what we want, but it can very easily become what we settle for.

Settling is an evolutionary-programmed trait. Let me explain: Life is hard. It really is. Even if we happen to have the extraordinary luck to be born into a very rich family whose legacy gives us everything we need to live comfortably for the rest of our life, maintaining that fortune and navigating through life is going to be fraught with risks, traps and constant upheavals.

We need other people. Other people need us. That is a truth. But the reasons for this mutual need are usually contradictory or, at the very least, sufficiently at odds with each other to make trust an issue and turn cooperation into a risk-assessment exercise.

Buy links
Amazon * Website

(affiliate link included)

Your writing routine

One of the most frequent questions I receive, as a writer, is on how I write. I am always surprised by that. Writing, like any other individual human activity, is very much an individual choice, at least as far as the ‘how’ is concerned.

Yet, I understand the curiosity. In asking the question any would-be writer and even those who don’t necessarily write a lot but either want to write or already do on occasion, seek to find an “aha!” moment for themselves. Something that will inspire them and also perhaps help them be more consistent in their writing.

With this in mind I have looked at how I write in a more critical manner and what I present here has been structured in a way that will help you get the most value out of it. The writing of a book, any book, is a massive enterprise whose complexity is belied by the ability of a writer to write.

As an example in a different context consider how a painter pulls up a canvas, draws some charcoal lines on it and then proceeds to paint van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”, Constable’s “The Hay Wain” or Picasso’s “Guernica”. If you’d asked them how they did it they may explain about charcoal drawings, shades, shadowing, perspective, the mixing of colors and the choice of brushes but really this is not how those paintings came about. Their artists thought passionately and deeply about something, they found a message that needed to be told and a medium which they could tell it.

It is no different for a book. Each book, fiction or non-fiction has an origin story. It has a message, which is to say it has an intent. The writing routine that’s established around it then is created so that the writer can accomplish two things: First and foremost, finish the book. And second, write the best book they possibly can. These two things have equal weight and there is a dynamic tension between them. A book that’s brilliantly written but loses its way and is never completed is useless. A completed book that’s badly written is a tragedy.

So, how do I do it? Bear in mind that each book I write is not only slightly different from the previous one but it has a fresh audience (with some overlaps) and a new-to-me subject. This means I don’t have a comfortable writing routine. It also means that I will need to research a lot and then make sure the research I come across is explained well enough to make sense to the lay reader.

To achieve all this I start with an idea. Google Semantic Search, for instance, demystified semantic search for online business owners and webmasters. The Sniper Mind showed how we can make better decisions under really challenging circumstances. Intentional: How to Live, Love, Work and Play Meaningfully, is a guide on how to behave so that life, work and play become both easier and more meaningful and we become more fulfilled and happier.

Once I have the idea I need to have a structure for my book, something that will help me put together the skeleton so that I know what each chapter does. That structure is provided by my research. I have always used Evernote to write my books. For each book I open up a new notebook and in it I put in all the research notes, ideas and suggestions that I have on it. I try, where possible, to tag them so that I can find them more easily and can group them, where necessary.

Once the preliminary research stage is finished I go through all the notes and research papers I have and group them. At that point their natural grouping provides a progression of sorts that becomes my skeleton chapter outline. Depending on the complexity of the subject, whether I need to conduct interviews or not, this is a process that can take up to eighteen months to complete.

I then start to write, this is a first draft and I use my chapter outline to guide me. I am aware that, at this stage, I will need to carry out a lot more research and more in-depth interviews. When I write I spend between two and three hours writing each day. I don’t look at what I have written before because I know it will distract me, instead I use my chapter notes to guide me, again.

I stop writing once the words I write stop making sense. I then break for a couple of hours where I play video games or watch the news or go over newsletters I subscribe to and then spend another hour or two writing. So, on average I will write solid for five hours each day. I always finish the day with an hour at the gym. During the pandemic this became impossible so I converted a room of my house to a home gym, with all the necessary equipment. Now there is never an excuse not to finish the day with exercise.

Revising what I’ve written is easier. I start from the beginning. Make notes when I am not certain what something means or if it doesn’t make as much sense to me when I read it as it did when I wrote it and I also rewrite any parts that appear easy to do so. Again, I work a five-hour day. The next day I rewrite and fix what needs re-writing and fixing using my notes from the day before. I then repeat the process for the next section of writing using the time I have allocated each day.

I used to spend a lot more time writing. In the past I used to spend eight-nine hours each day. I found out that I am just as productive with five and although I don’t get as much work covered as I did when I put in longer hours, what I do write is better and more powerful so the discipline to stick to a shorter writing day has improved the quality of what I write.

I never read non-fiction when I write because I tend to subconsciously copy the voice of the writer and forget my own. I always listen to music when I re-write, particularly the second and third drafts of a manuscript. My choice here is either The Scorpions or Imagine Dragons. Both groups make me feel more alive when I am tired.

And that is it. The sum total of the secret to my writing routine. Basically I begin with an idea, plan, flesh out the plan and then work to execute it. That’s it. I hope this helps.

David Amerland is a Chemical Engineer with an MSc. in quantum dynamics in laminar flow processes. He converted his knowledge of science and understanding of mathematics into a business writing career that's helped him demystify, for his readers, the complexity of subjects such as search engine optimization (SEO), search marketing, social media, decision-making, communication and personal development. The diversity of the subjects is held together by the underlying fundamental of human behavior and the way this is expressed online and offline. Intentional: How to Live, Love, Work and Play Meaningfully is the latest addition to a thread that explores what to do in order to thrive. A lifelong martial arts practitioner, David Amerland is found punching and kicking sparring dummies and punch bags when he's not behind his keyboard.


Email & Social Media Accounts

Reach David via email: davidamerland@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidAmerland

Medium: https://davidamerland.medium.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidamerland/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidAmerland/about

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_amerland/

Represented by The Knight Agency

David Amerland will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an exclusive excerpt from The Manual for Letting Go by Dr. Eman Yasin

 

The key to making any kind of major change in life is to change your brain. But it isn't always easy to do so. In The Manual for Letting Go, Dr. Eman Yasin tries to help us learn how to do so. Read an exclusive excerpt and then download your own copy. Be sure to follow the tour for more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

We all have undesired addictions we want to let go of. We try and try, but end up failing again and again. But what if the only reason we are going in endless circles of failure is the method we use to let go? Imagine you have access to an effective manual full of mental and practical exercises, the manual that's gonna help you get rid of your bad habits. Who says we don't have one? Now we do . . .

It's the book that changes the chemical reactions in your brain by reprogramming it. It will cause you to let go of whatever harms you spontaneously, just like taking a course of medicine to let you eventually quit your bad habits effortlessly, and, most importantly, enjoyably. It works very effectively, as this book contains a real story for a specific method with defined exercises and calculated steps. The method has been applied to several people, and it cured them completely.

Read an exclusive excerpt:

Exercise requirements: 30 minutes with no interruption.

Exercise steps:

1. Think of something that completely contradicts your principles so that your first reaction to it will be, “Cannot, impossible, never!” Think of something like locking up your kids in a dark basement with mice, or worshiping an ant, or whatever. Just make sure to get that powerful “No” stored inside of you.

2. Imagine you are being asked about that thing that contradicts your principles (Do you lock your children in a dark basement with mice?) Answer in a loud voice, then watch yourself as you answer it with a, “No! Impossible! It is never going to happen!” Monitor your body language—your hands, your feet, your eyes, your face—and record these details in your imagination. Then record the “No!” strategy next.

3. Remember yourself in an old situation in which you used the “No!” strategy and where you said “No!” strongly, for example, as a reaction to your wife’s request to keep driving beyond the red traffic signal, or to disrespect your parents, or any situation you can see in your memory. Then remember the situation with all its details, including colors, smell, size, sound, and sensations, all while observing the four laws of imagination from Chapter 3.

4. Once again, watch yourself while you answer “No!” and monitor the language of your body—your hands, your feet, your eyes, your face—and record these details in your imagination. Then record the “No!” strategy next to them.

5. Think of your habit. Then say “No!” to it loudly, using the same strategy we just practiced, with the same strength and intensity.

6. Repeat the previous exercise as much as possible to link between the “No!” and your undesired addiction, so you will be able to say “No!” to it and “No!” with strength and firmness to all its smaller habits.

By repeating this exercise, you will learn to talk positively to yourself, which reinforces your belief in your ability to quit your undesired habit. It works to raise your morale and enthusiasm for quitting, and this enthusiasm will have a great impact in the process of quitting your undesired habit.

Follow the same method to record the “Yes!” strategy for your healthy, clean body, and to reinforce this identity that will replace the old, outdated identity.

At the end of these exercises, you must be clear with yourself, and ask: “Am I ready?” If the answer is no, read back to what we discussed previously, or reread the parts that you need to review.

If the answer is yes, all you have to do is to set the zero hour and make it the beginning time. It is preferable to choose a time that helps you break the daily routine, such as the summer vacation or while traveling to another country, in order to facilitate the process of breaking mental bonds between the triggering motivators and the process of your undesired addiction.

Buy links:

AMAZON.COM * AMAZON.CA * BOOKSHOP * INDIGO CHAPTERS * BARNES & NOBLE * BOOK DEPOSITORY * SMASHWORDS 

(Affiliate links included)

About the author:

Eman Yasin was born and raised in Amman, Jordan. She is the founder of the "smoker's friendship" technique, which helps smokers quit smoothly and happily. She is also the writer of the smoker's friend Arabic book, which was adopted by the Tobacco Control Club in WISE University, which is part of the Jordanian Universities Association, to combat smoking. Her career was built on a solid knowledge of self-development, project management (a valid PMP professional Project Manager since 2004), training, and professor assistance.

Connect with Dr. Eman Yasin

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/SadiqAlmodakhen

GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59121824-the-manuel-for-letting-go

Dr. Eman Yasin will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an exclusive excerpt from Awakening With Angels: Are You Awakening Yet? By My Lynn Ho

 

Angels are everywhere - if you know where to look. In Awakening with Angels, My Lynn Ho teaches you to find your guardian angel and their spiritual messages to help you in your life. Read an exclusive excerpt before you download your own copy. Follow the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

By Awakening with Angels, I attained true simplicity and harmony in my complex world.

With guidance from Angels, you can find simple happiness to balance your body, mind and spirit. A happy soul is a free spirit, and it's contagious.

Ask your Guidance Angel for guidance in your daily life even for the simplest tasks. The Angels would be delighted to assist.

Have you ever seen any of these Angels' numbers in your daily life: 111, 222, 333, 444, 555, 777, 911, 1010, 1111, 1212?

There are spiritual clues everywhere on your journey. For instance, finding coins or dollar bills on the street – it's not pure luck but a spiritual sign.

You're not alone; your Guidance Angel is with you all along.

Love lessons are meant for the soul to learn, to strengthen the soul. Ask your Guidance Angel for guidance with your love life.

There are miracles happening every day. Pray and ask your Guidance Angel for guidance.

Read an excerpt:

I see that part of our world is corrupted as corruption exists everywhere. Another part of our world is at peace, but not fully peaceful. The rich are too busy living the rich life, the poor struggle to survive another day. Some countries have ambitions to take over other countries. Leaders compete for more power, and genocide still exists in this modern society. This is definitely proof that humankind, as a whole, is not living in full harmony and peacefully as per God’s plan. This is a reminder that Satan’s influence exists, and the dark side influences the mind with egos, even without the mind’s awareness. This is the silent work of evil. God creates our existence.

God gives humankind the Law of Free Will. Free Will comes with responsibilities; therefore, humankind should use its human Free Will with good morals and not for wickedness. What is the outcome for our human race if there is no harmony but wickedness among humankind? Do you believe in Genesis 6:7 from God? It says: “And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” This is an open thought for humankind. I have heard many tragic stories. I still see racism happening every day. We, as humankind, have not done enough to eliminate hatred. Humankind should treat each other equally regardless of race, ethnicity or religion since we are all one under God. There are many tragedies happening daily around the world.

This particular tragedy broke my heart—parents, not intentionally, forgot children inside their car on a hot day. Lucky, the children were saved, but other stories have ended tragically. Sometimes your brain is overheated from the exhaustion of your daily routine, causing stress and negligence, which create sudden tragedies in your life. It comes to a point where stress overshadows your simple life. Giving full attention to children is a must. Children are innocent and are the purest human beings. Life could get more complex if you don’t take action. With your human strength you could shift your beautiful mind toward positivity. Nothing is perfect in life, but with Angels’ guidance, you can find that simple happiness to balance your body, your mind, and your spirit. A happy soul is a free spirit—it’s contagious.

One soul to another soul, I would like to share what I believe from my world to your world, my life experiences with Angels and real stories about my Awakening with Angels. I hope it will help facilitate your mind to spiritual awakening and to believing in Angels, God willing. I hope to glow the path to Awakening with Angels so unawakened souls can balance their lives in finding inner peace and the soul’s purpose.

Purchase links for Awakening With Angels

AMAZON.COM * AMAZON.CA * BOOKSHOP * INDIGO CHAPTERS * BARNES & NOBLE *  BOOK DEPOSITORY 

(affiliate link included)

My Lynn Ho was born in Vietnam, grew up in Quebec City, and now lives in Ontario, Canada. With Divine timing, My Lynn's soul was guided to Awakening with Angels as her life was unfolding. In her book, My Lynn shares stories about her spiritual experiences with the Angels. She hopes to bring light and peace to you and your family. My Lynn chats with her best friends – her Guidance Angels – every day.

Connect with My Lynn Ho

WEBSITE https://mylynnho.com/

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/authormylynnho

INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/mylynnho/

My Lynn Ho will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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God Hugs My House at Night by Gina Collins Weaver, illustrated by Bren Riddle

 

Night time can be a particularly scary time for children. They experience the bumps in the night, the imagined monsters under the bed and a sense of powerlessness. Often, these factors make fear inevitable and sleep elusive.

Children need their fears acknowledged and validated. They should know God is there no matter what they fear or where they lay their heads at night. In a modest home, a hospital room, a makeshift shelter or an opulent mansion, God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent (an almighty God who is present in all places, seeing all things).

Knowing God is there brings comfort to a child and imagining God hugging their dwelling can stimulate their imagination and foster a sense of security.

Children understand hugs and God Hugs My House at Night assures them they are not alone. Children can feel empowered and brave; not because fear is not real, but because God is also real. He remains no matter where you dwell or lay your head, how dark the circumstances or how dark the night.

"Be strong and have strength of heart. Do not be afraid or shake with fear because of them. For the Lord your God is the One Who goes with you. He will be faithful to you. He will not leave you alone.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Buy directly on the website.

About Gina Collins Weaver

I was born in Dover, Delaware, but I have lived most of my life in the south (Alabama). My mom was an elementary school teacher and my father was an Air Force serviceman. As an Air Force brat, I moved around often. We changed cities, states and countries, but I was too young to remember most of it. However, one of my earliest memories is of books in our home. They were everywhere.

And so the love affair began. I love books; especially children's books. I have maintained that love, as a mother, who has bought hundreds of books for my two daughters to enjoy. When they were in elementary and middle school, I always looked forward to volunteering at their school's yearly book fair. It was a wonderful way to spend extra time with my girls, but also allowed me the opportunity to peruse the book stands for the newest books as well as the tried and true classics. I would pick out books for my girls and looked forward to their book choices. I would buy too many books, along with bookmarks, etc, but it was worth it. Today both my daughters love to read!

Reading is a wonderful experience and books are an amazing vehicle for a child's imagination. Reading helps children create the pictures that affect their world. Characters can become friends, ideas can become beliefs and concepts can become comfort.

I imagined being an author one day and now I am.

I am also a wife and mother of two. I majored in Sociology and minored in Psychology in college. I have worked for a Nonprofit Youth Development Organization for over 25 years. I write whenever there is a pen and paper available and although God Hugs My House at Night is my first published book, I have numerous books inside me screaming to get out!

I hope God Hugs My House at Night will bless you!

~Gina

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel would be of interest to my readers.

Mr. Flopsy Whispers From God: A Lesson on Being Still by Christi Eley, illustrated by Aries Cheung

  

Mr. Flopsy, Whispers from God is an early reader storybook that shares the simple message and guidance from a pet bunny to help your child find stillness and peace. By connecting with animals, children learn to see and hear God’s love and feel secure as they learn to be quiet, patient, brave and trusting. Written in a rhythmic bouncy script, Mr. Flopsy, Whispers from God: A Lesson on Being Still provides a platform for your child to begin their own relationship with God and is reaffirmed by the gentle words and affirmations of God’s love through the Bible verse “Be still and Know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. Join Mr. Flopsy on this heartwarming adventure that will inspire your child for a lifetime!

Buy on Amazon:

Kindle * Hardcover * Paperback

(affiliate links included)

About the author:

Christi (aka Mrs. Cottontail) developed a deep love for animals as a child inspired by the bunny she and her grandfather rescued and raised together. It was her dream to grow up and do something with bunnies. She did this with her successful local ministry, Mrs. Cottontail and Friends. She has been working with children and animals for over 20 years, spreading joy and love through her educational bunny programs. This work has deepened her faith and opened her eyes to the most important things in life. Her desire is to teach children to slow down, connect deeply with animals while drawing close to God. She has been married to Mark, her high school sweetheart, for over 30 years. They have two beautiful daughters, who they homeschooled. Mrs. Cottontail has a menagerie of pets, including her fluffle (group) of six adorable bunnies including the one and only Mr. Flopsy!

About the illustrator:

Aries Cheung studied design and illustration at the Hong Kong Polytechnics University, and graduated in Visual Arts at York University, Canada. He has worked as a visual artist, graphic designer and art director for advertising, film and theatre for many years. Cheung is now an independent, practicing visual artist and teacher. His interests include painting, drawing, digital imaging, photo-based, mixed media work and videos. He has exhibited at galleries locally and abroad. He has created art/illustrations for advertising, editorial and books for adults and children for publishers in Canada and US. He has been selected to design coins for the Royal Canadian Mint. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

I was compensated for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers. Find me on Fiverr for your book promotion needs!

The Lady and the Tribe by Brenda Billings Ridgley

 

Strong friendships are important. I realize that more and more the older that I get. Author Brenda Billings Ridgley is teaching us how to create powerful friendships to be stronger versions of ourselves. Read an excerpt and then follow the tour for more. Be sure to also enter the great giveaway!

Wives, mothers, and career women—we have all fallen victim to the silent epidemic that is, literally . . . letting ourselves go. Not the makeup free, yoga pants, weight gain routine. Little by little, we have allowed our preferences, interests, and individuality to slip away until we no longer recognize ourselves outside of our role as wives, mothers, or professionals. Who we are has become what we do.

In the process, our friendships have become the casualty of a “busy life” and lack consistency and depth. We have a gaping hole inside us that longs to be filled. How do we reclaim who we really are and fill this empty space that seemed to appear from nowhere? The answer lies in our Tribe. Our best friends see us more clearly than we see ourselves and are representations and extensions of our individuality. They are our companions, cheerleaders, and counselors—always in our corner. They are the branches of our tree of life that lift and support us, so we can flourish. Our Tribe is the family with whom we choose to live our life . . . with no strings attached.

Lady and the Tribe is a blueprint for building deep connections. As you read, you’ll be swept away on a journey of friendship as the author shares her own personal stories and those of other women. In the process, you’ll discover how to find, nurture, and deepen friendships and create a Tribe culture that is unique to you.

We can become whole again through the power of connection.

When three or more gather, we are Tribe.

Read an excerpt:

The Tribe

Traditionally, a Tribe is a social division in society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties. Some Tribes have a common culture and dialect, and typically they have a recognized leader. A customary Tribe is a face-to-face community, relatively bound by kinship relations, reciprocal exchange, and strong ties to place.

The term Tribe should be utilized only with great respect and consideration of its origins. It is with the term’s heritage in mind that I aspire to create that culture with my closest friends. This social division, group, or pack are linked by common social patterns, interests, and sometimes, goals. As the group connects together over time, they establish the Tribe’s personality, lingo, patterns, and rituals.

Your Tribal space feels like home when you arrive. It is safe, encouraging and makes you feel relevant because you are truly seen. Your Tribe cares about your opinions and what you have to say. They are proud of your talents and strengths and are not threatened by your success. Your Tribe will promote rather than ignore or diminish your wins. Although these close friends can be a great influence for you to be better and do better, there is no contest; you do not feel competitive with one another. The experience of finding your Tribe can be life changing. It becomes a mirror reaffirming who you are and where you belong.

Buy on Amazon

(affiliate link included) 

BRENDA RIDGLEY is an author, speaker, and girlfriend guru who loves helping women connect, find success, and discover joy through friendship. Her mission is to start a movement: women coming together to build thousands of new Lady Tribes around the globe. Through her workshops, vlogs, blogs, and book clubs, Brenda helps women connect and communicate with respect, love, and trust. She holds an MA in human resources and has spent decades cultivating her own Tribe. A Colorado girl at heart, Brenda lives in the Carbon Valley area with her husband, Parker, two kids, Parker Jr. and Gillian, and pooch, Perry. She enjoys hiking and has conquered Longs Peak and several other 14’ers.

To connect with Brenda, visit her website at www.BrendaRidgley.com.

Invite Brenda to speak at your next event: mailto:brenda@brendaridgley.com.


Subscribe:

YouTube: @BrendaRidgley

Podcast: @TheConnectionConnoisseur - https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/the-connection-connoisseur,3341/

Blog: https://www.brendaridgley.com/blog

Follow:
Instagram: @BrendaRidgley -- https://www.instagram.com/brendaridgley/

Facebook: @BrendaRidgleyConnections - https://www.facebook.com/brendaridgleyconnections

Twitter: @BrendaRidgley

Brenda Billings Ridgley will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Divorce Bucket List by Jennifer Harris

 

Divorce is never a pleasant experience. Jennifer Harris is sharing how she made her way through her traumatic experience in the hopes of helping others to be able to do the same and come out so much better on the other side. Read an excerpt and then follow the tour for more. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Divorce Bucket List is a practical and heartfelt guide that effortlessly blends meaningful exercises and reflections with author Jennifer’s personal experiences through the trials and challenges of divorce. Written as a way to empower others to rebuild their lives as they work through the trauma of a divorce, this illuminating guide explores Jennifer’s harrowing journey through divorce, revealing her creation of her Divorce Bucket List – and how it helped her emerge into a happier, healthier, and more emotionally fulfilling chapter of her life.

Perfect for anyone who feels lost, alone, or broken as they struggle through divorce, Divorce Bucket List will help you rediscover yourself and your values, overcome your fear of the future, and learn to love again. With a blend of real-life anecdotes, reflections, and exercises to encourage you to apply a Divorce Bucket List to your unique situation, Jennifer’s story will inspire you to move past your divorce and make the most of this exciting new time in your life.

Read an excerpt:

Looking back on everything, it's clear to me that the process of going through a divorce is a complete journey. It can be a journey that ruins you, or it can be a journey that leads you to a brighter and stronger place in your life. For me, it started as a journey that almost ruined me. There were so many points where I found myself spiraling out of control. At times throughout my experiences in the divorce process, I couldn’t even recognize myself.

It’s important to give yourself grace, knowing that there may be a point in your journey where you go through downtimes and possibly even feel like things are spiraling out of control. Set an expectation for yourself that you know the divorce journey will not be easy and that at some point, you may even feel as if you are at rock bottom. Then know that you can rebuild from there. Your rock bottom might look different than mine. Your rock bottom might be one day crying in the bathtub with a glass of wine, or it might look like losing everything you've had—friends, family, finances, belongings, maybe even children for a little bit and having to start from scratch. But I need you to know that no matter where your spiral or rock bottom takes you, you are going to come back from it.

The only way a caterpillar turns into a butterfly is by becoming this disgusting, gooey mess inside of a cocoon. If a caterpillar can be completely broken down (literally, tissue is dissolved) and lose its entire identity—the only identity it knew all of its life—then go on to become this majestic, beautiful, flying creature, why can't you do the same? What happens to the caterpillar isn't as crazy as it sounds. It's the same thing that figuratively happens to us in our lives. There are often periods in life when we break down completely from the identity that we knew for ourselves … divorce is no exception.

Available on Amazon

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Just $0.99 during the tour!

Jennifer Harris is an author, speaker, divorce coach, and the creator of the Divorce Bucket List. After experiencing her own traumatic marriage and divorce, she went on to become a highly trained and certified Confidence & Transformation Divorce Coach. With over ten years of coaching experience, she’s passionate about sharing her story of the grief and trauma she experienced and how she developed the Divorce Bucket List to help her move forward. Jennifer is dedicated to inspiring others to achieve their desired outcomes through divorce and rebuild their lives to emerge from their separations into happier, healthier chapters of their lives. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her two wonderful boys.

www.DivorceBucketList.com

For More Resources or To Work with Jenn: www.Divideguide.com

www.Facebook.com/DivideGuideJenn

Instagram: @DivideGuideJenn

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC5hAyDVsWpT91lMzDPq69w

https://www.tiktok.com/@divideguidejenn

Jennifer Harris will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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The Light Through the Pouring Rain by James Ruvalcaba

 

Cancer sucks, no matter how you cut it, and it can leave a path of destruction in its wake. The Light Through the Pouring Rain is one couple's story of this devastating diagnosis and their journey with love and faith. Take a peek inside with an excerpt and then read author James Ruvalcaba's thoughts on turning his story into a movie. Share your stories and ask questions in the comments section as you follow the tour. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

An emotional page turner that gives a first hand look into the lives of a young couple madly in love and eager to start their lives together, only to have it all halted by a cancer diagnosis. With no clear road map on how to navigate their new normal, James and Anabel proceed into uncharted territory, hand-in-hand, with the love of their families and their faith in God to guide them.

Read an excerpt:

At this time, I was working with special needs kids as an instructional aide. My work schedule was eight thirty a.m. to three p.m., typical school hours. Thanks to my mom, I was able to have some sort of income to take care of Anabel’s needs when she needed something. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Prior to leaving work, I gave her a speech: “Chemo ain’t got shit on you. It chose the wrong person to fuck with.” I felt like I was giving a speech in 300. She was amped, we kissed each other goodbye, and I was off to work. Later on at work, I got a text from my mom sending me a picture of Anabel during chemo, and she was all smiles with a thumbs-up. She looked way happier than anybody in that situation could possibly be, but she felt in her heart that chemo didn’t have shit on her. That was partially my fault for the speech I gave her in the morning, but it was funny to see somebody actually believe the words you say and run with it. I cracked a smile, thinking, This girl.

I arrived home at three thirty. “Bells!”

“Yes, Meez?”

“How did it go?”

“It was a breeze.”

My mom explained the doctor’s orders and the game plan. Eight weeks of chemo, five days a week, which would be re-evaluated as needed until her tumor was small enough to do radiation, then surgery to remove it. We were all excited. The plan has been laid out, and with a plan that has a time frame, you are able to envision the light at the end of the tunnel, because the next day brings you that much closer to back to your normal life. Anabel and I smiled at each other with our eyes tearing up. We must’ve both been imagining our lives going back to normal.

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If my book was a movie it would be a dream as well as a nightmare, let me explain.

I know every Author believes their books can be made into a movie and that is one of the ultimate goals we all have in mind. Even me as well. My reason for my book to be made into a movie is to spread awareness of cancer and give a truly in-depth look into the horrors of it. I believe everybody has an understanding of the basics of what goes into cancer diagnosis ( balding, weight loss, chemotherapy ) but how about the emotions? How about maintaining relationships with the ones you love and being able for both partners in the relationship to feel loved? There are just so many layers to the book and the story that it can have an impact on so many. I know it impacts many and I know it will.

On the other hand, there is a major negative to making my book into a movie and it’s not what you may think it is. My negative reason would be to have to relive the horrors of the moments that hurt me most. I will not be excited to have to relive most of the moments over again. Every time I would see particular scenes it would be like ripping a bandage off a freshly open wound. It would hurt, but I understood the bigger picture of my book and story. I would suck it up because I would know the greater good of my story and how it can impact others to appreciate what you have and to appreciate the ones you love.

When my book gets made into a movie, I will look back at this post because this is one of the first public platforms where I have stated that my book will be a movie one day and one day soon.

Hello, I'm James Ruvalcaba. I am the author of “The Light Through the Pouring Rain.”

I am a family man and hold them near and dear to me. I am a down-to-earth person that loves creating conversations.I believe the more we communicate the more we see the beauty of God's previous workings. In pursuit of my God-given mission, I began writing because of a promise I made to my Fiance on her last day. I wanted to honor my fiance's legacy and to be a testimony of God's goodness. I continue to tell stories and hope to achieve telling stories that uplift others, give some perspective on life, and to walk away with a sense of inspiration. If they can take lessons and perspectives given in my words to their own lives then I feel I accomplished what I set out to do.

Website: https://thelightthroughthepouringrain.com

Social media: @JamesMRuvalcaba

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20998695.James_Ruvalcaba

James Ruvalcaba will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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The Majewski Curse by Lisa Dianne McInnes

 

Grief is a very tough thing to bear, especially when it feels like you're getting hit over and over again. In The Majewski Curse, author Lisa Dianne McInnes dives into her own story, hoping to help others. Read an exclusive excerpt and then follow the tour for even more. Let her know your thoughts along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

In her debut novel, Lisa Dianne McInnes urges us to explore the meaning of loss, the evil side of human nature, and the infinite power of love and rising above it all.

Between the years 2012 and 2017, like a pile of dominos, Lisa Dianne McInnes watched her life collapse as one traumatic tragedy after another took away her loved ones, leaving her to learn just how quickly life can fall apart.

An extraordinary memoir full of depth, compassion, and unimaginable strength, The Majewski Curse is the harrowing true story of the separate yet intertwined tragedies of Brandon, Devon, and Derek Majewski's deaths and the multiple conspiracies surrounding their family's search for truth.

Read an exclusive excerpt:

We ran into the hospital, taken over by the rush of adrenaline, and frantically searched the waiting room. The woman behind the desk stood up, so I went over to her and explained what had happened.

She immediately asked for a name. “Brandon Majewski,” I said in a panic. Her eyes grew wider, and I instantly perceived a hint of sadness in them.

At that moment, Venetta ran through the sliding doors, sobbing and visibly shaken. “Where is he?” she exclaimed.

The nurse came forward, and we followed her down the corridor in a blind trance, desperately trying to process what had happened. When we reached the end of the hall, she ushered us into a small white room and told us she would take us to see Brandon shortly.

I looked over at Derek and noticed he had begun to cry uncontrollably. “I’ve been in one of these rooms before,” he finally said through sobs. “This is where they take you when someone has died.”

Just then, the nurse opened the door, and with a look of deep concern on her face, said, “I’m sorry,” then paused for a moment and continued, “whoever informed you that your son was on life support was mistaken. I don’t know how to say this, but the truth is, he broke his neck and didn’t make it to the hospital alive. I’m so sorry. He’s gone.”

Numbness spread over me, and I couldn’t process what was happening. My seventeen-year-old step-son was gone, and my husband and his ex-wife were in hysterics. Our collective sobs reverberated throughout the room as we unanimously groped for air. No words could express the sheer sadness we all felt at that moment.

Once we caught our breath, the nurse asked if we wanted to see Brandon but recommended against doing so. “He’s covered in bruises, and you will find him virtually unrecognizable,” she said, then explained it would be better to remember him as he was, and we all agreed.

After an indefinite amount of time, a police officer knocked on the door and came into the room. He introduced himself, then said, “I want to start by saying how very sorry I am for your loss.” He stood in silence for a moment. We thanked him for his condolences, then waited for him to proceed. He cleared his throat and began, “The woman who killed your son feels terrible about it.” We looked at him in shock. “She is beside herself and is practically inconsolable,” he added.

The room became deathly quiet. We could not believe what we were hearing. Had we misheard him? We looked around at each other, perplexed. Was he trying to elicit sympathy for our son’s killer? Wait, What?

It was one of those moments one can’t forget, a significant point that cannot be erased. Something didn’t feel right, and even though I didn’t understand it at the time, we later learned what the officer meant.

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AMAZON.COM * AMAZON.CA * BOOKSHOP *  INDIGO CHAPTERS * BARNES & NOBLE * BOOK DEPOSITORY 

Lisa Dianne McInnes has always been fascinated with spirituality and the human experience. She prides herself on always being committed to the truth, even when it hurts, and believes in being reliable, trustworthy, honest, and loyal to those she loves.

However, in 2012, when tragedy struck and shattered her family, Lisa's beliefs were tested and she was forced to undergo a profound inner transformation. In doing so, she had to acknowledge the trauma of her past but chose only to remember the love her family shared. Her solid understanding and belief in the theory of mindfulness and living in the moment helped her rise from the ashes and move on with her life. She believes the past can be like a black hole: if you stand too close it will pull you in.

Today, small things like sunsets, staring out at the water, and kisses for no reason are the reasons she smiles. She believes it is the simple memories that define us, and the ones we hold close to our hearts. For Lisa, writing allows her to share her struggles and experiences with others, and by doing so she learns and grows both mentally and spiritually through the process. Therefore, with her work, she hopes to inspire her readers to join her on the journey to find inner peace and greater fulfillment in their lives.

Lisa completed her debut novel, The Majewski Curse, and is currently preparing to start writing her second non-fiction work. She currently resides in Northern Ontario with her spouse and their puppy Cooper.

Lisa Dianne McInnes will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an exclusive excerpt from Paint Me Fearless by Hallie Lee

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for Paint Me Fearless by Hallie Lee! I have an exclusive excerpt for you to enjoy. And you can get more if you follow the tour via the link posted above. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Paint Me Fearless

(Shady Gully #1)

By Hallie Lee

Christian Contemporary Fiction

Paperback, ebook & audiobook, 322 Pages

January 6, 2021 by WordCrafts Press

Although their petite appearances are strikingly similar, ROBIN and DESIREE (DESI) have little in common. When Desi moves to the small town of Shady Gully, Louisiana, the unpopular Robin feels diminished by the new girl's notoriety.

But fate has other ideas, and as these two isolated girls are drawn together, a friendship born in high school evolves into a bond that promises to last a lifetime. Even as their paths diverge, and they clumsily marry and plow through raising families of their own, they remain true.

Even as they nurse their respective bruises, and carry their traumas from childhood into their own marriages, they always have each other's backs. Even when a sordid secret from their past emerges to threaten their families, together...they remain a force to be reckoned with.

Until years later, when they're enjoying the prime of their lives, a stunning rumor surfaces that threatens their lifelong connection. The allegation suggests that one has betrayed the other.

Truth? Lie? Does it matter? Sometimes just the hint of betrayal is enough to ruin a lifelong bond.

As their worlds collide, and old insecurities rise to the forefront, the layers of Desi and Robin's legendary friendship begin to unravel.

Just when it seems they've lost everything, the truth brings them full circle...and in their brokenness they come to realize that there is only one true way to fill the emptiness inside, to quiet the lies...and to ultimately become...fearless.

Praise for the Book

“Lee’s prose is fluid and full of personality.” –Kirkus Reviews

“A standout novel for contemporary women from all walks of life.” –Readers' Favorite

“Novelist explores themes of faith and lies; betrayal and redemption; and the unfathomable value of friendship when everything falls apart.” –Wordcrafts Press

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Read an exclusive excerpt:

(Robin)

When I heard the sporty guys tromping into class, I straightened my shirt over the roll around my belly. Converse shoes and flashes of blue and white everywhere, the junior high athletes liked to make an entrance. Lenny, the quarterback, headed straight for the window. Supposedly he had the talent to go varsity, whatever that meant.

He raised his arms, held up his imaginary gun, and shot a fluffy squirrel, who fluttered along the branch of an oak tree just outside the classroom window.

“Puuhhh. Puuhhh.” Gunshot sounds. Lenny nodded, pleased with his aim.

“Nailed him,” confirmed Ricky, his best friend.

The squirrel looked fine to me. In fact, he came closer to the window, twitched his tail, and chomped on an acorn while giving Lenny the eye.

“I’ma get me a few this weekend at my camp.” Mitch tugged at his blue-and-white letter jacket, winking at his friends. “Squirrels, I mean.”

I rolled my eyes. Mitch was some kind of back. Halfback, fullback, hunchback, I don’t know, but of all the sporty guys, I hated him the most. Number one, he wasn’t even cute or foxy. Number two, he always acted like he was in on some secret that you weren’t, as if you weren’t good enough to even imagine all the great things going on in his world. Like stupid hunting trips at some camp in the swamp. And number three, Mitch acted like this camp in the swamp was the playboy mansion, and he himself was the old perv guy kissing all the girls. 

Excerpted from Paint Me Fearless by Hallie Lee, Copyright © 2021 by Hallie Lee. Published by WordCrafts Press.

About the Author

Born and raised in Louisiana, most of Hallie Lee’s screenplays and novels are set in the south. Inspired by a landscape rich with cantankerous, salt of the earth folks, Hallie’s characters tend to be dramatic, but kind, and quirky, but smarter than they appear.

A move to the creative community of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2005 gave her the opportunity to take up screenwriting. As her screenplays were recognized with awards and placements in various contests, she had the opportunity to learn from award winning talents like Kirk Ellis (The John Adams miniseries) and Ronnie Clemmer (A League of Their Own).

But alas, her heart is southern, and when she and her family made another move to Kentucky, it renewed her passion for writing novels. And southern story telling.

Paint Me Fearless is the first in The Shady Gully Series, a series which promises thought provoking, relatable journeys whose cast of characters tend to be ornery, but loveable.

It’s women’s literature. It’s book club fiction. It's faith based. It’s Hallie Lee.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway


Two audiobooks of Paint Me Fearless by Hallie Lee (US)
Two audiobooks of Paint Me Fearless by Hallie Lee (UK)

Ends October 6, 2021

ENTER HERE

 

The Widow Rescue (Disaster City Search & Rescue) by Ginny Sterling

 

Breanna Martin felt like life was splintering apart before her very eyes. Arguing over an unexpected pregnancy, her husband never returned home again. Widowed, wounded, her heart aching and full of regret, she focuses nurturing the only thing left that seemed to matter anymore other than her growing baby. Karma has other plans for her, when an unexpected kindness comes in the form of a handsome fireman, Jake Childress.

Jake knew the torture of losing a loved one, saying goodbye to his own brother after a tragic accident, yet something in the frantic woman’s tears struck a chord in him. He’s drawn immeasurably to Breanna. Her sad, soulful eyes that seemed to look right through him, making him wonder at what it would be like to make her smile again.

When attraction kindles a flame neither expected, can a second chance at life be just what both of them needed?

Available on Amazon

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Find more of Ginny Sterling's books on Amazon here.

About the author:

Ginny Sterling is an avid romance writer. She lives to tell sweet, inspirational, tender tales that tug at the heart, leaving the reader smiling, laughing, or crying. She favors writing sweet historical and contemporary romance books - including The Lawkeepers Series, Disaster City Search & Rescue Series, Legendary Brides, and her own beloved series, Healing Hearts.

Growing up, Ginny traveled extensively, visiting family all over North America, seeing the sights and learning that everything in life worth having... revolves around love, faith, and home. When not at work, she spends all of her free time writing, quilting, or shopping for coffee mugs to add to her vast collection.

Each book written is sure to be an adventure, bringing laughter and love to your heart!

www.GinnySterling.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ginny.Sterlingbooks 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginny_sterling 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ginny-sterling