Wakela Runen's World

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Doubleday Books in exchange for an honest review.  I did not receive any form of compensation. If you are like me and love interesting little facts, then you have got to get this book.  The book itself is broken in chapters that are named after the months.  Each "month" has a few hours in it.  Each hour is a titillating tidbit of history.   One of my favorites is the story of how the famous composer Franz Haydn had actually been discovered.  Even though I have listened to his music often, this was a story that I had never heard before. There were quite a few other tidbits from history that I had never known sprinkled throughout this book. Another interesting nougat of history was that of Times Square.  We all take for granted all the huge billboard and bright lights that comprise modern day Times Square.  However, did you know that the first lighted ad in Times Square had 1, 475 bulbs and simply said "Manhattan Beach, Swept by

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci My rating: 5 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. There has always been a sense of nostalgia about trains. Thoughts of trains bring you back to days gone by, when times were simpler. Life may not have been easy back in the days when trains were the main form of mass transportation. But people had a sense of who they were, they knew what they wanted out of life, and most importantly, they took time out to savor what they did have. My own family’s history with trains is a long lived one. I have traced back a few generations on my mom’s side that were all railway men. I personally have not had the chance to ride the rails. However, after I read this story, wanderlust has set in. Unfortunately, I have no where to go, no money to travel, and no one to travel with. So I will have to content myself with traveling through my imagination. The Christmas

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. This book is a wonderful how-to on creating your own oils to use for magic.  Animals are more in tuned with the scents around them.  Even primitive man was more in tuned then we are.  Aromas can also trigger memories.  So it is a wonder that we don’t use aromatherapy more in our magical practices.  Most of us burn incense or buy already prepared oils.  This book shows how to blend your own oils for whichever purposes you want. First you need to decide on your magical intent.  Once you have that intent, you need to figure out which carrier oil and which essential oils to choose.  This book gives you guidelines on which ones will work best for your intent.  It also gives you what you need to know in order to be able to safely blend the oils, as some are more caustic then others. Throughout the book there is not just the how-tos for creating your own blen

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Hay House in exchange for an honest review.  I did not receive any form of compensation. Doreen Virtue has been writing books on various aspects of spirituality for many years.  Every book that I have picked up by her has been well written and full of great information. Assertiveness for Earth Angels helps those of us who are here on this Earth as a Lightworker.  Many times, Lightworkers are taken advantage of because we don't want to tell someone no.  We don't want to rock the boat.  We want to keep everyone around us happy and don't like confrontation. This book teaches us how to be assertive and to set boundaries for ourselves in a loving and giving way.  Many people get confused between aggression and assertiveness, but Doreen shows how there is a major difference between the two. She includes lots of questions to ask yourself as well as various hints, tips, and tricks to help yourself become more assertive in not only your L

  Description Discovering your natural abilities to communicate with the other side is as simple as taking a unique quiz to determine your medium type. Once you know how your subtle abilities work, you can develop your skills with the simple exercises and techniques presented in You Are a Medium. Everyone has the innate ability to communicate with those who have passed on. As you become more confident with your medium abilities, be prepared to make a breathtaking discovery: Not only do our deceased loved ones help us from the other side—we also help them! Sharing inspiring case studies from her work with clients and students, Sherrie Dillard shows that when we succeed in learning our soul lessons, we become beacons of light to those in the beyond. Review I have always known about the various ways in which spirit can communicate with us.  However, I never realized that some people are more prone to communication in one way over another.  I had always assumed that if you could easily

  Description Manifest the life you truly desire with The Energy of Words. Choose the most powerful words and let the secret energy of language attract joy and abundance into your life! Join internationally renowned numerologist Michelle Arbeau as she shows you how to determine your top ten power words; how to calculate the vibration of a word through the language of numbers; practical tips for positivity; the top one hundred positive and negative words; and stories of celebrities who have successfully worked with the power of words. Negative words are energetic junk food. We can't manifest our desires if we're using words of lack and doubt. Learn how to eliminate negative vocabulary and replace it with positive personalized language that will transform your life into one of fulfillment and gratitude. Review Before reading this book, I had already been aware of how what we say creates and shapes our realities.  I also knew the basics of numerology as it coincides with my bi

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. With NaNoWriMo almost upon us, I have been trying to get myself back into the mindset of a writer.  I have always dabbled, but I truly want to start putting pen to paper on a regular basis.  One of the things on my bucket list is to write a book.  I have started many times, but just never get around to finishing because something always comes up.  This cancer scare has made me sit up and realize that life is too short not to do some of the things that I have always wanted to do. One thing that I felt the author touched on that many other writing books don’t is the feeling of being exposed.  Even if you are writing fiction, you are exposing aspects of yourself that would otherwise be hidden.  And when you are submitting these to be published, not only are you exposing yourself, but you are now being asked to be judged.  These are some of the hardest thing

Hippolyta and the Curse of the Amazons by Jane Yolen My rating: 4 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. I have always been in love with the old mythologies. I can never understand why the older religions are called myths by mainstream society and the newer religions are called religions. They are all stories of gods and how to live your life. Well, that is just a personal beef with how society views things that it doesn't approve of or doesn't want to acknowledge. The story however is a retelling of an old myth but with a fictional twist. Historical fiction has become all the rage. One of the great things about historical fiction is that it helps create a thirst for historical knowledge. Anything that helps people to learn some of the historical occurrences is a great thing in my opinion. That being said, this is a great introduction into ancient mythology for middle grade r

French Roast by Ava Miles My rating: 5 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. Back in September, I had reviewed Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles . I instantly fell in love with the story. This book didn't disappoint in any way. During Nora Roberts Land, we met Jill and her friend Brian. They had a major falling out prior to the beginning of the book. It was never really explained. In French Roast, we get to see more about what went on with Jill and Brian. We learned why they fought and we get to see them make-up. I was so glad to see Jill's story. I really felt bad for her in the first book. It was great to see her to get her happily ever after. Now I can't wait to sink my teeth into the next book in the series. Any book bought through the Amazon link below will have a portion of the sale go towards the Unitarian Fellowship of South Florida . French Roast (Dare Valley) e

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Diamond Book Distributors in exchange for an honest review.  I did not receive any form of compensation. Growing up in the 70s, I was glued to the TV set when either the Bionic Man or the Bionic Woman came on.  I so wanted to be Jamie Sommers.  The artwork were superb.  The story was pretty decent.  There were a few moments that just felt really forced, but overall it was done rather well. The characters weren’t exactly like they were on the old school TV show.  Then again, this is written for the younger generation.  I just can’t help it that I still love to read comics.

A Dark Faerie Tale Series Omnibus Books 1-3 with Extras by Alexia Purdy My rating: 2 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. This book is actually an entire series rolled into one. There are 3 full length stories and 2 novella length. I had really high hopes for this book. I love fantasy lit, but this just didn't flow right for me. I felt like things were missing or that things were thrown in as an after thought. Sort of like an important conversation took place but instead of "seeing" the conversation through the readers eyes, you are just told that it happened. Sort of like an "oh by the way" moment. I would have rather have "witnessed" the conversation happening. There were too many of these types of events throughout for my taste. Plus it seemed that the story line just sort of hopped around. It became difficult to follow and I ended up having to

Disclaimer: I received this book free from University Press of Florida in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. You would think that since I was born and raised in Florida, that I would have learned much of what is presented in this book.  Unfortunately, my education seems to have been lacking.  There were many stories and events that I had never heard about prior to reading this book. This book started out when the University of Florida had asked 23 historians to collaborate on a project about the history of Florida.  The original book was published in 1996.  The book has since had information added to it.  Did you know that 2013 is the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon finding the Fountain of Youth in Florida?  I remember visiting there on a school field trip.  However, I hadn’t heard anything of this anniversary at all this year.  You would think that this would have been big news since it is the 500th anniversary.  Maybe it was only mention

The Godborn by Paul S. Kemp My rating: 4 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. This book is the second in the series. I enjoyed it alot. However, I just felt that R.A. Salvatore's treatment in the first book was so much better. That being said, I did like this story a lot though. However, there were times that I felt a little lost not having all the back story about some of these characters. It seems that during the time I had stopped reading the Forgotten Realms novels, Paul S. Kemp had written some that created characters and situations that were referred to in this book. Even though I did feel a little lost occasionally, the over all story line was still able to be followed and understood. It wasn't a complete epic romp through one of my favorite worlds, but it still ranked right up there. Any book bought through the Amazon link below will have a portion of the sale go t

The Companions by R.A. Salvatore My rating: 5 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. I hate to admit this, but I hadn't read any of the Forgotten Realms series in years. Actually more like decades... I have played some of the video games based in the Forgotten Realms such as Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights. I have even played Dungeon's & Dragon's campaigns set in the Forgotten Realms. So when I got the chance to review this book, it was like coming home to an old friend. Yes, I have missed them greatly. I just didn't realize how much until I caught up with them again. What a way to start off a new series in the Forgotten Realms world, but with R.A. Salvatore. This was a wonderfully written fantasy tale that is the start of a new series. Each book in the series will be written by a different author. I just hope that the other author's will be able to l

Homecoming by Cecilia Robert My rating: 5 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. WOW! This was the first book I had read by Cecilia Roberts and it definitely will not be the last. This quick little novella gives us a glimpse into a new series to come. And I can't wait for the first full length book. This book mixes weres and steampunk. I absolutely loved it! First off, Levian is so hot that I thought my Kindle was going to melt. Secondly, it is difficult to impart much in the way of characterization and world building in a novella, but Cecilia Robert certainly did just that. This book was just too short! I didn't want it to end it was that good. Any book bought through the Amazon link below will have a portion of the sale go towards the Unitarian Fellowship of South Florida . Homecoming: A Cloaked Devices Short Story (Cloaked Devices #0.5) eBook: Cecilia Robert, Tricia Kri

The Fear Institute by Jonathan L. Howard My rating: 4 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. This was the third book in the series. Unfortunately, I hadn't read any of the prior books. I kept seeing all these great reviews on them though. So I thought I would grab this one when it became available on NetGalley. The overall story was pretty good. Some of the characters felt a little confusing to me. Especially Johannes, the main character. He seemed to flip flop between the way he would act or react to certain situations. I don't know if this is the way his character is in the other books or if this was just an effect of him being in Dreamland. The pacing was a little slow for my tastes. I like books that grab you and keep you reeled in. I found myself getting slightly bored in parts because it just seemed to drone on. It was a decent read, just not my style of writing. Maybe

  Have Yourself a Curvy Little Christmas: A Perfect Fit Holiday Novella by Sugar Jamison My rating: 5 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. I had the pleasure of reviewing the first book in the series, Dangerous Curves Ahead, back in September. I am certainly glad that I didn't have to wait too long to get my hands on this novella. Just as I had thoroughly enjoyed Dangerous Curves Ahead, this book did not disappoint. Sugar Jamison has really mastered the craft of story telling. To be able to pack in such a story in only a few short pages (this book is novella length), is truly incredible. First, this book is about Dina and takes place about 2 years after Dangerous Curves Ahead. Dina had gotten pregnant and felt that she could no longer turn to her family since she had done nothing but behave like a spoiled brat in book one. However, being a mother has completely changed her. Sh

G.I. Joe: The Cobra Files, Volume 1 by Mike Costa My rating: 3 of 5 stars For as much as I loved the Transformers TP that I just read and reread, I wished I could have liked this one better. I just really couldn't feel the same old connection to the G.I. Joe comics that I grew up with. Yes I am a female and used to read G.I. Joe comics! Heck, I would read most comics that I got my hands on back then. After awhile though, there are certain things that you come to expect from the old standards. This one just really missed the mark for me. Any book bought through the Amazon link below will have a portion of the sale go towards the Unitarian Fellowship of South Florida . G.I. JOE: The Cobra Files Volume 1: Mike Costa, Antonio Fuso: 9781613777312: Books ISBN : 1613777310 ISBN-13 : 9781613777312 View all my reviews

The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap by Donna Kauffman My rating: 5 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. I love it when the holiday anthologies start to roll out. They are always such sweet, feel good stories. Several times, I have found authors that I had never heard of before. There was one major difference between this anthology and most that I have read. In the majority of them, there is a central "theme", but the stories are not interrelated. However, in this book, all three stories are interrelated and the prologue and epilogue tie them in together. So if you are one of those who skips the prologues and epilogues, make sure to read them in this book. I absolutely loved these stories. My favorite was definitely the Donna Kauffman story. Then again, she was already an author that I knew and loved. If you haven't read any of her Highlander series, then I suggest you ch

The Tao of Stress: How to Calm, Balance, and Simplify Your Life by Robert G. Santee My rating: 4 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. This book is meant to be done as you read it. Skipping around will not have the desired effects. Plus, you should also make sure to do all the exercises in the book. And take your time. This is a book about releasing stress. Rushing through it will only increase your stress levels. One of the things that the author says is important is to journal. Make sure you journal along the way to help get your thoughts in order. You will be surprised at the insights you will receive as you do this. Each section has both a physical and psychological aspect to it. It is important that you do them both. Only when creating a balance between the physical, spiritual, and mental aspects of yourself can you truly be at peace. The author goes into detail as to the types