PUBLISHED IN: 2010
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Honestly, the only thing I know about General Patton is what I saw in the movie “Patton” staring George C. Scott. After reading the introduction to this book, you learn that the way Patton was portrayed was not correct. Patton’s rival General Omar N. Bradley worked as the film’s chief consultant, so all of the facts were not correct.

George S. Patton Jr. was born on November 11, 1885 in Los Angeles, California. Most of his ancestors were military heroes. At an early age, George wanted to continue the tradition. He learned to ride a horse and shoot guns, but he didn’t learn how to read and write until he was twelve years old. This caused a bit of a challenge for him when he started school in 1897. Despite his educational setbacks, he entered VMI in 1903 and later he would attend West Point. Patton studied all of the great military books.

After graduation, Patton joined the Army. Through the years he quickly went up the ranks. First as a Tank Commander and later as a General during WWII.

I enjoyed reading the book. I never knew that Patton was obsessed with perfection. I also never knew that Patton studied and kept track of new technology being developed. Patton was a respected man, who loved his family, his fellow soldiers, his country and God. I recommend this book to historical and military buffs.

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for sending me a copy to review.

BY: Felicity Dale
PUBLISHED BY: Barna
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2279-7
Pages: 280
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

“An Army of Ordinary People” is an inspirational novel aimed at believers and nonbelievers. This is a collection of true stories about everyday people who practice “simple church” in their lives, homes, neighborhoods and workplaces.

A church is not to be referred to as a building, but is meant for you to share your faith with others. Simple men and women have started their own churches in their homes, coffee shops, colleges, hospitals, retirement homes and even prisons. Some have even started dozens of churches at one time.

I was hesitant about reading this book, afraid that it would preach too much. After reading the first story, that all changed. There was no preaching in it. The stories are heartwarming and inspirational. You don’t have to have a degree in theology or religion to start your own church. All you need is your faith in God.

Note: I would like to thank Tyndale House for sending me this complimentary copy to review.

Everyone has plans/goals for their life, but do they come true for you? Whether it’s a career, marriage, or starting a family, all of us have Plan A. What happens when your Plan A is failure. God is testing you with these catastrophes. This is where the “Plan B” comes into your life. Learn how to move past your feelings of being letdown, and learn how to control your fear. Picture God in your circumstances, and learn to start over again.

I don’t read very many books in this category, but I found myself being connected to this book. I’ve had many disappointments in my life, and had to make a “Plan B.” This book is inspirational, and I recommend it to everyone.

Note: I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for sending me this complimentary copy to review.

What Sex is a Republican?
BY: Terri McCormick, M.A.
PUBLISHED BY: The Capitol Press
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-09815728-0-2
Pages: 320
Ages: Adults
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

“What Sex Is a Republican?” is a autobiography of the former Wisconsin State Representative, Terri McCormick. Her childhood and family life is briefly covered in a few chapters. Terri didn’t become a political player until after she became involved in reforming her children’s school. She went up against the teacher union, leading the way for the state to form more chapter schools.

The author covers her campaign to become the State Representative of Wisconsin, which she held from 2000 to 2006. During this time, she talks about the mistreatment she encountered from other politicians and media outlets. It was not because of her sex, but because of her political beliefs.

Terri became what I would refer to as a “rare politician” - an official who is working for the people and not their political party. She discusses about the radical partisanship that is in both parties, and the “front row politician” - the party leaderships that pull the strings on the bills and amendments being passed.

The book is not a straight autobiography. At times, I felt like I was reading a text book about the corruptions and backstabbing in our government.

Terri McCormick does a good job on writing about how our government has changed. Our country’s founders wanted a nation that was run by the people. It seems the politicians have forgotten about our Constitution, and instead they only think about their parties and their own agenda. The book covers the ups and downs of campaigning, which would be a good guide to read if you are thinking about running for an office seat. I recommend “What Sex is a Republican?” to any political junkie, or just someone who wants to learn how to make some changes in our troubled government.

Note: I would like to thank The Cadence Group for sending me this complimentary copy to review.

Glenn Beck’s Common Sense: The Case Against An Out-of-Control Government
BY: Glenn Beck with Joseph Kerry
PUBLISHED BY: Threshold Editions
PUBLISHED IN: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4391-6857-8
Pages: 174
Ages: Adults
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

I know there are a lot of people who like to bash Glenn Beck. If you watched his program before he was on Fox News, you’ll know that Glenn is against the way both parties are running this great nation of ours. I recommend some of his critics to actually watch all of his shows, and not just five seconds of it. There was hardly any media-fringe-bashing when he was on CNN. Sorry for rambling - back to the review.

PUBLISHED BY: Nightengale Press
PUBLISHED IN: 2007
ISBN: 978-1-933449-43-2
Pages: 291
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Have you ever wanted to be a published writer? “Calling All Authors – How to Publish with Your Eyes Wide Open” tells what traps and mistakes to avoid during publishing. Should you use a traditional publishing company or should you publish the book yourself? Will you need a publicist? An editor? Or a proofreader? These are just some of the questions that author Valerie Connelly, founder of Nightengale Press, answers in this book.

There are many myths and tales about the publishing world. “Calling all Authors,” explains these myths and brings them into reality for writers. A lot of new writers think their books will be an instant bestseller. You’ll learn that books don’t become bestsellers overnight.

As a writer myself, I enjoyed reading “Calling All Authors.” I learned that even in traditional publishing you’ll have to do some marketing of your own. You can’t just sit back and expect the book to just sell itself. Learn how to promote your book by using the internet. Learn how to benefit from good and bad book reviews.

I recommend “Calling All Authors” to all upcoming writers of any genre. This book will help you with those difficult decisions you will come across while publishing your novel.

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers

BY: Irene Watson, Tyler R. Tichelaar & Victor R. Volkman

PUBLISHED BY: Modern History Press

PUBLISHED IN: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-932690-98-9

Pages: 220

Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers is a wonderful handbook for any writer. It is a compilation of podcasts from the internet radio show called Authors Access.

The authors share great tips about the craft and myths of writing. You learn about writing about romance, mystery and other genres. Being a writer myself, I found the book interesting. I enjoyed the chapters on children’s books and the article “Exploring Ghostwriting, co-Authoring, and Collaborating” by Ami Hendrickson. This is the first time I have read anything on ghostwriting. It was a joy to read.

There is a lot of information on promoting your book by the use of the internet. In “Book Marketing on MySpace,” you learn how to set up a successful myspace profile, and learn how an author can use it to promote their work effectively.

Every author needs to know how to use Amazon.com to sale their books. In “Amazon Adventures: Staring Down Earth’s Largest Bookstore,” you learn how to use advantage and associate programs.

There are four wonderful articles about book reviews and how to use them to your advantage. My favorite was, “Negative Book Reviews: How to Avoid Them, and How to Use Them to Your Advantage.”

One of the downfalls of the book is that it concentrates too much on self-publishing. I would’ve liked to have read more article on traditional publishing in magazines and big publishing houses. Overall I found Authors Access to be a great reference tool that every author should have on their desk.