Ripley's Believe It or Not! Reality Shock!
by Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Publisher: Ripley Publishing
Pub. Date: September 9, 2014
ISBN: 978-1609911096
Pages: 256
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Ripley's Believe It or Not! was founded by Robert Ripley as a cartoon in 1919 in the New York Globe. When Globe folded, Robert moved it to the New York Evening Post in 1923 and later moved it to the New York American in 1930 before heading into syndication. The cartoons all featured unusual and bizarre facts from all over the world. Several short films were released in the 1930s and there have been several television shows over the years as well.

2005 marked the release of the first Ripley's Believe It or Not! Annual featuring hundreds of unusual stories and articles with glossy photographs throughout each edition. The 2015 installment titled Reality Shock! was released back in September and includes the newest collection of unbelievable stories, crazy photographs and wacky facts.

Lazarus is an unusual looking feline with a lovable disposition. Born with a cleft palate that makes him look like almost vampiric, this cat is so warm and cuddly that his owner is using him as a therapy cat.

Agents of the Apocalypse
by Dr. David Jeremiah
Publisher: Tyndale
Pub. Date: October 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-1414380490
Pages: 304
Buy Links: Amazon

Review:

For the last twenty-years, there has been a slew of  "apocalypse" or "end of times" fiction & non-fiction books being published. I have read a few of these books, including the Left Behind series. You don't have to be a believer to become interested in the book of Revelation, as I know a few non-believers that have read a few books on the "end of times."

Released last week to bookstores is Agents of the Apocalypse by Dr. David Jeremiah. It isn't his first book based on Revelation, but it is his first "end times" book that uses fictionalized stories "to drive the message of Revelation into the human heart." The author received assistance from Thomas Williams with the ten fictional stories - The Exile, The Martyrs, The 144,000, The Two Witnesses, The Dragon, The Beast from the Sea, The Beast from the Earth, The Victor, The King and The Judge. Each chapter is divided into two sections - the fictional story followed by "The Scripture Behind The Story."

With the use of fictional stories, the author is able to explain the main events that occurred in the Bible to believers and non-believers alike. This is also a great way to explain the meaning behind scriptures and tell the stories that contains the biblical prophecy.

Before Amen: The Power Of A Simple Prayer
by Max Lucado
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
ISBN: 978-0849948480
Pages: 192
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/BbwcL
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/mlucado

Review:

Arriving next week in bookstores is Before Amen: The Power Of A Simple Prayer by the best-selling author Max Lucado. Though I'm well aware of the author's non-fiction works, this is the first time that I have read one of his books. I have nothing against reading self-help-type books, but the ones with a Christian theme can sometimes feel too preachy and a little force. So I was a little skeptical about reviewing a book about praying. I signed up to review the title based on the author's name alone.

This is definitely the hardest review I have ever written on this blog, as it is difficult for me to sum up the book in words. Max Lucado tackles the struggles people go through when praying. Yes, praying should be easy to do, but with all the stresses in life (paying bills, looking for a better job, raising kids, keeping a marriage working, etc.), you might not have time to pray or at least you probably won't have time to give a thoughtful prayer.

In the times of struggles many people turn to the Lord to help them get out of a bad situation, but praying isn't that easy, as most people forget to invite the Lord into their lives. Once the Lord is there, he brings many gifts, including patience and joy. You don't need to give a lecture to the Lord on your problems, as a simple prayer can work wonders.

Here is a "quotable, repeatable, portable prayer" that Max Lucado mentions in the book:

An Average Joe's Pursuit For Financial Freedom
by Michael Warren Munsey
Publisher: Xlibris US
Pub. Date: April 15, 2014
ISBN: 978-1493177691
ASIN: B00JRW4CTM
Pages: 85
Buy Links: Paperback, Kindle, ExLibris

Info from back of book cover: 

An Average Joe’s Pursuit for Financial Freedom offers a different perspective on money than what is traditionally taught by our parents and in our school systems. The reason there is such a discrepancy between the wealthy and the poor is due to the difference in the way money is perceived. We are not born with the ability to maintain wealth: it is something that is learned. The knowledge of knowing how to make money work to generate passive income is something that anyone can learn as long as they are disciplined. An Average Joe’s Pursuit for Financial Freedom is based on practical concepts and discusses the problems that the majority of us face with our personal finance. The concepts in this book are based on theory by an author that practices what he writes about.

Review:

I don't ever read financial themed books, but considering our economy is still rocky, I thought it wouldn't hurt to read this book.The author uses his own personal experiences to give financial advice instead of depending on simple statistics.

Yes, your first solution to making more money is to get a higher paying job, which might not be an easy thing to do if you don't have a college eduction, but then again a college eduction doesn't guarantee financial freedom. If you don't have a full scholarship, then you're going to have to get financial aid, meaning you'll be making payments for at least ten years. Plus, just because you have a college degree doesn't mean you'll find a high paying job.

How to Make Women Friends and Influence Them
by Dr. Saul Porat
Publisher: ?
Pub. Date: 2014
ASIN: B00KS56OLQ
Pages: 120
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

The  Hollywood industry has basically ruined the idea of what dating actually is about. Fifty year ago, movies and television shows showed a man bringing a woman flowers and candy on a first date, and possibly, there would be a kiss goodnight at the end. Times have changed and now a man is suppose to look like a soap opera actor with a chiseled body, be extremely wealthy, own an expensive car and own a fabulous home, but in reality only fifty-percent of us own a vehicle, even a less percentage own their own house, even if you have been to college most likely you are not making much more than minimum wage (if you are even employed) and we don't have enough time in the day to get a chiseled body. So your chances of finding a beautiful woman to date are slim to none.

When I noticed the eBook "How To Make Women Friends and Influence Them" by Dr. Saul Porat was available to review, of course I eagerly signed up to review it. My original thought was that this was going to be a self-help eBook that would help shy males with the ability to understand women and how to talk to them, but I couldn't be more wrong.

10% Happier
by Dan Harris
Publisher: It Books
Pub. Date: March 11, 2014
ISBN: 978-0062265425
Pages: 256
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/vOtHE
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/dharris

Review:

As many of my readers already know, I don't read very much non-fiction; mostly due to the fact that most true-to-life stories are depressing and I would rather read a fictional tale with a happy ending. However, I do occasionally read a self-help or spiritual book, which is one of the reasons why I signed up to review 10% Happier by Dan Harris, plus, the author is news anchor, which even further my interest in reading this.

Instead of giving a quick summary of the plot, like I do with my other reviews, I am going straight to my thoughts on the book. By the title and the cover jacket, you would think this would be a self-help novel, but it was far from it. Instead it is a semi-memoir, focusing on the author's entry into the ABC news world, which lead him to drugs and other addictions to help him keep his mind clear due to his heavy work load.

Dan Harris' life changed when he had an on-the-air meltdown on ABC's Good Morning America in 2004, eventually the incident lead him to seek out other healthier ways to reduce stress in his life; mostly medication.

Self Confidence: How To Overcome Shyness, Worry and Boost Your Self-Esteem
By: Anastasia Verg
Publisher: Social Press Publishing
Pub. Date: January 24, 2014
ASIN: B00I1KW8LA
Pages: 38
Buy Link: Kindle

Review:

Many people, young and old, suffer from shyness and low self-esteem, including myself. There are many self-help books out on the market, but I have only read a couple of them. Recently, I got a chance to review Self Confidence: How To Overcome Shyness, Worry and Boost Your Self-Esteem when it was free on Amazon Kindle for a few days and I was more than eager to read it.

The short self-help book is written by Anastasia Verg, who happens to be a graduate of Technological Educational Institute of Patras, Department of Social Work and a qualified social worker and welfare officer. Over the years, she has worked with different social groups, from the elderly to school kids with mental disabilities. The author's purpose for writing the book is to help others in social situations.

Shaking Behind The Microphone
Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking
By Jill Ammon Vanderwood
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pub. Date: November 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-1490941219
Pages: 156

Review:

I don't read very many non-fiction titles, mostly because I'm too busy reading the fiction books stacked up on my desk, but when I saw Shaking Behind The Microphone: Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking was available to review, I became interesting in reading it.

As many of readers know, I do suffer from anxiety, which isn't quite as bad now, but it was pretty bad during my childhood. Of course with anxiety, there was noway I could speak in public settings. It was bad enough when I had to give an oral book report during class, but speaking in front of strangers wasn't ever going to happen. I did my best to avoid crowded situations, but there were a few times during a class event in high school where I had to speak in public and lets just say it didn't turn out very well.

The author, Jill Ammon Vanderwood, had the fear of speaking in public too, but she found ways to overcome this. She wrote the book to help everyone with the same problem be able to speak in public.

Description from Amazon.com:

Dare to Look! is the 10th book – and best yet – in the phenomenal bestselling Ripley's Believe It or Not! annual series. It offers up the world of weird in an all-new collection of unbelievable stories from across the globe. The new Ripley's Believe It or Not! app allows hidden content in the book to come alive.

Jam-packed with a mind-boggling selection of incredible facts, crazy stories, jaw-dropping pictures, lists and interviews, this fantastic book also comes with bonus hidden content that's accessible using our Ripley's Believe It or Not! app. Step right into the world of Ripley's and see it come alive by scanning the special oddSCAN™ logos with a smartphone to reveal exclusive videos, images and more. Organized into thematic chapters, the crazy stories are illustrated with a wealth of amazing images throughout.

Published annually, with brand new extraordinary material every year, this interactive series presents the best of Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Billy's Review:

Jesse James: The Life, Times, and Treacherous Death of the Most Infamous Outlaw of All Time
By: Frank Triplett
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Pub. Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1620873656
Pages: 432

Review:

Jesse James along with his brother Frank, the Younger Brothers and other bandits were the most famous outlaws post-Civil War, robbing banks and trains throughout Missouri and neighboring states. Jesse James was assassinated by a fellow gang member Robert Ford on April 3, 1882. A mining engineer and author, Frank Triplett, finished the first Jesse James biography seven weeks after Jesse James’s death.

This book had the longest title in American literature history - The Life, Times and Treacherous Death of Jesse James. The Only Correct and Authorized-Edition. Giving Full Particulars of Each and Every Dark and Desperate Deed in the Career of This Most Noted Outlaw of Any Time or Nation. The Facts and Incidents contained in this Volume, were dictated to Frank Triplett, by Mrs. Jesse James, Wife of Bandit, and Mrs. Zerelda Samuel, His Mother.

Frank Triplett wasn't exactly a fan of the Missouri governor Thomas T. Crittenden, as the governor had a hand in Jesse's death by putting out a $10,000 bounty on his head and conspiring with Robert Ford. 4,500 copies of the book were sold in 1882, but the governor had his agents collect the books and burn them. To this day only nine books survived.

Ender's Game and Philosophy: A Genocide Is Child's Play
Popular Culture and Philosophy (Book 80)
Edited By: D.E. Wittkower & Lucinda Rush
Publisher: Open Court
Pub. Date: September 13, 2013
ISBN: 978-0812698343
Pages: 288

Review:

Ender's Game has been enchanting science fiction fans ever since it was first released in 1985, followed by several sequels, novellas and short stories. With this recent release of the big-budget feature film of Ender's Game starring Harrison Ford, there have been a few tie-ins books being released including Ender's Game and Philosophy: A Genocide Is Child's Play.

I'm not the biggest science fiction reader, but I do recall reading the original Ender's Game back in the late '90s. Despite some controversy over the author's beliefs, Ender's Game has been considered one of the greats works in science fiction ever published and is loved many fans worldwide.

Ender's Game and Philosophy: A Genocide Is Child's Play features twenty-five essays written by actual professors and PhD's, which each essay goes into the about the philosophy factors of warfare. If you have read the book or seen the movie, then you would know that Andrew "Enders" Wiggins isn't your typically solider with a gun on a battlefield, but instead he is a kid playing a video game in his mind, well the last battle isn't a video game, it's an actual battle.

Writing Scary Scenes
By Rayne Hall
Publisher: Scimitar Press
Pub. Date: July 6, 2012
ASIN: B008IEJTSE
Pages: 143

Review:

If you grew up reading Goosebumps books, Fear Street novels and anything by Stephen King, then sooner or later you've probably have attempted to write your own spooky story, maybe it was a haunted house story (I have written plenty of them.). Horror writing may not be as easy as it looks, but you are in luck, as author Rayne Hall has written a book just for this situation, titled Writing Scary Scenes.

Throughout the twenty-six chapters, Rayne Hall will help you write the perfect scary scene that will grab a hold of your readers and won't let them go until their hearts are racing and they're afraid to turn to the next page. Learn how to instantly hook a reader with just a simple line of anxiety and fear. Don't try to use too much gore, though it does work for some tales, but try to show your readers what your character is feeling and describe the atmosphere around him or her.

Remember never to throw a character into an unnecessary scene, but give a clever reason or motivation for what is going on. Have your character isolated from the outside world; turn off the lights, cut the land line and either have the cell phone lose signal or the battery goes dead.

Writing Fight Scenes
By Rayne Hall
Publisher: Scimitar Press
Pub. Date: September 11, 2011
ASIN: B005MJFVS0
Pages: 173

Review:

Every aspiring or amateur writer have probably wondered how to write a perfect fight scene like in your favorite adventure novel or in the latest James Bond film, but not unless you are born with natural talents of writing fight scenes, you may need some help. Author Rayne Hall has written an entire book on Writing Fight Scenes.

Did you know there are two basic fight scenes? Gritty (example: Horror) and entertaining (example: Harlequin romance).

The author gives wonderful advice and tips on what to use and what to avoid when writing the best fighting scene, which the scenes can be written in a few sentences or a full chapter. There are several chapters on different weapons and the correct way to have your characters use them, such as swords, knives, daggers, staffs, spears, polearms, clubs, maces, axes, slings, arrows, firearms, and magical weapons.

Of course readers love characters (male or female) that can defend themselves without the use of a weapon. There are a few chapters on unarmed combat and self-defense. You'll also learn the difference between the way men and women fight and their psychological barriers.

Freelance Writing Guide
By Christine Rice
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Pub. Date: August 14, 2012
ASIN: B008XYG27K
Pages: 107

Review:

So you love reading and writing, therefore you have probably thought about stepping into the world of freelance writing, but you probably don't know where to begin. Well, you're in luck, as fellow freelance writer Christine Rice has written the Freelance Writing Guide: What to Expect in Your First Year as A Freelance Writer.

The author gives an honest look into the world of freelance writing, sharing the up and downs of being a writer. There are many great opportunities for a writer online, like Helium, Yahoo, Textbroker, and Suite 101, though the pay is low it is a good way to increase your writing credits.

Your first year of writing shouldn't be wasted; spend your time wisely by taking a free college course (a few websites are listed in the book) or invest in your future by enrolling in a few non-free credited college courses. The completed courses can also be added to your resume.

Other great tips you’ll learn in the book is to start your own blog, create a writer’s website, writing for magazines and ghostwriting. Plus, you'll learn the importance of good marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Extreme Pumpkin Carving: 2nd Edition Revised & Expanded Review
By: Vic Hood & Jack A. Williams
Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
Pub. Date: September 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1565238060
Pages: 104










Review:

by Gary Falin

Halloween is nearly upon us, meaning its time to buy costumes, bags of candy, and pumpkins to carve for All Hallows' Eve. The origin of jack-o-lanterns is unknown, but the earliest known use of pumpkin carving occurred in the East Anglia during the 1660s; though others claim it originated from Ireland. According to a myth, lighting a jack-o-lantern will keep the undead away from your home. The first record of pumpkin carving in United States was recorded in 1866 and it is now a tradition around Halloween for both kids and adults, who like to make jack-o-lanterns by using printed stencils and place a lit candle inside the pumpkin, thus singling the trick-or treaters that this house is giving away candy.

by John Roth

For others, pumpkin carving is a craft or art. There are even pumpkin carving competitions, like the annual Food Network's Halloween War, but typically these carvings are on the extreme side. Fox Chapel Publishing recently published Extreme Pumpkin Carving (Second Edition: Revised & Expanded) by Vic Hood & Jack A. Williams featuring twenty amazing designs from frightful to fabulous.

Instead of cutting out your pumpkin, you'll learn how to carve a pumpkin like a piece of wood using simple tools, such as a permanent marker, a permanent-heavy-line-felt-tip-marker, a single blade knife or pocket knife, a butcher knife, an old toothbrush, a finish nail and/or pounce wheel, and masking tape. If you have any wood carving tools, you can use those too.

Sleep Fat Wake Up Thin: How to Lose Weight F.A.S.T Without Struggle
By Kenn Kihiu
Publisher: Group Fitness USA Media

ASIN: B00AXDU9BO
Buy Link: Kindle

Review: 

Over the years I have read several diet and fitness books. The majorities of them are supporting some type of diet pills, shakes, or exercise equipment. Sleep Fat Wake Up Thin: How To Lose Weight F.A.S.T. Without Struggle is written by Kenn Kihiu, the creator of The DanceX Workout & 8020 Body. I eagerly signed up to review Sleep Fat Wake Thin, courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.

What does F.A.S.T stand for?

It means: F is for fasting, Short and Flexible. A is for Alkalinity and Water. S is for Sugar and Insulin. T is for Taming Appetite, Behavior, and Cravings.

Internet Dating 101: It's Complicated... But It Doesn't Have To Be!
By Laura Schreffler
Publisher: New Chapter Press
Pub. Date: December 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1937559007
ASIN: B00A6J9JIE
Pages: 376
Buy Link: Amazon.com

Review: 

If you are single, then (whether you want to admit it or not) you've probably have looked into online dating. Being single myself, I have read a few online relationship books and I've found myself browsing through a few dating sites. New Chapter Press has recently released a new guide book for those lonely hearts that have tired or have thought about online dating. The book is titled Internet Dating 101 and is written by Laura Schreffler, the creator of LoveTrekker.com.

Like similar books on online dating, the author lists the best to the worst dating sites, some are free and others have monthly fees. What I like about this book is that there are real stories from men and women who have tried these sites. Some are comical, a few are sweet, and others are a little creepy. There is a full section on Facebook, which is the first I have seen in an online dating book, about the dos and don'ts of what to post on your page, and how to successfully meet your soul mate. There is also a section that covers Twitter, Foursquare, Myspace, and CupidRadar. Of course a person is not going to always meet nice people on social networks and dating sites as there are people that will want to use you. The author gives great advice, or more like warnings, about how to spot a player, cheater, criminal, etc.

OMG I Lost My Job! What Do I Do Now?
By Carolyn Woods
Publisher: CreateSpace
B00ALKFYYG
Pub. Date: December 11, 2012
ISBN: 978-1481207768
ASIN: B00ALKFYYG
Pages: 66
Buy Link: Kindle, Paperback

Review:

Let's face the facts, the world's economy is failing resulting in hundreds if not thousands of job losses everyday and it's not going to improve anytime in the near future. Carolyn Woods has a written an informative handbook for anyone that is unemployed or is afraid of losing their job.

Finding a job is tough, so if you lose your job you should go ahead and start planning your next move. OMG I Lost My Job! What Do I Do Now? can give you a guideline to use as you try to figure out what to do next. One of the first steps is to look into your funds, cut back on a few unwanted items and look into how many days or months you can live off your savings. Finding a temporary paying job as fast as you can is a must while you get your resume ready to send out. If you can't find a job right away, volunteering is great way to spend your time and taking a few college classes would look good to possible employers.