Don’t Let Your Mechanic Pick Your Pocket

Author: George A. Moyer
ISBN: 978-1456319557
http://www.mechanicscam.com/
Purchase Link: Don't let your mechanic pick your pocket!
Source: From author for review

Don’t Let Your Mechanic Pick Your Pocket can be described as “A simple guide that can save you money and keep the dishonest mechanic in line. It works for any car, truck or SUV, anywhere you live.” The guide is written by George Moyer, a mechanic of 40 years, who believes a good mechanic or automotive technician should be constantly improving through seminars and continuing education. Since cars are changing constantly and becoming more technological the mechanic needs to adapt as well. This guide is not and does not claim to be a do-it-yourself handbook. It is simply written to give the average person general knowledge about their car so they can make an informed decision when it comes to repairs.

The guide discusses basic information about brakes, computers, engines, glass, lights, suspension, transmission, wheels and tires. It gives simple dos and don’ts for car repair issues. For example, DO ask around, DON’T go alone if you’re a woman, DO ask for an estimate, DON’T tell them specifically what you think is wrong, instead explain what is taking place, sounds that you hear, etc. The guide moves on to explain symptoms of common problems. The entire book is written in a language that even a child could understand. This enables everyone to understand the author in simple terms without complexity. I personally have little knowledge or interest in cars and I was able to understand this book easily. The guide gives maintenance tips and advice that every owner should know as well as “How to guides” on changing a flat tire and replacing a rearview mirror.

A glossary in the back list terms you can expect to hear when it comes to car repairs and what they mean. Terms such as brake job, engine lock, vacuum leak, idiot lights, and tune-up are explained. In addition the author includes ten “top 10” list, pictures and diagrams as well as definitions of parts. This is a great, must have guide for every car owner. It’s perfect to leave in the glove box. I learned quite a bit from this simple guide.  Don’t be unaware! Be prepared!

God’s Guest List

Debbie Macomber
ISBN: 978-1-4391-0896-3
Publisher: Howard Books
Source: BookPleasures

Have you ever made a list of people you’d love to meet? People that have inspired you, you’ve looked up to or you’re a huge fan of. Debbie Macomber did precisely that and as she was given the opportunity to meet the people on her list, she realized she had it all wrong. Time after time the people on her list disappointed her, affecting her in a negative aspect. It was then that she realized God has a completely different “guest list” for our lives. He sends people into our lives, sometimes for a season, sometimes to remain and leaves us to decide which people have impacted us greatly, left an impression, changed us for the better or simply encouraged us when we need it most. A list that started as 30 people was erased and left blank, to be filled in as she goes. The list is intimate, to be filled as Debbie sees fit but within the pages of this book Debbie tells her story, shares lessons learned and explains some of the people she chose for her guest list.

“God’s Guest List” is an inspirational non-fiction title from the popular romance author Debbie Macomber. Inside this book Debbie pens a story as natural as her fiction with a special dose of intimacy and love. I truly felt I was given a chance to know Debbie on a more personal level by reading this book. It is her personal thoughts, feelings and revelations about the people God sent into her life that made a positive impact on her. Throughout the book the reader is given tidbits of wisdom and many thought provoking examples of how our lives affect others through our actions. Even our deepest thoughts influence our arrival and outcome. The book is a tribute to all those whom Debbie has welcomed into her life and appreciated the influence they have had on her.

This simple inspirational book has an open candidness full of simple truths and provides challenges to the reader. I was given something unique to think about with every story I read. I started reflecting on my life and adding to my own guest list. It’s amazing how simple it is to make a list of names that will impact you forever. I found that as I added each name to my list, I instantly knew why they were there. None of the names had the thought “Oh, yah. I remember her”. Each name holds the key to a distinct moment in my life that has been etched in my memory. It is a bittersweet process as some of the names on the list are no longer with me or have been removed from their period in my life.

I enjoyed this book for what it is. Mostly, I learned from it and reflected on my own life. I appreciated the tidbits of wisdom, simple lessons and life changing examples Debbie included. “God’s Guest List” is a wonderful inspirational read.

3/5

Life in the Slow Lane

Author: Thomas M Sullivan
ISBN: 978-1-60174-085-4
Publisher: Unical Press
Source: From author for review

“Life in the Slow Lane” is the humorous account of Thomas Sullivan’s short career in Drivers education. Thomas, who has worked in various industries due to obtaining a Bachelors' in History with a minor in Business, a Masters in Agricultural Economics and Associates in cartography, landed a part time job as a driver’s Ed instructor through an announcement of job openings on craigslist. To sum it up in his words, the book is “My wisdom gleaned from my time behind the wheel. So, buckle up, check the warranty date on the airbag, and enjoy the ride.”

This memoir of sorts was an engaging and humorous account of the perils and headaches of a driver’s Ed instructor. Mixed within the stories are the heartwarming accounts of students who make their instructors proud along with the fearful stories of students that will probably never learn to drive safely, but somehow have a license. Sullivan has a light hearted and comical approach to his writing though the stories, thoughts and feelings shared are not always light hearted in nature. The book has some deeper issues if you care to partake in the thoughts and analysis of them, but I preferred to sit back, laugh and enjoy the ride!

The book takes the reader through the hiring and interview process, training, corporate policies and greed and into the driver’s seat. All aspects are covered including unruly parents, no show appointments, car failure, over worked instructors, an out of touch boss and driving mishaps. Overall it has many laugh out loud moments that keep you firmly rooted in your current job, with one eye looking out for perilous road warriors. It is sure to bring some smiles amidst the stories, as well as frustration with workplace policies, procedures and lack of care.

I found the book to be satisfying for what it is. Mr. Sullivan writes with ease, brings laughter and has some interesting stories to tell. It’s a good one time read. The book is available on Amazon in electronic format and is inexpensive to purchase. If you like this book you can check out his other titles at http://www.thomassullivanhumor.com/.

The Knight Family Legacy

Marilyn R. Hill-Sutton
978-1-432-7-4305-5
Outskirts Press Inc

Every once in awhile a human will do something so shocking and so unexpected that it takes their world by surprise, in 1886 one extraordinary event took place when John Knight Jr. Summoned five witnesses to his deathbed and left his estate to his former slaves. The plot thickens because the former slaves are his wife and children, a taboo union at this time. As a white plantation owner, attorney and decorated Confederate Civil War veteran, Knight did the unthinkable for his time period. The after math that follows is one of epic legal battles, courage, love and hope for the future as Knight’s former slaves enter their plantation, their home and their future. The past unfolds in an era of gray areas, when black and white are not easily defined. It is the amazing story of one man’s effect on generations to come.

The Knight Family Legacy is a story deep in heritage and history. The author has written a fascinating history of her husband’s bloodline. It is written from a genealogical stand point and is very insightful to the topics of the time period. The era of slavery is documented with keen insight into a family’s history, stories, love and loss. This book is 576 pages of text and graphs that fully discloses the history, the court documents, public records, ancestral information and the events that changed the Knight family and their slaves. The text can be confusing at times due to the magnitude and all the legal processes and deep history.

This story was fascinating and well documented. Major John Knight Jr. fell in love with Violet Knight, his mulatto slave, a love that was forbidden and intern so was the union. His death bed decision was to leave his estate to Violet and their children. The wish was one that his son Jacob had to fight in order to honor. The fight between the family’s heirs, lawyers and other interested parties is recorded in countless documents, court records, hearing records and more for the reader to discover. The book has multiple photos, war documents, newspaper articles and maps to help aide the reader. There is so much information that it can be overwhelming yet fascinating to read.

This book would make a wonderful read for anyone interested in the civil war time period, genealogy, history, non-fiction, law or court cases and biographies. If you are not deeply interested in one of the above genres or hobbies I do not suggest you buy this book before previewing it at your local library or bookstore. It traces the night family from the early 1800’s until its last entry in 2003. The story is one of love, heartache, battle and compromise. It is simply astounding to try and put yourself in their shoes and understand the full effect of the decision made by one man, a man who sought to be honorable and a son who would stop at nothing to see his father’s wishes carried out.

I particularly enjoyed reading the court cases and hearing proceedings in this book. They are documented in conversation style making the reader feel they are a witness to the actual event. It fascinated me to read these. It was interesting to read the tables that included monetary values. One would think the items would cost more or be appraised for more without considering the change of inflation and other monetary advancements or declines since that time.

Reviewed for Bookpleasures

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song

Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Jo-Ann Geffen
Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC
978-1-935096-40-5


The Story behind the Song is a compilation of one hundred and one classic and popular well known songs. Spanning across decades of music, each chapter gives the artist or writers story along with the full lyrics. The book is packed full of interesting information and emotions attached to some of our favorite songs. If you have ever wondered how a song came to be, or if the lyrics mean anything personal to the artist, this installment of Chicken Soup for the Soul is for you.


The book is divided into chapters by each individual song. Each chapter has the artist picture, name and song title, followed by the written by and recorded by details. From here the narrative starts on how the song came to be or the story behind the development of the song. Immediately following the artists’ comments are the full lyrics to the song. There is no doubt that you will want to go find your old forgotten CDs or your new and favorite CDs to hear these songs. If you don’t have the songs on CD you will probably end up finding yourself on the internet like I did, searching for the song so that you can listen to it and be reminded of its’ tune and passion while you read this book. I also used the internet to search for the songs I was not as familiar with or had not heard before, though they were few and far between. It was amazing to hear the song after learning more about how it came to be.


Due to the setup of the chapters, the book leaves the reader with options on how they would prefer to read it. I started off reading cover to cover but quickly switched my tactic. I was finding each entry very intriguing and found myself wanting to read about some of my favorites first. It is very easy to read this book out of order. After grabbing a pencil and making a small mark next to the chapters I had read, I went through and chose the order I wanted to read in, making sure to mark each chapter on the table of contents page after reading it. One of my favorite stories was from Gavin Rossdale who talks about his song “Love Remains the Same”. I found that this story was one that every reader would be able to connect with. It is a beautiful song with beautiful lyrics and an honest story behind it. There were many great stories in this book that it is hard to choose just one favorite. I also really enjoyed Liz Phair’s “Divorce Song”. I was unfamiliar with this song, but it was great to read and then listen too. It is always great to find new music and new artist.


The Story behind the Song is a delightful look at generations of music and lyrics. It is heart warming and at times comical. The reader is given a glimpse at the blood, sweat and tears along with heartache, pain, enjoyment and pay off that goes into the writing process and success! I would love to see Chicken Soup for the Soul come out with a second installment of this book, or maybe even one about authors and their creative process or story behind their books. It was a fresh and new perspective to the Chicken Soup series.


reviewed for Bookpleasures

Hollywood Stories

Author: Stephen Schochet
ISBN: 978-0-9638972-7-5
Publisher: Hollywood Stories Publishing
(To buy or price, click on the picture to the left)

Reading Hollywood Stories is like taking a tour of Hollywood. It is a journey of the past and present Hollywood personalities in anticipation for the future. These short stories were originally told for Stephen’s radio feature entitled Hollywood Stories. The immensely popular stories are now formed into this entertaining, amusing book, which is full of extras to accompany their original short anecdotes. The pages are packed full with stories, tidbits and humorous true tales of the stars. The book depicts the stars as normal everyday people, going about their life, working or spending time with friends, family and coworkers. It gives an everyday look at tinsel town and its glamorous crew. The reader is able to learn as well as be amused by these stories.

Hollywood Stories is a thoroughly entertaining read. With many humorous parts, you find yourself laughing out loud, feeling connected with the individual being presented. Each story gives the Hollywood actor, producer, director, or writer in the spotlight, an every day average typical American feel. Many of the stories remind the reader of pranks, jokes or situations they or a friend have personally done or gone through. It is a reminder that while stardom may be part of the overall package, these individuals are human. They were not always famous; they are simply doing their job by using their talents and creativity. They are the lucky few who are able to work with what they love. Outside of all this, they are mom, dad, husband, wife, brother, sister, daughter or son. They enjoy life. They have made an impact and are well known, yet not known at all. The book introduces you on a more personal level to these legends of Hollywood, enabling the reader a better warmth and understanding of their favorite actors, directors, writers, and producers.

The book is divided into 13 chapter divisions. Each division represents part of Hollywood. This enables the reader to skip around easily. If you have a favorite section you could read it first. I flipped back and forth between the pages of this book, not reading it in order. I went with my mood and it works because the stories are not tied to each other. There are so many individual stories and tales; you do not feel held down to an order. It was easy and enjoyable to read, leaving you addicted and wanting more. Due to how the book came about, it would be a wonderful book to grab on audio CD for travel. It provides hours of promising entertainment and interesting tidbits of the Hollywood we have come to know and love. I highly recommend these well written stories which you will want to share with others. They make great pieces for topical conversation and are sure to bring laughs to any audience.

*Reviewed for http://www.bookpleasures.com/*

Drawn to the Land: The Romance of Farming

Author: Elizabeth J & Barton M Cockey
ISBN: 978-1-934454-40-4
Publisher: Bridgeway Books

Take a journey through the past, present and future of farming in this picturesque representation of the land, the people and the spirit of farming. The book is separated by the seasons, starting with winter and ending with fall. Each season brings the flavor, the feel, the scent and the visual representation of the farm and land during those months. The vivid paintings make you feel you are seeing the land, animals, equipment and people through the eyes of another, one who is in love with the farm. To quote the author, the book gives recognition of the essential order of things, a basic modesty that comes natural to the farmer.” Drawn to the Land will make you want to travel to upstate New York and view the beauty and splendor for yourself. If you are not able to travel the book provides many clues to vendors that you could purchase from to get a taste and feel of upstate New York at home.

The Romance of Farming can be described as a learning process. Simple facts such as “They cut blocks of ice from ponds and rivers, and packed them in straw in their ice houses”, which refers to the early settlers method of refrigeration without electricity, enable you to learn and understand more about farming as a culture and a way of life. Farming teaches values, every member of the family is essential and works together. The farmers are literally drawn to the land, they love it, and they feel at one with the earth. The process of farming, though difficult and stressful at times is something they enjoy. It gives them inner peace and happiness. The reader can feel this through the books words and paintings, each page bringing forth a renewed energy and excitement.

I learned quite a deal about maple syrup production and other produce and lively hoods found on a farm. The winter is a harsh, cold, barren season in which farmers tend to the livestock and prepare for the spring. Spring is a rebirth, bringing maple syrup production into full swing, along with the start of flowers and produce. Summer joins with corns and chickens taking the spot light. The farmer tends to its livestock producing eggs, milk, cheese and other items. The produce is planted and growing, making way for fall. Fall I assume must be the best time on a farm. It’s the season of Thanksgiving. Pumpkins, roadside stands with organic produce, fruits and vegetables, hunting, handmade breads, pies and preserves and ice cream bring visitors and tourist. It is a journey that brings amazement and awe along with a respect for the farmers and their way of life.

The reader will be delighted with the vivid, beautiful paintings in this book. I wanted to see more. Some of my favorites were as follows, The Colonial Home in Cambridge, NY. I enjoyed the Greenwich Countryside painting with the town in the forefront. The Gardenworks farm is featured throughout, but the first painting in the spring draws you in. Last but certainly not least are the fall paintings, my ultimate favorite view of the vivid colors of the New England fall. Pages 31-35 of this book have beautiful scenic representations, as well as the cover. Readers will enjoy a different look at farming. It brings an appreciation of the farm that even those who are the least likely to farm will be able to feel.

**Reviewed for http://www.bookpleasures.com/**