I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Learn the inspiring story of Michael Hingson and his guide dog who survived the 9/11 terror attacks in author Keri Wyatt Kent and Michael Hingson’s “Live Like A Guide Dog.”
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The Synopsis
A guide dog’s guide to life’s most important lessons!
Michael Hingson’s inspiring true story captivated the world when he and his guide dog Roselle escaped the Twin Towers together on 9/11, a story that became the New York Times bestselling book Thunder Dog. During decades of walking with guide dogs, he had learned a surprising truth that helped save his life that day: Being afraid can be a positive thing, one that prepares us to deal with any situation that befalls us. Now, in Live like a Guide Dog, he reveals how to:
Get equipped for whatever obstacles or challenges you may encounter as you make your way through the world
Train yourself to be brave, just like a guide dog’s training equips handler and dog to prepare for the unexpected
Learn to use your natural fear reactions as a way to focus and concentrate to make better decisions and turn your fear into courage and confidence.
Apply eleven principles Michael has learned with his guide dogs to overcome the fears that you face every day
Join Michael on the joyful adventure of walking with, loving, and learning from guide dogs!
The Review
A truly inspiring story, the author does a remarkable job of finding the right balance by exploring how these amazing animals not only helped in everyday life but also gave mental and emotional support in their years together with Michael. The relatability of the author’s life that so many readers will be able to connect with, and the honest and connective way the authors write this book, allows the readers to feel as if they are in an in-depth conversation with them, the book’s chapters expressing both the lighthearted and the more somber moments and memories the authors lived through.
A big theme that I truly appreciated as a reader was the author’s bringing to light of ableism, and how people with disabilities are treated, perceived, and interacted with in society as a whole. As a disabled person, it is the heart and honesty the authors write with that resonated the most, and, as someone passionate about animals in general, I found the author perfectly captures the routines, mindsets, and experiences these beautiful creatures give to Michael throughout his life.
The Verdict
Memorable, thoughtful, and compelling, authors Michael Hingson and Keri Wyatt Kent’s “Live Like a Dog” is a must-read nonfiction inspirational book on living life with disabilities and the lessons animals, especially guide dogs, can teach a person going through hardships in life. The insight, the powerful writing style the author utilized, and the heartfelt connection the author felt with these beautiful animals and what they taught him will resonate deeply with readers. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Authors
Keri Wyatt Kent is the author of Live Like a Guide Dog, GodSpace, and ten other books. She makes a living creating content of all kinds, and enjoys reading, running, and cooking. She and her husband live in Chicago.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Eric Fisher shares a unique approach to combating addiction and mental health struggles using martial arts in the book “The Martial Art of Recovery.”
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The Synopsis
Addiction has been given various explanations – some regard it as a choice, a habit, a disease, a moral failure, brought on by traumatic experiences, or a combination.
The Martial Art of Recovery offers a unique metaphorical approach to treating addiction, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Techniques and concepts from American Kenpo, a martial arts style, intersect holistically with mental health and addiction treatment.
Striking self-sabotage begins with a single move.
The following is a brief summary of the book’s contents:
Sixty-six American Kenpo martial arts techniques translated for addiction treatment.
Ninety-eight martial arts terms have been translated and presented with practical examples to aid in addiction recovery.
Techniques from the American Kenpo martial arts style are translated into coping skills and strategies for anxiety, depression, and trauma.
A section that provides information, examples, and techniques related to the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual domains that play a role in the recovery process.
The “Five Swords” for addiction treatment and mental health.
How to view the addiction as “The Opponent.”
How to practically apply martial arts techniques and concepts in daily life.
The Review
For such a unique and creative new take on the battle of addiction and mental health, the author’s book felt both relatable and driven in a way that people familiar with the struggle should be able to relate to. The book’s title may seem to indicate that martial arts is the key component to this technique. Instead, the author does a great job of using martial arts as a creative mindset and viewpoint, focusing on mentally transforming these struggles into external forces that can be combatted.
The book’s slow, steady pacing and the author’s inspirational writing will stay with readers long after it ends. The haunting reality of addiction and mental health is not shied away from, but instead harmoniously brought together with the authors’ unique way of bridging the gap between recovery and martial arts mindsets and training. The book tackles not just the physical but also the mental in a healthy way. It even takes on philosophical, psychological/medical aspects as well, exploring the impact of grief and how the brain itself can be mapped and explored in depth.
The Verdict
The expressive, entertaining way the author writes and the heartfelt message of hope that the author’s writing and techniques promise make this a truly compelling must-read nonfiction book. The way the author incorporates everything from different fighting techniques to the other belts that martial artists earn, and how he relates these to mental health awareness, as well as the at times light and empathetic way he uses his voice, will keep readers hanging on to every word. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Eric Fisher is a certified counsellor based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He has over 13 years of experience working in outpatient and inpatient treatment settings in the US and Canada. Eric is a master practitioner of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), both of which are evidence-based treatments for trauma. Eric’s private practice, Recovery Arts Counselling, serves individuals, couples, and families locally and remotely. He also works as an associate for local clinics in the surrounding area. In the past, Eric has supervised master’s-level graduate students and counsellors early in their careers. Additionally, Eric has a black belt in two martial arts styles: American Kenpo and Wadō-ryū. Eric enjoys hiking and riding his bike outdoors, trying new foods, travelling near and far, and meeting people.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author S.E. Tschritter shares an honest and engaging look into the struggles of addiction and what role faith plays in that in the book “The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak.”
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The Synopsis
At 1:30 a.m. Sam Evans received the phone call every spouse dreads. “Mrs. Evans, this is a sergeant with the police department. There’s been an accident.” Six hours later, she received another call. “Mrs. Evans, this is a nurse at the hospital. We found something on the cat scan.”
Instead of preaching that Sunday, Pastor Clint Evans went to jail with a BAC of .24, a cancer diagnosis, and a felony charge of fleeing police. The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak chronicles a Christian’s lifelong battle against demons, addictions, and unworthiness. This story portrays a God who steals the show with a backlash of grace toward a man whom others branded “unredeemable.”
The Prodigal’s Son flings church doors open wide to the world’s misfits and challenges pew-squater saints to stop measuring their godly perfection against the dirty, homeless and addicted. From gutter to pulpit to ditch to grace to grave, The Prodigal’s Son speaks volumes of God’s furious love for the world’s castoffs.
This is a story of a pastor arrested for drunk driving. The affects of alcoholism on families is staggering. “My wife hid her addiction from me,” “My husband hid his alcoholism from me.” Millions of men and women are affected by drug addiction. Do you want to know how to find hope when battling addiction? Are you looking for support for spouses of addiction? If you just found out your husband’s an addict, or your wife’s an alcoholic and you’re grieving your spouses addiction, look no further than The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak. Within the pages of this book, you’ll find hope with an addict spouse, learn how to handle your husband’s addiction, and close the cover knowing you are not alone.
The Review
What instantly drew me into this book was the author’s writing style. Bold, honest, and even at times gritty, the author unapologetically delved into this tense and heartbreaking reality of addiction to give readers a vivid image of what this does to both the addict and their loved ones uniquely. The juxtaposition of Clint’s role as a church leader and pillar in the Christian community with the imagery often used to depict addicts and how people think of those who suffer from it was powerful to behold, and the strong emotional response readers have to the author’s writing will become evident soon after starting this book.
The heart of this book was the balance between an honest response to addiction and spirituality, and how those who hold onto faith deal with these troubling moments in life. The author’s particular faith in Christianity takes a firm stand. Yet the author’s messaging and theme of this book go far beyond one specific faith, reaching out to readers of all religions and even non-religious readers such as myself, for addiction affects all people, not just one group over another. Paired with the health crisis that he faced and the emotional impact of the battles he fought through, readers will be heartily invested in this story.
The Verdict
Memorable, emotional, and compelling, author S.E. Tschritter’s “The Prodigal’s Son” is a must-read nonfiction memoir about addiction and faith. The insight, the author’s unique writing style and voice that exuded honesty, humor, and depth, and the heartfelt storytelling poured into this book will stay with readers long after the emotional final chapter. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Multi-award-winning author Sam. E. Tschritter (pronounced Shridder) specializes in articulating grief and loss, leading grievers toward hope and healing. Whether poetry, fiction, or non-fiction, Tschritter writes content that will stick with readers long after they close the cover. Her 20-plus years of leadership experience and contributions to over 40 books enable her to serve others, speaking truth with transparency, humor, and love. Tschritter grew up in Chicagoland and has also lived in Minnesota and Oregon, granting her widespread views of people all over the country. She currently resides in Simpsonville, South Carolina with her husband, their three teen and preteen daughters, cats named Pitter and Patter, and their Siberian husky whom she lost the vote to name Onomatopoeia. Nothing refreshes Tschritter’s soul like gardening. She gardens to work through plot holes, writer’s block, character development, and book ideas. Tschritter spends a great deal of time gardening.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman pushes herself to experience more of life after the sudden loss of her mother in author Caitlin Forbes’s “What Comes Next.”
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The Synopsis
An empowering and heartfelt novel about the complexities of family, the power of sisterhood, and the bravery it takes to choose happiness when all seems lost.
“My life is perfectly fine.”
Alex has pretended this for years―despite an emotionally absent father, a best friend drifting away, and a floundering dog-training business. At least Alex has her sister, Meredith, a driven polar opposite. But both their lives are upended when their estranged mother dies of a genetic condition that the sisters have a fifty-fifty chance of inheriting. For Alex, a world without her mother is uncomfortable. But a world without Meredith is unthinkable.
Alex suggests a pact to which Meredith tentatively agrees: In three months they’ll get tested. Until then they go after everything they’ve ever wanted. Alex is finally stepping out of her comfort zone and opening herself up to new relationships. Or maybe reconnecting with an old one. Nathan, a boy who once broke her heart, needs a trainer for his mixed-breed rescue. Alex can’t resist.
As sparks rekindle, and time passes much too quickly, Alex discovers more about herself, her sister, and her mother than she ever imagined. And that everything in life―especially happiness―comes with a risk worth taking.
The Review
What a heartfelt and emotional read. The author finds such a delicate yet perfect balance between exploring the grieving process, the intricacies of relationships, and the power of self-discovery. The juxtaposition of animal care with the protagonist’s life, especially with Remy and the frequency of animal abandonment due to past trauma, making it difficult to train or home them, mirrors the protagonist’s own abandonment issues and really speaks volumes throughout this story.
Yet it was the relationship between Alex and Meredith that really stood out to the reader. The way they learned to lean on one another in the absence of their parents, the loss they share, and the shock of a shared illness lingering as a possibility is something that felt so relatable as someone who inherited several ailments and the dangers that come with genetic diseases. The author artfully navigates these troubled waters by exploring the path to finding hope again in a person’s life amidst the trauma.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and engaging, author Caitlin Forbes’s “What Comes Next” is a must-read women’s fiction-meets-family-drama novel. The imagery and atmosphere the author brought to life on the page, along with the compelling blend of emotional storytelling and hopeful tones, will keep readers engaged until the book’s final chapters. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Photography by Molly Haley, mollyhaley.com
Caitlin Forbes is a Maine-based author who writes stories that explore the messiness of relationships—from sisterhood to romance to the tricky relationship we have with ourselves. When not writing, you can find her chasing after her toddler (or her dog) and exploring small-town New England life.
Join us at the Muffin as we celebrate the launch of What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbes. We interview the author and give you a chance to win a copy of the book.
Stop by B. Lynn Goodwin’s blog for a guest post by author Caitlin Forbes about the question of inheritance – of what we inherit versus what we get to choose.
Stop by Katherine’s blog for her review of What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbes. You’ll also have a chance to read her response to our tour-themed prompt about whether if she had an incurable condition and if she would want to find out.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Authors Neil and Ruchin Kansal share the journey that began as a car driving lesson and became a bonding experience on a road trip across America in the book “The Kansal Clunker.”
The Synopsis
At sixteen, Neil dreamed of learning to drive a manual car. His father, Ruchin, was at a crossroads, questioning his next steps in life. Neither could have imagined that a rusted, beat-up Acura Integra would become their greatest teacher. With just $5,000, no mechanical experience, and a wild idea, father and son embarked on a yearlong transformation-of the car, themselves, and their bond.
What began as a simple driving lesson turned into an epic 5,000-mile road trip to the highest paved road in the United States. Along the way, they faced unexpected challenges, breathtaking landscapes, and moments of raw connection. Through laughter, frustration, and detours, they discovered resilience, strength, and the unshakable power of family.
With every twist of the wrench and turn of the road, Neil and Ruchin learned what it truly means to rebuild-not just a car, but themselves. Buckle up-this unforgettable ride will stay with you long after the last page.
In India, the book will appear as: “Where the Highway Ends: A Father, a Son, and a Car that Rebuilt Them.
The Review
This was such a heartwarming and compelling read. The authors do an excellent job of writing in a relatable, connective way, alternating chapters and perspectives on the same situation, allowing readers to gain insight into their relationship as a whole. The authors touched on many things readers could relate to, from the troubles the COVID pandemic brought to life and how scary that time was, to the bond that forms between a parent and child when a shared passion emerges, and much more.
The book’s descriptive nature made the imagery of the writing style feel vibrant and alive on the page, bringing Teggy and the road itself to life as the authors went on their journey. Yet the heart of this nonfiction book’s narrative was the emotional, heartfelt connection between father and son, which the story explored. The experiences the authors had spoke to the meaningful way that shared connections and experiences can shape relationships and bonds between people overall. The authors wrote with honesty, passion, and an introspective lens that allowed readers not only to glean meaning for their own lives but also to learn from the lessons the authors learned along the way.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and engaging, authors Ruchin and Neil Kansal’s “The Kansal Clunker” is a must-read nonfiction book, memoir, and travel book. The inspiring and emotional bond readers form with the authors, the way they touch on everything from cars and family to relationships and the heart of America as a whole, and what success truly means to a person, made this book so compelling to delve into. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Authors
Ruchin Kansal is a leadership educator, advisor, and author dedicated to helping people and organizations embrace transformation. A professor at Seton Hall and Brown, he wrote Redefining Innovation and has held senior executive roles in strategy and innovation at EY, Deloitte, BoehringerIngelheim, and Siemens Healthineers. Beyond the boardroomand classroom, he shares a lifelong passion for building,cars, and travel, and inspires others to reimagine the future with vision,creativity, and courage.
Neil Kansal is a dreamer who turns bold ideas into action. A graduate of Washington & Lee, he studied biology and data science while co-founding W&L Remote Area Medical, an award-winning program delivering free clinical services. He also led as principal cellist and mentor. A certified EMT and lifelong car enthusiast, he rebuilt his first clunker at sixteen and drove it to the highest motorable road in America. He now brings that same grit and curiosity to Deloitte.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Mark Leslie shares a collection of dad jokes and humor to inspire and brighten anyone’s day in the book “I Think It’s a Sign That The Pun Also Rises.”
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The Synopsis
Ready to groan, grin, and giggle?
Rediscover the joy of wordplay with this collection of puns, dad jokes, and clever one-liners that promises to lift spirits and inspire smiles—one groan-worthy punchline at a time.
Born from a simple mission of collecting and sharing dad jokes to brighten his neighborhood during tough times, this book gathers well over 1000 of his beloved daily chalkboard jokes into a single, joy-packed volume. It’s a treasure trove for anyone who loves language, humor, or just a good laugh. Inside, readers will find everything from meta-jokes that play with the very idea of humor, to rapid-fire dad jokes, music-themed zingers, and even a cheeky adults-only section. Each chapter is crafted to appeal to pun enthusiasts, casual joke collectors, and anyone in need of a smile.
This book makes the perfect gift for that incorrigible mirth-spreader in your life, and includes hilarious funnies perfect for sharing with friends, family, or even strangers who could use a laugh. I Think It’s A Sign That The Pun Also Rises is more than just a joke book—it’s a celebration of connection, resilience, and the simple magic of a well-timed pun. Open to any page, share a joke, and make your world a little lighter—one groan at a time.
The Review
This was a heartfelt, light book filled with laughter and joy. The author does a great job of filling this book with a wonderful collection of jokes and quips that will elicit classic and beloved eye rolls and groans that are the staple of any good dad joke. The range of jokes the author covers, from meta and personal jokes to holiday-themed and cultural jokes about music and even shower thoughts, allows readers to have a joke for any occasion and to reference the book time and time again.
What stood out to the reader was the author’s voice and tone. The humor that comes through in the jokes is grounded in the relatability of the author’s life experiences and in where these jokes arose, bringing light to tense situations and to the darkness that emerged following the COVID-19 Pandemic, and to the need for laughter and joy again in those times. This gave readers a foundation that allowed these jokes to really hit home.
The Verdict
Memorable, humorous, and entertaining, author Mark Leslie’s “I Think It’s a Sign That The Pun Also Rises” is a must-read nonfiction book of humor and dad jokes. The collection is vast and serves as a great reference book to return to whenever the reader needs a refresher, and the lightness the book promises makes it well worth the effort to pick it up and laugh out loud. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Mark Leslie would be the first person to admit he’s still afraid of the monster under his bed. That might be why most of his books explore the darker side. In addition to penning a series of true ghostly tales he also writes horror and the humorous urban fantasy action/adventure ‘Canadian Werewolf” series.
His other passions include fan appreciation/trivia books about the modern classic 1980s films and sharing stupid dad jokes.
Proudly adopting the term “Book Nerd,” Mark is most comfortable with a pen in hand, fingers on keyboard or with his nose stuck in a book. He can often be seen traveling to book events with a life-sized skeleton named Barnaby Bones.
Born in Sudbury Ontario, Mark has courted with a serious addiction to reading and writing his entire life. He has called both Ottawa, ON and Hamilton, ON home for about a decade each and currently lives in Waterloo, Ontario.
