Book Review: Viewer Discretion Advised, plus a giveaway

***The giveaway is now closed***

Thank you to all those who entered!  
Please stay tuned for more book reviews from various genres and other giveaways
The winner of this giveaway was chosen by Random.org. 
Congratulations to Jeryl Marcus!  
Thank you to all that entered and please keep an eye out for more book reviews and giveaways!

When I was 8-years-old my parents took my brother and I to the local CBS affiliate for a tour of their newsroom.   At the time it had to have been one of the coolest things that ever happened to me.  Honestly, it seems like just yesterday I was walking through the studio checking out the anchor desk and learning about the green screen that the meteorologist used for their weather forecast.  It was incredible getting the chance to see how each broadcast was put together.  Several years later the movie "Broadcast News" was released and there was no doubt was to whether or not I was going to see it.  My family's tour of the newsroom had me hooked on broadcast journalism so a movies about it was just the icing on the cake at the time.

Recently, my interest with broadcast journalism led me to read, Viewer Discretion Advised by Cindy Roesel.  The story focuses on Charlene "Charley" Thomas, a confident new director who moves Miami for a new gig after getting fired from her job in Los Angles.  From day one, Charley faces many challenges keeping each and every moment filled with new surprises.

 I really liked this book.  If it weren't for my other book review responsibilities I wouldn't have put it down as much as I had to.  Cindy's characters are well developed and likeable.  I appreciate that Charley exuded confidence in all areas of her life while still expressing a caring and compassionate side, too.  I also like the variety of personalities all the characters in this book displayed.  All of them worked well together and you could without a doubt believe that this group worked together.

The story line itself was also another reason I sing the praises of this book.  You can tell this story is based off of Cindy's real life newsroom experiences. There is an authenticity to it you just can't fake. As a side note... For those that blush easily, consider yourself warned that this book has some hot romance moments... this book is called "Viewer Discretion Advised" for a reason!

This fast paced story has it all and is surely a fantastic debut from the talented Cindy Roesel.

You can find Cindy at her website and Twitter. 

Thanks to Cindy, I have a copy of "Viewer Discretion Advised" for one lucky reader located in the US.

How to win Viewer Discretion Advised:
Please tell me, who is your favorite celebrity news reporter or anchor of all time?  Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.

US only.  Giveaway ends January 4th at midnight CST.

Book Review: 365 Thank Yous (Audio Book)

This past June the radio unit that had been in my car for as long as I've owned it died.  I was upset about this happening.  Though I had wanted to replace the unit for a long time I could never justify the expense of replacing it. There always seemed to be something more important to put the money towards.  Even though the alternative to not replacing my dead the unit was total silence while I was in the car I was still upset about this happening as it was "pricey" to replace it. However, what made me even more miffed was my belief (whether valid or not) that the sole reason it died in the first place had to do with my friend futzing around with it just a few weeks prior.

Recently while making my way to West Lafayette, IN I listened to the audio book, 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life by John Kralik thanks to the usb plug on my new car radio unit which allowed me to plug-in my smartphone and play files from it.

I had found out about this book due to some research I was doing for a freelance Public Relations job on the topic of gratitude just days prior to my trip.  As part of the piece that I was putting together, I was asked to highlight some books on the topic and came across this one on a GoodReads list of top rated books on gratitude.  Since I knew I was making the trip to Indiana and had an Audible credit waiting to be used I picked up a copy... and am I ever glad I did!

After experiencing a string of bad luck, one day John Kralik had a revaluation.  He would write a thank you note every day for a year hoping to gain a better appreciation for the things in his life that were good.  The book follows John's journey from the lowest moments of his life, through process of trying to write a thank you note everyday, to how writing these thank yous changed his life.

I loved this book.  I know what it is like to experience hard times and having difficulty finding something to be grateful for.  Been there, done that.  I appreciated what John had experienced, his candor about the struggles he had faced and related to his emotions.  (Publicly admitting such things can be difficult.)  I also appreciated the fact that he was open to the idea of thinking and viewing his circumstances differently.  Again - been there, done that. 

With all that in mind, I don't think this is just a book for people such as John and I who have faced adversity.  I think it a book that everyone can benefit from.  Personally, this story got me to think more thoughtfully about the thank you messages I send, and how I communicate them.  It helped me recall how much I love receiving thank you notes in the mail and would like to do the same for others.  Don't get me wrong, sending a thank you message in general is nice; however, there is something about receiving a note in the mail that makes the gesture that much more special . . especial in a world where a majority of our communication is done digitally.

This audio book was narrated by John Kralik.  At first when I listened to the sample of the book I was a bit concerned that I would turn it off as I couldn't decide if the narration would hold my interest, which is something I've had a problem with in the past.   However, this particular book is one that I would actually encourage you to purchase via audio book because I feel that the narration adds an additional layer of awesomeness to an already awesome story.  Actually, I got so drawn into listening to John that the miles between leaving my home and the Indiana state border escaped me.

My friend who contributed to the demise of my old radio unit gave me money towards the purchase of a new unit.  I sent them an e-thank you when I received their check.  However, it wasn't until my recent car trip that I felt the need to thank them for contributing to the demise of my radio, too.  The fact of the matter is that had my radio not died I wouldn't have purchased the nicer one that allows me to connect my smartphone to my radio.  If it hadn't of died, I wouldn't have been able to listen to this audio book during my drive to Indiana (and trust me when I say, it was this book that really made it an enjoyable trip).  With all that in mind, I must remember to send my friend a thank you note - soon.

Also, I'd like to send a thank you to John Kralik for sharing his story with me - and the many others who have read this book.  I am so glad I came across your book.  You are truly an inspiration to all and I am so glad that things in your life have turned around for the better.

BlogHer Book Club Book Review: "My Life Map: A Journal to Help You Shape Your Future"

On Thanksgiving it will be two years since I put together what I then called My Life Map.  I was in the midst of trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I "grew-up" and gave myself three options to explore.

As you might imagine, it seemed very appropriate when I recently got the opportunity to review the book, My Life Map: A Journal to Help You Shape Your Future by Kate Marshall and Dave Marshall.  

Unlike my "life map" project 2 years ago, this books provides individuals a more structured and thoughtful way to approach planning for the future... and even though I am less of a planner than I once was I still feel as though it never hurts to lay some sort of foundation for the future.

The first think I feel is important to note about this book is that it is not a traditional book.  As the title reflects, it is a journal.  The majority of the pages have spaces for the reader to write down their thoughts, feelings and aspirations.  I liked this.  Though some people could put something similar together, I liked the format Kate and David developed.

One thing that caught me off guard was that the program requires you to look back in order to plan to move forward.  I say this caught me off guard because I feel we are often told not to focus on the past and to only look at our present and future.  Also, for some looking back can be an emotional challenge they don't want to taken on.

Overall, I liked this program and can see where it would provide value to a person.  I don't know that it should be the sole structure for someone, but it is surely a useful tool.  The thing I liked the most about it was that it is a tool for people of any age.  Whether you're in your 20s just starting out or in your 50s starting over yet again this journal can be a good framework to use to get started with putting together goals you wish to achieve.

Lastly, I want to say that this is not a journal you can complete in just a couple of hours.  It takes time to really go through the steps which personally I think is a good idea since this is your future you're planning for.

Interested in learning more about the book, My Life Map: A Journal to Help You Shape Your Future?  Join the BlogHer Book Club discussion!

Disclosure: This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.