Category Archives: Five Stars
Sacred Celebrations: Designing Rituals to Navigate Life’s Milestone Transitions
Sacred Celebrations is a warm and soulful guide to marking life’s transitions with intention and love. Elizabeth Barbour weaves stories from her own life with practical teachings about rituals, ceremonies, and the ways we gather around beginnings and endings. The book moves through birth, marriage, loss, illness, and the everyday moments that often slip by. It shows how rituals can help us slow down, breathe, and feel anchored in a world that moves too fast. Her stories are tender and sometimes raw, and they shine a light on the human need for connection during joyful and difficult times.
Barbour’s writing carries an honesty that caught me off guard, and I kept pausing just to sit with her words. The scene where she describes her mother’s final days was emotional. I felt the weight of that love and conflict. I also laughed at simpler moments, like the chaos of celebrations that go sideways or the small joys tucked into everyday rituals. Her style is comforting. It’s like listening to a friend who has lived a lot and is willing to tell the truth about how messy life can be. I appreciated how she took rituals out of the realm of “big spiritual practices” and grounded them in regular life. This made the whole idea feel doable for anyone.
What struck me most was how gentle her guidance felt. She never pushes. She invites. The book nudged me to look at my own transitions, even the quiet ones I usually gloss over, and I found myself thinking about the moments I rushed through without honoring how they shaped me. Some parts made me emotional because they stirred up memories I didn’t expect to revisit. Other parts lit me up with curiosity. I kept thinking about how simple actions, like a walk to a creek or lighting a candle, can shift the way we move through the world. The book feels both practical and mystical in a way that surprised me. I kept underlining sentences and dog-ear pages.
I would recommend Sacred Celebrations to people who crave meaning in their routines, anyone moving through a major transition, and those who want to deepen their emotional or spiritual life without anything too complicated. It’s also a lovely fit for caregivers, coaches, therapists, ministers, or anyone who holds space for others. The book feels like a soft place to land, and it left me wanting to create more intentional moments in my own life.
Pages: 252 | ISBN : 0972468692
Dead and Buried: The Last Kitsune Book 2
Dead and Buried picks up with Tai trying to hold her life together while everything supernatural around her spins out of control. The book follows her attempts to manage her unstable kitsune magic, the chaos caused by her two-tailed nekomata Magoo, a strange psychic attack, a dream that might not be a dream, and the frightening discovery that her supposedly dead father, Viktor, may still have a grip on the world of the living. As Tai and her friends confront new dangers, including zombie-like creatures, restless spirits, and a growing conspiracy tied to the Key of Wealth, the story widens into a mystery that reaches from woods to clubs to interdimensional threats. It all builds into a story about identity, legacy, and the messy courage needed to face old shadows.
What struck me right away was how alive the writing felt. The opening scene with undead mice skittering across the floor pulled me in with a laugh and a grimace at the same time. Tai’s voice is sharp and funny, but it carries this constant undercurrent of vulnerability that made me root for her before I even realized it. The book throws wild supernatural moments around like confetti, and yet the emotions always land. I kept feeling this push-and-pull between humor and fear. One moment I was laughing at Magoo acting like a furry little menace and the next I felt a knot in my stomach when Tai described her dreams about Sunreaver or the shock of hearing Viktor whisper that things were not over. The mix worked for me. It felt raw and very human, even when things got weird.
I also loved how the story handled relationships. Ash brings warmth into scenes that would otherwise feel too heavy, and Xunie’s mysterious and chaotic energy adds a spark that made me grin every time she appeared. The club scenes with Nico cracked me up, especially when the supposedly impossible ghost activity starts up again. At the same time, the book digs into Tai’s trauma in a way that is emotionally resonant. Her guilt about Sunreaver, her fear that she might not be in control of herself, and her anger at being treated like a fragile resource instead of a person. I felt those things right alongside her, and the writing did not sugarcoat any of it. It made the fun moments brighter and the frightening ones sharper. If anything, the emotional whiplash made the story feel more real to me.
By the time I closed the book, I felt like I had been on a wild ride through magic, danger, grief, and a whole lot of found family chaos. I enjoyed that messy thrill. I enjoyed the heart in it even more. If you like supernatural stories that mix humor with fear, action with real emotional weight, or if you simply enjoy following a character who stubbornly keeps getting back up no matter what is thrown at her, then this book is absolutely worth your time. Fans of urban fantasy, paranormal mystery, or character-driven supernatural drama will have a blast with Tai and her world.
Pages: 339 | ASIN : B0FBJ89ZZV
The Athlete Whisperer: An Improbable Voice in Sports
Andrea Kirby’s The Athlete Whisperer is a vivid and unfiltered memoir that pulls back the curtain on what it means to be a woman breaking barriers in sports broadcasting. From her early days as one of the first female sportscasters in the 1970s to her later years coaching athletes and media talent, Kirby tells her story with grit, humor, and honesty. The book weaves through decades of change in television and sports, balancing personal struggle with professional triumph. It’s not just about a career, it’s about identity, perseverance, and the raw nerve it takes to keep moving when no one wants you there.
What I liked most about Kirby’s writing is how straightforward it feels. She doesn’t write like someone trying to impress you. She writes like someone who’s lived through hell, laughed about it, and decided to share the punchlines. Her voice is confident, yet not polished to perfection, which makes it genuine. The stories are fast-moving, full of sharp details, and often tinged with pain that sneaks up on you between the victories. I felt her frustration when men dismissed her, her thrill when she nailed a broadcast, and her heartache when life hit harder than any newsroom drama.
At times, I found myself pausing not because the writing was heavy, but because it was relatable. Kirby doesn’t whitewash the sexism, the exhaustion, or the loneliness. She’s not asking for pity, though. She’s showing how resilience can look messy and stubborn and still be beautiful. The people she met, famous names from ESPN, ABC Sports, and the field, come alive through her lens, but it’s her own story that lingers. There’s a rough-edged warmth in the way she talks about the athletes she coached and the young broadcasters she helped find their footing. I could almost hear her voice, no-nonsense, but kind.
By the end, I felt like I’d sat across from someone who’d lived several lives in one. The Athlete Whisperer isn’t just for sports fans. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt underestimated or out of place but went ahead and did the thing anyway. If you like memoirs that feel like conversation, that mix heart with humor and truth with tenderness, this one’s worth your time.
Pages: 256 | ASIN : B0F3BK5ZX9
The Magic of Imperfection
The Magic of Imperfection surprised me with how quickly it got to the heart of its message. Author Jason McLennan argues that most great work reaches a sweet spot long before perfection. He calls this the ¾ baked moment, the point where an idea is clear enough to stand yet rough enough to grow. He shows how this mindset speeds up creativity, opens the door to real innovation, and breaks the grip of fear and overthinking. Using stories from architecture, mentorship, cooking, leadership, and even childhood, he makes the case that embracing imperfection helps people make more progress, take smarter risks, and actually enjoy their work.
Reading this book, I found myself nodding, smiling, and sometimes groaning because the truth hit a little too close. McLennan’s tone is warm and grounded, and he mixes personal stories with quick lessons that feel almost like friendly nudges. I liked how he ties big ideas to everyday moments, like pulling cookies out of the oven before they look done or watching asparagus cook just a little too long. These simple images stuck with me more than some productivity books stuffed with charts or buzzwords. Sometimes the message was repeated, but I didn’t really mind because each angle gave it a fresh spark.
I especially loved the honesty around failure. His stories about projects that collapsed, ideas that bombed, and designs that broke apart mid-demonstration made the book feel relatable. And his point about people who cling too tightly to perfection really landed with me. I’ve watched talented friends freeze themselves in place, and I’ve done it too. The way he talks about letting the universe finish what you start made me laugh at myself a little. The writing isn’t fancy. It’s straightforward and warm. Sometimes it feels like someone thinking out loud. I liked that looseness because it matched the whole philosophy.
Anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or afraid to put their work out into the world would get a lot from The Magic of Imperfection. It’s great for creatives, leaders, students, and anyone who carries too much pressure on their back. If you enjoy books that teach through stories instead of strict rules, this one will fit you well.
Pages: 192 | ASIN : B0FGPLMPKG
The Courage Gap
The Courage Gap lays out a simple but stirring idea. Fear opens a space between what we think about doing and what we actually do. Courage closes it. Margie Warrell walks through five steps that help readers shift their focus, rewrite the stories they tell themselves, regulate fear, step into discomfort, and learn from the moments when everything falls apart. She threads research, personal stories, and vivid examples like Navy SEAL missions and childhood hardships. All of it points toward one lesson. Braver action begins long before the action itself. It begins inside.
I was pulled by the book’s tone, which is warm and direct. It feels like she is sitting with you over coffee, nudging you to look a little deeper. Her stories about her mother, her moves across continents, her husband’s early COVID hospitalization, and her own shaky steps into new roles resonated with me. I liked that she did not hide her fear. She showed it. The writing made the ideas easier to trust.
Her ideas landed with me in a way that surprised me. The pieces about how the brain fixates on danger, how fear makes us shrink, and how easy it is to rationalize our hesitation stuck with me long after I put the book down. I kept thinking about times when I stayed quiet or stayed small because it felt easier. The book stirred a mix of embarrassment, hope, and a kind of restless energy to try again. I especially liked her point that courage is not the absence of fear but the choice to act while fear tags along. It felt doable. It made the book more than an inspirational talk and closer to a companion for moments when you want to run the other way.
By the time I reached the end, I felt a quiet push to step toward the things I usually avoid. I would recommend The Courage Gap to anyone who feels stuck, scared, or tired of circling the same problem. It suits new leaders, seasoned leaders, parents, people in transition, and anyone craving a nudge toward a fuller life. It offers a way to grow into the person you keep imagining when you let yourself dream beyond your fear.
Pages: 168 | ASIN : B0D36WXKHZ
The Price of Nice
The Price of Nice lays out a sharp argument that our cultural obsession with being “nice” keeps us stuck in cycles of false comfort and stalled progress. Barger shows how niceness acts like a velvet glove over an iron fist and how it works as a social construct that preserves the status quo at home, in workplaces, and across society. She breaks the idea down through a think–feel–do–revisit framework and uses stories from her own life, research insights, and cultural examples to show how niceness can silence honesty, block accountability, and mask inequity. Her focus is not on abandoning decency, but on choosing nerve over niceness so real change can happen.
As I read her chapters, I felt a mix of recognition and unease, the kind that comes from seeing your own habits laid bare. Her point about niceness being a survival tactic hit me hardest. She shows how it gets baked into us early through family expectations and social rules and then reinforced through workplaces that want harmony more than truth. I found myself nodding when she brought up how companies perform allyship rather than practice it. The examples she gives, like statements, book lists, and surface-level DEI efforts, felt painfully familiar. Her writing style is candid and conversational, sometimes blunt in a way that pulled me in because it felt like someone finally refusing to sugarcoat the obvious.
I also appreciated how she connects niceness with identity, belonging, and psychological safety. When she talked about the cost of staying quiet, especially when it means acting against your own values, I felt a pit in my stomach because it rings true. Her explanation of mental models and how we are primed to behave, often without noticing, made me rethink the way I show up in spaces that value “professionalism” more than honesty. Some of her metaphors, like comparing niceness to an invisibility cloak or unpacking anchoring and framing with pop-culture references, were simple but really effective.
This book does more than challenge niceness. It challenges the reader to look at how they contribute to systems that reward silence. I walked away feeling a gentle push to speak up more, even when my stomach flips. Barger’s message is clear. Comfort is costly. Growth demands discomfort. And every one of us has a choice in which path we take.
I’d recommend this book to people who work in communications, leadership, or any workplace where culture change is a goal, though honestly, anyone tired of pretending everything is fine will get something out of it. It’s a strong pick for readers who like straightforward talk, personal storytelling, and practical tools wrapped in real-world honesty.
Pages: 224 | ASIN : B0F85YFDC3
Positive Politics: A Proven Playbook to Get into Politics, Change Your Life, and Change the World
Positive Politics is a guidebook for anyone who wants to step into public life with clarity, courage, and a sense of purpose. Author Neil Thanedar lays out a practical playbook for how ordinary people can enter politics, build momentum through activism, and ultimately make a meaningful impact. The book mixes personal stories, political theory, and hands-on instruction. Thanedar opens with his father’s journey from poverty in India to serving in the US Congress, using that story as proof that political life is not reserved for elites. From there, the book moves through two arcs: why politics needs new voices and how to actually get started.
Thanedar’s writing has a direct and confident tone, and he keeps returning to one central belief: ambitious optimists can and should lead. His stories about watching political rooms from the inside, learning how negative incentives shape behavior, and seeing how ordinary activists turn ideas into bills all made the book feel grounded. He doesn’t pretend politics is pretty. He talks openly about corruption, cynicism, and personal attacks, but he frames them as challenges that can be met with transparency and action. The rhythm of the writing moves between clipped, punchy lines and longer reflections that read like someone thinking out loud about what they’ve seen and what they wish more people understood.
What surprised me most were the parts where he breaks down politics into simple, relatable pieces. His idea that politics is basically a long, iterative game reminded me of someone flipping on the lights in a dim room. Suddenly the noise makes more sense. Being nice, taking action, getting quick wins, thinking long term, going direct, and staying independent. These principles sound simple, but the examples he uses give them weight. Seeing his father win some races, lose others, and still find deeper purpose in the work made the ideas feel lived in rather than theoretical. And when Thanedar writes about ambitious optimists, it genuinely feels like an invitation, not a slogan.
By the end, I felt both clearer and more cautious, in the best way. Clearer about how change actually happens and cautious in the sense that the work is harder, slower, and more personal than it looks from the outside. If you’re someone who already cares about civic life but feels overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, this book will likely speak to you. It’s part memoir, part instruction manual, and part motivational nudge. People who enjoy political nonfiction that blends practical strategy with accessible storytelling will get the most out of it.
Pages: 222 | ASIN: B0FWF8XDX3
Back Into Delight: Grief Recovery at the Speed of Life
Back Into Delight is a grief recovery book that blends memoir and self-help, following Paul O’Neill as he recounts the losses of his brother and later his son, and the slow work of teaching a shocked, frozen body how to move again. The book moves through the warping force of bereavement, the paralysis of shutdown, and the tools that help coax a person back toward breath, connection, and, eventually, delight. O’Neill shares stories, somatic techniques, and moments of dark humor to show how grief can bend a life but does not have to break it. It’s part personal narrative, part practical guide, all oriented toward finding motion in the aftermath of loss.
O’Neill writes with a mix of clarity and lived authority that made me lean in. He doesn’t romanticize grief. He doesn’t turn it into a neat psychological model. He just walks me through the reality of it, page by page. His descriptions of shutdown hit especially hard: the body going still, breath thinning out, thoughts getting muffled. I recognised that feeling. And I appreciated how he roots his methods in the physical, not the abstract. There is something grounding about watching him refuse to let grief stay purely conceptual. Breath, posture, voice, humor. These are small, almost embarrassingly simple interventions, but he shows how they become anchors.
I was surprised by how often I smiled. His tone shifts in a way that feels inviting. One moment he’s describing the unbearable silence of losing his son, and the next he’s talking about noodle-breaths or Stretch Armstrong or telling himself he’s not Humpty Dumpty. The humour doesn’t soften the pain so much as make space inside it. It lets the ideas land in a real, lived way. And when he brings in the tools of trance, voice modulation, and emotional repatterning, he does it without jargon. It’s practical. Warm. Sometimes blunt. Sometimes tender. The kind of writing that feels like someone reaching across the table to say, “Try this. It helped me.”
By the end, I felt steadier. Not because the book offers solutions, but because it treats healing as a practice. Grief recovery, in O’Neill’s world, isn’t a miracle. It’s a muscle. It’s a series of cues that teach the body it is safe enough to return. This is where the book’s genre really shines: it lives at the intersection of memoir and self-help, and that blend makes the guidance feel earned.
If you want a companion for the messy middle of loss, someone speaking plainly and offering tools that actually feel usable, then I’d recommend it wholeheartedly. This book is especially for readers who feel frozen in their grief, who need something gentle but not vague, and who are open to a mix of story, science, and the smallest sparks of humour cutting through the dark.
Pages: 108 | ASIN : B0F92GTHSP
LITERARY TITAN 