Green Books Campaign-Clean Cures:The Humble Art of Zen-Curing Yourself

The book I chose to review as part of this Green campaign was Clean Cures:The Humble Art of Zen-Curing Yourself. This book was printed using 100% (post-and pre-consumer) recycled paper and vegetable based inks. No new trees were used.

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.





My review:





Clean Cures: The Humble Art of Zen-Curing Yourself is a very resourceful book to keep on hand. It is filled with lots and lots of helpful tips on how to cure sinus headaches to black eyes. All you need in order to try these home remedies listed in this book is to make sure you have on hand the following six items…Apple Cider Vinegar; Baking Soda; Honey; Lemon; Olive Oil; and Salt.

Yes that is correct… from these six items you could possibly save hundreds of dollars but not having to buy expensive medications or visiting doctors.

Take for example Bruises. We have all had a bruise or two in our lives. They can be bothersome; especially when you have a huge one on your leg or arm. If you are like me… you don’t do anything and just try to cover them up till they go away on their own. Well try these tricks next time you have a bruise.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and apply it to the bruised area for one hour. The apple cider vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds the healing process.

Honey

Put a small amount of honey on your bruise and cover it with a bandage. Honey will minimize the bruise by causing your swelling to go down.

Be warned that Michael Dejong does not promise miracles. It is also advised that if you are really sick that you do seek medical attention. If you want more cool tips likes these then you have to pick yourself up a copy of this book today.

Green Books Campaign

This logo was designed courtesy of Susan Newman


Green Books campaign: 1 Day, 100 bloggers, 100 green books, 100 reviews

On Tuesday, November 10 2009 , 100 bloggers , who review books on regular basis, will simultaneously publish their book review of a "green" book of their choice. This unique campaign, organized by Eco-Libris ( www.ecolibris.net ), aims to encourage both publishers and readers to get greener and make sure books are printed responsibly.

In times when global warming and environmental issues are receiving growing public attention, book lovers are not indifferent either. On Tuesday, November 10, 2009 , at 1:00 PM Eastern Time 100 bloggers will take a stand to support books printed in an eco-friendly manner by simultaneously publishing reviews of 100 such books.

Organized by Eco-Libris, this campaign is aiming to promote “green” books by reviewing 100 books printed on recycled paper or FSC-certified paper.

“Although there's so much hype around e-books, books printed on paper dominate the book market, and we want them to be as environmentally sound as possible ,” explains Raz Godelnik, co-founder and CEO of Eco-Libris. “Very few books are currently printed responsibly and we hope this initiative will bring more exposure to “green” books. Through this campaign we want to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books.”

Over 35 publishers from the U.S. , Canada and the U.K. are taking part in this campaign, providing participating bloggers with their latest books printed on recycled paper and FSC certified paper for review. One of these publishers is Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing , which five books of its “Little Green Books” series will be reviewed in the campaign.

“The mission of the Little Green Books series is to plant the seeds of earth-friendly living at an early age, and we were delighted to work with Eco-Libris on the campaign to help to spread this important message,” said Julie Christopher, Senior Marketing Manager at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Another participating publisher is HarperOne with three books. “By publishing books like The Green Bible, the companion volume The Green Bible Devotional, and Green Collar Economy by Van Jones, HarperOne hopes to help inspire people to take action and help save the earth's environment. But these books can't help if no one hears about them, which is why we are grateful to be participating in the Eco-Libris "It's Time for a Green Book" campaign. Thank you, bloggers!” said Sam Barry, Marketing and Bible Promotions Manager at HarperOne.

The participating books are in a variety of subjects – cooking, poetry, travel, adventure and more. “The fact that all of these books are printed responsibly is barely known to the average reader,” says Godelnik. “We hope this campaign will help change this situation. If eco-friendly books will become more popular, the “green” factor will become more prominent.”

Bloggers are also excited about the opportunity to support “green” books. One of them is Jennifer Kaplan, author of "Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers - and Save the Planet" (Prentice Hall, November 2009) and blogger for Green Options Media, who is participating in the campaign both as an author and a blogger.
“As both an author and a blogger I want to thank Eco-Libris for turning a spotlight on eco-friendly printing practices. Without a doubt, an eco-friendly paper policy is a core tactic for conducting business in an environmentally sustainable way. A campaign like this will raise awareness and will encourage book buyers to demand eco-friendly paper. When that begins to happen it will promote innovation and expand the market for green products and materials; Eventually, it's a win-win for everyone.” Links to all participating blogs is available at Eco-Libris website (www.ecolibris.net/greenbookscampaign.asp)
About Eco-Libris ( http://www.ecolibris.net ) Founded in 2007, Eco-Libris is a a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. To achieve this goal Eco-Libris is working with book readers, publishers, authors, bookstores and others in the book industry worldwide. Until now Eco-Libris balanced out over 110,000 books, which results in more than 120,000 new trees planted with its planting partners in developing countries.

For more information on Eco-Libris, please contact Raz Godelnik 302-981-9843 or raz@ecolibris.net

Guest, Mary Balough and giveaway

MORE THAN ROMANCE

I always like to describe myself as a writer of love stories rather than as a writer of romance. The two terms may appear to be more or less synonymous, but I see a definite distinction between them. I believe that love is far more powerful than romance and that we can sell ourselves short as writers if we are content to write romances at the expense of telling true love stories. A great deal, of course, depends upon how those two words are defined.Romance is that wonderful aura that surrounds a couple as they meet (even if they initially feel hostility to each other) and interact and fall in love and finally commit themselves to a life together. It's the growing sense of rightness we feel about the relationship, and the joy we get out of watching the irresistible attraction these two people feel for each other on the journey to their happy ending. It's a powerful reason for reading any book, and when it's well done it can pull us in and leave us thoroughly satisfied at the end and sighing for more. It can be pure magic. It is certainly an essential component of any love story, and a great deal of effort must be put into creating it.

It's not an easy thing to do, by the way.But even a good romance is not necessarily a love story.Love is greater than any romance. Love is also greater than any words we might try to use to define it. Even the great religions and spiritual movements of the world have never quite explained what it is or exactly how we should deal with it. And yet vast numbers of people down the ages have agreed that it is there, that it is both central and necessary to life, that it alone can make our relationships with others deep and precious and meaningful. It can make our romantic relationships explode with passion and wonder.I see love as creating three basic needs in us, and these needs must be met if we are to be happy, mature, loving people. They are (a) the need to love, (b) the need to be loved, and (c) the need to love ourselves, to feel ourselves lovable. Most of us find it easier to give love than to accept it. Many of us don't even recognize the third need and suffer as a consequence. Indeed, many of us are taught as children that it is wrong to love ourselves. What does it mean to love ourselves? I am not talking about vanity or narcissism, or any competitive need to prove that we are better than anyone or everyone else. I am talking about the need we all have to like ourselves, to accept ourselves for what we are despite all the warts, to feel comfortable in our own bodies and minds and emotions.

If we don't love ourselves, then we can't really love anyone else, and we can't believe that other people will love us.When I write my love stories, I use these ideas about love to create complex, often wounded characters who must learn, usually the hard way, to satisfy these needs in themselves, to confront whatever it is that is holding them back, to work it out in the developing relationship with their romantic opposite. Often it is the meeting of the lovers that somehow provokes the soul-searching and the healing. And the process and the result of it all can be a passionate, realistic, deeply satisfying love story. Often it can be a story of redemption, a type I love to write. It can convince us at the end that this couple will live not only in a romantic happily-ever-after, but also with a realistic chance of living a meaningful life of hope and joy together—provided they continue to put in the effort.It is hard to name just a few of my books that best illustrate my approach to writing love stories since they all do to a greater or lesser degree.

But some reader favorites are THE SECRET PEARL, THE NOTORIOUS RAKE, A SUMMER TO REMEMBER, DANCING WITH CLARA, SIMPLY LOVE, THEN COMES SEDUCTION, AT LAST COMES LOVE—and the newly republished Dell historical, A PRECIOUS JEWEL.A PRECIOUS JEWEL is one of my personal favorites and one of my most passionate love stories. It took me two weeks to write. We often hear of readers who cannot put a book down. But sometimes it happens to the writer too! Priscilla Wentworth has been wounded by circumstances—she has been forced into working for her living at a brothel. Sir Gerald Stapleton has been wounded by life.

Of average good looks and average intelligence, he lost all his self-esteem as a boy, at the hands of a father who was openly and contemptuously disappointed in him, and at the hands of a stepmother who betrayed his love and trust. He is afraid of close relationships. He is afraid to love and does not believe himself to be lovable. Priscilla and Gerald meet when he becomes her "regular" at the brothel. It does not sound like an auspicious beginning for a romance, but it quickly becomes what, according to my definition, is a passionate affirmation of the power of love to redeem and heal.

It is a romance, yes. More than that, it is a love story.For more information, and an excerpt from the book, see my web site at www.marybalogh.com

I am giving away one copy of this book to one of my followers. Open to US and Canada only.

What do you lve about romance novels? Contest ends November 30th

Secret Society

Phoebe Dowling and her mother have just moved to Manhattan. She came from LA. Phoebe is used to being around privileged, rich kids but nothing like the ones at her new school, Chadwick.

Nicholas “Nick” Bell comes from money. His parents are always reminding him that there is a certain image he has to maintain. Nick doesn’t care about that. He is actually bored of hanging with the rich kids. In fact he throws parties just so he has something to do, which in turns makes everything thing he is the ultimate party boy. His best friend is
Patch. Unlike Nick, Patch doesn’t come from money.

Lauren Mortimer is known at Chadwick’s as the meanest girl in school. So when Lauren shows a true interest in being friends with Phoebe, she is shocked.

While attending one of Nick’s parties, Phoebe, Lauren and Nick all receive text messages. All the messages have is a location. The message says enough. Lauren and Nick know exactly what the message meanings...They have all been selected to join an exclusive, ultra secret club, known as …The Society.

I have to admit that the first thing that made me interested in this book was the book cover. It is very eye catching. Then when I read the summary, I knew I had to check this book out. So glad I did. I read this book in one sitting. I couldn’t put this book down. This book did remind me of the movie, The Skulls. Where a bunch of rich kids get initiated into a secret society and have everything given to them but for a price. The only difference between The Skulls and this book is that I thought this book was better. Nick, Lauren and Phoebe may be rich but this are not stuck up. This made them likable. I would gladly read another book by Tom Dolby.

The Art of Overeating

The Art of Over Eating is a laugh out loud book to be enjoyed. The advice in this book is not meant to be taken serious. Leslie Landis, MFT pokes fun at America and our obsession with food and dieting. She makes comments like if you are planning on taking a doggie bag then you better either eat it as a snack on the way home or as soon as you get home. Or when you are invited as a dinner guest, you should offer to wash the dishes by licking them off. This is so that you can still enjoy the last bits of the delicious meal. If you get caught, Leslie has you covered. Just tell the person that you believe in saving water. This way people will think you are environmentally conscience.

This book has more funny tips like this. As well as lots of colorful pictures that will have you wanting to show other people. Don’t think that this book isn’t just about what not to do. This book is also informative. There are some interesting food facts that I didn’t know about. The Art of Over Eating is packed full of lots of laugh out loud moments to be had. Don’t take my word for it. Pick up a copy of this book today and start laughing.

London Boulevard = Motion Movie

When Mitchell is released from prison after serving three years for a vicious attack he doesn’t even remember, Billy Norton is there to pick him up. But Norton works for Tommy Logan, a ruthless loan shark lowlife with plans Mitchell wants nothing to do with. Attempting to stay out of Logan ’s way, he finds work at the Holland Park mansion of faded movie actress, Lillian Palmer, where he has to deal with her mysterious butler, Jordan. It isn’t long before Mitchell’s violent past catches up with him and people start getting hurt. When his disturbed sister Briony is threatened, Mitchell is forced to act.


LONDON BOULEVARD will soon be a major motion picture starring Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley, with the directorial debut of William Monahan, the Oscar-winning writer for Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed.”

Moonbeam Dreams = giveaway

I thought that this was a fun children’s book to read. The lines on the pages were not too long but just right. The pictures in the book were filled with lots of vivid colors. Plus the pictures matched what was being read on that certain page. The rhyming was also a delight. It almost made me want to sing this book out versus reading it. Moonbeam Dreams shows children that it is ok to have dreams. You can dream about anything you want to do or be. I would say this book is perfect for children ages 3 to 7.

Courtesy of Cheryl with Pump Up Your Book Promotion. I am giving away 1 copy of this book. Must be a follower and open to US and Canada only.

Just leave a comment to enter. Contest ends November 16th.