Title:  Five Steps To C.A.L.M.

Author:  Robert Patterson, Sr.

Review Copy Provided by:  author

Summary of Book:  A father once told his young son, who was going out into the world on his own, “Son, whatever you want to become, be The Best.” This course teaches you how to be “The Best.”

It begins with instructions on how to put “The Best” of you on paper  Writing Your Resume. Then, later presenting “The Best” of you in person  Preparing for an Interview.

You’ll begin with the basic Resume Content, noting what should and should not be included in your Resume. After mastering the content, then begins the formatting of the Resume.
The next section of the book takes you into “Interviewing Techniques.” What other book walks you through an all-inclusive “Pre-Interview” session? Well, C.A.L.M. does, and once you have completed this lesson, you will indeed be CALM during your interview, no matter how many people may be on the panel of interviewers.

Included in the “Interviewing Techniques” section are Fashion Recommendations, which takes you step by step through the protocol for the business interview dress code, how both men and women should dress when going to an interview. Remember, your Resume may have “opened” the door, now your personal appearance may get a “foot” in that door. Here is where you put the lessons you have learned from C.A.L.M. into practice. Here’s where you sell The Product – Yourself! Don’t worry. C.A.L.M. has fully prepared you for any of the possible questions that you may be asked during the interview. You are ready for them, and you will remain CALM.

C.A.L.M. guides you step-by-step through the entire interview: from the Beginning of the Interview, during the Interview, and through the Closure of the Interview. After completing this course of study, you will glide through your interview with confidence and a sense of achievement. You will have left a favorable impression with the employer, and all because you put into practice your C.A.L.M. course of study.

While the employer is checking you out, C.A.L.M. also instructs you on how to compile a checklist of pertinent company information. Information that is important to you in helping you decide whether or not you would want to work for this firm or company.

The author has thought of everything in preparing you for the job search. He has included a web-site listing for those of you who want to do your job-hunting via the Internet.

C.A.L.M. answers all the questions you may have ever had in your previous job search. The “Who,” the “What,” the “Where,” and the “How.”

My Review:  This is not a book that I would typically read, but I chose it strictly based on the title.  Didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this.  Not that I am upset at all.  This is a great little “handbook.”  In our time of economic disparity, when many are losing their jobs due to cut backs and bankruptcies, this book could not be more timely.  It is an easy read loaded with helpful hints and tips to get your resume updated, get through an interview, and land the job.  The five chapters, or five steps, are:

• Career Crusade Getting Started
• Resume Writing Clinic
• Interviewing Techniques
• Salary Negotiation
• Federal Employment

I just love how this book is laid out.  It gives such great checklists as you proceed through the obtaining a job process.  for example, there are 2 that I love: Resume Checklist and Cover Letter Checklist.

Although I have a job, I do have my Masters and wish to advance my career, so I will definitely refer to this book as I do.  I feel it is a must-have for anyone who is looking for a job or career change.  The step by step resume writing is fabulous.  It will help make anyone’s resume impressive and memorable.  After your resume is written, you need a cover letter to go with it and Mr. Patterson explains each part:

Resume Cover Letters

May set initial negative expectations if done poorly.  Important in telling which job is of interest to you, how you learned of the opening, and what you can do for the organization?  Human Resource professionals expect a cover letter and are keenly interested in its contents.

Basic Components

• Introduction
• Sales Presentation
• Request and Close
• Length
• Paper
• Guiding Principles

I’m amazed at just how simple and easy to follow it all is!  Mr. Patterson has basically created a “Getting a Job for Dummies” book.  It is that well laid out.  Thank you Mr. Patterson for giving us a handbook that is sure to help many.

Title:  The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby

Author:  Crystal Hubbard

Illustrator:  Robert McGuire

Review copy provided by:  Lee & Low Books

Synopsis from book jacket:  Born into an African American sharecropping family in 1880s Kentucky, Jimmy Winkfield grew up loving horses.  The large, powerful animals inspired little Jimmy to think big.  Looking beyond his family’s farm, he longed for a life riding on action-packed racetracks around the world.

Like his hero, the great Isaac Murphy, Jimmy “Wink” Winkfield would stop at nothing to make it as a jockey.  Though his path to success was wrought with obstacles both on the track and off, Wink faced each challenge with passion and a steadfast spirit.  Along the way he carved out a lasting legacy as one of history’s finest horsemen and the last African American ever to win the Kentucky Derby.

My review:  I have to admit that when I got this book, I hadn’t heard of Jimmy Winkfield, slaves being jockeys, or African Americans running in the Kentucky Derby.  Now I have, and I’m glad.  This was such an interesting read.  Being a horse lover, I was drawn to this one, even though I am not particularly fond of running horses.  I was just intrigued by this story because it has so much history in it.  The author, Crystal Hubbard, tells Wink’s story so well.  Wink had a dream and he didn’t stop until he had achieved that dream.  Hubbard uses her writing to showcase that dream. 

“When Wink saw the jockeys sitting proudly in the winner’s circle dressed in their fine colored silks, he knew he wanted to be there one day himself.”

“He had gone from exercise rider and stable hand to jockey in less than a year.  This race could be his big break.”

“As punishment he received a year’s suspension from racing.  Wink was devastated but determined not to give up on his dream.”

The story chronicles Wink’s life from childhood to retirement.  Through racial tension, suspension, and blacks being forced out of racing, Wink persevered and made a name for himself.  There is an afterword at the end of the book that tells more about this fabulous man.  I enjoyed learning about a part of history that I didn’t even know existed, and am certain that children, young adults, and other adults will as well.   His daughter sums it up with a quote at the end:

“He was a survivor.  His determination not to give up was amazing.  He lived a good life.” – Liliane Winkfield Casey

Author:  Karen White

Review copy provided by:   Pump Up Your Book Promotions

Synopsis:  Melanie Middleton is a ghost seeing realtor.  This is a fact she does not like to let others know.  After she meets with an old man, she thinks to list his house, she ends up inheriting his entire estate.  She doesn’t like old houses; she just likes to sell them.  What will SHE do with a rundown old house in Charleston full of wonderful antiques?  The house is historic and full of ghosts who want and need Melanie’s help.  In walks, Jack Trenholm, a good looking, unsolved mystery loving, writer.  He worms his way into the house and Melanie’s life because he believes that hidden in her house on Tradd Street, are missing Confederate diamonds.  Jack falls for Melanie, Melanie doesn’t know she’s fallen for Jack, and the ghosts are fighting against them and each other.

My Review:  Whan I received this book, I was excited to read it, but it took me a little while to get into it.  I am so glad that I stuck with this one.  Romance lover?  Mystery lover?  Ghost story lover?  Historical Fiction lover?  If you answered yes to one or more of those questions, then you should enjoy this book.  I haven’t read any of Karen White’s other books, but now I will.  She writes in such a way that you can connect with the characters and feel like you are right there, in the story.  I enjoyed The House on Tradd Street because of the intrigue and the mystery.  Will they ever find the diamonds?  Who are the ghosts and what do they want?  Finding the answer to these questions is what kept me reading.  Also the fact that I couldn’t wait to see if Melanie and Jack got together.  I love how White tells the story of Melanie dealing with her own ghosts: her relationship with her father (who controls the estate money) and her broken relationship with her mother (who left when Melanie was young).  Being fond of Civil War history, it was wonderful to see how the story line and history came together.  Charleston, South Carolina is a very historical town, and White makes that known through references in the book.   I would recommend this book to others who enjoy chick lit, historical fiction, and/or mysteries.  It’s a great ghost story and made me want to go to Charleston to visit some of the old houses and see if they are really haunted.

I enjoyed this book so much, that I want to pass it on for others to enjoy.  If you’d like to receive my copy of The House on Tradd Street, leave me a comment.  I will randomly choose a winner on Nov. 18.  Giveaway open to US addresses only.   You can earn multiple entries by:

• blog about this for 2 more entries
• subscribe to my blog for 1 entry
• have others say they heard about this giveaway from you for 1 more entry
• you could have a total of 5 entries! 

Since this is a blog tour, don’t miss the other stops:

Divine Caroline (Author Interview)
S. Krishna’s Books (Book Review)
Blogcritics (Author Interview)
The Writer’s Life (Guest Post)
Publishing Secrets of Authors (Guest Post)
The Book Rack (Book Review)
Savvy Verse & Wit (Book Review)
Scribe Vibe (Guest Post)
Savvy Verse & Wit (guest post & book giveaway)
The Book Czar (book review)
Musings of a Bookish Kitty (book review)
The Book Stacks (guest post)
American Chronicle (author interview)
Musings of a Bookish Kitty (author interview)
In Bed With Books (book review)
Review Your Book (book review)
The Plot (book spotlight)
The Plot (character interview)
The Friendly Book Nook (book review)
Reading Mama (book review)
Zensanity (author interview)
Dear Author (guest post)
Diary of an Eccentric (book review)
Bookish Ruth (book review)
Cafe of Dreams (book review)
The 1st Page (book spotlight)
Diary of an Eccentric (author interview)
As the Pages Turn (book review)
The Tome Traveller’s Weblog (book review)
Real Hollywood (author interview)