Why Your Diets Fail and the Science That Really Works by Myrna Garcia Haag, R.D. and John J. Macionis, Ph. D. #nonfition #nutrition #health #bookreview #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

 

Nonfiction / Nutrition / Health

Date Published: March 3, 2025

Publisher: ‎MindStir Media

 

If you have struggled with food, we understand! We’ve been there! We know that diets don’t deliver long-term weight loss. We know that weight-loss drugs work for many people, but at high cost and with many side effects. And they only work as long as you take them.

Diets and drugs fall short because they do not address the root cause of obesity. But there is another way! Reaching your lean weight and optimal health depends on understanding that the root cause of obesity is a chemical imbalance in the body due to improper nutrition. The game-changer is learning some nutritional science that lets the body guide us toward lean weight and optimal health. This book explains the root cause of overeating and provides the nutritional guidelines that make all the difference. Myrna’s nutritional science provides the key that will free you from food addiction and change your life so you can live longer, healthier, and with enhanced athletic ability. This science actually works. It's simple. It's forever. And it's easy!

Review

This is a great science based approach to dieting. It doesn't go by what may work for some people or outside factors, it takes into account actual science and gets to the why. This is great for someone wanting to actually understand their body and how it works and how dieting can be done based on that.

About the Authors

Myrna Garcia Haag, R.D.

After decades working in the fitness business, Myrna set out to learn the links between nutrition and optimal health. At age fifty-five, she returned to school, earned a degree in nutrition and accreditation as a Registered Dietitian. Myrna lives in Tampa, Florida, where she has built a clinical nutrition practice, treating patients with chronic illnesses.

Years of research and engaging with hundreds of patients led Myrna to develop nutrition balancing techniques that turn off the metabolic triggers that cause overeating. This science has helped patients approach their lean and healthy weight—without dieting. Myrna’s research has also produced guidelines that provide athletes with a competitive advantage.

Now, with this book, Myrna offers everyone simple science that puts us on the path to a lean and long life. She is devoting all her energy to positively changing people’s lives.

 

https://leanlong.life/myrna-garcia-haag-r-d/

 

 John J. Macionis, Ph.D.

John spent much of his adult life as a college professor. He was Prentice Hall Distinguished Scholar at Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio. John is also a professional writer. For more than forty years, he has authored the best-selling college textbooks in several fields of social science, published by Pearson Education (http://www.macionis.com).

John promotes the appreciation of music, protection of the natural environment, and expanding historical literacy across the United States. He divides his time between Lake George, New York, and Vero Beach, Florida. John enjoys playing tennis, performing the blues and oldies rock and roll, and looking for ways—big and small—to make the world a better place.

Myrna’s science changed John’s life. Starting from obesity and being well on the road to diabetes and heart disease, John has reached his lean weight, and his health has improved dramatically. What he wants now is to share this message with others.

 

https://leanlong.life/john-j-macionis-ph-d/

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Read More

Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn by Jeff Copeland #bookreview #giveaway #memoir #nonfiction #rabtbooktours @feralhouse @RABTBookTours

 

A Walk On The Wild Side With Andy Warhol's Most Fabulous Superstar

 

Memoir / Biography

Date Published: 02-11-2025

Publisher: Feral House

 

A young, aspiring writer desperate for a break…and the legendary Andy Warhol superstar who gave him the story of a lifetime.

“Jeff's affection for Holly, even as she drunkenly claims, ‘You ruined my life!’ makes this romp worth the journey.” —Michael Musto

 

By the mid-1980s, Holly Woodlawn, once lauded by George Cukor for her performance in the 1970 Warhol production and Paul Morrissey directed Trash, was washed up. Over. Kaput. She was living in a squalid Hollywood apartment with her dog and bottles of Chardonnay. A chance meeting with starry-eyed corn-fed Missouri-born Jeff Copeland, who moved to Hollywood with dreams of ‘making it’ as a television writer, changed the course of BOTH of their lives forever.

Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn is a story of how an unlikely friendship with a young gay writer and an, ahem, mature trans actress and performer created the bestselling autobiography of 1991, A Low Life in High Heels. This book about writing a book is a celebration of chutzpa and love as Holly, the embodiment of Auntie Mame, introduces Jeff to the glamorous (and sometimes larcenous) world of a Warhol Superstar. In turn, Jeff uses his writing (and typing) talent to give Holly the second chance at fame she craved.

In turns hilarious and heartwarming, Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn is a portrait of the real Holly who loved deeply, laughed loudly, and left mayhem in her wake.

Review

This was such a unique read. If you are fascinated with the Warhol era, or you grew up during the 70' and 80's then this book is worth a read.

It captures the moments of our youth in a truly revealing and nostalgic way. Very well written it gives us a look into the private life and personality while highlighting the fame.

About the Author

For nearly 30 years, Jeff Copeland worked as a show biz hobo, hopping from one gravy train to the next. He was nominated for an Emmy (yay!) and lost (boo!), and has enjoyed working on fun, interesting, and exciting content for a variety of TV networks and film studios, including ABC, FOX, and HGTV.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

BookShop

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Read More

A Deceptive Game Ensues by Sophie Barnes #bookreview #historical #mystery #romance #giveaway #rabtbooktours @BarnesSophie @RABTBookTours

 

House of Croft, Book 4

Historical Mystery / Thriller / Romance

Date Published: 06-17-2025

An unexpected menace threatens their newfound freedom…

Acquitted of the crime he was accused of, Adrian Croft begins an investigation that could link a duke to his sister's death. But with a fresh series of murders leading straight to Saint George's Hospital, Adrian is torn between his quest for revenge and the need to catch an active killer. For though he may have sworn to yield his power in order to gain a pardon, all bets are off when villains threaten his city.

Having proven her unfailing loyalty to her husband, Samantha Croft settles into married life - an idyl that quickly crumbles when she and Adrian get caught up in a new series of murders. As they follow a trail that leads them through subterranean tunnels and to a secret organization, they face another threat too: a ghost from Adrian's past who's about to bring war to their doorstep.

Review

I loved the historical elements, her attention to detail takes you back to that time, you can picture it.

There was a lot of backstory needed but it didn't bog down the novel as a whole.

The writing is concise and to the point. The author doesn't skirt around things and really shines the light on her characters and setting, while keeping the pace steady and keeping the reader on their toes.

Mystery, action, and drama are at the forefront. There is a sense of urgency while reading and I love that the cover perfectly captures that feeling.

About the Author

 

 USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her books have been published internationally in eight languages. With a fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents, and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Pinterest

Instagram

BookBub

BookBuzz

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

The Belmont by Anthony Cocco #fiction #bookreview #rabtbooktours @AntonMauri58620 @RABTBookTours

 

Fiction

Date Published: February 28, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

The Belmont is a tale of a young man's struggles with a heartbreak he cannot get past, set against the backdrop of a bacchanalia-filled weekend centered around the 1998 Belmont Stakes horse race, which ended with a Triple Crown bid thwarted by a photo finish. During a long "weekend" spread out over six days and in three different states, a weekend fueled by alcohol and sexual tension, but also filled with reflective, heartbreaking, exhilarating, hilarious, and heartwarming moments, Tommy Cippolini embarks on a journey of self-discovery, experiencing just about every single human emotion along the way. In between episodes filled with anger and frustration, anticipation, anxiety, disappointment, sexual arousal and temptation, binge drinking, daringness and trepidation, hilarity and debauchery, and longing and sadness, Tommy confides in good friends, casual friends, strangers, and family members about his feelings and past trials and tribulations.

 

Review

Anthony Cocco's storytelling skillfully weaves historical events with contemporary writing, creating a riveting tale that's as informative into the world of horse racing as it is exciting.

Admirably developed characters, sweeping landscapes and historically accurate events woven in make this a most enjoyable read.

  About the Author

My name is Anthony Cocco.  I’m 59 years old and a native of Malden, Massachusetts, but I’ve spent most of the last 21 years living about 20 miles north of Boston. Since 1997, I’ve worked in the financial services industry (some asset managers and some retirement services providers), in various roles, and recently started my fifth different job in that industry in February of 2025. Prior to that, I worked (out of college) in the health insurance field, mainly in customer and provider relations (three different companies in two different states—Massachusetts and Florida).

I am the fourth (and final) child born to the late Morris and Dorothy Cocco. I have two living (and one recently deceased) siblings, one brother and one sister (my eldest sister passed away suddenly in July 2024 at age 72).

I have no children of my own and have never been married, but I do have five nieces and nephews (3 of the former and 2 of the latter), two of which are the daughters of my late sister. Since I’m the only one of our parents’ kids to have remained living (for the most part) in Massachusetts, the rest of my family (except for some cousins) is somewhat spread out across the country.

I attended the State University of New York at New Paltz from 1984-88, where I earned a (largely unused) degree in Journalism (I wanted to be a sports broadcaster but got sidetracked when someone convinced me I needed to be a sportswriter instead). It wasn’t long before I realized that vocation wasn’t a good match for me, but my years at New Paltz weren’t entirely wasted because it was during that time when I met one of my lifelong friends, the guy who introduced me to the “Belmont Stakes crew”—his friends from his youth and from his undergrad college years. One of the main characters in my book is based on him, and all of the characters that make up the entire Belmont “tribe”, as I call it in the book, are based on his friends and other acquaintances.

Contact Links

"X"

LinkedIn

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Read More

The Matrix Opal by Stella Atrium #bookreview #scifi #sciencefiction #giveaway #rabtbooktours @SAtriumWrites @RABTBookTours

 

 

A Dystopian Science Fiction Novel

Book 1 of the Duchy Wars

Science Fiction

Date Published: 03-25-2025

A rewarding travelogue through a richly drawn world and its cultures, this arresting series-starter finds Atrium, a master of anthropological science fiction, inviting in new readers with an enticing hook. Bybiis has the talent of a beastmaster, enabling her to command a host of creatures. For this, she is tortured and inked with magic-suppressing tattoos. Bybiis and Ariseng, from the Siibabean forest, are warned by a mystic shopkeeper, Ariseng’s aunt, that the two are “stronger together than either is alone.”

 

Review

Stella Atrium manages to create an epic narrative scope with The Matrix Opal.

Good action and personal interaction. It started a little slow with backstory and world-building, but rapidly became more and more intense as the story developed.

The plot flowed nicely and the action kept me guessing and flipping pages.

A dramatic plot and uplifting resolution . . . Atrium has penned a truly memorable sci-fi read weaving in thrills and drama.

About the Author

Stella Atrium is a cynical septuagenarian who has spent a lifetime exploring female characters for real world reactions to obstacles. Often pushed into submissive and non-verbal roles, women really live in a world of networking among aunties, cousins, wives of husbands, convenient friends and neighbors. This rich world is largely unexplored.

“I grew up with all brothers, so I knew about women from stories and from school. What I found at school wasn’t anything like in the stories, so I set out to learn why.”

Contact Links

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

Purchase Today

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Read More

Anticipation Day by Jeff Michelson #scifi #sciencefiction #bookreview #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

 

Science Fiction

Date Published: December 3, 2024

 

 

2025 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in Science Fiction

“A musing science fiction novel about the future of AI, Anticipation Day follows a group of friends as they try to improve their lives through government-sanctioned fantasies." —Foreword Clarion Reviews

“A boundary-pushing plunge into a vividly imagined future, Anticipation Day poses powerful questions about identity, the human experience, and our digital destiny as a species, resulting in a provocative mixture of Black Mirror and The Surge.” —The Independent Review of Books

 

In the summer of 2026, amidst the sights and sounds of one of the oldest pubs in London, Dr. Joshua Lee receives a call that will alter his life for the foreseeable future—he’s asked to work on a clandestine project that will transform every American’s way of life.

Six years later, amidst the steel and glass canyons of the Denver suburbs, a group of friends assemble for dinner the night before their first escape into Anticipation Day, an immersive simulated experience that is promised to be an annual respite from the daily grind.

Amongst this group of friends are Alexandra, Eric, Patrick, Mike and MaryAnne, each at inflection points in their lives and each with their own life scars and unrealized dreams. As they prepare to plug into the simulation, they are forced to confront their own fears and desires, all while interfacing with their chosen simulated experience, blurring the lines between reality and the artificial dreamscape.

These experiences force the group to confront their deepest fears, chase exclusive happiness, and unlock truths buried within their souls. As they delve deeper into the algorithmic labyrinth, more truths about their existence are fully revealed.

However, the question begs: Will their journey lead to salvation, or will it unravel the very fabric of their existence?

 

Join this eclectic band of suburbanites as they look for meaning amidst the chaos of the digital age. Anticipation Day beckons, but not everything is as is seems in this electrifying tale of urban futurism.

Review

In the enthralling science fiction and fantasy novel, Anticipation Day, readers are transported to another time and place in such a vivid way.

I really enjoyed the descriptive writing, fascinating character insights into their motivations, and enough backstory to keep me in the plot line to leave us wanting more.

Action, suspense and drama all combine to make a wonderful escape.

About the Author

Jeff Michelson is a Certified Public Accountant by trade, a deli owner on the weekends and a first time author. Jeff lives in the NJ suburbs with his family, including their dog Maggie and lots of koi fish!

As a first time author, Jeff really enjoyed the creative process of writing this book and hopes others enjoy reading the story as much as he enjoyed writing it!

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Read More

The Rebound Effect by Linda Griffin #audiobook #bookreview #giveaway #psychological #thriller #rabtbooktours @LindaGriffinA @RABTBookTours

 

Psychological Thriller

Date Published: September 23. 2024

Publisher: ACX

Narrator: Catherine Hein Carter

Run Time: 5 hours, 34 minutes

In the small town of Cougar, struggling single mother and veterinary assistant Teresa Lansing is still bruised from a failed relationship when Frank McAllister sweeps her off her feet. Frank is a big-city SWAT officer who moved to Cougar only four months ago. He's handsome, charming, forceful, very sexy, and a bit mysterious. He had his eye on Teresa even before they met and is pushing for a serious relationship right away. Teresa finds his intense courtship flattering, and the sex is fabulous, but she doesn't want her deaf six-year-old son to be hurt again. Her former fiancé cheated on her when he got drunk after being unjustly fired, but he loves her and her son, and the whirlwind romance is complicated by his efforts to win Teresa back. And then there's the matter of the bodies buried at Big Devil Creek…

Review

This book and especially the performance of the narrator had my interest from the beginning and never once lost my interest. The characters came together and it got interesting from the start which had me engrossed.

The plot was fast-paced and flowed smoothly and the characters were those who I really liked hearing about. They were interesting and compelling.

Griffin has a vivid imagination and these characters will show you some action packed fun.

 

About the Author

 

 As soon as Linda Griffin learned to read, she knew she wanted to be a “book maker” and wrote her first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” at the age of six. Her passion for the printed word also led her to a career at the San Diego Public Library, including 22 years as Fiction Librarian. She retired to spend more time on her writing, and her stories have been published in numerous journals. She has had ten books published by the Wild Rose Press.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Pinterest

Instagram

Bluesky

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

iBooks

Audible

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Read More

To Sing Like a Mockingbird by Jan Notzon #literary #fiction #bookreview #giveaway #rabtbooktours @jannotzon @RABTBookTours

 

Literary Fiction

Date Published: 01-13-2025

 

 

In a school/reformatory, a teacher fights his own loss of faith in the power of education and the twin assaults of drug cartels, their hired assassins among his students. and the blind idealism of his principal.

 

Review

A wonderful book with a little bit of everything, it has mystery, drama, and many deep themes that make it stick with you after you read it.

I thought this novel was an excellent fusion of depth and suspenseful twists.

The storyline and characters were captivating.

It's clear the author invested a lot of effort into crafting this book, with every twist adding to its unique appeal.

About the Author

Jan Notzon is a novelist and playwright in Charlotte, NC.

His first novel, The Dogs Barking, is a coming-of-age story set in a sleepy backwater Texas border town in the 1950s. And Ye Shall Be As Gods, recounts a brother’s fight to rescue his sister from the clutches of despair and his lost love from catatonia. The Id Paradox, is the story of three friends, assumed betrayal, rescue and healing from the horrors of spiritual annihilation.  Song for The Forsaken chronicles the tale of two sisters and the loss of faith that tests the bond between them. Suffer Not the Mole People, is the story of a family's travails as they make their way from Poland to the United States in 1866. ONLY THE DEAD tells the personal stories of three families, one Anglo and two Mexican as they participate in the establishment of the Mexican and Texas Republics. His seventh novel To Sing Like a Mockingbird is now available on Amazon.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Instagram

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Read More

Ashes to Flame by Donna Simmons #nonfiction #bookreview #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

Nonfiction

Date Published: March 3, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

 

Childhood trauma leads to perseverance and personal growth in this empowering memoir.

Born into a world shrouded by multi-generational cycles of abuse and child marriages, Donna Simmons navigates a harrowing landscape of pain and betrayal, detailing the challenges that devastated her early years but ultimately did not define the person she became.

Through poignant storytelling, she shares both moments of despair and the small victories that fueled her resilience. Each chapter reveals the transformative process of healing and self-discovery, touching on the importance of embracing nature, finding solace in creativity, and connecting with a community. Ashes to Flame recounts a powerful, deeply personal, and transformative journey from the ashes of childhood trauma to the vibrant light of purpose.

Review

What stood out most to me was how accessible this book is. It's not weighed down by jargon or complex words and themes. Instead, it's filled with clarity, kindness, and actionable insights while allowing the reader to relate to Simmons and her life experiences. Simmons gently guides you to recognize that so much of our suffering lingers, and that true freedom lies in letting go and being present.

About the Author

My name is Donna Simmons, and I’m a wife, mother, author, and avid advocate for breaking cycles of generational trauma and mental health recovery.  As a Governor appointed member of the Kentucky Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and member of the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative Advisory Board, I work with public servants and providers across the state to support a reduction in juvenile system involvement and strengthening protective factors for high risk youth.  My passion for this work comes from my direct experience as a child abuse survivor, involvement in a behavioral health facility when I was 14, and resulting grooming and exploitation by a 29 year old mental health professional who I was married off to as a child.

In my healing journey, I have recognized that true trauma recovery can only occur when we are willing to examine the generational cycles that keeps us bound in harmful patterns.  My mission is to help others transform their trauma into purpose so they can break these cycles and reach their full potential as individuals and parents.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram- @transformingashes2flame

TikTok- @ashestoflame

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Read More