Donovan Books

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard while reading a book. It was hilarious throughout the entire book. I loved Lucy's sarcasm and quick wit - even when she was large. I completely related with her self esteem issues when it came to her body. I think anyone who has ever been overweight (whether it be 20lbs or a 100lbs) would be able to relate to what she was going through. Watching her relationship with Theo change was definitely a pleasure to read. I wish Ms. Donovan would write a story about one of the secondary characters so maybe we could get a glimpse of Theo and Lucy now. I really can't say enough about this book! I will most likely go out and buy it (I borrowed it from the library) so I can have it on standby when I have a really bad day.

I have been hooked onto Susan, since I read her first book "The Kept Woman" and since then quite literally hunting for more of her writings. Her unque style in writing has made me want for more, and I must say this book was the one that touched my heart the most.
I myself am not shapely and knowing that there might be men like this is sometimes a relief and Lucy does take you on a weight loss journey.
You cant help but pick up some of the deitary tips offered.....

I loved this story! It was soo cute and fuzzy; it was perfect! Lucy was a combination of a babe BUT with a nice personality. Since I opened the book and started reading where she chokes on a milkdud and the "Ken-look-alike" performs the Heimlich Maneuver on her I could not put the book down! Highly recommended!

Ok, but not too exceptional. It wasn't a thrilling book for me. Not an exciting read. Just plain ok.

Overweight and traumatized by a cruel college prank from years ago, Lucy Cunningham hides behind her weight and throws herself into her work.

As the Advertising Executive and brains behind the fabulous ad campaign for The Palm Club account, Lucy finds herself being literally thrown in the midst of her great idea. This means she'll have to work with a trainer to shed some pounds - on the popular morning show, Wake Up Miami. For every pound lost, Lucy and said trainer will earn $1,000. Though she was thrust into this plan unwillingly by her dirtbag boss, Lucy builds up the determination to earn this needed cash and lose the extra weight.

Enter Theo Redmond. The handsome trainer may look like he has everything going for him, but deep inside he's a man with a heart that needs healing, an adorable little brother with an unfortunate disability that commands all of his attention and dreams that still need to be fulfilled.

When Lucy steps into his gym for their first session, Theo's world gets knocked upside-down. The loveable, insecure lady who stands in front of him is a breath of fresh air in a city where model-like beauty reigns supreme.

The deeper they get into this project together, the harder it is for them to keep their feelings at bay. As the pounds melt away, so do their defenses, but not enough to help the two of them finally let their respective pasts go. If they don't move on, they'll never be able to have a successful relationship. But, can they do it?

HE LOVES LUCY will have you rooting for these great characters who will steal your heart and warm your soul!

Take a Chance On Me is my first Susan Donovan book. It won't be my last! It combined elements of romance, suspense, humor, and family dynamics to make a near perfect romance in my opinion.

The characters were wonderfully portrayed and drawn out. Thomas was a "tough as nails" cop, but through Donovan's impressive writing style, we also see his pain, insecurity, and emotional fragility in the wake of a painful divorce. Emma is also very lovable and multi-dimensional. She is smart, funny, empathetic (towards both 2 and 4 legged mammals), and likeable. She also struggles with body image and self image which made her all more real to me. Hairy, the "rat dog" (no really, a Chinese Crested) also plays and important role in the book and Donovan allows us to see life from the viewpoint of a dog....it was fresh and funny! Leelee, Emma's ward from her deceased best friend was a heartbreakingly real pre-teen. Her desire for love, stability, and a family added so much to the story. Combined all that with Emma's dad, Thomas's sister and brother-in-law and their kids...and this is really a "family affair" book.

The love scenes in this book come late.....but are well worth the wait. Although they are very sensual and hot, they are also laced with love and respect....insecurity and honesty......the love scenes are perfect. I recommend that you get your hands on a copy of this book right away!

This is the first book I've read by Susan Donovan. I'm a big fan of Jennifer Crusie's books and this looked very similar. It is similar in some ways, but I don't feel it's as good as Crusie.

The first few chapters seemed to drag a bit, but the author definitely gives you enough background information on each character. You feel like you know these people. Some of the phrases used were a tad cheesy and unrealistic, IMO. The sex scene, well it definitely doesn't leave anything up the imagination that's for sure. That's not a bad thing, but I'm used to Crusie's hot, sexy scenes - Donovan's were much, much more graphic.

However, with all that said, there are some really funny parts in the book. The dog Hairy is hilarious and I love how she gave him is own thoughts. LeeLee is a complete trip for a 12 year old! Emma and Thomas are believable characters and the issues they deal with are completely realistic.

I would put the book between 3.5 to 4 stars. It's definitely worth reading, just beware there is some cheese to it.

I loved this story! It was perfect for me. I especially like that Donovan does not perfect her female characters. All sizes and sorta all ages, it's wonderful!

Emma is a divorced vet who has a lot of debts and isn't very lucky in love. She recently got custody of her deceased best friends daugher, and lives with her Dad and her in his ranch.

Thomas is some sorta cop who is undercover looking for an assasin who killed his dogs deceased owner. He also had bad luck with women, and his ex left him because he can't have children.

The sex scenes were awesome! Although, it was excruciatingly nerve wrecking waiting for them to finally get it on because it took a long time for them to actually do the deed, but when it does happened it is worth every minute of waiting!

One thing I didn't quite get was one minute she's a conservative divorcee vet and another she's a drum playing chic??

Two broken people one prospect of love, what else can you ask for?

I liked this book, but was hoping for something a little less "Harlequin"-y and more like Jennifer Cruisie or even Janet Evanovich. But it was still pretty good and I loved the interjections/editorials by the dog.

This is my favorite Susan Donovan. Emma and Thomas are well written and endearing characters. Parts of the story are told through the eyes of a hairless toy chinese crested, so funny. There is just enough action to up your heart rate.

Bernice McFadden had me at Sugah. After reading that series, I was a solidified fan. Loving Donavan encapsulated me in the same way as Sugah's tragic story. The depths of Love, especially Love as experienced by African American woman (of three generations no doubt) are poetically captured in this book. Love equals vulnerability, and vulnerability equals the risk of being hurt. Despite these laws, Campbell, one of the book's main character's, takes a risk at love. What ensues is a melee of circumstances,written in such a manner that the reader can't help but be emotionally connected to the story.
Bernice McFadden's writing is much like prose at times. Her style also reminds me of Toni Morrison, in that the words are not only rhythmic but expertly weaved into a storyline that will hold you captivated. Even the most disturbing passages of this book, are masterfully written. The reader is invited to peek into the mind of the book's nemesis, who is also a variable in Campbell's attempt at love. If you like books, that emotionally connect you to the story line, leaving you wanting more long after you have read the last page, then Loving Donovan will be satisfy your desire for good organic literature. Thank you Bernice for sharing your art with the world.

While I enjoyed reading this book, only a few chapters were dedicated to the relationship of Campbell and Donovan. The title is misleading. I liked the book and would recommend it.

This was THE saddest story I EVER read....I swore off of B.McFadden because of this book...I was actually tired after I read this one. I had so much hope and the let down was so hard....I read this book quite a while ago and I've given B. McFadden/G. Holliday another chance (she's really one of my favorite authors ;-)) B.McFadden wrote this book and I read it. If a topic comes up about a sad story, I'll bring this book up. I'm just a sucker for happy endings and you can look at this ending in more ways than one.

Love it!! it was so close to home sort of to speak, kept my interest. it's a keeper, I read it for the second time,and love it even more,as if reading it the second time gave me more insights
on the characters and the book as if I'd read it for the first time. Did I say that I love it!!!!

This is the second of Ms. McFadden's books I've had the pleasure of reading, and I look forward to reading more. This novel reminded me of Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye." I agree with the reviewer who wrote that the final part of the story seemed a bit truncated, a let-down, since it followed a thorough and completely satisfying analysis of the protagonists' pasts. I wish it could have lingered a bit longer on the later lives of Campbell and Donovan. The far-reaching symptoms of child sexual abuse are movingly and accurately portrayed, however. Usually, early sexual abuse is ascribed to a female, so it was particularly poignant to read of its effects on Donovan. I know the story first hand, from clients and friends, and it's just as terrible as McFadden writes it. This novel could be suggested reading for men in sexual abuse/addiction support groups. I will recommend it to people who I know have experienced this trauma in their lives. There's very little about male childhood sexual abuse available in literature. Thanks to the author for her contribution, and for the fabulously complex characters (including the horrible "Grammy"). Bernice McFadden is a true artist.

The small excerpt really hit home. There are so many emotions that come along with being a new mom - so to engage in a dreamland that takes you away from the real world is a refreshing concept. Poignant thoughts and expressive details produce a clear portrait for the reader. I look forward to reading more about Rebecca's journey.

Depressed characters are difficult to love - they're wrapped up in their own lives, caught in emotional myopia, and it's hard to see the real person behind the feelings. As I read this, I was thinking of Good Grief by Lolly Winston, and the way in which the author engages us with the narrator by giving moments of humor along with the sadness.

We don't get that here, and while the portrait of Rebecca's post-partum depression is vivid and understandable, it's also one-note. The character I sympathized with more is Ian, because he's obviously kind and caring, and his moments of nervous happiness in the delivery room were so real.

Rebecca's voice was stronger in her dream - I'll admit the muffin shop made me laugh, it just seemed so silly after such intense depression - and then lapsed again in the paint-by-numbers conversation with Dr. Walsh.

Oddly enough, though the scenes with Ian after Meg's birth were the weakest to me, it's where I felt the most potential lies. The image of Rebecca locking herself in the bathroom only to be yanked back out of that solace to feed Meg - again - was touching and vivid. If Rebecca can find her humanity inside the sadness, she'd be a worthwhile character to read about.

I really liked this excerpt. It vividly portrayed the feelings a new mother sometimes has and I liked this authors style of writing. I would really like to read all of this novel and would spend money on it. I would like to explore the dreams Rebecca is experiencing from the synopsis, inserting an air of mystery.

So far, this novel is very well written. I am anxious to see more.

This is an authentic and genuine view into the complicated beautiful mess of new motherhood. I'm intrigued by the dreams and definitely want to see where the story goes!

I was browsing in a bookstore and thumbing through books, reading the back covers and maybe a few pages and then putting them back on the shelf and moving on. Then, like a gem hidden among a bunch of ordinary stones, I found this book. I bought it and while riding the train home I started reading it. I walked in the house and sat down and read it. I skipped dinner, never turned on the tv, stayed up way beyond my bedtime and just kept reading until the very last page (sob!). Loved the plot, loved the characters, loved the humor and the romance. First thing I did in the morning was call a friend and say, "You have to read this book!"

I would really give this one 4.5 stars. I liked this book so much better than Take a Chance on Me. Jack and Sam are great together and you will find yourself energized as their love story unfolds. It's a fairy tale come true!

I absoluetly loved this book. The perfect love story, with a little Warren & Annette quality going on. He was the eternal playboy, and she was the one that changed him. Its a fast and easy read, and is finished long before you want it to end. I think if your looking for that one book to take your mind off of the chaos of every day life, if just for a little while, this is the one.

Samantha Monroe is barely making ends meet. Working herself into a stupor every day doing hair, Sam is almost ready to give up. Over three years ago her lowlife ex husband decided he was gay and skipped out. Sam hasn't seen him since. Receiving yet another call from her three year old's preschool, Sam knows that she has hit rock bottom. That night when she and a group of friends get together for their monthly Drinks and Depression session at a local bar, Sam verbalizes that she needs to be a kept woman. Innocently spoken but not forgotten by one of Sam's friends, the next day Sam is approached with a proposition.

Jack Tolliver, extreme playboy and senator wannabe, needs to change his image - according to his handlers. It seems since he was caught ogling a woman's fanny during a speech that the public is not inclined to vote for him. Jack knows he is the best person for the job but without public support and votes; he will lose the senate seat he is aiming for. His campaign advisors have a plan and it involves a certain redhead and single mother of three.

Jack and Samantha negotiate the terms of their agreement and the charade begins. Jack's numbers start to go up and early polls show Jack's popularity increasing. The polls aren't totally accurate however. They don't show how much Jack and Sam are attracted to each other nor do they show how far one scorned woman will go to get to the bottom of Jack's pretend engagement. Get to the bottom she will, and Jack's life, as he knows it will be turned upside down.

THE KEPT WOMAN by Susan Donovan is a delightful and humorous look at the ends and outs of politics as well as one man's journey to self-awareness. I enjoyed watching the playboy come to grips with the fact that he no longer wanted to play around. As for Samantha, she was one tough adversary and I loved how she and Jack came to an understanding. Their falling in love was just icing on the cake.

THE KEPT WOMAN by Susan Donovan kept me entertained from beginning to end. THE KEPT WOMAN is a winner of a read in my book!

****Natasha Smith for Romance Junkies****

I usually don't read romance novels because I have always imagined that they would be very generic with out much of a plot and a whole lot of cheesey sex. I have no idea what posessed me to buy this book. Lucky pick at Barnes and Nobles I guess because I was very pleasantly surprised. It was actually very touching with a good, creative plot and just enough steamy sex. It made me want to give some other romance novels a try too.

I meet Donna McCue on a Tv shoot she was fun and so inspring to everyone there I read her book , It should be a best seller!
Jane from NYC

I knew very little about palmistry before I read this book. Donna comes across as someone who has been through a lot but is using her gift to help others. The stories about other clients were very healing for me. She has a gift for seeing the past and understanding and encouraging others to do the best they can with their lives.
I would be interested to know if any of the predictions made in a reading whether by phone or in person actually come true.

I found the book to be very informative. I especially enjoyed the stories about individuals Ms. McCue has read for. The illustrations, as well as descriptions of palm and finger markings, are helpful in comparing to one's own personality characteristics. This book gives a unique view into a little know field.

Whether you refer to it as a roadmap or a blueprint, your palms reveal--mirror--your absolute essence. I learned this lesson magnificently by a) reading Donna McCue's inspirational and yet humorously instructive book, YOUR FATE IS IN YOUR HANDS, and b) by meeting this delightfully wise, funny Fairy Godmother-like woman in person two weeks ago. It was like being hit by a comet. In her book you learn that she's had more than her share of abuse, sadness, and disappointments. She's human and she bleeds drops of sorrow just like the rest of us. In her early teens one day, she reached out desperately for help, and, instead of keeping an appointment with a social worker, she seized the opportunity presented to go for a palm reading--and that made all the difference in her life. Donna McCue studied and became a Master of Palmistry--an art that has been 5,000 years in the making. To the uninitiated (me, for example), her book outlines the basics: she explains the heart/head/life lines, the various Mounts and the roles of all the fingers (did you know there are people walking around with "Murderer's Thumbs?"). The chapter on markings is fabulous: the meaning of crosses, stars, grills, etc., that reside on your palms and what they mean in your life. To help you better understand, Donna relates real-life cases of palm readings: the famous, the infamous, and the working stiffs. You'll learn to read your own palm's special roadmap of abilities, disappointments, character traits, and how to unblock any personal obstacles to help you lead a more fulfilling life.

But there's more. The day I had my 'reading' done--Donna held my hands and prayed for inspiration and the ability to speak the truth. This constant quest to develop her spirituality in tandem with her palmistry skills is what made all the difference to me. She IS the real deal, folks. Deeply prayerful, Donna says in her book, "Prayer became the well-spring of my intuitive powers." For Donna is also a gifted Intuitive--you have to hear the things she told me about my life and all backed up by the blueprint on my own hand. I loved it that she was able to take Palmistry one step further. "Whether we know it or not," she says in her book, "we are all one as we strive towards higher ground."

Oh, and before I forget, your palm is NOT a static thing--it changes constantly as a living record of your life's highs and lows. The beauty is that there is time to change the things you don't like in your life through prayer and meditation. Unbelievably, you can see changes in your life as they make their way across your palm. Throughout Donna's book, she gives you exercises to help you break new ground and strive toward expanding your own glorious spirituality. And the hand plays it all out!

On a practical level, people in Human Resources, or doctors, clergy, teachers, etc., can utilize the principals of palmistry to aid them in their dealings with clients, patients, etc. Or on your next blind date, cut to the chase and hold his/her hand--what you see reflected there can make all the difference in your life. (See the chapter on how Donna did a reading on a stranger and blurted out, "I'm going to marry you!" and she did.)

When the pupil is ready, the teacher will come." I was ready and Donna came--both personally in her 'reading' of my palm and in her wonderful book. How about you? Are you ready????

This book is a quick read and the stories are very interesting. The information was enlightening and thought provoking. I have been to several palm readers, etc more for entertainment rather than scientific analysis. However, after reading the book and seeing that there is a road map, I was disappointed that there was not specific directions and descriptions on what you should look for. My interest in now piqued and I want more information on what actually defines the mound size and actual definitive markings on your palm.

I bought this book when my psychiatrist suggested this implant 2.5 years ago. I was reluctant, as usual because nothing up to that point had worked. I was diagnosed with Major Depression when I was 17. I am now 38. My depression is now classified as refractive or treatment resistant. So, after reading this bright shiny missive, I HAD SO MUCH HOPE. I agreed to the procedure, the insurance agreed, etc. 2 years post op, with the stimulator on full blast, I have been suicidal for the past six months, and am back on multiple medications at high doses, my doctor telling me to consider ECT...my absolute last resort. My doctor reports than none of her patients have received benefit from this device, with one actually returning to the surgeon that implanted it to have it removed. She was told they could only remove half of it. Mr. Donovan's account seems, in hindsight, not objective, and unrealistically positive. But then, at that point in my life I was desperately grasping at any tiny piece of hope that I could find, and there was limited personal accounts of this procedure and device out there. I find myself at that point once again. Desparate. I only know the story he put in the book, and if it is true ( in light of all of the fictional biographies ala James Frey)and this device was a miracle for him, then blessings to him. I'm just wondering where that leaves the rest of us stuck with this hunk of metal implanted in our chests that DO NOT WORK. Still grasping...
I would suggest that if a psychiatrists suggests this procedure to anyone, if you read this book, read it with a huge grain of salt beside you. And research the hell out of it and ALL possible alternatives, such as Eastern Medicine. Be informed and be objective, as much as one can be in "the black hole" of depression. At least the "Black Hole" part in the title was accurate.

Three months ago, Charles and I started a business relationship to help him promote the issue of Vagus Nerve Stimulation to medical and depression blogs, and to help me better understand the treatment, he gave me a copy of the book to read.

I haven't written a book review for a client before, but the difference between the Charles depicted in the book and the Charles of today is nothing short of miraculous. I would never have believed that the man I speak to weekly was a sufferer of depression, much less someone who went through a major episode that lasted years.

The book is well-written - it approaches the subject matter with a dry with and a self-effacing manner, but also an urgent call for those not suffering to understand what their loved ones are going through.

The end of the book is filled with appendices that give a lot of information for readers to follow up with, and Charles of course is working on adding as much information as he can to his website. If you are interested in the Vagus implant, I would highly suggest this book.

People with treatment-resistant depression need to explore all their options. _Out of the Black Hole_ presents one of those options in a way laypeople can understand. Charles E. Donovan's story will be familiar to many people who have suffered from chronic depression. It can also help the friends and families of people with depression to better understand the illness. No one should have to struggle with an illness that can be treated, even if the treatment might seem extreme. There is nothing in this world that compares to the feeling of lifting depression after decades of suffering. Whatever it takes to achieve that relief is worth the time, effort, money and risk. I hope VNS will become a more common treatment option for those who can't be pulled out of the pit by other means. Thank you for writing this book.

Mr. Donovan articulated wonderfully and insightfully what all depression sufferers are only able to barely explain or even share. This is a story that marries a very personal subject, with this new FDA approved treatment. Buy his book and don't leave home with out it.

I am a candidate for VNS and am pursuing the surgery avidly.

The good thing about the book is it collects a lot of information that a person could find on his/her own and puts into a "handbook" format.

For example, I did a lot of research on VNS prior to reading this book and only in Mr. Donovan's book did I learn that the battery needs surgical replacement after a period of time.

I think it is an excellent resource for amyone who has drug resistant depression.

As more information about the efficacy of VNS for depression becomes available, I hope Mr. Donovan will update his book.

Clearly, VNS as an adjunct treatment for major depression is in its infancy. It is very new and there may be contraindications that will not appear for years post implant.

So I hope that Mr. Donovan will continue to publish more material as more material becomes available.

He writes for the average person like me; in other words, you do not have to be a vascular surgeon or psychiatrist to benefit from this book.

Mr. Donovan's story is on the current DVD that Cybertronics produced for individuals considering VNS.

His story was very well told and gave me a ray of hope that I might benefit from VNS given that my HMO will underwrite the expenses of this procedure.

VNS is not an inexpensive treatment; therefore, some people may be turned down again and again.

The good thing is a VNS nurse case manager arbitrates and advocates for the individual who is a candidate for VNS.

My advice to anyone considering this surgery is to read this book, participate in the bi monthly teleconferences and request the information from Cybertronics.

After years of experience in kitchens, and owning many cookbooks, this book just has everything I need. It is by far my favorite!

Great book that I used in culinary school. It is easy to follow and found it quite helpful with many of my culinary classes. If you want a great study guide for nutrition class, I recommend:
Nutritional Study Guide for Food Service and Culinary Professionals: Key Review Questions and Answers, isbn is 1933023058. This study guide has similar kind of questions that I experienced on my nutrition exams in culinary school. The New Professional Chef will be also a great reference for years to come.

As a professional chef myself and a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, I keep 2 copies of this incredibly wonderful cookbook.
It is an absolute necessity in anybodies kitchen from the novice to the Professional.
After spending 2 years at chefs school in the early 70's and opening a chain of restaurants in Los Angeles, I got into a rut and lost not only my imagination but also forgot from lack of use many of my culinary skills.
This book is more than just a cookbook, it is an encyclopedia of knowledge. While most of the recipes are scaled for large quantities, they are easy to scale down due to the use of weight as a measure rather than volume.
If you were to buy only one cookbook to last a lifetime this would be the one. While it is pricey, you must realize the amount of time that has gone into the preparation of such a tome.
I highly recommend this book for you. If you are intersted in the buffet table the book called the garde manger, also a CIA book, is an excellent training manual.

Not being a professional chef, this book was quite intimidating. The info regarding ingredients was great, and the recipes so far have not let me down. This is a great aid in helping a normal guy like me prepare a very nice meal for company the RIGHT way. A great appreciation for fine cooking is developed after studying this book. The ingredient measurements in weight were a bit of a stumbling block for me at first - if you don't have a scale, you had better be an excellent guesser. Overestimating and buying too much veal loin can be pretty expensive. This is THE book for basics and, of course, a fine meal for that special occasion when company is planned (most meals here require several steps and multiple sub-recipes, and are not fast, Betty Crocker projects). Well worth the price for the smile on your guests' faces.

This is a great book for the person serious about food. I like it not only because on the recipes in the back but the front is dedicated to the how's, why's and what's of food.

A thoroughly enjoyable and motivating read. This is a remarkable collection of exclusive interviews with the best American sports coaches of the last 40 years. The author has packed a voluminous amount of wisdom, inspiration and facts into what amounts to a road map to a good life. "How to Succeed in the Game of Life" is a brilliant compilation of advice that offers inspiration at every turn.

Game of Life is an insightful book on the thoughts of many of the world's best known coaches. It provides a biography on each of the 34 coaches (which I recommend reading first to gain a better appreciation of the field and achievements of each coach) and asks them a number of questions that can relate to both on the field and life in general. I have gathered a number of relavant quotes that I will use both personally and professionally. A highly recommended read for sporting buffs and managers.

After buying a copy of this book for both myself and my father I was thoroughly impressed. The book was both an easy read yet very informative. I gave a copy of the book to my father, who is not one to read a book, and he was so taken back by how interesting he felt the content was. He picked up the book in the morning and had it finished by mid afternoon. He must have called me 15 times to tell me how inspiring he felt it was and how he was amazed at "all the tricks it taught an old dog"...He thought he had heard all there was to hear about inspirational quotes. We were both pleasantly surprised with how well written the book was. Both my dad and I would highly recommend this book with two thumbs up.

Having read only excerpts, I was shocked to read that Tony Dungy was hired as head coach by the Indianapolis Colts in 2002 by owner Robert Irsay. Irsay had been dead for five years (longer than that mentally). Hopefully the rest of the book does not contain such shoddy information.

This book went through various questions about succeeding in life and listed all the responses from each coach. It was interesting but somewhat repetitive in that many said basically the same thing. I enjoyed reading this book because it had a lot of good advice from a lot of successful coaches. The advice I remember most is to work harder than anyone else, never quit, always be honest, do your best, failure is opportunity for a comeback, and be passionate about what you do. All of them agreed that making a lot of money does not mean you are successful, but money can be a by-product of being successful. The last chapter included short summaries about each coach. My favorite chapter was the one of their favorite quotes.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in philosophy, or who is looking for some advice or inspiration about success.

Karen Arelttaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

I've been reading self-help books for over forty years. I have tape, CD, and video sets on self-improvement, enlightenment, and just about everything else you can name. I read and listen to the motivational speakers from Wayne Dyer to Anthony Robbins to Larry Winget.

In this short book the author takes the most important information from all those books/tapes/videos and wraps them up in a neat, easy-to-read package. The exercises are actually useful, and help you clarify hidden issues and explore new goals and beliefs.

I've been through them all, folks. And this is the one book I literally carry in my purse. It's full of brightlined passages and dog-eared pages. And one treasure I'll be sharing with friends and family as holiday gifts.

Thank you, Jim Donovan, for this book and the great stuff at your website!

If you're a fan of self-improvement and self-empowerment material, you'll love this short but sweet book of great advice. There isn't a boring paragraph in here (the author can actually write!), and all the advice is time-tested and sound. The exercises are enlightening, even to old guys like me. If you don't want to go through a twelve-CD program or read pedantic text on brain function, buy this book and get your life in order again. You'll be glad you did!

Motivational speaker Jim Donovan presents This is Your Life, Not a Dress Rehearsal: Proven Principles for Creating the Life of Your Dreams, a self-help guide offering basic principles for focusing on and achieving one's goals. Chapters discuss how to keep up one's energy and enthusiasm through good nutritious, exercise, proper breathing, and taking time to smell the roses; how to break through fear; the importance of making conscious choices rather than reacting on impulse; knowing when it is time to take action; how to successfully use affirmations, mirror work, and visualization; and much more. Written in plain terms for readers of all backgrounds, This is Your Life is a treasury of tips, tricks, techniques, and insights sure to enrich one's life and provide a path to one's deepest aspirations.

This book has turned out to be a trendsetter. If only somebody could grasp only quater as much the writer said, his life would be nothing less than complete. Each chapter turns out to be a beutifully woven lesson of practical attributes and emotional weaknesses that surround our day to day life. The author has given enough space to breathe for the newcomer and has made it fluently simple to understand the necessities and urgencies of life, be it positive or negative. All along our lives we know what is to be done but still wait for something to happen. Jim has definitely edged the readers out of this dilemma helping them take charge of their lives and the direction to which they head.

Donovan manages to pack a plethora of self help principals in a relatively thin book of just over 100 pages. At the beginning of every year, I reread this book, and by following it's advice I have achieved more success in my life. His guidelines for goal setting are particularly powerful. I belive that if people really follow this book's advice, they will achieve success as well.