[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] POWER OF THE ZIP by Jill Kamp Aaronson is less about what you SAY and more about who you ARE

 We've all heard the saying ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS---and in the newest addition to Jill Kamp Aaronson's POWER OF THE ZIP books, I found that to be the central theme.

POWER OF THE ZIP: Stop Talking- Start Listening shows the reader not just the importance of what we say. It dives into the power of sometimes not saying anything and just allowing how we respond be the answer to the situation. I love that the book reminds us that there is no blueprint to EVERY scenario we face, but there are things we can do to make sure that we not only let people feel heard but SEEN, too. 

Though Jill is known for what she has been able to share in the workplace, this book really is a guide for all aspects of life, showcasing the importance of making POWER OF THE ZIP a lifestyle choice rather than something we attempt to turn on and off. Whether we're talking about dealing with friends, family or those we work with, the important thing is to treat each individual as the unique person they are so they know you are not just listening but hearing them. 

Filled with great examples from her own life and even some Biblical references that will hit home for some readers, POWER OF THE ZIP: Stop Talking-Start Listening gives you guidelines to not just make what you say more impactful. It will make your LIFE more impactful as well. 

Get your copy on Amazon.  

[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] Hold Your Head Up, Princess by Dr. Velma Bagby

There is nothing like recognizing and acknowledging your own value and worth. 

We live in a world where not everyone will see the gift and treasure that we are, but that doesn't mean we should ever dim our light so others can't see the light we carry. 

In HOLD YOUR HEAD UP, PRINCESS Dr. Velma Bagby shows how at different points in her life there were those who didn't see her worth or value. She was then presented with a choice: Would she be the person her parents had told her that she was or would she dim that light so others would not be offended?

We're able to see how Dr. Velma embraced her gifts and her talents and the doors that opened for her in the process. The book also reminds us that regardless of our age, we all need the reminder to hold our heads up, walking confidently in our calling. 

In the back of the book we are able to get activities that the reader can do alone or with others, but we also get the assurance that if we walk in our worthiness and embrace who we are great things can come our way. HOLD YOUR HEAD UP, PRINCESS is a testament that who you are matters. You just have to walk in your own authenticity and know that everything will work out.

Get HOLD YOUR HEAD UP, PRINCESS on Amazon. 

[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] Beauty Beyond the Tears : Finding Strength After Loss by Kate Thurman

 Having known Kate Thurman for a while now, I was so proud of her sharing a deeply personal part of her journey with the world in this book---and I think we are all better because of it. 

Beauty Beyond the Tears: Finding Strength After Loss is not just about trying to find understanding and hope when tragedy strikes. It's about being honest about where you are, what you feel and knowing that through it all God is there. Even when it doesn't feel like it.

Kate and her husband Chris' experience is theirs, but it is also that of so many. That is why I am glad the world can read it and see themselves and find the peace they have been looking for. It's not an easy road. It's not something that will change overnight, but BEAUTY BEYOND THE TEARS shows there IS HOPE. There IS HEALING. And through everything that we go through in life this book reminds us not to lose faith. You can find not only strength after loss. You can rediscover yourself and your purpose, too.

Get your copy on Amazon. 

[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] POST OAK: Quanah Parker, The Comanche, and the Mission by Tina Siemens

With books like SEMINOLE and THE LITTLE SANDALS THAT COULD, author and historian Tina Siemens has shared not just her love of history but her family's example of perseverance, even in difficult times. 

With her latest book POST OAK: Quanah Parker, The Comanche, and the Mission we're able to go back in time to a period of war, mistrust and the actions of individuals that would reverberate for decades to come. 

POST OAK is the story of how tragedy came to the Parker family, and in the midst of that the journey of vengeance, survival and understanding. I love how Tina is able to make us think of life for the Indians and the settlers, and the decisions they made that would affect not just their lives but those to come. 

Tina also shows that the price of war and retribution is not just to human life. It has to do with the land and all that live on it, man and beast. 

A story that can be difficult at times to understand but is important to read, POST OAK stands out as a book about not giving up hope and fighting for what you believe is right, no matter the costs.

Get your copy on Amazon. 

[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] Chasing Different by Colette R. Harrell

When it comes to writing fiction that brings you in and makes you feel a part of the story, few can do it like Colette R. Harrell. As she begins her new series LOVING DIFFERENT she kicks it off with characters that are flawed, relatable and in many ways everything you HOPE you would be in trying circumstances. 

CHASING DIFFERENT brings us into the worlds of Deacon Everette and Nia Lewis: two individuals who don's seem as though they would be "right" together but the circumstances they are thrust into show that they couldn't be more compatible. In the middle of literally racing against time and running for their lives, the two main characters must learn to trust each other and themselves if they want to survive. 

Along the way they are guided by the words and actions of other trusted individuals that help to steer them as they not just try to expose The Council---but let others see the dangers of power when it is used against those it's meant to protect. 

As I have come to expect for Colette, this book takes many twists and turns. For some it will be seen as a romance. To others it will be a thriller. Still others will see it as an indictment of the world we find ourselves currently living in. For me it's a Colette R. Harrell book, and that means to expect the unexpected and then some. 

CHASING DIFFERENT is not just about embracing all that you are. It's about uniting together so that our differences and strengths can work together for good. 

Get your copy of CHASING DIFFERENT on Amazon. 

[BOOK REVIEW] Author Tracie O'Neil Horton tackles the complexities of humanity with K3

by Cyrus Webb

In 2024 this book that was released in 2018 is just as relevant and appealing today as it was when I initially read it. 

I went into the novel that is K3 (The Divided States of America) not really knowing what to expect, but by the end I was amazed as to how much author Tracie O'Neil Horton was able to pack into her debut. 

It's not a small book by any means, but it grabs the reader and takes you through what seems like a mini-series in written form that allows us to see how quickly life can change, and how there will always be those who fight for what they believe in, right or wrong.

Without giving too much away I'll say this: K3 takes us into a cast of characters not too different from the world we live in that are dealing with serious issues and will either find ways to co-exist or CEASING to exist. Standouts like "Mike" are sure to have the reader finding those within the pages of K3 that they can root for or see themselves in. Just as in life, however, not all motives are clear in the saga as it unfolds. The book really does show the importance of not giving up doing what you believe to be right---even when the odds seem stacked against you.

Showing both the darkness and the light that is the human experience, K3 is a book worth reading and discussing. It definitely won't be easily forgotten. 

Get your copy of K3 on Amazon. 

[BOOK REVIEW] In SHARE MY LIFE Kem gives a glimpse at the life behind the fame

by Cyrus Webb

 We have gotten to know Kem over the years for his great songs, but in SHARE MY LIFE he takes us behind the success to the struggles, highs and lows and road that led him where he is today.

Whether you're a fan of his music or someone who loves a great comeback story, this book will speak to you. I love the honesty, the way he talks about the dark places of his life that could have destroyed him and all he worked for---and how his faith helped to guide him to heights that few have known.

Probably the most powerful part of the book is how we are able to see how his appreciation for his success and place today is only possible because he recognizes how far God has brought him. By relying on his Creator and not on his own abilities, Kem is able to ascend to places that may have appeared impossible in the past.

Revealing and inspiring, SHARE MY LIFE is the kind of book you need to read to remind you of what is possible. That way we can learn as Kem did that the best is yet to come. 

Get yoru copy of SHARE MY LIFE on Amazon. 

[BOOK REVIEW] Bill Bellamy's TOP BILLIN' shows what helped him get to the top and stay there today

by Cyrus Webb 

When you hear the name Bill Bellamy we all have our favorite movie or tv show that he has appeared in. You might also have caught him on stage. In TOP BILLIN' we are able to get a look at the man: how he became who he is, what helped him believe in his gift and what it's been like to learn lessons along the way.

It wasn't always an easy path for the talented entertainer. He shares his struggles and what it's been like to define himself in his career and in life. He also gives us a glimpse at his personal side, navigating relationships and fatherhood. 

This is the kind of book that is sure to inspire and motivate the reader, regardless of your career. TOP BILLIN' gives us a deep dive into the man that has made us laugh over the years----sharing what it takes to get to the top and stay there. 

Get your copy of TOP BILLIN' on Amazon. 

[BOOK REVIEW] With Braylen Finds a Way we are able to see how to talk with kids about bullying

 The BRAYLEN THE BEAR AND FRIENDS series by LaTonya Peterson and Manswell Peterson does a great job in touching on topics that kids can relate to but also speak to adults. 

BRAYLEN FINDS A WAY is another example of that, this time dealing with the topic of bullying. I like the way that the book shows Braylen and his friends coming together to deal with the bullying problem, not wanting to leave any of their friends unprotected. I also appreciated Breylen letting his parents know what is happening and getting ideas from them how to handle the situation.

Though the book is for kids, there are so many things that adults can take away from it, too. Unfortunately bullying and harassment have no age limits. That means we all have to find ways to deal with these issues and help others do the same. 

Well presented in a way that is entertaining and informative, BRAYLEN FIND A WAY addresses bullying in a way that can be understood and helpful. 

Get your copy on Amazon. 

(Review) A Pinch of Ooh La La by Renee Swindle

by Cyrus Webb

Tuesday is right around the corner, and that means lots of new music and books will be entering the arena, vying for your attention. If there is one book you should DEFINITELY make a point of adding to your reading list it would have to be A PINCH OF OOH LA LA by author Renee Swindle. 

I was introduced to the gifted storyteller through her book SHAKE DOWN THE STARS, and I knew then she would be someone to watch. In A PINCH she doesn't disappoint: getting us into the life of Abbey Ross, a woman who is looking for her happy ever after---but is in danger of losing herself in the process.

The book allows us to see Abbey as a woman who is a businesswoman, doing what she loves: making people happy through her bakery yet still feeling incomplete because her personal life (aside from some colorful friends) was anything but lackluster. When she is introduced to Samuel Howard it seems (on the surface) that her dreams of having the ideal life are going to come true---but at what cost? Not listening to her inner voice and choosing instead to do what is expected she turns down a course where she is giving herself away piece by piece.

In A PINCH OF OOH LA LA Swindle once again finds a way to show that though you might can have it all it doesn't always come in the package we (or others) might expect. Abbey realizes that she has to make some real choices, and though they might be what is best for her it won't necessarily be easy.

I mentioned that Abbey has some friends she can rely on along the way, but another character in the book that makes an appearance in the very beginning and stays present throughout definitely can't be denied----and that is music. Swindle allows that to be the soundtrack of not just Abbey's moods and adventures but a part of the lives of others, too. Music has a way of not just bringing you calm but creating memories that can be pleasant, painful and in some cases peaceful.

Entertaining and definitely a conversation piece for men and women can get something out of, A PINCH OF OOH LA LA serves us a delicious read for the summer.