Book Review: I.T. Confidential by CD Rahm

I.T. Confidential by CD Rahm is a new book that takes the reader inside the fascinating word of I.T. Although categorized as a comedy, I didn't find myself laughing as I read. I did however find it to be a realistic look at the types of people that you will find in any office setting. When I first saw the author's pseudonym I expected that he wouldn't be holding anything back. I was correct and there is no co-worker left unharmed.

CD Rahm takes a realistic look at the different personalities found in an office and tries to make you feel better about yourself by realizing that sometimes you're just stuck. Do you have a boss that makes unrealistic requests and then takes the credit when you succeed? Do you have a co-worker that takes a two hour lunch and you need to pick up the slack? Any situation that you've been in, CD Rahm has been there too.

I.T. Confidential by CD Rahm is currently available for sale. It was originally released on August 29, 2013.

Book Rating for I.T. Confidential by CD Rahm

Disclaimer: This review e-copy was sent to me free as a blogger to facilitate my review. I was not compensated and all opinions are 100% my own. Any links to the book's Amazon page will be affiliated. Please read the Making Cents of It disclaimer for more information.

Book Review: Demigods and Monsters

Whenever a parent asks me to recommend a book series for their child, I turn to Percy Jackson first. I love how the author, Rick Riordan, mixes the ancient mythology of Greek g-ds with a modern United States. The story behind his story is even more interesting when you learn that it began as a bedtime story for his own child who suffered from ADHD and dyslexia. The character of Percy Jackson was written to explain that his differences were strengths, not weaknesses.

I recently received a copy of Demigods and Monsters: Your Favorite Authors on Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series which features short essays that use the characters from the Percy Jackson series to discuss real topics. I've read similar books based on Twilight and Harry Potter so I was interested to see how Percy Jackson could be used to spark discussion on topics other than learning disabilities and Greek mythology.

The only part of this book that is written by Rick Riordan was the introduction. He explains the history of Percy Jackson and how you don't have to analysis a story to enjoy it, however seeing how others have analized his writing in turn has made him a better writer.

The nice thing about this type of book is that you don't need to read the chapters in order or all at once. Each chapter is an individual essay written by a different author. Each explores a different part of Percy Jackson.

Demigods and Monsters is currently available for sale. It was originally released on March 1, 2009 but was recently rereleased with an update in anticipation of the new movie, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.

Book Rating for Demigods and Monsters

Disclaimer: This review e-copy was sent to me free as a blogger to facilitate my review. I was not compensated and all opinions are 100% my own. Any links to the book's Amazon page will be affiliated. Please read the Making Cents of It disclaimer for more information.

Free Books to Review and Share

Have you heard of this website Net Galley? I learned about this website on an author's website and it's pretty cool. You don't have to be a blogger to sign up for a free account and request books but the publishers do have the option to approve readers. Some books are available immediately while others have an application to review.

Do you love to spread the word about new books? Do you review and recommend books online, in print, for your bookstore, library patrons, blog readers, or classroom? Then you are what we call a "professional reader," and NetGalley is for you. Registration is free, and allows you to request digital titles to read on your favorite device.

If you have an eReader, or eReader app, this is another great way to get free books. Just remember to post reviews on GoodReads, Twitter, and any other place you can to encourage publishers to continue selecting you for reviews. Start by clicking the "Read Now" menu option which are books available to all members. You can also search for authors you like to see if their newest book is available for request. While most of the review books are digital, some publishers prefer to mail out physical copies of the books so check the listing to determine what type of book you will receive.

Expect more book reviews to be coming your way along with my current movie reviews. I'll be using the same dollar sign rating system but I'll have to modify the categories to fit books.

Rental Textbooks from Amazon

Every years, millions of college and graduate students search the racks of the bookstores hoping to find cheap used textbooks. At the end of the semester, we sell them back to the bookstore for half (if lucky) what was originally paid.

Amazon understands the frustration that most students feel so they are going to try and reach the market by renting textbooks this year. A rental is good for 130 days, which they claim is a semester and when it's due you can ship it back for free. There are guidelines to what quality is acceptable for rental textbooks. So you might want to check out the textbook rentals FAQs.

Once you receive your book assignments, just use the textbook search engine to see the rental price. Make sure you compare this price to the used book price on Amazon and at your local store because depending on the supply and demand you might be better off buying a book. The value of the rental vs purchasing will really be on a per book basis. However you decide to get your reading material for the semester, good luck!

50% Off Barnes & Noble

Head over and like Barnes & Noble on Facebook for a great new coupon. The coupon is good for 50% off a book and can be used either in the store or online. The coupon I just printed expires on November 7, 2011 but I'm not sure if they're all the same date or a set amount of time from when you print.

Review: Meet to Marry: A Dating Revelation for the Marriage Minded

In a world where dating has become as impersonal as online dating "services" it's nice to know I'm not alone in waiting to get married and start a family. As Bari Lyman states in her book "Do you want a lifetime of second dates... or a lifetime with The One?" Lyman doesn't just give you advice but shows you how to access yourself to determine what you truly want in a relationship and how you might be sabotaging your own chance at happiness. In her new book, Meet to Marry: A Dating Revelation for the Marriage Minded, she teaches readers how to avoid those dating faux pas that have plagued many of us who are single.

I really liked how Lyman forces the reader to take ownership of his/herself. You are forced to think about what causes you to think a certain way and change your thought process. Are you afraid of rejection so you never try? These are the type of issues that are addressed in the chapters with suggestions for change. Included within the book are dialogues between Lyman and some of her former clients so that you can see how a discussion might unfold.

My favorite part of the book was her suggestion to make "Smart Goals" which I think can actually be used in more than just romance.

• S = specific
• M = measurable
• A = achievable
• R = realistic
• T = tangible

These five descriptors really help to determine if a goal is possible and when it's reached. Without the structure we might really be waiting for a cartoon prince to fight a dragon and rescue us from the tower.

Meet to Marry: A Dating Revelation for the Marriage Minded will be released on October 3, 2011 and I recommend it to all my single readers that want to leave the dating scene and find a partner. Although written from a female perspective, even men will find the suggestions useful.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Meet to Marry: A Dating Revelation for the Marriage Minded to write this review. I did not receive any compensation and the opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

Book Review: Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda

I received a free copy of Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda to read and review. All opinions are 100% mine.

In the town of Grandville, we are introduced to Kelly Johnson who has decided to re-evaluate her life as she approaches her fortieth birthday. While most people would envy her life with a beautiful house, a successful attorney for a husband, and two children, she realizes she wants more out of life and creates a list of things that she can improve on.

There is a lot of humor in the book and even as a single 26 year old, I found Kelly to be a character that I could relate to. While there were parts that seemed a little out there, I know based on the news that these things really do happen all around. I really liked the humor and right from page one the author helps draw you in by using situations such as sitting in a dentist chair trying to think about anything but the big needle about to enter your mouth. I also liked how she used pop culture references to help the book feel realistic.

While I think this book is more suited towards an older crowd with more life experience, I found it entertaining and enlightening. Seeing what Kelly goes through is a wake-up call which might help me think more about my goals before I reach an age where it's considered a mid-life crisis to try and change the things I don't like.





Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda to review through the One2One Network. By writing this review, I was entered to win a gift card. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are 100% mine.