Author: Jennifer Lane

Today Lindsey Webster, rehabilitation counselor and owner of the site Masters in Counseling writes about her favorite Self-Help books. I’ve only read a few of these so it’s great to get some recommendations from her. Take it away, Lindsey!

My Top Ten List of Self-Help Books

There are so many self-help books on the market today, rummaging for a good one can be a bit overwhelming. Whether you are currently seeing a counselor on a regular basis or you just need a little inspiration in your life, self-help books are great life improvement tools. If you are currently seeing a counselor, ask them to recommend a book relevant to the issue you are seeking therapy for. In the meantime, here is my personal top ten self-help booklist. The following titles are in no particular order or ranking.

1. “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” by Eckhart Tolle: As the title suggests, this theme of this book is mindfulness/consciousness. There is also a full discussion on the ego and how dangerous and destructive it is to true awareness. “A New Earth” is a follow-up to Tolle’s first bestseller, “The Power of Now.”

2. “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch: This is one of the most touching, motivational books ever. The book is actually the text form of a lecture that the author gave in 2007 at Carnegie Mellon University. The topic of the lecture (“Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”) was a plea to the audience to live your life to the fullest, as we never know when it will end.

3. “The Four Agreements” by Miguel Angel Ruiz: This book discusses four agreements that we should make with ourselves and others; be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions and always do your best. According to the book, when we keep those agreements, we will create happiness and peace in our lives.

4. “Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life” by Spencer Johnson: In this book, Johnson discusses complacency and the four reactions to change in our lives through a “parable” about two mice and two “little people” searching for cheese.

5. “The Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler: This book discusses perception and where to look for true happiness. According to the Dalai Lama, once one’s basic survival needs are met, all one needs to do is train their own heart and mind to achieve happiness. It will not come from the outside.

6. “Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment” by Deepak Chopra: This novel delves into the life of Jesus. Walking us through the years of his life, this book aims to explain his path to enlightenment and why this path was (and still is) so profound.

7. “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse: This novel tells the story of an Indian man, Siddhartha, and his journey to spirituality during the time of the Buddha. The novel explains how all your experiences in life (whether good or evil) help lead you to enlightenment.

8. “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Harold Kushner: This book discusses the misconceptions people have about theodicy and why God allows bad, evil things to happen, especially to “good” people.

9. “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” by Edmund J. Bourne: This book is a great supplement to those seeking therapy for all types of anxiety disorders. Included in this book are skills for assessing and treating anxiety, current research and medications and new therapeutic techniques.

10. “The Secret” by Rhona Byrne: This book is based on the law of attraction and explains how you can increase health, happiness and wealth through positive thinking. This “law of attraction” works by attracting people, events and situations of a certain frequency to a person with a similar frequency. Therefore, if you think positively, you will receive positive feedback.

Lindsey Webster has been a rehabilitation counselor for 15 years and also owns the site Masters in Counseling. She likes to write about different topics related to counseling and careers.

Thank you, Lindsey! I loved When Bad Things Happen to Good People and often recommend it to my clients. And now it’s time for the Author Blog Bounce, hosted by Omnific Publishing.

Today I’m pleased to host author Jessica Subject. I loved her alien romance novella Celestial Seduction, and soon the prequel will join the ranks of published works. Jessica’s here to tell us about Beneath the Starry Sky and a yummy recipe for peanut butter squares. I’m making them tonight for my book club holiday party! Take it away, Jessica.

Away from home at Christmas

First of all, thank you to Jennifer Lane for allowing me to blog here today!

In two days, my contemporary erotic romance, Beneath the Starry Sky will release, which is a prequel to my debut novella, Celestial Seduction. Tamara, the heroine from BTSS is down in Las Vegas to train at the head office of the pharmaceutical company she works for. One night, she is feeling particularly lonely. Here is her story:

Tamara drummed her fingers on the desk. She’d filled out the form for the 1NightStand service her friend, Leah, had recommended, and needed to decide whether to click send. Having been celibate since her ex-fiancé left her, she could use a good lay. But she wanted more than that. She wanted to find love again.

Impossible.

She groaned, unable to deny the little voice in her head. No one wanted to date a bald woman. But she wanted one night, a night to hide under her newly-ordered wig, to be reminded of the woman she used to be. December reminded her even more of what she no longer had.

With Christmas coming, not only did she miss her friends and family back home in Ottawa, Canada, but also the snow. How could one celebrate the holidays without being bundled up in winter jackets, mitts and toques, travelling from one house to another, drinking hot chocolate mixed with Bailey’s to warm back up? She’d be there, but not soon enough.

At least Carrie, her bff back in Ottawa, had come through for her. She’d actually revealed her secret recipe for her delicious peanut butter squares. If Tamara couldn’t go home before her allotted week off, she could at least enjoy the decadent treats that had become a tradition for years after many holiday shopping excursions with Carrie.

But even with the scrumptious delight, she had no one to share them with. Her hand wavered over the mouse before she finally clicked send. Done. Before she had a chance to think about what she’d just sent out, Tamara left the computer and headed for the kitchen. Peanut butter and chocolate would keep her occupied for now.

Beneath the Starry Sky Blurb

Left at the altar with bald patches on her head and her self-confidence stripped away, Tamara Johnson must pick up the pieces of her life and face her Alopecia, the autoimmune disease causing her hair to fall out. She is convinced no man will date a bald woman and arranges a one-night stand through Madame Evangeline’s popular service, 1Night Stand. With her new wig held firmly in place, Tamara arrives at the Castillo Hotel in Las Vegas for a night of passion and pleasure. Anything more than one night would mean exposing her bald head, and she will never do that to any man again.

Running into the Castillo Hotel, away from the paparazzi constantly at his heels, Josh Summers wants to spend his next few days locked away from the flashing lights and screaming fans. When he finds an incredibly sexy woman lying on his hotel room bed in nothing but lingerie, he thinks management has made a mistake. Leaving her behind, he heads for the lobby to get the situation rectified. But an unexpected text from Madame Evangeline sends him back to his room. Though unsure whether the woman on the bed is really his perfect match or just another fan believing him to be like his character on television, he knows he must find out, even if it means he must risk telling her his own secrets. If Tamara can handle his imperfections, she just might be his ideal woman.

Coming to Decadent Publishing and other ebook retailers December 16, 2011

Buy Links here: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=7250

To learn more about Alopecia Areata and to help find a cure, visit the National Alopecia Areata Foundation http://www.naaf.org and the Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation http://canaaf.org/

PEANUT BUTTER SQUARE RECIPE

This is a huge tradition in my own household, but I change the amounts a bit and make these into peanut butter cups. Enjoy!

Top Layer:

– 2 cups milk chocolate chips

– 1 ½ cups peanut butter

Bottom Layer:

– 1 cup peanut butter

– 1 ½ cups graham wafer crumbs

– 1 ¼ cups icing sugar

– ¾ cups melted margarine

Melt ingredients together for top layer until smooth and creamy. (I use a double boiler.)

Mix bottom layer ingredients together then spread over bottom of square pan.

Spread melted top layer over the bottom.

Refrigerate about an hour.

Enjoy!

Bio:

Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.

Website/Blog: http://www.markofthestars.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jsubject

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-E-Subject-author/205759796126370

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4959083.Jessica_E_Subject

Google +: https://plus.google.com/100079570422204018357/posts

Giveaway

I would like to offer a $5 Amazon.com gift certificate. Winner will be chosen at random from those who leave a comment. Contest will run until December 18^th.

It’s the last day of The Conduct Series Blog Tour. *sniffs* Three stops today include:

Leah from Chick Lit Reviews & News reviews With Good Behavior HERE, interviews me HERE, and hosts a giveaway HERE.

Christy from Love of Books has an excerpt from Bad Behavior HERE.

Wow, what a great blog tour! The kind and wonderful Julie from A Tale of Many Reviews has been such a gracious tour host. Thank you,

J U L I E !

The grand prize winner will receive a $25 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (sorry for the confusion when some blogs have said $20 but it will be $25).

Happy reading!

Choo Choo! The Conduct Series train is rolling into four stops today. Please stop by and enter the giveaways!

Jamie from The Eclectic Bookshelf gives With Good Behavior a 5 star review HERE.

Brianna from The Book Vixen has an excerpt of Sophie and Grant meeting outside their PO’s office HERE.

BookWhore from Bookwhore Blog (LOL) reviews With Good Behavior HERE.

Finally, Syrah from Chick Lit & Wine reviews Bad Behavior HERE. I loved her review of the first book in the series and can’t wait to see what wine she’s pairing with the second book!


And now it’s time for the Author Blog Bounce. Authors, join in. Readers, bounce over to author blogs to learn more about new books. Read more on the Omnific Publishing Blog.

Getting some awesome reviews of With Good Behavior! *dances*

Check ’em out and enter giveaways at each site:

Laurielu at Bona Fide Reflections says “Emotion grips you for the entire length of the story” in her 4 1/2 star review HERE.

Nimue at Endlessly Bookish says “With Good Behavior is a fast-paced, action-rich and heart-wrenching romance with adorable main characters” in her review HERE.

Katie at Novel Society says “I would definitely recommend reading this. It was interesting and the flashbacks explain why the characters are the way they are” in her review HERE.

Finally, Megan from A Trail of Books Left Behind gave WGB a 5 star review last year, and interviews me HERE.

I’m basking in blogger love this book tour. Today my books get to visit three shiny blogs!

1) Shannon from Cocktails and Books has been one busy reader, offering up a review of not only With Good Behavior, but Bad Behavior too! Click HERE. I love her comment, “This is one hell of a series.” Now that she’s all caught up, I have to get cracking on writing the third novel in the series, On Best Behavior.

2) Megan from Reading Away the Days interviews me HERE.

3) Jess from The Romanceaholic delivers a very thoughtful 4 star review of With Good Behavior HERE. Thanks, Jess!

Make sure you enter the GIVEAWAY at each stop. If you comment at all the stops, you’re eligible to win a $25 gift card.

My books–my babies–continue traveling around the world, stopping for a visit at welcoming and friendly blogs.

Today’s Conduct Series tour has FOUR stops! My little babies will be tired but happy after today’s adventures. Every stop has a giveaway! Please join With Good Behavior and Bad Behavior as they travel to these destinations:

1) A Buckeye Girl Reads reviews With Good Behavior HERE. (Hooray for a fellow Buckeye! We’re both in Ohio.)

2) Jen from LR At Random reviews With Good Behavior as well HERE.

3) Darcia Helle, Author, features a guest post from me about empathy and characterization on her blog Quiet Fury Books HERE. Earlier Darcia gave With Good Behavior a 5 star review!

4) Smash Attack Reads gives a fantastic review of Bad Behavior HERE. And scroll down for a chat Smash and I had about how our training in mental health has influenced our reading and writing.

I feel really blessed to have these lovely bloggers take time to read and review my books. Thank you!

A great benefit of becoming an author is meeting voracious readers committed to spreading the word about their favorite books—a.k.a. BOOK BLOGGERS!

One blogger I’ve had the pleasure of knowing is Smash from Smash Attacks Reads. Since I’m a psychologist and author, I call myself a psycho author. Well, Smash is a social worker and book blogger, making her a social bookie? (You’ll have to help me with this one, Smash). She is certainly extroverted and friendly, and it’s been so fun to discuss psychological aspects of books with her.

Tomorrow Smash will review Bad Behavior (The Conduct Series #2), featuring many therapy scenes. But today Smash and I chat on her blog about emotions, characterization, crying men, and maybe even the horrid baby name Renesmee.

Check it out HERE.

Today’s blog tour stop is at Mandy’s blog Twimom 101. She asks me my top 10 favorite things, and I learned from her that Titanic (my favorite movie) will be re-released in April of 2012, yahoooooo!

Stop by to enter the giveaway.

Today my romantic suspense series travels to three book blogs. These book lovers all read With Good Behavior, so check out their varied reviews! Each will offer an ebook giveaway, and readers who comment on every tour stop are eligible to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

1. Alexa Loves Books Blog

2. Kelsey’s Book Corner Blog

3. Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind Blog