Back Pocket Coach, 33 Effective Communication Strategies for Work & Life

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis:  Have you ever been in a situation that was emotionally charged and the stakes were high? And it was difficult to find the right words? Back Pocket Coach provides 33 power-packed communication strategies to support you in creating satisfying conversations that result in good outcomes for you and others. These just-in-time strategies will help you move through conversations masterfully --whether you're engaging with one person or a team of people.

You'll learn how to:
-- Provide difficult feedback to everyone from your boss to mother-in-law -- improving your relationships in the process.
-- Effectively renegotiate any agreement.
-- Say no to a request that would leave you stretched too thing -- and do so from a place of strength.
-- Get unproductive meetings back on track -- even if you're not the meeting organizer.
-- Safely speak your truth.
-- Increase your self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
-- Use appreciation authentically -- the secret sauce for thriving relationships.

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  I love books just like Back Pocket Coach.  They are quick reads with very valuable messages and concepts.  Organized in six different parts that allows you to immediately drill into the type of conservation you need coaching (or simple reminders).  For example, I just finished giving annual reviews and reviewed the section on one-on-one conversations.  It was very helpful in setting the tone and environment of the meetings.  

In the Situations and Issues section my favorite was "to get a meeting back on track."  I am terrible at going off on what I call sidebars.  If I read this advice before going into a meeting it helps me stay focus and keep the meeting on track.  I love to talk, so getting off track/off topic is very common for me!  

The last part of Back Pocket Coach, lays out how to have "game changing conversations."  Also included is a worksheet you can use to ensure you communicate effectively, which in my mind means successfully.  You can use Back Pocket Coach outside the work place as well.  Try using it at home with your significant other, your teenage kids, organization meetings, coaches, and friends.  

Would I Read Other Books by the Author:  I would read other books by Diane and Alexandra.  They are both coaches that work with other (including women leadership!).  I would LOVE to have either as a coach.  Diane's background fits really well with mine as it includes health care (my past industry until 9 months ago), academics (my current industry) and women in leadership/executive teams.  

What Others Are Saying:  Please check out what others on the tour are saying about Back Pocket COACH!

June 5 -   Take It Personel-ly - review / guest post / giveaway

June 6 -   Simple Wyrdings - review / author interview / giveaway
June 7 -   Library of Clean Reads - review / author interview / giveaway
June 8 -   A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
June 9 -   NorthernMsw - review
June 12 - Books for Books - review
June 13 - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway
June 15 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway
June 15 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review
June 16 - Notes from Farrah - review / giveaway
June 16 - Create With Joy - review / giveaway
June 16 - Seaside Book Nook - review / giveaway
June 16 - Reading Authors - review / giveaway

Buy the Book:
Amazon  ~  Barnes & NobleAdd to Goodreads

Prizes: ​ Win a print copy of Back Pocket Coach and a $10 Amazon gift card (3 winners/open to USA & Canada). Ends June 24.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Back Pocket Coach, 33 Effective Communication Strategies for Work & Life

Excess Baggae

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis (from Amazon): Stuck in a dead-end relationship, Erica Bennett finds herself daydreaming of her first holiday romance. She was fifteen, it was exciting, new and full of possibilities…and Jack Lawson was hot as hell. That kind of thing leaves a mark.

So when her friends suggest a girls holiday to Luna Island, it’s exactly what she needs to take her mind off things. What she doesn’t expect is to spot Jack – a much older, hotter version of him – across the hotel lobby.

Their attraction is still there and it isn’t long before sparks fly, but fifteen years is a long time. They aren’t the same people they were back then and besides, it’s only a week, right?

Is it a second chance at something real or will their excess baggage ruin their shot at love after they leave Luna Island?

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  Excess Baggage is a really cute romance novel.  I enjoyed  Erica and Jack meeting again after 15 years (sigh).  Erica was a very clumsy and funny character.  Her friends rounded out the cast of characters too.  You will have to read to the very end to find out Jack's secret, but it will be worth it! Enjoyable, quick read!

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Yes, there are several that I think look really good:Sex, Snow and Mistletoe (cute title!), Dopey Women, and Advent-urous Proposal.

My name is Laura Barnard and I am an author from Hertfordshire, UK. My first chick-lit novel, The Debt & the Doormat was an Amazon number 1 best-seller and won Best Laugh Out Loud Book of 2013. It is available via Amazon, Smashwords, iBooks. Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository and many more. 

In my spare time I enjoy drinking my body weight in tea, indulging in cupcakes the size of my face, drooling over hunks like Jamie Dornan, Ryan Gosling and Leo Dicaprio...oh and my husband of course! I like wearing yoga clothes and reading fitness magazines while I sit on the sofa and eat chocolate. I'm a real fan of the power nap and of course, READING!

I write not to get rich or famous, but because I LOVE writing. Even if one person tells me they enjoyed my book it makes the midnight typing worth it!

Amazon

Excess Baggae

Excess Baggae

💜💚EXCESS BAGGAGE RELEASE DAY GIVEAWAY!💜💚

Grab your copy now -  myBook.to/ExcessBaggageLB
Win a SIGNED PAPERBACK & Amazon voucher (Details of giveaway below).

'An absolute must read this Summer!' Lady Living in Bookland
'Quintessential British humour, I felt like I was on a girls holiday with my own chicks.' Persuing Princesses Book Blog
'Almost made me pee myself I laughed so hard!' Shelly's Book Corner

Synopsis
Stuck in a dead-end relationship, Erica Bennett finds herself daydreaming of her first holiday romance. She was fifteen, it was exciting, new and full of possibilities…and Jack Lawson was hot as hell. That kind of thing leaves a mark.

So when her friends suggest a girls holiday to Luna Island, it’s exactly what she needs to take her mind off things. What she doesn’t expect is to spot Jack – a much older, hotter version of him – across the hotel lobby.

Their attraction is still there and it isn’t long before sparks fly, but fifteen years is a long time. They aren’t the same people they were back then and besides, it’s only a week, right?

Is it a second chance at something real or will their excess baggage ruin their shot at love after they leave Luna Island?
myBook.to/ExcessBaggageLB
Check out the reviews on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34994195-excess-baggage?from_search=true

GIVEAWAY!
Head on over to Laura's facebook page to enter her release day giveaway to be in with a chance of winning a signed paperback of EXCESS BAGGAGE and a £5/$5 Amazon gift card.

Connect with Laura

Website - http://www.laurabarnardbooks.co.uk/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/laurabarnardbooks

Twitter – https://twitter.com/BarnardLaura

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/laurabarnardauthor/

Pinterest – https://uk.pinterest.com/barnardlaura/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Excess Baggae

The Garden of Small Beginnings

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis (from Amazon): Give grief a chance...
 
Lilian Girvan has been a single mother for three years—ever since her husband died in a car accident. One mental breakdown and some random suicidal thoughts later, she’s just starting to get the hang of this widow thing. She can now get her two girls to school, show up to work, and watch TV like a pro. The only problem is she’s becoming overwhelmed with being underwhelmed. 
 
At least her textbook illustrating job has some perks—like actually being called upon to draw whale genitalia. Oh, and there’s that vegetable-gardening class her boss signed her up for. Apparently, being the chosen illustrator for a series of boutique vegetable guides means getting your hands dirty, literally. Wallowing around in compost on a Saturday morning can’t be much worse than wallowing around in pajamas and self-pity. 
 
After recruiting her kids and insanely supportive sister to join her, Lilian shows up at the Los Angeles botanical garden feeling out of her element. But what she’ll soon discover—with the help of a patient instructor and a quirky group of gardeners—is that into every life a little sun must shine, whether you want it to or not...

One (or more) Sentence Summary: I very much enjoyed The Garden of Small Beginnings.  I loved the characters and how they all came together throughout the book.  Even though the main story revolved around Lilian, we learned about all the others as the book unfolded.  I think my favorite, was Claire - she was a hoot! The book moved along at a nice steady pace.  The end was worth every page turned!

Would I Read Other Books by the Author:  I would love to read another book by Abbi Waxman!  I really enjoyed The Garden of Small Beginnings.

Abbi Waxman is a chocolate-loving, dog-loving woman, who lives in Los Angeles and lies down as much as possible. She worked in advertising for many years, which is how she learned to write fiction. She has three daughters, three dogs, three cats, and one very patient husband.

Amazon 

The Garden of Small Beginnings

Killing Wonder Woman TLC Book Tour

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis: POW! BLAM! OOF!

Working women of faith are subjected to daily blows of lies and deception. We are barraged with messages that we’re not good enough, smart enough, thin enough, spiritual enough. We believe that our professions mean very little in the eyes of God. We’re feeling tired and discouraged from holding ourselves to impossible standards. These damaging lies and labels now have a name: Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman is a symbol of the unobtainable. She is a blend of all the women both real and fictional–that we idolize. She is the whispers of doubt and negative self-talk that run rampantly through our minds. It’s time to stop listening. It’s time to slay Wonder Woman!

Killing Wonder Woman is more than a book. It’s a long-overdue weapon that we, as working women of faith, can yield to cut down burnout, destroy discouragement, and set ourselves free of unrealistic expectations. Once we break loose of Wonder Woman’s deception, we can open ourselves more fully to trust God’s plan and integrate Him into all aspects of our lives, including in our workplace calling.

Are you ready to win at work and soar in faith? This is your call to arms.

One (or more) Sentence Summary: Killing Wonder Woman, Setting Weary Women Free to Win at Work and Soar in Faith is a good read and you have to be open to the message(s).  It is packed of great thoughts, advice and quotes.  

One of my favorite quotes is, "We were never meant for perfection on this side of heaven."  This one simple statement spoke volumes to me,  even though I am always trying to be perfect everywhere in my life....it is okay that I am not perfect!    

Another area that connected with me was being the best employee ever.  Activity, Attitude and Awareness will help you be the best employee you can be ever day.  You can also adopt a "student attitude" in the workplace, show up on time, let others know you care, do your best every day, and you will have great successes and make great mistakes and be humble in both.  These are great concepts to keep in mind every day.  

There were several other areas throughout the book that I enjoyed and resonated with me and where I am in my life.  I believe Killing Wonder Woman would be a great book for any woman to read.  I especially think it would be a great book to be read and discussed at all different kinds of women' s interest group meetings at a church.  I know my church has several different groups that would enjoy Killing Wonder Women.   

TLC Book Tour:  Make sure you check out what others are saying about Killing Wonder Woman.

Monday, May 1st: Laura Stephens-Reed
Tuesday, May 2nd: Read. Write. Repeat.
Wednesday, May 3rd: Rev. H-D’s Random Ramblings, Really!
Thursday, May 4th: Dreaming Big
Monday, May 8th: Ms. Nose in a Book
Tuesday, May 9th: Dwell in Possibility
Wednesday, May 10th: Laura’s Reviews
Thursday, May 11th: April Love-Fordham
Monday, May 15th: An Anchored Faith
Tuesday, May 16th: Just Commonly
Wednesday, May 17th: Reading is my Superpower
Thursday, May 18th: From the TBR Pile – spotlight
Monday, May 22nd: Seaside Book Nook
Tuesday, May 23rd: Run Wright
Monday, May 29th: Fiction Aficionado

Tenaya TJ Tison is a business leader and entrepreneur, with a proven track record as a strategic advisor and change agent within the small business sector. T.J. has held twenty-seven different jobs throughout her life and finally found her calling in helping businesses grow.

T.J. and her husband of twenty-five years have two grown children and together enjoy the peace of their Wisconsin hobby farm with a myriad of pet animals. In her spare time (ha ha), she likes to run, play golf, read, and cheer on the Minnesota Vikings.

T.J. is also the founder and executive director of Working Women of Faith, a nonprofit that exists to equip women to win at work and soar in faith. To learn more about Working Women of Faith, visit: workingwomenoffaith.com.

Connect with T. J.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Amazon 

Killing Wonder Woman TLC Book Tour

By the Wayside - TLC Book Tours

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis: Marvelous. Honest. Generous. From the first story to the last, "By the Wayside" catches your attention and demands that you give into its every whirl. Each character unfolds with a precision that will have you wondering how Parrish managed to create such real-to-the-bones people within a world that captivates you with ease.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  By the Wayside is a collection of short stories all very well written usually with a the main character finding their voice.   I realized that short stories are just not my genre; however, I have a new appreciate for them.  The skill it takes to tell a story in a few pages is amazing to me. If you like short stories or want to give them a try, check out By the Wayside.

What Others Are Saying:  Please check out the The TLC Book Tours to read what others are saying about By the Wayside.

Monday, April 3rd: Dwell in Possibility
Wednesday, April 5th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Thursday, April 6th: Lit and Life – author guest post
Monday, April 10th: Bibliotica
Wednesday, April 12th: Mama Vicky Says
Thursday, April 13th: Bibliophiliac
Monday, April 17th: Books ‘n Tea
Wednesday, April 19th: Susan Peterson
Thursday, April 20th: Dreaming Big
Monday, April 24th: BookNAround
Tuesday, April 25th: Bookchickdi
Wednesday, April 26th: Maureen Downing
Thursday, April 27th: Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall
Monday, May 1st: 100 Pages a Day – author guest post
Wednesday, May 3rd: Good Girl Gone Redneck
Thursday, May 4th: Seaside Booknook
Friday, May 5th: Readaholic Zone

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: I would and I have.  I really liked her Our Love Could Light the World.  You can check out my review here.  I would also like to read What is Found, What is Lost. Her novel due out in September 2017, Women Within, sounds great too.

Anne Leigh Parrish is the author of All the Roads That Lead From Home, stories (Press 53, 2011); Our Love Could Light The World, stories (She Writes Press, 2013); and What Is Found, What Is Lost, a novel (She Writes Press, 2014). Her new novel, Women Within, is forthcoming from Black Rose Writing in September 2017. Find Anne on Facebook, Twitter, and her website.

Connect with Anne

Website | Facebook | Twitter

By the Wayside - TLC Book Tours

Success with Stress

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis:  Believe it or not, stress isn't all bad; in fact, it's an important part of the natural world. Stress helps us survive as a species - because of that we want the ability to be stressed. That said, being able to manage stress with greater success is the difference between surviving and THRIVING. Success with Stress explores five simple ideas to spark your personal power to change the level, duration, and frequency of the stress in your life. With workplace stress being linked to quality of life, health, and workplace morale, this is a must-read for any team looking to improve morale and individuals looking to improve their quality of life.

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  Who doesn't have stress?  Do any of us know what life is without stress?  Probably not, but we can manage the stress.  As indicated in Success with Stress, we need to learn how to cope with and navigate the stress.  The first chapter had me hooked right away - it is about how communication (or lack of it) can cause stress.  We have all been there, right?  Stress can also cause serious health issues. Jae goes through five strategies how you can success with stress.  It all starts with you or as Jae puts it, "the choice is yours."

Would I Read Other Books by the Author:  I have and would!  I really love the simple, short, and easy to read format.  Jae has tackled two popular topics!  Check out my review on Work Life Balance here.

You can check out what others are saying about Success with Stress on the iRead Book Tours.

April 10 - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway

April 11 - #redhead.with.book - review / giveaway

April 11 - Travelling Through Words - book spotlight / guest post

April 12 - Books, Dreams, Life - book spotlight / author interview

April 13 - A Holland Reads - review / guest post / giveaway

April 14 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway

April 17 - Divas With A Purpose - review / author interview

April 18 - Writers and Authors - book spotlight / author interview

April 19 - Top 1000 Amazon Reviewer - review

April 20 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review / guest post

April 21 - Reviews by Room With Books - review / guest post / giveaway

April 22 - Everyday Gyaan - review / giveaway

April 24 - Within The Pages Of A Book - review / guest post / giveaway

April 25 - Books for Books - review

April 26 - Seaside Book Nook - review / giveaway

April 27 - Laura's Interests - review / guest post / giveaway

April 28 - Fur Everywhere - review / giveaway

April 28 - Genuine Jenn  - review

May 1 -    Deal Sharing Aunt - review / giveaway

May 2 -    Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway

May 3 -    Book review nature photos and everything in between - review

May 4 -    Outset - review / author interview

May 4 -    Sahar's Blog - review / giveaway

May 5 -    Jessica Cassidy - review / author interview / giveaway

May 5 -    Create With Joy - review

Jae Ellard is an author, speaker, and expert on developing the skill of awareness in the workplace. After years in senior communication roles crafting content for executives, Jae collapsed from stress-related adrenal fatigue. This life-altering experience propelled her to research human behavior, neuroscience, mindfulness, and organizational relationship systems. In 2008, Jae founded Simple Intentions and developed the Mindful Life™ Program to generate intentional conversations to disrupt patterns and create awareness, accountability and action at team and individual levels. Jae has taught the skill of awareness in more than 50 countries to thousands of employees at multinational corporations such as Microsoft, Amazon and Expedia.

Jae is a columnist on workplace awareness for Mindful Magazine, as well as the author of 7 books on the topic. She contributes to the Healthy Living section on Huffington Post as well as the Simple Intentions blog. In 2013, she founded Seattle Wisdom, a community organization working to create and support conscious conversations in professional spaces in the Pacific Northwest. Jae has a master’s degree in Communication Management from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Communication from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She holds certificates in co-active coaching and organizational relationship systems coaching.

Connect with Jae:  Website ~ Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~ LinkedIn

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Success with Stress