Book Review: Franklin: The Man behind the United States Commando Dogs by Matthew Duffy

Franklin: The Man behind the United States Commando Dogs by Matthew Duffy

If you are a dog person, you will love Franklin: The Man behind the United States Commando Dogs by Matthew Duffy.

If you are a military person, you will love this book as well.  It is very hard to believe that this is the first book of this type that Matthew Duffy has written.

Duffy has written books about dog training in his career.  As a matter of fact, it appears that Duffy is one of the top dog trainers in the country.  However, he tells the story of Jeff Franklin and his dogs so well that you just can’t put the book down.

So far this year we have read over 225 books.  If we had to choose one “Best Book” we could not do that.  However, there is no doubt that Franklin would make it into the top ten along with Code Name Papa books one and two.

Duffy tells you several dog stories that are just riveting.  When we saw the name of one of the chapters, “Dog Down”, we were on the edge of our seats.  I, David, could not tell that story to our other reviewers here at Manian Debil Productions without tearing up.

Franklin is a Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine.  Our family is strong military. Our Marine likes to tell his Navy sibling that the Marines are a department of the Navy, the MENS Department.  Once you read Franklin, you will know why that is so.

Have yourself a potty break, grab yourself a comfortable chair, make a pot of coffee, and prepare to sit in place for a while because you won’t be able to put Franklin down. Go on, we dare you.  Just try to put it down for long. You will pick it right back up.

If you can only read one book this year, you should make it Franklin.  It is hands down one of the best.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

PS Annie! is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Book Review: Code Name: Papa: My Extraordinary Life While Hiding in Plain Sight by John Murray And Sharon Murray

Code Name: Papa: My Extraordinary Life While Hiding in Plain Sight by John Murray And Sharon Murray

I live my entire life just a little “messed up.”  I actually read book two first. I think no matter what order you read the two books that are out so far, Code Name: Papa: My Extraordinary Life While Hiding in Plain Sight by John Murray And Sharon Murray is the kind of book you just can’t put down.  I actually read it straight through with a few pauses for the required potty breaks and, “Didn’t I eat yesterday?”

All while I was reading this real life thriller and reading about how with just one phone call the original Papa could make problems just go away, things like AWOL charges and those nasty customs checks just went away.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had real life Papas who could take care of those civilian problems like trying to get Social Security Disability started and being denied every time? Or, things like trying to make sense of that DNA match that indicates the man you grew up thinking was your father, was not.  But, I digress.

If you love a good spy novel, this is it, but this is the real deal. This stuff really happened.

In Code Name: Papa we learn about an elite group of heros who usually won, but sometimes lost.  This makes the story even more exciting and more believable.

By now, you must know we love the Code Name: Papa series and understand there will soon be at least one more. How wonderful.  This is the first book in the series and definitely the place to start. But, I warn you, once you do you won’t put it down until you are done.

A word of warning: This book does contain the Lord’s Name in Vain multiple times. Our readers want to know this.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

PS Annie! is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Book Review: Flourish Financially: Values, Transitions, & Big Conversations by Kathy Longo CFP®

Flourish Financially: Values, Transitions, & Big Conversations by Kathy Longo CFP®

By now readers of our How to Manage Your Monkey blog know we read and review hundreds of books on personal finance and financial planning. We would have to say that Flourish Financially: Values, Transitions, & Big Conversations by Kathy Longo CFP® is a very different book on the subject.

Whereas most books focus on the nuts and bolts, the undercarriage of your financial condition, this book is focused more on the person and their loved ones and not so much on the portfolio per se.

In this book, readers are treated to ideas about how to open up a dialogue with those involved in the financial planning and find out who they are and why they make financial decisions the way that they do.

You won’t be hammered in the head with such things as how to balance your portfolio.  Why should the author do this when she points out that every person is different and their needs and comfort levels with different investments must be considered?

Longo discusses how to teach children about finances at an early age, how to open conversations with adult children regarding the parents’ finances, and how those adult children should open a dialog with their parents before there is a crisis regarding key financial decisions, where the important papers are, what types of insurance are in place, and medical care decisions.

Our only problem when Longo discusses a spending plan, AKA budget, is that she does not mention tithe.  Giving to charity is completely different than paying a tithe. A tithe is ten percent of your gross income, given first.  It should be paid to your home church and only there.

The author does discuss giving and does a good job explaining different ways to give.

We really think that every adult should read Flourish Financially.  You will want to give a copy of this to your parents and adult children.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

PS Annie! is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Book Review: Code Name: Papa Book 2: My Extraordinary Life While Hiding in Plain Sight by John Murray

Code Name: Papa Book 2: My Extraordinary Life While Hiding in Plain Sight by John Murray

One thing that makes me sad is that the nature of this book excludes it from some of our blogs.  It won’t fit the business, personal finance, or religious categories, which means some of our followers won’t get to know about how wonderful Code Name: Papa Book 2: My Extraordinary Life While Hiding in Plain Sight by John Murray really is.

This is book two in the series. We have not read Book One, yet. We hope to.

This is a very different kind of spy thriller. The main reason is that it is all true. When one reads fiction, you pretty much know exactly what is going to happen.  This is not so when you deal with cold, hard facts.

The stories are excellent and very entertaining.  This is the kind of book that makes one walk into walls.  You know, you don’t want to stop reading, but you really have to do other things, too.  You don’t put the book down (until you have to) and then, smash, right into the wall. Maybe this book should come with a danger warning.

If you love a good spy vs spy book, Code Name: Papa: Book 2 can’t be beat.  This will make a great gift for that military buff, history buff, or avid reader on your list.  A serious word of warning: if you are claustrophobic, you will want to refrain from reading this book.

Grab several copies today and start doling them out.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

PS Annie! is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Book Review: The Chicken Runs at Midnight: A Daughter’s Message from Heaven That Changed a Father’s Heart and Won a World Series by Tom Friend with a Forward by Tim Kurkjian

The Chicken Runs at Midnight: A Daughter’s Message from Heaven That Changed a Father’s Heart and Won a World Series by Tom Friend with a Forward by Tim Kurkjian

“The Chicken Runs at Midnight”, it kind of sounds like one of those nonsensical codes we used to hear about in spy thriller spoofs.

Instead, this was really a miraculous message from a teenage girl who had gone to be with our Lord, to her family.

The book The Chicken Runs at Midnight: A Daughter’s Message from Heaven That Changed a Father’s Heart and Won a World Series by Tom Friend with a Foreword by Tim Kurkjian shows readers that it is also a message to all families. This would make a good Focus on The Family book.

There are multiple Christian and other messages in this book. One of the most important ones is that we, as parents, may not realize how every word we say to a child changes the child’s life, whether it be for good or for bad.

Speaking as one who has been in a coma, I (David) know that the advice given by the nurse was exactly right. People in comas do hear and understand everything that is going on around them. The family did the right thing.

We give The Chicken Runs at Midnight all five stars and five boxes of facial tissue to wipe away the tears. Happy tears and sad tears. This book is extremely well written. In this day of books being published at a super fast rate, they often miss wrong spellings of words, bad grammar, and editing problems. I found none in this book. A rare case indeed.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

PS Annie! is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Book Review: Book Review: Master Your Business Cash Flow: Grow the Company You Love, Live the Life You Want Now by Albert J. Zdenek

Book Review: Master Your Business Cash Flow: Grow the Company You Love, Live the Life You Want Now by Albert J. Zdenek

Cash is king! Anyone who owns a business, or is learning about business, is taught that early in their education.

In his new book, Master Your Business Cash Flow: Grow the Company You Love, Live the Life You Want Now, Albert J. Zdenek gives business owners a few more tools for their toolbox.

It is unlikely that Zdenek and I will ever see eye to eye when it comes to debt. However, one must realize that his company is valued in the millions, whereas the company my wife Suzanne and I have has a net worth of negative 205.80. Yes, we managed to reach that level with a grand total of 34¢ in revenue.

All joking aside, Zdenek makes a very good case for using debt to finance your business. It does make sense to use other people’s money whenever you can to finance your business.

Having once worked as a collection agent, it is hard for me to understand that there are people who are backed up about asking people for the money they owe their company.

We give Master Your Business Cash Flow all five stars and a pumpkin spice latte. We think you will, too.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

PS Annie! is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Book Review: Chasing the Merry-Go-Round: A True Story by Kelly Bargabos

Chasing the Merry-Go-Round: A True Story by Kelly Bargabos

Chasing the Merry-Go-Round by Kelly Bargabos is a touching story of the devotion of a sister for her little brother. He was adopted into her family after a traumatic start in life. From the moment she saw him, she felt led to be there always for him, to take care of him, to love him.

Over the years, it became evident that something was holding him back, slowing him down in relation to the rest of the world. Ms. Bargabos fought the system to find out what that “something” was and to get her brother Bobby the help that he needed and deserved.

As Ms. Bargabos was fighting for her brother, she also had heartbreak on an even more personal level. Her marriage was falling apart. We learn more about the effects of substance abuse on her early childhood and how it has affected her relationships along the way.

This book deals with the effects of abuse, physical and substance, on children and those around them. Not all scars are evident at first.

Ultimately, it is a story of love, devotion, and faith.

If you enjoy learning more about the lives of others, then Chasing the Merry-Go-Round is the story for you.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

PS Annie! is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Book Review: I’ll Have It My Way: Taking Control of End of Life Decisions: a Book about Freedom & Peace by Hattie Bryant

I’ll Have It My Way: Taking Control of End of Life Decisions: a Book about Freedom & Peace by Hattie Bryant

Most fast food places will allow you to have it your way. Our youngest daughter always asks for her burger without a bun. She gets it the way she wants it.

In the book I’ll Have It My Way: Taking Control of End of Life Decisions: a Book about Freedom & Peace by Hattie Bryant, our author tells us that the law says we can have our medical treatment our way, as well.

If we are diagnosed with a terminal illness, there is no law that requires us to accept any treatment at all. But, what if we are unable to speak for ourselves at that time? What happens then?

We are often sent books on the end of life. Some are on how our loved ones can adapt their homes to better care for us. Some have been about how healthcare workers can be better able to take care of the terminally ill person’s needs.

This book tells us about the many things we need to think about now, while we can speak for ourselves, and how to choose a person to stand up for us when the time comes. No one wants to think about death and dying. It is, however, a fact of life.

I’ll Have It My Way is very well-written and thought-provoking. We give it all five stars. We could choose to bury our heads in the sand, or we could be proactive about our deaths. This book can help.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: There’s No Right Way to Do the Wrong Thing by Dr. Christopher Gilbert

There’s No Right Way to Do the Wrong Thing by Dr. Christopher Gilbert

We’ve all heard that there is never a right time to do the wrong thing and there is never a wrong time to do the right thing. There’s No Right Way to Do the Wrong Thing by Dr. Christopher Gilbert takes this idea and expounds on it.

While reading this book, my mind got stuck on the problem he introduced about his company that was basically put out of business by an unethical competitor. What kept going through my head was, why?

The original company was already entrenched in its market and the competitor entered another market. Cravings had the experience that money can’t buy. This company would have grown organically rather than with an infusion of cash. But, coulda shoulda woulda.

Other than that ethical situation, my mind was able to wrap itself around the different concepts of ethics as introduced by the book.

This reminds me of a finance company that I once worked for. They kept repeating in most of the company literature, “Not just the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law”. I think that told us that they intended to do what was right, no matter what.

In the world of ethics, Jerry Clower said it well, “If you can’t get down on your knees and thank God for being able to do whatever it is you are intending to do,, you ought not be doing it. “

There’s No Right Way to Do the Wrong Thing is very well-written and very well-researched. We give it all five stars. Your company may wish to add this to the required reading for management.

We think you will enjoy this book.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Willing Hands: In the Service of the Lord by Dan Richard

Willing Hands: In the Service of the Lord by Dan Richard

What can I do to serve the Lord? Most Christians have asked this question either of themselves or other Christians. Willing Hands: In the Service of the Lord by Dan Richard may well help you to answer that question.

This concise, short book is jam-packed with tips and ideas about how best to serve The Lord. It would make an excellent text for churches to hand out and discuss in small group studies. It will help open a dialogue where Christians can help one another find where they can serve in the church and how.

There are several suggestions that can help churches get their members back on track and focused on serving the Lord.

We give Willing Hands all five stars. We think it has an important message that needs to be told.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.