Book Review: Beale Street Blues by Angela Kay Austin

Beale Street Blues

by Angela Kay Austin

Darling Crawford lost the man she loved to another woman. Returning to her parents was bad enough, but returning home broke, divorced, and jobless is awful. Right about now she just needs to have fun.

A man with a sexy southern drawl. A strong drink. A night of dancing. What happens on Beale Street stays on Beale Street, right?

About the Author:

 Angela Kay Austin has always loved expressing herself creatively. An infatuation with music led to years playing several instruments, some better than others. A love for acting put her in front of a camera or two for her thirty seconds of fame before giving way to a degree and career in communications. After completing a second degree in marketing, Angela found herself combining her love for all things creative and worked in promotions and events for many years.

Today, Angela lives in her hometown in Tennessee with her really really really old dog, Midnight.

To learn more about Angela, visit her website: http://www.angelakayaustin.com/.

Amazon Customer Review:

 Enjoyable reviewed by TJ7109md 

I think the best part of this story is the fact it was about two older (40ish) people and the focus was not placed on the wealth of the male and his saving a poor, struggling female but the personal challenges they either created or faced to be together. I think the age of the primary characters helped present a more mature, relatable story than what other writers are putting out these days. It was not full over the top erotica for one. While the storyline is not new, I like that Darling had doubts and struggled with life after a divorce – her actions were more reflective of reality than what is traditionally presented in a majority of IRR using this same storyline. Great job to this author – first time reading her work but looking forward to future releases.

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Treat Marriage Like a Business

For Success in Marriage, Treat It Like a Business
Counselor Offers Tips for Committing One’s Life to the Right Person

As an immigrant from India who feels blessed to be an American citizen, Sukhjiwan Singh remains puzzled by the divorce rate here, estimated by PolitiFact.com in 2012 to be 40 to 50 percent.

“I come from a time and place in which arranged marriages were common practice – and there was no dating allowed. It seems to me that our society today should have more successful marriages since singles can date here and get to know their future spouse before taking the plunge,” says Singh, CEO of a real estate firm, a mother of two and a happily married wife to her husband of 35 years.

Singh has extensive experience as a counselor to victims of domestic violence, which has piqued her fascination for what works, and what doesn’t work, when searching for a lifelong partner.

“If you truly want to commit your life to a future husband or wife, but haven’t found him or her yet, there are many things you can do to ensure a successful marriage while testing the waters via dating,” say Singh, author of “Marriage and the Love Myth,” (www.authorsukhsingh.com), who offers tips for committing one’s life to the right person.

• Don’t ignore the parallels between business and dating/marriage. Just like marriages, businesses fail all the time. Both demand your best effort and resources, including an inexhaustible amount of time, dedication and, usually, as much money as you can spare. As the fate of your business or romantic relationship goes, so goes your fate. While the experiences of both are often different, both require self-awareness, sound decision-making, and the willingness to give if they are to be successful. Of course, this means finding the right niche in business, or the right person for love…

• Follow the 80-percent rule in terms of compatibility for the “big stuff.” No two people are exactly alike, so where should a single person start measuring compatibility with another? Define the “big stuff,” which may mean religion, culture and ethnicity for some. Another take on big stuff could be personality traits, physical characteristics, social skills and more. Still another take could mean where two people are in life, such as profession and education. Define the big stuff; if you’re compatible on about 80 percent of the list, you should strongly consider purchasing a warranty for a great relationship. In other words, getting married.

• Communication skill – the glue of a lasting relationship. While establishing a relationship, take note of the conversation. Does it flow and is it enjoyable, or do you find yourself bickering frequently? As with a business, you can have the ideal partner or employee who may look stellar on paper, but if you do not work well together, it’s not good for business. The same follows for a sweetheart who may seem perfect in every other way. Make sure communication is a two-way street, and watch out for frequent sarcasm toward you, which is a sign of disrespect. You should be able to talk and listen with care, respect and proper appreciation.

About Sukhjiwan Singh: Sukhjiwan Singh is the founder and CEO of New Dimensions Realty, a real estate brokerage. Through her extensive experience as a volunteer counselor for victims of domestic violence, she has become deeply aware of the causes of divorce and its devastating impact on families. Born and raised in Punjab, India, she received a master’s degree in English from Punjab University and immigrated to the United States in 1979. Since then, she has lived a happy lifestyle with her two sons and the love of her life – her husband of 35 years, Malkiat.

Raising Healthy Children of Divorce and Conflict

The 7 Fatal Mistakes
Divorced & Separated
Parents Make:
Strategies for Raising
Healthy Children of
Divorce and Conflict

This book is a crucial resource for families that are divorced, separated, considering divorce and never married who want to raise the healthiest children possible. Written by a child of divorce and conflict who is now a therapist working in this field, this book is a must-read. It provides guidelines to allow coparents to create the best environment possible during family challenges.

 

Inside you will find over 30 exercises and practical strategies to assist you in being the best parent possible during this difficult time for your family. Reading this book will assist parents in raising emotionally and physically healthy children. 

 

  

FROM THE AUTHOR:

“I have written this book for you, parents who are divorced, going through a divorce, or considering a divorce. You may also be a co-parent who has never been married to your child’s other parent, you too will find this book helpful. It is time for me to share the knowledge that I have gained from my own parents’ divorce and conflict, from the parents I have trained, from the children I have counseled, and from the divorces of friends and family.

 

My wish for you and your family is healing, health, and love. My deepest hope is that this book will bring you and your family one step closer to these goals. If what I am sharing assists you in any way to positively impact your family, I know I have done my work here and I am deeply satisfied.”

 

~Shannon Rios, MS LMFT

TESTIMONIALS TO SHANNON’S EXPERTISE

 

“Shannon has helped my ex-husband and I come to a successful resolution on many of our parenting conflicts. She has helped me to make the best child centered choices I could thus, protecting my child from the impact of my conflict. She has helped me to feel at peace with the decisions that have been made. In Gratitude for all of your time, guidance, and patience” Katie (Mother of 5 year old)

 

 

“During a transition of rebonding with my child whom I had been apart from due to my own faults, Shannon was a counselor that helped guide, and if needed, instruct in a comfortable way to bring a natural relationship back together between us. Shannon offered helpful advice with real circumstances which was beneficial to our relationship. Thanks. It was a pleasurable experience working professionally with Shannon Rios.”

~AB mother of 3 yr old from Denver, CO

 

 

“I truly believe Shannon’s recommendations will help my 16-year old daughter become a successful adult and help me to be a better parent”. ~Mark, Father of a 16-year old

 

 

“Shannon has been a great help to my children and has provided me with the tools to understand their needs”. ~Star, Mother and Foster Mother

 

 

“Shannon and I worked collaboratively on various children’s programs. I found her interventions engaging for the clients and therapeutic for the families as a whole. Shannon has a gift for bringing simplicity to even the most complicated cases.” Monique Lowe PhD- Clinical Psychologist in the Minneapolis Area

 

 

“Shannon has been an inspiration in my life. Through coaching, she worked with me on building stronger relationships with my family. Within a year, this not only improved, but also my relationship with friends and coworkers. In addition, my self esteem increased dramatically. Thank you so much Shannon, for everything!” C.H., Assistant Manager Software Quality Assurance

 

 

“Shannon is one of the most authentic and compassionate professionals I have ever worked with. She takes the time to truly understand and assess the needs of the organization, team or individual…..and then guides and facilitates growth and discovery for long-term results.” Karla Montgomery, Organizational Development Professional / Instructional Designer

Shannon Rios, MS, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Due to her passion for working with children and families, she formed LifeTheads Inc. in 2002. She specializes in the area of families of divorce, separation and conflict. Her process is called Family WORKS (Working it Out Responsibly for the Kids Sake). She taught Co-Parenting Through Your Divorce for the State of Minnesota for two years and currently teaches Coparenting and Divorce for the State of Colorado. She has completed many specialized trainings in the areas of families experiencing divorce and conflict. In 2006 she moved her practice to Colorado and has built her business in the areas of Therapy with Children and Families of Divorce and Conflict, Parenting Coordinator/Decision-Maker Work, Therapeutic and Supervised Visitation, and CFI (Child Family Investigator) Work. She focuses on assisting families and children of divorce/conflict to find their power and strength during a challenging life transition. She has had excellent success in empowering families to work together in the best interest of their child(ren).

 

She is also a successful life and business coach. Prior to her therapy career, Shannon had a successful corporate career in human resources and was trained as a life/business coach. With all of these skills, Shannon brings a wealth of knowledge to her work with any client.

 

In working with clients, Shannon develops a deep level of trust and integrity. Her focus is the optimal health and well-being of each of her clients. She deeply believes in the unique potential of every individual in the world. Through her coaching and counseling that potential is realized for the individuals, children and families she works with.

 

WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT THE BOOK:

This book is a key practical tool for parents when life is in crisis. It will help to ensure that our unresolved issues start healing and do not dim the possibility of a joyful and creative life for our children. I truly thank you for gifting this book to the world.

~Candice Bataille Popiel, coparent of a 7 and 8 year-old 

and co-author of Discovery of Glow

​This book is outstanding! It contains not only extremely valuable information every parent facing divorce needs to know, but it also is full of practical tools for minimizing the impact of divorce on children. I highly recommend it.

~Judge Stephen A. Groome, District Judge, 

11th Judicial District, State of Colorado

Shannon Rios’ personal experience, research, and professional expertise offer compassion and respect to divorced and separated parents. If parents read The Fatal 7 Mistakes and apply all the practical tips this book offers, they will get along better with their parenting partners, heal from their divorce faster and help their children come through the divorce with their self-esteem intact. This book will help ensure families achieve emotional health despite these life-changing events.

~Jody Johnston Pawel, author of the award-winning book 

The Parent’s Toolshop: The Universal Blueprint for Building 

a Healthy Family

As a mother of a 7 yr. old, going through a divorce, my main concern is the well-being of my child. This book was a godsend! It has helped me be the best mom for my son, while going through this difficult process.”

~Katy, mother of a 7 yr old.

“Don’t let the word Fatal in the title scare you, when you look inside, you will find Shannon Rios’s book to be one of the best parenting after divorce books ever written. She has compassion and an uncanny understanding of what children and parents need. I have seen many divorce books during the past 25 years, and while they are all helpful in varying degrees, if every parent could read Shannon’s book, most of the problem suffered by children as an outcome of their parents’ divorce would be substantially eased. This book should be required reading in all divorce classes.”

~David L. Levy, Esq., President, Board of Trustees, 

Children’s Rights Council

“Let us create a divorce process that recycles divorce pain into new patterns of personal and familial growth which, in turn, will also strengthen our entire society. Let us protect our children from the unnecessary hazards of the divorce experience so that they, like their parents, can be strengthened by divorce rather than defeated by it.”

—Meyer Elkin, Editor AFCC

TEP TWO:

 

“Don’t let the word Fatal in t