Queen of Your Own Life: The Grown-Up Woman's Guide to Claiming Happiness and Getting the Life You Deserve

First, I get annoyed with those reviews that are all rosy and that are obviously written by friends of the author. So I'll state right up front here: I know Cindy. We once worked together. We occasionally have breakfast together. I admire her. And I bought the book because I know her. Oh and because I turn 40 this year. Now I could just say, "Hey this book rocks" and leave it at that. But those sorts of reviews are not helpful are they? What you really want to know is whether this book can help you, right? Queen of Your Own Life provides a simple 7 step plan for shedding negativity and self loathing and for embracing your inner queen. The steps will help you to learn how to see yourself as the hot gift to all humanity that you really are, stop being your own worst critic, shed toxic friendships and embrace real ones that nurture and support, and to establish boundaries. Each chapter tells a story about how Cindy and her co-author Kathy Kinney learned and embraced the technique. Then each chapter gives you a simple take-home exercise. For instance, for one exercise you will look in the mirror and say an affirmation about your beauty out loud twice a day. You'll set aside 10 minutes and let your inner critic take you apart, and then you'll put that critic in her place. You'll write down what you admire in others and what you admire in yourself. You'll hold a party for yourself and you'll put a crown on your head. Cindy and Kathy are endearing leaders who bravely talk about some of their more embarrassing moments and about the hardships they've endured. BY the end of the book, you come away feeling good about yourself and good for women everywhere. It's a woman positive book with a woman positive message, one that should have us all forming our royal courts by the end.

Publicist Cindy Ratzlaff and actor Kathy Kinney (Mimi, from "The Drew Carey Show") have put together an entertaining little book that is more than just a self-help title. Drawing on their 30-year friendship, the two present advice on reclaiming one's life and wrap it in anecdotes from their own history to show how they reached their conclusions. This book is aimed at women over the age of 40. Kinney and Ratzlaff maintain (and accurately so) that this is the age group that is invisible in our society today. Instead of lamenting the changes of body and spirit that aging bring to all of us, Kinney and Ratzlaff provide suggestions for celebration. The book is peppered with inspiring aphorisms from the likes of Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Anais Nin and other female authors. This is a quick read, and quite entertaining. The advice for women "of a certain age" will help elevate the self-esteem of any reader. Highly recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a great read filled with humor and encouragement. Thank you Queens Kathy and Cindy for being such an inspiration!

What an inspiration to all women! Queenhood is not a new concept, but a new resolution. This book is a great read, filled with funny anecdotes, encouragements and celebrations. The witty sense of humor and the ability to paint the pictures with words definitely causes some laughing spells, but make sure you have your Klenex box near buy too.I absolutely love the book and recommend it to all women without age discrimination.~Queen K

I just loved every page of this book! The book made me laugh, cry and say "Queen up" many times over. Thank you both for your honesty and your willingness to bring this message to us. I am looking forward to my own crowning ceremony which will be in a few weeks with my girlfriends...this is a must read!