Every year nearly 200,000 women and 1,700 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately 40,000 women and 450 men die each year and billions of others are effected through trickle down. To help you prevent becoming one of these statistics we’ve listed some facts every woman, and man!, should be aware of.

Get informed and stay healthy. Know the statistics: – While white women are more likely to get breast cancer, black women are more likely to die from it. – The majority of breast cancer cases involve woman over 50, but that doesn’t mean younger women are immune. – Smoking and alcohol have not been officially connected with breast cancer, but it it still believed that they are a factor in the growth of tumors. Besides, smocking is NOT attractive, despite what you may see on TV.

Self-examination leads to early detection. That’s a given. But did you know that early detection raises the 5 year survival rate by 96%? And it’s easy, too. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has included detailed instructions on the self-exam that anyone at any age can preform. Women and men of all ages should preform this simple monthly examination. It is also suggested that woman over 40 receive a mammogram with their yearly physical.

Did you know that men can also get breast cancer? It’s true! 1,700 men are diagnosed each year and 450 die. Sure, that doesn’t compare to the 200,000 women who get diagnosed, but men should still be concerned. Men can preform the same self-exam as women.

Get active and lower your chances. Exercise combined with a healthy, low fat diet full of fruits and vegetables can lower your risks of developing breast cancer. Studies have shown that as little as 4 hours of activity alone can lower your risks. Exercise and sports not only help keep your body slim and fit, they lower your estrogen levels which promotes tumor growth. Combine this with cruciferous greens such as broccoli and kale (also clinically shown to slow tumor growth) and your chances could be doubled!

Get involved and help find a cure. There are any number of organizations that are looking for donations and volunteers. NBCF, Komen, and Live Strong are just a few of reputable organizations that could use your help. You can also check with your local hospital and hospice for volunteer opportunities. Events such as the Komen 3 day are great ways to gear-up support and donation in your local community, so grab your mother, sister, or a friend and join when ever the possibilities arises!

See what communities around the word are doing to raise awareness.

• Breast cancer survivors prepare for ninth Healing Art Gallery
• SIFE, Walgreens team up to educate students about breast cancer
• Local teens to promote breast cancer awareness

Become Pink for October and have your site listed below. Have a personal site or blog? Join Pink for October then let us know and we’ll add your site to our list Gilded Pen readers who have gone pink.

• Bits of Amber (Blog)

Reviewed by: Amber Barth
Rating: 3/5

Some people take walking down to their local gas station for granted. But for L. Roxanne Zaborovsky, a freelance techy, this is no simple ten-minute walk. The fact that it’s 2:00 am and dark are the least of her problems as two men–the familiar and handsome Mason Merick, and the sophisticated and sexy Leonardo Kaysar–literally come to blows over her. If only that where the end of her problems. Between confusing leaps through time, high-speed car chases, and an emotional play of cant-and-mouse, Roxanne must come to a conclusion. Both men want the code that’s in her head and are willing to woo or kill to get it; it’s up to her to decide who’s the enemy and who’s the lover.

With an action packed and griping story line, Maverick weaves a story of adventure and self-growth as we fallow a confused Roxanne through layers and layers of alternate realities. It’s hard for Roxanne and the reader to tell exactly what reality they are in as space and time shift around her, but that doesn’t distract from the story line. The appearance and disappearance of random items as the plot twists and turns adds thrilling depths to a dynamic narrative. The slow explanations and Roxanne’s distractions and over evaluations, on the other hand, tend to drag the story off course until you want to kick Roxanne in the tush and remind her that her very existence hangs in the balance.

The manga-style cover is interesting. The art is neither exceptional nor horrible, though the premise seams a little misleading and tends to show Roxanne as more kick-ass than she is depicted in the book. The story in no way resembles a manga or light novel and has no Asian influence what-so-ever. And while Wired is marketed as an ‘Action Romance’ there is little in the way of a romantic relation. A hot go against the wall and some heated touching and kissing are about it. Very little explanation into the characters emotional feelings is ever mentioned.

All in all I would suggest this one to those of you who enjoy a high-speed tale with twists and turns, but tend to shy away from pure romances.

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October ‘08

Reviewed by: Amber Barth
Rating: 4/5

Who ever thought the delicious aroma of breakfast could lead to one of the most confusing, stress-filled, and life changing weeks of one’s life? Obviously not Henry. As he munched down on cinnamon French toast, comfortably enjoying his Saturday morning with his girlfriend like he has for the last 6 years, Layla gave him an ultimatum: decide if he was ready to fully commit to their relationship or watch as she left his life forever. She has given him till their friends‘ wedding–only one week away! –to decide. Once the bouquet leaves the brides’ hands he better have an answer, or it’s bye-bye.

Along the way to the ultimate decision, Henry runs the emotional gantlet while seeking advice from many an inept source. From the child-like friend Paul and to his divorce-ravaged brother Jake, to Layla’s own hippy-returned father and the 5 times married golfing buddy, John, Henry comes to terms with what’s truly important in any marital relationship.

But Layla’s not one to wait sitting around for Henry’s answer. With her two best friends Gloria and Susan as backup, Layla explores her own emotions and desires, trying to decide for her self if marriage to Henry is what she really wants, or if the hot-looking attorney Ben would be more up her isle.

With a pleasing narrative and amusing characters, Graziano has created a charming and enjoyable story with The Ultimatum. The situations are hilariously realistic, the plot both remarkably simple yet incredibly complex, and the far too soon for my tastes!

Reviewed by: Amber Barth
Rating: 4/5

Things hunted in the night. Dark, malevolent things with little or no regard to humanity.

For Lauren, Heidi, and Deanna, their time in New Orleans was suppose to be fun: Heidi is getting married soon and this is her one last fling before she becomes a Mrs. So when Heidi decides to visit a fortune-teller Lauren has no chose but to agree despite any bad feelings she may have. Heidi and Deanna quickly have their fortunes read, each given a vague predictions of love. Last in the group, Lauren is ushered into a dark tent to sit before a crystal ball. Even as she sees the face appear in the ball and hears the words “I’m coming to get you” repeated, she’s not wholly sure it’s nothing more than some elaborate setup. Still, the fortune-teller’s warning to leave sends a chill down her spine that she just can‘t shake. Desperately in need of a drink, the three head to one of the many local bars where Lauren runs into tall dark and handsome Mark Davidson, literally.

Mark is stunned. The woman before him is a spitting image of his late fiancé, Kattie, even down to her smile. But Kattie has been dead for a long time, killed by the sadistic vampire Steffen. Still, the woman’s resemblance to Kattie is so striking, Mark is sure Steffen will be after her shortly, if he isn‘t already. Protecting Lauren becomes more and more paramount as their relationship grows. Steffen’s sadistic sense of humor has set the community of New Orleans reeling as body after body of headless women appear in the waters of the Mississippi, and even Heidi and Deanna are not immune to his charm. Friends and allies quickly appear in the most unlikely places as Mark learns that there is more to New Orleans than he remembers and Lauren learns that not everything that goes bump in the night is bad.

Heather Graham has a remarkable talent of combining suspense and the paranormal into a virtually seamless plot line. For the most part, characters are well developed and realistic, practically coming alive on the page. Some information is rushed and others repeated within pages of each other, but the overall flow of the story is strong and exhilarating. The atmosphere of New Orleans is palpable as it comes alive in a vivid portrait of activity and excitement, and the struggle between good and evil in a city rife with superstition and legend is as engaging as the city its self.

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Reviewed by: Amber Barth
Rating: 3/5

Chloe Degoddessa is the sexy Muse of Happiness, and she’s falling below her potential. Her father and boss, the all powerful Zeus, has given her one last chance: go to Earth and inspire as many mortals as she can before time runs out or be stuck mucking the stables to the end of forever. As a rather peculiar little twist Chloe has also been forbidden to fall in love. With little choice, Chloe is thrust into Chicago. Here, she takes on a job as a wedding planner and invited into her boss’ home with no references, ID, nada. Things are going great for Chloe until her boss’ grandson, Matthew Castleberry, returns home early from working with Doctors Without Borders in Africa. Chloe finds herself instantly attracted to the scared yet well built “Dr. Studly.” Enough so to question her desire to return home.

With a rather simple plot line and some corny word play, Judi McCoy’s One Night With A Goddess is a fun, quick read for a balmy afternoon. The fun secondary characters and the easy readability make up for McCoy’s bothersome abrupt point-of-view change and annoying overuse of the phrase “The dead zone”. But don’t let these little qualms keep you from reading Goddess. McCoy shows a lot of potential that I’m hopping will grow with her next book.

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In a letter posted on her official homepage, Stephenie Meyer–author of the uber popular Twilight series–has stated that she will not be publishing the final novel Midnight Sun. Due to a leak of of an unfinished partial copy, which saw the up-coming novel distributed through the internet without either publisher or author’s knowledge, Meyer has decided to forestall it’s impending publication indefinably.

“I think it is important for everybody to understand that what happened was a huge violation of my rights as an author, not to mention me as a human being,” Meyer stated in her letter. “As the author of the Twilight Saga, I control the copyright and it is up to the owner of the copyright to decide when the books should be made public.” While Meyer has stated that, due to changes in the unfinished manuscript at certain times, she has a good idea who was in procession of this infamous copy prier to it’s internet debut Meyer believes “that there was no malicious intent with the initial distribution.”

While Meyer would prefer fans not read the unfinished manuscript, she believes it unfair that they should be punished for one person’s misconduct. As such she has posted this unfinished partial copy on her website in PDF form. This final novel is a re-telling of the first novel Twilight from Edward’s point of view. Meyer’s own words state that she hopes this final story “gives you further insight into Edward’s head and adds a new dimension to the Twilight story. That’s what inspired me to write it in the first place.”

Stephenie Meyer is a 5 time published author. Her works include the YA novels Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn as well as her adult fiction novel The Host.

Reviewed by: Amber Barth
Rating: 4/5

Claire St. John has recently been divorced from a quick-start marriage. So, like any other sensible 34 year old woman, she quits her job as a New York lawyer, returns home to her native Austin, Texas to live in her mother’s rental, and decides to become a writer. Not just any writer mind you but the author of the supreme back door pass to the woman’s bathroom. Unfortunately, the road to author-stardom isn’t all fun and games. Claire must deal with an annoying ex-boyfriend, several friends with their own romantic troubles, and the all too attractive Jake Armstrong who, if Claire isn’t careful, will throw her new life askew.

The Men’s Guide to the Women’s Bathroom by Jo Berrett is an exhilarating romp through life as we know it. We live through the emotional roller-coaster ride of getting divorced and learning to love again, all while Claire takes notes in Jamaican Me Crazy red on toilet paper about bathroom etiquette.

Barrett weaves a tremendously funny and equally enduring story that was simply a joy to read. With plenty of emotion, humor, and heart The Men’s Guide to the Women’s Bathroom will easily wiggle it’s way onto any keeper shelf.

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Reviewed by: Amber Barth
Rating: 4/5

Sasha Gardner works for the IRS as senior auditor, and it isn’t winning her any points with the gentlemen. Despite being vastly intelligent, moderately attractive, and friendly, Sasha can’t seem to find a man who would be willing to talk with her let alone spend a lifetime with her. After a disastrous night at the local bar where she met yet another man with an aversion to auditors, Sasha has been having a problem focusing on her work. Useless information, it seems, is more interesting. While this normally wouldn’t have been a problem as Sasha is a fan of useless information—and who isn‘t?—it’s starting to affect her work.

Unfortunately for Sasha, reflections over her love life aren’t the only things affecting her. She’s getting strange phone calls from irate gardeners in the defense of a man named Jonah Gray; a man she’s been assigned to audit. Everyone seems to be rallying for this Jonah Gray, and after some research she is as well. Lives become tangled and complex as the story continues. Sasha, almost taking on the part of a stalker, learns more of Jonah Gray as she comes to grips with her father’s illness, her half-brother‘s appearance, and her recent romantic relationship.

Cochran has done a superb job of depicting Sasha, the girl on the sidelines, as her lackluster and collected life unravels around her. Cochran’s supporting characters are well developed and compliment a brilliant storyline that, though littered with sadness, is a fun and engaging tale. A must read on any reader’s list.

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