Author: Anne Marie Smith and Michelle Gamble-Ri
www.second-bloom.com

Reviewed By: Melinda Cianos

Living authentically may take some restructuring and luckily, for women approaching Midlife, that restructuring is sure to be underway– like it, or not. With the wanted and unwanted changes there is usually fear and it can be paralyzing, debilitating, and often in great supply. Authors Smith and Gamble-Risely share their stories, and the stories of several other courageous women who have broken patterns of stagnation and taken risks in spite of the fear; as a result they are now celebrating their lives feeling centered and fulfilled.

Concise and to-the-point, Second Bloom, walks the reader through identifying weaknesses, claiming strengths, crafting goals, and distinguishing values. To make the endeavor that much easier, Second Bloom includes a fold-out page at the end of the book that can be used for getting thoughts on paper in organized form. Often self-help books encourage the reader to journal or list to create focus and direction, it was helpful to have the option of recording right in the book. I liked the size and shape of the book (sometimes big things come in small packages) and the font chosen—it is flowing and pleasing to the eye. Both content and form blend nicely to relay the message that it is never too late for change.