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Toni Sweeney

Toni Sweeney

About

I write mostly sci-fi and fantasy, with an occasional sidestep into horror and westerns.  Thus far, I have 8 novels published as well as many short stories online at Amazon Shorts and in magazines.

Learning to Breathe Fire: The Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness

Learning to Breathe Fire: The Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness

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<p><b>The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon.</b><br /> <br />One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, <i>Learning to Breathe Fire </i>combines vivid sports writing with a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. In the book, veteran journalist J.C. Herz explains the science of maximum effort, why the modern gym fails an obese society, and the psychic rewards of ending up on the floor feeling as though you're about to die. <br /> <br />The story traces CrossFit’s rise, from a single underground gym in Santa Cruz to its adoption as the workout of choice for elite special forces, firefighters and cops, to its popularity as the go-to fitness routine for regular Joes and Janes. Especially riveting is Herz’s description of The CrossFit Games, which begin as an informal throw-down on a California ranch and evolve into a televised global proving ground for the fittest men and women on Earth, as well as hundreds of thousands of lesser mortals. <br /> <br />In her portrayal of the sport's star athletes, its passionate coaches and its “chief armorer,” Rogue Fitness, Herz powerfully evokes the uniqueness of a fitness culture that  cultivates primal fierceness in average people. And in the shared ordeal of an all-consuming workout, she unearths the ritual intensity that's been with us since humans invented sports, showing us how, on a deep level, we're all tribal hunters and first responders, waiting for the signal to go all-out. </p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Sinbad's Last Voyage</em> is the best thing Ms. Sweeney has written so far.<span>  </span>Sinbad is definitely a rare and unique character.<span>  </span>Even though he's rude and crude, you'll find yourself liking him anyway, and he sugar-coats nothing.<span>  </span>Andrea shows that she has backbone when she's faced with unnerving situations that go beyond what she's ever experienced in her sheltered life as a Natural--and that will make you admire her greatly.<span>  </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Filled with thrilling scenes and danger at every turn, <em>Sinbad's Last Voyage</em> moves along with sheer speed.<span>  </span>It's incomparable and ingenious and you're sure to enjoy this futuristic tale of love and adventure.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You'll be hard-pressed to find anything like <em>Sinbad's Last Voyage</em>, so if you're looking for a romance that's not another of the cookie-cutter offerings out there, this is a great place to start.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Nights And Weekends - Sinbad's Last Voyage Review</span><span>               </span><span style="font-size:8pt;">http://www.nightsandweekends.com/articles/08/NW0800278.php</span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8pt;"> </span></p><p></p> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';">Margaret Marr<br /><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal">As the Earth readies itself for war with the invading Albegensi, Navajo Andrea Talltrees travels to the Thieves Quarter to hire halfbreed smuggler Sinbad sh’en Singh to find her fugitive-from-justice husband. When they meet, however, it’s an immediate clash of cultures as well as personalities--plus a heavy dose of instant attraction! Refusing to admit that he has fallen in love with a hated Terran, Sinbad reluctantly takes Andi on a journey that will carry them halfway across the galaxy, where the part-feline smuggler will call on some old friends for help and face one deadly enemy with an old score to settle. In their search for Andi’s husband, they’ll uncover a secret invasion that threatens to destroy the war-torn Terran Federation, and will learn that it doesn’t matter how long a person loves but simply that he does love. (Blurb borrowed from the publisher's buy page for this book) </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have to say I enjoyed this story very much. The world the characters live in isn't one I'd like to find myself in but it's quite unique and very well done. I had no trouble visualizing the scenes and liking the characters, particularly Sinbad.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p></p> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://pennyash.blogspot.com/2008/11/sinbads-last-voyage.html"><span class="yshortcuts">http://pennyash.blogspot.com/2008/11/sinbads-last-voyage.html</span></a></span>