Rating: 
Summary: I'm Living Your Dream Life
Review: The book by Michele Cozzens, "I'm Living Your Dream Life", gives the reader a look at how one family combines their core values, personal strengths, and long term objectives, to provide a way of life that successfully blends 'making a living' with 'making a life'. Written with humor, warmth, and wisdom, the book is an informative, quick, and enjoyable read about what it takes to develop, operate, and maintain a northwoods resort. Cozzens presents her experiences and observations with warmth and giggle out loud humor. Both entertaining and enlightening, this book will offer behind the scenes insight to anyone who has enjoyed vacationing at a northwoods resort, as well as to those considering a career in Bed and Breakfast/Resort management.
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Summary: Review of "I'm Living Your Dream Life"
Review: This book gave a realistic view of the problems of resort ownership, but with a great use of humor and interesting personal anecdotes. Have shared with others who are considering this business!
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Summary: Author with a Cause
Review: This book is dedicated to the author's niece, Stephanie Rose, who died in February, 2002. At 20-years-old, she suffered a fatal heart attack most likely caused by taking the herb Ephedra (ma huang), an ancient Chinese herb found in many dietary supplements. Author is reported to have donated proceeds and profits from book sales to the cause of herb awareness. On top of being a fun and informative book about the life of an innkeeper, this book has a greater social purpose.
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Summary: A Well-Written, Interesting Memoir
Review: This book was recommended by a friend because of my interest in how people
come up with ideas for businesses. Happily, I found that I enjoyed every
aspect of the story and couldn't put it down. This is first and foremost a
memoir, a personal account of the author and her husband's attempt to find a
business in which they could work together and create a new life for
themselves. The first chapter is appropriately titled, "How Did We Do It?"
and it explains how they went from having occupations as a journalist and a
stockbroker in San Francisco, sold off their assets and purchased property
in Northern Wisconsin.The book is not a how-to outline on creating a family resort or bed and
breakfast (there are plenty of books available like that) but rather a
simple and unique attempt to tell a story about the life of an innkeeper in
a humorous and straightforward manner. Some things they did expect, others
were a complete surprise. Dealing with the public is always, always a chore
and every business owner has a rich cache of stories to tell on this front.
This book is no exception. It made me laugh at myself since I know I've
asked some of the same questions at places where I've stayed on vacation. Finally, as any innkeeper will tell you, being in the resort business is not
about striking it rich. It's important for all those who perceive their life
as a DREAM LIFE to understand that it takes years of hard work before the
investment pays off and that appropriate financial backing and understanding
the constant threat of litigation is crucial. I therefore think this book is
essential reading for anyone interested in owning and operating a
mom-and-pop business of any kind. Well done.
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Summary: This book enlightens us to the reality of a "Dream"
Review: This is a superb collection of stories, facts and historical pieces. Everybody has their dreams, but most of us don't live them therefore we think that they are easy and extremely prosperous. Whether you have been to Sandy Point Resort and Disc Golf Ranch or you just dream of owning a resort, this would be a great book to purchase. This book sheds the light on what truly goes on behind the scenes at a resort. It shows that people can live a dream life if they want, but that it won't be easy. There are a lot of things that come with this life and if you want to know what those things might be then I recommend this book to you. If you have never thought of that then I still think you should read this book. It has opened my eyes to what I once thought was a "perfect" life. I would still love to live this life, but now I know that it isn't "perfect". Michele, GREAT book.
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Summary: I'm Living Your Dream Life
Review: This was a fun and quick read, I enjoyed every aspect of the book. The author displays a talent for describing her world and lifestyle.
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Summary: Wishing I was in the Northwoods
Review: This was one of those books that I read one afternoon and when I turned the last page I was wanting more. Definitely the best book I have read all year. It's a story about the adventures that The Cozzens family have gone through to develop Sandy Point Resort and Disc Golf Ranch into what it is today (Heaven on Earth). These stories had me laughing out loud at times and wishing I was at the resort. I highly recommend this book to any reader.
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Summary: We've been living the "dream life" for l5 years!
Review: We, also, are resort owners on a southern lake in the
Ozarks for the past l5 years. As we read the book, it was
as if Michelle was describing, in detail, past experiences
with guests and employees that we could really relate to.
All business people catering to the public would find
this book a truly great read!
We enjoyed it very much!
Rating:
Summary: A Book for Working Moms
Review: What a funny, well written story about the author and her family. As a working mom, I could really relate to her tales. She deals with the public and juggles a home life while everyone keeps telling her, "You've got it made! What a dream life." She tells the truth about the hard work, constant interruptions and the struggle to make a profit with the business, but in the end, you can't help but think it might be something you'd try because she paints such a nice portrait of family life -- she's a working mom, but she gets to work along side of her family. So, maybe it IS a dream live!!
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Summary: I lived it, too. Or so I thought.
Review: What an enjoyable read! I once owned a resort in an area near to the author and I wish I would have a: read this book before I got into the business or b: had the sweet pleasure of commiseration by reading it while I was still running the place. (I think we shared some of the same guests and laughed out loud, especially during the chapter called "Frequently Asked Questions.") It's HARD WORK! I think the author makes this clear, but at the same time, points out all of the positive things that do make a Northwoods lifestyle like a dream life. Continued success, Mrs. Cozzens.
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