Carolin Dahlman is Swedish-born, but lives and works in Australia. She calls herself a ‘love coach’ and ‘heart healer’, and operates the online Girl Dating Directory for relationship advice, plus several blogs. Her book will fit well with self-improvement/ relationship titles on bookstore shelves. Its main focus is on self-examination and improvement with a view to finding permanent and sustaining love. The book’s intention is to coach people on how to take responsibility for their life by: recognising the problem areas in their relationships through a systematic questioning of their behavioural patterns; helping people find strategies to improve their ability to choose a more suitable partner; handling disappointments better, and increasing self-esteem and self-respect. There is a lot of language associated with the power of thought and ‘law of attraction’, and the usual stress on affirmations, visualisation, how to overcome negative thought patterns, and creating your own reality through writing exercises. The last is enforced by the questionnaires found throughout the chapters. There is nothing in this book that has not been said before but there are certainly lots of useful strategies listed. The theme of finding love will surely attract those on their quest for answers in this area.

Anastasia Gonis is a freelance writer and reviewer

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