Casindra Lost by Marti Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the blurb, “A half-baked AI…”? Whenever a blurb can make me chuckle, I know this will be a good book. Captain Sideris is sent on a mission, new and exciting, yes. But it does seem to be a fairly standard one overall: go to these planets, analyze them for precious metals and other items of interest, send data back home and so on. But the AI is not as sophisticated as he had hoped and his only other live companion aboard the craft is an empathic cat named Simba. When things start going wrong as well, drones not returning with supplies as scheduled, or those mysterious and disturbing messages, Captain Sideris will have to figure out just what is going on and will he be able to save himself?
Despite the tedious scientific explanations and ongoings (which really aren’t bad as they were accurate and based on real science we currently have), I found the book to be engaging and at times funny. There was that mystery as well which helped drive the story onward.


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The Spirit of Revival: Christian Revivals by Ewang Nelson Mfortaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pastor Ewang Nelson Mfortaw has written this book in the hopes of bringing Christianity back to the masses, in other words, it is a book about Christianity Revival. We are reviving the spirit of Christianity. Through psalms, verse, parables and more Pastor Mfortaw gives us his interpretation of various scripture and how they are important. He also reminds us repeatedly of the importance of forgiveness and love in our lives. If we do not have these two aspects, then our lives will not be as happy as they can be.
Overall, there were some things I didn’t agree with and others that I did, O think that those that are curious about a modern interpretation of the scripture might not get much out of this one, while the Pastor does apply some of the teachings to modern life, most of his thoughts and interpretations follow a more traditional pattern. And there is nothing wrong with that, as there are many schools of thought out there.


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RECLAIMING OUR OWN by Christopher Irons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Reclaiming our own is a rapidly paced thriller, where our main character, Brett Moore witnesses the abduction of his Nephew Cameron and shortly thereafter, he himself wakes up in chains. Just how far is Brett, an ex-Soldier willing to go to save not just himself but his family members? The author places a horrific vision in front of us in this novel, where we will have to contemplate just what our reactions would be if our loved ones were to be placed in this same position. The dangerous situation for Brett is challenging and he will have to rely on all of his past training in order to survive and get justice.
A great plot that was engaging and yes thrilling. In that sense it was a page turner where I was anxious to see what would happen with these characters. I didn’t’ care for Riley and Adele, I couldn’t connect with their characters that much. Also, the writing was not smooth, there were many short sentences in the action scene that didn’t allow it to flow smoothly.


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From the Delta Mud by Guy Wheatley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Southeast Arkansas is the main setting of this political thriller. We meet our main three characters who don’t have much in common, but their lives have collided in the past and recent events are going to bring them back together in a collision. Marshall Bennington is a Congressman who is shooting for the White House. Tom Stratton is a quiet unassuming man whose livelihood was destroyed in the wake of Marshalls bid for power. Gibb Asbury is a decorated veteran who is simply trying to live a peaceful life after his time serving in the military. When Tom decides that he cannot let Marshall get into the White House, by any means necessary, things get heated and Gibbs, who stumbles into the mess is pulled along for the ride unless he can stop the destruction.
What had great promise, turned into a very slowly paced book. I really like this genre, so I was excited to start this book, but it took awhile to finish it and I had to push myself to do that. There were plenty of scenes that were so descriptive that could have been pared down immensely and not lost much of what the writer was trying to tell. The potential is here, it just needs some editing and picking up the pace and it would be better.


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The Tragedy of Beauty by Kildare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Snowden, North Dakota is a small reservation town, seemingly forgotten by the rest of the nation, and even the rest of its own state. Dylan Erickson is half white and half Chippewa and has lived in this place his entire life. He doesn’t see the decay caused by the economic decay, he sees the beauty of the prairie, the woods and the streams and he wouldn’t change it for the world. That’s why he gets so distraught when big machinery and hordes of workers start streaming in. They are chasing the oil boom, desperate to make money and turn a profit. But they do not care that in their quest for money, they will ruin the land and change the face of Snowden dramatically.
The story is told through the lens of this young seventeen-year-old boy and we see how he (and the rest of the town) struggles to come to terms with all the rapid changes. The story was dramatic, and full of wide-ranging emotions that will strike at your heartstrings.


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EVOLUTION TESTED: EVOLUTION & EMPIRICISM Viewed through ENGINEERING STANDARDS by Cs Stephens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is the authors attempt to present information and facts to the reader, in order to persuade them to reevaluate their views on Evolutionary Theories. The Theory of Evolution is mainly attributed to Charles Darwin and his research, but rarely are the scientists and researchers who came before him ever quoted. I liked that in this book the author presented all the research, prevailing theories, counter arguments and logic that pertain to the theory of evolution. It may seem like a lot of information for one book and to some extent it is, but the author did a good job in allowing the information to be arranged and written in such a way, that it is easier to follow than in a bunch of scientific papers. This is not to say this is an easy read, or a read where you do not encounter complex words. This will throw some people off while they read, but if you are truly interested in this sort of thing, then you will certainly gain much from the book itself and the information presented.

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Hexes and O's by Lisa Wells
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Remington Smith inherits a rundown mansion from her recently deceased friend Beth, and it comes with some caveats. She must live in this mansion for one year while she completes the Bucket list that Beth has assembled for her. Oh, and Beth is “haunting” the House from the second veil until she can accomplish a mysterious task. Meanwhile Remington has to figure out just how far she will go with Jason, the sexy neighbor, she has to try and save her business in a small town in the middle of nowhere and she has to deal with her snappy little dog Max. Funny, entertaining and snarky with a dash of emotional spots, this is a good book to take your mind off things. It did take me a little but to get into the story, but once things started to get rolling I liked it.
I received an ARC from Book Sirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

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TRINITY'S FALL by PA VASEY
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the second book in an exciting series, The Vu-Hak have finally arrived on earth. They are without bodies and comprised of pure thoughts, which means they can possess us at their whim, and we are essentially non the wiser. A wormhole that was opened up during experiments back during WWII has finally been closed in the last book, but was it too late for us? And why does Dr. Kate Morgan no longer remember anything? Where are the Special Agents and FBI Director from the first book? There are plenty of questions that will finally be answered and resolved in this book, only to open up more mysteries for the next book to answer.
I highly recommend reading the first book in the series otherwise not much will make sense until you are far deeper into the book. This can prove frustrating for some, so definitely read the first book so you have a good grasp on the story.


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Psychic Medium Within: The Story of My Awakening - and the Beginning of Yours by Ed Carlton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Host of the Podcast Light and Energy with Psychic Medium Ed, Ed Carlton is a professional Psychic Medium and has written a book that shows us his personal journey of discovery. When he finally figured out that he was essentially a square peg trying to fit a round hole and accepted that there was something special about him, Ed connected with his grandmother from the other side of the veil and with her help developed his Psychic Medium powers to what they are today. He also provides us with little exercises for those of us who are interested in growing their own psychic medium powers. We are all Psychic to some extent, but most of us simply have not developed our powers yet. Come along for the journey of discovering your own powers! Well written and interesting book that is sure to inspire many who are searching for answers about their lives.

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Awake, Arise, Or Be Forever Fallen! by Alberto Vezendi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When most of us think of eating disorders, we only picture women and young girls in our minds. What most of us fail to see is that eating disorders and all that goes with it affect boy and men as well. And because of the way our society is set up, their voices are often never heard. The author of this book has struggled and lived with anorexia for most of his life. In this book, he opens up about his struggles and obsession with food and details it all, from how it began, until how he finally overcame it. One of the more eye-opening points of the book, is that the author helps us realize just how damaging these eating disorders are to not just our physical help, but also our mental and emotional health. We also are shown to just what lengths he went to prevent others from realizing something was wrong.

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From the Bone by Melvin Litton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Melvin Little has published books previously and he shows his experience in this one. The collection of poems that all deal with life (his experiences and that of others) are thoughtful, filled with nuance and will leave you musing your own experiences. 33 poems, from the windy plains, to visions of priests, short poems, medium poems and long poems, there is certainly something here for everyone. There were a few poems that I liked a lot, The Gate, Dark Intent and Prodigal son and mostly I really liked Flight to paradise. Musings on life, how our shapes resemble punctuation symbols for one, are plentiful out there. But I think that Mister Little has a good grasp on how to use his words to make us think about our own humanity and frailty and how nothing in life truly stays the same, no matter its appearance. Great collection of poems for us poetic minds!

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Global Content Quest: In Search Of Better Translations by Ian A. Henderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been translating and proofreading translations for about 10 years now. Many of the examples that the author names and laments as poor examples of translations gone wrong, I have seen in real world examples of. The author gives us much more than this. When translating internationally, you have to be aware of language and cultural differences. Something that is ok in English might sound offensive in Swahili or Korean. Without proper guidance and thoughtful consideration of cultural and societal differences, your message has a higher chance of being misunderstood. You cannot rely on Google translate and call it a day and be successful.
This book has an important and timely message for both businesses and people considering interacting with a global market. The tips for avoiding pitfalls, and some not so common suggestions to help you succeed are good tools to have in your arsenal. I would definitely recommend this book.


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The Cooktown Grave by Carney Vaughan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I seem to be gravitating towards mysteries lately and this book is no exception. This book follows the twins Danny and David Brannigan who are orphans who were in true twin fashion, closer than most siblings are. When Danny and his boss are murdered for asking too many questions, David is blamed for their murders and barely escapes his prison sentencing. David later gets identified in a hospital and this sets many new things in motions, some with the police who want to recapture him, and others with the actual murderer of Danny who wants to silence David once and for all.
Will David be recaptured or killed? Will he ever be able to solve his twins murder? This is a satisfying murder mystery that after a slower start, picks up steam and in a fast paced manner, takes you on a wild ride through twists and turns of the story.


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The Codes of the Exiled Rogue by Sandeep Adnani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In 2039, life for Tristan, Aurora and Sid is ok. They live their lives and go about their days. When they are each handed a note that states: “What you seek is seeking you”, their lives get thrown into a whirlwind of an adventure as they follow the instructions left for them. In following their guide, simply known as the Host, Tristan, Aurora and Sid are exposed to a set of beliefs and thinking that seems radical to them. The secrets of the Universe as it will, are laid out to them if they only have the insight to claim the knowledge.
This book is a futuristic science fiction novel with a deeper underlying thought-provoking message. With that being said, it is not a boring read, the story was entertaining and rich, the characters well fleshed out and the relationships between them were realistic. I enjoyed this book a lot.


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Wolfhampton: President Trump - Money, Mayhem, and Murder in the Hamptons. by Jay Fitzpatrick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is set in a fictional version of today’s political world. President Trump, First Lady Melania and their son Barron are in the Hamptons enjoying a vacation when the unthinkable happens. A double murder that is ruled as homicide with a Russian Oligarch as the prime Suspect. The little issue is that President Trump was staying at that Oligarchs mansion, and now the Democrats led by Schumer and Pelosi are considering a deal with the literal devil to get rid of President Trump once and for all. Will the President be able to finagle himself out of this situation? And Just how far is President Putin willing to go to enforce his toehold of power in America?
Billed as a political satire, I did not find much humor here that wasn’t tried, overdone or simply fell flat. The many issues that a good editor could have fixed were also disappointing to find. I think that if this book goes through another round of editing, there is some potential. I wanted to like it more than I actually did.


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Why god is my only best friend by Mr. FOG
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In a time where anxiety and depression are becoming more and more prevalent amongst us, we have to take a hard look at our society and lives and see what has changed so much to prompt these mental illnesses to become so prolific. The author, Mr. FOG gives us his personal journey in this book. The journey that he took to overcome his anxiety and his depression. He examined his life and decided that the main thing missing was a trusting relationship with God. Through the recounting of his journey, he lays out steppingstones that should help many overcome their own mental illnesses.
This book is very focused on not just spirituality, but on building a personal relationship with God as your best and possibly only best friend. I don’t agree with the author on a few points in this book (I am religious, but some stances he takes seem a bit narrow minded to me). However, I cannot deny that there will be plenty of people who will be able to use this book and have it help them become better.


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Plus One Plus None by Emica Mao
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you do not want to end up single in your 40’s, then you need to make some changes now. One of those is learning from your girl Zita here. She tells you how she felt on top of the world when she was younger and never did anything to change her circumstances, leaving meeting the right man up to chance. This book is for those who either don’t feel they really need to do anything about their love life, or they are too timid, or too brash or even those who think that they do not need any help.
Essentially, if you are currently single, you could stand to listen to some advice, and this book will give it to you in a relatable and humorous manner. You do need to be careful to only take the checklist for a guy that will work for you. So, if for example, his job isn’t important to you, but his hobbies are, you might have to adjust some of the advice. Overall it is good advice.


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A Wistful Tale of Gods, Men, and Monsters by David Ruggerio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, the cover on this book is awesome. It invokes a gothic horror feel. The story reminded me of the Sleepy Hollow video game in the Evil that lurks just around each corner and will ambush you when you least expect it. In this book, the town of Brunswick New York is haunted by strange and horrific happenings. The storyline follows multiple characters in the town as they encounter something sinister and try to survive it or solve its mystery. My favorite part was when William and Lilly meet Balin and he wants to “play”. This is certainly a creepy book with plenty of moments that will stay with you and just maybe make you think twice about turning that light off. Even though each chapter dealt with a different character, they all had connections that became clear throughout the book. If you like Deen Koontz or Stephen King, you should like this one as well.

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A Wistful Tale of Gods, Men, and Monsters by David Ruggerio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, the cover on this book is awesome. It invokes a gothic horror feel. The story reminded me of the Sleepy Hollow video game in the Evil that lurks just around each corner and will ambush you when you least expect it. In this book, the town of Brunswick New York is haunted by strange and horrific happenings. The storyline follows multiple characters in the town as they encounter something sinister and try to survive it or solve its mystery. My favorite part was when William and Lilly meet Balin and he wants to “play”. This is certainly a creepy book with plenty of moments that will stay with you and just maybe make you think twice about turning that light off. Even though each chapter dealt with a different character, they all had connections that became clear throughout the book. If you like Deen Koontz or Stephen King, you should like this one as well.

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Shattered Treasure by Cindy Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Addison Morgan is suffering from many things. Her relationship with her boyfriend is rocky, she is dealing with the death of her sister and to top it all off, she has an accident that seriously injures a teenage girl. The brother of the girl is Officer Logan Tant who is determined to bring the driver who hit his sister to justice. When he meets Addison, they both are confused by their chemistry and try to deny it at first. But when things start to happen, amongst them her Ex-boyfriend showing up, demanding Addison return to him, they will have to come together and help each other heal.
An emotional, sweet and loving tale that does have a few darker moments. There are plenty of moments that I was near tears, but the author has a gentle way with words that is moving. This is not a gripping, fast-paced or steamy book, this is a story about love that happens in unexpected places.


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Unlocking the Natural-Born Leader’S Abilities: An Autobiographical Exposé by Salar A. Khan MD MBA
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Written as an autobiographical expose, this book takes us through the authors journey in his own quest of searching for a way to overcome his obstacles that prevented him form unlocking his full potential. Complete with self-assessment tools, the author strives to give us the tools needed so that every reader can unlock their own leadership potential. This may seem like a book that is a dime a dozen, but the author brings a personal touch to the telling which gives it an interesting backstory. I think this helps bring across the teachings and points that the author wants us to ponder since we can see them in “real” situations and see how the author himself was able to overcome them. On another note, the author could use a final round of editing I believe, as some phrases that were used are not commonly used. It was a good book with good principles, the final presentation just needed some work.

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The Ikalreev Prophecies by Jared A. Zakarian
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Three angels descending from heaven will be the sign of the approaching night” The Ikalreev Prophecy 1:4 “
In a magical realm full of fantastical creatures, an ancient prophecy is soon to be fulfilled. An ancient war between good and bad that has the potential to destroy the known world will come to fruition if the efforts of a select few fail. Will the citizens of Verdunmell be able to stave off the prophecies and the ensuing war? Or will the immortal beings bring their battles to the earth and lay waste? Will we ever truly find out all the secrets our characters are hiding from each other?
A well written fantasy epic. For a first book into this genre, the author has made a good entry. This is the first in a series, so if you like your books to be neatly parceled and finished, this is not for you, there is a cliffhanger that leaves multiple plot points open, while closing others. I found the book lengthy, typical for a fantasy novel, however, the pacing could have been tightened up a little bit more. All in all, a good book.


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The Void Revealed by Stephen Ethier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the first book a new Sci-Fi adventure, we are given an exciting new world. This world is very detailed, and we are given so much description, it is as if we are walking on the narrow streets of Windhold, feeling a brisk breeze ruffle our hair, or hear the crowd roaring. Windhold sits over a barren land called the Void. It was not always this way, but a fateful day brought blistering winds that eventually led to the lands demise. Windhold has thus far escaped that fate, but it has been ruled over by a power-hungry madman and it is now slipping into madness itself. Elise is our protagonist, a strong female character, groomed to overthrow the ruler and lead Windhold into a time of peace. But when she discovers that things are not truly what they seem, she needs to decide for herself just what path she will take.
I found this was an interesting book, a good vs evil tale full of adventure and a main character full of sass and strength. The supporting characters were well thought out as well and the story made sense, from beginning to end.


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The Journey of Christopher by Michael J. DiSalvo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A journey of self-discovery and discovery of faith, this book tells us the tale of young Christopher and his unlikely journey. A young man, Christopher is street smart, wily, and creative enough to get out of most sticky situations. However, it is almost Christmas and he is starting to lose his faith in God, and this is where the story begins. Christopher is swept up into a mystical seeming journey where he is introduced to many different people. Some are good, some are bad, but they all leave an impression upon Christopher in some way. Will he be able to regain his faith and trust in God?
This is a good book. It has a slow start, but it will be good for teenagers who want a little science fiction while still staying within their faith. You won’t find any crazy ideas or smutty love scenes which makes it perfect for its intended audience. The unlikely setting of the SciFi backdrop gives the story a fresh new look into the faith based genre.


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Am I Burned out at Work?: A Self-Care Solution by Salar A. Khan MD MBA
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you are dragging your feet to work every day and are dreading getting up in the morning, then maybe you are burned out. If you prefer to call in, or to simply show up but not be productive, then maybe it is time for you to make a change. This book is a self-help book in that it will help you find that time for yourself where you can recharge and how to find the help you need, be it professional or simply in your support network of friends and family.
Dr. Khan gives us a detailed look at how burnout can occur and what it can look like through his own experiences with it. He notes the importance of your support networks and even being honest with your primary care physician about your health. He also gives you plenty of assessment tools within to determine where you stand. Insightful and helpful, this is a good book to read if you are even thinking of feeling burned out.


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Tap Sapiens (Reign of Sapiens' Evil by Robin T.T. Poon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In a Dystopian future, a military force known as the ASC is the ultimate power. Brandi Kelly, a young revolutionary decides to go undercover and infiltrate the ASC in order to expose its corruption and horrors she believes they are hiding. When she enters the recruit training, she is captivated by the man in charge, the general himself Daniel O’Reilly and his beautiful turquoise eyes. As Brandi goes through training, she gathers around her a group of discontents who have suffered under the ASC rule and wish to do something about it. Her relationship with the general also has its ups and downs.
The book was well written, although there were some things I had a hard time believing. Coming from a military background I know that no officer, much less a General, would involve themselves with a mere recruit. Also, Brandi’s revolution came together a little to easily. She made a few enemies, but whenever she needed help it magically appeared, she barely had hardships and since this is in the dystopian future, I found it a hard sell.


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Transference by B.T. Keaton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set in the future, this book is set in a world where the human species has evolved. We are able through a complicated scientific process live forever by transferring our consciousness from one body to the next. In essence we have perfected the way to become anyone we want, whenever we want. There is however, one minor obstacle. The technology is controlled by a powerful man called Jovian who also calls himself a prophet. He controls who can use the technology and all of those who are not able to are cast aside. One such rejects is Barrabas Madzimure. But Barrabas is not powerless himself, he is the King of Thieves and as such, he has been sentenced to death. When he claims that he is not actually Barrabas himself, but rather a victim of involuntary transference, the authorities have to figure out what is the truth.
This was a wild ride, couldn’t quite nail down just who is really who until the end. As such, there were some confusing parts in the book, but they were still well written and lent themselves to the storytelling rather than detract from it.


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Consequences: A novel of unlikely American heroes by Dacus Tara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Katie, Taylor and Leon are three young kids whose lives have all been shaped in some form or another by the senseless gun violence around them. They all live in Suisun Valley, close to prosperous Napa Valley and their community tries to provide a good foundation of support services for those in needs such as the Police Activities League. Each of these kids takes on the gun violence (and the associations that are pro-gun and thus enable the flow of guns), in their own personal ways. Will it ever be enough? Will this generation or even the next ever be truly free from the violence that has rocked their lives? Can a balance be struck?
A thought-provoking tale of a community and how the gun violence influences their lives as a whole and as individuals. The book was well written and thought out. There is no clear preference here, every voice gets their own say in the story, but it does let you see the greater impact on a community beyond what we see in the media.


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Hunter by J.V. Speyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Luis is an FBI Profiler whose latest misstep caused him to be involuntarily relocated to Boston. Not the area he wanted to be in, he nevertheless strives to save his career by making the best of a crappy situation. When a serial killer crops up, Luis is assigned to the task with the help of a local state police detective. This person turns out to be none other than his ex-boyfriend Donovan. The tension between the two is extremely high, but will they be able to set past hurts aside until they can solve the case?
This was a thrilling romantic mystery/crime book. I really liked Luis and Donovan together, their chemistry weas incredible and their individual reactions and ways they deal with their sexuality was realistic and telling of the types of things people have to go through. This looks like the start of a series and is a great introduction story that will hook you easily.


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Just Pack: Simon Pack Novel # 7 by John M Vermillion
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Simon Pack has had many different jobs and titles during his life. Marine general, Superintendent, Governor, and even hobo. As his turn as a Governor ends, he sets his sights on a new project. He meets people who have been forced of their land, land that has been in the family for generations. When he decides to help them, he encounters Eutaw Lane, a ruthless businessman who has the local governmental agencies fully under his heel. How far will Simon have to go to right the wrongs that Eutaw has done?
A classic good against bad book, this was a feel-good story in that an honest man comes into a community and sees the wrongs and decides to make them right instead of moving on. The characters were well developed, and the villain had depth, which was god. Many books, the villain is almost a caricature of what they could be, but this book is different. I enjoyed the book; it was very well written.


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