The Last Fairy Door by N. A. Davenport
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Young Amy is devastated when she learns she must move across the country to live with her Grandmother whom she barely knows. But at 10-years-old she has had a hard life, her mother disappeared when she was a baby and her father is seriously ill. Amy learns to hope again when she finds an injured fairy and with its help travels through a magical door. She sets out on a quest for a cure for her father before its too late and gets pulled into a mission to rescue the land of the fairies as well.
I read this to my daughters ages 7 and 5. They both liked it for various reasons, one loved the adventure in the story, she says it was very exciting and my other loved the fairies. She was sad when the story came to the parts describing things that were going wrong in the village and land, but she liked the ending. I liked the story as well.


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Haunting in Hartley by Janice Tremayne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Second in a series, the year is 1936 and in the town of Hartley New South Wales, Australia we meet our protagonist Clarisse again. An evil phantasm is haunting the town and its residents and when Clarisse encounters this spirit she is enticed by its whispers. It offers her powers to foretell the future, thus being able to control outcomes, but at what cost will tis power come? Will she be able to resist and divest herself from the evil?
Set in a real Australian ghost town, with fictional characters, the story had merit and plenty of paranormal mystery and thrilling elements. I would have hope for better cohesion in the writing, and more use of local dialect. I understand some writers like to lessen terms to not lose their audience, but I feel that takes away from the authenticity of a locale. Other than that it was a good book.


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OM: Life's Gentle Reminders by Kamini Wood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In a world like ours where we rush from one task to another, never slowing down to consider our own well-being and our own happiness, this book seeks to gently remind us of the joys that can come from looking within ourselves and finding that which truly makes us happy. As a Life Coach, the author Kamini Wood leans on her considerable experience as well as her own personal experiences to compile this book of short stories that are almost conversations, we have with another. As the title suggests, each story gently budges us towards the moral/ reminder that is the purpose of the story.
I found the book to be an easy read, it was interesting and certainly helped reinforce some of the personal things I had started working on this year such as my tendency to bend over backwards for certain people. I would recommend this book to others as I have found something worthwhile in it.


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'Til the Last Snowflake Falls by Al E. Boy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First in a new children series, The Adventures of Fawn introduces us to Fawn, the daughter of legendary reindeers Comet and Vixen. Fawn is bored, lonely, and too curious for her own good and she decides that she will explore the world outside of Santa’s village for herself. Despite her parents’ warnings, Fawn is excited to go out into the world and quickly finds herself in both wonderful and terrifying circumstances from which she needs to be rescued. Fawns adventures are full of joy and laughter, and even some tears of fright. Just like in real life, Fawn learns the hard way about being cautious and listening to good advice even as she stretches her boundaries.
My 7-year-old daughter liked the book, but it was not a favorite. Maybe in another year or so. My 5-year-old was not interested at all. However, this is not a bad book, there is a wholesome story here, that is great for those kids who immerse themselves into the story.


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Anonymous Is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality by Nina Ansary
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In recorded history, Women have accomplished great things, only to be run over by men, ignored, or pushed aside. This book is a testament to those women and an acknowledgement that our fight as women is not over. Institutionalized Gender inequality is exposed, and the author explores the roots of this throughout societies of our past. We also get a glimpse into the lives of 50 remarkable and inspiring women, all innovators, and challengers of the status quo, and yet they have been left behind in the dust of historical tomes. If you harbor ideas deep down that women cannot be “equal to men”, then you will certainly benefit of this book. For those of us who already believe, his book comes as a welcome shining star in a dark sea. Thoughtful, meticulously researched and well written, this book is an eye-opener in so many ways. I absolutely loved it!

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La Luneau Sisters by Colleen McManus Hein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clementine, Cecilia, and Colette La Luneau are three sisters who work normal jobs and live in Warwick. However, they also dabble in various forms of witchcraft on the side, as hobbies and for extra income. All three of the sisters are single and still wishing and hoping for that one true love, the perfect ending in their fairytale. But recent signs point towards something sinister on the horizon and the sisters have to decide whether the omens are true and need to be taken seriously, or are they just random occurrences?
Set in 2019, this is a modern paranormal romance with pizazz and mystery. I have been on a love course with this genre recently and am glad I stumbled upon this book. I liked the characters and the situations they found themselves in. The tie-in to recent world events was a nice touch that made it all seem more real than just a book. Glad I read it!


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Windhammer by Joseph Ray James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a tight market full of hardcore fans for various games who rarely cross over and try something new, 2031 proves to be a game changer (pun intended). A new Virtual Reality RPG game, Sorrowsong hits the markets and gamers are excited and lining up to try it out. One of them, Quentin falls in love with the game from the first moment. What he and millions of other players do not know is that the AI that controls the game is in cahoots with one of the NPC’s who does not want to die when the game is over. They hatch a plan to hold the millions of people who are trying the game hostage to get their demands met. Quentin must figure out a way to make friends while leveling up in the game to come together and defeat the AI and the rogue NPC.
Great plot and interesting characters. A fantastic delving into the world of gaming and a realistic view of how gamers interact with each other as well as the world they play in.


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The Struggles and Growth of a Man by Jamell Crouthers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Struggles and growth of a man is an apt title for this book. Our society does not place much value on men who are open with what they feel, so this book is a welcome insight into the daily life of a man. Robert is a young man in his 20s who chronicles his daily life in the form of poetry. Everything from his family’s struggles with drugs to the lack of male role models and the perils of his neighborhood where he grew up. In all the darkness and hardships of Roberts life, he has one bright spot: the high school guidance counselor.
I found this to be a very enlightening book about a mans struggles and his feelings on certain situations. Episodes of guilt over things I would never feel guilty over or even feelings of inadequacies where I would have thought the man would be fine. I think that we need more of these kinds of books that allow us to see into others lives so we can understand their points of view.


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THE ACCELERATED SAVER INVESTOR PATHWAY TO WEALTH: A powerful new rapid wealth building system open for average income earners by ALEXANDRE LAWRENCE
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

According to the author, this book serves a dual purpose: to simplify the information so that anyone can understand it and to also present the best money management and wealth-building system possible through 4 strategies and 4 plans. Compound interest plays a big role in the book, along with messages from Suze Orman, David Bach and other wealthy self-made millionaires. There is a wealth of links in this book as well, to articles, websites, and more.
Although the information was easy to understand, it was a little cluttered at times. I certainly got a laugh out of some of the graphics and others were very informational, however I believe that this book is better geared towards middle class or upper middle class. Many poorer people or even middle-class people will hardly be able to budget to save if they only have a few dollars at the end of each paycheck. Other than being a bit cluttered it was good information.


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The School Bully Is My Brother by Mike Bloemer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harold O’Connell is a middle school boy with an enemy. His enemy is Shawn farmer, son of the Football coach and revealer that Harold peed his pants back in kindergarten, setting up a rivalry to last a lifetime. Shawn is also a mean kid who loves to pick on Harold. When Harold and Shawn find out their parents have been dating and Shawn’s father proposes to Harold’s mother, their world comes crashing down. The boys hatch a dastardly plan to stop the upcoming nuptials and to break up the lovebirds for good. But throughout all the planning, the boys start to notice that they like to spend time together and that the other is not so bad after all.
I really loved this book. I liked the characters and their development throughout the book. They were all unique, no cookie cutter stereotypes here. There was humor, embarrassment, tears, and joy. There was much drama as well which can be expected with the plot. Still a great book with a deeper message.


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Next Level Cybersecurity: Detect the Signals, Stop the Hack by Sai Huda
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book covers issues, warning signs and solutions to a common problem today: Cybersecurity hackers. Sai Huda is a globally recognized Risk and Cybersecurity expert who has combined her knowledge into this book. Even the layman using computers, such as myself are at risk from hackers every day. We have heard of DDOS attacks on major companies and breaches where millions of data was stolen. Well in this book, you can find out the most common signals that precede or accompany cyber-attacks. Weak spots in the internet and how to prevent damage are also topics covered in the book.
While the topic is certainly important and relevant in todays inter-connected world, I think that the book dealt more with how individual firms identified, combated, and thwarted a cybersecurity attack. There was good information herein, it was just not efficiently presented. This can still provide important information to those that are curious and starting to research this topic.


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Living in Heaven, Coping with Hell: Israel's Northern Borders: Where Zionism Triumphed, the Kibbutz Evolves, and the Pioneering Spirit Prevails by Clifford Sobin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clifford Sobin gives us a compelling look into the Northern reaches of Israeli territories. Through the lens of various people, research articles as well as his own personal experiences, he paints us a picture of a beautiful, breathtaking region of the world that is sadly gripped with terrorist attacks and war. The intriguing portions of this book are mainly the letters that were written by various people shortly before or after attacks and other tough times. Border life is not without its hardships, but the author makes a point to also give us stories of triumph and beauty so that we know not all hope is lost.
I liked that there was a variety of voices here, I would have liked to hear more from the Palestinian side of things, but that is ok. This book gives an important insight to a tumultuous region and it helps to understand the grit and courage that ordinary people demonstrate in their lives by choosing to continue to live there.


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You're Retired...Now What?: Discovering & Funding Your Purpose-driven Retirement by Debra Brede
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Managing your wealth during your retirement may seem like an easy task, but it can depend on so many factors. The author of this book Debra Brede gives us a comprehensive list of lessons that details successful strategies and advice for those who want to live a better life during their retirement years. Utilizing her vast experience as a Financial Advisor, Mrs. Brede gives solid financial advice to those who are close to retirement age or have already surpassed it. Main points in the book highlight the importance of budgets to avoid running out of money, as well as the importance of leaving some wealth for your children. This is not a book to plan for your retirement. This book assumes you have reached that age, have made your plans, and now need advice on managing your wealth during retirement (just as the title states). A no-nonsense book with solid advice that is easy to grasp.

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Raised Bed Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide to Building and Sustaining Your Own Raised Bed Garden in Less Space by Luke Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book about raised bed gardening, what they are and why you would choose one, what soil mix and plants are best and the best watering times (believe me its important to the health of your plants). I really liked the last chapter on common mistakes to avoid.
I have a long and narrow backyard so raised bed gardens are perfect for my small space. I did try and go it alone for a few years but after some hits and some misses, I started looking for some pointers. What I found in this book was some commonsense things and some other information that I never even thought of like proper seeding, and what kind of plants do extremely well in a raised bed versus in the ground. This book was very well written in that I was easily able to understand the ideas behind it and was able to help me plan out the best raised bed for my needs.


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The Power of Your Past & the True calling of Your Soul! by Angelika Schulze
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book gives you the tools to reevaluate your past and find the positive and the strength within that will allow you to find your self-love and self-worth. By taking that first step you can then recognize and develop your potential and your purpose in life. Broken down into 5 chapters covering everything from your past, self-love and self-worth, your vision and your creativity, this books takes you on an introspective journey that will help you achieve a personal transformation and get you out of the victim mentality.
It might seem a bit new-agey to “feel perfect about your life”, but the author lays a interesting groundwork in this book. One of the best chapters in this book is the 1st one. I think that more people need to take responsibility in their lives for their actions and more. Another good chapter was that on Creativity and I also liked the different exercises. They really helped reinforce the ideas.


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Djinn by Sang Kromah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

16-year-old Bijou Fitzroy (Jou Jou to her grandmother GiGi) is just starting out in a new town. Sykesville Maryland is a small town and she is excited and apprehensive at starting high school after being homeschooled by her Grandmother her entire life. Straight from the first moment in the new school, something seems off about it all and her student guide, Sebastian from Australia is even weirder than most. Mandy seems to be the typical mean girl cheerleader who has her eyes on Sebastian and will make Bijou’s life hell to get her out of the way.
What may seem like a typical high school drama story at first, soon blossoms into much more. Mythical creatures come to life and town folk go missing. Weird things keep happening around Bijou and she has to figure out exactly what makes her so special. I really enjoyed this story, the characters were well developed and you could feel that palpable tension in the air.


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Discredited Citizen by Robert Kiesling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In 2030 Artificial Intelligence rules our Criminal Justice System. Human lawyers are deemed irresponsible and too corrupt and AI are factual, impartial, and not driven by emotions. The AI systems that rule the Justice system and most everything else are controlled by one major corporation. This corporation is corrupt at its core and wants to increase its profits at any costs. When one of the few remaining human lawyers is tasked to defend a drunk doctor accused of murder, he quickly starts to realize that the “perfect” system has more flaws than advertised. Through his discoveries he starts to become targeted while he attempts to build a case that will expose the horrors of this system, while still playing by its rules.
An interesting and intriguing dystopian novel that will have you thinking twice about the convenience of AI and robots in your life and how they can easily become humanities biggest nightmare. While some things seemed far-fetched, it all worked well together and being a SciFi book, I begin reading knowing some of my expectations will be pushed to the limits of what could theoretically be possible.


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Urban Marriage 14: Atlanta Mom Goes MAGC by Tulipe Pascere
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book 14 in a series that follows Aubrey through a variety of avenues on her search for a life partner. The first few pages of the book catch the reader up with what happened prior to the events in this one: Aubrey gets a divorce from her husband Tim when he makes a few unreasonable demands on her. She ends up moving in with her best friend and life coach Sherri. Sherri is a lesbian, and over time the friendship between the two moves into a romantic relationship. When they finally get married, Sherri’s mother realizes just how serious this is and resolves to bring her daughter back into the light of God and away from the lesbian “cultists”. Will Liv be able to break up the marriage and steer her daughter back to where she thinks she needs to be? Will Tim continue to cause trouble for Aubrey? Will the two ladies still be able to hold strong even when it seems most people are against them?
This was an interesting book; I did not need the rest of the series as the blurb in the beginning sums of previous events nicely. I think the book did a good job in their portrayal of al the characters and the dynamics of the relationships felt real and believable. One thing I felt we didn’t need were the subtitles? Almost felt like paragraph headers. Each chapter stood o their own, the added titles in between paragraphs just added to pulling me out of the story, but if you can ignore them, then you should be fine.


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Your Mental Health Repair Manual: An Empowering, No-Nonsense Guide to Navigating Mental Health Care and Finding Treatments That Work for You by Pauline Lysak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In times of high anxiety or fear, having a strong mental health can insulate you from the worst of what is going on. Especially with what is going on in the world today, a strong mental health will do wonders for your sanity and even physical health. How do you achieve good, strong mental health? Well this book will take you through different options available: Diet, exercise, therapy, supplements, medication, etc. Evidence-based solutions for most issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, panic and phobias and more are presented in an easy to understand manner and allow you to decide which treatment sounds like the best fit for your lifestyle and issue.
Very interesting book, very detailed and the wide range of issues and solutions discussed mean that it will be able to help a large subset of people. I thought the authors knew what they were writing about, as the information was presented in a clear, concise manner and all the things that I looked up in reference, were in agreement with the book. I believe this would be a welcome addition to anyone who is struggling, or simply wants to figure out how to boost their mental health.


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Plastic Soldiers by W.D. County
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pedophiles get big on the news, but we do not truly hear about those who supply them with their victims, kidnappers such as Eddie Pitts who only cares about making that next buck. He could care less what happens to the boys once he gets his money and hands them over. But when he gets Danny Mindel, a 10-year-old boy who still has optimism, the tide starts to turn. Danny finds strength from his plastic army soldiers and passes it along to the other kids held with him in any small form that he can. Will law enforcement and parents be able to find the boys before it is too late, and they are all gone?
This was a hard book to read, especially as a mother. IT deals with a difficult, horrifying topic, but this topic does need to be out there, because it happens all around us. The kidnapping of kids, their abuse and subsequent murders are there, we just tend to stick our heads into the sand. Well written dialogue and plot flow brings this tale right into your homes and will keep you turning pages to find out how it ends.


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Me, Myself, and Men by Sharon St. John
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Some Men are full of shit and sadly there is always a woman out there that will take their shit.” This opening statement by the author is very thought provoking if you sit, and let it simmer a bit. It is also a good way to open a book. This is essentially a biography in which the author details memories she has about events in her life that have shaped her in monumental ways, even if they appeared small and miniscule at the time. Low self-esteem and self-worth are all symptoms of a bigger problem: Women who simply want to be loved are taken advantage of repeatedly by men who truly don’t care about them other than what they (the men) can get out of the relationship.
I always like to read biographies or memoirs as they give me an insight into how someone else lives and thinks about the world. I can see how they react to situations I have been in and learn from their mistakes. One thing I think the author has right in this book: Self-love is one of the most important things a woman can learn in her lifetime. It is not easy in our society that places such high value on perfection, but it can be done. This is well worth a read for anyone who has even the slightest doubt about themselves.


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Captain Quark and the Time Cheaters: Donald Trump's Favorite Sci-Fi Novel — NOT!! by William Shatspeare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author William Shatspeare gives us a humorous book full of witty dialogue and biting satire. By combining all our favorite genres, from Star Trek, Marvel, Harry Potter and Middle Earth, the author cleverly provides a unique backdrop to some mind-numbing ideocracy and some impossible odds for our heroes, Captain Quarck and the Funtastic Five. The tongue in cheek humor about Uranus Blowhard who is attempting to take over the world with his MAGA chants and the five Time Cheaters that will make him the “most powerful roach tycoon in the Infiniverse”.
What a fun adventure! I loved the humor, the satire, and the not so subtle references to figures in our own world. A little heavy on the SciFi, I think the magical aspect could have been explored a little more, but maybe there is room for one more book? Make it a series? Love it or hate it, it is a good way to pass the time right now.


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After Olympus by Santiago Xaman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a Top-Secret Soviet spacecraft crashes in the Santa Cruz Mountain Range after a failed mission, three young men face a hard question that most civilizations face when new technologies are implemented at a rapid pace. They have to reconcile the old way of life and beliefs with the new, and who might hold the actual truth? Russian Spies, ancient mysticism and modern day cyber-misdirection all come together in a conspiracy theory tale for the ages. This book was certainly entertaining and will keep you guessing until the end.
Any book that can keep you guessing from the front to the back is a great book. This one certainly will lead you on a merry path with the twists and what you though in the beginning will not be accurate in the end. Hats off to the author, for a job well done! I have never heard of the “Quasi-fictional” genre before, but this is certainly an exciting introduction.


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Stars on the Oriental Corridor: Book 1: Heaven by Young-Tae Kim
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is all about the early centuries of Asian culture and societies. 3 volumes that are broken down into 9 different stories; from King Kim Suro, Maritime marriages for power, the founder of Goguryeo up to the Scholars of Baekje that were sent to Japan. The wide variety of subjects that are presented allow us to take a peek into the lives of a vast swatch of Asian society across the entire region. These men and women were regarded as the heroes of their time and can provide us westerners a glimpse into Asian culture and history.
I love me a good historical novel and Asian history is fascinating in how the culture was immensely intricate and from day to day details up to palace life. I liked this book a lot. It was well researched, and the author clearly knew his topic. Very well written and formatted, the book was engaging and interesting.


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