Infiltrate by K.C. Ale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ashley is “hired” to dig for dirt on Caden Martini before he becomes CEO. What she doesn’t realize is that he is jaded, caustic and extremely difficult to work for. Caden has been hurt, betrayed, and played with by too many women to ever trust one again. When the new Temp comes into his office, and can stand his aggressive nature, he slowly starts to see beyond the fact she is a woman. Sparks fly soon and They both must decide if the truth will set them free or bury them both forever.
Slow to start, the plot and intrigue takes off around the middle of the book. This is a sort of enemies-to-lovers romance and while I really didn’t like Caden, he grew on me by the end. Ashley was stuck in this hard place where any decision she made simply wasn’t the best until she laid it all out. Great story.


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A Quantum Alibi by Liam Fialkov
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A scientific murder mystery novel, this book takes off with Professor Eldridge attempting to travel into a separate dimension. Meanwhile, in a different location, his rival is murdered, and all evidence points to Professor Eldridge. Was he successful in travelling and then murdered his rival? Will investigative journalist Michael be able to unravel this mystery in time?
The book was good but confusing at times. There were many characters to keep track of and the plot quickly became bogged down with all the separate plotlines that were converging. The ending was satisfying, but I felt like I was slogging through the middle of the book.


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A Framework for Growth: Smart Financial & Tax Planning Strategies throughout the Entrepreneurial Life Cycle by Robert Cordasco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As an Entrepreneur, you need to be at the top of your game, and part of that means you need to know how to navigate and plan your financial strategies to ensure you are fostering growth in your company. Using the fictional character of Eddie who has a great Idea, only need starting capital, the author weaves in his experience, his advice, and his guidelines to avoid mistakes into an engaging read.
I have read many business books and this one was very easy to follow, with the structure it received from the author. The advice was common sense and good in that I think it would be very helpful and not detrimental to any entrepreneur starting out.


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Transformation After Trauma: Embracing Post-Traumatic Growth by Stephanie M. Hutchins PhD
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Healing journey

Healing after any kinds of trauma can be hard and take a long time. Not easy in our society when many simply dont want to hear about it, or give one size fits all solutions. Here, the author talks about her journey towards a healthier lifestyle and how she transformed herself after her considerable traumatic past.
While the book was interesting and I found many of the activities to be well thought out and certainly something I would be willing to try, I also found myself a bit put off by the authors many journeys and travels. This gave her an air of otherness, as in she was able to do all these things to help her overcome but I cant afford trips to go hike mountains or travels to other countries. I think if she had toned these portions down a little bit, the book would have felt more accessible and relatable to me.

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Iconoclasm: A Survival Guide in the Post-Pandemic Economy by Tony Zorc
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

No one can deny that the pandemic has irrevocably changed our lives forever and for some in ways we haven’t even felt yet. Therefor, it is imperative for us to not be passive and reactive, but we should strive to be free thinkers, disciplined and driven. In terms the author explains in detail, we should strive to be Iconoclasts, people who will make a difference.
A very interesting book, that promotes an “outside the box” mentality and lifestyle, I was however disappointed slightly with the writing style as the book drags on for a while, and I believe certain sections could have been consolidated for a better book.


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Cash-n-Carry by Peter Sarda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A glimpse of life

In the 1970's California, something as small as a corner store can bring people together that seemingly have nothing in common. A great job for some, is an inconvenience to others, or even the site of the local criminal hangout to others.
The story was compelling in that the author skillfully used pop culture that was current in the time, as well as phrases and manner of speech which brought a touch of authenticity to the story. More a coming of age story, there is some criminal elements as well as how different people interacted that might not have met. I liked the book, even though it was a bit long.

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Alpha Bots by Ava Lock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Step ford wives meets AI

If you want a feminine bot that will be programmed to your personal demands and needs, what can go wrong? In this book, the first of the series, we see what happens when even 1 bot can't quite make it through quality control.
The story was funny and moving. The bot, Cookie truly struggled with her own burgeoning personality that clashed with her programming. The revenge she got on some of the men was truly satisfying after how she was treated. Quite possibly you could even take this as a cautionary tale.

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The Past is Never Really Gone: Cybercrime Chronicles: Volume 1 by Norbert Monfort
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First book inn a new series about cybercrimes, feels futuristic even as our world is undergoing a ever-increasing epidemic of hacking and ransomware attacks. In that vein, this book deals with an attack on an Insurance company that is left with almost a million dollars less and the perpetrators used the companies own systems against it.
I found this to be a really good book, the story was well planned and moves at a steady pace throughout I liked the ending and the characters. It was interesting to see how Santiago finally traced down the criminals.


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A Destiny to Die For Complete by Rik Stone
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Angelita lives in South America, and her life is shaped by violence and tragedy. Rather than try and pry her way out of it, by the end of the book, she wholeheartedly embraces the violence and becomes apart of what she despised in the beginning. In other books where the women might be the one who Is gentler, in this book, she is one of the most violent characters.
Not enjoyable book for me, I found that Angelita was too over the top as a character and it flavored all of her interactions in that I found it too unbelievable, and the characters that surrounded her did nothing to temper her violent streak. This is not a book I would care to re-read.


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The Punisher Cycle: Changing Our Mindset from Punishment to Discipline by H.S. Daniels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The punisher cycle talks about how we can easily get stuck in the mindset that we have to browbeat and punish people into doing what we want, professionally and personally. The author gives examples of different managers who approach situations with their employees in various ways. This helps show how damaging a punishment mindset can be to employee morale and ultimately the business bottom line.
Even though the book is quite short, I truly believe there is some really good information here. Mainly through the examples that show the nuances that can exist. I found myself agreeing with much the author was writing as I had utilized it myself in my own management career. Very insightful and helpful for managers and leaders.


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On My Radar: Navigating Stock Market Cycles by Stephen Blumenthal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author begins the book by giving a brief history of recent market events such as the crash on 2007 and how they came about. While this might seem obvious to some, to laymen, or those just entering the stock market, this information is valuable to learn the warning signs and things to avoid. As the author says: “Sell when everyone else is buying and buy when everyone else is selling.” As this was good advice he received early in his career.
Plenty of interesting concepts were explored and explained here, such as the 80 Core-20 Explore concept, amongst others that I have never heard of. I liked the charts and graphs that helped explain what the author was talking about. Overall, the book was a good explanation of the stock market, how to navigate it and how to avoid costly mistakes.


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Stargazer: The Ultimate Artefact by Ivan Ertlov
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Frank Gazer is a prospector through and through. He is uninterested in the lost civilization of humanity; he is only looking out for himself and how he can turn a profit. His life is turned upside down though, when he finds an unusual comet and figures out that it will affect so many trillions of beings more than just himself.
There is certainly a great deal of imagination here. Space opera is the right word to describe this book, there are a multitude of characters, all being juggled at the same time and interacting in various ways. The writing is well done however, some of the dialogue seemed a bit stilted and forced. The word building was good, but with everything going on in this book, I had a harder time following the story and so I am not sure if I would pick up the next book.


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Debussy's Slippers by STEVE EXETER
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A re-imagining of the relationship between \Maurice Ravel and George Gershwin. I do not know the composers, or their stories, so I cannot comment on how realistic the portrayals are. Certainly, this book is full of excess, parties and two men who are opposites in how they approach their work, and yet strike up an unlikely friendship that unravels when Gershwin accidentally steals Debussy’s slippers.
The story was entertaining and while the characters were quirky and so not entirely relatable, I found them interesting enough to continue reading till the end.


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The Silver Land by Nancy Harding
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I see some reviews that are really negative on this book, but I loved this when I was a teenager and have purchased it and reread it at least 4 times since then. Melangell is a young girl who admittedly has a really harsh and horrid life, but she tries to see the beauty in everything. There are some things true that are far-fetched, such as her marrying her original rapist happily a few years after it all happened. The story does follow other characters and it paints a more vivid and detailed world for us. The change in characters is seamless and there is plenty of action and mystique (on the druid side of things) to keep the overarching plot moving along.
Remember, this book was published in 1989, so some things would not have aged well but those are minor. I really enjoy the story, I enjoy the characters and I would have loved to see some of the men in Nectall's band of warriors get their own stories eventually.

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The Padre by Alex Davidson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Caleb Caine, our Mercenary from book one, returns in the sequel where he is now in Mexico, attempting to live a quiet life away from anyone who might connect him to his violent past. A young girl in his village gets kidnapped and then trafficked to the USA which leads Cal back into the world he was trying to leave in order to find and rescue her.
As with the first book, the writing style is gritty and does not shy away from the violence that others gloss over. The descriptions will stay with those who don’t have the stomach for such things. Engrossing form the start, the book will pull you into the violent world of drugs, coyotes, traffickers and much more.


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Safe Harbour: The Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series Book 10 by Mike Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sgt Windflower continues his stories with the latest installment in the series. This time Sgt windflower is tasked with a slew of missing girl’s cases as he adjusts to life in the big city. His life is a mess while he investigates this mystery and gets pulled into the darker aspects of the city.
While the writing was done well, I found that there was almost too much going on. You have the crime case, the criminal underbelly, the biker gangs, the inept police department and then Sgt windflower coming in to solve everything. I think the book would have been better if some of all the “extra” stuff wasn’t there.


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From Backroom To Boardroom: Earn Your Seat With Strategic Marketing Operations by Debbie Qaqish
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A guide into how to be strategic in how you can take your career from the backroom (or the salesfloor) into the Boardroom. Many different areas are included here, but the main topics, driving revenue, integrating the virtual world into your business as well as the importance of marketing in a customer centric manner.
The section of managing and leading in a virtual world was helpful as we are certainly heading towards a more virtual workplace with the recent events. From a manager’s point of view, this book is well worth the read as the advice is solid and well written.


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Graveyard Bound by Lawrence J. Epstein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another Jack Ryder mystery in a string of good books. This time, we follow Jack along as he is asked to help the FBI with an assassination. He also ends up helping a man find love and then must compete with another man for Ruth’s heart and affections. Jack is juggling a lot in this book; will he be able to handle it all?
As with previous Jack Ryder books, I found the writing to be a pleasant experience and an easy way to pass a few hours reading. The author still does a good job with the mysteries and action and the overarching plot and theme does not feel tired or overworked, even 6 books into the series.


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The Dolphin Law: A Story of the Seas by Linda Collister
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dolphins are regarded as some of the most intelligent creatures on earth after us Humans. This book explores this intelligence as well as human failings and how in one example of cohabitation, where we can see that dolphins are basically humans living in the ocean as their personal and societal behaviors mimic our own closely.
This book is a reflection on the human spirit and how we lost our connections to nature. Told through the eyes of a grandmother, I found the story to be very inspiring. The love the author has for Dolphins can be felt throughout the book. Very well written and I really liked the complexity of the characters within.


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Affirm The Word: The Spiritual Practice of Speaking & Living God's Word by J. Marie Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book gives a testament to how God’s word and His scripture can change someone’s life. She includes her own story and how she has found God and now lives a better life devoted to God and helping others find Him as well.
The book is a collection of scriptures, prayers and reflections from the author, all of which have helped her so she is sharing it with others. I’m not sure how much it will help others, but for those truly seeking God and need a starting point, this can be very beneficial.


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The Road to Delano by John DeSimone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A true story about events roughly 50 years ago, surrounding the teachings of Cesar Chavez. It is told through the eyes of two men that come from different worlds. Jack Duncan and Adrian Sanchez couldn’t be more different, but in the end, they find out that what matters most is the true hidden depths within each of us.
This book really brought out the plight of the migrant worker (As well as the farmer that employs them) and puts it against the labor strikes and disputes of the 1930’s when violence was common in the disputes. I liked the historical aspect of the book as well as the human side. The author was able to bring out his own experiences in this world having lived through much of it and it makes the book seem more real and more relatable.


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Gentlemen's Guide to Flirting by David Sharpe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is not for pick-up artists and the like. This is for men who genuinely want to make a connection with someone and need a few hints and tips how to go about that. Broken into 4 parts with a major chapter dedicated to the online dating realm, this book will walk you through the initial phases of meeting and then dating someone.
I suppose this is a good book for those who sincerely have no clue or confidence and are intimidated by starting a conversation with someone. I liked that the author took responses form women and how they would want an encounter to go, this helps keep the tips realistic. Nothing groundbreaking, straightforward book.


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Shadows in the Light by Sophie Shepherd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a post-apocalyptic Future, the Realm of light eschews all pursuits that are not dance related and dancers themselves are revered above all others. Rowan is coming of age and along with her twin brother Leo, she must compete for a spot as the realm’s top dancer regardless of what she truly wants to pursue.
In a refreshing twist, this book is centered all about Rowan, her plight and subsequent effort to uncover the secrets in the realm. There are friends, but no love interests, as such, this is a great book to pass along to my daughter who likes these types of stories. The characters were well written, and the plot made sense in the overall context of this world.


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How Parents Can Teach Children To Counter Negative Thoughts: Channelling Your Child's Negativity, Self-Doubt and Anxiety Into Resilience, Willpower and Determination by Frank Dixon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book strives to teach parents how to help their children counter negative thoughts and beliefs that can prove harmful to them. The dangers of continuous negative thinking and beliefs can influence so much more than behavior and personality.
However, I feel this book fell short of the mark. IF you wanted a summary of helpful articles and advice from the internet, then you have found the right spot. If you are looking for innovative and deep, meaningful, and resonating advice, then this is not the book you are looking for. I found myself slightly disappointed with the book as its part of an extensive series that is very well reviewed.


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China, China, Chyyna!: Greatest Disruption to American Century by Chris Kanthan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book talks about the rise of Chinese dominance in the world in terms of economic, political, military and even through population. These changes have certainly affected the balance of power in the world, and the author makes valid and interesting points in how this all affects America and what we can/should do in response.
I think that the book was a bit lopsided. There was no true discussion of the income inequality in China, the high cost of living that is hindering its population growth, the environmental factors that will harm the country in the short and long term, etc. This was interesting to see some of the changes in China, however I think that the book would be served best in accompanying other books that discuss the whole picture.


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It All Started with a Bicycle by Plum McCauley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

11-year-old Pam fancies herself quite the Nancy Drew. So much that when her elderly neighbor asks her for help, she jumps at the chance to investigate the big house next door. Then funny things start happening, her bike that was stolen is seen with another girl around town. Will Pam be able to solve the mysteries? Or will all the weirdness prove too much for her?
My voracious reader, my 8-year-old daughter liked this book. She said it was nice to read about the mysteries and she liked Pam as a character. I enjoyed reading the book to her even though I felt it started off a bit slow.


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Earth Tones: A Journey - Poetry for the Journey by Gary W. Burns
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Poems are inherently hard top review, as they are so personal, everyone can interpret them in a variety of different ways. The author has a wide repertoire of poetry books under his belt and this one does not disappoint. They are thoughtful, gentle and yet powerful, like the earth from which they are inspired. These are mostly shorter poems, with a few longer ones. I really liked: “peaceful hills”, as it reminded me of my childhood in the country. Well done!

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F The Funnel: A New Way To Engage Customers & Grow Revenue by Jeff Pedowitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A book geared towards marketing and those in management who like to have an understanding of best marketing procedures, the author guides us through some of the most common marketing tools, their origins and why they work (or don’t). He also presents a new way of interacting with the customer that could be much more beneficial to a company’s long-term bottom line.
I am in the HR field, but have worked as a manager and it was very interesting to see the history of marketing, and how certain approaches can benefit or harm a company. I also liked the authors presentation style. The diagrams were helpful in understanding the information.


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The Music of Women by Vincent Panettiere
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Charlie Forte, a well-to-do novelist, has just received his biggest advance yet. However, he is riddled with self-doubt and wallows in his depression so much that he is determined to kill himself. He is ultimately thwarted by a stone wall and the siren song of women.
While well written in both description and pacing, I found the main character Charlie to get tiresome around the middle of the book. His almost petulant ways in which he handles the various relationships in this story were not endearing as he had no true character growth by the end. The problem with reflective novels is always that they can either resonate or not and for me, this book was a big miss.


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Jack Sterling and the Spear of Destiny by Ray Griggs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jack Sterling is a marine archeologist who discovers a rare gold coin from the 1940’s. This leads him on a search of a sunken Nazi U-boat and the Spear of Destiny. Traversing the globe and navigating German traps and trickery, Jack must eventually choose between his obsession with the treasure and his friends, as he is not the only one searching for it.
I started the book thinking it would be similar to an Indiana Jones story and the overarching plot certainly was similar. However, the writing style was tedious, and it slowed the reading down drastically. The bones of a great story is here, if it can be edited, it would be a heart racing story.


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The Hunter's Rede by F.T. McKinstry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A seemingly unflappable and indestructible assassin, Loth of Ostarin returns to his homeland only to be captured and condemned to death. A stroke of luck allows for his escape and now he is set on his quest for redemption and absolution. First in a series, this book is a tale of bravery, loyalty, betrayal and more.
I liked the story, even with the slow pacing, the worldbuilding was well done and it was easy to get caught up in the story. Little details were fleshed out and brought the world to life.


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