The Great Engine Room Takeover by David Horn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

3rd Grader Eudora loves improving things in her life. She lives in outer space with her adopted alien family and wants to prove herself to them by “improving” on existing designs. Well, when you’re tinkering around with the ship’s engines, let’s just say that sometimes its better to let things be as they are.
Funny, heart-warming and easy to read (my own 3rd grader loved this), this is a charming book that will open up new worlds and instill a love of science fiction in your young reader. Great job to the author!


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Why Medicare Advantage Plans are Bad by David W. Bynon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book may not be very long, but it gives you a concise, and descriptive information about the pros and cons of each type of Medicare plans that are available. Too often, the information we get about these are convoluted, and longwinded that you would need a lawyer’s degree to read and make sense of. I like that the author made it simple to understand so that when it comes time for you to make your choices, you will feel more comfortable and confident. I am glad I got this book as I can now help my father sort through all his Medicare options.

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WARATAH: Abridged Version by Ha-Le Thai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fleeing from war-torn Vietnam, the author, Ha-Le-Thai gives us her harrowing account of what uncertainties she faced starting over anew in the country of Australia where she found refuge. When she becomes a mother, she has to suddenly reconcile old-world cultural norms with the new ones that her daughter grows up with. How can you reconcile two very different cultures into one person and keep the family happy?
As someone who has immigrated myself, I was able to truly insert myself into Mrs. Thais plight both as a mother and as a newcomer to a different land. This book is enlightening to those who might never experience these plights and heart-warming to those who have.


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Legends of Liberty: Volume 1 by Andrew Benson Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Embracing a narrative view as the main feature in poetry is something I have not seen much of. As such, this book that looks at various legends and historical figures throughout time, such as Dante or Thomas Jefferson, is entirely in poetic form. This made it stand out from other books and I actually quite enjoyed the writing style and presentation more than I thought I would. This is always a good thing with books, when you look back on a book and think, the author managed to do a great job with this one.

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God's letters: 132 Capital Letters came during a Vision in 2001 by Athanasio Celia
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In 2001, a man had a vision of the Greek alphabet arranged in a interesting pattern. This new arrangement lets us read a message (or many different messages in both alphabetical and numerical form) and took it upon himself to attempt an interpretation. This book is the result, an exploration of the various ways this new message and symbols can be read and how they are all interconnected with Jesus Christ.
While the book was interesting, I felt it was almost too scientific for me. I powered through and found the material to be unique enough to warrant a broader look at it by more experts. However, if you are not interested in obscure religious texts, then this might not be the book for you.


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I Want to Eat You Whole by Sheila M. Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sara and Alice are celebrating their graduation with some friends in a alternate future where what our society would consider “normal” (hetero marriage) have been outlawed and the majority of people ascribe to the LGBTQ+ lifestyles. Getting ready to begin their lives together, Sara and Alice show us that love is truly universal.
I found this book to be inspiring, while the title might seem to indicate a more darker book, it was truly heartful, uplifting and shows us how society could be if we were more honest and inclusive of others. Treat others as you would want to be treated and love unconditionally!


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Songs and Portobellos by M.A. McCormack
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First in the series, this book is a coming-of-age tale for teenagers Conor and Melanie, back in 1967 England. The book explores their personalities and how their lives were shaped by the society and events of the time.
I enjoyed the story, not having grown up in this time (I am a 90’s kid), I found it interesting to see and compare to my own experiences. The writing was well done and very detailed. As such, I am not sure if the average young adult will be able to keep with the story as it might be a bit longwinded for them. Still, this is a good book to read and enjoy.


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The First Property by Drew Bell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Taking the first step in entering the real estate property “game” can be daunting and overwhelming. This book is full of helpful advice and personal anecdotes. The information is well rounded, covering the most common as well as a few uncommon scenarios you might encounter.
I liked the book, while I am not looking to get into the real estate game, my husband is very interested in this type of venture and I will recommend this book to him to read.


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The Hunt for Project M by C.E. Allan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading (and loving) the first book I was excited to read the sequel. In this book, Tianna has chosen a more peaceful life after the games and is content with her new love. A new enemy and a new mystery pull Tianna out of this life and force her to accept this new mission to combat a new and frightening danger.
Just like the first book, this one was a wild ride. The science Fiction elements were well thought out and fit with the plot well. I liked how we saw Tianna become more self-assured in herself and her abilities and the villain was a good step up from the previous book.


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Pandemic Rabbits: An F.O.K. Novella by Sheila M Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pandemic snapshot

The pandemic as seen through the fictional characters in the F.O.K. world of San Francisco. Lockdowns, masks orders, store shortages of toilet paper, and so on. The author takes all the events of last year, and some of this year, and sets them into her book of interesting characters which provides some humor in the whole situation. Crazy dialogue and possible hallucinations of rabbits, this book was a pleasure to read, even taking into account how odd it was.

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Shaping Public Opinion: How Real Advocacy Journalism(TM) Should Be Practiced by Janice S. Ellis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a really interesting book to read. Between the false information out there and all the different news sources, it is hard to distinguish what is true and what is a credible source. I liked the explanations from the author about the different types of journalism, how to recognize when a news story is simply facts and when a story is poised to shape the publics opinion. This might not seem to be the best journalism, however, in the right settings I think it can be very valuable. I’m glad I got this book as it was very educational.

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Maggie Dove: A Mystery by Susan Breen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maggie is still mourning the death of her daughter while trying to live her life and ignore her mean neighbor. When he turns up dead and the fingers are pointed at her daughter’s ex-fiancé, a dear friend, Maggie sets out to uncover the true killer and with this thought sets off a wonderful race through the city uncovering clues and secrets.
Maggie was a refreshing new character in the mystery scene, and she was very well written. I liked her backstory and even her tenacity. The book was a great read.


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Moraturi Ring: Paradisi Chronicles by Marti Ward
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The third in this series, Moraturi Ring continues the overarching storyline while still being a standalone novel. Eva is taking a colony ship to New Eden, but things start going wrong and she will have to make some tough decisions.
I really liked the first book, but this one seemed to drag on and on. The plot was very slow and no plot twists of note were revealed that would have kept my interest. As such, it was a chore to get through the book and I am uncertain if I will read another in the series.


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Mack Sawyer: The Champion of Capital East by Joe Field
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set in the fictional nation of Arrowhead, this story is the fourth in the series. In this book, the National Scooterball Champions are looking to defend their titles and are placing all bets on Mack Sawyer. However, political forces threaten to undermine the games and use the players in order to advance their own ambitions.
This is a young adult series; however, the writing is refreshing and is easily able to be enjoyed by older adults as well. The world is interesting, and the characters have depth as well as a good development.


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The Authors of This Dream by Seth Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book is about Brandon Chase and his life that is spiraling widely out of control. Once he meets a crisis counselor, Saul Mason, Brandon gets some hope for his well-being and tries to rebuild some stability. Outside forces, such as his band and upcoming events threaten his progress.
Sprinkled with song lyrics, this book was a good read about life, our emotional and mental health and how important it is to ask for help when we need it. That alone made the book worth it, but the plot was interesting and engaging throughout as well.


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Citadel of Mirrors : A Supernatural Science Fiction Thriller by Stephen C. Perkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars for complexity that sometimes doesn’t quite make sense. Sophia Goldwater is one of the main characters in this book and she is set to become the first female president in the US when the past and future all disappear, and we are now in a Citadel of mirrors where the known political and societal norms have been upended.
The story was well written, and it certainly was interesting, but it was also very complex, and this is not a book you can lose yourself in. If you do not pay attention, you will easily become lost in the story among the plot developments.


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The New Enchantress by Sunayna Prasad
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having read the previous two books, I wanted to continue the story and see what happens to Alyssa. She is in Middle school and her powers are still there and still growing. However, as she is entering puberty and her emotions start to grow out of control, so do her powers.
I liked this book, and I thought the author did a really good job in portraying this confusing time in age for Alyssa and it will resonate with many young readers. I certainly will continue to recommend this series to my nieces who love fantasy books.


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MOUSE TRAX: A MOUSE SURVIVES MONSTERS, PREDATORS, AND PIRATES IN A WORLD OF RHYMING CHARACTERS by M.H. DIXON
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A funny tale about a mouse who after following a butterfly, gets lost and on his search for home meets a whole array of interesting new creatures and worlds.
MY 9-year-old daughter loved the rhymes and the story. She was laughing throughout the book and some of the characters that mouse encountered were a great and inventive addition that brought this tale to life in interesting ways. She said he really liked the louse and its transformation through the book.


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Susan: A Jane Austen Prequel by Alice McVeigh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Susan is a young woman in Jane Austen’s world. She is poor, pretty and confident in what she wants out of life, which does not always align with what society expects from her. Her willfulness is enough to get her sent away over and over.
I enjoyed this story, I haven’t read Jane Austen, but I liked the independence of the main character and how she manipulates (sometimes successful and other times not so much) around her to make her life better. Great Historical Romance.


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Starlight in the Dawn: The Poetic Priestess who chose to fight by Naveen Sridhar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In ancient Egypt, back when it was called Sumer, a high priestess called Enheduanna, was influential enough to warrant poems written about her that are known to this day. This book covers her story of life as she fights her way through a male dominated society.
This book was very well written and captured the feel of life back then which shows the research that went into the book by this author. The story is gripping, and you can easily get caught up in the whole story. I really liked this book.


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Be a Success Maverick Volume 3: How Ordinary People Do It Different To Achieve Extraordinary Results by Paul Finck
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Successful Mavericks in business have all shared their success stories in this book. Even the author shares personal stories of perseverance and how he and his wife overcame obstacles. Much of the message centered upon positive thinking and determination in following your goals throughout adversity.
The main point I agreed with was the “Act, do not react: Proactive” portion of the book. This book is not a guide on how to do things, it is more a inspirational tale for those who need to hear about others adversities in order to believe they can as well.

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Invasion of Consecrated by Paul Slutsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alan Norton, our hero from the first novel returns and has built a bridge connecting us to a new alien world and with it, new problems crop up. At home, political forces threaten to undermine everything Alan works for, in outer space new enemies pose a serious threat to our survival.
I enjoyed the first book more than this one, that is not to say that this story is bad. It seemed there was simply too much packed into the book that some issues got glossed over and weren’t as fleshed out as they could have been. Other than that, still a good addition to the series.


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