Ripley of Valor: Illustrated Version by Thoren Syndergaard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting novel set in the fictional world of Valor, where women are relegated to traditional roles and certainly not allowed to be soldiers or go to war. Ripley does not agree and trains her whole life, fighting for her chance to become a soldier and defend her country. When she finally gets to prove herself, Ripley is pitted against others in the infamous trials to prove her mettle. I liked Ripley, she was tenacious even as a teenager and she went after her dreams even with a few mistakes and hiccups along the way.

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The Big Solution: Deactivating The Ticking Time Bomb Of Today’s Economy by Jarl Jensen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book takes us on a journey to understand the past 50 years of the American economy and how it has gradually changed over the years. Globalization, mounting debt, and more are only a few of the topics touched on by the author. The author blends his personal thoughts on solutions to some problems within the individual topics and uses a wide-ranging array of examples to showcase his points. While I found this to be interesting, I didn’t always agree with the solution the author brought forth. It is certainly a thought-provoking book though.

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Blend Out: From Ordinary To Irresistible: How Advisors Can Market Like The Greatest Brands In The World by Robert Sofia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is very pertinent in today’s market as more and more people are working in the “gig” economies. Especially with everything after Covid’s emergence, it is even more critical for you to set yourself apart from your competition and portray your busines in a positive light.
I liked the book; I think the author has made really good points and the anecdotes he included from other companies who with minor tweaks were able to really up their market presence really help illustrate the advice he is making in that chapter. Great book to read for any leader or entrepreneur!


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The Essential Guide to Assertiveness: How to Speak Up for Yourself, Stop People-Pleasing, and Win Respect in Your Life and Relationships by James Turnbull
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Learning how to be assertive as a self-proclaimed introvert can be daunting. This book gives us(me) guidelines and practices that can make the process easier. The author also explores different concepts, for example what is assertiveness, how to stop negative behavior such as people pleasing and more.
I liked this book; it gives you a boost in confidence and the author makes it easy to believe that you can become assertiveness with enough practice. I like that there isn’t a magic formula, as that would never work, but enough advice, tips, and encouragement to keep you learning how to do better.


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A Sun Going Down by A. C. Aerie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On a far away Island, Jonas Rowan meets a assassin in the castle and the chance meeting will change his life in ways he had never suspected. Travelling to the eastern portion of Cavan, Jonas is tasked with thwarting an uprising in the making and bring the man known as Korthan to justice and to kill his bride.
This story had intrigue, court politics, magical remedies and poisons as well as plenty of action to carry over the course of the book. Jonas is a little idealistic and easily led by some, but he shapes up to be competent by the end. This is certainly a good book to enjoy.


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The demogra-fate hypothesis by Thanh Nguyen-Ba
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This short book takes a look at the Demogra-Fate, a Hypothesis that examines the hypothesis of demographic aging. Through compelling arguments, illustrations and research links, the author makes a case for the idea that everything in this universe gets older, and eventually must die. I remember hearing something about this years ago and so it was a nice refresher to read this book. This was not stuffy and dry material, the author did a good job in making the language accessible and interesting.

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As Sure As Death & Taxes by Rush K. Sterling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A thriller set around the world, a multitude of characters interact when a Portfolio manager is extorted and blackmailed into a risky mission into Tehran that will destabilize the country. Full of action and intrigue, the pacing is fast as you race along, moving back and forth between past and present events. I found the writing to be a bit choppy and disjointed which made it a hard book to read for me. I think if the writing were better, I would have enjoyed the book more.

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Outpost by F.T. McKinstry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A rich world full of characters, gods, alliances, and rifts that will immerse you into a story full of fantastical whimsy and dark plots. Pitting one side against each other, praying to the gods of the realm, and our three unlikely heroes that band together to defend the Gate against those who seek to destroy it. A high fantasy book, the first in a new series that is promising. This book is hefty, so don’t expect light reading, the pacing is moderately paced, events do not move quickly. I did enjoy the story and would certainly read again.

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The Omicron Six by Endy Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fair warning, there is a lot of abuse of one character right out the gate. This proves to be important towards the characters development later on, how he combined with his friend Cooper battle their insecurities and struggle to harness these powers that develop. A contemporary take on superheroes and how DNA manipulation can affect the human body in mysterious ways. I liked the book in that there is a clear growth for both the boys individually and together. While I don’t like darker stories of abuse and neglect, I see how the author wove this into the plot to really bring it along.

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Hidden Demon by Fish Phillips
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dee Johnson is a US Secret Agent embedded in Japan. Set in the near future, her operation goes terribly wrong, and she is blamed for the failure. Together with another disgraced agent from another country, Ko and Dee team up to investigate strange new attacks on the leaders and members of politics. This is a political/espionage thriller with paranormal underlines. I found the author did a fantastic job in his descriptive storytelling, so to really pull us into the story more. I enjoyed Ko as a character the most.

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A House on Liberty Street by Neil Turner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tony Valenti, a successful lawyer until recently, returns home to regroup and is confronted with a unique situation. His father shoots the deputy and in taking on his father’s defense, Tony unearths corruption in the Sheriff’s department. Now trying to figure out how deep the corruption is, Tony must still fight for his father’s case.
1st book in a new series, I found the story to be gripping, compelling, and fast-paced once things started rolling. The plot was well defined, and the characters were very fleshed out, made it very realistic.


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The Cluttered Mind: Organizing the Junk Drawer of Your Mind by Deborah McKenna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book has an interesting concept: unclutter your mind as you would a closet or a whole house. There is some scripture quotes and the author uses stories from the bible to showcase some points. Identifying “clutter” in your mind and life can be important, but I really resonated with the chapter on identifying and overcoming obstacles. I found the book overall to be very helpful and I think that many people can benefit from this book and the advice within.

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Buried Secrets: The Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series Book 11 by Mike Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sgt Windflower is back in the 11th book of the series. This time, he is at the end of the pandemic in his little peaceful town and finds a new investigation for him to focus on: national security and murders amongst them. Leading a family also presents him with interesting challenges and Sgt Windflower will have to figure out what is truly important to him.
I’ve enjoyed the other books in this series, and I enjoyed this one as well. The storytelling is well balanced with the character building and the mystery of the story. This one has some more drama to it as there is more going on in the MC personal life, but I liked it as it was a departure from the previous books.


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THE TRUE by Sarah Kornfeld
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Billed As a non-fiction true story about a woman who is seeking the truth about the death of her lover and friend, The True will take you on a wild ride of human emotions, betrayals, deceits, and self-reflections.
While the story was interesting, I wasn’t too impressed by the authors reminiscing and her frequent bouts of self-pity. However, as this is a book that covers grief and everyone grieves in ways best for them, I cannot completely expect that I would be able to see myself in this story.


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Wild Dogs: An Adventure in Adolescence by Christos Kalogirou
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Coming of age stories, especially ones based on true events in real life, can be hard to believe sometimes. So too, this book requires us to stretch our imaginations to believe the crazy events, pranks, and other instances that the author along with his friends got up to during their high school years. Reminiscing on the events back then, the author now draws on life lessons and can view his actions in a different light. I liked reading the book, as I had never heard of these events, some of it was new to me and it certainly proved to be very entertaining.

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Blood Symbols by Izak Botha
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jennifer Jaine travels to the Vatican, desperate to prove her theory and suspicions that the Catholic Church is involved with a deadly conspiracy that would forever alter the planets understanding of faith. Chased by the Vatican guards, assisted by two handsome men with their own agendas, Jennifer will have to make the ultimate leap of faith.
I like books in the vein of “The Davinci code” and this book is a worthy addition to that genre. Full of action, intrigue, mystery and cover ups, there is little that will leave you wanting. The pacing is fast, except for the areas when the author gives longwinded descriptions, but other than that this was well worth the read.


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3 Secrets to Landing Your Dream Literary Agent and Signing a Book Contract with a World-Class Publisher: Discover How to Earn a Traditional Book Contract in 6 Weeks! by Caleb Breakey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very brief book, but the information within is concise, to the point and clear in its delivery. Being a new writer means that at one point you will be ready to publish and getting through that process will be confusing. The author of this book brings some of his considerable knowledge and offers it to you in order to help you gain better success. I liked the no-nonsense approach of this author and find that the information in this book looks like it is very good advice.

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Powerless by Adron J. Smitley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third in a series and while you could read it without the previous book, I strongly suggest reading the previous two books. I felt I had a better grasp on the story after rereading the first two and refreshing my memory of the overarching plot that runs throughout this story. Banzu returns and will have to face his greatest fears and enemies. He will face loss and betrayal and will need courage to follow his destiny. A satisfying conclusion to this trilogy of good vs evil and the author does a great job in closing all plots.

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Bivrost Nine by Andrew Tanner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A War veteran of a interspecies war, Nysse has been tasked with utilizing her experiences with aliens to form and lead a newly form space colony on a distant planet. Joining her is a rag tag group of people who all seem to have their own agenda. Nysse only wanted to be left alone, but thrust back into a leadership role, she will strive to do the best she can to keep those under her charge safe and secure.
This is the first in a new SciFi series and as such, the worldbuilding is extensive. Nysse and her compatriots are unlikely heroes, but the author does a great job in bringing them together and letting their relationships build organically. This is certainly a book I could recommend to others.


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Chasing the Prophet by Orson B. Wolf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

IF your sacrifice could save humanity, would you do it? This is the central question in this book about human deceit, courage, bravery, and betrayal. With World War 3 on the horizon, A detective is put on the trail of a teenager on the behalf of a mysterious prophet. Figuring out who is pulling the strings in the background, what the ultimate goal is and how it will all end, will keep you glued to the story. The author did a great job in creating a world that mirrors our own and yet shows us what can happen if only a few things were different. This one is well worth the read.

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The Power of Strategic Influence!: 10 Success Factors of Highly Influential Leaders by Gary C Laney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a leader, it is always good to be able to leverage strategic influence over your domain. Some people require more than others, and recognizing the various degrees is almost as important as how to effectively wield your influence. Communication, relationship building, and most important accountability are only a few things learned in this book.
The biggest take away from this book is that it does not apply simply to a business environment. I think that this is able to be cross referenced into more personal relationships and situations which makes this book infinitely more valuable. The information weas easy to understand and I enjoyed reading the book.


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Of Prophets and Pinioned Angels: Tales of Exile by Kyle Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this second book, Jacobus returns to continue his journey. The kingdom of Korigane is now lost and Jacobus is tasked with yet another angelic mission. In his travels, he encounters mysterious hermits and other characters who slowly cause him to question the divine righteousness of his mission.
As in the first book, this story was well written, and the plot and characters are developed and move swiftly through the story. I enjoyed the return to the familiar apocalyptic landscape and the existential twist that the author weaves seamlessly into the story.


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In 1990 London, life is full of opportunities for a young woman. An aspiring model, English is fascinated by the lifestyle and is tempted easily by money and fame. This book is a fictional autobiography of one woman’s account of what happened behind the scenes. The topic, the life of a young model, is pretty interesting and that is what saves the book. The main character, English, didn’t appear too bright and she fell too easily into many trappings. I didn’t like her and so it was difficult to care about her. She also did not mature any throughout the book, so the ending of the book felt anticlimactic.

Maggie Dove's Detective Agency by Susan Breen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Maggie Dove is back with a new mystery and her passion for her latest endeavor: her brand new detective agency. Building off of the last book, Maggie is struggling to make people understand she is serious about her new vocation and doesn’t want to entertain weird requests. She is dragged into a family feud when a murder happens and she is called upon to solve the possible crime.
As in the first story, the mystery is well done and entertaining. You are pulled into the story easily and the pacing keeps you turning pages until the very end. I really liked this addition to the series and am looking forward to the next book.


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Trapped in TikTok: An Epic Adventure by Quirky Viral Media
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Stacey is your typical teenager, addicted to her cellphone and dreaming of becoming famous. After connecting to an unfamiliar network, she is transported into the world of TikTok where she and others are asked to become the next superstars. There is a more sinister aspect to the story and Stacey will need to think fast to escape this world.
The book is fairly short and easy to read, it certainly is more geared towards younger teens who have a sense of humor and are interested if not immersed in the TikTok app.


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