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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Erasing the Past by Geri Dreiling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What is in a person’s appearance? In todays society, we place more and more emphasis on unattainable beauty standards. In this novel, we get treated to a love story between a chemist, Joe Holly and his wife Kate Taylor, whom he met in college. Thirty years later, she is feeling the pressure to stay young and beautiful and expresses her desires for plastic surgery. Joe doesn’t agree as he sees her still as the fresh faced, beauty he fell in love with. In an attempt to please her, he starts working on a new cream that will reverse all visible signs of aging, but he runs into some major complications.
This was interesting, it really made me consider all the deeper ramifications of the beauty standards we have nowadays and how it affects our subconsciousness. The story jumps between present day and the past, so that format might bother some people. The pacing was well done and there was plenty of drama throughout.


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No Winter Lasts Forever by Jonathan Epps
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Franklin, Montana is your typical small town. It is a community where everybody pretty much knows everyone, and they all look out for one another. When in the wake of a school shooting, a copycat begins to stalk the town, residents begin to fear for their safety. Jackson Warner is a unassuming man, going about his business when he stumbles upon a chat room that glorifies the recent shootings. Drawn into the disturbing and horrifying dark web of young males who disregard the worth of a human life, Jackson has to figure out who is behind all this and who he can trust to help him stop it.
This book is a thriller, there are so many elements that are in play at any given moment and the author does a good job of juggling the different plot twists. I think this book is very timely in todays age of mass shootings we have in America. It certainly will strike a nerve with most folks.


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Unmarried and Debt-Free: Ten Things Every Unmarried Man and Woman Should Know about Money by Livia Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Debt free in todays society may seem like a pipe dream to some, but with this book and some good thinking you can achieve this status. This book handles ten different decisions and topics you need to consider and address in order to get your finances in the black. From budgeting, good credit, emergency savings, investing, life insurance and more, the topics are handled in a way to make you think and help you determine what are the best solutions and applications to your personal debt.
Structured in an easy to understand way, this book was well written and edited. I did not find any new information in this book that I had not seen before, so it is not groundbreaking in that way. I think that this is a book that will be good for young adults that are just becoming independent to help them navigate the financial waters.


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The Unconquered by Peter Man
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Victoria has lived a blissful life in her small Canadian town. When her parents die in a car accident, she discovers that her life so far has been made up of lies. Her parents are not actually hers and her roots are hidden somewhere in China. She meets a shady art dealer who helps her start her journey to china to find her biological parents. What she doesn’t foresee, is that this journey will take her to unexpected heights and thrills that will keep your heart pounding in fear for her life. She also comes across an ancient prophecy that tells of her fate to end an apocalypse. Will she be able to find her parents? Will she survive this prophecy?
A very interesting book, the pacing was good, and the editing was better. I liked Victoria, she had spunk and while she was a little naïve in some ways, she had enough smarts to think of solutions to her problems as they arose.


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ForbesBooks: Challenge Everything: The Battle Cry That Blew Sh*t Up And INVNTd Live Brand Storytelling by Scott Cullather
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What is Live Brand Storytelling, and how can it benefit you? This book covers the story of Scott Cullather and Kristina McCoobery, the husband and wife co-founders of INVNT™, the global live brand storytelling agency™ and how they built their company from nothing into a global powerhouse. This company (and duo) have reinvented the world of marketing. The “old” way of marketing a brand or company to a consumer does not work anymore, because we as consumers do not interact with the companies the same way anymore. A company needs a compelling story, frequent links with positive stories and more. Our new generations want companies to be more socially responsible and they look for that in the company’s story. This book will help you understand just how to market your story and how to make it compelling to your consumers. An interesting book to be sure, I think even for non-marketing professionals, it is good to understand how brands and companies target us as consumers, so this is certainly a book worth reading.

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The Thin Gray Line by Michael Kenneth Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The American Civil War was an era of heroes and villains, of great love stories and great horrors. In this, historically accurate book the author Michael Smith, gives us the story of Luke Pettigrew. A war hero from the Battle of Shiloh, Luke feels like anything but that. His horse shot out from underneath him and his leg amputated, he is recovering in a kind man’s home when he begins his journey with recovery, addiction, resentment for his situation, longing to be whole and his struggles to grow as a person in a turbulent world.
A coming of age tale like no other, this books hero has to deal with some very harrowing situations. Back in that day, losing a leg meant much more than it does in this day of prosthetics. Luke is undeterred in his determination in fashioning himself a new leg. I think that this doggedness in the face of adversity was really powerful to read about. I enjoyed this book a lot.

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The Army of Wolves: An epic fantasy adventure by Claire Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A twisting tale of fantasy, this book brings us the tale of Strife, who joins the rebellion army against his own mother who is a wicked and cruel Queen. Strife is unique in his world in that he straddles the forces of both light and dark and he will eventually have to make the decision into which side he will pledge his alliance and powers. It certainly doesn’t help that he has friends on both sides, but he struggles with the knowledge that he does not know who he can truly rely on and trust.
This book takes Greek mythology and creates a new spin with it while opening the mythology up to fantasy interpretations of the interesting kind. The interplay and conflicts between the different characters was interesting to behold. It made for a richer story in that the depth could be felt while this conflict is going on. I did enjoy the story, and would most likely get the second book to find out how the story continues.


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Fear Justice by C.C. Bolick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In some ways this book reminded me of the Heroes series. A mysterious woman who had special powers and then disappeared. Her connection to people in Rena’s hometown and herself. Her father who is no good and yet she still stays to protect her younger brother. When her father disappears, Rena suspects kidnapping, and she gets herself in big trouble until she is rescued by an Agent. Agent Travis Payne has his own motives for seeking Rena out. She is his mission he must complete if he wants to stay active in the Agency that monitors and controls humans with special powers. Travis has his own powers he kept hidden for years until it was discovered by his superior. Now, he needs to find out if Rena has inherited the powers of her mother and if so, he needs to bring her in to the agency. Will he be able to complete the mission? Will Rena allow herself to be manhandled?
Really good book, it had intrigue, government corruption, superheroes and plain old human feelings that cloud our judgments. The writing and editing were good. The pacing was better.


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Starfall Ranch by California Dawes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh Shiloh, where can I find me one of you? Shiloh was awesome! She had sass, a backbone, was willing to get dirty and generally was badass. She was fantastic as a main character and her grumpy behavior was perfect counter to Thisbe Vandergoss’s spoiled little rich girl attitude. Thisbe has a lot more to her though than what you see on first glance. I really liked the mix up and how it brought these two characters together that otherwise would have never met.
The writing was good, and the pacing was good as well. There is plenty of Romance and steamy scenes amidst the Science Fiction Backdrop. There is some action, conflict amongst the other ranchers as well as Thisbe’s family but it all plays together beautifully in the end.
I received an ARC from Book Sirens in exchange for my honest opinion.


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Avenging Angel by Izzy Sweet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is set in the Pounding Hearts universe where the men are typically involved in the MMA scene. The main characters, Emmet, Casey and Bree are all going through some rough times. Emmet is dealing with a major loss in his career and also the loss of his best friend, Tommy who happens to be Casey’s only surviving parent. Bree is stuck in a situation where she is beholden to her powerful father for everything and he controls her life, right down to who she dates. When she catches her boyfriend cheating with her best friend, she hightails it to her mother’s house which happens to be in the same town that Emmet’s gym is. They meet and things start rolling. I won’t put any more spoilers out there, other than this book tears at the heart strings, especially in the beginning.
I really enjoyed reading this one, I haven’t read the series in a while, so I was remembering characters as they were introduced. You do not need to read the series in order, or any of the other books at all to make sense of this one. It was written very well (as always by this author team) and I devoured it within a day.
I received an ARC in exchange for my unbiased and honest opinion.


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The Future of Energy: Technologies and Trends Driving Disruption by Jason Schenker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having read another of Mr. Jason Schenker’s books recently, I was eager to read this one. This book deals with the topic of the Energy Sector and the technological industries and innovations that are going to keep (or start) disrupting the Energy Sector in the near future. There are plenty of different topics covered in this book: Supply and Demand of Oil and Natural Gas, Renewable Energy, Technological advances such as the electric cars, automation, telecommuting, even Nuclear Energy is covered. Even though the topics are varied, the book is structured in an easy top follow manner and the writing is done well. As with his other book, I found this one easy to read and there was plenty of new material for me to ponder. Some of the information even helped dispel misconceptions I wasn’t aware I had. This is a great book, informative, interesting and able to be read by both novice and an expert in the fields.

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The Future of Finance is Now: The Most Important Trends in Finance for the Coming Decade Have Already Started by Jason Schenker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jason Schenker uses his incredibly diverse knowledge to give us an in-depth look at how the future of our current financial markets will possibly look based upon not just past trends, but also what is currently disrupting the markets and the new technological trends that are gaining ground. This book was surprisingly informative and easy to read. I liked the chapters that covered Big Data, Cyber Security and even the chapter on Biased AI which I found to be really surprising. There is so much in this book that will open your eyes to what is currently happening and why our world will be changing faster than what we may be comfortable with.
The Author has a knack for explaining so many different technological topics in an easy to understand manner and how they are now affecting the financial markets. Blockchain for example was always a bit of a mystery to me but I feel much more comfortable with the topic now. I really liked this book.


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Boomwild by Kildare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In 2012, North Dakota experienced a modern-day Oil Boom. As the major Oil corporations all vied for land and power, the locals all strived to protect their lands and people. Some of those locals are Gena Blood Crow a tribal cop and Boots Charging Thunder, a rancher who is fed up with the Oil Corporations. They are pitted against not just the corporations, but also the hitman that has been hired to get rid of them and anyone else standing in the way of the Oil Giants.
This gripping and dirty tale of corruption, greed and the ultimate showdown between the little guy and the big corporation will have you intrigued and turning pages. Set in a real event but with fictional characters, you will be taken on a rough and wild ride through this tumultuous time. I really enjoyed the story, I remember news reports about this time in North Dakota, and this was a well written book that perfectly encapsulated the time.


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Into the Woods by Josh Soule
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In 16th century England, three young men grew up as brothers. Raised by the local Priest, John, Thomas and Henry were never far form each other, always looking out for each other. One day, they notice that the local livestock is being repeatedly attacked and that the attacks are too vicious to be anything normal. When they remember the legends about demons within their forests, they are determined to discover just what is going on. However, as they start to unravel clues and mysteries, they are finding out that they might not know each other as they thought they did.
This was a delightfully dark tale full of mystery and a little bit of horror thrown in, comparable to the tale of the headless rider for me. I really liked the plot and the writing style, it kept me entertained throughout. The three boys were great main characters and their individual issues and perceptions gave a wonderful nuanced worldview that enriched the story.


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Learning to Quit: How to Stop Smoking and Live Free of Nicotine Addiction by Paul Brunetta
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Learning to quit smoking and other nicotine products can be daunting. Especially since it is a strong addiction that has been scientifically proven to alter your brain to rewire you to crave the nicotine. Hopefully, by purchasing this book you are at a stage where you truly want to quit. It can be hard, but it is not impossible. I quit smoking myself years ago before there were many self-help books about it, and I got this one for my father. He has been smoking almost 31 years and has been off cigarettes for a month now. This book helped by giving sound strategies and guidance that is easy to follow. I recommend that you get it in the book form if you like to highlight, but the kindle version can be good as well for ease of keeping it with you. Refer back often to the different success stories and tips when you are tempted to reach for that cigarette.

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Everything Is Known: The Straight Shooter of the World by Liza Elliott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For her Graduate Thesis Skyla Roseau wants to write about Big Data and how it permeates everything I the world from big to seemingly indifferent. Similar as in Orwell’s novel 1984, there are forbidden words that will get you picked up and then you disappear. Skyla’s brother and her Fiancé warn her repeatedly to be careful about her verbiage and how she presents her thesis but when she ignores their advice and uses some of the forbidden words, she unleashes a world of trouble for not just herself, but also her brother and fiancé. They escape and go on the run and inadvertently are joined up with the resistance in order to bring about the downfall of Big Data.
In the vein of Orwell’s novel, the Netflix series Black Mirror, amidst others, this is a story about a world where nothing is private anymore. Everything is known as the title suggests and we cannot choose to opt out anymore if we want to be full members of society. It is interesting, and intense and the pacing is fast once things go south. Even though this is set in the future, this could easily be thought to happen right now, if we look to China with its new social citizen monitoring program.


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Jungle Beauty Goddess - Dirty Ball - Book 3 - Dirty Ball by Cassandra George Sturges
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Having the power to make anyone in the world fall in love with you will most certainly come at a price. Bound by her duties as a Deity, Goddess Afar is yearning for the freedom to do as she pleases. She renounces her vows as a Deity and begins to live in the lives she has created for others. Her family is one of creators, her father shapes planets and stars and her five sisters and mother all look just like him. Only Afar is different, she is bright where they are dark and deep down, she still feels that childlike yearning to be dark like them. Grown up however, she now searches for her own bit of love and finds it for a while with Mada, but as they are so different from each other, she might not find the happiness she searches for. And, will she be able to return to the heavens to her family after she spends so much time planet side?
There are some inconsistencies in the book, she goes from talking about her five sisters and then to her six siters on the next page. Also, some grammatical errors, threw me out of the story a few times. As this is the third in a series, I should have started from the beginning, I think I might have been able to follow the story better. However, there is still plenty here in this book to make it an interesting fantasy read.


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The Miracle of Healing After Years of Abuse by C. Lauver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a much-needed guiding light for so many people. If you are a survivor of abuse, are currently in an abusive situation or even only know of someone in this situation, this book will be educational, emotional and empowering. I think that we need more stories such as this one, where we get accounts of how ordinary people can survive and even thrive after they leave an abusive relationship (however it takes place). Emotional and poignant, this is a hard book to read, but it is worth it in the end.
This book tells the story of a child who is born into a bad situation. Her mother is a mentally ill alcoholic and her father is an abusive person. After decades of living in terror of her parents, she seeks an escape in the form of marriage. At first, she believes that she is safe, and things will start to get better, but she soon learns that her husband is abusive as well and continues the cycle. It isn’t until much later, when she takes a risk and an opportunity to escape that she finally learns what life can be if you are not constantly put down, abused and neglected.


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The Un-Natural Case of the Leadenhall Interlocution League by Michael Dennis Montandon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The cusp of the Victorian Era is an exciting time as it is so colorful, vivid and full of unique characters. This is the backdrop for this story of mystery, of quirky gentlemen and, a little bit of dark horror. Four men make up the Leadenhall Interlocuction League, a Gentlemen’s club that meets fairly regularly and discusses the mysteries of life, the merit of morals and more, but as recent events near the Thames throw their world into chaos, the men will set out to solve the mystery and strive to prove their own beliefs triumphant.
The book show that a well-versed Historian wrote it, it is well researched, has vivid details and descriptions, and the relationships and dialogues of the characters reflect the time period accurately. I had one issue, that the pacing was a bit slow for me, I was truly never able to get into the swing with this book, no matter how much I tried. It is still a good book, very well plotted mystery with plenty of turns.


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Leadership And Life Hacks: Insights From A Mom, Wife, Entrepreneur & Executive by Alyssa Rapp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Leading a business, managing a household or even simply living your life, this book has something for everyone. Easy to do tasks that “hack” more challenging tasks and activities that will in turn help make your life easier. Hacks are usually used in video games, they are your walk-throughs and sometimes even contain cheat codes, so this analogy will be helpful as you navigate the pages. In this book, the author refers to the hacks as shortcuts, as if you re hacking the unnecessary things out of your day.
This was easy to read, very well edited and contained enough humor to lighten the topic for easy reading while maintaining a sense of decorum so you understand you are not reading a comedic book. The advice was at times general and at others specific, depending on the situation she was addressing. This makes it easy to use some tips for multiple situations. I think that this is a good book to have and a good book to refer back to until you have made these hacks a habit.


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When Worms Abandon Their Burrows by Sean Parr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emily moves back to her hometown after being away for 17 years. She now has a successful year as a investigative journalist and her boss assigns her a new case that will bring her into familiar but dark territory. She is set to relive the most traumatizing events in her life for this case and this will give her the opportunity to solve the lingering questions she still has about what happened all those years ago.
This book was a touching and emotional journey for me, I identified with the main character in so many ways that it was hard to keep reading at some parts. However, I think that the author did a great job of showing Emily’s emotions, her conflicted thoughts and actions and how she struggles to move past them each day and ultimately has her triumph in her own personal way. A gripping story with a slow start, but it will keep your attention and stay in your thoughts for long after the book is done.


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The Whydah Pirates Speak, Volume 2 by Laura Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pirates of some sort have roamed the seven seas for as long as humankind can remember, but who remembers the tales of Sam Bellamy and the band of the Whydahs? This book, volume 2 continues where the first left off and gives us all the sordid details of the pirating and plundering as well as trading this group of pirates did along the northern American Coast. There are so many interesting details in here, for example, that some towns willingly embraced the pirates in order to get better prices on their trade goods or that Hollywood decidedly got the depiction of pirate life wrong. No swashbuckling and swinging in to save the ladies. Rather, it was a poor life more often than not that had little comforts but great company.
A well written account of the golden age of piracy that any fan of pirates will live to read. Even if you are only moderately interested in the topic, there is enough here for you to discover that will make the book worth it.


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An Exaltation of Larks by Suanne Laqueur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alejandro Penda is an 11-year-old living in Chile in 1973. His world is being destroyed in a coup and he is uprooted to go live with the Larks, a family that takes him in and raises him as one of their own. Eventually, Alejandro even marries one of the Lark girls, Valerie. Years later on September 11, 2001, Javier Landes is watching his own world destroyed when the Twin Towers are hit in New York. Life sends him to the same town that Alejandro and Valerie live in and when they meet, they all feel a strong pull towards each other that goes beyond just friendship.
This book is a story about how life’s journey can take you into unexpected situations and paths and how out of something horrible you can find something beautiful and good. The characters were very well done, and the writing was very good. I enjoyed this book and wouldn’t mind reading it again.


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The Northern Cycle by Peter Hopkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An epic fantasy tale, this book, was very good. Chief Vilsind and other lords are on the march. They are under orders of the dreaded Falkland regime and are marching to attack one of the last strongholds against the regime, the Skegan League islands. Caught in the unending cycle of war and death, Vilsind struggles with his lot in life. But how much can he even trust his own people? His family’s rule has not been tender or just, atrocities litter his and his family’s past.
This book was really interesting, we have court plots, familial intrigue, drawn out war and a man who is struggling with who he is. Too often in this kind of book we would be hearing from someone on the Skegan side of things, defending against the great invaders. I think the author has a good imagination in giving us the other side of things. Very well done!


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FUTURE WOMEN: Minority Female Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the era of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency by Chrissa McFarlane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One big issue in the business world today is that there are so few women leaders, and even ewer of the ones present are from minority groups. This book takes a thoughtful and personal approach in first explaining what the issue is, how the authors experience gives her a excellent vantage point to give advice and then proceeds to cover a lot of information that can and will be useful for women (or anyone really) who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs. There are plenty of books regarding this topic on the market, but this is the first I have seen targeting primarily minority women. In this, and the authors background, it is unique, and this is reflected in the material presented.
As a woman who has worked in numerous leadership roles (including as an entrepreneur), I found the material in this book to be somewhat familiar, but still informative enough to keep me interested. There were a few perspectives I haven’t considered yet and I liked the writing style that flowed very easily.


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Midnight Wings: A Science Fiction Retelling of Cinderella. by Ariele Sieling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been reading a lot of fairytale retellings based on science fiction worlds, so I loved to see this one come across my Kindle. In the retelling of Cinderella, El (short for Eleanor) is a lowly mechanic, forever “employed” by her stepfamily. In her world, class ranks determine what you can do and who you can be in life, and El’s is the lowest of the low. Yet, she yearns and dreams of being a pilot, and she secretly trains in her stepsisters’ simulators even though there is no chance for her advancement. El is a dreamer, and she is hardworking so when an opportunity comes her way, say a tournament hosted by the queen to select new fighter pilots, El will do anything to compete. She also finds out that some people, are not who or what they seem.
Really nice story had a good pacing and the writing was good. I’ve read other books by this author, but this one is so far my favorite. El could have been a tad bit less naive, and the family punishments towards her were extremely harsh. And yet, as human beings today we can be exceedingly cruel and wicked to even those who need the most protection, so it is hardly out of this world to think that what transpired in this book would not happen. Good for YA, no sex involved.
I received an ARC from Book Sirens in exchange for my honest opinion.


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One Acre and Insecurity: A Single Parent’s Account by Lara Bonnell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After 10 years of marriage and four kids, she decided along with her Army husband that they had grown too far apart, and a divorce was better for them both. Against the advice of lawyers and friends, she decided to ask for little in child support and other alimony, so that when all this all was settled, and she had little to provide for her four children, reality sunk in. Desperate to find a way to support them all while still following her dreams in finishing her Masters, she starts to work as a librarian and turns to a book called “one acre and security” that touts the benefits of growing all your own food on only one acre of land. The results are funny, heartfelt and eye opening. (There is also a little interlude with a pastor as well). I found the book to be refreshing story wise. It was well written, entirely in first person with little to no errors in terms of grammar, spelling or syntax. We don’t get to know the name of the woman who this is all happening too, but the stories are funny and well wroth the read. Lighthearted loving and sweet.

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Onward: The Art of Leadership by Mark Joseph Huckabee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Broken down into 7 sections from starting strong to building teams and finally changing the frame, the author takes classic and timeless leadership advice and rebrands (or reframes) it in todays cultural language so that the new generation of leaders might better grasp the concepts and be able to build them into how they operate as leaders. Some of the concepts that are explored are owning your work, downsides of technology, knowing your audience, the art of empathy, working the plan and so many more. The real difference in this book is that he takes movies and books such as Cloverfield, Jurassic Park, Rocky, Game of thrones, Wall Street, Alien, Inception, Black Panther and so on an he recounts pivotal moments of this work. In doing this, he ties this pivotal moment to a leadership advice and so makes it relevant in today’s world.
I think this book is really well written and its almost exciting in its reading. I felt as if I was on the edge of my seat, and that’s not easy to do in a book that’s supposed to be about leadership. I think this is a phenomenal book told in a gripping way which is unusual for this genre, but it absolutely works wonders!


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My Daddy Might Be A Wizard by J.J. Hebert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Oh, my kids loved this one! They really were entranced by the story and the illustrations. This book, “I think my Daddy is a Wizard”, is told from the viewpoint from the daughter and she tells the reader about her father, who she suspects might be a wizard. She recounts all the wonderful and amazing things he can do, like change channels, get boxes of surprises delivered to their front door, or give her potions (medicine) that will cure her of her sickness. I read these to my kids and my 5-year-old really loved it. My 7-year-old liked it a little, but it may be a bit young for her, only the 5-year-old and my 3-year-old asked for me to read the story multiple times. I think that the author has a good book here and other books might be a good thing to check out if you have young children.

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The French Orphan by Michael Stolle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The decadence of France in the 1600’s has been detailed before, but in this book our main character is the orphan Pierre who is enrolled in a theological school along with other orphans and wealthy boys of the nobility. He becomes friends with a wealthy and popular boy Armand and the two of them steal away from the school to find their own adventure and truths. The parentage of Orphan Pierre is called into question at one point and it seems as if not everyone is as they appear.
There is a lot of plots and twisted intrigue in this book that took a little while to unravel. At the end of the book, there were still some points not answered, but I presume the next book will address them. I found the dialogue to be awkward and the character development wasn’t as well done as the world and timeline that the characters existed in. I ultimately wanted to love it more than I did.


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What Makes America Great by Bob Dowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bob Dowell dives into history, into the time of John Winthrop and Thomas Jefferson. He also takes a look at Abraham Lincoln and even Martin Luther King. What do all these great men have in common? For starters, they all advanced America into the direction of acceptance and greater understanding of our neighbors. They also gave us guidelines in the form of the Declaration of independence, the Gettysburg address and the “I have a dream” speech on how to live our lives, and how to fight for what is right. A religious undertone is strong in this book, so if you do not like to read about such things, then this might not be the book for you. The author clearly believes in a strong presence of God within our nation, from Government to individual homes. One thing to keep in mind (that was to most extent glossed over in this book), is that our founding fathers did advocate for a separation of church and state. “In Everson v. Board of Education (1947), Justice Hugo Black wrote: "In the words of Thomas Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a wall of separation between church and state.”.
This needs to be kept in mind when we state that the only way America is great, is if the church and the state are united. I am a religious person, and I follow scripture, but I do believe that the church has no place in our government. I suppose that I may not be the right audience for this book, but I did enjoy reading it.


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Women Are Creating the Glass Ceiling and Have the Power to End It by Nancy E Parsons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a really interesting book. It looked at the proverbial glass ceiling and what is actually keeping that ceiling in place. What I found really interesting is that the author puts forth the idea that it is actually mainly women themselves who keep that glass ceiling in place. She then follows it up with arguments and facts stemming from her research and experiences. Then, the book takes a look at the #MeToo movement and how it has set women’s equality back and hindered women in the workplace due to male resistance in hiring, meetings, and promotions. I am not completely convinced that women’s thinking and tendency for worrying is at fault, but the author does make a compelling argument for this case. She also gives advice for women who are in leadership positions and others who want to enter the leadership ranks. Advice regarding in how to counter the glass ceiling effects and how we can collectively change it.

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Cold But Not Forgotten by Rj Waters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Detective Carson is looking forward to a routine day at the range with his squad, but when they arrive nothing goes as planned. For starters, they find the body of the wife of the local dentist, Mrs. Diane Morrissey. She is covered in blood, with no obvious wounds. This propels Detective Carson into a whirlwind of mysterious leads in the case. This small town has been harboring some convoluted secrets and the books turns into a veritable “Who done it” type of mystery. Her husband is cheating, that person is embezzling her husband, Mrs. Morrissey was being slipped arsenic by her doctor, another person was jealous of her sports trophies, and on and on.
This book, even with the darker theme and mystery, was pretty light read for me. I enjoyed the small-town mentality and humor in the situation. I really enjoyed the book, it was well written and free of errors (important to me).


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Take Care of your People: The Enlightened CEO'S Guide To Business Success by Paul Sarvadi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One big fact that many CEO’s forget in their business operations and forecasts is that their people are one of the most important assets in the company. Without developing, supporting and advancing the right people, you will lose valuable capital and ultimately profits. This book is written by the cofounder of Insperity Paul Savardi, a successful businessman who has an extensive background in business, from operations to HR. This book doesn’t talk down to you, rather Mr. Savardi has written a book that gives valuable guidance about how you can take care of your people. One of the areas that is stressed and that I think is a good reminder for us in the HR world, is that you can only develop someone so far. If you are hiring the wrong people, then you are setting both the company and the new hire up for failure in the long run. We need to first focus on hiring the right people for the right position before we can then move into fostering growth and loyalty to the company.

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From Stressed To Centered: A Practical Guide To A Healthier And Happier You by Dana A. Gionta
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From Stressed to Centered offers is a uniquely different approach to stress management and self-care that helps you understand and tackle your stress at all levels. If you are feeling more tired, overwhelmed, distracted, or overextended lately, this book might be able to help you take the necessary steps to figure out what the problem is and how to solve it. Self-care is so important and most of us neglect it because we need to be strong, or we need to care for others first. The disservice this does to us (and yes others) is great.
I know that there were some great tips in here that I am able to use. Hopefully this will help me make time for myself on a consistent and regular basis. The information in here will not go over your head, it is written in a simple manner, easy to be understood. Even if this type of book is not normally your thing, I think you could benefit from it.


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The Ghosts of Notchey Creek by Liz S. Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harley Hendrickson is the proud owner of the shop Smoky Mountain spirits. She loves mixing cocktails, her pet pig, the town she lives in and “some” of its residents. When Beau Arson moves in to the Briarcliffe mansion, things start to get a little weird around town. Beau suffers from ghostly visitors; a ghost hunter shows up and start preaching stories to whomever will listen. And when Harley finds a woman’s body and the local antique dealer is murdered, Harley sets out to figure out just what is going on around town.
I found this was a really well written murder mystery. Its timely for right now as the story is set in December right before Christmas, so the setting and timing was perfect as I read it. I really enjoyed the story and Harley was a competent and intelligent character. Her pet pig made for some funny scenes that broke up the dark mood sometimes.


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The Ex-Princess by Fiona West
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This love story full of magic and intrigue and fighting amongst countries in this parallel realm is interesting and quirky. On the run for 5 years, Princess Abigail is finally found and coerced to return home to fulfill her end of the engagement contract and marry Prince Edward. The two meet up and travel back towards his kingdom all while trying to convince each other, they are the one in the right. He for wanting to uphold the marriage contract regardless of her Lupus, and her, for wanting to dissolve it and be left alone. It’s a sweet romance in a intriguing new type of world.
The worldbuilding was very confusing to me. Even Abbie, was confused and you would think she would know more about the Veil and the people who live there. A background, glossary or something would have been very beneficial.
I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.


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Synchronicity: A Novel by Tyler J. Yates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Renowned Thinker, Carl Jung wakes after his death in the Archetype Room with God. After an enlightening discussion over various themes and frameworks, God informs Jung that he is needed to explore the concept of synchronicity in greater depth. This is where Travis Alva Edison comes in: Travis still lives in his mother’s basement. He is a mid-twenties old man who recently realized that his life is going nowhere with no end in sight. He starts an epiphany list which he hopes will help propel him onto a meaningful life path. He meets Meg, a girl who is successful in her life (in his eyes), and they plan to meet up again soon. Throughout this all, Carl is “upstairs” watching Travis and how his life is unfolding in both expected and unexpected ways. At one point, Carl must make a decision that will have the power to alter Travis’s life forever.
This story was well written and had no grammatical errors (important to me). I thought this was an interesting concept to explore and the author did not disappoint. He fleshed out the characters, and they were well though out in terms of relationships and reactions. The pacing was steady in the beginning and then it started to pick up with the addition of the diamond find and the introduction of the Skinwalker. It certainly was an interesting book.


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Barefoot Under The Moon: A Trash To Treasure Romance by Richard Devall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, if a book has the tagline: A Trash to treasure Romance, you know you just have to get it! I loved the characters and the story; the quirky dialogue and the even quirkier characters were awesome! Great writing and the chemistry between the characters as they traipsed about was palpable.
Poor Toby, a man recently released form prison, finds a job in a diner and subsequently finds himself in the middle of a love triangle with the two waitresses. What might seem like a great thing for a guy goes wrong hilariously when Ashley, who is gifted with seduction, gets Toby to fulfill her every fantasy. After Ashleigh returns from out of state, she is determined on seduction again, but this time she sets her sights on the third in this triangle, the other waitress. Will she be successful? Will everything fall apart for Toby? I really liked the laugh out loud moments and Toby. I felt bad for him as he was trying to navigate the world after prison and got caught up with these crazy ladies.


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SLAM DUNK: The True Story of Basketball’s First Olympic Gold Medal Team by Beth Fortenberry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The true story of the first Olympic Gold Medal Team takes us to the beginnings of the game in 1891. We learn about James Naismith who wanted to play a game that would allow him to play between the football and the baseball seasons. A Presbyterian Minster, and passionate Rugby player, he thinks of a game not seen before, and proposes to the local YMCA. As we follow him through the years, we see how his passion for the sport and the people he meets help turn the little game he invented into the powerhouse it is today. The parts about the hazing and roadblocks in Berlin were great to read, simply because it showed all the things, they overcame to still win the Olympic gold.
Well written and easy conversational style. Even though this book is based on true events, the Author Beth Fortenberry was able to make the story seem like something out of fantasy complete with highs and lows, drama that sucks you in, romance that plucks at your heartstrings and action that has you rooting for the home team of USA.


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A Rose to the Torch by Bartholomew Lander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carol is a high school student who is a secret Hemomancer in a world where being one is a certain death sentence. When she is stalked by a dangerous stranger, she stumbles into a world and war she never wanted to enter. Cast out by her family and friends, and on the run from the infamous Rosarium who wants her blood. Coral has no choice to accept the help of a mysterious group called the Orchid Veil. But are they any better than the Rosarium? And will she ever find her confidence and self-worth?
This was a fast-paced book that sweeps you up into a world where blood can be a commodity if it has the right compounds. A battle for someone’s blood can get dark quickly and we do enter some dark corners in this story. Very well written and edited, I liked Coral and am impressed with her growth throughout the book. Well Done.


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Woodrow's Wings by Mary Carlsson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wings, Wings, Wings, well we loved, loved, loved this book. I read it at bedtime a few night ago, and it has quickly become a favorite book to read even during the day. My 1st grader likes Woodrow because he is so focused on building his pair of wings that will allow him to fly. She was quick to point out how he misses out on playing with his cousins since he is so focused. I think this story is sweet and endearing and is a playful way of showing kids how practicing and sticking with something can pay off when it goes right in the end.
Woodrow wants to fly, and he is determined to build himself a pair of wings. So determined in fact, that he misses out on games and races with his cousins that are over for the day. He ends up building the wings, and figures out how to attach them to himself, but will he fly? And if he does, has he figured out how to land?


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A Journey Down Under: We live. We love. We stay. by Ace Campillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Is the grass truly greener on the other side? A young man finds out that it might not be when he travels to Australia to immigrate. With the help of his parents, he leaves the Philippines and sets his sights on the land of down under where he thinks life will be easier than he’s had so far. When he gets there, he faces hardships based upon his chosen profession (nurse) and his own insecurities that come to the fore since he is now dependent upon himself. As he grows more comfortable with his life in Australia, he must face the age-old question of: Who am I, and what will I do with my life?
Very easy to read and great editing, I found no mistakes regarding grammar or syntax. That always throws me when reading so this was very well written. I enjoyed the story and laughed and cringed along with our main character as he went through embarrassing and painful situations. A very nice story about finding yourself.


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Spirit Runner by Richard Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

2018 International readers favorite competition winner, this book is about the strength of the human spirit and grit and just what can be achieved if you truly believe in accomplishing the impossible. Ron Campbell has had an uphill struggle each day of his life after a horrible accident has mangled his legs and left them paralyzed. He has a dream of competing in the Olympics and will fight each day to achieve it. Ron, with the help of two close friends, works to overcome everybody’s stereotypical reactions and negative outlooks.
I found this story to be well written. Although there were plenty of moments I was tearing up over the bad luck and circumstances, I was heartened by the indomitable spirit of Ron. He never gave up. He never let the talk and comments get to him. This is such an uplifting novel of perseverance and hope. I truly enjoyed reading it.


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Lean On: The Five Pillars Of Support For Women In Leadership by Andreas Wilderer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gender Roles are shifting today, and the traditional view that the man goes to work, and the woman is the home maker is rapidly losing traction, especially amongst gen X and millennials who are at the ages where family life is becoming important. There is much research showing that more women in Leadership roles is beneficial to both the company and the family if done right, and in this book, the author gives us his feedback and thought on how it went when his wife went back to her executive function and he stayed home to raise the children and manage the household.
This might seem unorthodox to some, but it is possible, and it can be successful if you are both committed to fully supporting each other. The author gives us a roadmap in how we could pattern our lifestyle and he givers us tips in how to deal with common questions that will inevitably come up.


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Posted as per my oldest child's request.....

The Rise of a King: Fallen Angel, Immortal Romance Book #2 by Azriel Hope
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the series, and it does not read well as a standalone. Farrow and Rayelynn of the first book were present as prominent supporting characters to Prince Drayden and the backdrop of the Cirque. Much of the decadence of the first book has been improved upon and it draws you even deeper within the mystique of this new realm. Rayelynn is pulled between her love for Farrow and her desire for a lifestyle that she cherishes. Will Farrow be able to keep Rayelynn? Or will she succumb to his brother and the fairy realm?
I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.


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The Menopause Myth: What Your Mother, Doctor, and Friends Haven't Shared about Life After 35 by Arianna Sholes-Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m 35 and have not yet gotten my menopause. However, I am extremely interested in this time of life as I have heard all kinds of things, from horror stories about your hormonal fluctuations to “Girl, its nothing”. My doctor says don’t worry about it until it hits me. I like to be prepared and this book seemed the right thing at the right time. The author is a MD who has changed her focus from High-Risk pregnancy to the menopausal years.
Essentially, we women are getting advice from another woman who has the experience to guide us through this turbulent time. Emotions will run high; tempers will flare and through it all you might ask yourself just who am I becoming? What is my body doing? I found that this book was extremely helpful in calming my anxiety and answered many burning questions I had in a dignified and interesting manner. I highly recommend this to all the women in my life and I will most likely be giving this out for xmas gifts.


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The Outbreak of a Monstrous Infection by Afshan Naheed Hashmi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very timely book, in the world today with the advent of the super bug and antibiotic resistance of many other viruses. In this book, a horrific infectious disease is spreading across the globe and India gets hit especially hard. When a large group of people who attended the same wedding fall ill, the CBI steps in. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India requests help from the FBI in determining the origin of this disease. Is this biological warfare? An unlucky natural mutation of an existing virus or bacterial strand?
There were very many people involved and the ultimate reveal of just what happened, and how it unfolded according to plan was very satisfying to read. There was a bit much going on in terms of number of characters and keeping track of how each person was involved, which did not lead to this being a book to read if you are trying to have a light read. This is a clear mystery with a thrilling background.


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