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Dave Trentlage | Biographies and Memoirs
In this spellbinding memoir, Dave Trentlage takes readers on a rollicking journey to a dream. He spent most of his life grinding, doing a job he disliked. That was before he met Sherri, who ''was in the same boat, muddling through a job that was just that, a job.'' They were tired of working so hard to make ends meet. That was when they decided to start a restaurant. In this book, the author recounts their journey of how they nurtured ideas of a future built on what they loved to do. They wanted to be free from the daily struggle with a job they didn't like and that led to an unfulfilled life. This is the story of a dream and teamwork and how creative work can transform people, their relationships, and their inner worlds and how success in one's dream creates a path that others can use to walk into life. But as they worked towards their dream, Covid-19 struck, and the Hawaiian Islands closed. This signaled a difficult moment for a promising dream. When the going gets tough, how do Dave...
Continue ReadingMargaret Farrell Kirby | Fiction - Literary
Becoming Nora by Margaret Farrell Kirby is a compelling narrative that follows Nora as she faces the part of her that has remained buried over the years. This nuanced and intelligently crafted tale presents Brad and Nora Stanton as they navigate the most crucial moment of their lives. Everything has been perfect for Nora — a seemingly happy marriage, a great career, and lovely kids. That is until her husband tells her that he is unhappy and needs time to sort things out. Nora is shocked. She is even stunned that her husband has already started therapy. Is it because of another woman? Left behind to take care of the kids, Nora begins to unravel her own life. She makes choices that will alter the course of her life in far many ways than she could have imagined. But having an affair and falling for someone she doesn't love just increases the stakes. Kirby offers a dazzling picture of a family going through emotional challenges as the parents face divorce. The key character is Nora and th...
Continue ReadingHelena P. Schrader | Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Moral Fibre: A Bomber Pilot's Story by Helena P. Schrader is a historical novel that is based on true events, a story that will have an irresistible appeal to fans of WWII literature and well-crafted stories with compelling characters. Kit Moran is a veteran Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who can't live in peace. They have accused him of lacking moral fiber after he refused to fly after a raid that killed his ''skipper'' and best friend. Kit is in love with his best friend's fiancee as he returns to join the crew in the final stages of WWII. Can he redeem himself this time, or will his past trauma steer him toward disaster?Helena P. Schrader's narrative is nuanced with complex characters, and the author uses subplots to drive the ensuing suspense. Georgina is one character that stands out in this thrilling historical tale and the author deftly explores her background, offering a dazzling portrait of a strong woman with African and British roots. Her relationship with Kit's mother is...
Continue ReadingJoe Kilgore | Fiction - Literary
When Stephen Russell accepts a new job at the port of Retiro de Santos, he is hopeful that it will help him put the past behind him. But this small town will take him down a path he never bargained for when he left home, and this includes falling in love, finding himself dealing with murder, and being enmeshed in a world brimming with corruption. In this city, no one lifts a finger as young girls are turned into prostitutes. Everyone seems to be aware of it, but no one takes any action to stop it. A series of events will push Russel to make a difficult decision, but can he stand the consequences of pursuing justice in a world filled with unjust laws?The first thing that immediately grips the attention of readers is the author's gift for descriptive prose and witty dialogues. The descriptions are vivid and detailed and the strong imagery gives readers a clear sense of place and time, bringing the setting to life. The characters are nuanced and readers will love to follow the story of ch...
Continue ReadingMichael Stanley | Detective & Mystery
A Deadly Covenant by Michael Stanley is the eighth entry in the Detective Kubu mystery. The young Detective Kubu has just joined the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department and is eager to prove himself. In rural Botswana, a backhoe unearths the skull of a long-dead Bushman and Kubu accompanies Ian MacGregor, a Scottish pathologist to watch and learn. When eight more skeletons are uncovered, Ian and Kubu are aware they might not be dealing with a cold case. The locals claim to know nothing about the massacres, but when an elderly person is murdered at his home in a nearby village everything challenges. While the local police think it is robbery, Kubu believes there is something else at work. The mystery deepens when a woman who has claimed the killing was orchestrated by an angry river spirit turns up dead. The investigation turns up something even more sinister, a deadly covenant, and Kubu and his team become painfully aware that they are running against time and tha...
Continue ReadingJeffrey Bailey | Poetry
Some Good Writ: Christmas, Cancer, Wine, Sex and Jeff by Jeffrey Bailey is an intimate, observant collection of poems that examine life within the poet's family, his own personal experiences, and the thoughts and emotions that propel him from one moment to the next. The sub-title offers a glimpse of what readers should expect in this superbly rendered collection of poems — sickness in the family and how it affects everyone, intimacy, passions, and observations on a variety of topics. Bailey writes about love, humanity, politics, and nature, and even offers strong hints of spirituality. These are piercing and profound poems that deftly explore the intersection between dream and reality, mortality and what lies beyond the tomb, suffering, and freedom. The poems are beautifully written and the rhythm reflects the heartbeats of the speaker — in turn slow and measured and at times fast. The author evokes different atmospheres, ranging from the environmental to the political, and the persona...
Continue ReadingMargaret Farrell Kirby | Fiction - Literary
Becoming Nora by Margaret Farrell Kirby is a compelling narrative that follows Nora as she faces the part of her that has remained buried over the years. This nuanced and intelligently crafted tale presents Brad and Nora Stanton as they navigate the most crucial moment of their lives. Everything has been perfect for Nora — a seemingly happy marriage, a great career, and lovely kids. That is until her husband tells her that he is unhappy and needs time to sort things out. Nora is shocked. She is even stunned that her husband has already started therapy. Is it because of another woman? Left behind to take care of the kids, Nora begins to unravel her own life. She makes choices that will alter the course of her life in far many ways than she could have imagined. But having an affair and falling for someone she doesn't love just increases the stakes. Kirby offers a dazzling picture of a family going through emotional challenges as the parents face divorce. The key character is Nora and th...
Continue ReadingLawrence H Sola | Literary Fiction
The Monster, Mayhem, & Magical Love is the third entry in the Peter Pan Man series by Lawrence H. Sola and it is a mesmerizing romance littered with intrigue and surprising moments.Larry is an author who is researching his next book. After an interview with Carla Kimbrel, a journalist from a reputable book magazine, he gets the inspiration he needs for his next novel. But everything takes a sudden and unexpected turn when a doctor who has been his fiancée’s ex-boyfriend hints at a leakage of a virus from a bioweapons lab that could cause a worldwide pandemic. Carla comes back with new suggestions for the storyline, but his ex-boyfriend’s attempts to stop Larry from publishing the book reveal a disturbing conspiracy. Nothing is what it seems. Can Larry complete his book and expose the monster while keeping his relationship from falling apart?Lawrence H. Sola's novel brims with tension, a story that is emotionally rich with a setting that is as resonant as it is clever...
Continue ReadingKatharine Mitropoulos | Children - Animals
Frogathon Spots — Frog for short — loves his home hometown of Harmony Lane. He creates obstacle games to play with his neighbors and he also loves facing challenges. When his mother tells him that Harmony Lane will be hosting a neighborhood fair in the coming week and that there will be an obstacle course, Frog is more than excited and seizes the moment to start practicing. Starting with collecting stones and building an obstacle to jump over. But the moment he is set to jump, Mole calls for help, needing an apple from the tree. Every time he starts building his obstacle, someone calls for help — Mole, Giraffe, Kitten — and he starts all over again. Can he practice for the Obstacle Course with all the distractions in the way?Ready... Set... Frog! by Katharine Mitropoulos is a wonderful story for Children and I read this as soon as I grabbed it with my four-year-old boy who got just too excited about it. First, he loves Frog and has a lot of sympathy for him. Frog is a character torn be...
Continue ReadingDouglas Jamiel | History
Detroit: Who Built Her? Who Broke Her? 1620 to 1890 by Douglas Jamiel documents the history of the Great Lakes region, examining factors that shaped her and what eventually broke her. The book takes readers to the beginning, in the mid-1800s, to a place where the French trappers sparred with British soldiers. The influence of the French Jesuits who fought for the souls of men and the army that wanted to gain control of the trade are eminently documented. Readers are introduced to the key players, the powers, and the ideas that shaped Detroit and Michigan, starting from the French trappers to pre-industrial influences in the late 1800s. The book documents how the changes that took place affected the indigenous people, exploring historical realities like racism and ethnocentrism. Detroit: Who Built Her? Who Broke Her? 1620 to 1890 is a well-researched and intelligently crafted history book that offers a dazzling image of the Great Lakes region. Douglas Jamiel is meticulous in his inves...
Continue ReadingChristine Boucher | Young Adult - Fantasy-General
In The Sentinel of the Chakra Stones by Christine Boucher, fourteen-year-old Jaden discovers her mission in the most unexpected of places. Jaden's mother abandoned her when she was a little girl, and her father does not behave as though he ever wanted her. Life at school has its own trials. The one beautiful thing in Jaden's life is her friendship with Alister. When a strange woman sells a crystal chakra set to Jaden, she doesn't think much about it. She and her friend, Alister, are transported to Mount Shasta, California, where they discover the Lemurian city of Telos. Jaden suddenly discovers that she is the sentinel of the chakra stones that maintain the balance of the Earth. Her mission to protect the Earth's chakra energies is threatened by the evil keeper of Belial. With the first of the seven stones under attack, can Jaden protect the balance of the Earth? This is a compelling first entry into a series that promises a lot of adventure. When readers meet Jaden, she is a ''nobody...
Continue ReadingJason F Boggs | Science Fiction & Fantasy
The Dragon's Zenith by Jason F Boggs is the third and final entry in the Dragon Trilogy and an enthralling tale for fans of epic fantasy. While this is the third and final book in the trilogy, it reads beautifully as a standalone novel, with plenty of background information to fill in the blanks for new readers. This spellbinding narrative follows Nelson Jones and his motley team of misfits as they wage battles against powerful enemies bent on dominating the galaxies. Ira Bilis heads the New Era, a regime once ruled the Earth in a time of crisis. Ira has succeeded to work her way to the top; she is ruthless, and now with absolute power, she has successfully managed to bring the Executors and the orbs under her control. Now, the galaxy is in grave danger if no one stands against her. But can Nelson and his group of misfits have any chance at beating Ira Bilis and that force she wields? Fans of space opera will enjoy the impeccable world-building in Boggs' The Dragon's Zenith and the...
Continue ReadingElsie G. Beya | Romance
Daisy is a florist who loves her life the way it is — without a man in it. She is tough, speaks her mind, and possesses sarcasm that stings. But her life changes when she meets Stewart Burns, a frontman for an indie band. While there is obviously nothing to connect the two, Stewart's charm rubs off so easily and quickly on Daisy. The walls she has built around her life begin to crumble like petals as she falls for him. But can she allow herself to be vulnerable and be touched where she hurts deeply or will she risk her life with Stewart? Readers will love and hate Daisy, but she is a genuinely flawed character, and Elsie G. Beya has done an extraordinary job of exploring her brokenness, allowing readers to see her hidden wounds and silent tears, and the darkness in her inner world. Her tough demeanor becomes a mask that hides her deepest wounds. The romance is cleverly written and I enjoyed the way events unfold in this unpredictable novel — just so naturally. Themes of love, friendsh...
Continue ReadingMichael Stanley (White Sun Books)
A Deadly Covenant by Michael Stanley is the eighth entry in the Detective Kubu mystery. The young Detective Kubu has just joined the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department and is eager to prove himself. In rural Botswana, a backhoe unearths the skull of a long-dead Bushman and Kubu accompanies Ian MacGregor, a Scottish pathologist to watch and learn. When eight more skeletons are uncovered, Ian and Kubu are aware they might not be dealing with a cold case. The locals claim to know nothing about the massacres, but when an elde...
Lawrence H Sola (Black Rose Writing)
The Monster, Mayhem, & Magical Love is the third entry in the Peter Pan Man series by Lawrence H. Sola and it is a mesmerizing romance littered with intrigue and surprising moments.Larry is an author who is researching his next book. After an interview with Carla Kimbrel, a journalist from a reputable book magazine, he gets the inspiration he needs for his next novel. But everything takes a sudden and unexpected turn when a doctor who has been his fiancée’s ex-boyfriend hints at a leakage of a virus from a bioweapons lab that...
Douglas Jamiel (Douglas Jamiel)
Detroit: Who Built Her? Who Broke Her? 1620 to 1890 by Douglas Jamiel documents the history of the Great Lakes region, examining factors that shaped her and what eventually broke her. The book takes readers to the beginning, in the mid-1800s, to a place where the French trappers sparred with British soldiers. The influence of the French Jesuits who fought for the souls of men and the army that wanted to gain control of the trade are eminently documented. Readers are introduced to the key players, the powers, and the ideas that shaped Detroit an...
Jeffrey Bailey (Jeffrey Bailey)
Some Good Writ: Christmas, Cancer, Wine, Sex and Jeff by Jeffrey Bailey is an intimate, observant collection of poems that examine life within the poet's family, his own personal experiences, and the thoughts and emotions that propel him from one moment to the next. The sub-title offers a glimpse of what readers should expect in this superbly rendered collection of poems — sickness in the family and how it affects everyone, intimacy, passions, and observations on a variety of topics. Bailey writes about love, humanity, politics, and nature, and...
Jason F Boggs (Mill City Press)
The Dragon's Zenith by Jason F Boggs is the third and final entry in the Dragon Trilogy and an enthralling tale for fans of epic fantasy. While this is the third and final book in the trilogy, it reads beautifully as a standalone novel, with plenty of background information to fill in the blanks for new readers. This spellbinding narrative follows Nelson Jones and his motley team of misfits as they wage battles against powerful enemies bent on dominating the galaxies. Ira Bilis heads the New Era, a regime once ruled the Earth in a time of crisi...
Kem Richards (Grandeur Publishing)
In The End of May by Kem Richards, Marcella ''Marcy'' Burke, a woman from Ohio seems to have everything anyone would desire — a loving partner, a wonderful best friend, and career. But what will Marcy do when everything comes tumbling down? She fights. She is determined to rise back to her former status of success, glitz, and glamor. The cost is what she doesn't envisage yet as she finds herself navigating the dangerous, dark part of New York City, a world littered with drugs, shady connections, and prostitution. In her quest to succeed, can sh...
Steven Barron (Atmosphere Press)
Madame Curie’s Piano Tuner by Steven Barron is more a story of a place as it is of the characters. The protagonist is Raymond Dover who visits the small town of Bucksnort hoping to offer his services to a veteran's retirement home. But upon arrival, he suffers from a mysterious form of amnesia. After treatment he stays for a while in the city. He recounts experiences and offers a mesmerizing portrait of a town where it is hard to grasp its soul. This novel is written in beguiling prose and the narrative voice is powered by a quirkiness that re...
Margaret Farrell Kirby (Proving Press)
Becoming Nora by Margaret Farrell Kirby is a compelling narrative that follows Nora as she faces the part of her that has remained buried over the years. This nuanced and intelligently crafted tale presents Brad and Nora Stanton as they navigate the most crucial moment of their lives. Everything has been perfect for Nora — a seemingly happy marriage, a great career, and lovely kids. That is until her husband tells her that he is unhappy and needs time to sort things out. Nora is shocked. She is even stunned that her husband has already started...
Barbara Bryan (Atmosphere Press)
Topanga Canyon: Fire Season by Barbara Bryan is a wonderfully crafted novel with strong themes and a young protagonist that instantly wins the sympathy of readers. Matt's alcoholic mother sends him away to his grandfather's horse ranch in Topanga, California. ''Her goodbye hug held only hot anger, which she wrapped around him until its searing heat penetrated his bones.'' In the new world, the teenage boy must learn to quickly adapt, facing new people and dealing with animals. As his love for horses grows, he notices that his grandfather might...
Brent Ladd (Morgan James)
In 1906, Charles Henry Warren is unexpectedly felled by Typhoid. Soon, his family is fighting for their lives against the deadly disease. The Warren’s cook, Mary Mallon, appears to have avoided contracting the dreaded disease. However, another family is soon affected by the virus and the commonality is Mary. She is a carrier of the disease and authorities quarantine her. Her danger to society is seemingly contained. In the present day, Joel and Codi are two FBI agents operating out of the Special Projects division. They handle cold cases and h...